66: Chapter 66 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (XIV)

The cabin doors swung wide open, revealing the ground of Trial Peak outside.

A fresh, dense Heaven and Earth Metallic Qi rushed over him, several times denser than inside the flying vessel.

Even though he was still in the Body Tempering Realm and had not yet drawn Qi into his body, taking just a single breath cleared his mind and sent a wave of comfort through his skin and flesh.

On the plaza outside, dozens of grey-robed Utility Disciples were already standing with their hands at their sides, waiting to receive these prospective disciples.

Right at the edge of the crowd inside the cabin doors, Chu Shi's gaze paused slightly, landing on a familiar figure.

It was Yun Mengyao.

Having not seen her for seven days, she looked like a completely different person.

Previously in Canglan City and on the flying vessel, although she had always maintained a delicate and weak appearance, she had also carried a hint of deliberate, fawning anxiety.

Like rootless duckweed, desperately trying to grasp a life-saving straw.

Now, she had changed into a light green flowing fairy dress, its hem embroidered with tiny white lilies of the valley, with a translucent white jade pendant tied around her waist, accentuating her snow-white skin and curved, smiling eyes.

Her already beautiful features now held an even more pitiful, delicate charm.

With her head slightly bowed, she followed delicately behind a young girl, half of her body almost hidden in the girl's shadow.

Only the reddened corners of her eyes were visible as she timidly looked at the surrounding crowd, evoking pity in anyone who saw her.

Chu Shi's gaze then fell upon the young girl in front of her.

The girl wore a dazzling red outfit, her long hair tied up high with a red ribbon, revealing a smooth forehead and a sharply defined jawline.

Her features were extremely beautiful, but it was not the delicate, weak beauty of Yun Mengyao; rather, she exuded an immediate air of spirited, heroic vigor.

The corners of her eyes tilted upward slightly, flashing with a quirky, mischievous cunning. Hanging from her waist was a gilded jade token engraved with the words "Canglan Princes Mansion," and she carried a natural air of nobility without appearing arrogant.

One of her hands rested casually on the sword at her side, while her other hand was draped carelessly over Yun Mengyao's shoulder.

From time to time, her fingertips would gently pinch Yun Mengyao's cheek, her actions intimate and natural.

Yun Mengyao's cheeks flushed slightly from the pinching, but she did not dare dodge, only leaning slightly closer to her in a docile, dependent manner.

Standing beside the red-robed girl was a young man clad in brocade robes and a jade belt. Handsome and elegant in bearing, he was none other than the Seventh Prince of the Canglan Princes Mansion, Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan.

Chu Shi and Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan were not close friends, but they had met once before.

During the wager duel at the Martial Arts Arena, Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan had been present and witnessed him crush Zhao Xuan with his own eyes.

Afterward, he had even taken the initiative to approach and strike up an acquaintance, expressing quite a bit of admiration, making them half-friends.

"Brother Chu!"

Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan also spotted Chu Shi in the crowd at first glance. His eyes lit up, and he immediately smiled, waved, and walked over to greet him.

Seeing the Seventh Prince take the initiative to greet someone, the surrounding disciples all turned to look.

Upon seeing it was Chu Shi, understanding dawned in their eyes.

Chu Shi stopped in his tracks, nodded slightly to Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan, and said in a calm tone, "Seventh Prince."

"There's no need for such pleasantries, Brother Chu. Just call me Xiao Yuan."

Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan smiled and patted his shoulder, his attitude extremely warm.

He then turned sideways, guiding him to look at the red-robed girl beside him, and introduced,

"Brother Chu, this is my younger sister, Princess Xiao Xiao, our mansion's commandery princess."

Hearing this, Princess Xiao Xiao looked up at Chu Shi.

Her gaze swept over him with a somewhat casual appraisal, and then she raised an eyebrow slightly as a form of greeting.

"Young Master Chu," she said casually.

Just as she finished speaking, her hand on Yun Mengyao's shoulder slid downward.

She lightly wrapped her arm around Yun Mengyao's waist, leaned down to her ear, and whispered something.

Yun Mengyao's cheeks instantly flushed even redder. She gave a soft "mm" and shrank into her embrace, but her eyes stealthily darted toward Chu Shi, carrying a somewhat complex mix of emotions.

There was wariness, resentment, and a subtle, hard-to-detect trace of provocation.

Chu Shi's brow furrowed imperceptibly.

His heart was filled with doubts.

In just seven short days, how had Yun Mengyao managed to latch onto Princess Xiao Xiao, the princess of the Canglan Princes Mansion?

He knew Yun Mengyao all too well.

His predecessor had been completely deluded by this woman's manipulative, "green tea" words, falling out with his childhood friend Li Hao, who had grown up with him.

For three whole years, he had been played like a puppet in the palm of her hand, even going so far as to offend Zhao Xuan, a fellow descendant of a noble family, for her sake.

Only then did the wager duel from a few days ago happen.

This woman seemed weak and delicate, but in reality, she was deeply scheming, best at playing pitiful and garnering sympathy.

She was also adept at sowing discord and stirring up trouble—a thorough green-tea bitch.

Princess Xiao Xiao seemed quirky and not easily fooled, but she was ultimately a princess raised in the inner chambers; she might not be able to see through Yun Mengyao's true colors.

Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan had also befriended him and was considered half a friend. Out of both reason and courtesy, he should offer a word of warning.

Lest Princess Xiao Xiao be deceived by Yun Mengyao and end up causing trouble down the line.

Just as Chu Shi made up his mind and was about to speak to Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan, Yun Mengyao beside them took action first.

She gently tugged on Princess Xiao Xiao's sleeve. Her eyes instantly turned red, and her voice was soft and sweet, carrying a deep timidity.

Shaking her head slightly, she whispered to Princess Xiao Xiao, "Princess, I... I should probably step aside for a bit."

Princess Xiao Xiao looked down at her and raised an eyebrow. "You're perfectly fine, why hide?"

"I... I had some misunderstandings with Young Master Chu before."

Yun Mengyao's voice grew even softer, filled with deep grievance, and the tears in her eyes looked as if they could fall at any moment.

She stealthily glanced up at Chu Shi, then quickly lowered her head again. "I'm afraid Young Master Chu still blames me and might speak ill of me in front of you..."

"If... if you decide you don't want me anymore because of that..."

"I really... really wouldn't know where to go..."

As she spoke, her shoulders trembled slightly, presenting a pitiful picture of someone who had suffered immense grievance yet feared causing trouble for her master.

Anyone seeing this would think that Chu Shi had bullied her before and was now looking to cause trouble for her again.

Standing where he was, Chu Shi instantly felt a profound sense of speechlessness.

Wow, she was really something.

Before he could even open his mouth, this woman had already made the first strike, preemptively inoculating her master against anything he might say.

Her green-tea acting skills had indeed improved quite a bit since before.

Sure enough, Princess Xiao Xiao's brow furrowed instantly. She reached out to pat the back of Yun Mengyao's hand and shielded her behind herself.

Then, she looked up at Chu Shi. Her previously casual gaze instantly turned cold, carrying an unquestionable dominance.

She spoke, her voice clear and carrying the dignity of a princess, saying word by word:

"Young Master Chu, Mengyao is my person now.

Whatever old, trivial history there was between you two, regardless of who was right or wrong, is water under the bridge starting today."

She took half a step forward, completely blocking Yun Mengyao, her tone carrying an undisguised warning:

"From now on in the Great Sun Holy Land, as long as she behaves herself, don't go looking for trouble with her.

Otherwise, this princess's face is not so easily slighted."

As she finished speaking, Yun Mengyao, who was behind her, stealthily peeked out half her head from beside her shoulder, looking at Chu Shi with a delicate, weak expression.

Her eyes were red, but the corner of her mouth curved into an imperceptible smirk of triumph.