Chapter 80: I Shall Become Your Left Arm (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Spark Hall.

"You've actually become this handsome?"

Looking at the man kneeling on one knee before him, with a high-bridged nose and a heroic build like a sculpture, a trace of shock appeared on Xia Mingyu's face.

He found it difficult to connect the spirited young man before him with the scarred, ugly "Thirteen" who looked like he could have played a serial killer in *Saw*.

"Thanks to the gift you bestowed upon me, 'Thirteen Nirvana,' I underwent my first rebirth, regained my life, and repaired every scar I had until now. All of this is thanks to you."

Hagek Kesi nodded slightly and said with utmost respect.

"Sit down and tell me everything that has happened to you."

Xia Mingyu was very curious about Hagek Kesi's past. He patted the man's shoulder and snapped his fingers, causing the first bronze seat on his left to expand to accommodate the man's larger frame.

"Yes, Your Highness."

After taking his seat, Hagek Kesi spoke slowly.

His voice was neither impassioned nor emotional, but fortunately, his life had been sufficiently dramatic and tortuous.

Born a slave, losing his emotions in repeated life-or-death struggles with his kin, tortured into a walking corpse by guilt, meeting His Highness, refusing to kill and giving up fighting and resistance, being thrown into a dungeon while bleeding, fighting a man-eating demon lion barehanded, and finally using his life to coerce the Impaler into improving the lives of slaves.

Xia Mingyu listened, dazzled, sighing at times and smiling at others.

This was far more exciting than those fantasy novels on Blue Star, and what's more, this was the living experience of a real tough guy.

"Hagek Kesi, it's truly great to have met you!" After hearing the whole story, Xia Mingyu exclaimed sincerely.

Only now did he realize what a soft and righteous soul lay beneath the giant's once-ugly skin.

He had once thought he shared the same will as Hagek Kesi; now it seemed the other's will might far surpass his own.

To meet such a righteous and selfless companion in this world filled with sin, occult brothels, and gangs was truly reliable!

"Your Highness... no, my Lord, meeting you is the greatest salvation of my life."

"I will become your left arm, forever staying by your side to cleanse this world filled with sinners together with you."

"I swear to the gods... no, I swear to you, any enemy who dares to harm you will be killed by me without mercy. If the enemy is stronger than me, let them step over my corpse twelve times first."

Hagek Kesi bowed his head deeply.

"I also swear to you, I will forever regard you as my companion, cherishing you as I would my own left arm. May we realize that absurd and long-lasting ideal together—letting everyone on this entire continent live like human beings!"

Xia Mingyu extended his fist toward Hagek Kesi, and the man understood, doing the same.

Bang.

Two fists, one large and one small, collided.

Black Langbao.

Guest bedroom.

Xia Mingyu slowly woke from his sleep, looking at the yellowing sky outside the window, feeling as if a lifetime had passed.

"I didn't expect to sleep from noon until dusk... but at least I successfully helped Hagek Kesi."

Xia Mingyu stretched comfortably, a sense of accomplishment welling up.

Afterward, he frowned slightly and looked toward his heart, where a palpitation occurred.

"I didn't expect that even after transmigrating, I'd still have this problem." Xia Mingyu sighed.

He was like this back on Blue Star; if he slept until dusk, he would get a palpitation of being abandoned by the world.

But the cure was simple: he just needed to find a gentle young lady to chat with.

Xia Mingyu pushed open the door and walked out, preparing to head to the library.

"It seems the carriages entering the castle haven't stopped since today."

In the corridor, Xia Mingyu looked at the carriages loaded with goods driving into the castle outside the window, his face showing confusion.

He had lived in Black Langbao for a while, but he had never seen such a grand scene.

"Your Highness."

Just then, the butler, Old Xiao En, happened to pass by the corner of the corridor with two servants carrying goods. Seeing him, they bowed respectfully.

"Butler, what are these carriages for?" Xia Mingyu asked.

"Your Highness, Young Master Haidun's infant honor ceremony will be held in a few days. A necessary step of the ceremony is to announce the birth of Young Master Haidun throughout the territory."

"A small portion of these carriages contains goods for the ceremony, but the vast majority are congratulatory gifts sent specifically by the people of the territory who heard about Young Master Haidun," Old Xiao En explained.

"Lady Anliya has confirmed repeatedly that these people sent them voluntarily, with no one coerced. It seems that because of the recent cleanup of the brothels and gangs, the people are very grateful to the Lord."

Seeming to worry he might misunderstand, Old Xiao En added quickly.

"So that's how it is." Xia Mingyu was thoughtful, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

People are good like this: if you keep them in your heart, they will keep you in theirs.

"Your Highness, since Lady Dorovai died, I have never seen the Lord as happy as he is today. It is because your arrival has brought new glory and happiness to Black Langbao."

"May the gods bless you; you will always be the most distinguished guest of Black Langbao."

Old Xiao En bowed in sincere gratitude, and the two servants behind him also bowed while holding the goods.

"It's nothing. Kalen has helped me a lot too. We... are friends." Xia Mingyu looked at the sunset clouds outside the window and smiled slightly.

"Help me notify Miss Anliya and tell her to come to the library now."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The sunset's afterglow spilled in through the library's tall arched windows, dyeing the entire space in a layer of warm gold, giving a sense of quiet, peaceful warmth.

Xia Mingyu rested his head on the lap of the beautiful girl in the white dress, feeling the softness at the back of his head while eating the herb-fried fish strips fed to him by her slender fingers.

"Refreshing!" Feeling the satisfaction of both appetite and desire being met, Xia Mingyu couldn't help but say.

"Hehe, Your Highness, eat slowly. I fried a lot of fish strips~"

Miss Anliya was also happy, because after eating vegetarian food for so many days, His Highness could finally accept meat again.

Now she wouldn't have to rack her brains every day thinking about how to make vegetarian food delicious, nutritious, and varied.

Watching the harmonious scene between the two, Yi Li Si, who was lying in a hammock holding a book nearby, felt a bit envious.

Ever since her mother died, it seemed she hadn't been this close to anyone for a very, very long time.

"Your Highness, may I ask you something?" After hesitating for a moment, Yi Li Si walked to his side and knelt down.

"Speak freely, Teacher Yi Li Si." Xia Mingyu said lazily.

"I heard from my father today that you intend to accept my younger brother Haidun as your godson. Is that true?" the girl asked.

Although she knew her father wouldn't lie to her, no matter what, it was hard to believe that a Highness with 1.4 billion citizens would accept the son of a viscount as a godson.

Xia Mingyu nodded slightly.

"This... this... you really are generous to an unbelievable degree!"

After confirming the matter was true, Yi Li Si couldn't help but exclaim, feeling deep envy for the good luck of her half-brother.

If she could, she also hoped to have a godfather as noble as His Highness, so that even if she were an ominous person with different-colored eyes, no one would dare look at her differently.

After all, behind him were 1.4 billion people; that was the weight of an entire continent.

(End of chapter)