Chapter 20

Xiao Sheng squinted his eyes. By intuition, he guessed the girl's identity was far from simple. Otherwise, how could the chivalrous Duke Niulao, who had never taken a step out of the Eastern Wasteland, break his precedent and travel thousands of miles to bring this girl to Luoyang?

The world is perilous, but not as perilous as the human heart. Therefore, one should only speak seven-tenths of what they think and not fully entrust their heart to anyone. This was a lesson Xiao Sheng had learned through countless hardships and near-death experiences in a parallel universe. Thus, although he found the girl cute, he did not completely trust her.

After all, this was just an inn, not a suitable place for conversation. Xiao Sheng thought for a moment and said softly, "Little sister, Luoyang is too far from the Eastern Wasteland. You won't be able to return anytime soon.

How about this: for now, you can follow me. When there's an opportunity, I'll send you back home. By the way, who else is in your family? I can find someone to help send a letter back to let them know you're safe."

"There's... no one left at home." The girl's originally bright eyes suddenly dimmed, filled with a hint of sorrow.

She slowly said, "My father doesn't want me anymore. My mother ran away with someone else. So now, I'm all alone."

Xiao Sheng was taken aback, then felt a sense of shared suffering. Thinking about himself, his mother, Empress Mu, had already passed away, and his father, Emperor Xuan, had retreated deep into the palace, unseen for years. Having a father was like not having one at all.

Fortunately, Xiao Sheng had both the half-teacher, half-friend Tianji Star Yu Xuanji, and the old eunuch Guan Canghai, who had always taken care of him, so he wasn't too lonely.

Collecting his thoughts, Xiao Sheng said softly, "Since that's the case, come with me." He reached out and wrapped his arm around the girl's waist, leaping back onto the roof.

Xiao Cui was bored, playing with a small pug. Suddenly, she saw Xiao Sheng come out and couldn't help but be delighted. But then she saw the girl and was immediately startled. She asked guardedly, "Young Master, who is she?"

"Don't ask too many questions. Let's leave first." Xiao Sheng casually wrapped his arm around Xiao Cui and leaped up, gliding through the air like a large bird. In a short while, they were far from the inn. Despite the bustling streets below, no one noticed them.

After all this time, it was getting late. Looking at the western sky, the sun was about to set below the horizon. After sunset, Luoyang would enforce a curfew. Without a special token, no one was allowed to walk at night.

Moreover, Xiao Sheng was still a prince. The palace had strict rules prohibiting anyone from staying out overnight. If someone discovered that Xiao Sheng was staying outside the palace, it would cause trouble.

So, after walking for a while, seeing that the Guose Tower was not far away, Xiao Sheng put Xiao Cui down and let her go back first.

Originally, placing the girl named Ling at the Guose Tower would have been fine. But when she heard what the Guose Tower was, she immediately shook her head vigorously. Her gaze towards Xiao Cui was filled with intense disgust. So Xiao Sheng had no choice but to take her back to the palace.

The palace did not allow random people to enter and exit. But Xiao Sheng had his ways. His wristband contained several eunuch uniforms. He took one out and dressed the girl in it, making her look like a young eunuch. Then he led her into the palace with a swagger.

The guards at the palace gate all knew Xiao Sheng, the "waste prince." It was normal for a prince to have a eunuch accompanying him, so no one paid much attention.

Returning to the "Ten Princes' Mansion" in the southeast corner of the palace, where he lived, the sun had already set, and the lanterns were just beginning to light up. Xiao Sheng pushed the door and called out, "Eunuch Guan, I'm back."

"Ah, Your Highness, you're back?" The old eunuch Guan Canghai hurried out from the courtyard.

After half a day, Eunuch Guan's appearance had changed dramatically. He was wearing new clothes, his gray hair neatly combed, and his face was radiant with joy. Compared to the miserable look he had when the Ninth Prince came to cause trouble, he seemed like a completely different person. Indeed, when good things happen, one feels refreshed.

"Eunuch Guan, you look great," Xiao Sheng smiled. Seeing the people around him happy, he felt happy too. He paused, then gently pushed the girl's shoulder, saying, "Eunuch Guan, this is Miss Ling. She will be staying with me for a while. Please arrange something for her."

"Yes, yes, this old servant will do as you command," Guan Canghai said without asking for reasons. He quickly walked over and said kindly, "Little girl, follow this old servant..."

Before he could finish, Guan Canghai's face suddenly changed, and he quickly lifted the lantern in his hand.

Under the light, the girl's fair skin looked even more smooth and lustrous. But Guan Canghai seemed to see something incredible, his body shaking violently as he exclaimed, "Ling Clan, Ling Zhiling?"

As soon as Eunuch Guan's exclamation left his lips, the girl's face changed dramatically. Suddenly, she charged out like a wild horse, kicking Guan Canghai between his legs without hesitation!

Caught off guard, even Xiao Sheng didn't expect such a violent reaction and couldn't stop her in time. In a split second, Guan Canghai was kicked right in the spot!

Although Eunuch Guan had been castrated decades ago, the vital area was still a vital area. The pain was just as intense as it would be for anyone else!

In an instant, he let out a sharp, painful scream, dropped the lantern, and covered his legs, bending over with a red face, looking like a shrimp.

The intense pain made it impossible for him to stand. With a "thud," Guan Canghai fell to the side, his entire body trembling, his thin legs shaking like a fish out of water.

Xiao Sheng was almost stunned. But with his mental cultivation, he quickly recovered.

Seeing the girl about to kick again, Xiao Sheng quickly stepped forward, placing his hand on her shoulder and shouting, "Enough! No more fighting. Hey, little sister, what's going on? Why are you kicking people?"

"Phew, what's it to you? Who's your sister? Do we know each other that well? Don't go around claiming kinship, okay?"

The girl turned around, sneering at Xiao Sheng. Her brows were filled with a wild look, like a stray kitten on the street. Compared to her previous gentle and obedient appearance, she was completely different.

If Xiao Sheng hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed how quickly and thoroughly she could change. For a moment, he felt both angry and amused.

Before Xiao Sheng could decide what to do, the courtyard was filled with noise. A dozen people rushed out. They were the eunuchs and maidservants responsible for serving Xiao Sheng, who had heard Eunuch Guan's scream at the gate and were worried about what had happened, so they came out to see.

Seeing the scene before them, everyone was speechless, not knowing what to do.

"What are you looking at? What's so interesting? Haven't you seen a beautiful girl before? Tsk, you're all making a fuss over nothing!" The girl shouted fiercely, glaring at everyone. Those who met her gaze shivered and instinctively looked away.

A girl who had never practiced martial arts could have such a presence. Xiao Sheng was increasingly convinced that her identity was not simple.

Xiao Sheng went over to help Eunuch Guan up, a faint white light appearing on his palm, which he transmitted into Eunuch Guan's body through skin contact. This was the "Deep Immortal Pulse Wave," which could quickly heal physical injuries and soothe pain.

Eunuch Guan, treated with the pulse energy, finally caught his breath. He sat up, wiping the large sweat beads from his forehead, and said with a lingering fear, "Your Highness, this little girl is a descendant of the Ling Clan! She is a beauty that brings disaster, and you must not provoke her! Quickly, quickly send her away."

"What is the Ling Clan? Why can't I provoke her?" Xiao Sheng was full of doubts. But he shook his head and said, "I promised to take care of this little sister. I will keep my word. I won't go back on my promise. As for the so-called beauty that brings disaster...

Xiao Sheng paused, then laughed proudly, "Hey, it's just a superstitious belief. Even if it were true, I, Xiao Sheng, as a prince, born under the mandate of heaven, with the vast national fortune of the Da Hao Dynasty constantly protecting me, what do I have to fear from a beauty that brings disaster?"

Eunuch Guan looked worried and sighed, wanting to persuade his master. But Xiao Sheng said, "Alright, alright, let's go inside and talk while we eat. Come on, come on." Without waiting for a response, he pulled Eunuch Guan and the girl into the house.

The girl, who had been defiant and aggressive, seemed to want to kick Xiao Sheng between his legs and run away. But her stomach betrayed her, and the smell of food from the house made it growl. Her mind suddenly became fuzzy, and when she came to, she found herself sitting at the table, with a dozen dishes of delicious food in front of her.

With no other choice, the girl steeled herself and decided not to think about it. She put down her chopsticks, picked up a braised trotter with her left hand, and a chicken leg with her right, and started eating voraciously.

Seeing the girl eat as if she hadn't eaten for three days, Xiao Sheng couldn't help but shake his head and smile. He casually ate a few bites of food, then looked at Eunuch Guan and said, "Eunuch Guan, there are some things you should know. Let me tell you..."

Xiao Sheng briefly recounted how he had killed the chivalrous master Niulao. Of course, he omitted details about the Garuda Temple, his relationship with Yu Xuanji, and his creation of a Pure Yang Spirit, as these were not directly related to the current situation.