Ji Hongxue had a token, so they passed through without hindrance and quickly entered the inner grounds of Prince De's Estate.
The steward hurried off to notify Ji Changwu.
An Bulang and Ji Hongxue arrived at the main hall of Prince De's Estate, only to find that there were other guests there.
"Sister Hongxue!" A pretty young girl in green ran happily over when she saw Ji Hongxue. She warmly embraced her and smiled. "Why did you come here without telling Hui'er?" The girl beamed.
An Bulang glanced at the girl. Her looks were passable; she could score one point in the Wave-style Rating System.
After one look, he could not be bothered to look again and continued eating the Spicy Twisted Dough he had bought.
"I came to discuss an urgent matter with Second Prince." Ji Hongxue smiled gently. "And what have you come here for?"
There were several other lavishly dressed people in the hall, all of whom appeared to hold considerable status.
They all stepped forward to greet Ji Hongxue.
"Great General Pingnan's army won a battle in the south. We came here to celebrate his victory with him."
A tall, slender man in a black robe answered with a composed smile, neither servile nor overbearing.
"Xun Zilan, I never expected you to come celebrate Second Prince's victory as well." Ji Hongxue's beautiful eyes lit up slightly.
Xun Zilan was the Jade Sword Sect's chief disciple, and the Jade Sword Sect was a great cultivation sect of the Azure Kingdom. If he could stand on Ji Changwu's side, their chances of bringing down Ji Wuye would increase by several degrees.
"What are you saying, Fellow Daoist Ji Hongxue? Changwu and I are friends. Since he won a battle in the south this time, naturally I had to come congratulate him." Xun Zilan maintained his gentle smile, gazing meaningfully at Ji Hongxue. "I can tell that you have talent for cultivation as well. Why not let me recommend you to the sect master? Join the Jade Sword Sect, and you will naturally behold a whole new world."
Ji Hongxue's aura-concealing technique was quite good. Even Xun Zilan could not tell that she possessed cultivation.
"Oh? You're already trying to whisk away my Sister Hongxue?" The girl in green teased as she linked arms with Ji Hongxue.
"Ji Hongxue and Xun Zilan are a match of talent and beauty, made by heaven itself. Standing together, they make a perfect pair. Being together would be wonderful." A young master egged them on, his expression toward Xun Zilan carrying a faintly fawning air.
Xun Zilan smiled at Ji Hongxue without stopping their teasing, his intentions thought-provoking.
Ji Hongxue's face, however, turned slightly cold. "Enough of this. Whoever jokes about this again, do not blame me for showing no mercy."
No one had expected Ji Hongxue to speak so bluntly.
Even Xun Zilan was somewhat surprised, though he kept smiling as he smoothed things over. "All right. I brought some fine tea from the Jade Sword Sect. Come, everyone, taste it with me."
The moment those words were spoken, everyone grew excited.
"Immortals' tea! I must savor it properly!"
"Ah, if only I had cultivation talent, I would fight with everything I had to seek a place as a Jade Sword Sect disciple."
"With Brother Xun Zilan leading us, we can enjoy an immortal's blessings too."
"Hehe, while this tea cannot give us cultivation, it can strengthen the body and prolong life. It is absolutely a treasure one can only dream of obtaining."
Everyone quickly shifted their attention.
But the girl in green fixed her gaze on the youth behind Ji Hongxue.
"Sister Hongxue, who is this young master behind you?"
The girl in green thought the youth looked refined, especially his remarkably spirited eyes, which were impossible to forget after one look. She could not help asking.
Only then did everyone suddenly realize that there was another man behind Ji Hongxue.
Yet this youth had been eating Spicy Twisted Dough the entire time, completely ignoring them. They had instinctively assumed he was Ji Hongxue's servant. But on closer inspection, something seemed off. What servant would calmly and leisurely eat twisted dough right in front of them?
"Oh, let me introduce him." At the mention of An Bulang, Ji Hongxue's face carried much more genuine warmth. "His name is An Bulang. He is my guard..."
"Oh, just a guard?" The girl in green looked disappointed.
She had thought he was some young master from a wealthy household. Seeing how good-looking he was, she had been willing to make his acquaintance. But now she had no interest at all. Being handsome could not fill one's stomach.
The others also lost interest. Though they said nothing, they could not be bothered to acknowledge him. At that moment, however, one person could not help speaking up.
"Even if he is merely a guard beside the princess, he should not openly eat such crude food in the main hall, should he? Besides, with Brother Xun Zilan here, why would Ji Hongxue need his protection? Have him stand outside the door." The speaker was Qi Yunping, the son of Autumn Moon City's lord.
The others said nothing, but the contempt—even disregard—in their eyes had already made their stance clear. A guard should do a guard's work; standing outside the door would be just fine.
At those words, Ji Hongxue's willow brows immediately rose. "An Bulang is my friend, and even more so, my lifesaver. You want to send him outside?"
Ji Hongxue looked at Qi Yunping. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Suddenly, she extended a jade-like finger and pointed outside. "You, get out!"
Qi Yunping's eyes widened, clearly unable to react in time. "No... I..."
"Do I have to add the word 'scram'?" Ji Hongxue shouted coldly.
This scene left everyone stunned.
None of them had expected Ji Hongxue to become so angry over a mere little guard. She had turned hostile on the spot just because the city lord's son had said one disrespectful thing about him. It seemed this guard held no small place in the princess's heart.
With that thought, no one present dared step forward to speak for Qi Yunping.
Qi Yunping did not dare provoke her further either, and he left in a sorry state. How could a small fry like him dare vent his dissatisfaction at a princess of the kingdom?
"Hehe, so little friend An Bulang is Hongxue's lifesaver. At such a young age, you have already reached the Profound Body Third Layer—truly remarkable. Please forgive my earlier discourtesy." Smiling, Xun Zilan took the initiative to invite him. "I have fine spirit tea here. Come taste it with us."
The atmosphere immediately became lively.
"Heavens, so Young Master An Bulang is a cultivator too?"
"Not only that, he has already reached the Profound Body Third Layer at such a young age. No wonder he can serve as Third Princess's guard."
"Young Master An Bulang truly is a young hero!"
Everyone immediately became familiar with him, and some had even cast aside their pride to flatter him.
An Bulang nodded perfunctorily as he ate Spicy Twisted Dough. Hehe, one moment ago they could not be bothered to acknowledge him, and now he had become a young hero in their eyes? How realistic...
The green-clad girl who had rated one point earlier also came over to ingratiate herself with him.
An Bulang also learned that she was the County Princess of a county, named Xu Linghui.
Xun Zilan remained elegant and graceful as ever, personally brewing tea for everyone. Soon, the tea was ready.
Everyone began tasting Xun Zilan's spirit tea. Tea produced by a major cultivation sect within the kingdom was not something they could drink whenever they wished, even with their considerable status in the Azure Kingdom.
The fragrance was rich, clear, and sweet.
Everyone who drank it praised it without end.
Even Ji Hongxue slightly narrowed her eyes in enjoyment after taking a sip.
Unable to withstand everyone's enthusiasm, An Bulang also took a sip. But he soon frowned and said bluntly, "This tea... has a problem!"