A Princess? I'd Still Beat Her Up

At that moment, the silence was deafening.

Zhang Yuan's answer left Princess Yaoye and Qin Zhendong at a loss for words.

Qin Zhendong thought to himself that, as the commander of the Black Armored Guard, if he wanted to assign someone to one of the units under his command, he still had to offer this captain benefits?

Princess Yaoye thought that she was an imperial princess. She had merely been polite, yet Zhang Yuan had taken it seriously?

"Captain Zhang, you're quite humorous."

After a long while, Princess Yaoye was the first to break the awkwardness, trying to give everyone a way out.

But Zhang Yuan looked at her seriously and said, "I'm very serious."

Qin Zhendong frowned. "Captain Zhang, I only need to give the order for this matter."

Which camp or unit Princess Yaoye joined was merely a word from him.

What Princess Yaoye had said earlier was only meant to flatter Zhang Yuan and demonstrate her respect for talent.

"I know. Wasn't that what I said in my first sentence?" Zhang Yuan asked with a calm smile.

Qin Zhendong and Princess Yaoye were even more confused. What exactly did Zhang Yuan mean?

"You two, one coin for one pound of goods." Zhang Yuan sighed and said, "Of course I have no objection to Princess Yaoye training under my command. So long as someone meets the Black Armored Guard's recruitment standards, anyone can reasonably join my ranks."

"But from what Princess Yaoye means, she wants to temper herself and improve her strength, strategy, and command ability. That requires my guidance, and that isn't part of my duty as a captain. Besides, Princess Yaoye's status is special. Once she joins my ranks, I certainly can't treat her exactly the same as everyone else. I'll have to devote some attention to protecting her."

"If you want me to do these extra things, then naturally, there must be benefits."

Zhang Yuan had no interest in being anyone's babysitter. Not even for Little Yan.

If he absolutely had to do it, then with his limited time, they had to pay extra!

Zhang Yuan had made himself clear, so Qin Zhendong and Princess Yaoye naturally understood.

If it had been anyone else, they would have been overjoyed just to establish a connection with Princess Yaoye. Naturally, they would not have considered what Zhang Yuan had said. But not considering it did not mean those concerns did not exist.

"What a fine 'one coin for one pound of goods.'" Princess Yaoye found it both irritating and amusing. "According to Captain Zhang, so long as I can offer sufficient benefits, you can provide corresponding returns?"

"That naturally has to be within my capabilities." Zhang Yuan remained composed. "This is a seller's market."

"How much do you want?" Princess Yaoye asked through gritted teeth.

"Thirty thousand merit points." Zhang Yuan had long since converted the things he lacked into military merit.

Then, he could forge himself a Fifth-grade Dou Artifact and gather enough medicinal ingredients to refine a Spirit Nurturing Pill.

"Thirty thousand merit points, is it?" Princess Yaoye slowly rose to her feet. "So long as you can prove that you deserve those merit points, this princess can give them to you!"

"How do I prove it?" Zhang Yuan asked.

"There's a very simple method." Princess Yaoye fixed her blazing gaze on Zhang Yuan and said coldly, "You and I will fight. Subdue me."

"Sure." Zhang Yuan readily agreed.

How hard could it be to subdue a supporting-character little miss?

He rose and followed Princess Yaoye outside, where they stood at opposite ends of the training ground.

Having witnessed the entire exchange, Qin Jingyan walked over to Qin Zhendong and asked, "Father, aren't you going to stop them?"

Qin Zhendong: "..."

Stop them? Stop what?

One was an imperial princess, and the other was a teacher of military strategy. What could a mere commander like him possibly say?

"It's good for them to have a fight." Qin Zhendong said gravely, "A fight will reveal each other's true capabilities. That's more useful than anything I could say."

"True." Qin Jingyan nodded. "Before Zhang Yuan arrived, you spoke so earnestly. I think you have the potential to become a matchmaker, Father."

Qin Zhendong: "?"

This son was beyond saving. He needed to find some time to make another one.

Meanwhile, on the training ground, Zhang Yuan stood at one end with his hands behind his back. With the bearing of an expert, he said, "You attack first. I'll give you some pointers."

Princess Yaoye was so angry she laughed.

She admitted that Zhang Yuan's talent was beyond her reach.

After all, even with a Dou Emperor's guidance and the Jia Ma Empire Royal Family's resources, she had only reached the Peak Dou Master level at sixteen.

But now, she was twenty-two. She could effortlessly crush her sixteen-year-old self—and Zhang Yuan as well!

"You said it!"

Princess Yaoye gave a sharp cry, lightly stamped the ground, and charged at Zhang Yuan. She moved so fast that only an afterimage remained.

"Jingyan, who do you think will win between the two of them?" Qin Zhendong asked from the edge of the field.

"Captain Zhang, naturally." Qin Jingyan answered without hesitation.

"You're that certain?" Qin Zhendong's eyes showed surprise.

"Captain Zhang is invincible among those of the same realm." Qin Jingyan nodded.

He had to be invincible. Otherwise, it would only make Qin Jingyan look weak.

"Invincible among those of the same realm?"

Those words could not be spoken lightly. Qin Zhendong did not understand why his usually steady son would make such a judgment.

Suddenly, he thought of something and asked, "I remember that six days ago, you privately sought Zhang Yuan out for a spar. When you returned, you praised him lavishly. I didn't think much of it at the time. So you lost that day?"

Qin Jingyan responded with silence.

He had not merely lost. He had lost without any suspense, and had even lost a Fourth-tier Magical Core.

In Zhang Yuan's words, sparring partners needed wages. Yet Qin Jingyan had been the one getting beaten up.

Naturally, he could not tell Qin Zhendong about something so humiliating.

"Hiss." Qin Zhendong was inwardly shaken, finding it unbelievable.

Although his son's talent was only decent, and Qin Zhendong had personally instructed him since childhood, he had only reached the Peak Da Dou Shi level at nearly thirty. Still, having grown up in the military, his combat fundamentals were solid. He could hold out for quite some time even against an ordinary Dou Ling.

Yet he had actually been defeated by Zhang Yuan despite having a higher realm?

"However, Princess Yaoye will not follow in your footsteps," Qin Zhendong said.

"Why?" Qin Jingyan asked.

"Just watch," Qin Zhendong said.

In the arena, Princess Yaoye displayed astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, she arrived before Zhang Yuan and threw a punch.

Zhang Yuan tilted his head to evade it, then sensed a sharp gust from his left. It was Princess Yaoye's side kick, imbued with Dou Qi.

Zhang Yuan took a backward step and bent at the waist, nimbly dodging the kick.

Princess Yaoye used the momentum to leap into the air and kicked out with her other leg.

But Zhang Yuan seemed to have eyes everywhere. With one hand pressed against the ground, he dodged again.

Seeing this, Princess Yaoye continuously accelerated her attacks, yet she could not even touch the corner of Zhang Yuan's clothes.

She began using a movement Dou Technique, the Mysterious Tier Mid-grade Unobstructed Step. Her figure moved as swiftly as a streak of light.

Zhang Yuan also used a movement Dou Technique. His figure flashed like lightning, and he still easily evaded Princess Yaoye's attacks.

Still unable to land a hit, Princess Yaoye angrily summoned her Dou Qi Armor, enhancing all aspects of her abilities.

Seeing this, Zhang Yuan summoned his Dou Qi Armor as well and continued to deal with her calmly.

After nearly half a quarter-hour, Princess Yaoye snapped, "Do you only know how to dodge?"

"As you wish!"

Zhang Yuan stopped moving and raised a hand to block Princess Yaoye's fist.

Then he suddenly threw a punch, striking directly against the Dou Qi Armor covering Princess Yaoye's chest armor.

Boom!

A tremendous force struck her, sending Princess Yaoye flying several yards away. Her pupils contracted in shock. "What kind of strength is that!?"

Naturally, it was strength comparable to the body of a powerful peak Third-tier magical beast, further tempered by lightning.

Zhang Yuan gave Princess Yaoye no time to think. He used his movement Dou Technique to catch up, then launched into a barrage of punches and kicks without the slightest hint of restraint.

Even as he beat her up, he did not forget to offer his assessment.

"Your speed is decent. It's not bad even among Dou Lings."

"Your movement Dou Technique is of a respectable grade, but your comprehension is lacking."

"Your strength is average. Your defense is passable, but it relies on the armor's power."

"..."

Zhang Yuan's calm and leisurely manner made Princess Yaoye furious.

Who exactly was the Dou Ling here, and who was the stronger one!?

Qin Jingyan looked at Qin Zhendong, his eyes plainly saying, "This is the Princess Yaoye you claimed was stronger?"

After several moments of silence, Qin Zhendong said, "The princess is about to get serious."

Princess Yaoye retreated at full speed, putting some distance between them. Dou Qi gathered in her hand and formed into a long spear.

Dou Qi Condensation—the mark of a Dou Ling.

Qin Jingyan exclaimed in surprise, "The princess has already broken through to the Dou Ling realm!"

Zhang Yuan was not surprised in the slightest. His soul power had long since sensed Princess Yaoye's realm.

He raised his hand and formed a longsword from the flame power of the Three Dragon Thunder Gang Fire, involuntarily thinking of Madara Uchiha.

"Hehehe, Your Highness, you were the one who used Dou Qi Condensation first."

(End of Chapter)