The four women shot a steely glance at Cassian first, making him shiver for no reason.
Then, without warning, they all dropped to their knees before the woman on his back and saluted in unison.
“Greetings, Your Highness!”
“Whew…
finally out of that mess,” the woman exhaled with relief, lying limply on Cassian’s back.
She turned her eyes on the four, her face darkening.
“I told you to guard the lake’s perimeter.
Where the hell did you all run off to?
Do you realize I nearly lost my life in there?”
The guards threw themselves to the ground, shame and guilt written all over their faces.
“We deserve punishment, Your Highness.
Please forgive us!”
Cassian’s heart lurched.
What the hell-so this woman really is a princess?
And these four…
must be her guards?
“You damned scoundrel, have you groped enough yet?” the princess snapped, slapping him hard on the head.
Her tone flipped instantly, sharp as a dagger.
“Put me down.
Now.”
Cassian’s smile stiffened.
What the hell is wrong with this crazy lady?
Her temper turns faster than storm winds.
But looking at those four black-clad warriors, he knew better than to push his luck.
So he gently let her down, plastering a bright grin on his face as he passed her into their care.
“Well, ladies, since everything’s handled…
I’ll just see myself out, alright?
Take care!” Cassian gave a quick wave and turned on his heel, gut churning with a bad feeling.
“Take one more step and I’ll break your legs.”
The princess’s voice cracked like a whip behind him.
Cassian froze, clenched his jaw, and slowly turned.
A fake smile spread across his face in an instant.
“My dearest, most noble and gracious princess, is there…
anything else I can do for you?”
“You think you’re walking off that easy?” she said coldly.
“I seem to remember threatening to dig your eyes out.
You didn’t forget that, did you?”
This woman had the looks of an angel and the body of a goddess, but to Cassian, she was nothing short of a demon right now.
Still, he played it cool and kept that smile up.
“Right.
But I also remember Your Highness saying that if I got you out, our debts would be settled.
And surely, a princess of Northreach Dominion wouldn’t go back on her word, yeah?”
The princess’s eyes flickered, face twisting slightly.
Her gaze dropped to the makeshift bandage on her thigh-Cassian had wrapped it back when they were fleeing-and for a moment, her expression softened.
And honestly, if she kept bickering with him in front of her guards, the whole “caught peeping while she bathed” incident might come to light…
and that would be humiliating beyond recovery.
“Of course I’d never go back on my word,” she said tightly.
“But listen here, you shameless bastard-if you ever speak a word of what happened, or even imagine things you shouldn’t, I’ll wipe out your whole clan.”
Wipe out his clan just for thinking about it?
Cassian blinked, dumbfounded.
What in the hell does her ego have to do with his imagination?
Cassian could tell the fierce woman in front of him wasn’t entirely heartless.
Looked like she was planning to let him go.
He gave a helpless shrug and smirked, “Which thing?
I don’t remember a damn thing.”
“Hmph, at least you’re not brain-dead.” The princess shot him a cold glare.
“Scumbag.
Pray our paths don’t cross again.”
Cassian didn’t wait around.
He spun and left, fast.
Who knew when that battle-axe might change her mind and call those four tough guards to drag him back?
That’d be a disaster.
“Daisy, go dig up everything about that bastard’s background.
No screw-ups, got it?”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Watching his figure vanish into the distance, the princess felt an uncomfortable knot in her chest.
Letting that guy go so easily-it just didn’t sit right.
*****
Lunaris, Faraday estate.
As soon as Cassian got to the entrance, Emily came running up.
“Young Master, the family head asked me to give you this token and reminded you to rest well.
Tomorrow’s the big day-the City Lord’s son-in-law selection.
Don’t forget!”
Cassian took the token, confidence glinting in his eyes.
“Tell the family head not to worry.
That Elwood girl?
She’s mine.”
After sending Emily off, Cassian headed straight for the Elixir Hall.
No sooner had he stepped inside than Albert strode over, eyes wide with curiosity.
“Cassian!
You look like hell!
Don’t tell me you actually went to the Verdant Spirit Range…
looking for Eightfold Fruit?”
Cassian smiled and nodded.
Then he pulled out his cloth bag and dumped two to three dozen Eightfold Fruits on the table.
The full aroma of spirit herbs instantly filled the hall.
These were grade-two spirit materials.
Though inedible, the energy inside them was incredible for body-forging cultivators.
“Good heavens…
that many?” Albert was stunned speechless.
These weren’t things you bought with silver.
And Cassian had collected dozens?
“Uncle Albert, give me three grams of Goldthread Herb, four grams of Qilin Root, and one Phoenix Eye Herb,” Cassian said casually.
Albert quickly fetched the herbs.
Before he could get a word in, Cassian had already vanished-leaving only the Eightfold Fruits behind.
Back in his quarters, Cassian refilled his waterskin, then returned to his room and sat down to meditate.
Meditation helped recover body and mind-true-but it also let him tap into his awareness and enter the Forbidden Prison.
His mind could roam freely without disturbing his real rest.
“You’re here again, bro?”
Inside the golden palace, the Crimsonlotus Alchemy Emperor in Cell No.
3 greeted Cassian with a cheerful grin.
“When did you start stealing my lines, old man?” Bloodfiend muttered with a scowl.
“Shameless.”
“What, jealous?
Got a problem, come fight me then!” Crimsonlotus shot back, eyes gleaming.
Even Cassian felt a bit speechless.
That old man seriously had skin thicker than city walls.
Between cells lay a powerful, mysterious barrier.
Getting out was impossible-reach through the iron bars?
Not a chance.
Fighting?
Ha, dream on.