Xu Ming woke up the next morning because of some noise outside.

"You can't enter. Master said that he is going to cultivate, and he doesn't worry about being disturbed. You can leave for now. I'll tell my master when he wakes up." ​​

Xu Ming heard his servant's voice.

" What's happening outside? Is someone there to meet me?" Xu Ming let out as he stood up and started walking towards the exit.

Valeria was still steeping on the bed, but as no one couldn't see her anyways, he didn't bother waking her up.

Xu Ming opened the door of his room.

"Why are you making so much noise?" Xu Ming let out in a calm tone.

"Hmm? It's you?" Xu Ming let out as he recognized the person who was standing outside.

A girl was standing in front of his servant in a blue dress.

He recognized the girl as the same girl that was in the team that was in Li Mu's team when they traveled to his sect. From what he had understood at that time, the girl was Li Mu's friend.

" Yanli? What brought you here?" Xu Ming inquired as he looked at Yanli.

Yanli saw Xu Ming and smiled.

" You came just at the right time. I was about to leave, thinking that you were busy in Cultivation," Yanli let out with a wry smile on her face.

"I was cultivating, but the noise was disturbing me, so I came to check. Anyway, what are you here for?" Xu Ming asked Yanli with a confused look on his face.

"After I came back from our mission, I went straight into secluded cultivation. I just came out today and heard about the Trial of Crown. Are you really taking part in it?" Yanli asked Xu Ming with a concerned look on her face.

" Do you think I have an option?"

Xu Ming couldn't help but laugh at her question. Everyone knew that three princes were needed for the trial, and he was the third Prince. There was no way he could escape this trial while keeping his position.

"I am taking part in the trial," Xu Ming smiled as he nodded his head.

" Let me help you then. I heard that the Princes need people to help them in the trials. I want to be there for you. I want to help you," Yanli told Xu Ming as she looked at him earnestly.

" Sorry, but that can't happen. It's true that they're allowing princes to take the help of young people during the trial, but they can only be from powerful clans of the kingdom. It's fine, though; I'll handle it. Thanks for the offer," Xu Ming answered her as he shook his head.

"Huh? What do you mean? Won't they allow the 5th most powerful clan in the kingdom, either? Is that really the case? I should ask my father. This shouldn't be the case," Yanli let out with a confused look on her face.

'Fifth most powerful clan in the kingdom? Is she really from the Fifth most powerful clan in the kingdom? I made a blunder. I shouldn't have said anything without finding out about her clan. I hope she didn't get suspicious. I need to drive the conversation in a different direction,' Xu Ming thought as he realized that he had made a mistake.

" Your family is definitely qualified, but I don't want you to participate. It's going to be pretty dangerous, and I don't want you to get injured for my sake. I'll be able to take care of myself. You stay safe on the outside. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something happened to you because of me," Xu Ming replied to Yanli as he sighed.

He was hoping to make it seem like he said that to keep her safe so that she still insisted on helping him.

"You idiot! Did you really expect me to stay out of it while you put your life in danger? I'll be able to help you and might even succeed. At least we have a chance of keeping you safe. Let me participate, or there will be no one worse than me," Yanli let out in an annoyed tone as she glared at Xu Ming.

Xu Ming couldn't help but smile wryly at her response as he saw her stern expressions.

"But I... Fine. There's no winning against you. You can be on my team, but your survival will be our priority," Xu Ming answered as he agreed.

"Good. Now let's form a plan for the trial," Yanli let out as she started walking towards Xu Ming's bedroom.

"Wait a minute. The plan can wait. Let's do that later," Xu Ming said as he walked after her inside his bedroom, but his expressions turned serious as he saw Yanli trying to sit on the bed. She was going to sit where Valeria was sleeping like a log.

Xu Ming instantly ran forward and jumped on the bed, making sure that he didn't fall on Valeria as he reached out his hand to cover Valeria and protect her at the last moment.

Yanli was trying to sit on the bed when she saw something touch her butt. She felt as if it was a hand.

Her face turned red as she realized that Xu Ming's hand was touching her butt.

"Eeek," She stood up straight as she turned back to look at Xu Ming.

"W-What were you doing?" Yanli asked Xu Ming.

"I... this isn't what it looks like," Xu Ming let out as he struggled to find an answer to what had happened.

He indeed placed his palm on his butt to stop her from sitting on Valeria. Yanli was in a sitting motion, and he used sufficient strength to be able to keep her up, which made it seem like he was grabbing her butt.

" What is it then," Yanli let out with a red face as she placed her hand on her back.

"I... actually... right. The bed is very dirty. Since I hadn't slept on the bed for a long time, I didn't clean it. If you had sat on it, your clothes would be dirty. I had to save you," Xu Ming had an excuse that he suddenly thought of. He knew that it was a stupid excuse, but that's what came to his mind at the moment.

"S-so, you touched my b-back to help me protect my clothes?" Yanli inquired as she smiled wryly.

Xu Ming nodded his head repeatedly.

"Yes. That's exactly it. It's fine if my clothes get dirty, but I can't let the clothes of my guest get dirty because of me," Xu Ming explained.