Chapter 6: The Young General is Broken

Outside the valley, Zhong Ling stood still, not daring to move an inch.

Before leaving, the Prince had said he would destroy the evidence and told her not to wander off, promising to return soon.

She found it strange because the assassins from the Bloodcloud Pavilion had already been vaporized by the Prince.

What else was there to destroy?

Then, to her horror, she saw a mountain in the distance hopping towards her.

How could a mountain hop?

Oh...

With spiritual qi flowing through her eyes, Zhong Ling quickly saw clearly that it was the Prince carrying a mountain back.

This wasn't surprising... or maybe it was!

Zhong Ling felt her understanding of the world crumbling. What kind of monster was the Prince?

No cultivation level, no spiritual qi fluctuations, just relying on physical strength to carry a mountain?

Even those in the Saint Realm with the power to move mountains and fill seas couldn't lift a mountain so effortlessly, could they?

Suddenly, Zhong Ling's breathing became rapid, and her heart pounded.

"Could the Prince be... a legendary existence beyond the Tenth Tier of the Saint Realm?"

Boom!

A massive rumble interrupted Zhong Ling's wild thoughts.

Dust flew everywhere as she watched Xiao Tian toss the mountain, burying the entire valley.

He then leaped into the air, throwing a punch into the void beside him.

The fist force erupted, collapsing the peak he had punched through.

Whoosh!

Xiao Tian landed lightly in front of Zhong Ling, dusting off his hands. "All done. Now there's no trace of my involvement."

Staring at the completely altered landscape behind Xiao Tian, Zhong Ling felt her soul leave her body.

At this moment, she gained a new understanding of the term "destroy the evidence."

"Little girl, just say you saved me when the time comes," Xiao Tian instructed as he walked back.

"Huh?" Zhong Ling snapped back to reality and hurriedly followed Xiao Tian. "But..."

"Didn't your mother ever tell you to listen to adults?" Xiao Tian suddenly turned, his gaze icy.

"Eek..." Zhong Ling was so frightened that her legs gave out, and she knelt on the ground.

"I... I promise I won't say anything!!"

Zhong Ling's response to Xiao Tian was already tinged with sobs.

There was no choice; facing Xiao Tian's aura of domination, she finally realized how terrifying this man truly was.

It felt as if the entire world was collapsing, and her vision began to warp.

"See, it's better to listen, little girl..." Xiao Tian retracted his aura completely, reaching out to lift her from the ground. "Let's go!"

"Yes!" Zhong Ling quickly replied, obediently following behind Xiao Tian like a little attendant.

Not long after they left, there was movement ahead, and the female guards responsible for security emerged from the bushes.

"Your Highness, are you alright?"

"Ah, Young General Zhong!"

The female guards breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Xiao Tian unharmed. They had rushed over, alarmed by the rumbling sounds.

But when they saw Zhong Ling behind Xiao Tian, they were all astonished and quickly saluted.

"Young General, what happened here?"

"Where are the people who kidnapped the Prince? Have they been..."

Faced with the female guards' inquiries, Zhong Ling cleared her throat. "Ahem, the bandits have been slain by me. Rest assured."

"Alright, false alarm. Everyone worked hard. Let's go back and continue eating the barbecue," Xiao Tian said with a smile, waving his hand.

The female guards exchanged glances, the leader looking displeased but maintaining decorum. "Your Highness, since there were bandits in the mountains, it might not be safe. We should return as soon as possible to be cautious."

Xiao Tian waved his hand dismissively, continuing forward. "It's fine. This little girl took care of all the bandits."

"And she's quite capable. If there are more enemies, she can handle them."

"Let's hurry back and not waste the food."

Xiao Tian strode away, looking relaxed, but the female guards beside him were all taken aback.

Oh no!

The Prince had misspoken!

The Young General was the legitimate daughter of the Great General, extremely proud and intolerant of people like Xiao Tian who indulged in pleasures.

Especially when he called her "little girl," a term of disdain due to his seniority.

She had once beaten up a noble family member, causing a scene before the Emperor.

Not only was she not punished, but she also received an imperial-bestowed sword, patrolling the realm and capturing evildoers.

If Zhong Ling got angry now and beat up the Prince, they wouldn't be able to stop her.

The female guards exchanged glances, communicating silently.

"Try to hold her back if necessary, don't let the Prince get beaten to death by the Young General."

After their silent exchange, they all focused on Zhong Ling, ready to intervene at any moment.

They watched as Zhong Ling approached Xiao Tian and then...

Obediently followed behind him like a well-behaved little sidekick, overly quiet.

"What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and follow," Zhong Ling said, turning to them.

The female guards quickly followed, exchanging puzzled looks, unable to understand the situation.

When did the Young General become so mild-tempered?

When they returned to the barbecue spot...

"Not only is it not burnt, it's just right," Xiao Tian said, looking at the golden, juicy meat dripping with oil, gesturing to Zhong Ling. "Little girl, do you have a knife?"

"Yes!" Zhong Ling quickly responded, pulling out a small dagger from her waist and handing it to Xiao Tian with both hands.

Xiao Tian took the knife, examined it, and began slicing the meat.

"Mmm, crispy on the outside, juicy and tender inside, with a nice bounce. Not bad at all," Xiao Tian praised after taking a bite, inviting the female guards over.

"Come and have some, don't stand so far away, don't be shy."

The female guards remained silent, eyes wide, watching Zhong Ling obediently sit beside Xiao Tian, taking the knife to cut the meat for him.

They all wondered if they were dreaming or if this Young General was an imposter.

The famous Miss Zhong of the Imperial City, always proud, never gave face to anyone except her mother and the Emperor.

But as they approached, listening to Xiao Tian and Zhong Ling's conversation, they were even more shocked.

"Little girl, you seem to know the people who kidnapped me quite well, old acquaintances?" Xiao Tian asked, his mouth greasy from eating, curiously looking at Zhong Ling.

"Yes... yes, the leader was Liang Shou, once the bandit chief of Smoke Wolf Village. It was a test set by my mother for my coming-of-age ceremony. I captured him a year ago and beheaded him in public.

Now, he's become an assassin for the Bloodcloud Pavilion."

Zhong Ling sat with her legs together, hands on her knees, reporting to Xiao Tian in a proper manner.

"Coming-of-age ceremony?" Xiao Tian frowned, looking Zhong Ling up and down. "How old are you?"

"Six... sixteen."

"Still just a little girl, what did you eat to grow like this..." Xiao Tian's mouth twitched, shaking his head. "I need to criticize your mother. You're so young, and she has you doing such dangerous things."

Hiss...

The surrounding female guards gasped. The Prince was too bold.

Great General Zhong Lishuang was Zhong Ling's reverse scale, no one could say a bad word about her!

"Uh-huh..." Zhong Ling nodded mechanically, a smile on her face.

The female guards, seeing Zhong Ling's obedient demeanor, were collectively petrified.

Oh no...

The Young General is broken!