Ever since that day when she saw her senior brother muttering to himself in front of a sword like he was possessed, He Yingying had been racking her brain for ways to help ease his burden.
She thought for a long time.
Previously, senior brother had used quite a few spirit stones to help heal her wounds…
Maybe she could start with that?
If she could help him get more spirit stones, surely that would make him happy?
But this wasn’t the imperial capital, and she was on the run with nothing to her name—how could she possibly get her hands on raw stones?
“Your Highness, the City Lord has come to visit—may I…”
The innkeeper’s voice came from outside the room, sounding nervous.
The poor man had nearly fainted when he was told by the city lord’s people just a few days ago that an imperial princess was staying in his modest inn—and that he was to treat her with utmost care.
In a small, remote city like Luoshui, having a princess as a guest was simply unthinkable.
He Yingying was initially a little impatient at the interruption.
But after a moment of reflection, a sudden realization struck her. Her eyes lit up.
‘Spirit stones! Aren’t they basically walking in the door?’
“This princess is resting. Let him wait.”
A short while later, Lin Wuming had been summoned to He Yingying’s room, unsure what she needed him for, when they heard a sneaky shuffling outside the door.
A figure crept up and gave the door a few tentative knocks.
“Come in,” she said.
Lin Wuming noticed his little junior sister suddenly straighten up, coughing lightly and taking on an air of majestic seriousness.
“Your Highness… Lin Gongzi is here too?”
The city lord, Luo Haonian, was momentarily stunned when he saw Lin Wuming in the room.
Hadn’t he seen this young man carrying the princess away at the Wan Yin Tournament?
And now they were alone in a room together?
He decided then and there to mind his own business.
Questions like that only brought trouble.
“Ah, Lin Gongzi, perfect timing.” Luo Haonian turned to Lin Wuming.
“I came to both greet Her Highness and deliver your reward from the family competition.”
He pulled out a small pouch and counted out fifteen mid-grade spirit stones.
He Yingying glanced at the pouch.
She noticed there were quite a few more spirit stones in there—some even high-grade—and smiled slyly.
‘This guy’s prepared. He’s just waiting for me to say the word.’
She was completely wrong, of course.
Luo Haonian had originally planned to visit the princess first, then go find Lin Wuming.
He hadn’t prepared the reward ahead of time and had only just now reached into his personal stash to avoid awkwardness.
“Many thanks, City Lo—”
“Ahem!”
Lin Wuming was cut off mid-sentence by an exaggerated cough from his junior sister.
He blinked, glanced at the city lord—who looked just as baffled—and then both turned to He Yingying, wondering what she was up to now.
“Little Luo…”
She put on a deliberately lofty tone.
“The imperial capital must have noticed I’m missing by now and begun a search, yes?”
“Er… yes, that is correct.”
“Which means my appearance here in Luoshui City is quite the accomplishment for you, isn’t it?”
“It… would seem so…”
Luo Haonian’s expression began to shift.
Something felt off.
“But, as I recall, you weren’t the one who found me, were you?”
“…This subordinate merely basks in Your Highness’s glory.”
“If that’s the case, then shouldn’t you show some gratitude? Fifteen spirit stones doesn’t seem enough for my senior brother’s cultivation, don’t you think?”
She said this while staring pointedly at the pouch in his hands.
“Uhh…”
Luo Haonian was speechless.
Was… was the princess extorting him?
Or rather, was she extorting him for this Lin guy?
But that was his salary!
The fifteen spirit stones were going to be reimbursed by the local families.
The rest were from his personal stash!
“I-I’m not quite sure I understand what Her Highness means…”
He clumsily began putting the pouch away, feigning ignorance.
“Old fox… I thought you were smart. Don’t blame me for being blunt,” He Yingying muttered to herself with a pout.
Then she spoke aloud…
“When I was being hunted down, the city lord didn’t exactly descend from the heavens to save me, did he?”
Luo Haonian froze mid-motion.
“If not for my senior brother’s courageous rescue, I might have…”
She trailed off, eyes brimming with tears. Even Lin Wuming was stunned.
‘Wait… when did I ever courageously save her? I don’t even remember that happening!’
“I…”
Luo Haonian looked genuinely remorseful now.
“Think about it,” she continued.
“I’ve been missing for a while now. Father must be frantic. If you return me safely, you’ll be seen as a hero—his opinion of you will change overnight…”
“…”
“Luoshui is a small, remote place. Tell me, City Lord, do you plan to rot here forever? If Father remembers your deeds… well, who knows what doors that might open for you?”
Now Luo Haonian was torn.
If this “achievement” could really boost his career, then maybe… maybe this was a worthwhile investment?
“Th-then… how about I add five more mid-grade—”
“City Lord.”
She cut him off with a sweet, yet menacing smile.
“What if I told Father that you didn’t find me, that even when I arrived here you failed to notice, and I was nearly assassinated on your watch… what then?”
Luo Haonian’s scalp tingled.
A chill ran down his spine.
He swallowed hard.
“Then… what does Your Highness propose?”
He Yingying raised her hand slowly, curling her fingers into a claw-like gesture—“I want it all.”
***
Not long after, the city lord finally left the inn.
He had arrived all smiles and left still smiling—but according to witnesses, this high-level cultivator tripped and fell flat on his face in the street.
Some say he stayed down for quite a while.
Whatever happened inside must have been a serious blow…