Junior sister, keep forbear for a while, I almost become invincible as soon!

The unflappable strength, the inconceivable prowess of Sword Dao—he had never encountered anything like it in his past years of cultivation...

After a long time, the array dispersed, and the thick scent of blood began to drift with the wind.

Zhou Huaian could not calm down for a long time.

"Your Dantian has manifested, and your meridians have taken shape. You can embark on cultivation now. Why don't you cultivate?" Chen Pingping asked as he approached Princess Zi Ji.

"I'm waiting for someone," she answered truthfully.

"What kind of person?"

"I don't know!"

Now that he had an answer, Chen Pingping did not inquire further.

This wasn't a good place for conversation.

「Several hours later.」

They were already a hundred miles away.

Zhou Huaian stared intently at Chen Pingping. "Who exactly are you?"

"A nameless, minor cultivator from afar," Chen Pingping replied with a smile. "Don't worry, I'm not an enemy."

"..."

Zhou Huaian couldn't refute this. With Chen Pingping's strength, killing him—or even Princess Zi Ji—would have been effortless. But he did not make a move.

They rested for half the night and only set off again after daybreak.

On this journey, Zi Ji felt much more at ease. Zhou Huaian, however, grew increasingly unsettled. He had a bad premonition that the road ahead would be even more dangerous.

「Several days passed.」

That feeling grew stronger.

Zhou Huaian couldn't help but say, "We'll be entering Luo City soon."

Half a day at most.

He meant that the next part of their journey was likely to be the most dangerous. Because once they entered Luo City, the hidden enemies would have no chance to strike. This last part of the journey was a good opportunity for them. Away from the capital, not yet within the Lin Family's domain, they were at the edge of Great Zhou territory.

"Chen?" Zhou Huaian called out, "I'll go ahead."

???

"If there's a strong enemy ambushed ahead, take Princess Zi Ji and avoid this place," he continued.

"Are you sure?" Chen Pingping frowned.

"This was none of your concern to begin with, yet you got involved. So... please protect the Princess for one last stretch!" Zhou Huaian said with a smile. "If I survive, I'll certainly report your merits to the Emperor. If I fall here... please forgive me."

Chen Pingping rolled his eyes. "Zhou, we've travelled all this way, braving a long and harrowing journey. Yet, we've encountered only one assassination attempt. Do you think that's normal?"

Zhou Huaian was stunned. After some thought, he realized something was indeed amiss. They had been exposed on the night they left the capital, yet the subsequent journey was peaceful—too peaceful...

Puzzled, Zhou Huaian asked, "Why?"

"The King of Pingyang's formidable forces couldn't kill Princess Zi Ji, so the hidden enemies surely know our strength—no... they should know your strength. This is your mission, after all; they probably don't know about me yet," said Chen Pingping. "More than twenty Divine Kings and an Imperial Divine Weapon couldn't stop your sword. Although the journey has been peaceful, with nothing happening, I expect they are preparing in the shadows, because Princess Zi Ji only needs to die once."

The failure of the King of Pingyang served as a warning. The next assassination would not be undertaken lightly. Perhaps they had already gathered a large number of powerful cultivators waiting ahead.

And that "ahead" was a small town not far away.

Zhou Huaian didn't even need to scout. The town was now teeming with powerful cultivators; various forces were lying in wait in the shadows, all anticipating Princess Zi Ji's appearance.

Because it was the only way through.

Mountains on both sides stretched imposingly high, with peaks that soared several thousand feet into the air, enshrouded in gloom and exuding terrifying power. Not even flight could cross directly over. Passing through the mountains was also a major problem, leaving the town as the only route.

At this realization, Zhou Huaian turned pale. "Are they truly willing to defy the Emperor? To challenge the entire Great Zhou?"

"Obviously!" Chen Pingping spoke up. "Princess Zi Ji's existence threatens too many people's interests. If she doesn't die, many will remain uneasy."

"So what do we do now?" Zhou Huaian, even though he was the Great Zhou Dynasty's foremost prodigy, felt utterly powerless at this moment...

There are too many powerful enemies lurking in the dark, with various forces converging. It will be too difficult for me alone to ensure Princess Zi Ji's safe passage!

Go back?

Suddenly, Zhou Huaian had an idea and turned to Princess Zi Ji. "Your Highness, forgive my impertinence, may I ask you a question?"

Zi Ji looked at him.

"Why must you go to Luo City?" Zhou Huaian asked, unable to understand—a confusion shared by many. "Can't you wait in the Imperial City?"

"The dream said that person will be in Luo City," Zi Ji replied truthfully.

"What kind of person?"

"Someone who can take me away, someone who can change my fate."

So?

Is this why you refused Martial God Academy, refused to become the Tianxuan Saintess?

Zhou Huaian was momentarily at a loss for words.

But Chen Pingping, who was beside them, started to smile. "Did you dream about me?" He could finally confirm something: Zi Ji's insistence on going to Luo City—ostensibly to slay fierce beasts, despite the mortal danger—was, in fact, due to his arrival.

Because I am the only one who can take Zi Ji away, the only one who can change her fate.

The latter shook her head. "No, I couldn't see the face, just a vague shadow."

Chen Pingping, not discouraged, asked, "What's their name?"

Zi Ji was silent, clearly unwilling to say.

Chen Pingping, still smiling, asked, "Did the dream tell you that once you enter Luo City, you will have the answer?"

Zi Ji nodded.

Understood!

Only by entering Luo City will she see my face in the dream. Then she'll believe that I come from the distant Nan Zhanbu Province, a disciple of Wen Yuqing, and that I'm here to accept her as a student on behalf of my master.

Chen Pingping understood.

Actually, he had another choice: he could have simply explained things, and that would have sufficed. But he chose not to. He wanted to see how many people were eager to kill Zi Ji and to take this opportunity to deal with them all at once, to avoid future troubles.

Zhou Huaian, standing to the side, listened with confusion. He glanced at Zi Ji, then back at Chen Pingping. He was somewhat unable to follow, half understanding and half perplexed...

"Are you afraid?" Chen Pingping asked again.

"Not afraid!"

It was a sincere answer. She wanted to change her destiny, to leave this decaying dynasty behind.

Chen Pingping laughed, suddenly finding the young girl quite interesting. Since that's the case... as her senior brother, I can't just stand by and watch, can I?

A breeze blew by, and the three of them stopped.

Zhou Huaian was anxious. Alas, he currently had no way to ensure the princess's safety and could only wait to see what plan Chen Pingping had.

Zi Ji continued to wait.

Chen Pingping pondered. In just a couple of minutes, several plans flashed through his mind, but he dismissed each one in turn.

After a long pause...

He suddenly raised his head and asked, "Zhou, since you were once the Great Zhou Dynasty's foremost prodigy, you should soar like an eagle, not confine yourself within a single dynasty. Why do you do so?"

"I have something I seek," Zhou Huaian said with a wry smile.

"I see..." Chen Pingping nodded. "It seems you must complete your mission on this trip, otherwise... it would be a matter of life and death for you, right?"

"Yes!"

"Later, when we enter the town, try to stay calm. If anyone makes a move, you just kill them..." Chen Pingping's eyes widened. "I will ensure your safety and the princess's."

"What's the plan?" Zhou Huaian asked, curious.

"No plan!"