Chapter 44

"Hey? You’re still a well-behaved little girl after all!" When Jiang Chen saw Princess Gouyu, his sharp tongue came out, "It seems you still chose to trust me. I can see that your condition is much better than before. At this rate, you’ll break through to the eleventh pulse of true qi within a month. Congratulations in advance."

Jiang Chen’s tone was light, as if breaking through to the eleventh pulse of true qi was as ordinary as eating and sleeping, not worth making a fuss over.

Princess Gouyu had been full of anticipation, waiting for Jiang Chen to praise her. Even some generic compliments would do, like outstanding talent or a martial arts genius.

However, she sadly discovered that this despicable guy seemed to have no idea that women need praise.

Seeing Princess Gouyu staring at him with wide eyes, Jiang Chen smiled lazily, "Speak up, what do you need me for? I’ve been exhausted these past few days. If there’s nothing, I’m going home to sleep."

Princess Gouyu found his attitude both annoying and amusing.

"Jiang Chen, looking at you, is your father okay?"

Jiang Chen blinked, "Do you hope something happened to him?"

"Of course not." Princess Gouyu’s lips moved quickly, looking somewhat flustered, "Do you really think I’m that bad in your heart?"

"Alright, alright, we’re in the same boat now. Whether you’re good or bad, I have to deal with it, right? By the way, why do you come to my house every day? What’s so important?"

Princess Gouyu had no choice but to tell the truth, "Of course there’s something. Follow me."

"Where? You’re not thinking of eating me, are you?" Jiang Chen looked wary.

"Go to hell, what do you take me for?" Princess Gouyu almost kicked him in the face.

"Right, you’re so tough, you look like a tomboy. You must like women, right?"

Princess Gouyu was thoroughly defeated. If looks could kill, Jiang Chen would have died a dozen times over.

Following Princess Gouyu, they arrived at a large warehouse, heavily guarded on all sides.

Seeing Princess Gouyu’s arrival, the guards all saluted.

"Jiang Chen, come in with me."

Jiang Chen, who had to give Princess Gouyu some face in front of others, obediently followed. Inside was a large treasury.

The gold and silver treasures were piled up like a small mountain. On the shelves on both sides were various rare and precious items.

"Guess what these are?" Princess Gouyu asked.

"Isn’t that obvious? I’m not blind." Jiang Chen was in a bad mood.

"These are all the things confiscated from Du Ruhai’s house. They’re all here, untouched."

"Ah? This corrupt official is so greedy?" Hearing that these were Du Ruhai’s ill-gotten gains, Jiang Chen cursed, "So, being an official in the capital is so profitable? I might consider becoming an official in the capital. Being a vassal is no fun. Constant battles, blood, and sweat, and then being suppressed. Being a capital official is much better. Du Ruhai, a minor official, can be so corrupt! What do you want me to do here? You’re not trying to corrupt me, are you? If so, I have only one thing to say—congratulations, start moving these things to my house."

Princess Gouyu couldn’t help but smile at his serious expression.

Suddenly, she realized that being with this despicable guy made her feel quite relaxed. This guy always found opportunities to play tricks, but his carefree and optimistic attitude always shone through.

"Jiang Chen, my brother has instructed that you can choose anything from here."

"Really, you’re trying to corrupt me?" Jiang Chen didn’t expect that Princess Gouyu had brought him here for this reason.

"You’re not really going to take everything, are you?" Princess Gouyu’s eyes widened.

"These gold and silver, I don’t need to take from a corrupt official. But I can consider spending it for you." Jiang Chen smiled, "If I remember correctly, the Jinshan Marquis’s territory has been suffering from floods for years, with the people living in misery. If these ill-gotten gains can be used to help the disaster victims, it would be a good deed. I wonder if your king would be willing to do this?"

"You… you really mean it?" Princess Gouyu never expected Jiang Chen to say such a thing, which gave her a new perspective on him.

Jiang Chen said seriously, "Do you think I would joke about the lives of a million disaster victims?"

Princess Gouyu felt dizzy, overwhelmed by Jiang Chen’s “righteous spirit,” and finally raised her eyes, "Alright, I’ll make the decision for my brother. If I remember correctly, the Jinshan Marquis and your family are old friends, right?"

"Helping disaster victims is a virtuous act, which would bring glory to your royal family. What does it have to do with our family ties?"

Jiang Chen’s counter-question made Princess Gouyu blush, realizing that her words were indeed shallow and deserved criticism.

After a moment of awkwardness, Princess Gouyu found a topic, "Jiang Chen, Du Ruhai loved collecting divine weapons. These weapons are all extraordinary. Don’t you want to choose one or two?"

"Oh? I can’t be too polite." Jiang Chen didn’t refuse, approaching the rows of weapon racks.

Calling ordinary weapons “divine weapons” was a bit exaggerated.

Jiang Chen scanned the items, and most of them looked like scrap metal to him. A few were slightly better.

Jiang Chen’s gaze stopped on a three-foot sword. The sword was sheathed, like a dragon lying in the depths. From the outside, it had no luster and was not eye-catching.

But Jiang Chen’s memory from his previous life made him sense a hidden, rebellious force within the sword’s plain appearance.

It was a kind of pride that refused to show its sharpness in the mundane world.

It was a kind of arrogance that refused to be tainted by ordinary weapons.

"That’s the one!"

When Jiang Chen saw the sword, he chose it at first glance. It knew when to be low-key and when to show its brilliance.

This was Jiang Chen’s nature, and the sword’s nature.

With similar personalities, they were a perfect match!

Princess Gouyu was slightly surprised to see Jiang Chen ignore the dazzling weapons and choose a plain-looking sword.

"Jiang Chen, this is Heavy Feather Gold Crystal, an excellent material for forging weapons. Why didn’t you even look at it?" Princess Gouyu had to recommend it.

If Jiang Chen only chose a sword, Princess Gouyu would feel that the reward was far from enough for his help.

"Oh? I thought I could only choose one. Then I’ll take this too. But with this sword, I don’t need other weapons for now." Jiang Chen paused, then added, "The Qianlong Examination is about to start. I need to prepare. You have a wide network in the capital, right? Help me forge this into throwing knives."

"Forge throwing knives?" Princess Gouyu was taken aback, thinking that such a good material should be used to forge a divine weapon, not small throwing knives, which seemed a waste.

"Yes, forge a set of nine throwing knives based on the weight." Jiang Chen didn’t care about wasting good material. For him, this Heavy Feather Gold Crystal would be fortunate to become his throwing knives.

Seeing Jiang Chen’s determination, Princess Gouyu wouldn’t go against his wishes over a piece of Heavy Feather Gold Crystal and nodded, "I’ll try to get it done for you in a few days."

"Sure, sure, you’re much more likable when you’re obedient!" Jiang Chen spoke in a tone that sounded like he was scolding a little girl.

Princess Gouyu was speechless, giving him a glare and suddenly remembered something, "Right, Jiang Chen, there’s a medicinal exhibition at the Pill King Garden the day after tomorrow. I’ve heard that the Pill King Garden has big ambitions and is targeting the Alchemist Hall. Your family has a partnership with the Alchemist Hall, so you should be cautious."

"Ha ha, I’ve heard about it too. It should be interesting." Jiang Chen smiled innocently, not taking it seriously.

Waving his hand casually, "Nothing else, I’ll go now."

Seeing his indifferent attitude, Princess Gouyu was furious. But then she thought, wasn’t this guy always like this?

Last time, at the Longteng Marquis, when he was challenged by the White Tiger Marquis’s successor, Bai Zhanyun, didn’t he also act nonchalantly?

What was the result? Bai Zhanyun was thoroughly defeated and now obedient to Jiang Chen, like a different person.

"Could it be that this guy has been up to something in secret these past few days?" The more she dealt with Jiang Chen, the more she understood his ways.

When he showed that innocent smile, it might be the time he was plotting something.

Thinking this, Princess Gouyu couldn’t help but feel a bit excited. Although she thought Jiang Chen had no chance against the Pill King Garden, he often had surprising moves. Who knew what new tricks he might have up his sleeve this time?

Seeing Jiang Chen’s back about to disappear, Princess Gouyu suddenly remembered something, "Right, Jiang Chen, the situation in the capital is complicated these days. The Heavenly Capital Army Commander has decided to send a few experts to your Jianghan Marquis’s residence to be at your disposal. So you won’t lack manpower when you need it."

"Let them come tomorrow." Jiang Chen waved his hand, taking advantage of the situation, "I’m telling you, don’t send me a bunch of useless people. I’ll return them if they’re not good."

Princess Gouyu really wanted to beat this guy with her shoe. Giving him both people and things, and he didn’t even say a kind word, but instead picked and chose?

"Rogue, this guy is a rogue." Princess Gouyu’s lips curled into a slight smile, muttering to herself.

Thinking about the changes in herself these past few days, Princess Gouyu couldn’t really hate Jiang Chen.

Because the breathing technique Jiang Chen gave her was so effective. With the help of the spirit medicine formula, in just a few days, Princess Gouyu felt her inner demons being slowly expelled and resolved.

The true qi in her body, which was originally wild, gradually became easier to control and manipulate.

All the lost confidence, pride, and belief were regained.

Most importantly, when she achieved this, the familiar martial arts essence naturally appeared.

Eleventh pulse true qi…

In Princess Gouyu’s star-like eyes, a strong desire shone.