Chapter 19

While Zhang Zixuan was introducing himself, his mother had already prepared to bind Li Tianming with the chain.

In this deadly situation, there seemed to be no way out. Encountering such an event was indeed a matter of extremely bad luck.

Just at this moment—

"Who's there? Come out!" Zhang Zixuan's father, who was treating the blue-tailed scorpion, suddenly raised his head and sternly asked, looking at the back.

Someone else had come?

The woman holding the chain was already standing in front of Li Tianming. At this moment, she was also attracted and turned to look in the direction of the grass and trees.

Due to the arrival of this third party, Li Tianming temporarily escaped danger.

"Who could it be?" Li Tianming also saw some movement in the grass and trees. Judging from the aura, it was not a fierce beast but another person.

The Fire Silk Mountain was sparsely populated. One might not encounter another person even after wandering for a month. What was going on recently, with people everywhere?

In the next moment, two girls pushed through the undergrowth and appeared in front of Li Tianming.

It was Jiang Feilin and Qing'er!

Qing'er was undoubtedly a prodigy, born into a noble family with a stunning appearance. She was always the center of attention wherever she went. However, when she appeared with Jiang Feilin, Li Tianming's gaze naturally fell on Jiang Feilin.

That ethereal and serene presence, as if a celestial being had descended to the mortal world, was perfect in every way.

"They were supposed to return to Yan Capital, why haven't they left yet?" Li Tianming wondered.

But now, the key issue was that the people from the Thunder Venerable Manor wanted to kill him! Why had they appeared?

No matter how outstanding Qing'er's talent was, she couldn't possibly fight against these two elders. Besides, she treated him like a thief, so she might not help him.

The only benefit was that their appearance had distracted Zhang Zixuan's parents. Li Tianming seized this opportunity to try to escape, but before he could run, the chain had already wrapped around his feet.

No hope of escape!

"Princess Qing!"

Just as Li Tianming was feeling frustrated, he saw Zhang Zixuan and his parents looking at Qing'er with surprise and respect, then kneeling down to salute her.

"Zhang Chong of the Thunder Venerable Manor, with my wife and son, pays respects to Princess Qing." The middle-aged man bowed his head and saluted respectfully.

Princess?

In the Vermilion Bird Kingdom, only one type of person could be called a princess: the daughters of the Vermilion Bird royal family!

"No way." Li Tianming had a vague feeling that Qing'er's status was high, but he never imagined it was this high.

A princess-level figure was someone he couldn't have encountered even three years ago at the Yanhuang Academy. Lin Xiaoting, the top genius of the Heavenly Capital and the current first genius of the Heavenly Capital, would also have to bow to a princess like Zhang Chong.

After all, she was the daughter of the king!

No wonder she was so outstanding. She was the Qing Princess of the Vermilion Bird Valley.

Li Tianming remembered that he had insulted her a few days ago, wondering if her brain was malfunctioning. Now, he realized he had been flirting with death.

He could only guess at the Qing Princess's strength. From what he could see, even if she wasn't as strong as Lin Xiaoting, she should be at a similar level.

After all, the Vermilion Bird royal family had ruled the Vermilion Bird Kingdom for thousands of years, with a profound heritage that far exceeded the Thunder Venerable Manor.

"Rise." Qing'er waved her hand indifferently, then her gaze locked onto Li Tianming.

Her eyes looked at Li Tianming with a hint of smugness, as if saying, "Little thief, now that you know my identity, how can you still be so arrogant?"

This gloating and mocking look made Li Tianming a bit embarrassed. After all, he never imagined that a high-ranking princess would appear in this desolate Fire Silk Mountain.

"Princess Qing, why did you come to the Fire Silk Mountain? There are many fierce beasts here. If the princess is not protected..." Zhang Chong asked, slightly lowering his head.

"Who said I'm not protected?" Qing'er interrupted him directly.

"Princess, please don't be angry. Zhang Chong is just concerned about your safety. How could someone of your status not have experts protecting you?" Zhang Chong's wife quickly smoothed things over.

As for Zhang Zixuan, he still held a short knife, and with his parents bowing, he naturally didn't dare to speak.

The atmosphere fell into a dead silence. Only Jiang Feilin smiled and winked at Li Tianming. Seeing her smile, Li Tianming knew he wouldn't die today, but he would definitely be mocked by Qing'er...

"Are you from the Thunder Venerable Manor, called Zhang Chong?" Qing'er, with her hands behind her back, now had a regal air, her noble demeanor evident.

"Yes, Princess Qing." The middle-aged man could only nod his head.

"What are the people from the Thunder Venerable Manor doing here? I saw a few people from your manor a few days ago." Qing'er asked.

"About this..." Zhang Chong hesitated. After all, this was a discovery of the Thunder Venerable Manor, and the divine source belonged to them.

"Do you want to lose your head?" Qing'er asked.

"Princess, please don't be angry, I'll tell you." Zhang Chong quickly said, his embarrassed appearance a stark contrast to his previous cold and domineering demeanor.

Indeed, even the most powerful people have their moments of submission.

"Hurry up, don't dilly-dally." Qing'er said.

Li Tianming was also curious about this. What were these people from the Thunder Venerable Manor doing here?

"It's like this. Our Thunder Venerable Manor discovered a divine source in the Fire Silk Mountain, so we selected seven disciples to compete. Whoever can seize the divine source can take it away. Our elders followed to protect their safety but do not participate in the competition." Zhang Chong said in one breath.

"What level of divine source?" Qing'er's eyes lit up. To be honest, even the lowest level 'Yellow-grade divine source' was a top treasure. Even if she couldn't use it, it could be sold for a very high price.

"Princess Qing, it's a low-grade divine source, not even a Yellow-grade. It can only help a companion beast evolve to the sixth level." Zhang Chong said, lowering his head.

"Low-grade?" Qing'er was a bit disappointed, losing interest. She glared at Zhang Chong and said, "Do you know what will happen if you lie to me?"

"I wouldn't dare. Besides, my son has little hope, so there's no reason to lie. It's a low-grade divine source." Zhang Chong said with a bitter smile.

Even a low-grade divine source was a priceless treasure in Li Huo City.

In the entire Vermilion Bird Kingdom, only the top geniuses of the Heavenly Capital and the Vermilion Bird royal family might not care.

"I don't think you have the nerve. Fine, you can leave." Qing'er waved her hand, her beautiful eyes showing impatience.

"Thank you, Princess. The Zhang family will take our leave." Zhang Chong felt relieved, signaling his wife and Zhang Zixuan with his eyes. His wife picked up the chain, preparing to take Li Tianming away.

"Wait." Qing'er glanced at Li Tianming and said irritably, "Leave this pig behind."

Li Tianming's face turned black. Being dragged away was one thing, but she called him a pig?

"Princess? This person is just a local mountain dweller. He just attacked and injured my son's companion beast. We were planning to teach him a lesson." Zhang Chong didn't expect Qing'er to pay attention to Li Tianming.

"Princess, could you show mercy and let me avenge my companion beast..." Zhang Zixuan mustered the courage to say. He was already prepared to execute Li Tianming, but this sudden turn of events left him extremely frustrated.

It felt like the meat in his mouth suddenly flying away.

"That's right, I want this pig. You can leave." Qing'er said with a stern face.

Li Tianming was furious. This girl was taking the opportunity to insult him, and he couldn't retort. If he did, she might not save him.

"Princess..."

"Get lost. Don't make me say it again." Qing'er was domineering, and her last words left Zhang Chong and his family speechless.

Zhang Zixuan's face turned purple with anger, but he could only remain silent as Zhang Chong forcibly dragged him away. He was trembling as if he were constipated, even looking back at Li Tianming several times.

"What are you looking at? Never seen a handsome man before?" Little Yellow Chicken, perched on Li Tianming's head, was completely unbothered by the near-death experience and still acted recklessly.

Zhang Zixuan couldn't turn back to retort, which made him even angrier.

Only after they left did Li Tianming face the Qing Princess.

"What are you looking at? Are you不服气 (unconvinced) that I called you a pig?" Qing'er glared at him. To be honest, she looked quite cute when she was puffed up with anger.

"服气 (Convinced), you are the princess, why would I be unconvinced?" Li Tianming said.

"Qing'er, don't be so rude to your brother. When he saved me, he wasn't as arrogant as you." Jiang Feilin said. After Zhang Chong and his family left, Jiang Feilin ran to Li Tianming's side, asking with concern, "Brother, are you hurt?"

"No, Feilin, you are so considerate. There aren't many girls as kind as you." Li Tianming smiled.

"What do you mean? Are you mocking me for not being kind?" Qing'er's eyebrows furrowed.

"I didn't say that." Li Tianming said, "Actually, I'm quite grateful this time. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have survived."

"Knowing gratitude is good. Be more polite in the future. If you hadn't saved Feilin last time, I would have cut off your head for speaking to me like that." Qing'er said.

"Understood." Li Tianming didn't want to offend her. Although she was domineering, she wasn't malicious, and she was a princess, someone he couldn't afford to offend at the moment.

"I was wrong. There won't be a 'future.' Go home and farm in peace. We are also returning to Yan Capital. Goodbye, and never see you again." Qing'er pulled Jiang Feilin, as if afraid Li Tianming would get close to her.

"Qing'er, stop talking. I can't get a word in. I have something important to tell my brother. Don't speak." Jiang Feilin said.

Indeed, one person can always subdue another.

Li Tianming smiled.

No matter how domineering the Qing Princess was, she still had to listen to Feilin.