Chapter 87: You Truly Have Some Nerve! (Please Subscribe)

The face of the Southern Ming Princess grew increasingly grim. Cheng Guang's Bewitching Eye, a bloodline power of the Qingqiu Fox Clan, continued to invade her soul. Despite her profound cultivation, under such circumstances, she could not muster her full strength.

If Cheng Guang's use of the Bewitching Eye had already shocked her, what unsettled her even more was that the secret arts she cast upon him elicited no reaction whatsoever. It was as if Cheng Guang was completely immune.

How could this be? With her cultivation, even without resorting to secret arts, Cheng Guang should not have been able to withstand her power. Yet he remained utterly unaffected. The Princess of Southern Ming could not fathom this.

A sense of retreat began to rise within her. In her eyes, Cheng Guang was far too enigmatic. Not only did he wield the bloodline power of the Qingqiu Fox Clan, but his Bewitching Eye was not quite the same as those of ordinary foxes. She could not discern the true nature of Cheng Guang for the moment, nor could she understand how he had uncovered their secret.

Yet, the only comfort she could take was that, even if Cheng Guang knew their secret, he had no evidence. Unless he presented clear proof, no one would believe him except for Cheng Zhi Hai, who adored Cheng Guang beyond measure.

The Princess of Southern Ming decided to let Cheng Guang go for now, to wait for another opportunity in the future. As her soul prepared to retreat from Cheng Guang's mind, the peculiar pink radiance in his eyes—marks of his mystical power—surged forth again, enveloping her soul.

Her brows furrowed; her soul felt uneasy. Her will wavered under the influence of Cheng Guang's Bewitching Eye, growing ever more unstable. Despite her cultivation surpassing Cheng Guang's by leaps and bounds, in this state, she was exposed before him, defenseless.

Faced with Cheng Guang's Bewitching Eye, she had few means of resistance, relying solely on her powerful soul and steadfast mind to endure. If it came to a fight, she could end him with a single blow. But now, unable to kill him outright, having exhausted her soul's energy and exposed her presence within the Duke's mansion, she could not leave.

She had thought that, by retreating, Cheng Guang would breathe a sigh of relief, grateful to have escaped with his life. Yet, she did not expect that, just as she was about to depart, Cheng Guang would stab her in the back once more. Even now, he dared to provoke her!

Furious, she wanted to teach him a lesson. Even if her secret arts were ineffective, striking his soul directly could still damage him, making him suffer. But at this moment, she had neither the strength nor the opportunity. If she lingered any longer, even if unaffected by the Bewitching Eye, others might notice the abnormality and she would be unable to explain, unable to escape.

Suppressing her irritation, she withdrew from Cheng Guang's mind.

"Trying to leave?" Cheng Guang raised his eyes with a slight smile, saying nothing but silently increasing the dosage. His soul's power swiftly dwindled, growing fragile. He would not let this chance slip by.

Whether the Princess of Southern Ming would lash out in desperation did not concern him. If she did, before she could strike, the commotion would draw Cheng Zhi Hai and others, and it would be her death, not his.

While Cheng Guang quietly increased the pressure, the moment the Princess withdrew from his mind, the dazzling light of the Bewitching Eye intensified, enveloping her entirely. Her soul quivered imperceptibly; the once pure radiance now shrouded in an eerie pink glow.

Now, as she exited Cheng Guang's mind, her soul seemed stunned, lingering in place. After a moment, her beautiful eyes turned to Cheng Guang, gazing upon him.

It was deep night. A crescent moon hung quietly in the southwestern sky. The heavens were high and clear; the cold moonlight poured down, making the Milky Way above ever more brilliant. This radiant light seemed to touch the soul of the Princess, enhancing her beauty.

Cheng Guang opened his eyes, sitting up from the bed, with Qingluan asleep in his arms, watching the Princess's soul with interest. She was, indeed, the famed beauty of the land. It was said that Chen Xuannan, the renowned sword immortal of Great Zhou, once saw her and was enchanted for life, composing a poem:

"Sword immortal's heart burns like fire,
Princess's beauty haunts his dreams.
Red lips smile like peach blossoms,
Emerald brows curve like distant hills.
Graceful as willow, celestial in form,
A goddess surpassing earthly fair.
Longing for her to share his days,
Bound to her in life and death."

Such poetry captured the Princess's allure; even the most steadfast man could not resist her charm. Across Great Zhou, countless journeyed thousands of miles to Southern Ming, hoping for a glimpse of her ethereal beauty.

Yet, this peerless Princess, whom few could even see, now wore a face of panic. She realized she was being affected by Cheng Guang's Bewitching Eye. Her original disgust and dislike for him began to transform into faint infatuation.

Something was wrong; Cheng Guang's Bewitching Eye was abnormal. Did it truly possess such power? Could it influence a sixth-grade Mingwu realm cultivator like her?

Cultivators of the spiritual path advanced faster than martial artists. At her age, most martial artists were at the fourth or fifth grade, while she was already at the sixth, just a step from the seventh. She had always thought herself gifted, but upon meeting Cheng Guang, she realized her talent paled in comparison.

Who had ever seen a mere Yangshen realm youth wield such a power? Who had seen one affect her with it? This Bewitching Eye was a Qingqiu Fox Clan bloodline power, impossible for humans to possess.

Had her soul been less formidable, her mind less resolute, she would have already become a plaything at Cheng Guang's feet. Even the thought of kneeling before him, offering herself, made her complexion pale.

Though she was not yet reduced to such a state, things were not much better. She was being influenced, her eyes growing more enamored as she looked at him.

Anxious, the Princess forced herself to suppress her feelings, gazing at Cheng Guang with barely contained infatuation. After a moment, she forcibly turned her head, guiding her soul out of the Duke's mansion.

As she departed, she sensed a lingering reluctance within herself. Her powerful soul tried to wash away the lingering marks of Cheng Guang's power, but she was horrified to discover that his Bewitching Eye's imprint was absorbing her soul's energy, rooting itself deeper within her.

Her attempts to purge the mark had little effect. It had already taken root, and her soul's cleansing only temporarily lessened its influence; should she stop resisting, she would become Cheng Guang's mindless plaything.

It was as if she had seen a ghost. What kind of Bewitching Eye was this? She knew the Qingqiu Fox Clan's signature power intimately; her own secret arts were learned from them and always effective in battle.

Yet, her proud art not only failed against Cheng Guang, it was used against her, leaving her humiliated. Compared to his Bewitching Eye, her own was mere child's scribble, a tiger turned dog.

She felt deeply insulted but could do nothing. If she wished, she could kill Cheng Guang outright, but she could not act, nor even think to harm him, for his power had eroded her will.

A faint regret stirred within her. Had she not sought him out tonight, things would not have come to this. If she had not left her body to visit the Duke's mansion, Cheng Guang's power could never have affected her.

In the deep night, beneath the moon, her soul—white but tinged with strange pink—flew from the Duke's mansion, crossed the capital, and returned to her bed. When her soul settled, her beautiful eyes snapped open, still cold and noble, but now touched with incongruous infatuation, as if she were in love.

The proud and noble Princess felt the strange emotion within and was instantly alarmed. She sat cross-legged on her bed, practicing her cultivation method, meditating upon divine images, trying to uproot the Bewitching Eye's mark.

Under the moonlight, the ambient energy of heaven and earth surged from the void, flooding into her enchanting body. Her chest rose and fell, each breath seeming to expel stardust.

Between her brows, her soul seemed to sit cross-legged as well, absorbing the energy, strengthening and consolidating her soul, which now wielded its power without restraint. Her soul's power became as tangible as a blade, scraping away the pink radiance and attempting to remove the deeply ingrained mark.

Each cleansing made her complexion paler. Time passed slowly as she worked to purify her soul.

As dawn broke, the eastern sky glowed pale, the earth brightening. The horizon was brushed with pink, beneath which golden rays bloomed like flowers, scattering like waves.

The Princess exhaled a long, turbid breath; her exquisite face was weary, her forehead beaded with sweat, as if after a draining battle. Her chest rose and fell, breath fragrant as orchids.

She had not yet relaxed when a maid, Lan Ping, called from outside.

"Princess," came the maid's voice.

The Princess frowned slightly, exhausted. "What is it?" she asked, forcing herself to respond.

"There is a visitor."

She replied, "Refuse. I will see no one."

The mark left by Cheng Guang's Bewitching Eye was not yet fully removed; she reckoned two or three more sessions would be needed to eradicate it and its influence. She dared not go out or receive guests, preferring to hide quietly in her room until the effect diminished.

Yet, Lan Ping's next words unsettled her.

"Princess, it is the Heir who has come..."

The Heir? The Duke's Heir? What does he want? Was last night's humiliation not enough, must he return today? Does he not fear she might harm him?

She sat up, her face icy, sneering, "Very well. In the Duke's mansion I could not touch you, but here in my own house, even if I kill you, no one will notice."

"You court death; do not blame me."

She replied, "Let him in."

No sooner had she spoken than, instead of Lan Ping's voice, she heard a young man's teasing laughter.

"Aunt, yesterday you invited me to visit your house. Early this morning, your nephew could not wait to come."

Cheng Guang, dressed in moon-white robes and adorned with a sparkling jade pendant, entered with a faint smile on his handsome face, his gaze lingering on the Princess's alluring figure before settling on her noble, slightly cold features.

"Aunt, after just a day, why has your complexion grown so pale? Did you do something alone last night?"

He sighed, "Aunt, I know women in their thirties are like tigers, but you should take care with such things."

His words, delivered leisurely, made the Princess's face darken further. She no longer wished to play along. Cheng Guang knew the identity of the Southern Ming King, and as the Duke's Heir, was already her enemy.

She had not expected Cheng Guang to come so soon after last night.

Her expression grew colder, but she laughed, "Nephew, you are bold indeed. Are you not afraid that your aunt might devour you, knowing she is a tiger at thirty?"

As she spoke, her aura spread, her powerful soul radiating like storms through the room. Outside, maids and servants felt a sudden chill, wrapping themselves tighter and wondering why the weather remained so fickle as March approached.

Cheng Guang, unfazed, smiled.

"Aunt, I have no hostility. I came to help you remove the Bewitching Eye and to discuss an important matter."

His words caused her movements to pause, her expression dazed. Was she hearing correctly? No hostility? She felt the opposite. He claimed he would help her, but if she believed him, she would be a fool.

She wanted to refuse, but her head throbbed; the lingering mark of the Bewitching Eye still influenced her mind. Under its effect, she no longer wished to reject him; merely resisting his will brought pain.

Cheng Guang observed her, seeing her silent, brows knit, and smiled. He knew his Bewitching Eye had worked. She had been caught off guard. Even with her cultivation, removing his mark would be arduous.

Until she succeeded, her hostility toward him would be weakest. He did not know how effective his power would be, but any effect was an opportunity. Once she removed the mark, he would have no chance and would be her target.

Rather than remain passive, Cheng Guang preferred to act. So, at dawn, he left his house and came to hers, risking that she might attack him, but so far, results were promising. She was affected; her attitude was not friendly, but she had not struck.

His smile deepened.

"Aunt, I greatly admire the Remembrance Prince. Such a hero! Could you introduce me?"

She was surprised at this request. Admire the Remembrance Prince? How could he say such a thing? The Prince had become a pariah before Cheng Guang was even born. Now, save for a few old ministers, he was nearly invisible in the Zhou court.

To the people and nobility, the emperor was interchangeable, never their concern. Whether the ruler was Wu Shang or the Remembrance Prince made little difference.

For Cheng Guang to claim admiration—surely a lie.

She studied him, unable to discern his intent. He came without guards, seemingly fearless. He did not wish to harm her, nor did he fear her.

She frowned, and inexplicably, when she looked at him, her eyes showed flashes of longing; the closer he was, the more joyful she felt. She sensed the Bewitching Eye's mark, which she had largely purged, beginning to re-root in her soul, draining her energy.

Her brows tightened; she closed her eyes briefly, checked her soul, then opened them again, looking at Cheng Guang, her gaze bright.

"You said you'd remove the Bewitching Eye for me—is that true?"

She tried not to show infatuation, keeping her expression cool.

Cheng Guang smiled, "Why not let me try?"

She hesitated, unwilling to let him approach her soul. With time, she could remove the mark herself; it was only a minor inconvenience.

"No need. You rascal, I don't know what you're plotting." She glared at him, rolling her eyes, yet her noble bearing remained intact.

Cheng Guang mused that, in another world, men would pursue her, begging to be scolded.

"You are bold. If I were to kill you now, would anyone suspect me?"

She regarded him with interest.

Cheng Guang laughed, "Aunt won't act. In the capital, my life is well protected. If you wished to kill me, you'd not have fled last night."

"You wouldn't have needed to scheme with Bai Shuxuan to lure me out and attempt assassination."

Her expression shifted again, staring at him, lips pursed, saying nothing, merely sipping tea.

After a while, she looked at him again. "You are confident."

"How did you know about the assassination? Oh, speaking of Bai Shuxuan, I recall she was controlled by you. I thought she was imprisoned in the Duke's mansion, but perhaps she was under your Bewitching Eye."

She stirred her tea, curious. "How did you learn the Qingqiu Fox Clan's bloodline power?"

Cheng Guang did not answer, sitting before her, snatching her tea and sipping it with a faint floral aroma, whether from the tea or her lips, he did not care.

After a sip, he smiled, "Aunt, never mind how I learned the Fox Clan's power; it's nothing much. Why not introduce me to the Remembrance Prince? I truly admire him."

She rested her chin in her hand, eyes narrowed, studying him. Though she could not fathom his motives, he showed no sign of deception.

Could it be... did he truly admire the Remembrance Prince? This absurd thought arose unbidden, but she suppressed it. As the Duke's Heir, how could he admire the Prince? Those who followed the Prince were considered traitors.

Cheng Guang, the Duke's Heir, needed do nothing to secure a future as a top noble. Even if the Prince became emperor, his power would not greatly increase.

So, why should he admire the Prince?

She pondered, her head aching. She realized she could not see through Cheng Guang, whom she had thought an ordinary noble, easily killed if needed, and of no consequence to their plans. But now, things seemed more complicated.

She decided to let the Remembrance Prince meet Cheng Guang; whatever his motives, their association would mark him, linking him to the Prince.

As she was about to speak, she noticed Cheng Guang still sipping her tea, perhaps savoring the taste of her...

She snatched the cup, slamming it down.

"Enough."

Cheng Guang chuckled, "Aunt, why so stingy? My mother made Jade Beauty Cake for you yesterday."

She rolled her eyes, "Drink at home."

"You want me to introduce you to the Remembrance Prince? Fine. Come with me, if you dare."

She rose, her robe hugging her figure, accentuating her curves. She no longer cared about Cheng Guang's gaze, striding toward a side chamber.

There, she revealed a secret passage leading to a hidden room. Cheng Guang approached, sensing a chill.

"Afraid to enter? You dared to come this far?"

She scoffed, arms crossed, her noble face mocking.

Cheng Guang smiled, "I value my life; dying at your hands would be a waste."

He entered the passage; she snorted in annoyance. If you could die at my hands, it would be your honor. But now, even if you wished it, I would not oblige.

The Princess had no intention of trading her life for his. As Cheng Guang had said, any mishap in her house would implicate her.

She could not act against him here; her prior invitation was to set a trap. After last night's events, she realized most of her tricks were useless against him. Cheng Guang was a spiritual cultivator as well.

Ordinary methods were ineffective on him; anything too obvious would attract unwanted attention. What puzzled her now was why Cheng Guang did not expose her to Cheng Zhi Hai and others. Her royal blood and spiritual cultivation, once revealed, could not be concealed.

If Cheng Guang exposed her, even if she could hide the King's identity, it would be difficult to handle. At the very least, it would cause her headaches.

Yet Cheng Guang said nothing, instead coming to declare his admiration for the Remembrance Prince.

Could it be... did Cheng Guang truly wish to join them?

She laughed at the absurd thought, shook her head, and followed him.

They passed through the narrow, dark corridor to a stone door. Cheng Guang paused, examining it.

"Aunt, what treasures do you keep here? Secret passages and stone doors—necessary?"

She said nothing, moving past him to find the mechanism and push the door open.

Light seeped into the room, revealing a secret chamber lined with books and documents, the air heavy with age and ink.

The Princess entered, retrieving a crystal orb from a corner and raising it. The orb floated, glowing as it connected to something unseen.

After a moment, the orb shone brighter, and a voice echoed in the chamber.

"Hm?"

The voice was deep and hoarse. "You contacted me suddenly—what happened?"

The Princess glanced at Cheng Guang, then at the orb. "Something has come up. The Duke's Heir knows your identity."

"Hm?" The other was stunned, at a loss. "Knows my identity? What identity?"

"The Prince's identity, what else?"

The other fell silent, pondering her words.

After a while, he asked, "How did he find out?"

She shook her head, "I don't know."

Silence again.

After a time, he asked tentatively, "Can he be killed?"

"The Duke's Heir is not easy to kill," she replied coldly.

Cheng Guang felt awkward, listening as they discussed his murder without restraint; he felt a sense of dislocation.

"Enough talk of killing. I've come to join you," he interjected.

The orb's other side was silent for a moment.

"Someone else?"

The Princess nodded.

"Who?"

She glanced at Cheng Guang. "The Duke's Heir—the one I said was hard to kill."

Her words brought silence, as if the other side's mind had crashed.

Time passed before the voice returned.

"Why is he with you? You should deal with him, use your arts to control his mind."

The Princess sighed, her noble face weary. She wished she could do as he said, but it was impossible—any attempt would cost a life.

She explained, "Unable to act for now. The Duke's Heir is not simple. He says he admires you and wishes to join. What do you say?"

Silence. The news seemed to upend the other person's worldview.

"What? He admires me? Wants to join? The Duke's Heir? Is he insane?"

A series of questions—either Cheng Guang was mad, or only a madman would believe him.

The Princess said nothing. She herself did not believe Cheng Guang, but could not imagine any reason for his actions.

It all seemed too implausible; any excuse could make it seem reasonable.

Cheng Guang spoke, "Your Highness, I am still listening. Shouldn't you care about my feelings? I am sincere."

The orb remained silent, only the breathing grew heavier.

Time passed.

"What do you offer?"

Cheng Guang laughed, "What do you wish for, Your Highness? Must I present a token?"

The other pondered, feeling pained. If Cheng Guang truly joined them, it would be a dream start—a Duke's Heir was always worth recruiting. Even if he regained the throne, the Duke's support would be crucial.

Without the Duke's favor, even restored, he might not hold the realm.

The Remembrance Prince thought it over. "No token needed; you cannot help us yet. I am curious how you discovered our identity. Who told you?"

Cheng Guang shrugged, "Guessed."

"Guessed?" The voice rose, as if calling him a liar.

Cheng Guang nodded, "Yes, guessed."

He never intended a full explanation; with Cheng Zhi Hai, he might need to justify his information, but to the Prince, such explanations were optional.

The Prince, hearing this, realized Cheng Guang was unlikely to reveal his source. By keeping their secret, Cheng Guang had already done them a favor.

After a pause, the Prince continued, "Mingxian, keep an eye on this boy. I sense something off. If he can be killed, do so. If not, since he says he wants to join, let him serve us."

He spoke openly of killing Cheng Guang, considering it safer to eliminate a potential threat. If not, Cheng Guang should be useful. The Prince was not afraid of exposure; his official identity remained that of the Southern Ming King, and few would believe otherwise.

The Princess assented, exchanged a few more words, and the orb's light faded.

She led Cheng Guang out of the passage.

She found that, despite the discussion of his possible death, Cheng Guang's expression remained unchanged, calm and untroubled, even cheerful after leaving the passage.

She could not understand his joy.

Leaving the passage, she no longer wished to deal with him. She could not kill him, nor even touch him. His strange powers made her uncomfortable; being near him unsettled her, especially while the Bewitching Eye still affected her.

Looking at Cheng Guang was like gazing at a beloved; she could not help wanting to draw near. Had her will been weaker, she would have clung to him.

Annoyed, she expelled Cheng Guang from her residence.

Cheng Guang, too, had no desire to linger, focusing on his system task.

Just then, in his mind, the system task completion tone sounded. Though cold and emotionless, it filled him with a sense of intimacy.

[Joined Southern Ming King. Task complete.]
[Claim reward?]

This time, the reward was a lapdog—though with the addition of the word "hellish." He had no idea what it would look like, and was eager to return and claim it.

...

(End of chapter)