Embroidered Pillow

As a princess, Chen Xuan certainly had no intention of personally intervening. In her view, there was no need for her to act.

However, the moment the battle began, she was utterly bewildered.

Six cultivators at the fifth stage of Qi Refining, split into two groups, were struggling against two cultivators at the first stage of Qi Refining. Why was it so difficult?

To her, this should have been a simple matter. If she hadn’t been certain her six subordinates wouldn’t betray her, she would have suspected them of holding back.

“Why are these two young girls so strange? If this continues, where will my prestige go?” Chen Xuan muttered, casting a sidelong glance at the other onlookers.

If she couldn’t defeat Bai Lan and Xue Linglong today, her authority would undoubtedly diminish. Her original intention was to assert her dominance, using the two young women as examples to warn her subordinates.

“What is the situation with these two? The princess’s six guards are all cultivators at the fifth stage of Qi Refining, yet three fifth-stage cultivators can’t even subdue one first-stage opponent. This is truly unbelievable,” some outer sect disciples conversed in astonishment.

“Indeed, they are truly formidable. If we possessed such combat power, why would we need to depend on this ill-tempered princess?”

Some disciples, already discontent with Chen Xuan, exchanged whispers in low voices.

Such was human nature. Their allegiance to Chen Xuan didn’t equate to inner respect. On the contrary, in the eyes of many, Chen Xuan was merely a pampered and arrogant princess, undeserving of their genuine regard.

Many harbored extreme aversion towards her.

If Bai Lan and Xue Linglong could humiliate Chen Xuan today, these individuals would gladly abandon Chen Xuan’s faction to align themselves with Bai Lan and Xue Linglong.

The multitude of voices was chaotic, making it impossible to discern individual speakers. Nevertheless, Chen Xuan faintly caught snippets of conversation that deeply displeased her.

At this moment, however, she couldn’t openly intervene and stop them. Doing so would only exacerbate her embarrassment.

Her only recourse was to feign ignorance and urge her guards to swiftly subdue Xue Linglong and Bai Lan. She was growing increasingly impatient.

“What are you six doing?” Chen Xuan suddenly snapped, reprimanding her guards. “Why haven’t you captured these two young girls yet?”

The six guards, however, were in an unspeakable predicament. Their two opponents were proving incredibly difficult.

One moved several steps ahead of them every time, making their attacks utterly useless. The other, perched atop a reef like an ice fairy, simply waved her sword, stirring the seawater into a flurry of ice crystals that relentlessly suppressed the three guards facing her.

Moreover, the three guards fighting Bai Lan already bore numerous injuries. Though merely superficial, continuing this way would undoubtedly lead to a grim outcome.

“Damn it,” one of the three attacking Bai Lan finally realized. “This woman must have cultivated a special technique.”

“Her combat power multiplies several times when she’s in the water. If we keep fighting like this, we have no chance; she’ll exhaust us to death. Retreat! Get to the shore. Keep your distance, and she’ll be helpless.”

The other two nodded in agreement, immediately retreating together. Once the three were safely on shore, Bai Lan found herself without an advantage.

They’ve retreated? Bai Lan mused. Could it be that they realize they can’t defeat me, and are now planning to target Linglong instead?

As expected, after retreating to the sandy beach, the three guards cast their gazes towards Xue Linglong, who was not far behind them.

“Forget about this girl for now,” one of them said. “Let’s take down the other one first. That young girl should be easier to handle.”

As they spoke, the three rushed towards Xue Linglong.

Xue Linglong was already struggling against the three opponents. If three more people joined them, completely surrounding her, the fight would become impossible.

While Xue Linglong had grown rapidly, she still required time for gradual refinement. At this moment, she was absolutely incapable of confronting six cultivators at the fifth stage of Qi Refining.

Of course, Xue Linglong had already sensed the approach of the additional three. Yet, she was helpless, forced to watch as they blocked her retreat and encircled her.

“Sister?” Xue Linglong’s voice held a touch of panic.

After all, no matter how strong her mental fortitude, she was still a young maiden who hadn’t been cultivating for long. Encountering a situation beyond her ability to handle would naturally instill fear.

“Damn it,” the leading girl among the six sneered. “We couldn’t defeat that woman over there, but surely the six of us can take you down?”

“You and she seem quite close, don’t you? If we capture you, that other girl won’t dare to resist.”

True to their word, the six began to tighten their encirclement, gradually compressing Xue Linglong’s space. Xue Linglong’s gaze darted around, searching for an escape route.

Unfortunately, there was no way out, unless she could fly.

Just then, however, a figure flashed swiftly from another direction. In an instant, it appeared beside the unsuspecting Chen Xuan.

“Oh no, Princess, look out!”

Chen Xuan hadn’t reacted, but the surrounding onlookers had seen it. It was Bai Lan. As the other three guards rushed to attack Xue Linglong, Bai Lan had conceived a different plan.

Hearing the shout, Chen Xuan instinctively tried to dodge. However, the princess possessed low combat prowess and even poorer fighting experience.

As she reacted, Bai Lan’s cold, icy face was already before her.

“You?” Chen Xuan tried to push Bai Lan back with a palm strike.

But Bai Lan easily evaded the attack, then countered with a backhand palm to Chen Xuan’s abdomen, sending her flying.

Chen Xuan landed awkwardly on the ground. As she tried to rise and furiously reprimand Bai Lan, Bai Lan’s hand clamped around her neck, pinning her down once more.

Simultaneously, Bai Lan raised her Cold Soul sword and, in a flash, aimed it towards Chen Xuan’s cheek.

“No, ah!” Chen Xuan shrieked in terror, watching the chilling sword tip descend towards her cheek.

The piercing scream drew the attention of the six individuals who had been cornering Xue Linglong in the distance. They immediately ceased their attack, turning simultaneously to look at Chen Xuan behind them.

The sight that greeted them filled their faces with profound shock and fright. They had witnessed Bai Lan attacking their princess, and, without any hesitation, thrusting her sword towards her.

“Stop!” the six guards shouted, abandoning their assault on Xue Linglong immediately. They charged towards Bai Lan at their utmost speed.

Yet, Bai Lan’s sword still descended.

“Princess!” a guard cried out, attempting to intervene.

Indeed, Bai Lan’s sword plunged downwards, but it merely grazed Chen Xuan’s cheek before stabbing into the sand. Nevertheless, even that brief touch was enough to drain the pampered princess’s face of all color, and tears welled in her eyes.

She gazed at the Cold Soul sword so close to her cheek, and involuntarily swallowed hard.

“Hmph!” Bai Lan sneered. “I thought you, a princess, were something extraordinary. Turns out, you’re just as afraid of death, aren’t you?”

Seeing that Bai Lan had not actually struck their princess, the six guards collectively breathed a sigh of relief. They had never anticipated such a move from Bai Lan.

They were well aware of their princess’s true capabilities: merely possessing a cultivation of Qi Refining third stage, yet utterly lacking in combat experience. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been assigned to protect Chen Xuan personally.

“You, you dare to treat me like this? I, I will definitely tell my grand-aunt!” Chen Xuan threatened, unable to hold back.

The grand-aunt she referred to was, of course, Chen Xiangning.

However, this threat only made Bai Lan less polite. The hand gripping Chen Xuan’s neck began to tighten, and with that pressure, a suffocating sense of impending death spread through Chen Xuan’s heart.

Bai Lan dragged Chen Xuan off the ground, then, still clutching her neck, lifted her into the air. At this moment, the esteemed princess was indistinguishable from any ordinary, weak woman.