Chapter 86: Chapter 85: Luo Tian’s Identity (Part 2)

Inside the heavily guarded mansion of the Deputy Commander of the Defense Army, the narrow-eyed adventurer who had just had several teeth knocked out by Luo Tian’s sword was now wailing to a middle-aged man in his forties wearing standard-issue soft armor, snot and tears streaming down his face. It was as pathetic a sight as could be.

"Brother-in-law, that’s what happened! You have to stand up for me!" the man with beady eyes cried, rubbing his badly swollen cheek. "If it weren’t your territory, I... I would have killed them long ago! But I never expected those noble students to be so unreasonable. Even when I mentioned your name, they... they actually..." He trailed off, hesitating deliberately.

The imposing middle-aged man shot his brother-in-law a cold glance, his voice tinged with impatience. "Actually what? Spit it out!"

"Ah, yes, yes! They just cursed me out even more, saying they wouldn’t care even if you showed up..." the man with beady eyes finished timidly, then burst into a loud wail. "Brother-in-law, in all these years, this is the first time anyone has dared to show such contempt for your authority! You have to get revenge for me!"

"Enough!" The middle-aged man, irritated by the crying, roared, "Go home for now!"

"Brother-in-law..."

"Get lost! I’ll go see for myself!" The middle-aged man glared at his useless brother-in-law, who was so terrified he practically wet himself as he scrambled away.

Watching his brother-in-law’s pathetic retreating figure, Gu Tong, the Deputy Commander of the Defense Army, couldn’t help but curse resentfully, "Useless trash!"

He knew better than anyone what kind of person his brother-in-law was. Though he acted relatively well-behaved on the surface, he had secretly done plenty of bad things using Gu Tong’s name. Fortunately, the Defense Army’s reputation in Cameron Town was so formidable that most people would just endure any small grievances, and few would actually stoop to his level.

Today, over a thousand noble students had arrived in town one after another, nearly filling up the luxurious Splendid Inn. He was well aware of their backgrounds. He had received news while they were still on the road and had ordered the Cameron Defense Army to protect them. If anything went wrong, neither he nor the Grand Commander would get off easy.

Besides, Gu Tong held another important role in addition to being the Deputy Commander of the Defense Army. ’How could I possibly offend those noble students at a time like this? I’ve been looking for a way to get on their good side.’ With that thought, he summoned a trusted subordinate, gave a few quiet instructions, and dismissed him.

Just then, a woman dripping with jewels entered. The moment she saw Gu Tong, she threw herself at him, crying, "My lord, you must avenge my brother! Half his teeth were knocked out..."

"Silence!" Gu Tong had been deep in thought, and his train of thought was suddenly broken. He glared furiously at the newcomer. "Who let you in!"

The woman froze, trembling with fear. As Gu Tong’s favorite concubine, she knew his temper well. When he was happy, she could say anything, but when he was truly angry, it was terrifying. Clearly, her lord and husband was in a very bad mood right now.

Seeing the woman stammering, too afraid to speak, Gu Tong’s anger subsided a little. He said, "Go back and tell your brother that this matter ends here. That fool has a death wish! Does he really think Cameron is the Defense Army’s personal playground? He’s courting death!"

The woman didn’t completely understand, but she knew that questioning Gu Tong further would only cause more trouble. She retreated cautiously, deciding to placate her brother first and find another opportunity to ask Gu Tong what was really going on.

* * *

Shangguan Yutong had wanted to warn Ling Xiao to watch out for Long Xiang, but seeing him walking with Luo Tian, with Yisha and Kaelin following behind, she temporarily set aside her worries. For now, the most Long Xiang could do was speak ill of Ling Xiao. Besides, considering Ling Xiao’s strength, it was still uncertain who would win if he faced Long Xiang.

Ever since Ling Xiao had saved her from Night Owl’s sword, Shangguan Yutong’s confidence in him had grown immensely.

The incident had ruined the group’s mood. They didn’t linger any longer on the way back, heading straight for the inn. Seeing that Night Owl had not yet returned, Luo Tian stayed behind in Ling Xiao’s room for a while. Kaelin understood Luo Tian and knew he probably had something he wanted to say to Ling Xiao, so she pulled Yisha away to her own room to chat.

After everyone else had left, Luo Tian suddenly said to Ling Xiao, "Brother Ling, please forgive me for concealing things from you. My identity is truly sensitive; only the headmaster of the Imperial Academy knows the truth."

Ling Xiao wasn’t too surprised by Luo Tian’s abrupt statement. In reality, they were all nobles, and they understood instinctively what kind of aura corresponded to what kind of person. As the son of a Count, Luo Tian should never have possessed the majestic air of a superior.

Still, Ling Xiao hadn’t asked, and yet Luo Tian was bringing it up himself. Ling Xiao smiled calmly. "If that’s the case, then Senior Luo, it’s better if you don’t say anything."

"Haha, please don’t call me senior. Brother Ling, if you think well of me, just call me by my name. I genuinely want to be your friend!" Luo Tian hesitated for a moment, then, as if he had made up his mind, said, "My name is Li Tianluo. Luo Tian is my alias."

Ling Xiao’s eyes narrowed. He looked at Luo Tian, a flicker of surprise in his heart. ’Li is the surname of the Royal Family! Although some nobles and commoners are also named Li, Li Tianluo... It seems the Crown Prince’s Family’s Eldest Prince is named Li Tianlie!’

"That’s right." Li Tianluo gave a wry smile and looked at Ling Xiao. "I am a member of the Royal Family. My father is the Southern King, Li Wutong."

Only then did Ling Xiao draw in a sharp breath. Li Wutong was His Majesty the Emperor’s second son, a Prince by rank, who guarded the Southern Border and was known as the Southern King! The Cameron Town Defense Army, right here under their feet, was also under Li Wutong’s jurisdiction. No wonder Luo Tian had been so angry earlier.

Anyone would be upset to be insulted on their own territory. Moreover, the words of that thug-like adventurer seemed to hint at another issue—a problem with Cameron Town’s taxes! This sent a cold sweat down Li Tianluo’s back. He knew his father would never do such a thing. As one of the Empire’s major economic centers, if any problems were discovered here, his father would certainly be blamed. And that would be the least of it. What if someone was intentionally trying to sling mud at his father? Thinking of how wary the Crown Prince had been of his father all these years, Li Tianluo felt there was something unusual about this incident. He had to inform his father as soon as possible.

At the same time, he was also extremely interested in Grand General Ling Tianxiao! As a member of the Royal Family, Li Tianluo had understood the importance of being low-key and patient from a young age. More importantly, he knew how to win people over. Although his father had no ambitions of his own, he still had to guard against being crushed by the Crown Prince!

If they could pull Ling Tianxiao, who guarded the western border, into the Second Prince’s camp, then even if the Crown Prince ascended the throne, he wouldn’t dare to move against the Second Prince!

In the past, Ling Xiao had been a good-for-nothing, so Li Tianluo had no interest in befriending him. Besides, even though he was studying at the Imperial Academy under an alias, how could he possibly escape the Crown Prince’s notice? He had spies watching him day and night. If he rashly approached the son of a general with military power, what would the Crown Prince think?

So, on this trip, Li Tianluo seized the opportunity of Ling Xiao shedding his reputation as "trash" to get to know him openly and legitimately!

In truth, he had wanted to reveal his identity to Ling Xiao for some time. Li Tianluo could sense that Ling Xiao was no good-for-nothing; on the contrary, he was far more intelligent than the vast majority of flashy, superficial noble sons!

Ling Xiao looked at Li Tianluo with a calm expression. He showed neither disbelief nor the fanaticism and reverence most people would display when meeting a member of the Royal Family. Instead, he asked faintly, "What do you mean by telling me all this?"

Li Tianluo hadn’t expected this young man, several years his junior, to be so composed. ’I, a member of the Royal Family, am treating him as a brother. Anyone else would probably be wild-eyed with fanaticism, eager to kneel and kiss my boots, right?’ But all he saw in Ling Xiao’s eyes was a trace of vigilance.

"I just want to be your friend, nothing more!" Li Tianluo said in a deep voice, trying his best to appear sincere.

"Very well," Ling Xiao said nonchalantly. "In that case, you are still Luo Tian, and I don’t know anything."