Xue Yueliang was stunned, not having expected to see her all the way here, and looking at her calm figure and flawless features, Xue Yueliang couldn't help but lament.

Regardless of how many times I cleaned up, she still had to see me this way.

The stunned crowd recovered, and many people tuned toward the princess, bowing, "Greetings, Your Highness!"

Others of lower ranking even knelt on the ground; according to her, the respect one of royal status deserved.

The princess waved her hand, "No need," allowing them to straighten their posture.

She locked eyes with Xue Yueliang, who smiled back at her, cupping her fists, "It's been a while, Your Highness."

"It has," Yao Niang nodded, looking at the mess surrounding her and the dead corpses on the ground, "What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?"

Before Xue Yueliang could answer, Qin Wen, interrupted, "Excuse me, Your Highness, but Xue Yueliang is a traitor to the Qin Clan, and we have to deal with her accordingly. I hope you can understand!"

The princess looked at Xue Yueliang, who just shrugged, Yao Ninag knew all about her life, and she knew why this was happening.

The only question in Yao Niang's mind was, Why would the Qin Patriarch go this far?

He should not know about the prophecy, and she wondered what else forced him to care so much about her. He was not the most caring toward his children, and it wasn't rare for many of them to run away or elope, leading normal lives outside the bounds of nobility.

Why is she different?

"I'm sorry, Young Lady Qin Wen, but Xue Yueliang is a close friend of mine, and I cannot allow you to harm her." She said, almost repeating what Li Hua had said earlier word for word, but her words held more power, as Qin Wen had sworn her loyalty to her and to the royal family.

"But-" Yao Niang cut her off, "It's final."

She then turned her head to Sun Wei, "I trust you don't have objections either?"

Sun Wei wished to object, but he felt an overwhelming chill from her eyes, making the hair on his neck stand on edge, and he sighed, knowing he could not get back at Xue Yueliang at this time, "Not at all."

With the entrance of the princess, the show that was happening here came to an end. People quietly took their leave, one by one, until only three people and Hei Yu were left in the hall.

"You must be Li Hua," Yao Niang greeted, "I'm Yao Niang; thank you for helping Xue Yueliang."

Li Hua was uncomfortable by her phrasing, making her sound like an outsider, as she replied, "You don't have to thank me, she is my friend after all." Li Hua deflected, hoping Xue Yueliang would notice the odd atmosphere.

However, Xue Yueliang's thoughts were fixed elsewhere, her entire mind, on the hand that lightly grazed her hand.

I don't think she had done something like this before.

"Regardless, she is still a citizen of my Qinxia Kingdom." The princess laughed, but Li Hua gritted her teeth, "Oh, the kingdom that failed her and its people wanted to kill her because she wanted to live her own fate."

Finally, Xue Yueliang was awoken from her delusions, "Thank you both for helping me. I don't know what I would have done without you two." She said, hoping to get rid of this peculiar atmosphere.

"Um, I am ashamed to say it, but I still need your help with one more matter."

The duo stopped arguing and looked at her; Xue Yueliang felt embarrassed, not used to asking others for help, as she said, "The lady Sun Wei kidnapped is actually my sister, and I need help rescuing her."

"You Wish to save her?" They both asked, shocked, but Li Hua was more surprised, knowing how much she disliked her.

"Well, I have been thinking about it since I found out, and I always felt guilty for not being able to save my mother, and other than me, Zhong Xi is the only bloodline she has left. Maybe saving her would help lessen the guilt."

"You were just a child then; there is no need to feel guilty; there was nothing you could have done."

"I know, princess, but I can't control how I feel." She said, knowing there was a deeper reason she had to save her, but this was as truthful as she could be."

"It's okay if you two are busy. I can handle it." She added.

Stealing a girl from a group of about six guys should not be too hard but she was afraid she might accidentally injure Zhong Xi in the process. Besides, in this manner, she would spend a longer time with the two of them before she had to resume her journey alone.

"Count me in," Li Hue said, "I hate people who kidnap helpless women off the street most."

"Helpless is a good way to describe her," Xue Yueliang agreed.

"I wouldn't allow my people to come to harm by foreigners without doing anything." Yao Niang said, agreeing to help.

The trio left the trial, walking through the mist that almost let in no light, but their vision was not obstructed too much as the princess took out a small lamp, clearing their line of sight as they left.

Li Hua temporarily separated from them, giving some instructions to the Silver Armour Sect, and the princess took this chance to talk to Xue Yueliang privately, "We could have just gone alone," she whispered into her ear, "I am more than enough to take care off him."

Xue Yueliang felt her ears tickle, and they turned a light shade of red, "You know we can use our divine sense out here?" She transmitted, only to be met with the bell-like laughter of the princess.

Wait a minute, is she flirting with me?

Before she could say anything, the princess asked, "So, how are you feeling."

"Like a helpless damsel in distress saved by her prince in shining armour." Xue Yueliang laughed, looking at her, "Though, in my case, it was a princess."

Yao Niang looked away, "You're far from being a helpless damsel." She chuckled, "I'm sure you had a plan you could have fallen back on."

Xue Yueliang did not deny it but noticed how different the princess was behaving, and she would be lying if she said she didn't like it. If she had said something like that before, Yao Niang would have looked at her confused.

It seems my earlier worries were for nothing.

"Princess, do you like me?"

Xue Yueliang couldn't help but ask; however it was at this moment Li Hua walked back, and the princess smiled, "We can talk about this privately."

Suddenly, Xue Yueliang regretted inviting Li Hua and smiled bitterly, her dislike for her sister increasing to another level. Through this thick forestry and the many mountains around, Xue Yueliang knew it would be difficult to find a small group of people and felt this would take a long time.

"Mo Luli." The princess said, and a figure appeared from behind her. It was a young woman, appearing to be the same age as the princess, wearing light pink robes, with her hair in two buns and a kind smile on her lips.

"Search the surroundings," Yao Niang coolly ordered, and Mo Luli bowed in response, putting her hands on the ground as she scanned the area with her divine sense.

"She's a soul cultivator," Yao Niang explained.

"That's amazing," Xue Yueliang said, surprised that even her attendant was someone with great power.

Soul cultivators, as their names indicated, focused on their souls, purifying them to levels that even cultivators with higher cultivation bases could not match. It was not surprising for powerful soul cultivators to crush the minds of cultivators an entire realm above them. Along with having extraordinary souls, they were capable of controlling hundreds of beasts at the same time and possessed exceptional intelligence powered by their divine sense.

If such a character was searching for Sun Wei and co, it would not take long for them to be found.

I also need to find excellent subordinates. Xue Yuelaing silently thought in her heart, awed by the person the princess had in reserve.

"Your Highness, they are northwest from here," Mo Luli spoke after a few breaths of time. "They seem to be rushing to get away from here; if you want to catch up with them without leaving the kingdom, you will have to hurry."

"Thank you," the princess smiled, and Mo Luli bowed, disappearing into the shadows.

Xue Yuelaing was not too surprised by this; it was royal etiquette to not keep your attendants publicly outside of important functions; they usually followed their master in the shadows, protecting them or warning them if trouble came. Even nobles had a similar practice; a strict hierarchy had to be in place if people wanted power over others.

"Let's go then." Xue Yueliang smiled, keeping Hei Yu in her mind palace and rushing toward the northwest direction, the princess and Li Hua closely following behind her.

"How did you and Xue Yueliang meet?" Li Hua asked, not liking the quiet. "She saved my life," Xue Yueliang answered for her. "She was drenched in blood when I first met her; I didn't expect the pills I gave her as a form of goodwill to help save her life." Yao Niang added, giving context to Xue Yueliang's words, "How about you?"

"I was impressed by how she defended herself, not allowing fools to silently take advantage of her." Li Hua smiled, noticing their meeting was not as dramatic. "I treated her to dinner, and she got so drunk on the first day we met, making me wonder how naturally trusting she was." Xue Yueliang laughed.

"That's not a good idea," Yao Niang laughed, "What if she had killed and robbed you? Stories like that are not uncommon in the cultivation world." "I trust my judgement," Li Hua grumbled, "She's not such a person." "I guess it's not bad to be that carefree." Yao Niang agreed, also wondering how a cultivator could be so trusting.

If I trusted my judgement...

Yao Niang snuck a glance at Xue Yueliang before turning her thoughts away; she could not blindly follow her heart; she needed proof to back it up. During the time they were talking, they had not slowed down, marching at full speed as they slowly closed the distance between them and the Hidden Ocean Sect.

Even at their top speed, it took them about the time for two incense sticks to burn, to finally catch a glimpse of the Hidden Ocean Sect, noticing them still moving ahead, moving away quickly. If not for the fact that the people under Sun Wei were significantly weaker than him and that carrying Zhong Xi, that human baggage was slowing them down, they might not have caught up to them. However, if the princess were alone, it would be a different story.

Li Hua took the lead, climbing onto one of the trees as an arrow left her bow, aiming accurately at the forefront of their group, leading them all to stop.

"There's an ambush!" One of the Hidden Ocean Sect disciples exclaimed.

"I can see that, you fool." Sun Wei retorted, "Li Hua, come out! What type of coward shoots from the dark?"

"If I were a coward, I would not have given you a warning shot." Li Hua snorted, aiming another arrow straight into his head. Li Hua's words contained a faint chilliness that did not match her usual demeanour, but neither of her partners bothered with it.

"I don't attack them directly, as it could cause unnecessary conflict among the two powers." The princess said, "But if you distract them, I can take Zhong Xi away from them silently."

Though she had enough justification for moving against them, she was already in a precarious situation and did not wish to give the elders another chance to pick fault at her. She hated not being able to openly protect her own people but trusted Xue Yueliang to keep her safe.

Besides, it's not like I would have known without her.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Xue Yueliang thanked, "You taking me this far is already a huge favour."

Yao Niang smiled in response, and a happy smile was on Xue Yueliang's face as she unsheathed her sword, rushing into the Hidden Ocean Sect that was busy deflecting off Li Hua's attacks.

"Hey, Sun Wei! Long time no see." Xue Yueliang laughed, waving her sword at him, and watched as he gnashed his teeth.

"You!" He began, "So you two really are conspiring together."

"Yes, we got that idea from you. Thank you for that!"

"I'll say this again," Li Hua said, "I'm. Not. Into. Women."

"Sheesh, sorry," Xue Yueliang apologised, "I won't ever joke about that again. I promise."

The flurry of arrows raining down seemed to gain some aggression, making Xue Yueliang wonder if she could fight with them in close combat, but she decided to trust Li Hua's marksmanship.

After all, amidst this rain of wood and metal, not a single hair on Zhong Xi's head was harmed, to the point where Xue Yueliang wanted to tell her it was fine to harm, as long as she didn't die.