Chapter 161

"Alright, I promise you, senpai..."

Before she could finish speaking, Sheng Bailan's face lit up with joy, and she immediately pulled her into her arms, as if afraid that she would run away at any moment.

"But!"

Xiao Minghuang forcefully pushed Sheng Bailan away, took a step back, and solemnly said:

"But! I have conditions. If you don't agree, I'd rather perish together with you!"

178. The princess brought back a beautiful woman [Please subscribe!]

Sheng Bailan nodded vigorously.

"Minghuang, just name your price, I'll agree to anything!"

Xiao Minghuang a soft sigh, pondered for a moment, and said:

"First, you cannot force me to do anything, nor can you threaten me with my family or Ruoshui to make me do anything. Moreover, as soon as Ruoshui finishes refining the pills, you must send her back to Xiadu!"

"No problem, I agree. What's the second condition?"

She never intended to coerce Xiao Minghuang; she was simply acting expediently due to the urgent situation.

"Secondly, you can't say you want to marry me, you have to marry me, because I am the princess of Great Xia, and the only Crown Prince, who will inherit the throne in the future, so I cannot marry outside the family!"

Sheng Bailan didn't really understand what a princess or a Crown Prince was, but she felt that marriage and betrothal were essentially the same thing—weren't they both about getting them married?

"Okay, I agree."

Xiao Minghuang remained outwardly calm, but a hint of joy flickered in her heart.

This Sect Master seems to be even more foolish, or rather, naive, than she imagined.

Perhaps he practiced swordsmanship alone for too long, which made him stupid.

"Thirdly, as a princess of the Great Xia and the Crown Prince, I am a woman of my word, and my word is law. Since you wish to marry me, you must always put me first and never act against my will. Moreover, you must help and assist me whenever I need you. This is my final condition. If you agree, I am willing to marry you; if you do not agree, then we are parting ways!"

Upon hearing this, Sheng Bailan frowned; she roughly understood the meaning behind those words.

It probably means she'll be helping Xiao Minghuang with some things in the future, which isn't a big deal for her.

"Okay, I agree to this condition. When will we get married?"

Sheng Bailan blinked; she really missed the wonderful feeling of that night and couldn't wait to experience it again.

Xiao Minghuang frowned slightly, seemingly worried, but a hint of joy flashed in her eyes as she said with a touch of self-pity:

"That won't do. A contract between cultivators is only valid if it's signed with a Heavenly Dao oath. Otherwise, what if you go back on your word later? My strength is so much weaker than yours, what if you bully me?"

Without much thought, Sheng Bailan immediately said:

"Then I can make a vow to Heaven, so Minghuang can rest assured."

Xiao Minghuang smiled and said softly:

"Then please!"

Looking at Xiao Minghuang's smiling face, Sheng Bailan suddenly felt a surge of joy. This was the first time in her memory that Xiao Minghuang had shown her such a smile.

It wasn't a perfunctory smile, but a genuine smile that came from the heart.

Perhaps overwhelmed by beauty and unable to control herself, she did not delay any longer and immediately made an oath to the Heavenly Dao as Xiao Minghuang requested.

As she spoke, an invisible thread seeped out from her body, connecting to Xiao Minghuang at the other end.

No matter how far apart the two are, no matter their level of cultivation, no matter their lifespan, the vow will always be valid.

"The contract has been made; those who break their word shall Punishment of Eating Rocks!"

Xiao Minghuang's lips curled up slightly, and a hint of a smile appeared in her eyes.

From now on, she will have a powerful henchman at the Primal Embryo Realm who can strike wherever she points.

Sheng Bailan had made a vow, and although she felt something seemed off, she was quickly overcome with excitement.

She excitedly ran to Xiao Minghuang's side and gently took his soft, warm hand in hers.

"Minghuang, when should we get married?"

Having just taken in a new henchman, Xiao Minghuang was in a good mood and didn't mind continuing to appease this silly woman.

"The sooner the better!"

Xiao Minghuang said simply.

Sheng Bailan immediately replied:

"How about... tonight?"

"That won't do!"

Xiao Minghuang revealed a hint of sorrow.

"Sect Master... Bai Lan is at the Primal Embryo Realm, while I am merely Divine Sea Realm cultivator. If we were to marry now, it would be an inappropriate match, inevitably leading to gossip and attacks. As the Crown Prince of Great Xia, I must consider not only my own reputation but also the face of the entire Great Xia. Therefore, I cannot act so rashly."

"How about this, once my cultivation reaches the Primal Embryo Realm, I will marry Bai Lan?"

Hearing this, Sheng Bailan was not very happy, but she did have a point.

Her cultivation level was so much higher than Xiao Minghuang's that it did feel like the other party was climbing the social ladder.

Moreover, she knew that Xiao Minghuang was extremely talented and would reach the Primal Embryo Realm in no time.

So, she doesn't actually need to wait too long.

"Alright then, I'll wait for you!"

Seeing Sheng Bailan's somewhat pitiful expression, Xiao Minghuang reached out and gently patted the top of Sheng Bailan's head.

Although Sheng Bailan was half a fist taller than Xiao Minghuang, at this moment, Xiao Minghuang was the one in control.

Sheng Bailan, who was being patted on the head, showed a very enjoyable expression.

This was the first time she had ever been treated so intimately.

She thoroughly enjoyed this feeling.

It seems that breaking through to a higher level in swordsmanship brings more joy and satisfaction.

Having dealt with the naive and foolish Sheng Bailan, Xiao Minghuang continued his journey towards the Great Xia Dynasty.

With such a powerful figure, the strongest in the Southern Border, wholeheartedly protecting him, Xiao Minghuang had no worries at all on his journey and could rest easy completely.

The central plain of the Great Xia.

A majestic city stands on the plains, its grandeur awe-inspiring.

Standing outside the city wall, Xiao Minghuang felt a surge of nostalgia.

"Although I wasn't away for long, I still felt a strange, indescribable excitement."

It's like a wanderer returning home.

"Is this the summer capital?"

Although Sheng Bailan had cultivated for over forty years, she had never left the Spirit Sword Sect. The only time she left the mountain was when she went to the Heavenly Mansion Secret Realm to rescue Xiao Minghuang.

The second time was two days ago in the wilderness, when I rescued Xiao Minghuang for the second time.

Therefore, she was actually completely ignorant and clueless about the outside world.

Along the way, Xiao Minghuang managed to coax Sheng Bailan quite well.

Now, this powerful expert at the Primal Embryo Realm is basically like her loyal dog. If she doesn't obey orders exactly, she'll at least follow her every command.

Xiao Minghuang squeezed Sheng Bailan's hand and smiled:

"Once I'm done with my business, I'll show you around the capital."

Sheng Bailan was naturally more than happy to oblige and immediately agreed:

"Good!"

After entering the capital, Xiao Minghuang didn't even return to the Princess Mansion, heading straight for the Imperial Palace.

So many days have passed, I wonder how our Old Ancestor are doing.

The Imperial Palace guards naturally recognized Xiao Minghuang, and upon seeing her from afar, they bowed in salute.

At the same time, they also noticed that Princess Ziwei was accompanied by a woman dressed in white, with a pure and aloof demeanor.

The news quickly spread as the guards changed shifts and eventually reached the Princess Mansion.

"Hey! Have you heard? The princess brought back a very beautiful stranger!"

179. Her Highness must have her reasons for doing this. [Please subscribe!]

The Fifth Prince is currently in charge of the defense of the imperial city, essentially Guard Captain for the Imperial Palace and the Princess Mansion. Upon hearing the guard's report, he immediately asked:

"Did you leave Imprint Talisman?"

"I've kept it, Miss Lin, please take a look!"

The Imprint Talisman is a simple and inexpensive talisman that is uniformly distributed to guards by the City Defense Department so that they can preserve images as evidence when necessary.

The guard unfurled the talisman, and a scene appeared before him.

In the scene, two slender women enter the Imperial Palace.

The one wearing the bright yellow dress was naturally Xiao Minghuang.

The other woman, dressed in white and exuding a cool and aloof air, was a complete stranger.

The Fifth Prince frowned slightly. He felt as if he had seen this woman somewhere before, but he couldn't quite place her.

In the scene, Xiao Minghuang and the woman in white are holding hands, appearing quite intimate.

"Give me the Imprint Talisman for safekeeping; you need not concern yourself with this matter any further."

The guard handed over the talisman, adding:

"Many people have seen this, and it's already spread. It won't be easy to hide it now."

"I understand, you may leave now!"

The Fifth Prince waved his hand.

After seeing the guards off, the Fifth Prince's expression was not good.

He was able to stay in the Princess Mansion and now become the head of the city defense bureau, not only because he had some talent and was qualified for the position, but also because of Lin Wanqiu's advice to Emperor Xia.

Although he was nominally a prince of the Great Xia, he was in reality no different from an ordinary minister.

The Emperor Xia did not simply ignore his other sons besides Xiao Minghuang; rather, he showed absolutely no fatherly affection whatsoever.

Therefore, he owes his success today entirely to Lin Wanqiu's support.

But now, Princess Ziwei has suddenly brought back a strange woman from outside.

How could he not feel nervous?

He remembered that Princess Ziwei had been "borrowed" by the Sect Master the Spirit Sword Sect at the exit of the Heavenly Mansion Secret Realm...

Thinking of this, the Fifth Prince's expression suddenly changed drastically.

"That man is the Sect Spirit Sword Sect Master!"

"You said His Highness returned with the Sect Master the Spirit Sword Sect together, and they were very close?"

The Fifth Prince nodded emphatically and took out Imprint Talisman.

"Miss Lin, please look, this is proof!"

When Lin Wanqiu saw the scene in the video where Xiao Minghuang and a cool, aloof woman dressed in white were holding hands, her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

She knew that the Sect Master the Spirit Sword Sect was Primal Embryo Realm expert, and that he and His Highness should have a senior-junior relationship.

I've never heard of any family where the seniors and juniors are so affectionate.