Chapter 119: Jiang Luojing, very well, I shall remember that.

Early morning.

Cheng Guang slowly pushed open his door.

It was a March morning. The bitter winter had passed, and the autumn winds had yet to rise. The breeze was gentle, and the returning light peeled away the thin veil of darkness, with the morning sun already peeking over the horizon.

Cheng Guang yawned, though there was not a trace of sleepiness in his eyes. He felt his body was quite strange; despite not having done anything strenuous, he felt exceptionally exhausted.

As usual, he opened the courtyard gate and sat at the stone table. He planned to meet the Princess of Ning today to see if she was the "remnant of the Great Chu" mentioned in his system task notification. Lacking the inclination to cultivate, he sat there idly, watching the street outside the courtyard.

After about the time it takes to brew a pot of tea, Qingluan awoke. Seeing Cheng Guang at the table, she offered a gentle smile and brought him hot water to wash up.

"The young master is up early today. Is Miss Qin still sleeping?"

Cheng Guang washed his face thoroughly and smiled at Qingluan, "Naturally. Do you still not know how capable your young master is?"

Qingluan’s pretty face flushed slightly, and she cast a playful, reproachful glance at him. After washing up and eating a simple meal, Cheng Guang seemed to recall something and said, "Qingluan, bring Qin Beifeng here."

Qingluan nodded and hurried off to find Qin Beifeng. Before long, Qin Beifeng arrived in the courtyard. Once Cheng Guang finished his meal, he wiped the corners of his mouth with a silk handkerchief, greeted Qin Beifeng with a smile, and led him toward the teahouse.

Upon reaching the teahouse, Cheng Guang found a seat at random. Gazing at the streets outside, where smoke was beginning to rise from chimneys, he suddenly felt as though he had experienced everything happening today before. The sensation was hazy and indistinct. He had often encountered such feelings before, but he had never paid them much mind.

After drinking some tea at the teahouse and asking Zhang Rui about the location of the Princess of Ning’s residence in Tianhuo City, the capital of the Great Yan Empire, Cheng Guang took Qin Beifeng and headed toward the manor. He left Qian Siyuan and Li Zhengyang behind; they stood with Zhang Rui before the teahouse, watching Cheng Guang depart.

Cheng Guang walked leisurely, step by step, toward the Prince of Ning’s estate. Although it was still early, the streets were already bustling with pedestrians. He walked along the main thoroughfare of the Great Yan Dynasty, paved entirely with white stone.

As he neared the Prince of Ning’s estate, the crowd thinned significantly. The area near the estate and the Great Yan Imperial Palace was prime real estate, not accessible to ordinary people. Commoners didn't even have the qualifications to approach this perimeter.

When Cheng Guang arrived at the gates, the guards recognized him and rushed inside to report his arrival. However, before the guard could even finish his announcement, the gates swung wide open.

A young woman walked out gracefully. Though her pace was slow and her demeanor composed, the slight quickening of her breath suggested she had been running previously, only slowing down to maintain her poise as she reached the entrance.

Cheng Guang noticed this and his eyes flickered. *This Princess of Ning is truly strange. I had only just arrived, and she rushed out to meet me, even becoming breathless in her haste. Is she that eager to see me?*

Cheng Guang pondered this, unable to fathom the reason. A smile touched his lips, and a spark of interest ignited within him as he lifted his gaze to study the princess.

She was dressed in incomparably magnificent clothing that remained tasteful rather than ostentatious. A long purple gown draped over her lithe figure, adorned with exquisite embroidery that revealed unparalleled craftsmanship in every detail. She wore a white mink shawl over her shoulders, adding to her grandeur, and her embroidered hem swished gently as she moved. Her hair was pinned up with a delicate jade hairpin, and a few pearls rested against her cheeks, lending her a touch of charm. She stood tall and slender, as elegant as an orchid, exuding extraordinary nobility.

As Cheng Guang observed her, the Princess of Ning was also watching him. The moment their eyes met, her starry eyes flickered, and her small, delicate nose twitched; a sense of inexplicable soreness welled up within her.

"I did not know the Young Master was visiting today. Please forgive my lack of a proper welcome. I greet you here, Young Master."

The Princess suppressed her emotions and offered a graceful bow.

Cheng Guang smiled, scanned her figure, and teased with a meaningful tone, "You have hardly been remiss, Princess. I had only just arrived, and you were already out here to greet me. Does the Princess treat everyone who visits her estate with such hospitality?"

Cheng Guang did not realize it, but his tone had taken on a slightly "green tea" quality.

The Princess of Ning was visibly stunned by his words. Her red lips parted slightly, and she was on the verge of responding—she certainly did not treat every visitor this way; she only treated him like this. But as the words reached her lips, she realized that admitting this would make it seem as if she had ulterior motives toward the son of the Duke of Zhenguo. Currently, they had no relationship to speak of. To be so intentional and discriminatory would only make her appear odd.

Thinking of this, the Princess couldn't help but shoot him a secret, sideways glance. She turned slightly to invite him into the manor, smiling, "And how would the Young Master like me to be? Should I treat only you this way?"

She countered the question. She didn't accept his premise directly, nor did she deny it, choosing instead to toss the question back at him.

Cheng Guang let out a laugh and shook his head, not expecting such a reply. Regardless, he felt his heart settle. He could see that while the Princess of Ning was perhaps overly enthusiastic, there was ultimately nothing terribly wrong with her.

Cheng Guang responded casually, "If you treat only me this way, that would, of course, be excellent. But I suspect the Princess wouldn't do that for me."

With a smile, he led Qin Beifeng into the manor’s courtyard. The Princess of Ning’s footsteps faltered at his words. After pressing her lips together, she gave him a playful, secret pinch, as if angry, before letting a smile return to her face and guiding him further inside.

Once they were seated and servants had served tea, Cheng Guang took a sip and looked up at her, only to find that she was still staring at him. Their eyes locked. Cheng Guang froze for a moment, and after a few seconds, he couldn't handle the intensity and looked away first.

He couldn't help but mutter to himself, *Why is this Princess of Ning so strange? Has she never seen a man before? Or has she never seen a man as handsome as me? Why does she keep looking at me?*

Yet, considering her stunning, magnificent face and her dignified, majestic demeanor, she did not look like the type of woman to be easily swayed by mere appearance. Cheng Guang didn't understand. At the same time, he felt that his usual thick-skinned nature was having little effect in front of her.

His face heating up slightly, Cheng Guang coughed to clear his throat and initiated the topic, "Princess, the main reason for my visit today concerns the remnants of the Great Chu. Are you aware of any news regarding them circulating within Great Yan territory recently?"

The Princess of Ning smiled, her beautiful face lit with amusement. "I am aware, of course. Why? Does the Young Master believe that I am one of these remnants of the Great Chu?" She watched him with keen interest.

Cheng Guang observed her expression, noting neither tension nor anything unusual, which struck him as odd. He shook his head and laughed, "Of course not. I only intended to ask if you had heard any news. If you were indeed a remnant of the Great Chu, it would be far too foolish to be hiding here in the capital of Great Yan. The capital will soon be in turmoil, and in my opinion—"

Before he could finish, the Princess nodded and said in all seriousness, "You are right."

Cheng Guang’s speech faltered. He paused, looked at her, and continued, "Furthermore, I believe that if the remnants of the Great Chu are in the capital, they are likely to be exposed very soon... The entire city of Tianhuo will descend into chaos, and I imagine those remnants..."

The Princess nodded again. "You are right."

Cheng Guang: "..."

He had been interrupted again. If the Princess of Ning had simply doubted him or argued, he wouldn't feel so stifled. But she was looking at him with her beautiful, starry eyes wide and shimmering, as if she were a star-struck fan looking at an idol. Under such a gaze, Cheng Guang couldn't even summon the energy to be angry.

Initially, he had suspected that the Princess might be the "remnant" from the system task. But if she were truly a remnant of the Great Chu, she would surely have been killed by now with such a naive, love-struck demeanor. Moreover, he noted that since he had entered the estate, she hadn't once spared a glance for Qin Beifeng. If she were a remnant of the Great Chu, why would she be more interested in him than in Qin Beifeng, a Great General of the Great Chu?

Either she was acting and suppressing her gaze, or she simply didn't recognize Qin Beifeng. Or perhaps, she recognized him, but found Cheng Guang more important. The first option lacked evidence, and the latter was too absurd. Only the middle option was possible.

Cheng Guang felt his interest wane; the clue he had just found had broken again. If she wasn't the remnant, then only one possibility remained: the Crown Prince of Great Yan, Li Zhongxin. But if Li Zhongxin was the remnant, how did he become the Crown Prince? How had he managed to hide his bloodline, his appearance, and his true identity?

Cheng Guang’s thoughts were in a tangle. He felt the system task was still fraught with difficulty. He had no desire to remain with the Princess any longer. Though he considered himself a man who appreciated beauty, he wasn't the type to fall in love with everyone he met.

As he pondered, he finished his tea, rose, and cupped his hands in a salute. "Princess, since you do not know of any news regarding the remnants, I shall take my leave."

He turned to leave with Qin Beifeng. The Princess of Ning, who had just lifted her teacup, smiled, set it back down, and spoke, "When did I say I didn't know? Why, Young Master? Do you no longer wish to know the news of the Great Chu remnants?"

Cheng Guang paused and looked back, startled. "Does the Princess truly know?"

The Princess nodded with a flowery smile. "I know. The remnant is not far away; they are right before your eyes."

Cheng Guang frowned. *Right before my eyes?* He suspected she was hinting at him. *Could she know my identity? That’s impossible, right? How could she know?*

Without further explanation, she stood up gracefully, her gown trailing behind her, and walked toward him, carrying a pleasant fragrance. Noticing she held no malice, Cheng Guang stood his ground. She approached, stood on her tiptoes, and leaned close to his ear, her breath warm and slightly moist.

"In this world, aside from you, the so-called remnant of the Great Chu is me."

After she spoke, Cheng Guang’s eyes widened in disbelief. *Aside from you, it is me...* This was effectively a total reveal. Not only had she "jumped" as the werewolf, but she had also stripped off her own wolf skin in the process.

*How is this possible? How could she know my identity? Is the Breath-Concealing Pearl useless?*

Cheng Guang’s heart hammered. His pupils constricted, sweat beaded on his forehead, and his body suddenly went rigid. Qin Beifeng, standing very close, had also heard her unguarded words. He froze, staring at her for a long moment, as if seeing her for the first time.

His eyes trembled. Qin Beifeng hadn't noticed before, but after her reminder, he suddenly realized that the Princess of Ning looked remarkably like the little Highness from back then. She had grown up, become beautiful, and her temperament had matured.

*Could the Princess of Ning really be my lady? And if she is, what did she mean by saying the Young Master is also a person of the Great Chu?*

Qin Beifeng was struck by a sense of profound bewilderment. *This is too absurd. The Young Master is the son of the Duke of Zhenguo. How could he be a person of the Great Chu? It makes no sense!*

Seeing Cheng Guang’s stunned expression, the Princess took out a scented handkerchief and gently wiped his forehead, smiling. "You don't believe me, do you? I didn't believe it at the time either."

Cheng Guang regained his composure and stared at her, then tightened his expression, acting as if he didn't understand what she was saying. "Princess, you are joking. It is best not to make such jokes." With that, he turned to leave. The Princess kept her hand in the air, neither angry nor attempting to stop him, watching him depart with a smile.

Just as Cheng Guang stepped out of the gate, he suddenly froze. A familiar, cold, and emotionless voice rang in his ears:

【Task complete.】
【Would you like to claim the reward?】

*Wait. How was the task completed?*

Cheng Guang was stunned. He realized what had happened and spun around to look at the Princess, who stood in the courtyard with a noble and radiant smile. She waved at him as if bidding him farewell.

"It is normal that you don't believe me, Young Master. By the way, the yellow flower you gave me that day was truly beautiful. You should return to the Great Zhou soon. The Great Yan, as you said, will likely fall into chaos."

After she spoke, Cheng Guang stood in silence for a moment before opening his storage ring. He realized the brilliant yellow flower he had kept there was gone. He connected the dots, his brow relaxed, and he shook his head with a wry smile.

He looked at her and asked, "Are you not leaving?"

The Princess shook her head, her starry eyes gleaming as she looked up toward the heavens. "I am not leaving. There is too much I must do."

Cheng Guang frowned, teasing, "What could you possibly do? Isn't just staying alive enough of a challenge?"

She glanced at him, her nose wrinkling—a flash of whimsy amidst her dignity. "I am much more capable than you imagine. You should worry about how to save your own life; your identity being exposed would have far more serious consequences than mine."

She then looked at Qin Beifeng. Seeing the general’s tiger-like eyes filled with tears, she felt a wave of guilt and sighed. "General Qin, it has been hard on you these past years."

Qin Beifeng dropped to one knee and bowed to her, tears streaming down his face. "Your Highness! My lady..."

She shook her head, cutting him off. "General Qin, from now on, follow the Young Master. There is no need to follow me anymore."

Qin Beifeng looked at her, then at Cheng Guang, confused by her words. "Your Highness, did you just say that the Young Master is also from the Great Chu...?"

She nodded with a smile, looking at Cheng Guang. "Of course. The Crown Prince of Great Chu is far more noble than a Princess of Great Chu from so many years ago."

When she uttered the words "Crown Prince of Great Chu," Qin Beifeng felt as though he had been struck by lightning. He stood frozen, unable to recover for a long time.

Cheng Guang looked at the Princess, then shook his head with a wry smile and patted Qin Beifeng on the shoulder. "Let's go."

He walked out of the courtyard. Qin Beifeng hesitated, looked at the Princess once more, then at Cheng Guang, gritted his teeth, bowed deeply to her, and turned to follow.

The Princess watched Cheng Guang’s receding back and suddenly asked, "Are you not curious about what happens in the future?"

Cheng Guang didn't turn back, merely laughing with a carefree air. "No need to know. My sixth sense tells me it’s likely nothing good. Otherwise, I wouldn't have ended up like that 'flower of yesterday.' When we meet again in the future, you can tell me then."

The Princess tilted her head, her smile like a blooming flower, and she nodded gently. "Very well. It is a promise."

Cheng Guang waved without looking back. "Goodbye."

As they disappeared from her sight, she finally looked up at the sky. Through the swirling clouds, she seemed to pierce the thick mist to see a white-robed figure lying on the clouds, napping. She stepped forward, one slow step at a time, ascending into the sky.

Her noble expression shifted, becoming cold, distant, and ruthless—a stark contrast to how she appeared before Cheng Guang. As she rose, her aura surged. The clouds shifted, and the heavens seemed to tremble. This display caught the attention of everyone in the capital.

Deep within the Great Yan Imperial Palace, in the Heavenly Heart Palace, the Emperor was playing a game of Go with Li Longhu. He suddenly sensed something, lifted his gaze from the board, and looked toward the Princess of Ning’s estate. Seeing her rising into the sky in her purple robes, her aura growing ever more immense, his eyes narrowed.

"What is happening with this girl? Why has her aura changed so drastically in such a short time? Is she nearing the realm of the Heavenly Human?"

Li Longhu, dressed in black robes with his hands folded in his sleeves, observed her with deep, thoughtful eyes. He was the Great Yan National Preceptor, a powerhouse in the Heavenly Human realm, yet even he was baffled by her sudden change.

"Why is her aura rising so rapidly?" Li Longhu muttered to himself, equally perplexed.

At the same time, in the Eastern Palace, the wheelchair-bound Li Zhongxin sat with his usual pale complexion. He was twisting a jade hairpin, coughing occasionally, his mood inexplicably low. He suddenly looked up toward the Princess’s estate, seeing her graceful, noble figure ascending toward the clouds.

"This is... The Princess of Ning? Why is her aura rising so much? What is she trying to do?" He was stunned, feeling that the current Princess of Ning was a presence ten times his equal. The pressure radiating from her seemed capable of crushing him with the flick of a finger.

*Could it be that she was hiding her strength all along, and with the 'Four Passes' starting tonight, she is revealing it to intimidate me?* Li Zhongxin’s eyes flickered, and he bit his lip, his fists clenching. He felt that the throne was likely slipping out of his reach.

***

Having just left the estate, Cheng Guang felt the aura radiating from the Princess. He paused, looked up, and saw her ascending, her pressure climbing with every step. He was startled, then shook his head with a laugh.

"I wanted you to leave early, and now you are the one telling me to go. No wonder you weren't worried about your own safety."

Though he didn't know why her cultivation had surged, he didn't dwell on it and headed toward the teahouse. He told Qingluan to pack their things; they would return to the Great Zhou soon.

"Young Master, are we leaving now?" Qingluan asked, confused. "Isn't it too early? We only just arrived."

Cheng Guang shook his head, patted her hair, and smiled. "Not too early. The business is done, so we can go."

Qingluan nodded, never questioning his orders. As they waited, Cheng Guang looked up at the sky. The Princess’s figure had vanished into the clouds. He waited until the luggage was packed, intending to claim his system reward—the "Princess’s Tomb"—on the journey back.

***

High in the clouds, the Princess approached the napping white-robed figure. It was the Heavenly Mystery Elder. He opened his eyes, startled to see her standing there.

"Empress? You have awakened?"

The Princess didn't respond. She merely lifted a hand, her five fingers brimming with terrifying energy.

The Heavenly Mystery Elder’s expression shifted, and he hurriedly raised his hands. "What are you doing, Your Majesty? This old道 has no malice toward you!"

She ignored him, flicking her finger as if plucking a celestial string. *Hum!* A terrifying, vast power swept toward him. The Elder, usually calm and composed, lost all color in his face, barely managing to block the strike.

A moment later, the clouds cleared. The Heavenly Mystery Elder had vanished, leaving only streaks of crimson blood that stained the sky.

Below, the people of Tianhuo City saw the white clouds turn red. Cheng Guang, still watching the sky, sensed the terrifying power behind the disturbance.

When the Elder finally returned, his robes were disheveled, his face pale, and blood trickled from his lips. He looked at the Princess with anger but maintained a wary respect. "Why did you attack me, Your Majesty?"

The Princess glanced at him, her jade hand raised again. "You meddle too much. You concern yourself with matters that are not your business."

The Elder was stunned. He hadn't realized that leaking the information about her being a Great Chu remnant would cause such a reaction. Why had she awakened so early? He began to calculate with his fingers, then spat out a mouthful of blood, looking at her in shock. "This is... this is..."

"So, you understand now?" the Princess asked coldly.

The Elder, who usually remained unmoved even if mountains collapsed before him, was trembling. "How is this possible? What method did you use to return from the future to the present while retaining your memories?"

The Princess didn't explain. "If you can't figure it out, get lost."

She struck again with a palm. The Elder, caught off guard, had to exert his true strength to stabilize himself. "Your Majesty, you have just awakened; your merit is too precious to waste on me. What have I done wrong? I can apologize later!"

The Princess ignored him, flicking her hand again. Celestial strings hummed, and sharp beams of light transformed into sword energy, raining down upon the Elder. Panic-stricken, he fled, but the attacks pursued him like a curse.

*BOOM!*

A massive shockwave rippled outward, and the Heavenly Mystery Elder vanished, sent far away. Having ensured he was severely injured, the Princess’s aura began to wane, and she descended slowly back to her estate.

She closed her doors, refusing all visitors—even those sent by the Great Yan Emperor. Everyone was shocked by her audacity. Cheng Guang, hearing of this, shook his head with a smile. He didn't know what she had done, but he knew she had her reasons.

As he prepared to board his flying boat to return to the Great Zhou, a horse trotted up. It was the Princess, looking as noble as ever.

"With all the dignitaries visiting your estate, why are you here?" Cheng Guang asked.

"Those people don't matter," she said, a hint of girlish shyness appearing when she looked at him.

"Can you explain what happened to you?"

"Just make up a reason," she said. "There are so many treasures and mysteries in this world; they can't possibly know everything."

Cheng Guang nodded. "Shall I go then?"

She nodded, gripping the reins. "Do you know my name?"

Cheng Guang shook his head.

"Jiang Luojing," she said. "That is my name."

"Jiang Luojing. Good, I will remember it."

Cheng Guang boarded his boat and prepared to depart. As the boat began to move, Jiang Luojing watched him, whispering to herself, "Whether in the past life or this one, I have always been called by this name..."

She looked at the departing boat. *Is it my imagination, or is it real? Why do you carry the scent of that person?*

She stood there for a long time until the crowd grew too large, then turned back to her estate. She looked toward the Imperial Palace, taking a deep breath.

"The karma of this life must be resolved. Even if I don't covet the throne of Great Yan, I must expose my identity. Otherwise, the words of Heavenly Mystery cannot be concluded."

She stepped into her manor, her figure disappearing from view.