"What exactly are you? We're both at the Fourth Level of the Qi Refining Realm—how can you possibly be this strong?!"
His entire body trembled as he stared at Xiao Minghuang, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Xiao Minghuang spoke calmly:
"I am the Ninth Princess of the Great Xia imperial family. I was ordered to come to Beiyang City and wipe out the evil cultivators causing trouble here."
The Yaoguang Sword was the first stance of the Big Dipper Seven Stars Sword Technique. It commanded the power of the Yaoguang Star, and its might was extraordinarily strange and fierce.
Yet using it within this cave, where not a single star could be seen, was greatly restricted. Furthermore, Xiao Minghuang had no magical artifact in hand, so its power had been considerably weakened.
Even so, defeating the evil cultivator leader was more than enough.
Xiao Minghuang's eyes flickered. Four great vortices manifested around her body, spiritual energy surging violently. She raised her hand again, golden light glimmering at her fingertips. With two fingers formed into a sword, she slashed out.
This sword strike was incomparably sharp. Its momentum was not weaker than before—instead, it was three parts stronger.
Faced with the starlit sword shadow tearing through the air, the evil cultivator leader was terrified out of his wits. Knowing he was no match, he turned and fled, only for Xiao Minghuang to catch up and pierce his skull with a finger. His breath ceased on the spot.
After the evil cultivator leader died, Xiao Minghuang searched his body and found a storage pouch containing the spirit stones they had plundered.
There were over a thousand in total, along with some low-level martial arts manuals. They were all Low-grade Yellow Tier and held little value.
Xiao Minghuang frowned slightly. These things were useless to her, but something was better than nothing, so she stored them all in her storage pouch.
What was worth noting was that among those worthless manuals, she unexpectedly discovered a peculiar cultivation method.
Calling it a cultivation method was not quite appropriate. This should have been some kind of secret technique.
Its name was utterly plain and unadorned: the "Dual Cultivation Technique."
Xiao Minghuang opened it and took a look. Inside were drawings of two little figures performing all sorts of movements.
To her surprise, the final few pages of this booklet even recorded methods of same-sex dual cultivation.
Filled with anticipation, Xiao Minghuang flipped to those pages, only to be greatly disappointed.
What should have been an exceedingly stimulating scene looked neither fish nor fowl because the drawings were so crudely made. Not the slightest romantic thought could arise from them.
"This must be the evil art cultivated by the Three Demon Heads. They even cultivated such a low-grade technique—no wonder they were only in the Body Tempering Realm."
Xiao Minghuang scorned the secret technique's author, tore out all the earlier chapters, leaving only the same-sex dual cultivation method, and then placed it in her storage pouch.
Additionally, she found a stack of letters in the storage pouch, recording the contacts between this group and some important figure in Great Xia.
"This counts as an unexpected gain."
Xiao Minghuang stared blankly ahead and murmured softly.
After finding nothing else worth her attention, she turned and returned to the stone building.
"Miss Lin, the matter has been resolved. We can leave now."
Xiao Minghuang knocked on the door and spoke.
As soon as her words fell—
The door hinge turned, and Lin Wanqiu's lovely face appeared before her. Her gaze swept lightly over Xiao Minghuang's body. Her dress was as clean as new, her hair perfectly arranged, and her bearing dignified, elegant, noble, and otherworldly. She did not seem like someone who had just gone through a bloody battle.
"Has the evil cultivator leader returned?"
Xiao Minghuang nodded.
"That's right, but I've already killed him."
Upon hearing this, a trace of shock appeared in Lin Wanqiu's eyes.
"That evil cultivator leader was a Fourth Level of the Qi Refining Realm martial artist. My father sent the Guard Team to surround and eliminate him many times, yet they could never catch him. And Miss Xiao just got rid of him like that?"
Xiao Minghuang had no intention of claiming undue credit and truthfully said, "Before fighting me, that evil cultivator seemed to have gone through a great battle. His aura was unstable, he had no will to fight, and he was like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring. That was why I won so easily."
Though she said so, even the evil cultivator leader at his peak would not have been able to block a single sword strike from Xiao Minghuang.
But those words carried a different flavor in Lin Wanqiu's ears.
"A Fourth Level of the Qi Refining Realm martial artist couldn't withstand a single sword strike from Miss Xiao... Miss Xiao is truly a heavenly being!"
Faced with such praise, Xiao Minghuang felt somewhat embarrassed. Her cheeks flushed faintly as she changed the subject. "Now that this matter is settled, let's leave quickly!"
Lin Wanqiu nodded, then led the civilians out of the stone building. The group headed toward the cave entrance.
Before long, everyone had left the cave.
Outside the cave, it was still nighttime, and darkness blanketed everything.
Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, they suddenly heard the footsteps of a large group approaching from nearby.
Those footsteps were orderly and uniform, arranged in a single line as though their owners had undergone strict training. Moreover, every person gave off the aura of a peak Body Tempering Realm cultivator.
One of those auras had even reached the Fifth Level of Qi Refining!
Xiao Minghuang's expression changed. She had acted twice in succession, consuming a great deal of spiritual energy. She did not have many spirit stones left on her, making it difficult to support another battle.
If these were evil cultivators too, what should she do?
Although she knew Eunuch Wang had been protecting her in secret, if Eunuch Wang had to intervene, the meaning of this training expedition would certainly be diminished.
As she pondered, the footsteps gradually drew closer, and the newcomers finally revealed themselves.
Xiao Minghuang took a step back, ready to flee at any moment.
But Lin Wanqiu's face lit up with joy. She headed straight toward the footsteps and cried out happily:
"Uncle Lin!"
No matter what His Highness does to me, I will not resist
The middle-aged man in black had originally looked grave, but upon seeing Lin Wanqiu, he was suddenly overjoyed. He shouted, "Brothers, come out quickly! We've found the young miss!"
Hearing that form of address, Xiao Minghuang let out a sigh of relief.
"They're from Beiyang City..."
Lin Wanqiu exchanged a few words with the middle-aged man in black, roughly explaining what had happened before coming to stand before Xiao Minghuang.
The middle-aged man in black bowed deeply to her with cupped hands. "I am Lin Zhengyang. Many thanks to Miss Xiao for saving my niece. If you have the time, please visit Beiyang City. The Beiyang City Lord's Mansion will certainly offer you a generous gift!"
Seeing that people from Beiyang City had arrived, Xiao Minghuang's face brightened. At last, she could verify her identity.
"You are too courteous. I am Xiao Minghuang, the Ninth Princess of the Great Xia imperial family. I was ordered to eliminate the evil cultivators causing trouble near Beiyang City. What I did just now was simply my duty, so there is no need for such courtesy."
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhengyang's expression changed in shock.
He steadied himself and examined the young woman before him.
She wore a bright yellow dress, standing graceful and slender. Her dark hair flowed down like a waterfall, and her features were exquisite and stunning. Noble and otherworldly, she possessed peerless elegance.
With such bearing, throughout all of Great Xia, perhaps no force other than the imperial family could produce such a spiritually graceful woman.
Furthermore, he had once seen the Ninth Princess in her younger years. She bore seven or eight parts resemblance to the young woman before him, so this was undoubtedly the Ninth Princess herself.
He then turned his head and glanced at his own niece standing nearby.
Lin Wanqiu lowered her head slightly, her two fair little hands twisting together, her face full of shy embarrassment.
Although no one had mentioned the matter of the marriage contract for many years, it had been personally arranged by Emperor Xia and the late old Beiyang City Lord, with a token as proof. So long as it had not been formally annulled, it remained valid.
Seeing this, Lin Zhengyang revealed a knowing smile.
"So it is the Ninth Princess. Please forgive my disrespect!"
"Ninth Princess, you have come from afar to rid the people of a great evil. You should all the more visit Beiyang City, so that the entire city may thank Ninth Highness for your kindness. I hope Ninth Highness will not refuse."
Xiao Minghuang had come to eliminate the evil cultivators, but she had not expected the matter to be resolved so quickly, leaving her utterly unprepared.
Her original plan had been to go to Beiyang City first, learn about the situation, then search for the evil cultivators' traces before eliminating them.
Now that circumstances had changed, her original plan no longer held any meaning.
After pondering for a moment, Xiao Minghuang said, "I will naturally go to Beiyang City, but there is no need to trouble everyone to invite me."
"This journey happens to be a good opportunity for me to experience the customs and scenery around Beiyang City. Walking from here to Beiyang City should not take much time, so please go on ahead."
Experiencing the local customs was merely incidental.
Xiao Minghuang's true purpose was to wander around nearby and see whether there were any hidden opportunities she could obtain.
Seeing that she had not refused outright, Lin Zhengyang smiled. He glanced at the eager Lin Wanqiu and suggested:
"Since Ninth Highness wishes to experience the local customs, why not bring my niece with you? She has grown up in Beiyang City and is familiar with the nearby towns and villages. She can serve as Ninth Highness's guide."
"This... wouldn't that be inconvenient?"
Xiao Minghuang hesitated. It was one thing to bring Ye Ruoshui along while she searched everywhere for opportunities, since she was a very obedient and well-behaved little girl.
But this Lin Wanqiu before her was obviously lively, active, and highly opinionated. There was no guarantee she would not cause trouble.
Hearing Xiao Minghuang's intention to refuse, Lin Wanqiu's little face immediately darkened. The light seemed to vanish from her beautiful eyes as she wiped at them, seemingly sniffling.
"Did I fail to recognize Your Highness just now? Is Your Highness still angry with me?"
As she spoke, Lin Wanqiu stepped forward and suddenly pressed herself against Xiao Minghuang's arm, tightly hugging it and bringing a soft sensation with her.
With a sob in her voice, she said:
"I truly know I was wrong. Your Highness, please don't abandon me, all right?"
At this sight, not only Xiao Minghuang but even Lin Zhengyang felt embarrassed. He wiped at nonexistent sweat on his forehead and persuaded her:
"Ninth Highness, my niece has been deeply devoted to you since childhood, so please do not refuse her. Besides, my niece was betrothed to you in the womb, personally arranged by the old City Lord and His Majesty. You two are meant to be a match made in heaven. My niece may not possess much talent, and her aptitude is ordinary, but her appearance is at least passable. Even if you do not like her, keeping her by your side as a maid to serve tea and pour water would already be a great honor for the Lin family."
Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang frowned. One moment he said they were "a match made in heaven," and the next he said Lin Wanqiu was only fit to be her "maid to serve tea and pour water." What exactly did that mean?
And before this, Lin Wanqiu had not even known her name. How had she become deeply devoted to her since childhood?
Given the current situation, if she did not agree, Lin Wanqiu would certainly continue pestering her, and she could forget about searching for any opportunities.
Xiao Minghuang could only say helplessly:
"Fine. You can follow me, but I have one condition."
Lin Wanqiu hurriedly nodded. "Please speak, Your Highness!"
"If you follow me, you must obey my arrangements in everything and must not act on your own. Whatever I tell you to do, you must do it, and you cannot raise any objections. If you can accept that, then you may follow me."
Upon hearing this, a flush suddenly rose on Lin Wanqiu's jade-like face. She gently bit her rosy lips and said shyly, "Rest assured, Your Highness. No matter what Your Highness does to me, I will not resist!"
Xiao Minghuang frowned slightly. The other party seemed not to have understood her meaning correctly.
But on second thought, she felt there was no need to waste any more time.
As long as I have Ruoshui keep an eye on her, she won't have a chance to pester me.
As the two spoke, Lin Zhengyang had quietly withdrawn at some point, taking the kidnapped civilians with him as well.
The departure of Lin Zhengyang and the others did not attract Xiao Minghuang's attention. She glanced at Lin Wanqiu, who was tightly hugging her arm.
"I've already agreed to Miss Lin's request. Can you let go of me now?"
Lin Wanqiu smiled like the spring breeze and said softly:
"Your Highness, don't be so distant. Just call me Wanqiu."
Xiao Minghuang had never concerned herself with such trivial details of address, so she said:
"Miss Wanqiu, then let us set off. My younger sister has been waiting for me for a long time. She must be very worried."
The words "Miss" after her name were truly rather unnecessary.
Lin Wanqiu felt dissatisfied and casually asked:
"Your Highness has a younger sister?"
Everyone in Great Xia knew that Emperor Xia had eight sons and one daughter, with the Ninth Princess as his only daughter.
Xiao Minghuang explained:
"Her name is Ye Ruoshui. She used to be my maid, but now she is like a younger sister to me."
Lin Wanqiu breathed a sigh of relief and thought, She's merely a maid. Nothing to worry about.
After that, Lin Wanqiu guided Xiao Minghuang to a place where spirit herbs were hidden.
Before you continue