Lingyin held an ice cube in her left hand while her right arm swung back and forth, trying to ease the soreness.
Ugh! Her arm was so sore!
At that moment, the sound of galloping horses echoed from outside the Taiyin Palace.
Ling Yin and Qin Ming's hearts trembled.
"The Grand Princess is back!"
The two hurried forward to open the massive five-meter-tall tiger-head gates of the palace.
"Boom…"
The Twelve Zodiac Guards leading the procession dismounted from their snow steeds. Their armor and weapons were stained with blood.
The curtain of the Grand Princess's carriage was lifted.
She stepped out, clad in black armor, her face strikingly beautiful, her entire being spotless.
Qin Ming couldn't help but sigh in amazement.
This woman was too stunning!
But her personality… utterly insane.
The Grand Princess dismounted and immediately noticed Qin Ming staring at her from the entrance.
Her gaze turned sharp.
Qin Ming quickly lowered his head slightly.
She walked past him and Ling Yin, but after three steps, she suddenly turned back, her cold voice cutting through the air:
"How is your injury?"
Qin Ming responded swiftly, "Reporting to the Grand Princess, it has improved greatly."
Silence settled between them for a brief moment.
Two breaths later, the Grand Princess turned and continued up the palace steps.
Outside the Taiyin Palace, carts loaded with severed heads were brought in.
Ling Yin gasped in shock and immediately covered her mouth.
Qin Ming, too, was deeply shaken by the sight.
Nearly three hundred blood-soaked heads were piled atop the carts.
Some of them still wore modern Blue Star accessories around their necks.
So many traversers had been slaughtered in a single battle.
My god…
The insane, invincible Grand Princess!
Suddenly, Meiyang, the sultry and seductive guard, stepped in front of Qin Ming.
Her armor was still splattered with blood, but she smiled flirtatiously, her ample chest nearly pressing against Qin Ming.
She teased Mengtu, "See? The moment we arrived,Xiao Qinzi looked at me first. That's because I'm prettier than you!"
"Tch." Mengtu pouted, stuffing her little hands into her armor.
She giggled as she approached, "Xiao Qinzi, you've recovered well!
Huh? Ling Yin, why do you have such dark circles under your eyes?"
Ling Yin: …
How could she not have dark circles?!
She and Qin Ming hadn't slept a wink all night!
Mengtu then noticed something else, "Ling Yin, what's wrong with your arm? Why are you shaking it like that?"
Ling Yin hesitated for a second before muttering, "Nothing… I just twisted it while carrying water this morning."
As she spoke, she shot a glare at Qin Ming.
More female officers came forward, all asking about Qin Ming's condition.
Qin Ming, still in disbelief, asked, "So, all the traversers at East Buddha Mountain are dead?"
"Of course! With us Twelve Zodiac Guards in action, what can't be handled?" Mengtu smirked before adding, "Oh wait, one person survived!
That old geezer Greedy Daoist! He was captured and brought back!"
Qin Ming's heart skipped a beat.
Greedy Daoist?!
Shit! That guy had seen his face!
If the Grand Princess had brought him to the palace, it would be like carrying a ticking time bomb!
Qin Ming quickly asked, testing the waters, "Why did the Grand Princess keep him alive?"
Mengyu rolled her eyes. "Seems like His Majesty wants information from him. He's being taken to Zhanghuo Hall for interrogation!"
Hearing this, Qin Ming let out a quiet sigh of relief.
As long as the Emperor had him, it was fine.
He had no intention of stepping foot in Zhanghuo Hall anyway.
As long as he didn't see Greedy Daoist, everything would be fine.
But just then—
On the eleventh floor of the Taiyin Palace, the Bagua Mystic Door suddenly swung open.
The Grand Princess stepped out, now dressed in a purple robe embroidered with cloud patterns.
Her long hair danced in the cold wind, her beauty breathtakingly stunning.
Below, the Twelve Zodiac Guards, Ling Yin, and the others immediately bowed in respect.
The Grand Princess declared, "Two things!"
"First—Hang all three hundred of these traverser heads in the markets of Firefly Imperial City!
Let it be a warning to any traverser who dares lay hands on the people of Taiyin Palace."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"Second—Xiao Qinzi."
Qin Ming's heart jumped.
He immediately stepped forward. "At your command!"
"From today onward, I promote you to the rank of Captain in the Demon Suppression Guards!
Tomorrow morning, accompany me to Zhanghuo Hall for the morning court session and receive your official seal."
Qin Ming was stunned.
He stood frozen on the spot, completely caught off guard.
Ling Yin was the first to react, joyfully patting his arm.
"Quick, thank Her Highness!"
The Twelve Zodiac Guards all turned to him, some grinning.
"Yeah, little Qinzi, hurry and thank her!"
Qin Ming snapped out of his daze and immediately bowed with both hands clasped.
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
The Grand Princess, with her usual lazy and seductive demeanor, turned and returned to her quarters.
The moment she disappeared—
The Twelve Zodiac Guards and Ling Yin all swarmed Qin Ming!
"Congrats, little Qinzi! You just skipped several ranks in one leap!"
"We all spent over twenty years climbing up to Captain.
But you? Straight to Captain on your first promotion!"
Qin Ming still couldn't believe it.
This crazy Grand Princess had always been cruel to him…
So why was she suddenly treating him so well?!
He couldn't figure it out!
But then another serious problem popped into his head.
Tomorrow's morning court session…
The Greedy Daoist would be there…
If they crossed paths at Zhanghuo Hall…
That would be a disaster!
But worrying now wouldn't change anything.
He'd just have to take it one step at a time.
Besides—
Becoming a Demon Suppression Guard Captain was a huge advantage.
At least now, his safety was much more secured.
And more importantly—
He would have enough power to protect his master and junior sister.
...
That night.
Qin Ming glanced at his luck points—only 26 left.
Still not enough for a lottery draw.
He decided to sit cross-legged and circulate his spiritual energy.
A short while later—
A faint tapping came from outside the window.
Qin Ming got up and opened it.
A pure white weasel was waiting outside, its green eyes gleaming as it stared at him.
Qin Ming smiled and gestured, "Cold out there? Want to come in?"
The weasel leaped through the window and curled up at the foot of the bed.
Qin Ming chuckled, "Cold, huh?"
His room had no fireplace burning, since his body was already resistant to the cold.
He got up, placed charcoal in the stove, then stretched out his right hand—
A red flame ignited in his palm!
The white weasel flinched in surprise, its green eyes widening in shock.
The charcoal caught fire, and the room instantly became warm.
Qin Ming dusted off his hands and smiled.
"There, now you can rest comfortably, little guy."
...
Of all people, Ling Yin was the happiest about Qin Ming becoming a Captain of the Demon Suppression Guards.
Ever since they had spent the entire night together in bed the night before, she had already fully decided that Qin Ming was the man she would entrust her life to.
Now that Qin Ming had risen to prominence, she was naturally overjoyed.
With this, the dream of having him buy her freedom, take her out of the palace, and build a small home together was getting closer and closer!
Thinking of this, Ling Yin tossed and turned in bed, too excited to sleep.
She clutched her blanket tightly, her mind flashing back to the chaotic scenes from last night.
Although they hadn't gone all the way, Qin Ming's "techniques" were certainly... numerous!
Recalling it, Ling Yin rubbed her sore arm, a shy smile spreading across her face.