Robbery? Murder?

As evening drew near, Jiang Ming took Jiang Naicha to have a simple meal at an inn before preparing to rest.

Seeing Jiang Naicha standing beside the bed, Jiang Ming said, "Come here. Take off your shoes and get on the bed."

Jiang Naicha climbed onto Jiang Ming's bed as instructed, then lay obediently to one side, not daring to move. Jiang Ming did not think much of it and fell asleep with Jiang Naicha in his arms.

As for why Jiang Ming was so at ease, it was because Golden Eyes could tell whether someone bore him ill will. Otherwise, back in the wilderness, he would not have treated that woman in white that way. It was entirely because her intentions were crooked—she had actually tried not to pay him.

In the void, a dark figure let out a sigh. Why had the Imperial Son gone looking for women the moment he came out? And of all things, he had chosen the lowliest slave Catgirl, even granting her a surname. The maids in the clan were better than Catgirls.

Naturally, Jiang Ming had no idea what others thought. As one of the Five Good Youths in his previous life, he had no resistance at all when faced with Catgirls—especially pretty Catgirls.

The next morning,

Jiang Ming ate breakfast with Jiang Naicha. At first, Jiang Naicha stood at the side and did not dare sit down. Only under Jiang Ming's firm insistence did she sit at the same table and eat with him.

Peace City was not large. Jiang Ming had already toured the whole place yesterday and even bought a map of the Azure Region, spending another Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone.

Jiang Ming held Jiang Naicha's hand as they left Peace City and headed toward Azure City. Do not ask why they were walking—he simply wanted to see the scenery along the way. In any case, he was not in a hurry. Having crossed into this world, he was naturally curious about the new world.

At that moment, several black-clad men charged out from the side and surrounded Jiang Ming and Jiang Naicha. Jiang Naicha's face filled with fear. Both hands clutched Jiang Ming's tightly as she edged closer to him.

Sensing Jiang Naicha's fear, Jiang Ming squeezed her little hand. Golden light shimmered in his Golden Eyes as he called out, "Brother, do you people sell slaves and then come back to reclaim them?"

The men blocking the road were none other than the merchant who had sold the Catgirl and his lackeys. They had not originally intended to rob Jiang Ming, but after seeing him buy a map, they concluded that he was not from the Azure Region. His origins were unknown; if he died, no one would know.

"Kid, don't you understand that wealth should not be flaunted?" the merchant sneered.

Jiang Ming's face was full of mockery. "Idiot."

Rage surged into the merchant's heart as he shouted, "Get him! Leave no one alive!"

Jiang Ming laughed scornfully. "A few pieces of trash at the Qi Condensation Realm dare imitate others and come out robbing people? Why don't you first weigh how much you're worth?"

With a light sweep of his free hand, scorching Sun Power spread outward from Jiang Ming. The instant it touched the merchant and the others, they turned into a handful of ash within a few breaths.

After dealing with them, Jiang Ming reached out and rubbed Jiang Naicha's head, pinching her cat ears as he said softly, "From now on, remember this: your surname is Jiang. In this world, there is nothing you need to fear. You do not need to fear anything, nor do you need to bow your head to anyone."

Jiang Naicha nodded and said in a muffled voice, "Except for Young Master."

Jiang Ming smiled, then spoke toward the void. "Are you coming out on your own, or shall I invite you out?"

Li Guangbiao, who was hiding nearby, was drenched in cold sweat. He had followed after learning that the merchant intended to rob and kill Jiang Ming—not to save Jiang Ming, but to play the mantis stalking the cicada, with the oriole behind.

"Young Master, please do not blame me. I am Li Guangbiao, the Lord of Peace City. I accidentally learned that wicked thieves were robbing Young Master, so I came to rescue you. It appears now that my efforts were unnecessary," Li Guangbiao explained, bowing with cupped hands.

"Heh heh." Jiang Ming merely smiled without replying. Instead, he turned to Jiang Naicha and asked, "What do you think should be done with him?"

"Since he hid in the shadows, it means he arrived long ago. Yet he did not come out to help. Compared to what he just said, it was all deception toward Young Master. No matter what his purpose was, deceiving Young Master deserves punishment," Jiang Naicha said in a grave and orderly manner.

Jiang Ming found the way she analyzed it rather adorable and could not help rubbing her head. He asked softly, "Then what punishment do you think he deserves?"

Hearing their conversation, Li Guangbiao was scared half to death. He dropped to his knees and wailed bitterly, "I have been wronged! It was only because Young Master's strength was extraordinary and his actions were so swift that I had no time to reveal myself!"

"Naicha does not know," Jiang Naicha said, lowering her head. At first, she had called herself this servant, but as one of the Three Good Students, Jiang Ming could not stand that form of address and forbade her from using it.

Jiang Ming smiled. "You may go." He was not particularly bloodthirsty, and Li Guangbiao had not attacked him. Letting him go was no great matter.

Upon hearing this, Li Guangbiao treated it like an imperial decree. He immediately rose and left, not pausing for even a second.

Jiang Ming took Jiang Naicha's little hand and continued onward.

"Naicha, do you want to cultivate?" Zhang Chengzhen asked.

"I will follow Young Master's arrangements," Jiang Naicha said gently.

Jiang Ming thought about it. He only knew the Crimson Sun Heaven-Burning Art and had no other cultivation methods, so he gave up on the idea. The rest of the journey passed in silence.

Along the way, Jiang Ming saw many sights that had not existed in his previous life. He walked and stopped as he pleased, but eventually felt the journey was too far. Jiang Ming picked up Jiang Naicha and flew directly through the air, arriving at Azure City after a total of five days.

After paying the entrance fee for both of them, Jiang Ming led Jiang Naicha down the streets. Azure City truly deserved to be called the foremost city of the Azure Region; it was clearly far more prosperous than Peace City.

The streets bustled with people, most of whom were heading in the same direction. Jiang Ming stopped a passerby and asked curiously, "Brother, did something happen?"

The passerby looked impatient when someone stopped him, but when his eyes met Jiang Ming's Golden Eyes, his heart inexplicably trembled.

"The Nalan Clan's eldest daughter, Nalan Xue, is openly holding a martial contest to choose a husband. The arena has already been set up, and everyone is heading over to watch." Jiang Ming released him after he finished speaking, and the passerby took off running.

A martial contest to choose a husband? Eldest Miss Nalan Xue? He wondered what she looked like. Since she had come out to hold a martial contest to choose a husband, she was probably ordinary-looking.

Jiang Ming rubbed his chin and decided to go join the excitement. Taking Jiang Naicha with him, he followed the crowd.

On the arena, two Qi Condensation Realm cultivators exchanged blows in a lively battle. "Mountain-Splitting Palm!" "Whirlwind Kick!" They continuously unleashed all sorts of martial techniques. Amid fists and feet flying back and forth, even the air was stirred into rippling waves.

The Qi Condensation Realm was the stage of condensing spiritual energy. The martial techniques they possessed used spiritual energy to strengthen their bodies, enhancing physical strength and speed to raise their combat power. Cultivators at this realm mostly focused on cultivating the flesh, tempering their bodies again and again until they became stronger and more powerful.

However, only after breaking through to the Core-Gathering Realm could one truly wield divine abilities. At that point, a cultivator's spiritual power condensed into a core, endlessly renewing itself. Once the quality and quantity of spiritual power were sufficient, divine abilities could be unleashed. Simply put, only cultivators above the Core-Gathering Realm could attack beyond their bodies. Cultivators of the Qi Sea Realm and Qi Condensation Realm, on the other hand, could only rely on their own spiritual power to briefly hover and glide.

Watching the battle on the arena, Jiang Ming gradually grew bored. Suddenly, an idea came to him. He wrapped both arms around Jiang Naicha's fair, slender neck and lazily leaned his entire body against her. Jiang Naicha immediately stiffened all over, so nervous that she did not know what to do. She did not dare move carelessly, afraid of provoking Jiang Ming's displeasure. At the same time, a faint blush spread across her tender little face, making her as lovable as a ripened apple.