222: Chapter 220 Misunderstanding?

Yun Ming didn't know what had happened.

He pushed open the door of the Quiet Room and saw Xue Ji wearing her crimson cloud flowing smoke, with a crimson ribbon condensed in her hand. Opposite her stood a strange woman in a royal blue palace dress, holding a Treasure-Spitting Mouse in her arms and clutching a golden collar in her hand.

Both possessed a powerful Aura, and the air was filled with the residual Spiritual Pressure of clashing Spells. There were several scorched marks in the courtyard.

His brow furrowed slightly.

Regardless of what had happened, a stranger had broken into his courtyard and started a fight with his person. In this situation, there was no need to ask who was right or wrong, nor was there any need to reason.

Beat them first, talk later.

The cauldron of all things mother qi flew from his hand. The Golden Crow Flame at the mouth of the cauldron surged, golden tongues of fire licking the air as the temperature rose abruptly.

Xue Ji's crimson ribbon struck out at the same time. One golden and one red beam of light intertwined, blasting toward the Princess Royal.

The Princess Royal did not retreat.

She didn't even stand up; she merely raised her hand, and a pale green light screen rose before her, blocking both attacks simultaneously.

The light screen remained motionless, and her expression didn't change at all. A faint smile even played at the corners of her mouth.

“Somewhat interesting,” she said, her voice quiet but clear.

She counterattacked. While holding the Treasure-Spitting Mouse with one hand, she waved the other casually. An invisible force surged from her palm like a tsunami or a landslide, crushing toward Yun Ming and Xue Ji.

The force was so immense that the air in the courtyard was compressed, the teacups and teapot on the stone table shattered simultaneously, and more than half the leaves of the unknown small tree were blown off.

Yun Ming's expression changed slightly as he summoned the xuanming heaven-covering umbrella to block his front. Black spectral light fell like a waterfall, deflecting that invisible force.

Xue Ji retreated behind him, her crimson ribbon weaving into a net in front of her, barely managing to block the aftershocks.

The three of them were locked in combat.

Spells flew everywhere, and spiritual light splattered in all directions.

The Princess Royal fought two opponents alone without falling into a disadvantage; she even seemed to have room to spare.

Her Spells were exquisite, her spiritual power profound, and her combat experience rich. Every move was perfectly executed, without wasting a single bit of extra effort.

It was as if she were playing with two children, that faint smile always remaining on her face.

Yun Ming wasn't using his full strength either—not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't dare.

This was his small courtyard; if it was destroyed, he'd have to repair it himself.

Most of his attacks were focused on containment, and he didn't use any of his powerful killing moves.

Xue Ji, on the other hand, felt very frustrated.

Her Cultivation Technique was primarily based on charm, with little actual killing power.

Those methods of hers worked well against men, but their effectiveness was greatly reduced against women.

Especially against a woman like the Princess Royal, whose cultivation was higher, whose Heart-Nature was firmer, and who didn't fall for her tricks at all. Her Charm Technique was like punching cotton—completely useless.

She could only rely on her crimson ribbon and movement techniques to maneuver, occasionally providing support for Yun Ming, while spending most of the time dodging.

When Shen Yizhi appeared at the courtyard gate, this was the scene he witnessed.

The Princess Royal sat upright on a stone stool, holding the Treasure-Spitting Mouse in one hand while waving the other casually. A pale green light screen flowed around her, blocking all of Yun Ming and Xue Ji's attacks.

Yun Ming stood opposite her, the cauldron of all things mother qi hovering above his head with Golden Crow Flame burning fiercely. The xuanming heaven-covering umbrella was blocked in front of him, its black spectral light clashing violently with the pale green light screen.

Xue Ji was behind him, her crimson ribbon woven into a net in front of her, her expression looking very unpleasant.

The fight between the three had reached a fever pitch.

Shen Yizhi's Divine Sense swept over and caught a detail—Yun Ming's right hand was tucked into his sleeve, his fingertips pinching a thin, long black needle.

That needle was as thin as a cow's hair and entirely pitch-black without a hint of luster, as if condensed from the deepest darkness.

Just by looking at it, Shen Yizhi felt a chill throughout his body, as if he were being watched by something, like a venomous snake crawling up his spine.

He didn't dare imagine what would happen if that needle were to strike the Princess Royal.

“Stop!” Shen Yizhi shouted, his voice urgent and carrying an unquestionable authority.

He stepped into the courtyard, placing himself between the three.

Yun Ming did not stop.

In a fight, whoever gets distracted loses.

At his right fingertips, that thin black needle was already poised to strike.

Hearing Shen Yizhi's voice, the Princess Royal and Xue Ji subconsciously paused.

The Princess Royal withdrew her hand, and Xue Ji pulled back her crimson ribbon.

Yun Ming did not stop.

With a light flick of his finger, that thin black needle turned into a streak of spectral light, heading straight for the Princess Royal's face.

Its speed was astonishingly fast and silent, as if it had been fired from another dimension.

Shen Yizhi's expression changed drastically.

Without time to think, his body instinctively lunged forward, blocking the Princess Royal.

Yun Ming's pupils contracted slightly. With a hook of his finger, the thin needle traced an arc in the air, grazing past Shen Yizhi's hair and pinning itself into the courtyard wall.

A small hole appeared silently in the courtyard wall, its edges smooth as if burned through.

The thin needle disappeared into the hole, its final destination unknown.

Cold sweat broke out on Shen Yizhi's forehead.

He stood there, gasping for breath, his chest heaving violently and his face as pale as paper.

“Mr. Shen, what are you blocking for?” Yun Ming's tone was very displeased.

Shen Yizhi took a deep breath to steady himself, then turned around to look at Yun Ming.

His gaze was complex—filled with helplessness, relief, reproach, and something else that was hard to define.

“Mr. Yun,” his voice was somewhat dry, “this is the Princess Royal of the Zifu Immortal Dynasty, the elder sister of the Third Prince.”

Yun Ming's hand paused.

He looked at the Princess Royal, and she looked back at him.

There was no surprise on her face, no anger, not even any superfluous expression.

She just watched him, her gaze as calm as if she were looking at a stone.

“Princess Royal?” Yun Ming's brow furrowed slightly.

His gaze fell on the Treasure-Spitting Mouse in the Princess Royal's arms, then on her palace dress embroidered with spiritual runes, and finally on the auspicious cloud dissipating beneath her feet.

Then he looked away and toward Shen Yizhi. “Are you sure?”

Shen Yizhi gave a bitter smile.

“I'm sure. The Third Prince just sent me a transmission saying the Princess Royal was coming to Qingyao City to see you. I hadn't even had the chance to notify you before she arrived.”

Yun Ming fell silent.

He put away the cauldron of all things mother qi, retracted the xuanming heaven-covering umbrella, walked to Shen Yizhi's side to confirm he wasn't injured, and then turned his head to look at the Princess Royal.

“To what do I owe the honor of Her Highness the Princess Royal's visit to my small courtyard?” His tone was neither humble nor arrogant; he did not bow, nor did he apologize.

The Princess Royal did not answer.

She looked at Yun Ming, her gaze moving from his face to his hand, from his hand to his sleeve, and from his sleeve to the direction where he had just thrown the thin needle.

The corners of her mouth curled slightly into a smile so faint it was almost imperceptible.

“Your reactions are very fast,” she said, a hint of admiration in her tone. “If Shen Yizhi hadn't blocked it, would you have really stuck me?”

Yun Ming said nothing.

He indeed would have.

No matter who it was, if they came to his home to start a fight, he would not be polite.

Shen Yizhi's head throbbed even more.

He stood between the two, with the Princess Royal on his left and Yun Ming on his right; he couldn't afford to offend either side.

The Princess Royal was the Princess Royal of the Zifu Immortal Dynasty and the Third Prince's biological sister; offending her would be hard to explain to the Third Prince. Yun Ming was the Third Prince's most important partner; offending him would be even harder to explain.

He took a deep breath and began the introductions.

“Your Highness, this is Yun Ming, a Fourth-Rank Alchemist and the Third Prince's partner.” He bowed slightly toward the Princess Royal, then turned to Yun Ming. “Mr. Yun, this is Her Highness the Princess Royal, the Third Prince's biological sister, a cultivator of the Mid-Nascent Soul Stage, and an expert in spiritual pets.”

Yun Ming cupped his hands as a greeting.

The Princess Royal nodded in return.

Shen Yizhi continued: “Today's event was a misunderstanding. Her Highness has come from afar, and neither Mr. Yun nor Xue Ji were aware. Everyone is working for the Third Prince; let us not ruin the harmony.”

Xue Ji stood behind Yun Ming, looking at the Princess Royal, the anger in her heart not yet dissipated.

But she did not lash out; she knew Shen Yizhi was right, and continuing to fight would bring no benefit.

The Princess Royal's cultivation was higher than hers, Yun Ming didn't dare use his full strength, and she alone was even less of a match.

She put away her crimson ribbon, retreated behind Yun Ming, and lowered her head, remaining silent.

The Princess Royal didn't look at her.

Her gaze rested on Yun Ming's face for a few moments before she spoke.

“Yun Ming, this palace does not like to beat around the bush.” Her voice was calm, as if she were speaking of something very ordinary. “I want this Xue Ji. Name your price. Spirit Stones, Medicinal Pills, Magic Treasures, Cultivation Techniques, territory—anything you can think of, this palace can provide. You name the price; I will not haggle.”