Ninth Princess

On the official road, Ye Kang and Jin Baobei had already been riding hard for two days.

Jin Baobei kept her identity concealed, afraid someone would recognize her. She followed behind Ye Kang, acting meek and submissive.

Ye Kang teased her. "Boss Jin, I heard Wang Hai was courting you. I'm sorry I killed your suitor."

At that, Jin Baobei shuddered and hurriedly shook her head.

"I have nothing to do with Wang Hai! That bastard relies on the Golden Saber Sect to back him up and has seized countless innocent women. If I hadn't had some strength, he would have had his way with me long ago. Senior Ye, I should be thanking you for killing that scoundrel."

"Sounds like the Golden Saber Sect doesn't have a very good reputation."

"Of course not. Mengzhou is a place where martial prowess is prized. There are dozens of sects, large and small, each claiming their own territory. Almost all of them have bullied the innocent."

Ye Kang nodded. That didn't surprise him.

Even in the little Jiangping Prefecture, which was relatively close to the imperial capital, the martial artists were incredibly brazen. There was no telling how much worse things were in Mengzhou, farther from the capital.

He continued, "Of the ten major sects in Mengzhou, besides the Golden Saber Sect, who do you think might covet the Ninth Princess?"

At his question, Jin Baobei's face turned deathly pale.

This was a question that could get her killed!

But Ye Kang had asked, and she didn't dare refuse to answer.

After hesitating, Jin Baobei replied vaguely, "Among the ten major sects, only the Sword Worship Sect and the Crimson Flame Cult are on good terms with the Golden Saber Sect. Those two are the most likely to collude with them..."

"I see. Do you know if anything major has happened in Mengzhou recently?"

"What do you mean, Senior?"

"The Rebel Faction."

Ye Kang smiled as he spoke.

Jin Baobei broke into a cold sweat.

The fact that he could say those two words proved beyond doubt that Senior Ye was with the imperial court.

She lowered her voice. "One of my informants says that the Six Mansions Cave Lord of Liuhe Mountain has been recruiting troops on a massive scale and forging armor and swords. It's very suspicious."

"Liuhe Mountain? What sort of force is it?"

"Bandits. Mengzhou is crawling with them, and Liuhe Mountain is the biggest bandit group. They often rob and kill merchant caravans, and slaughter entire villages and towns."

"With bandits running rampant, why doesn't the prefectural government send troops to suppress them?"

"Senior, you jest. The prefectural government doesn't have that many troops. The Governor and the military commanders don't get along, so he can't mobilize the troops from the Barracks, either."

As they talked, the two of them arrived at the prefectural city.

Jin Baobei dismounted and paid the entrance fee. Only then did the City Guard let them through.

Both of them had concealed their strength, making them look like two Second-rate experts.

In Mengzhou, where martial artists were as numerous as hairs on an ox, Second-rate experts were like pebbles tossed into the sea, unable to cause the slightest ripple.

"Senior Ye, one of my informants runs an inn in the city. We can stay there."

"All right. Lead the way."

The two soon arrived at an unassuming tavern. After Jin Baobei revealed her identity, the owner immediately arranged two upper rooms for them.

The rooms were on the third floor, with an excellent view of the street outside.

After their long journey, they naturally ordered a table full of food first.

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, evening had fallen. Ye Kang looked out the window.

"Boss Jin, where is the Grand Tutor's Mansion?"

Jin Baobei pointed southeast. "Follow this street to the end. It's the biggest residence there."

"All right. I'll go check on the Ninth Princess. Make yourself at home."

With that, Ye Kang climbed straight out the window.

Under cover of darkness, his figure darted away like a ghost.

Seeing him go, Jin Baobei suddenly got an idea.

"Should I just run away now?"

But a moment later, she quickly rejected it.

The monk might escape, but the temple wouldn't. Better not test the patience of an Xiantian master.

Ye Kang had the same thought. He wasn't afraid of Jin Baobei trying any tricks.

That was the confidence his strength gave him.

Before long, Ye Kang had crossed half the city, and a vast mansion finally appeared ahead.

The four characters "Han Family Grand Tutor's Mansion" were written above the main gate.

It was the home of Consort Jing's family.

Consort Jing's original surname was Han, and the Han Family was a renowned clan in Mengzhou. The mansion was lavishly decorated.

To protect such a grand estate, there had to be plenty of guards.

Six armored soldiers stood just outside the gate alone. Every one of them was a Third-rate expert, and they looked imposing.

Without making a sound, Ye Kang leaped onto the side wall.

He opened his Five Senses, and several powerful auras around him immediately came into focus.

"At least five Super-class experts, and as many as ten First-class experts. They must be Imperial Guards sent to protect the Ninth Princess. Unfortunately, there's no Xiantian master stationed here."

Ye Kang moved with the wind. As long as he concealed himself with all his might, no one could detect him with merely Super-class strength.

At the same time, the distribution of those experts pointed him straight to the Ninth Princess's location.

It was a modest little side room, but ten experts were stationed around it. Clearly, there was more to it than met the eye.

Ye Kang was wondering how he could see inside when the door to the side room suddenly opened.

A stunning young woman of seventeen or eighteen, graceful and poised, poked her head out.

Taking advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention, she headed straight for the main gate. Just then, a fat, heavyset man hurried over and blocked her way.

"Oh, my dear Highness! Please stop sneaking out! If anything happens to you, our whole family will lose their heads!"

"Uncle, how do you always show up at exactly the right moment?"

The young woman looked disappointed and had to give up on sneaking away.

She seemed to be the Ninth Princess, and the man who had stopped her was probably the Imperial Uncle.

Seeing that the Princess was safe, Ye Kang didn't linger. He slipped away with a leap.

Meanwhile,

The Ninth Princess returned to her room, and the bemused, quirky expression on her face instantly vanished.

"Old Wu, has that person left?"

Inside the room was another woman, an elderly-looking granny with a walking stick and narrowed eyes.

She nodded gently. "He didn't have a trace of ill intent. It seems he only came to make sure the Princess was safe. He must be another guard arranged by the Empress."

At that, the Ninth Princess sighed helplessly.

"Mother really is something. Sending a batch of Imperial Guards wasn't enough, so now she's sent another one. Will it ever end?"

The old woman called Old Wu smiled kindly.

"Her Majesty is worried about the Princess's safety. With the situation in Mengzhou growing more chaotic by the day, that's only natural. Still, I didn't expect Her Majesty to arrange a young Innate First Rank master. I've never heard of him before."

"Hmph. So what if he's Innate First Rank? Old Wu, you're Innate Third Rank. With you here, no one can hurt me."

"Your Highness is too kind. This old woman has one foot in the grave. Sooner or later, I won't be able to protect the Princess. Her Majesty finding such a young Innate First Rank master is a blessing for Your Highness."

"Old Wu, don't say that. You've watched me grow up. You'll definitely break through your limits! For now, I just hope that Innate First Rank master doesn't meddle and ruin my plans."

The Ninth Princess sighed quietly, a trace of sorrow rising across her face.

Ye Kang had no idea that the Ninth Princess had an Old Monster at Innate Third Rank by her side.

If he had known, he certainly wouldn't have gone to the Grand Tutor's Mansion at night and exposed himself.

By then, he had already set his sights on another group of black-clad figures.