"Princess, I was just thinking about helping Mei Yang buy some wine since the weather was so cold and the wind was strong."
"Helping, helping, are you an idiot? If you had that time, why didn't you use it to cultivate? I've seen that you've reached the peak of the First Stage of Body Refining. If you didn't waste time, you could've broken through to the Second Stage of Body Refining!"
The Princess stopped abruptly. She could feel the energy emanating from Qin Ming, and she was stunned to realize that he had already reached the Second Stage of Body Refining.
"You've reached the Second Stage of Body Refining already?"
She was in shock. It had taken her three months to reach the First Stage and another half a year to reach the Second Stage.
Qin Ming was a monster. It had only been five or six days, and he was already at the Second Stage!
"How did you cultivate?"
"Your Highness, when I went out to buy wine, I didn't stop running. While running, I kept circulating the Little and Big Circuits of the Qi, so I broke through."
The Princess was momentarily stunned and felt as if she had been slapped in the face. She looked at the food on the table and, coldly, said:
"You're lying to me. I ate all of this when I was younger. Altogether, it's no more than ten taels of silver. And you're saying you spent a hundred taels? Are you trying to make yourself look pitiful in front of everyone?"
A moment later, Qin Ming took out the pot of Fire Grass from his bag.
The plant was lush, its fiery red leaves emanating heat, and the entire room seemed to warm up.
The Princess's eyes lit up.
"This is Fire Grass! Where did you get it? We used to harvest it from Aurora City, but after the route became too dangerous, we stopped going."
"I bought it from the Yùnǚ Pavilion. They said a caravan had recently gone to Aurora City."
"Why did you buy this?"
"Your Highness, when you tested my bloodline that day, I sensed you were a little cold. It seemed like it was from cultivating ice-based techniques, so..."
The Princess's expression softened slightly, but she still coldly said:
"Focus on your cultivation, and stop worrying about unnecessary things. Who needs your Lièhuǒ Grass?"
"Yes, Your Highness. I will take my leave now."
As Qin Ming left, the Princess waved her hand to the rear window, and the female officer, Hong She, flew in and knelt.
"This Fire Grass that Qin Ming said he bought from Yùnǚ Pavilion, I know that it's worth far more than a hundred taels of silver. His remaining money couldn't be enough. Qin Ming is lying. He's suspicious! Go investigate this right now."
"Yes,princess."
When Qin Ming walked outside, he saw Meng Tu and Mei Yang happily eating on the roof. Ling Yin had gone back to her room with her things.
As soon as Qin Ming took a few steps, suddenly, nine female figures dropped down from the roof, all wearing purple shirts with delicate black armor and black boots. They had long legs and weapons at their waists. These were the remaining nine officers from the Twelve Zodiac.
"Qin Ming, what's the meaning of this? Why did you only buy food for them? What about us?"
Qin Ming thought to himself: Long-legged sisters, I'm not familiar with you! Are we really competing over this?
Meng Tu and Mei Yang on the roof were deliberately chewing loudly, as if trying to provoke him.
"Qin Ming, given your performance today, the nine of us have decided to apply to the Princess to give you special training and spar with you!"
Qin Ming: Really, this is getting out of hand! Women are all so petty!
"Ladies, next time I go out, I promise I'll buy more and make sure you all have something! I thought you were all in the Demon Tower."
Mei Yang took a bite of the candied haw, standing up in excitement.
"Oh, Qin Ming, where did you get this candied haw? It's so sweet!"
"Yeah!" Meng Tu also stood up, eating the osmanthus cake. "It's so fragrant and sweet, this osmanthus cake is amazing!"
When Qin Ming turned around again, he saw the nine female officers glaring at him as if they wanted to kill him.
What the hell! How did I end up in a pile of crazy women? Each one of them looks like a psycho!
"Qin Ming, get ready. Tonight, the nine of us will be responsible for sparring with you!"
Qin Ming thought to himself as he walked.
"Even if I practiced with all ten of you on the bed, I wouldn't stand a chance. If we were outside in the freezing cold, wouldn't you all just kill me?"
...
Qin Ming waited until the figures in the yard had dispersed. He then made his way to Ling Yin's room.
Today, Ling Yin was wearing a pale yellow brocade dress, with a green jade belt tied around her waist and shoulders. Her natural beauty shone through, and no matter what she wore, she always had her own unique charm.
She sat at the table, with everything laid out in front of her, but not a single item had been touched.
"Sister Ling Yin, why aren't you eating?"
"I was waiting for you! You divided everything you bought for others, but you didn't leave anything for yourself!"
Qin Ming felt a slight touch of warmth in his heart. In times like this, only Ling Yin would think of him!
Unlike that crazy Princess. If it weren't for being under her roof, he'd really want to slap her!
Qin Ming took a warm osmanthus cake from the table and gently brought it to Ling Yin's mouth.
"Eat a bit, Sister Ling Yin. I picked this from a good place just for you!"
Ling Yin took a bite and immediately began praising it.
"The palace food gets boring after a while, but this tastes amazing! I rarely get to go out, and it's not like I can go buy food on the streets. The twelve officers can go out, but they're always busy catching the traversers and don't have the time for things like this."
Qin Ming was a bit speechless. Were they really this crazy about catching traversers?
He couldn't help but wonder what would happen if his identity were ever exposed. Would these crazy beautiful women try to chop him up with knives and swords?
Sigh!
"Qin Ming, you should eat too."
Qin Ming casually took the osmanthus cake Ling Yin had been holding and took a bite himself.
Immediately, Ling Yin's fair face turned red all the way down to the base of her neck.
"You... you ate what I already ate..."
"Sister Ling Yin, what you've eaten tastes even better!"
Ling Yin's face turned even redder, all the way down to the base of her neck.
"By the way, Sister Ling Yin, besides the food, I also picked a gift for you."
Qin Ming took the Tianxi wood comb from his sleeve.
Ling Yin exclaimed in delight, "This comb is so beautiful, and it smells nice too. What material is it made of?"
"Tianxi wood. Using this to comb your hair will make it black and shiny, and it'll smell lovely too!"
"I think I've heard of Tianxi wood. It must be quite expensive, right?"
"Not expensive, just twenty taels of silver."
"Twenty taels of silver isn't expensive? Qin Ming, we only make fifty wen a month working in the palace! We don't even make a tael of silver in a year!"
"Sister Ling Yin, I told you I would treat you well. This isn't a big deal. In the future, I'll buy you even better things."
After saying that, he placed the Tianxi wood comb in Ling Yin's hand.
Ling Yin, who was originally a little shy, now lowered her head slightly, her eyes reddening.
"Why are you so good to me?"
"I treat you well because you've treated me well."
Qin Ming gently held Ling Yin's hand and smiled warmly.
"From the first day I arrived, Sister Ling Yin treated me kindly, and then you saved me and helped me. I, Qin Ming, am someone who knows how to repay kindness."
Ling Yin bit her lip, joyfully holding the comb in her hand.
Qin Ming looked at her shy and beautiful expression, his heart feeling a little itchy.
He was just about to hug Ling Yin when he suddenly heard some movement in the yard.
Not daring to stay any longer, Qin Ming quickly stood up, gently pinched Ling Yin's cheek. It was smooth and delicate, full of collagen.
"Sister Ling Yin, I'll leave now."
"Take some of this food back with you to eat."
Qin Ming grabbed a piece of fried cake, stuffing it into his mouth as he walked, his cheeks puffed up.
Ling Yin couldn't help but chuckle.
Her laughter was as beautiful as a snow lotus blooming in the winter.
...
In the princess's manor.
The red serpent, who had gone out to investigate, returned!
"Your Highness, this subordinate went to the Yunu Pavilion and asked the shopkeeper. The Fire Grass is worth 500 taels of silver!"
The princess sneered.
"As expected, I wasn't wrong. This little Qin Ming is deceiving me! It seems he obtained the Fire Grass through other means."
"Your Highness, Qin Ming did indeed buy it from Yunu Pavilion."
"What? He only has a hundred taels of silver and bought so much food. How could that be?"
"Your Highness, this subordinate asked. Qin Ming owes 430 taels from the shop!"