[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens":3,"chapter-heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-chapter-24":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Heir to the Kingdom of 1.4 Billion Citizens",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2270899,4434,"Chapter 24: Calen Hughes, Here to Pay Homage to Your Highness","heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-chapter-24",24,"\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the Wolf Howl Forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thin mist scattered slightly; morning light was sliced by layers of branches into tiny golden shards, falling upon damp moss and fallen leaves, the air carrying the scent of damp earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gray rabbit sat quietly on the grass, nibbling the tender shoots beside its paws; its ears flicked left, then right, its moist nose trembling in the air—until it confirmed only the rustle of wind through treetops, then lowered its head again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, any slightest disturbance would send it fleeing at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the twang of a bowstring, an arrow shot out like a venomous snake from the underbrush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its sharp tip sliced through the air with a faint whistle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rabbit, hearing the sound, sensed danger; its ears snapped upright, its body leaning back to leap away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the arrow was too fast—its hind legs had barely pushed off when the arrow pierced its brow, exiting through the back of its skull, spraying a string of glistening blood droplets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rabbit collapsed to the ground, twitched briefly, then lay still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, two figures emerged from the underbrush: one a tall, handsome young man with black hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other, a slender brown-haired boy with a stern expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the rabbit’s headless corpse on the grass, the brown-haired boy’s sternness instantly vanished, replaced by stunned disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Lord, have you been blessed by the God of Storms and the Hunt?” Boge exclaimed in awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a hunter, he knew full well how difficult it was to train an archer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It required more than extraordinary eyesight and mental fortitude—it demanded endless, tedious repetition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even he, had his father not laid a foundation for him since childhood, could never have achieved such precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet his Lord, who had fired that “divine arrow” just yesterday, had undergone such a radical transformation in a single day—as if he had become an entirely different person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I merely paid a little more attention.” Xia Mingyu, bow in hand, gazed steadily forward, speaking calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Boge was now his attendant, Xia Mingyu had no intention of revealing the truth behind his ability—he understood well the saying: talk too much, and you’ll slip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap-tap-tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, another rabbit burst from the grass, sprinting swiftly toward the underbrush ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Divine Mind Wander, activate!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xia Mingyu” drew an arrow from Boge’s quiver, nocked it with practiced ease, and snapped his arm forward in a powerful release.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The motion flowed like water, utterly smooth, without a single wasted or stiff motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrow struck precisely into the rabbit’s right eye, exiting through its left, spraying a spray of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perfect kill!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Often, consciousness is merely a burden to the body.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Mingyu, returning to himself, stared at the rabbit’s corpse and silently sighed within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boge, who had watched the entire scene, stood frozen in utter shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Lord had matched his own years of relentless training in just one day!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boge suddenly felt utterly useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Lord, am I really that useless?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way back to the village, Boge trudged along, carrying the two rabbit corpses, gloomy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are my loyal attendant, and my most precious treasure. Believe in yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Mingyu smiled faintly and patted the boy’s back in encouragement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was only putting on a small show—he didn’t want his key combatant to lose morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, My Lord! I will never disgrace the surname you’ve granted me! One day, I will become a Dragon Hunter like Lord Chu from your homeland!” The boy, never having been exposed to such pressure, instantly regained his fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, I believe in you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two gradually vanished into the forest’s mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the entrance to Fruit Basket Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prince Mingyu, I humbly greet you on behalf of my lord, Viscount Calen Hughes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon arriving, Xia Mingyu saw the same knight who had come to collect taxes—now kneeling respectfully before him on one knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sight stirred a flicker of tension in Xia Mingyu’s heart, yet his face remained calm, his voice indifferent as he asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is your purpose here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord has learned of your arrival and is deeply honored. He prepares to present humble gifts and pay his respects at the hour of mid-afternoon. He humbly begs your permission.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knight Solin bowed deeply, his weathered face filled with eager anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Xia Mingyu’s heart began pounding rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew the nobleman of the kingdom’s ruling class would not be fooled as easily as the villagers or even the knights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One misstep, and he risked being exposed—and bleeding out on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very well. I look forward to meeting your lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his inner turmoil, Xia Mingyu answered calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After these days since his transmigration, he had learned: avoidance would not improve his situation—only bold action could uncover a way out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the main reason was that he understood clearly: though Viscount Hughes sounded courteous through Solin’s words, it was merely a polite prelude to force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coming to pay respects is a sign of respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he refused, next time it wouldn’t be just Solin arriving—but a squad of fierce, bloodthirsty soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, thank you for your grace! My lord will not be a moment late!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Solin beamed with joy. He rose slowly, bowed deeply, then leapt onto his towering steed and galloped off toward Viscount Hughes’s temporary encampment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could hardly wait to deliver this good news to his lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Lord, you’re truly incredible—even Viscount Hughes comes to pay you homage!” Boge couldn’t help but praise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To everyone in the village, Viscount Hughes was a figure as elusive as a dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout Black Wolf Domain and neighboring territories, tales of Viscount Hughes’s valor and benevolence were sung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some said he cherished his people, imposing the lightest taxes in all of Sosia Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others claimed he was a fearsome warrior who, in battle, had slain multiple knights single-handedly, earning the title “The Howling Wolf.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet even such a great man came personally with gifts to pay homage to his Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What an honor!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boge felt becoming the Prince’s attendant was the happiest thing in his life—enough to outweigh all past suffering. He gazed at his Lord with unwavering loyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh. If only I’d majored in theater instead of psychology back then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the boy’s “burning” gaze beside him, Xia Mingyu sighed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Happy Lichun, folks—please drop a few Moon Tickets~ Thanks (ω)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1079,"2026-06-19T22:18:43.340Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","74f611b6885ae7fd8c55dde0c32df75f68768651ecd2829a9ea076ec82eff2d1","heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-chapter-25","heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-chapter-23",186,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fheir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-cover.jpg"]