Yuchi Mengxing raced through the crowded street, quietly chanting an incantation under her breath.
Her slender fingers moved without pause, forming one hand seal after another with astonishing speed.
All her attention was focused on the guards chasing behind her.
Every shift of her fingers, every change in the hand seals, was meant to suppress their movements and keep them from closing the distance.
Because of that— she completely failed to notice the girl rushing toward her from the opposite direction.
By the time Yuchi Mengxing finally sensed someone directly ahead, it was already too late.
Her eyes widened.
Her heart nearly leaped into her throat.
“Don’t come over here!” She shouted instinctively.
At the same time, her fingers flicked.
A talisman instantly appeared between them.
There was no time to think.
No time to dodge normally.
Yuchi Mengxing poured spiritual energy into the talisman and shouted, “Shift!” Buzz— A flash of light erupted.
In the blink of an eye, Yuchi Mengxing vanished from the middle of the street.
Her figure reappeared several yards away in another direction.
The moment her feet touched the ground, she immediately turned around.
Then— she froze.
The ragged girl who had been running toward her had crashed straight into the group of guards chasing Yuchi Mengxing.
And behind that girl, the group of burly men pursuing her had also charged forward before they could stop themselves.
For one chaotic instant— all three groups collided.
People stumbled.
Someone shouted.
Another person cursed.
The already crowded street descended into complete chaos.
Yuchi Mengxing blinked.
Then the corners of her lips slowly curled upward.
Well…
What perfect timing.
A mischievous glint flashed through her eyes.
The heavens really are helping this Commandery Princess today!
“Bye-bye!” She cheerfully waved in their direction, completely unconcerned about the mess she had just left behind.
Then she turned around and walked away without the slightest hesitation, leaving the two groups to struggle with each other.
After all, this was the Imperial City.
Emperor Xuanwu had long since issued strict laws forbidding cultivators from casually using their cultivation to oppress ordinary citizens within the city streets.
No matter how arrogant the servants of a prince’s residence might be, they still wouldn’t dare openly violate an imperial decree in broad daylight.
So what did she have to worry about?
Absolutely nothing.
Yuchi Mengxing casually patted the nonexistent dust from her clothes.
A moment ago, she had been sprinting through the streets as though her life depended on it.
Now?
She strolled down the middle of the road with her chin slightly raised, her steps leisurely and relaxed.
Anyone who hadn’t witnessed the chase themselves would never have guessed that she was the same girl who had just been fleeing from an entire group of guards.
Unfortunately— her freedom lasted only a few moments.
“This servant respectfully requests that the Commandery Princess return to the residence immediately.” A cold, aged voice suddenly sounded from behind her.
At almost the same instant— a hand landed heavily on her shoulder.
Yuchi Mengxing’s footsteps stopped.
Her expression changed immediately.
The hand looked old, but the force contained within it was anything but weak.
Five fingers rested firmly against her shoulder, carrying a faint but unmistakable pressure.
The words had been phrased as a respectful request.
But the tone behind them contained no real respect at all.
It was forceful.
Cold.
And faintly arrogant.
Yuchi Mengxing’s brows drew together.
Her eyes darkened slightly.
Peak Profound Rank…
Fifth Stage?
So they had actually sent someone of this level just to drag her back?
How generous of them.
Yuchi Mengxing slowly turned her head and glanced at the old man behind her.
A trace of mockery appeared in her eyes.
“And what if this Commandery Princess says…” She deliberately paused.
“No?” The old man’s expression remained unchanged.
“Then this servant can only apologize for the offense.
I am merely carrying out my orders.” The instant his words fell— his grip tightened.
A powerful force surged through his fingers as he attempted to seize her shoulder and restrain her on the spot.
Yuchi Mengxing’s eyes turned cold.
“Hmph!” “You really think I’m that easy to catch?” Her wrist twisted.
A yellow talisman appeared between her fingers almost instantly.
Spiritual energy surged into it.
Flash!
Before the old man could tighten his grip completely, bright talisman light burst around Yuchi Mengxing.
Her figure vanished from beneath his hand.
The old man’s fingers closed on empty air.
A moment later, Yuchi Mengxing appeared several yards away.
Her red clothes fluttered lightly as she landed, effortlessly putting distance between them.
Only then did she finally get a clear look at the old man’s face.
For a moment, she stared.
Then recognition flashed through her eyes.
The corners of her lips curled upward.
The smile was bright— but there wasn’t the slightest warmth in it.
“Oh.” “I was wondering who it was.” Her gaze swept over him from head to toe.
“So it’s Eunuch Xicai.” Eunuch Xicai’s expression stiffened almost imperceptibly.
Yuchi Mengxing raised her chin slightly, the mockery in her eyes becoming even more obvious.
“Isn’t today the Prince’s birthday?” She smiled sweetly.
“You’re the Princess Consort’s trusted subordinate.
With the residence so busy today, how do you still have time to personally come out and catch me?” Her tone sounded almost curious.
Almost.
Anyone with ears, however, could hear the sarcasm beneath every word.
Eunuch Xicai’s face remained covered in a polite smile.
“Your Highness must be joking.” His posture was respectful.
His words were respectful.
Yet his eyes were icy cold.
There was even a faint trace of contempt hidden deep within them.
“This servant is merely carrying out his duty.
Please return to the residence, Your Highness.” Yuchi Mengxing clicked her tongue.
She clearly couldn’t be bothered to continue pretending to be polite.
She lifted her chin and looked directly at him.
“And if I still say—” “No?” The smile on Eunuch Xicai’s face deepened.
“Then this servant can only offend Your Highness.” The final word had barely left his mouth— when his figure suddenly blurred.
Whoosh!
He shot forward like a hunting leopard.
The distance between them disappeared almost instantly.
A sharp sound tore through the air.
His palm struck forward with tremendous force, the wind generated by the attack cutting through the air like a blade.
Several nearby onlookers instinctively stepped backward.
Yuchi Mengxing, however, showed no panic.
She had been waiting for him.
Her slender fingers flicked.
Another yellow talisman appeared between them.
Just as Eunuch Xicai’s palm was about to reach her— Yuchi Mengxing’s lips curved into a brilliant, cunning smile.
“Earth Escape!” She slapped the talisman against the ground.
Boom!
Talisman light exploded outward.
The stone pavement beneath her feet trembled violently.
In the next instant, sand and earth surged upward.
The stone slabs bulged as a thick wall of earth erupted from the ground without warning.
Eunuch Xicai’s pupils contracted.
Too late!
Bang!
His palm slammed heavily into the earthen barrier.
A deep, muffled impact echoed through the street.
The force of the collision sent dust and sand exploding in every direction.
A cloud of dirt blasted directly into Eunuch Xicai’s face.
His sleeves snapped violently in the shockwave as he was forced to halt his attack.
For a moment, the entire area disappeared behind the swirling dust.
“Cough—!” Someone in the crowd coughed and hurriedly covered their mouth.
Others raised their sleeves to shield their faces.
Eunuch Xicai narrowed his eyes against the dust.
By the time the cloud finally began to settle— Yuchi Mengxing was gone.
The place where she had been standing was completely empty.
No figure.
No footsteps.
Not even the slightest trace of her presence remained.
It was as though she had vanished together with the earth itself.
Eunuch Xicai’s expression changed.
For the first time, the cold confidence on his face cracked.
His eyes swept sharply across the surroundings.
Nothing.
He couldn’t sense her.
He couldn’t see her.
He couldn’t even determine which direction she had escaped in.
His throat tightened.
“What…” His voice came out hoarse.
“What kind of sorcery is this?!” The surrounding crowd immediately erupted.
“She disappeared!” “Where did she go?!” “Did you see that?” “She went underground!” “No, she really went into the ground!” Several people backed away in alarm, staring at the place where Yuchi Mengxing had vanished as though expecting her to suddenly emerge from beneath their feet.
Others whispered frantically among themselves.
Shock.
Confusion.
Disbelief.
The entire street descended into noisy discussion.
Yet amid the frightened crowd— one person reacted completely differently.
A young man dressed in luxurious brocade stood motionless among the onlookers.
He was handsome and refined, clearly someone of extraordinary background.
But at that moment, he had completely forgotten to maintain his composure.
His eyes were fixed on the place where Yuchi Mengxing had disappeared.
Then— an almost fanatical light burst from his eyes.
His breathing quickened.
Even his voice began to tremble with excitement.
“Earth Escape…” He stared at the ground in disbelief.
“That was Earth Escape!” Several people nearby turned toward him.
The young man seemed not to notice them at all.
His entire attention remained fixed on what he had just witnessed.
“One of the ancient divine arts!” His eyes shone brighter and brighter.
“I can’t believe it…” “I actually witnessed it with my own eyes!” His excitement rose with every word.
Then, as though he had suddenly remembered something extremely important, his expression changed.
“I have to report this to the Ancestor immediately!” The moment he finished speaking, he spun around.
Without another glance at the crowd, he hurried away as though the ground beneath his feet had caught fire.
Within moments, his figure disappeared into the distance.
The remaining onlookers were still whispering nervously among themselves, unable to recover from what they had just witnessed.
Some stared at the ground.
Others exchanged bewildered looks.
A few were still arguing over whether Yuchi Mengxing had truly vanished underground.
Only Eunuch Xicai remained standing where he was.
His face had turned ashen.
His gaze remained fixed on the empty stretch of street before him.
His fingers trembled slightly— partly from anger, and partly from the shock he had yet to suppress.