Dealing with an inexperienced royal princess was child’s play for Lin Yun. In just a few moments, the young woman was completely convinced by him. The killing intent in her eyes had vanished, leaving only a lingering coldness.

"You’re such an idiot! You were played and you didn’t even realize it," the young woman scolded Lin Yun. "Do you have any idea that you could be executed for trespassing here? It wouldn’t matter even if you’re one of the top ten geniuses on the Yanhuang List."

Hearing this, Lin Yun feigned a sudden, furious realization. "So Lu Tao was trying to set me up! Fine, just fine! Lu Tao, I, Lin Shan, declare you my sworn enemy!"

"Hmph. An idiot. I really don’t know how you became one of the top ten geniuses on the Yanhuang List," the young woman snorted. "But as for that villain Lu Tao, I will not let him off the hook either. Does he think he can do whatever he wants just because he’s Master Wu’s disciple?"

Master Wu was the Imperial Alchemist, hired by the Royal Family at great expense. Beyond that, Master Wu had another identity: a member of the Pharmaceutical Instrument Master’s Guild.

Compared to the Pharmaceutical Instrument Master’s Guild, the Yanhuang Royal Family was nothing but small fry. The Guild was spread across the entire Celestial Spirit Continent; never mind the Yanhuang Royal Family, they could easily wipe out a major power in the Eastern Domain.

It was because of Master Wu’s status that his disciple, Lu Tao, was spared from being bullied by the princes and princesses in the Imperial Palace.

Today, however, was different. The young woman was the notoriously fiery princess, Tang Qingwu, one of the Twin Beauties of the Capital City, as famous as Qing Zhu. Most importantly, Tang Qingwu was famous for her explosive temper. Within the Royal Family, Tang Qingwu was the Little Princess, doted on by all.

Her father, the Emperor, doted on her; her mother, the Empress, doted on her; and all her royal elder brothers doted on her. This was the source of her explosive temper. Of course, Tang Qingwu was also someone who despised evil as if it were her mortal enemy.

"Come on! I will take you to find that despicable villain," Tang Qingwu barked. "Even if Master Wu himself is here today, I will tear that mouth of his right off!"

Lin Yun found this princess, Tang Qingwu, quite interesting. ’She doesn’t have the delicate airs a princess should have at all. Instead, she has the bold forthrightness and couldn’t-hide-a-secret-if-she-tried frankness of someone from the martial world.’

Following behind Tang Qingwu, the two walked straight out of the garden. The whole way, the killing intent radiating from Tang Qingwu made it clear that someone was about to have a very bad day.

Lu Tao, who had been waiting at the garden entrance the whole time, had yet to hear any cries for mercy from within. He found it strange. ’It’s been so long, why is there no sound? Could it be that the Ninth Princess isn’t here?’

’Impossible, my subordinate saw her go in with his own eyes. Could that brat have knocked out the Ninth Princess?’

’No, that makes no sense. Given the Ninth Princess’s temper, there’s no way nothing would happen. Even if she didn’t kill him, she should have at least beaten him half to death.’

As Lu Tao and his subordinate speculated, the longer time passed, the more he felt that something was wrong. Just then, a shout rang out. "Lu Tao, why would I kill him? Today, I’m going to kill you!"

Before Lu Tao could even react to the voice, Tang Qingwu was already upon him, longsword in hand, radiating a majestic killing intent as she charged.

She thrust her sword without a shred of mercy. This one strike was enough to kill Lu Tao.

Though Lu Tao had also reached the First Layer of Qi Sea Realm over the past year, his forte was alchemy, not combat power. Seeing Tang Qingwu’s murderous sword thrust, Lu Tao hastily dodged, shouting in utter confusion.

"Ninth Princess, what are you doing?!"

"What am I doing? Lu Tao, you are a villain! Today, I, Tang Qingwu, will rid the world of a pest and execute a scumbag like you!" Tang Qingwu yelled.

She wasn’t giving him any chance to explain. Even now, Lu Tao still had no idea what was going on. ’I clearly didn’t do anything to provoke the Ninth Princess.’

’Even if she was going to kill someone, it should be Lin Yun! Why is she coming after me?’ Countless questions swirled in Lu Tao’s mind.

Hunted by Tang Qingwu, Lu Tao could only scurry away like a terrified mouse. The fearsome reputation of this little tyrant was famous throughout the Imperial Palace. Lu Tao had no doubt that even though he was Master Wu’s disciple, Tang Qingwu would dare to run him through with her sword.

Lin Yun, watching the show with his arms crossed like an innocent bystander, added fuel to the fire by shouting, "Ninth Princess, I, Lin Shan, will lend you a hand! Let’s slay this villain together!"

Hearing this, the Ninth Princess replied while continuing her assault, "No need! For trash like this, I am more than enough. If you truly want your revenge, just stand aside and watch quietly."

’Revenge?’ Their conversation made Lu Tao even more confused. ’What does this have to do with revenge?’

The commotion outside the garden quickly attracted the attention of the Forbidden Guard Army. In less than a hundred breaths’ time, a squad of guards had arrived. However, when they saw the two people fighting, their faces filled with helpless frustration.

’The Ninth Princess. It’s that little tyrant again.’ If it had been anyone else, the Forbidden Guard Army would have apprehended both of them without a second thought. But since it was the Ninth Princess, things were complicated.

"My heavens, isn’t that Master Wu’s disciple, Lu Tao? How did he manage to provoke the Ninth Princess?"

"I have no idea. This is a real mess now. Who in the entire Imperial Palace dares to provoke the Ninth Princess? I suppose Lu Tao can only pray for himself at this point."

The Forbidden Guard Army didn’t know what to do, standing foolishly to one side. As for the Ninth Princess, her eyes were already red with killing intent as she chased Lu Tao into the distance.

As the Ninth Princess and Lu Tao passed, everyone—whether they were Palace Maids, Forbidden Guards, or eunuchs—could hear the following exchange.

"Ninth Princess, how on earth did I offend you?!"

"Hmph! You treacherous villain! I should have cut down a man like you with my sword long ago!"

"You crazy bitch, have you had enough?! I don’t know what’s going on! How long are you going to chase me?" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Who are you calling a crazy bitch?! I’m telling you right now, I swear I won’t rest until your head is separated from your body!"

One fled while the other pursued, and the two of them had already thrown the entire Imperial Palace into chaos. Around them, several squads of the Forbidden Guard Army followed with troubled expressions.

They hadn’t received any orders from their superiors yet, so they didn’t dare act on their own authority. Offending that little tyrant would certainly mean a future of hardship for them.

By the time the chase neared the Purple Gold Hall, Lu Tao, whose cultivation was weak to begin with, had completely exhausted his Elemental Power. Unable to run any further, he stopped, gasping for breath.

"What a lunatic. To think the great Yanhuang Royal Family could produce such a crazy woman," he muttered angrily to himself. Having been hunted for no reason at all, Lu Tao now hated Tang Qingwu to the core.

But hate her as he might, there was nothing he could do about Tang Qingwu. He could only curse his bad luck.

’Lin Shan... It must be him. He’s the one pulling the strings, otherwise this madwoman wouldn’t be hunting me down like this. Lin Shan, you just wait!’

Just then, Tang Qingwu caught up and thrust her sword at Lu Tao. "Treacherous villain, die!"

"Madwoman, this is a misunderstanding! It was that Lin Shan who orchestrated all of this!" Lu Tao roared.

"As if I’d believe you!" Tang Qingwu didn’t slow in the slightest, her sword already reaching Lu Tao’s chest.