The man's attack was swift and powerful; the Shangchen family disciple hadn't expected such a sudden attack. Unable to dodge in time, he was struck and staggered to the side. The burly man followed up with another kick, sending the young man crashing to the ground. The young man lay there, struggling and shouting something. His expression remained defiant, suggesting he wasn't begging for mercy. He was probably revealing his family name, attempting to intimidate the man.
The two burly men stopped attacking and instead strode towards Chen Xiao's car. Reaching the car, they stopped abruptly and stood up straight. Facing the car, they bowed respectfully and bent low.
The driver was terrified. Chen Xiao frowned, thinking: Could it be gangsters seeking revenge? But why were they bowing to me? It didn't seem like they were looking for revenge...
Thinking this, Chen Xiao opened the car door and stepped out, standing beside the car. He looked at the two burly men. Their suits were open, unbuttoned, and there were no weapons hidden inside. They had just brazenly blocked the road and then attacked people as soon as they appeared, displaying an extremely arrogant attitude. Why were they now so respectful?
Just then, another person stepped out of the car in front. He was dressed in a gray kimono. After getting out, he took small, quick steps and walked up to Chen Xiao. He bowed deeply and said respectfully in Chinese, "Mr. Chen Xiao. Our master invites you in!"
Upon seeing the man, Chen Xiao recognized him immediately. It was the same fellow who had come to Quanliu Palace last night to deliver a folding fan to him; he seemed to be a close attendant of Prince Boren.
So he's a member of the royal family; no wonder he's so arrogant. As for attacking the disciples of the Shangchen family—Bo Ren has always been at odds with the Shangchen family, so when he encountered someone from the Shangchen family, how could his subordinates possibly hold back?
Upon seeing that it was someone sent by Prince Boren, Chen Xiao didn't understand the other party's intentions and was unwilling to agree so easily.
At this moment, the young man from the Shangchen family who had been beaten finally struggled to his feet. He also heard the other party's self-introduction. Although the Shangchen family was quite powerful, they still had no power to resist the most noble imperial family in all of Japan. After being beaten, he could only lower his head and endure it.
"I have other matters to attend to on my journey. I'm afraid I cannot accept Your Highness's invitation." Chen Xiao spoke politely, but his tone was indifferent. He didn't want to have anything to do with Prince Boren. He didn't even want to concern himself with the Shangchen family. He just wanted to find Zhang Xiaotao and leave Japan as soon as possible. As for the disputes of the Shangchen family or the complicated relationships within the royal family, he was an outsider and didn't want to get involved.
However, the attendant refused to give up. He must have received strict orders from Bo Ren to bring Chen Xiao here. So he smiled and said, "Our Highness knows that Mr. Chen Xiao is going to the capital to meet friends, so he has specially prepared a carriage for you. Please come ahead, Mr. Chen Xiao."
He paused, glanced at the car next to Chen Xiao, and sneered, "The Shangchen family is getting more and more unruly! For a distinguished guest like Mr. Chen Xiao to travel in such a dilapidated old car, and only send such an ignorant brat to accompany him... It's simply disrespectful to a distinguished guest!"
A beat-up car?
Chen Xiao glanced at the car beside him. Although it wasn't a top-of-the-line car, it was still a Honda Acura RL, which was considered quite high-class. However, in the mouth of this royal prince's attendant, it was described as a "broken car".
Chen Xiao was about to say something when the attendant, being quite quick-witted, turned and glared at the young member of the Shangchen family, shouting, "Go back and tell the Shangchen family that our Prince has taken Mr. Chen Xiao away. The Shangchen family should reflect on their neglect of their guest! You'd better leave now! We will take care of Mr. Chen Xiao ourselves."
Although he was just a servant, he was, after all, someone close to a royal prince. How could a mere young disciple of the Shangchen family dare to utter a single word of rebuttal? The other party was also clever; instead of speaking directly to Chen Xiao, he first used his status to bully this young member of the Shangchen family. The young man dared not disobey, and could only helplessly glance at Chen Xiao, respectfully nod, and obediently get into the carriage and leave.
Chen Xiao couldn't help but feel annoyed. This person had ordered the Shangchen family to get lost without his consent. He was unfamiliar with the area, and if he insisted on not going with them, he would probably have no choice but to walk to the capital.
The attendant scared away the Shangchen family members, then turned to Chen Xiao with utmost respect, and said with a careful, fawning smile, "Lord Chen Xiao, please come in. Our prince is doing this out of kindness."
Chen Xiao hesitated for a moment, then realized that this was the only option. He followed the attendant into the car, and after driving for only a few minutes, he came to an intersection where he saw a convoy of four or five cars parked there, surrounded by a circle of guards in black suits patrolling the area.
As soon as Chen Xiao got out of the car, a young man stepped out of a dignified black Mercedes-Benz across the street. He was pale-faced, but his eyes held an innate arrogance. He wore a long black robe embroidered with chrysanthemum patterns. It was Prince Boren.
When Chen Xiao saw the black Mercedes-Benz, he sighed inwardly—compared to this, the Acura RL that the Shangchen family had given him was indeed just a "broken car".
Chen Xiao had once heard Zhang Xiaotao say that the Japanese Imperial Family typically uses three types of cars. The first is Mercedes-Benz, a classic top-tier European car brand whose craftsmanship is beyond question. However, the tradition of the Japanese Imperial Family using Mercedes-Benz cars dates back to World War II, when Hitler gifted the Japanese Emperor a Mercedes-Benz as his official vehicle, and the Imperial Family subsequently became accustomed to using Mercedes-Benz cars.
The second category is Rolls-Royce, whose history as a world-class luxury car needs no further introduction.
Thirdly, it seems that in order to support domestic brands, Toyota in Japan also has a special presidential-level car that is specially supplied to the royal family—similar to China's Hongqi.
Chen Xiao wasn't exactly a car enthusiast, but he could tell that the Mercedes had run-flat tires, and the steel plates and glass were bulletproof. Although the design was somewhat rigid, it was necessary to highlight the majesty and solemnity of royalty.
As for license plates… the vehicles used by the Japanese Imperial Family don't have license plates! A gold chrysanthemum crest serves as their pass, allowing them unrestricted access throughout Japan. This car has a gold chrysanthemum crest displayed where the license plate should be!
"Chen Xiaojun, we meet again." Prince Boren nodded to Chen Xiaojun, his expression very warm.
Chen Xiao's expression was neither warm nor cold; he raised his hand as a greeting. Bo Ren laughed heartily, then grabbed Chen Xiao's wrist and personally pulled him into the Mercedes, where the two sat facing each other in the back row.
The rear seats of this top-of-the-line car were very spacious; even with two people sitting face-to-face, there was still plenty of room. However, as soon as the doors closed, the entourage outside sprang into action, and in no time, the convoy was back on the road, escorted by bodyguard vehicles leading the way and following behind, continuing towards Kyoto.
Inside the carriage, Chen Xiao and Prince Boren sat facing each other. Chen Xiao felt that Prince Boren had been looking at him with an eager gaze ever since he got on the train. His gaze was too enthusiastic, and his smile seemed a little too affectionate.
Chen Xiao was startled. He suddenly remembered the words "For your sake, I have been pondering until now" on the folding fan that Prince Boren had sent him last night. A chill ran down his spine. He subconsciously looked at Prince Boren warily, thinking: You damned jerk, if you dare to make a move on me, I don't care if you're a prince or not, I'll punch your face until it's dented!
"Chen Xiaojun".
Finally, Prince Boren spoke. His voice was gentle and pleasant, and when he looked into Chen Xiao's eyes, his gaze was filled with affection: "Yesterday I witnessed your heroic bearing and was greatly impressed! I told myself that I must get to know a young talent like you!"
Heroic bearing?
Damn, yesterday I clearly flicked someone's penis, not did anything "heroic"! You're infatuated with me because of that? Do you enjoy having your penis flicked?!
Holy crap! This Prince Hirohito is not only a hopeless homosexual, but also has masochistic tendencies!!
Chapter 202 [Akiyoshi Palace]
Seeing the strange expression on Chen Xiao's face, even if Prince Boren were ten times smarter, he would never have guessed that Chen Xiao was harboring such a filthy thought.
He noticed Chen Xiao looking at him with some wariness, assuming it was because Chen Xiao was hesitant about his open recruitment. After all—this Chinese expert was recruited first by the Shangchen family.
Prince Boren, though young, already knew he had the potential to ascend the throne. He was ambitious and always tried to appear kind, approachable, and respectful to scholars.
Originally, recruiting Chen Xiao was just a spur-of-the-moment decision, but now that he saw the other party's wariness and resistance, he had a thought that "I must recruit this person! Otherwise, if I can't even subdue a martial artist, how can I expect to subdue so many heroes to serve me in the future!" Thinking of this, the smile on his face became even more amiable and sincere.
"Chen Xiaojun, I had no choice but to stop you halfway today. Please forgive my abruptness!"
As he spoke, Bo Ren actually nodded solemnly, which was considered as him personally bowing and apologizing.
Chen Xiao coughed, sat up straight, and looked at Prince Boren: "Your Highness, we are not related, so I am a little unworthy of such politeness."
Bo Ren assumed that as a prince of the royal family, he had sent someone to deliver gifts yesterday, invited them on the way today, and even personally bowed to apologize to them. He thought that with such a great deal of face, even if the other party was not so grateful that they cried tears of joy, bowed down, and shouted "Lord"... at least they should be somewhat flattered.
To everyone's surprise, Chen Xiao's attitude remained lukewarm, but the wariness in his eyes grew stronger, and in Bo Ren's opinion, there was even a hint of inexplicable hostility... What was going on?
"Chen Xiaojun!" Bo Ren paused for a moment before speaking slowly, "I have loved martial arts since I was a child. However, I am physically weak. From a young age, my first teacher told me that my physical aptitude was probably not suited for advanced martial arts. It is a pity that I have a martial spirit, but I am held back by my weak body. However, my admiration for martial arts masters has only grown stronger! Seeing your demeanor yesterday greatly impressed me. I have seen many martial arts masters in my life, but you are probably the young hero I have ever seen!"
He was only half-truthful in his statement—it's true that he's physically weak (in fact, most members of the Japanese Imperial Family aren't in good physical condition). But even if he were physically strong, as a prince and one of the heirs to the throne, the Imperial Family would absolutely not allow a prince like him to become a martial artist. Practicing martial arts is merely about cultivating a martial spirit and strengthening one's will.
If a young heir to the throne were to be trained into a martial arts fanatic... then all the martial arts instructors in the royal family would probably have to commit seppuku to atone for the Emperor's sins.
Chen Xiao's expression softened slightly: "Your Highness, there's no need to feel sorry for yourself. You are a prince of the royal family. Martial arts cultivation is merely a minor path for personal self-cultivation. Given your status, it's fine if you don't practice it."