Lao Min Na’s condition was worse a few weeks later. She could not improve her cultivation as she had run out of money and pills. The shops in Nan Jing city treated her like dirt, a germ that no one wanted to associate with or serve.

She suspected Zhao Li Xin was using his Hei Shen power to suppress her. However, she couldn’t tell if he was doing it because of her proposal, which would be an exaggerated reaction, or something else. Either way, she couldn’t tell what she had done to anger the ‘Demon Lord’.

​​

The situation seemed dire to Lao Min Na as the Martial Competition was close, and she wanted to make a name for herself by winning the competition. However, her current condition made it all seem like a pipe dream, a dream she didn’t want to give up.

She was at the end of her rope when the Third Prince came to her rescue. He gave her money and pills to boost her health. He helped her out for two reasons; one was the fact that he was attracted to her, and the other was the fact that Lao Min Na was an alchemist who would be of great use to him. 

Zhao Li Xin was not surprised when he learned Lao Min Na has joined the Third Prince’s faction, as Zhao Yi Chen was quite taken by Lao Min Na ‘charm’. There was also no way the Third Prince would let go of Lao Min Na as she was the alchemist, someone many searched for. On the other hand, Lao Min Na was an ambitious woman and she decided to follow the Third Prince as he was the second-best choice after Zhao Li Xin. 

“Should we stop doing business with the Third Prince too, My Lord?”

Zhao Li Xin lazily placed his head on his fist and scoffed in disdain, “No need. He will find another source outside our turf… But, deny his request if he demands something rare as it would probably be for that wretch woman.” 

“Yes, Milord!” Mong Ki cupped his fist.

“What are others doing for the competition?” Zhao Li Xin sat back in his chair with annoyance. The competition invited different people from different countries to participate. This meant Nan Jing would be filled with arrogant people and imbeciles. Some of them tended to do stupid things that would provoke him.

Zhao Li Xin didn’t mind having rivals and he found it to be fun. Most of the people who provoked him were what he considered to be ‘small fry’ or amusement for his boring day. They only became a problem when they did the same thing over and over prompting him to lose patience… as that was when bad things happened to them. 

“The four kingdoms are each sending their representatives. A few Sects decided to join the competition because the winner will get a Spiritual Level weapon, something everyone is eager to own.”

“Tck… Just spiritual level weapon…” Zhao Li Xin mocked.

Mong Ki also lamented. His lord was an Emperor Level Armament Master and wouldn’t be interested in Spiritual Level weapon which he surpassed. However, such a weapon was a rare find for normal people.

There were a number of Armament Masters out there but there were a few who were talented enough to reach Spiritual Level. No one in the Jiang Wei Kingdom had reached that level, and there no Spiritual Level Armament Master had been spotted in over two hundred years.

If they were to learn that they had a prince who was an Armament Master at Emperor Level, they might all vomit blood with shock and envy.

“Milord, we got news… The woman, Xiang Feng Ran, has also joined the competition,” Mong Ki said nervously.

Zhao Li Xin squinted as his beautiful eyebrows furrowed slowly. The temperature in the room dropped to a negative degree. You could tell the lord was annoyed. 

Xiang Feng Ran was the first daughter of Xiang Wu Ci, the leader of the Ming Hua Sect. She was known for her valiant beauty and to be a talented cultivator.

She had many admirers and suitors knocking on her door, but she was strangely obsessed with Zhao Li Xin. This was even made weirder by the fact that she had the ‘The hero saves the beauty’ tendency with her being the hero and Zhao Li Xin being the beauty. 

For some reason, she thought she was the only one who could save him from all the bad things around him. Whenever she visited the Jiang Wei Kingdom, she would follow Zhao Li Xin everywhere and would punch anyone who dared to give Zhao Li Xin a bad time.

This would have been nice if her actions were more positive. However, Xiang Feng Ran’s actions further lowered Zhao Li Xin’s reputation. It even prompted others to make trouble for him as they were jealous of the attention he received. His peaceful life was always ruined whenever Xiang Feng Ran was around. 

Zhao had been directed with her. In the beginning, he used phrases like ‘I don’t want you to be near me!’ and ‘I don’t like you, never have, never will!’. But this didn’t work. Tired of her antics, he had switched to, ‘GO AWAY!’ which still didn’t work.

He soon realized there was something wrong with that woman’s brain as she thought Zhao Li Xin was tried to push her away because he didn’t want to trouble her and this only made her love him more. 

There were moments in the past when Zhao Li Xin was tempted to kill Xiang Feng Ran in anger, but he didn’t because Hei Shen’s power was still unstable and he also needed to consider the fact he had poison in his veins. Attacking her also meant going against Ming Hua Sect which was support by the bigger White jade Cloud Sect.

However, this was three years ago and the Hei Shen sect had evolved to become an enormous power on the continent. Zhao Li Xin was now much stronger ever since Lory cured him. No one could stop him. 

“I don’t want that crazy girl near me. Do whatever it takes,” Zhao Li Xin’s instructions were clear. They could kill Xiang Feng Ran if it was necessary.

“Yes, Milord!!” Mong Ki cupped his fist as he accepted the order. He hoped Xiang Feng Rang had matured in three years and had stopped her weird obsession. It was for her own good and for everyone around her. However, Mong Ki had his doubts. 

‘Knock knock’

Someone banged on the door softly and Zhao Li Xin signed for Mong Ki to leave. Mong Ki nodded and stood up to open the door. Lory was behind the door with a tray in her hands. Her lips spread into a smile when Mong Ki opened the door.

“Thank you, brother Mong.” 

Mong Ki nodded in response and quietly closed the door behind Lory when she entered. Lory inhaled deeply as she entered Zhao Li Xin’s study room. It was something she did every time as she found the room intimidating.

The grey stone carved behind Zhao Li Xin’s figure was beautiful but cold and rigid. It made her feel nervous. The room also showed Zhao Li Xin’s magnificent position. No one would guess he was the same weak prince people ridiculed if they saw him seated behind the big black wooden table with his majestic aura.

Lory placed the pastry, tea, and wine on the small table in the corner by the window. She easily sat on the couch and poured herself homemade honey lemon tea since Zhao Li Xin informed her to always make herself comfortable, especially when around him. Zhao Li Xin left his table and joined Lory on the couch. 

“Everyone is talking about the upcoming martial competition…” Lory smacked her lips after sipping her tea.

“Yes. It would be held next week,” Zhao Li Xin was uninterested.

“How many people will join?” Lory felt excited. She had never seen this kind of event before.

“A lot…” Zhao Li Xin sighed. He got annoyed just imagining the streets filled with more people. Fortunately, his Manor was far from the main street. “The other kingdoms and sects will also be joining the competition…”

“Sounds like a festival to me.”

“A festival for brutish and ignorant people…” Zhao Li Xin scoffed.

“You don’t like it, Milord?” Lory tilted her head sadly. She had thought to accompany him during the competition and would get to enjoy the crowd. She should have known better.

“Li Xin…” He corrected her.

“…You don’t like it, Li Xin?” She asked with the same expression.

“I don’t like it…” He responded.

Lory loved festivals since she was a child. She and Lucas would sneak out to join the festival with Jay and Clift, who also the same age, in tow. They would even rent a car if the place was far from their palace. They would get caught seven out of the ten times they left and would be punished mercilessly by Fred. Yet the punishment didn’t deter them as they always thought the festivals were worthy. 

“Can I get permission to go out and see the crowd? I’ve never watched the Martial Competition before,” Lory earnestly pleaded. 

“It’s dangerous. The people who attend these competitions are hot-blooded youngsters who think they are the greatest. They like showing off their power and bully other people. Some even beat people in the street for the smallest mistake, yet the kingdom won’t dare to interfere, especially if the perpetrator comes from a distinguish sect….” Zhao Li Xin frowned as he warned her about the dangers of the festival. He was not wrong. As much as the competition brought in a lot of money for traders, it also brought a lot of trouble.

Lory felt disappointed. She looked down and sighed making Zhao Li Xin feel uncomfortable. He suddenly felt like a villain something he never felt even when he killed many people. He tried to console, “It’s for your own good” 

Lory continued looking down as she nodded slowly. Her voice sounded dejected when she said, “I know…”

Zhao Li Xin squeezed his temple in conflict. This was the first time he worried about somebody. He wanted to keep her safe and sound and wished to confine her inside the manor until the competition was over. But the woman didn’t seem to understand and was now sulking in front of him. It made him feel bad. 

“One day! You can only go out for one day…” Zhao Li Xin gave in. 

“Does this mean you are allowing me to go?” Lory exclaimed with excitement as her face lit up.

“Yes… But you must wear a veil. You aren’t completely safe after what happened in Lao Manor.”

“Yes… yes,” Lory nodded profusely.

“And I’m coming with you. You must stick to me!”

“Yes, yes, yes,” She kept nodding like a woodpecker.

“Try not to talk to other people. They are all crazy. Remembered that!”

“Yes-yes-yes.”

“…” Zhao Li Xin sighed. It was the first time in years that he had yielded to someone else.