Sister Yaoye!

Besides those lovestruck young women, there was also a carriage that greatly surprised Gu Fengchen.

Because he saw a very distinguished carriage, one that looked somewhat like an imperial carriage!

The carriage was lavish, made of fine nanmu wood. Within a dozen feet of it, one could even smell a faint fragrance. It was adorned with many exquisite jade ornaments that were obviously expensive at a glance.

When the carriage arrived, the women who had been making such a racket immediately fell silent like quails. Gu Fengchen was somewhat surprised, but after only a moment of stunned silence, he recognized where the carriage had come from.

That was right—it was an imperial carriage.

What was going on?

Gu Fengchen was rather puzzled.

To be honest, he did not want to deal with the Jia Ma Imperial Family right now. Jia Xingtian, a Nine-Star Dou Emperor, was stationed there, and he could not afford to provoke him.

Then, a woman slowly stepped down from the carriage.

She wore a light-colored Emerald Mist Robe, paired with a fitting grass-green pleated skirt embroidered with scattered white flowers and drifting mist. The veil she had worn had been discarded on the ground. Her beautiful hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her small oval face was as smooth as congealed cream.

A beauty—a true beauty.

Standing beside her was an old man with white hair and beard, yet the aura he exuded was remarkably sharp.

Jia Xingtian!

As for this woman, Gu Fengchen had also guessed her identity.

Yaoye.

Yaoye was the Great Princess of the Jia Ma Imperial Family. Her grandfather was Jia Xingtian, the strongest expert of the Jia Ma Imperial Family.

Gu Fengchen exchanged a glance with Yaoye. Her eyes were very unusual. Unlike those of ordinary women, they were neither gentle nor lively, but like a deep pool. Yet upon closer inspection, they seemed to contain endless grandeur, faintly carrying the air of one in authority.

When everyone saw that she was a princess of the Jia Ma Imperial Family, they hurriedly bowed in respect.

Several sharp-eyed merchants even immediately instructed their men to bring out their finest stock to "pay respects" to the Great Princess.

Yaoye swept her cold gaze around the crowd and said unhappily, "That old woman was humiliated in the street just now, yet none of you stepped forward. Now you only know how to curry favor with me. You truly know how to play both sides. I see that your guards all possess the strength of Dou Zhe as well. Why did they not act just now?"

The merchants all looked embarrassed. Yaoye did not continue to bother with these opportunists. Instead, she turned to Gu Fengchen. Her red lips parted as she smiled and said, "My name is Yaoye."

Yaoye's initiative in showing goodwill was not merely because of Gu Fengchen's righteous act today. More importantly, it was because of Gu Fengchen's strength.

Today, Yaoye and Jia Xingtian had accompanied the imperial family to the Magic Beast Mountain Range for the Autumn Hunt, which was considered a royal pastime.

However, Yaoye was not particularly interested in fighting and killing, so she had come to Qingshan Town with her grandfather for a look around. She had not expected to encounter the scene from earlier.

While still in the carriage, Yaoye had asked her grandfather, Jia Xingtian, "Grandfather, what do you think of that young man's talent?"

"Excellent." Jia Xingtian half-closed his eyes, appearing both compassionate and stern.

His assessment consisted of only two words, but Yaoye knew that it was an extremely high evaluation.

"Grandfather, you are not deceiving me, are you?" Yaoye asked seriously.

"Of course not. At his age, he already possesses the strength of a Dou Shi. Even compared to the geniuses of the Central Plains, his talent is in no way inferior. His future achievements may even surpass mine."

Yaoye had thought that calling him excellent was already excessive praise, but she had not expected her grandfather to say that the young man's future achievements would not fall below his own. Her grandfather was a Nine-Star Dou Emperor. Greater than her grandfather—would that not mean a Dou Zong?!

Jia Xingtian glanced at Yaoye and said kindly, "You may go make his acquaintance later. But some things cannot be rushed. Take it slowly."

"I understand." Yaoye nodded.

At that moment, faced with Yaoye's initiative, Gu Fengchen calmly extended his hand. "My name is Gu Feng. Greetings, Great Princess."

Neither servile nor overbearing, he showed no unease whatsoever because of her imperial status.

It was not for any other reason. Because of Yaoye's frankness, Gu Fengchen had formed his own assessment of her.

He studied the Imperial Eldest Princess. Her beauty was cold and striking, and she carried a measure of majesty cultivated by the imperial family.

Though she looked young, her entire body exuded a mature, icy charm. As he lightly held her boneless jade-like hand, Gu Fengchen quietly praised her in his heart.

Yet outwardly, he let go as soon as he touched it, not making her feel the slightest discomfort.

"A genius should not remain in Qingshan Town like this. Are you interested in returning to the Jia Ma Imperial Family with me? There are more cultivation resources there. Once you advance to Da Dou Shi in the future, there will even be special medicinal pills supplied to assist your cultivation."

Gu Fengchen froze for a moment, not expecting her to be so direct.

Yaoye smiled and continued, "It is fine if you are unwilling. But I truly think highly of you. Your actions in helping today greatly pleased me. If you are willing in the future, you may call me Sister."

Yaoye had not deliberately lowered her voice, and the residents of Qingshan Town nearby all heard her clearly.

Gu Fengchen thought, Isn't this like bringing me a pillow when I'm sleepy?

In truth, if the Leader of the Serpent Nest Mercenary Group really came looking for trouble with Gu Fengchen, he could only resort to the thirty-sixth stratagem—run away.

But things were different now. He had a backer, and one backed by a Dou Emperor-level expert.

Now that Yaoye was his sister, Jia Xingtian was his grandfather. Whoever dared provoke him would be making trouble for Elder Jia!

I need to cling tightly to Jia Xingtian's thick thigh—oh no, Papa Jia's thick thigh!

Thinking this, Gu Fengchen readily said, "Doing righteous deeds is what I should do. Since Sister Yaoye does not find me beneath her, I shall be your younger brother from now on!"

Upon hearing this, Yaoye immediately beamed.

Gu Fengchen was not the least bit pretentious. Yaoye was backed by the imperial family, so she certainly had plenty of resources. He would take whatever he could get!

"Hahaha, little brother Gu Feng, now that we have made things clear, I promise you this: if you return to the imperial family with me, I will definitely give you something good!"

Gu Fengchen instinctively asked, "What good thing?"

Well, the moment he said it, Gu Fengchen felt a little awkward.

Yet his expression remained completely unchanged, as though the person who had spoken just now was not him.

This was the so-called principle of: as long as I am not embarrassed, the embarrassed one is someone else.

Yaoye paused, then laughed. "Even if it were something extremely good, you still would not return to the imperial family with me, would you?"

Yaoye had lived deep within the palace all year and seen countless people, so she could tell that he had no intention of returning to the Jia Ma Imperial Family with her.

In truth, while Gu Fengchen was observing Yaoye, the Imperial Eldest Princess was also observing the young man.

His eyes were like black crystal jade, making it impossible for anyone to guess what he was truly thinking.

Though he was clearly young, he possessed an aura of calm composure.

Faced with her, the Imperial Eldest Princess of the royal family, Gu Fengchen did not show the slightest timidity. Seeing his tranquil expression, Yaoye was greatly astonished.

One had to know that within the Jia Ma Empire, even the upper echelons of certain noble families could not remain so calm before her.

Gu Fengchen nodded with a smile. "Sister Yaoye, I still prefer the feeling of having a little freedom."

Yaoye nodded without forcing him, then smiled. "No matter what, as your sister, I should still give you a gift for our first meeting."

As soon as she finished speaking, Yaoye took a set of dark black Soft Armor from the carriage.

Yaoye handed the lightweight Soft Armor, which gleamed with a dark sheen, to Gu Fengchen and said with a smile, "This is a set of body-hugging Soft Armor, made from the hide of a Fourth Tier Magic Beast, the Black Demon Bear. It conforms perfectly to the skin and is highly breathable. Most importantly, it can protect you flawlessly. Even a Da Dou Shi would find it difficult to break!"