The first snow of the morning fell softly over the northern border outpost.
From the highest watchtower, I could see the white world stretching endlessly toward the northern mountains. Villages dotted the frozen plains like small islands in a sea of snow.
One of those villages had sent a messenger at dawn.
A young boy, barely twelve, half-frozen and trembling.
Bandits.
Starving villagers.
A noble girl trapped in the Frostwood Village manor.
The moment Yue Lian finished the report, I stood up from the command chair.
"We move immediately."
Yue Lian bowed.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Behind me, Hu Mei smiled lazily.
"My, Master does love saving beauties."
Lin Xue gave her a cold glance.
"Or perhaps he simply knows how to win hearts."
I ignored them.
Mostly.
But they weren't wrong.
Saving people wasn't just the right thing to do.
It built loyalty.
Territory.
Power.
And in this world, power needs roots.
As we rode north with twenty Phoenix Flame Guards and my two Frost Wolves, the snowstorm gradually thickened.
The village came into view after nearly an hour.
It was worse than I expected.
Broken wooden fences.
Collapsed rooftops.
Frozen crops are buried beneath the snow.
Villagers huddled around weak fires, their faces hollow with hunger.
The moment they saw the crimson armour of my guards, panic spread.
Then one elderly woman suddenly dropped to her knees.
"It's… It's the Fifth Prince!"
The others followed.
Word had spread fast.
Good.
Fear and hope were both useful.
I dismounted.
"No need to kneel."
I looked around.
"Where are the bandits?"
A middle-aged man stepped forward.
"In the manor, Your Highness."
His face was pale.
"They took Lady Xue Ning and her attendants."
Lady?
Interesting.
The old man lowered his voice.
"She is the daughter of Lord Xue, governor of the northern villages."
A governor's daughter.
No wonder the bandits hadn't simply looted and left.
A hostage.
I looked toward the manor at the edge of the village.
A large two-storey wooden building, now surrounded by armed men.
At least thirty.
Bandits.
No organised military aura.
Just ruthless killers.
Perfect.
I smiled slightly.
"Yue Lian."
She stepped forward.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Surround the manor."
"As you command."
The Phoenix Guards moved like shadows through the snow.
Lin Xue's cold blue eyes narrowed as she observed the manor.
"There are two cultivators inside."
Her voice was calm.
"Body Tempering Levels 7 and 8."
Bandit leaders.
Good.
Manageable.
Hu Mei tilted her head.
"Should I go charm them?"
I raised a brow.
"Try not to burn the village down."
That made Feng Yuehuang, standing beside me, glance in my direction.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"I believe that line was meant for me."
I smiled.
"Both of you."
The assault began.
Hu Mei vanished into violet mist.
A moment later, confused shouting erupted from the manor.
Men began attacking each other.
Her illusion arts were improving.
Excellent.
Yue Lian and the guards stormed the front.
Steel clashed.
Screams echoed through the snow.
I moved with them.
One bandit rushed me with an axe.
I sidestepped and cut him down.
Warm qi flowed through my meridians.
The system flashed.
[Host kill successful]
EXP +140
Good.
More growth.
Inside the manor, the main hall had become a fortress.
The bandit leader stood near the staircase.
A burly man with a scarred face and beast-fur armour.
His cultivation aura was clearly Body Tempering Level 8.
He looked at me and laughed.
"So the prince's dog came himself."
I smiled coldly.
"And you're about to regret that."
He roared and charged.
His axe came down like a falling tree.
I blocked with Zhao Ming's sword.
The impact forced me back.
Strong.
But now I was in the Qi Gathering Realm.
This wasn't the same Chen Sheng they had expected.
I let qi flow into my blade.
The steel glowed faintly.
Then slashed upward.
His axe split in two.
His eyes widened.
"Impossible!"
I stepped forward and drove the blade through his chest.
The system rang.
[Elite enemy slain]
EXP +520
Reward: 1 Divine Summon Card
Instantly.
A grin spread across my face.
A summon card.
Perfect.
I didn't even think.
I used it immediately.
The card ignited in my hand.
Golden light filled the hall.
Everyone froze.
Even the remaining bandits stared in terror.
The formation circle expanded across the floor.
Then—
A figure stepped out.
A tall man in silver armour, carrying a long spear engraved with frost runes.
His face was sharp and noble.
His aura—
far above everyone in the hall.
[Summon Successful]
Name: Xuan Mo
Title: Heavenly Spear General
Realm: Spirit Core 2
Loyalty: 50
He dropped to one knee.
"This general greets the sovereign."
Perfect.
The remaining bandits lost all will to fight.
Within moments, the manor was secured.
Then I heard it.
A faint voice from upstairs.
"Help…"
I ran toward the second floor.
At the far end of the corridor, a room door had been locked from the outside.
I broke it open.
Inside—
A young woman stood by the window.
Long silver-white hair.
Pale skin.
Eyes like frozen lakes.
Even in the dim light, she looked almost unreal.
A true beauty.
For a moment, even I paused.
She looked at me with disbelief.
"The Fifth Prince…"
I blinked.
"You know me?"
A faint, bitter smile appeared on her lips.
"The entire northern villages know the prince who was cast away."
Her voice was soft.
Then she bowed slightly.
"I am Xue Ning, daughter of Lord Xue."
So this was the princess of the frozen village.
I offered her my hand.
"You're safe now."
For a moment, she looked at my hand.
Then slowly placed hers in mine.
Cold.
Delicate.
The moment our hands touched, the system flashed.
[Special Talent detected]
Frost Spirit Bloodline discovered
Interesting.
Very interesting.
I smiled inwardly.
A noble beauty with a hidden bloodline talent.
This world truly liked throwing opportunities at me.
Outside, the snow continued to fall.
And somewhere in the distance, I could already feel fate moving once again.