269: Chapter 267 Then I thank you very much for the protection of the True Lord.

Yun Ming casually cupped his hands. "Princess Royal Your Highness."

The Princess Royal rolled her eyes at him. "You certainly are casual. Meeting this Palace, and not even a proper greeting?"

Yun Ming didn't respond. The Princess Royal didn't press him either, raising her hand to point to the side. "Sit."

Only then did Yun Ming notice a strange object beside the soft couch. It was a fluffy, pure white little bear, round and chubby, not very big, looking like a newborn cub. It was wobbling toward Yun Ming, its limbs short and thick, its body swaying with every step. Stopping at Yun Ming's feet, it looked up at him, then curled into a ball like a white fluffball. Yun Ming tilted his head and tentatively sat on it. It was soft and warm, more comfortable than any prayer mat. The little bear didn't struggle at all when sat upon; instead, it let out a low grunt, as if expressing satisfaction.

Seeing this, the corner of the Princess Royal's mouth curled slightly. "This is this Palace's spirit pet, a Snow Mountain Spirit Bear."

Yun Ming didn't take the bait. Once settled, he looked at the Princess Royal. "Your Highness, thank you for your previous warning. Xue Ji told me you specifically came to the Sundries shop to warn us. I'll remember this favor."

The Princess Royal waved her hand. "Don't be so quick to thank me. This Palace didn't do it for you, but for Xue Ji. It doesn't matter if you die, but she cannot."

Yun Ming didn't mind her tone. "Why did Your Highness ask me to come? What exactly do you want to say?"

The Princess Royal didn't answer immediately. She lowered her head and stroked the back of the Treasure-Spitting Mouse. The Treasure-Spitting Mouse let out a 'squeak' and retracted its neck. She looked up at Yun Ming, a hint of scrutiny in her gaze.

"This Palace asks you one thing. Are you truly not afraid of death?"

Yun Ming leaned back against the soft bear, crossing his hands over his stomach, and thought for a moment. "I am. Of course I am. Who wouldn't be afraid of death?"

The Princess Royal laughed. Not a polite laugh, but a genuine one. "You're afraid of death? This Palace has investigated you. From Great Gan to the Cangxuan Immortal Sect, from the Cangxuan Immortal Sect to the Qingxuan Sect, from the Qingxuan Sect to the Zifu Immortal Dynasty. You've died several times, yet you've come back to life every single time. Your friends, some thought you were dead, some watched you die with their own eyes. Then you suddenly appeared, and they were both shocked and overjoyed by your resurrection. Am I correct?"

Yun Ming frowned slightly. "Your Highness investigated me?"

"Not this Palace." The Princess Royal shook her head. "It was those who want to kill you who investigated you."

Yun Ming looked at her. "Xuanming Hall?"

"Exactly." The Princess Royal picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and set it down. "As soon as you arrived in Tianyuan City, you caused the Zhao family to lose Face. Xuanming Hall has operated in Tianyuan City for over a hundred years, relying on the word 'prestige'. You made Zhao Shisan look like a fool in public and made Hall Master Zhao bow before the City Patrol Division. Xuanming Hall's prestige instantly plummeted to rock bottom. In Tianyuan City, there are plenty of local thugs wanting to replace the three major powers. They must use you to re-establish their prestige; otherwise, everyone will dare to stir up trouble for Xuanming Hall in the future. That is the first reason."

She paused and continued, "Second, they want the treasures on you even more. The two of them have already joined forces. Once the Longevity Festival is over, they will strike."

Yun Ming smiled. "I don't have any treasures on me. I'm quite poor."

The Princess Royal glanced at him sideways, her gaze carrying a sense of 'who are you kidding?' "When others think you have treasures, you'd better actually have some. Otherwise, you won't even have bargaining chips, and you'll only die faster."

Yun Ming didn't respond. The Princess Royal set down her teacup and leaned back on the soft couch, her tone becoming casual.

"This Palace doesn't actually care much about your life or death. If you die in Tianyuan City, it has nothing to do with this Palace. This Palace has only one requirement—do not let Xue Ji die with you. Hand Xue Ji over to this Palace and let her give up her human form to become this Palace's spirit pet. This Palace can preserve both your lives. Regarding Xuanming Hall, this Palace will speak to them. As for the Shanhai Society, this Palace can settle that too."

Yun Ming looked at her. "Is it that simple?"

"It's that simple." The Princess Royal's tone was firm. "Give Xue Ji to this Palace, and this Palace will ensure your safety. You can continue running your Sundries shop and refining your Medicinal Pills. The people from Xuanming Hall and the Shanhai Society will not trouble you again."

Yun Ming was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "I refuse."

The Princess Royal wasn't surprised. She took another sip of tea and set it down. "This Palace knew you would refuse. You refused this Palace once in Qingyao City, playing tricks in front of this Palace for half a day. This Palace didn't expect you to agree this time."

"Then why did Your Highness have me come?"

"To tell you one thing." The Princess Royal's tone became serious. "You can go and die. This Palace won't care. But before you die, remember to have Xue Ji come to this Palace. She is more useful alive than you are."

Yun Ming asked her, "Why is Your Highness so obsessed with Xue Ji? What kind of spirit pet can't you find? If you just spoke, many people would send you Fourth or Fifth-rank Spirit Beasts. Why must it be Xue Ji? She's just a Frost Brilliance Fox at the Early Nascent Soul Stage. There are plenty of Spirit Beasts in Tianyuan City stronger than her."

The Princess Royal didn't answer immediately. She placed the Treasure-Spitting Mouse on the soft couch, stood up, walked to the window, and turned her back to Yun Ming. The moonlight outside fell on her, casting a long shadow. She stood there for a long time.

"Because she is a Frost Brilliance Fox." The Princess Royal finally spoke, her voice lower than before. "Frost Brilliance Foxes are Spirit Beasts from the Far North Ice Plains, pure white all over, covered in frost and snow. Those with deep cultivation can freeze everything for a thousand miles; they have aloof temperaments and don't get close to people. You've seen her true form, so you should know what this Palace is talking about. Nine tails, pure white, without a single stray color. In all my years, I have only seen this one with such quality."

She turned around and looked at Yun Ming. "This Palace doesn't collect spirit pets for fun. Every spirit pet is this Palace's heart's blood. This Palace doesn't raise them as beasts; this Palace treats them as family. The Treasure-Spitting Mouse has been with this Palace for hundreds of years, raised from a cub to the Nascent Soul Stage. This Palace gives it the best resources, the best Medicinal Pills, and the best cultivation environment. It repays this Palace in its own way. This is what this Palace told Xue Ji—not to be a beast, but a partner."

Yun Ming was silent for a moment. "Your Highness, have you told Xue Ji these words?"

"I have. She didn't believe me." The Princess Royal's tone held a hint of helplessness. "She has a prejudice against this Palace, thinking I just want to lock her in a cage. This Palace doesn't blame her. If it were this Palace, I wouldn't believe it either." She paused. "But this Palace must still say it. Because this Palace can see that following you is dangerous. Your fate is too harsh; whoever gets close to you will be unlucky. This Palace doesn't want anything to happen to her."

Yun Ming didn't refute. He knew the Princess Royal was speaking the truth.

"Do you understand everything this Palace has said?" The Princess Royal looked at him.

Yun Ming stood up. The Snow Mountain Spirit Bear rolled out from under him, tumbled on the ground, and curled into a ball again.

"I understand. But I'll say the same thing—Xue Ji is not a bargaining chip for me to trade. She is my friend. Whether she stays or goes is for her to decide. I will not agree to anything on her behalf, nor will I force her to make any choice."

The Princess Royal didn't get angry, nor did she try to persuade him further. She sat back on the soft couch, picked up the Treasure-Spitting Mouse, and her tone returned to its indifferent state. "Fine. Go back and think about it. Once you've thought it through, come find this Palace anytime. However, there might not be much time left. Once the Longevity Festival passes, many things will be beyond this Palace's control."

Yun Ming cupped his hands toward her. "Farewell."

He didn't say more, turned, and walked out of the palace.

Leaving Paradise, Yun Ming didn't linger outside. He stepped onto the Teleportation Array, and with a flash of silver light, returned to the Heavenly Street. The Longevity Festival's revelry continued, the streets surging with crowds and bright with lights. He pushed through the crowd and walked back to the Sundries shop. The door curtain was half-lifted, and the lights inside were still on. Before he could even get close, he heard a dull thud, and then a figure flew out from behind the curtain, crashing onto the Heavenly Street. The figure rolled twice and lay on the ground, groaning in pain.

It was a middle-aged man in a gray Daoist robe, with a cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. His Face was bruised, and there was blood at the corner of his mouth; he was in a wretched state. The curtain swayed a few times, and Xue Ji walked out, clapping her hands, her white hair fluttering slightly in the night wind. She wore plain green clothes and looked at the person on the ground with an expressionless Face.

"Dare to come again, and I'll take your life." Her voice wasn't loud, but it was cold. The middle-aged man scrambled away on all fours, not even daring to pick up the Storage Pouch he had dropped. Xue Ji bent down to pick up the Storage Pouch and threw it back into the shop. Looking up, she saw Yun Ming standing not far away.

She froze for a moment. "You're back?"

Yun Ming nodded. "What happened?"

Xue Ji snorted. "An eyesore tried to steal something while you were away. I caught him red-handed, but he refused to admit it and even tried to fight me. I threw him out."

Yun Ming walked over, lifted the curtain, and entered the shop. Nothing was missing from the shelves, and the ledger on the counter was still in its place. A Storage Pouch lay lonely on the floor. He picked it up and placed it on the counter. Xue Ji followed him in, sat in the chair behind the counter, and took a sip from her teacup. Yun Ming sat down opposite her.

"What did the Princess Royal say to you?" Xue Ji asked.

Yun Ming briefly recounted the Princess Royal's words. After hearing them, Xue Ji fell silent.

"What do you think?" Yun Ming asked her.

Xue Ji set down her teacup. "What can I think? She's right, you're indeed a trouble magnet. Xuanming Hall and the Shanhai Society are all coming for you. I'm just caught in the middle." She paused. "But I won't go to her. And I won't be a spirit pet." Yun Ming looked at her. "Have you made up your mind?"

"I have." Xue Ji's tone was calm. "From Qingyao City until now, I've been following you for more than just a day or two. You're trouble, I know. But I'm not afraid of trouble. Besides, I am a Nascent Soul Cultivator. Whoever dares to provoke us, I'll throw them out of Tianyuan!"

Yun Ming leaned forward slightly, a faint smile in his eyes, like the first ray of morning light melting in spring. He raised his hands in a cupped-fist salute, his tone carrying a hint of sincere teasing: "Then many thanks for the True Monarch's protection—with a Nascent Soul powerhouse like you around, my heart feels much more at ease."

Hearing this, the corners of Xue Ji's lips curled up, and she tilted her chin higher. Her spirited eyes narrowed slightly, her eyelashes casting a small, triumphant shadow on her cheeks, her entire Face written with the words 'That's only natural'. Then she feigned composure with a light snort, flicked the silk ribbon hanging from her sleeve, and added leisurely: "At least you're sensible. However... this True Monarch protects many people; you're thirty-seventh on the list. Remember to be grateful."