Chapter 312: The Best Way to Protect the Princess

Chapter 312: The Best Way to Protect the Princess

Princess Huansha’s eyes sparkled with a radiant smile, and her beauty lived up to the title of princess.

Compared to the glamorous celebrities online, she was no less striking, and more importantly, she carried an air of grace.

“Then I’ll trouble you two to show me around Wuyun Pavilion,” Princess Huansha said, her smile bright.

Han Kang reminded them once more: “Members of the Wu Sect are hiding in Longtai City, plotting against Princess Huansha.

Even if it costs you your lives, you must ensure the princess’s safety.”

Han Kang’s words sounded dire, but in truth, there was nothing to fear.

By now, Wuyun Pavilion had long been staffed with his own people.

If the Wu Sect were to harm Princess Huansha in Longtai City, that would be truly absurd.

Still, the main purpose of his words was to remind the two to guarantee the princess’s safety.

“Don’t follow us; a crowd is too dull,” Princess Huansha said, then cheerfully walked toward Qi Yuan and Han Xianyun.

Han Kang watched this scene, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Today, his younger brother’s attitude toward him was markedly different.

Could it be… that he had heard something?

Han Kang added a few more instructions, and the minister of the Liusi Kingdom also spoke a few words, before they confidently allowed the three to enter Wuyun Pavilion.

The princess wore an alarm device; if danger arose, the alarm would sound.

Most importantly, if attacked, the princess’s light energy shield would activate, enough to withstand a sniper’s bullet.

This time, the three entered Wuyun Pavilion without any hindrance.

Princess Huansha seemed quite talkative. She looked at Qi Yuan and said slowly, “This gentleman seems rather downcast. Have you encountered something unpleasant?”

Qi Yuan nodded emphatically. “I’m too poor.”

Princess Huansha was momentarily taken aback; she hadn’t expected Qi Yuan to be so direct.

Her impression of him dimmed slightly.

She felt that Qi Yuan was trying to curry favor with her.

Wanting to climb the social ladder was normal, but doing so without offering anything in return… was rather off-putting.

“I only have a hundred million Qin yuan,” Qi Yuan said, his face growing even more troubled.

At this, Princess Huansha was completely stunned.

The thought that had just crossed her mind now seemed utterly absurd.

“A hundred million Qin yuan is still a lot,” Princess Huansha said, knowing the exchange rate between the two countries. A hundred million Qin yuan was a fortune, a sum most ordinary people could never dream of.

“It’s not a lot at all. I can’t afford the things I want to buy,” Qi Yuan said, looking dejected.

“Mr. Qi, what do you want to buy that costs a hundred million? Are you planning to buy a fighter jet?” Han Xianyun asked, puzzled.

“I want to buy… Gongxing,” Qi Yuan said with utter seriousness. “Just now, I was slapped in the face, and I almost couldn’t even get into Wuyun Pavilion. I have to buy Gongxing and slap back, or else… I’d lose too much face.”

“…” Han Xianyun.

Princess Huansha: “Sir, are you joking?”

Buying Gongxing—what a bold thought.

Now she fully understood that she had misjudged Qi Yuan. He wasn’t asking for a loan or seeking her help; he was just being humorous.

“I have too little money. A while ago, I was scrolling through videos and saw several—some 20-year-old girls from Anchuan or Jingcan, newly minted billionaires with 8,000 trillion in assets.

Compared to them, I’m far, far too poor.

How much beef would I have to skip to save up that much money?” Qi Yuan genuinely felt the gap between people.

He wondered if he should follow those accounts sometime and try to marry into wealth?

If one person had 8,000 trillion, he could swindle half of it. Swindle a few more, and wouldn’t he have enough to buy Gongxing?

But there was still one problem.

“You’re a princess? You must have good connections. Can I ask you something?” Qi Yuan looked at Princess Huansha with eager anticipation.

Princess Huansha felt as if she were on a roller coaster, her judgments constantly shifting. She said gently, “Please go ahead, sir.”

“I want to know where I can buy Gongxing, roughly how much it costs, and if it’s available for purchase,” Qi Yuan asked his question.

He felt he needed to start saving money.

When eating beef noodles, he could no longer add an extra portion of beef.

He had to economize for the sake of buying Gongxing.

“This… I don’t know either,” Princess Huansha said with an awkward smile.

If the occasional remark had been humor before,

now this… was just being unhinged.

Hearing this answer, Qi Yuan looked quite disappointed.

Han Xianyun, meanwhile, was breaking out in a cold sweat.

He had dealt with Qi Yuan before and knew his strength, as well as his personality.

Was Qi Yuan serious about this?

He didn’t dare continue this topic and instead changed the subject: “Princess Huansha, the Wugui Kingdom and the Liusi Kingdom don’t seem to be hostile. Why would the Wu Sect plot against you?”

Han Xianyun loved gossip, especially when it involved nobility and royalty.

It looked like a classic melodrama, full of juicy details.

Hearing this, Princess Huansha’s eyes flashed with anger: “The Wu Sect claims I am the reincarnation of the Wu God’s daughter, and that I must return to the heavenly kingdom to attend to the Wu God day and night!”

When the princess of the Liusi Kingdom was born, the king had even requested a priest from the Wugui Kingdom to perform a blessing.

This was common among royalty.

But that blessing went wrong.

That Wu Sect priest said that Princess Huansha was the reincarnation of the Wu God’s most beloved youngest daughter.

This youngest daughter, by nature mischievous, had secretly slipped from the heavenly kingdom to the mortal world and needed to return to the heavenly kingdom to stay by the Wu God’s side.

As for how to return to the heavenly kingdom, it was simple: death.

Thus, the Wu Sect had been plotting to kill Princess Huansha.

The king of the Liusi Kingdom was, of course, furious.

To have a princess die—emotionally, it was unacceptable; moreover, where would the royal family’s dignity be?

However, since the Wugui Kingdom and the Liusi Kingdom had extensive trade, this matter was never brought out into the open.

“These Wu Sect people have no shame. I could just as easily say their Wu God is my wife—would they then send their Wu God to my bed?” Han Xianyun said.

“You have a point,” Princess Huansha said, covering her mouth with a small laugh.

Qi Yuan looked at Han Xianyun from the side and said coldly, “Scumbag, your wife’s blood isn’t even cold yet, and you’re already thinking about a new wife!”

Though Qi Yuan was also a scumbag, he couldn’t stoop to Han Xianyun’s level—calling someone his wife without even knowing if they were male or female.

As the saying goes, don’t let a good girl down, don’t waste a bad girl; Qi Yuan could only manage the first half.

“No!” Han Xianyun thought of that awesome wife, and his legs went weak.

Beside him, Princess Huansha’s eyes widened, as if she had discovered something shocking?

But clever as she was, she didn’t press further, instead changing the subject: “The Wu Sect just barks loudly; after all these years, I’m still alive and well. With my father’s guards protecting me, the Wu Sect can’t touch me.”

Princess Huansha’s kingdom, Liulisi, was a small nation but rich in energy, having grown immensely wealthy by selling resources.

The princess was surrounded by many guards.

All sorts of gene death warriors willing to die for her.

Even now, outside Wuyun Pavilion, there was such a squad of soldiers.

“The Wu Sect really just talks big, blowing their own trumpet to the skies. Just a while ago, our Qinyuan Kingdom’s martial artists captured one of their priests!” Han Xianyun said with pride.

This was one of the few notable achievements of martial artists in today’s society.

Princess Huansha laughed cheerfully: “Actually, I’ve admired Qinyuan’s martial arts since I was a child, but my father won’t let me train, afraid I’ll turn into a muscle woman.”

She spoke freely, with a hint of regret.

Han Xianyun looked at Princess Huansha and agreed: “I think your father is right. If you trained in martial arts, the world might lose a peerless beauty.

Besides… you’ve probably taken gene potions, right? Your combat power might even surpass mine. There’s no need to force yourself down the martial path.”

“Gene potions are useful, but I have no real fighting ability. Otherwise, when we entered, they wouldn’t have kept asking you to protect me.” Princess Huansha’s smile was radiant, like a winter sun.

“Don’t worry, with us here, even if the Wu Sect’s entire Shadowy Phantom Group comes, they won’t lay a finger on you!” Han Xianyun said, glancing at Qi Yuan.

He had seen Qi Yuan’s strength firsthand.

A man capable of annihilating an entire army camp—a terrestrial immortal!

The Wu Sect’s strongest force was the Shadowy Phantom Group, all fanatical believers who often launched suicide attacks.

But they were mere mortals; even with gene potions, how could they compare to an immortal like Qi Yuan?

One comes, one dies; two come, a pair dies.

Princess Huansha noticed this detail and was slightly stunned.

Though she admired martial artists, she knew their limits.

Why was Han Xianyun so confident in Qi Yuan, judging by his gaze?

“How exactly will the two of you protect me?” Princess Huansha then asked with a smile, her eyes fixed on Qi Yuan.

As long as it wasn’t some melodramatic gossip, she was willing to probe, to uncover people’s little secrets.

Qi Yuan looked at Princess Huansha, seeming to ponder her question seriously: “That depends on what tricks the Wu Sect has.”

“The Shadowy Phantom Group has thousands of members, skilled in all kinds of firearms, swords, and blades, adept at assassination and hacking.

When necessary, they can even provide air support. Ordinary martial artists stand no chance against them.” Princess Huansha answered truthfully.

Han Xianyun nodded: “To be honest, if I ran into the Shadowy Phantom Group here, I’d have no chance of survival.”

The Shadowy Phantom Group’s combat squads all took gene potions—specially formulated ones.

These special gene potions greatly enhanced the user’s abilities but disrupted the body’s balance.

Members of these combat squads wouldn’t live past ten years.

Such gene potions were officially banned in all countries.

But the Wugui Kingdom didn’t care.

And there were so many fanatical believers of the Wu God.

Thus, the Shadowy Phantom Group never lacked recruits.

“It is a bit troublesome. On Blue Star, they could even rival the Dragon Group.

Except for the Crooked-Mouth Dragon King or the Soldier King War God, almost no one could defeat them. It seems you’re in danger, Princess Huansha.” Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

Han Xianyun looked puzzled: “What Blue Star? What Dragon Group?”

“Let me tell you a secret: I’m actually an alien, and you bunch… are foreigners!”

“You’re the foreigner!” Princess Huansha naturally didn’t believe Qi Yuan, taking it as a joke. “I’m in danger—how will you protect me?”

“Simple: just don’t let them find you, and everything will be fine.”

“Huh?” Princess Huansha was confused, not understanding Qi Yuan’s meaning.

“If the Shadowy Phantom Group can’t find you, they can’t kill you.

So the best way to protect Princess Huansha is to turn you into… a paramecium!” Qi Yuan said calmly.

Princess Huansha was dumbfounded.

Han Xianyun was also stunned.

They didn’t quite get it.

“Transform!” Qi Yuan pointed his finger, and the original Princess Huansha vanished instantly.

Han Xianyun’s eyes widened: “Where’s Princess Huansha?”

“She’s right in front of you, turned into a paramecium. From now on, you should call her Princess Paramecium.”

Qi Yuan waved his hand, shaking it beside Han Xianyun: “See? Princess Huansha is right here.”

Han Xianyun blinked, but saw nothing.

“Bro, are you nearsighted? A paramecium this big, and you can’t see it?”

Qi Yuan was rather speechless.

To keep this paramecium from dying, Qi Yuan had even wrapped it in a protective shield.

“I can’t see it.” Han Xianyun shook his head.

“Looks like you need a pair of microscope glasses.” Qi Yuan waved his hand.

The paramecium fell into a crack between bricks.

“Alright, I’ve placed Princess Huansha in a safe spot. After we finish our outing, we’ll bring her back.

Now, the Shadowy Phantom Group can’t see her—she’s safe.” Qi Yuan yawned.

Beside him, Han Xianyun’s mind was still in a daze.

Protecting a princess… like this?

Turning a princess into a paramecium?

What kind of person protects a princess this way?

He realized that spending too much time with Qi Yuan always left his head spinning, unable to keep up.

But then, suddenly, something occurred to him, and he blurted out: “Mr. Qi, the princess is now a paramecium… what if we can’t find her when we come back?”

"That's simple—just borrow a microscope and look." Qi Yuan answered without a second thought.

"But... what if I accidentally step on her while searching?" Han Xianyun was very worried.

The princess had now become a paramecium, such a fragile creature that a single spit of saliva might drown her.

"Well, sorry, my friend, but you'd be a murderer—and you'd have assassinated the princess."

Qi Yuan shrugged and strode deeper into Wuyun Pavilion.

Han Xianyun hesitated, but ultimately followed.

Now his heart was in turmoil.

He could only pray to the gods that the princess's luck would hold.

The two of them paid no more attention to Princess Huansha.

After all, weren't they supposed to protect the princess?

Turning her into a paramecium—wasn't that protection enough?

At this moment, they arrived at Wuyun Pavilion.

Ahead stood a thirteen-story wooden tower.

Han Xianyun had recovered somewhat by now, his mind no longer in a jumble.

"Wuyun Pavilion was built thirteen hundred years ago; what we see before us is a reconstruction.

In this entire building, only one place has survived from thirteen hundred years ago, and it is also the most precious part of Wuyun Pavilion.

That is the Wuyun Carving.

The Wuyun Carving is made from specially crafted Leiyin Wood, sealed at the bottom of mountains and rivers for a hundred years, and remains undecayed for a thousand years.

On the Wuyun Carving, there are traces left by over a thousand martial artists across a millennium, for later generations to admire and learn from."

When mentioning the Wuyun Carving, Han Xianyun's eyes were filled with reverence.

"Why is it called Wuyun Pavilion and not Wuyun Tower?" Qi Yuan's focus once again caught Han Xianyun off guard.

"Maybe... the builder liked pavilions," Han Xianyun improvised casually.

The two took the elevator and soon reached the top floor of Wuyun Pavilion.

On the top floor, there was a Wuyun Carving.

The Wuyun Carving was about ten square meters in size.

The entire carving was wooden yellow, with purple showing through the wood, faintly exuding an air of nobility.

Such wood looked perfect for making coffins.

On the Wuyun Carving, all kinds of marks remained.

There were finger impressions, sword and blade engravings, and even large footprints.

"The martial arts prowess of these predecessors is truly terrifying—they could even leave marks on the Wuyun Carving with their fingers.

Though I have reached the limit of martial arts, I cannot leave such an imprint with my fingers alone.

These ancestors, in terms of personal strength, are probably on par with warriors who have taken advanced gene potions.

Without breaking through the martial limit, they possessed such power—what would it be like if they did break through?" Han Xianyun sighed.

The path of martial arts, from ancient times to the present, has grown weaker and weaker.

According to historical records, two thousand years ago, martial artists emerged in abundance on Gongxing, and even those who broke through the martial limit were as numerous as carp crossing the river.

But now, in a thousand years, except for one Luo Bufan, no one has broken through the martial limit.

"You foreigners have quite mixed bloodlines—hmm, chicken, duck, gecko, bird, dung beetle..."

Qi Yuan looked at the marks left on the carving and commented casually.

"It seems your foreign ancestors were all Xu Xians."

Qi Yuan said, looking seriously at Han Xianyun.

"It seems your liking for a 'wow' wife isn't your own fault—it's a genetic inheritance problem from your ancestors."

Qi Yuan's eyes could see hidden information.

Through the Wuyun Carving, he could discern the bloodlines contained within those who had left marks on this wooden carving.

All kinds of small animals were present.

But at this point, Qi Yuan's expression changed slightly.

Because the boomerang had struck him.

Ning Tao's previous life was a canary on Jiupan Mountain.

If he married and had children with the canary, wouldn't that mean... the offspring would be somewhat like these foreigners?

Han Xianyun continued to look confused, his mind still in a jumble.

Because he couldn't understand what Qi Yuan was saying again.

"Mr. Qi, what you said about bloodlines... is it true?"

"Yes, you are a descendant of the Zhishu, absolutely true." Qi Yuan answered truthfully.

"What? Evolution is a lie? Qin Erwen's coffin lid can't hold him down!" At that moment, Han Xianyun still chose to believe Qi Yuan.

After all, Mr. Qi was an immortal.

It was only natural for an immortal to be knowledgeable.

"The history books don't record how you came to be, so... maybe you are indeed a descendant of the Zhishu."

Qi Yuan could fabricate stories at will.

After all, it was unofficial history—say whatever you want.

Some say, after Sima Zhao killed the emperor, why didn't he kill the court historian? Then the historian wouldn't have recorded it, and he wouldn't have borne the infamy of regicide.

Immediately, someone said that in the unofficial history he read, Sima Zhao had a fondness for Longyang; he took a fancy to the emperor on the street, the emperor refused, and Zhao, enraged, killed him.

"Am I really a descendant of a rat?" Han Xianyun pondered for a moment, then decided to stop thinking.

Even if so, would he give up his mansion and sleep in a cave instead?

Would he stop taking medicine when sick and eat rat poison instead?

"Which one of these was left by Luo Bufan?" Qi Yuan asked.

To be honest, among the marks here, Qi Yuan had already seen no fewer than ten that surpassed the power of the martial limit.

So it seems that in ancient times, there were still people who broke through the martial limit, but they hid their identities and did not make it known.

"This one." Han Xianyun pointed to a slender fingerprint.

"This guy... six fingers?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

Han Xianyun was even more baffled.

There's only one fingerprint here—how can you tell it's six fingers?

Qi Yuan stared intently at this single fingerprint, his expression quite calm.

"It seems that the key to breaking through the limits of martial arts lies in bloodline."

This fingerprint gave Qi Yuan a great deal of useful information.

This Luo Bufan was a ruthless man.

To break through the limits of martial arts... he would even...

However, Qi Yuan's identity in this game was an orphan, and he could not bring himself to be like Luo Bufan, who would eat anything.

Therefore, the opportunity for his breakthrough lay in the sea—the mutated sea monsters.

(End of this chapter)