“Hou Chāo…?”

The young man sitting with his knees curled into his chest was undoubtedly the second prince of the Shang Kingdom, but he looked so different that it took Hua Xue several moments to recognize him. His hair had become thinner, his body emaciated, and his face gaunt. The dead expression on his face and blank stare reminded her of a corpse. She might have assumed he was dead if he wasn’t breathing.

“They threw… the second prince of the Shang Kingdom in this dungeon…?”

While Hou Chāo had joined the Burning Hand Sect of his own volition and was therefore subject to the sect’s laws, it was clear to her that this was not a just punishment. He had been locked away in this prison where his only company was the crazed Yun Che. This was definitely a violation that the Shang Kingdom could use to disband the entire Burning Hand Sect.

She glanced at Yun Che. “It looks like I have no need for you.”

Turning back to the prison containing Hou Chāo, she looked at the bars. The sealing arrays on them were the sort that suppressed a person’s chi and prevented its use. However, as was the case with most sealing arrays, they only suppressed it up to a certain point. Someone from the Human Limit Realm would have trouble breaking through these, but anyone at a higher realm could destroy them with ease.

Hua Xue sighed as she placed her hands on the bars and began circulating her chi.

Her dantian was currently surrounding by a powerful sealing array, though it had not been crafted by choice. This array contained a rich yang chi that prevented her from bring out her full power. It was because of this sealing array that Hua Xue had been forced to stay here, unable to leave, and unable to continue her cultivation. She had learned to live with it, however, and could currently force the seal open for a short time.

She narrowed her eyes as her chi formed a sharp point and pierced the sealing array. Pain stabbed her, but she ignored it and used a portion of the power leaking out to freeze the bars solid. She quickly stopped using her chi. The sealing array closed up quickly, but that was fine. Her job was done.

Hua Xue swept her arm forward, shattering the jail cell bars, then stepped into the cell. She stood before Hou Chāo. He did not react to her present at all. He did not even look up.

“What happened to you…?”

With a sigh, she waved her hand and projected a portion of her chi, creating several ice crystals that lifted Hou Chāo into the air. She stepped out of the cell and began walking. Hou Chāo’s body floated behind her. Up the stairs she went, to the third floor, the second floor, then the first.

She was just about to open the door leading outside when she sensed a sharp burst of powerful fire chi from above. Hua Xue raised her hand. A single lotus bloomed above her head, then expanded to cover her and Hou Chāo in its protective embrace.

[Blooming Lotus Shield]

Fire rained down from the sky like meteors, bursting through the ceiling and slamming into her lotus shield. None of the flames aimed at her hit. They dispersed the moment they made contact with her lotus shield, but the projectiles that struck everything else exploded upon contact, gouging out the floor and sending debris in all directions. Waves of heat washed over her, but Hua Xue paid it no mind.

Her eyes were on the sky.

“I had wondered who dared to crawl into the Burning Hand Sect. I didn’t think it would be you… Elder Hua Xue,” said the person floating above her.

“Head Elder Yi Fu,” said Hua Xue through narrowed eyes. “Or should I call you Ancestor Yi Fu of the Burning Hand Sect?”

“Hmph. You can call me whatever you want. It does not matter since you’re going to die here.”

“You think you can kill me?”

Ancestor Yi Fu sneered. “Girl, I have enough power in my pinky to lay you to waste. Can you not understand the immense difference in our strength? You have eyes, but you fail to see the leaves from the trees. Shall I show you the incredible difference in our power?”

Hmmmm… this situation is troubling. This old man is a fool. He is the one who is blind, but I cannot fight him and protect Hou Chāo at the same time. I need to stall for time.

“Have you no intention on interrogating me?” asked Hua Xue.

Ancestor Yi Fu scoffed. “There is no need for that. It does not matter why you are here. Once I kill you, the problem will be solved. No one will ever know you were here. Now die!”

“Tch.”

Hua Xue grimaced as the Burning Flame Pavilion’s ancestor rained fire down upon her. Flames burst into existence and slammed into her ice lotus, though none could break through. They did not even make her ice lotus melt.

Ancestor Yi Fu ceased his assault moment’s later and frowned. “I see this level of power isn’t enough. You are stronger than I gave you credit for. I guess Yu Chenguang is not the biggest threat this kingdom has to offer. I’ll be sure to destroy you so you cannot cause problems later on.”

“You are welcome to try.”

“Those words are proof that you are courting death!”

Ancestor Yi Fu’s chi suddenly flamed into incandescent brilliance. Flames hot enough to warp the air exploded from his fists, though they quickly condensed around his hands, turning a bright blue. By condensing the flames like this, he localized the power into a single point, thereby increasing his attack strength.

It was a very basic use of fire elemental techniques.

“It is time for you to die!”

The elder descended rapidly, slamming his fist into the ice lotus. His flames contained such power that they quickly melted the outer layer of Hua Xue’s ice lotus. He plunged his hand further into the shield, melted just a single point, until he reached the core, which he clenched within his hand and squeezed. As the core shattered, the ice lotus disappeared, evaporated into steam that blew away on the breeze.

“Now you’re mine!” Ancestor Yi Fu shouted as he attacked the now wide open Hua Xue.

***

Shang Imperial City was as bustling that day as it had ever been. People walked on either side of a street filled with carriages trundling along. The breighing of horses mixed in with the chatter of people.

Hou Jingshu was walking along with everyone else, wearing regular clothes so as to better blend in with normal people. She was certain blending in would have been easy if it wasn’t for the giant panther bounding alongside her. Yōuměi had wrapped her tail around her left hand and was trying to forcefully hurry her along.

“Big Sister! Big Sister! Hurry up! Yōuměi wants to eat! Hurry up!”

“I’m coming. There’s no need to rush.”

“But Yōuměi is hungry!”

You’re always hungry…

Yōuměi was the most voracious eater she had ever met. This panther could put away several times its bodyweight in food and still have room for more. She understood that magical beasts ate a lot more than humans, and the higher their cultivation was, the more energy they burned. It was only natural she would eat a lot, but by the great dragon, Seiryuu, she really underestimated just how much that was.

The entire reason they were out in public and not in the palace was because this devil had devoured everything within their pantry.

People quickly stepped out of the way as they walked by. No one panicked. While rare, there did exist beast tamers, cultivators who subdued beasts to use as pets, mounts, and companions in battle. A large black panther might be rare, but no one would freak out.

“That animal is talking!”

“It’s a magical beast at the Human Limit Realm!”

“Did you hear what it called that woman? It called her ‘Big Sister.’ Does that mean she tamed it? Just how strong does she have to be to tame a beast like that?!”

Well… they might not be freaking out about the panther in their company, but they were still freaking.

I guess I can’t blame them. Magical beasts do not gain the ability to speak until they reach the Human Limit Realm. That is common knowledge. I should just be careful no one is freaking out.

Hou Jingshu decided that maybe it was in their best interest to hurry along. She quickened her pace, which caused Yōuměi to cheer. They soon reached their destination, a restaurant that Liu Heifing had recommended when Hou Jingshu informed her about the palace’s depleted stores of food.

It was called The Cultivator’s Cuisine and was a restaurant that catered specifically to cultivators. That explained its lack of humility. The building was a four-story pagoda painted royal red and gold. Lintel posts lined the outside, holding aloft the arched roof. Several dragon statues stood at the four corners, and another pair of very large dragon statues sat on either side of a staircase leading to the entrance.

Hua Xue walked inside but was stopped immediately by the staff.

“Excuse me, miss, but I’m afraid you cannot come in here. We do not cater to magical beasts,” said the staff. He was a young man and while he was apparently professional enough not to look at her chest, it was clear from his derisive attitude that he didn’t know whose presence he was in. Well, he only had an Anima Realm cultivation base, so that was to be expected.

Hou Jingshu smiled as she hangled the Hou Imperial Family seal before him. “I apologize for my late introduction. My name is Hou Jingshu. This place was recommended to me by Liu Heifeng. She said she’s a regular here. I hope you’ll allow me to dine at this restaurant.”

The man took one glance at the seal and scoffed. “Hah! You think you can parade a fake seal like that and expect to get a seat? Do you think we allow anyone with a pretty face to dine at our establishment. Hmm. But you are very pretty. How about this, if you service me, I’ll consider letting you eat here.”

Hou Jingshu was utterly baffled for a moment. Was this normal? Did young men working at a restaurants like this all act so uncouth? Also, was this kid an idiot? There was a giant panther right in front of him. Did he not fear it? Liu Heifeng had spoken so highly of this establishment, but maybe she had gotten the wrong place? Either way, she could not let an insult like this slide.

“I don’t like this idiot, Big Sister. Should I eat him?”

“It talks?!”

The young man finally paled as Yōuměi spoke. So now he had the sense to be afraid? Well, it was far too late for that. Hou Jingshu was seriously contemplating letting Yōuměi eat him. Well, not really, but maybe she should make a big show of considering it.

It was perhaps to his fortune that someone of significant standing was passing through and noticed what was happening.

“What the hell are you doing, idiot?!”

“Bwa?!”

An older gentleman quickly kicked the boy’s legs out from under him and pressed his head against the floor, kowtowing.

“I apologize, your royal highness. This idiot is--no, he was a new hire. I’ll fire him right now, so please have mercy.”

The boy’s eyes widened. “You mean she’s really--ugh!”

“Do not speak!” The man ground the boy’s head into the ground with his boots.

Hou Jingshu sighed. “I won’t punish him, so just find me a place to eat.”

“Of course. Please follow me,” the older man said, then glared at the young boy. “As for you, go pack your things and scram! Idiots who cannot notice the immensity of heaven and earth have no place in this establishment!”

While the young man looked angry, one glance at the snarling Yōuměi convinced him he got off lucky. He scrambled away as the older man led Hou Jingshu up four flights of stairs.

“The fourth floor is our VIP room. We have it reserved for only our most esteemed guests. You may dine here, Your Highness.”

“Thank you.”

The fourth floor only consisted of a single room that was decorated so elaborately that it reminded her of the palace gardens. It was an open air space. There were no walls, which meant she had a free view of Shang Imperial City. Streams of water flowed in concentric formations that created a sealing array designed to absorb equal amounts of yin and yang chi. It sadly didn’t cause her cultivation to stir, but anyone within the Anima Realm would find it most amenable.

She and Yōuměi sat at a table located in the center of the room. A serving girl came by mere moments later. She set down a tray filled with aromatic tea leaves and quickly served her.

“Would you like a menu, Your Highness?” she asked.

Hou Jingshu shook her head. “Just get me everything on your menu, please.”

“E-everything?”

Hou Jingshu smiled wryly as she rubbed Yōuměi’s head. “My companion eats a lot.”

“U-understood. I will let our chefs know.”

The young woman hurried down the stairs. Hou Jingshu sighed as she disappeared from view, then lifted the teacup to her nose and took a deep breath. The tea smelled wonderful. It contained a nutty aroma which made her think it had been grown next to a walnut farm.

She was just about to take a sip when the teacup cracked, causing tea to leak out. As she stared in surprise, a second crack quickly formed over the first, forming an x pattern on one side. She furrowed her brow.

“A bad omen?” As if drawn to something she couldn’t see, Hou Jingshu looked to the east, where Wu Jian and Zhou Lihua were staying. “I hope they are okay.”