My Big Brother Was Tempering Himself in the Mortal World

"My benefactor!!"

Zhang Qingyan knelt before Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang, weeping bitterly with overwhelming gratitude.

Almost there,

It was really just a tiny bit off.

His father was about to break his legs.

Fortunately, at this critical moment,

The Eldest Princess's decree arrived, saving his life.

This is nothing short of a second life.

There's nothing more to say.

Loyalty!!

As the saying goes, to fail to repay a debt of gratitude is a grave offense.

I've heard that Her Eldest Princess has a fondness for handsome men, and I, Zhang Qingyan, consider myself to have some good looks myself.

If Her Eldest Princess requires me to offer myself to her and become her lover, I am not unwilling to sacrifice my looks.

All of this was to repay a debt of gratitude.

"Get your shifty eyes out of your head. If you dare to be insolent again, I'll have your eyes gouged out."

Xiao Zhaohuang, who already disliked Zhang Qingyan, said coldly.

In an instant,

Zhang Qingyan's wild ideas vanished in an instant.

"I wonder why Your Eldest Princess summoned me here. As long as it is within my power, I will go through fire and water, even unto death."

Zhang Qingyan, without looking to the side, smiled obsequiously.

"He really is a shameless, despicable, and obsequious sycophant."

Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang found Zhang Qingyan increasingly repulsive and disgusting the more she looked at him.

Upon hearing this,

Zhang Qingyan immediately objected.

He was on friendly terms with Immortals,

To criticize him would be to say that the Immortal is bad at judging people and cannot distinguish between loyalty and treachery.

He would absolutely not allow anyone to tarnish the Immortal's reputation, not even Her Highness the Eldest Princess.

"Yes, yes, Your Highness is right. I am shameless, despicable, and vile."

Zhang Qingyan's body, which had just straightened up, bent over again. There was no way he could stand up straight; a cold, sharp blade was already pressed against his neck.

"You have no backbone at all. I don't know what the Immortals saw in you."

Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang slightly raised her hand, Black-Clad Mysterious Person immediately sheathed his sword.

"You just said you were willing to go through fire and water for me, even die for me. I'll give you that chance now."

Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang said coldly.

"Your Highness, please speak. I will do anything within my power, even at the cost of my life."

Zhang Qingyan patted his chest and assured him.

"Very well, I consider you loyal. I wish to invite the Immortal to my residence for a chat. I wonder if you have any ideas?"

Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang spoke casually, but her gaze was fixed on the other person.

Oh, so you were looking for my older brother.

Zhang Qingyan suddenly realized.

However, judging from his older brother's carefree and unrestrained personality, he definitely wouldn't want to attend such a formal banquet.

This is a bit difficult.

Seeing Zhang Qingyan deep in thought, Xiao Zhaohuang couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

"Is it difficult to handle?"

Zhang Qingyan answered truthfully, "It's very difficult."

Break his legs.

After hearing Zhang Qingyan's words, a hint of disappointment flashed in Xiao Zhaohuang's eyes, then he turned around and raised his hand.

Holy crap!!

Zhang Qingyan suddenly woke up with a start, her face filled with horror.

Are they going to break his legs?

Is his leg absolutely going to be broken today?

"Wait, it can be done, it can be done."

A chill ran down Zhang Qingyan's spine, and she immediately shouted.

"Explain."

Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang replied without turning her head.

"Although I took my elder brother to Brothels, gambling Gambling Dens, pleasure boats, and cockfighting parlors, I knew that my elder brother was by no means that kind of vulgar and dissolute person."

Zhang Qingyan said loudly.

"Go on."

Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang didn't turn her head back, but her ears were perked up.

"Actually, you've all misunderstood Him. My elder brother is a True Immortal who has transcended worldly desires. He may seem to crave the pleasures and extravagance of the mortal world, but in reality, he observes the myriad aspects of human life with a cold eye."

The pleasures of the world—wine, women, wealth, and power—were nothing but fleeting clouds to him. Though he was surrounded by noise and clamor, his heart remained detached from the mundane world, untouched by worldly desires and his Daoist heart.

He viewed all the pleasures of the world as merely a play; he could watch the play, but he would never become involved.

Zhang Qingyan continued speaking at length, because he felt that Her Eldest Princess would enjoy hearing such words.

Really,

After listening to Zhang Qingyan's words, Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang finally turned around slowly.

How did you know?

Because I understand Him.

Zhang Qingyan said proudly and confidently.

"Although my elder brother frequents places of pleasure and entertainment, there is always a sense of detachment and indifference in his eyes. Those are not the eyes of someone who craves pleasure and is intoxicated by worldly riches. My elder brother is experiencing the trials of the mortal world, seeing through the ways of the world, and refining his moral character."

Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang: "..."

"You understand Him? You understand Him? Who do you think you are, to claim you understand Him?"

Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang was furious.

She, who always believed that she was the only one in the world who understood Immortals, was actually taught a good lesson by Zhang Qingyan, an uneducated and dissolute playboy.

What broke her defenses the most was...

This shameless, sycophantic scoundrel actually made a lot of sense, leaving her speechless and unable to refute him.

So you two are a match made in heaven?

Then what am I?

Is she a cunning and malicious mistress?

Absurd,

It's utterly absurd and ridiculous.

Faced with the Eldest Princess's sudden outburst of anger, Zhang Qingyan immediately shut his mouth and shrank back.

He then realized that he might have spoken too recklessly and offended the Eldest Princess.

"Your Highness, please calm down. Important matters are at stake."

The Black-Clad Mysterious Person whispered a reminder from the side.

Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang suddenly realized that she had indeed lost her composure.

"I only ask you what to do, not to listen to your nonsense."

Seeing that the Eldest Princess's anger was subsiding, Zhang Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, calming himself down, he said:

"What I'm trying to say is that my elder brother has a discerning eye that can see through appearances and see into people's hearts. So there's no need for those empty, hypocritical, and pretentious things."

"My elder brother is Immortals and Gods, not a mortal. His perspective on people and things is certainly different from that of ordinary people. Therefore, Your Highness, you must set aside your noble status, don't be pretentious, and don't put on airs of royalty. Don't use the human system of hierarchy between ruler and subject to judge Him."

Just be your most authentic self.

Upon hearing this,

Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang was slightly dazed.

Be your most authentic self?

Being in this treacherous royal family and the unpredictable court,

She had long forgotten what her true self was like.

"Then what?"

Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang snapped out of her reverie and asked.

"Then I will try to invite my elder brother to the Eldest Princess's Residence tomorrow. The rest is up to Your Highness."

Zhang Qingyan replied.

That's it?

"It's gone."

"Give him a beating and throw him out."

"What? We have to fight about this too?"

Before Zhang Qingyan could finish speaking, he was dragged out by several strong guards who walked in from outside.

"Your Highness, do you really believe the words of this sycophantic scoundrel who spouts nothing but lies?"

The Black-Clad Mysterious Person walked over and said.

"No matter what, we have to give it a try. Even if we lose, I'll accept it."

Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang gazed at the bright moon high above the window and murmured to herself.