Amidst the forestry and the roaring beasts, there was a quiet spot where two women of incomparable beauty sat side by side, making it appear like a slight cut of heaven had appeared on earth. One of them leant on the other, her purple-tinted hair covering the other's pure white robes, its unnatural colour attracting attention.

"I have been wondering," Yao Niang asked, playing with strands of her hair, "What gave your hair this peculiar colour?"

"Do you not like it?" Xue Yueliang asked, "No, I love it; it's one of the many things that makes you unique. The hints of purple in your hair are mesmerising, and I'm curious."

"It's a side-effect of my cultivation sutra, but since you like it, it's a blessing."

The two of them had fully relaxed, chatting as if they had always known each other, not running out of topics to talk about, though this could be because they both led eventful lives. Half a day quickly passed, allowing them to know each other more in-depth as they laughed and schemed, forgetting the passage of time. It was not until Yao Niang sensed a person's presence coming closer; did they stop.

Though they could not see her, she felt their aura, recognising her to be Li Hua.

"Your friend is looking for you." Yao Niang said, "Maybe Zhong Xi finally came up with a decision," Xue Yueliang said, surprised it would take Zhong Xi this long to come up with an answer, adding slow-witted to her list of descriptors.

Although she cursed her in her mind, she appreciated the extra time she got with Yao Niang, knowing she had a chance at a future with her. Xue Yueliang got off the ground, extending her hand to the princess as she smiled gentlemanly, "Princess?" Yao Niang laughed, placing her hand in hers, "I did not know someone could enjoy calling me a princess so much."

"I will enjoy it more when I get to refer to as Queen or Your Majesty?" Xue Yueliang joked, linking their arms as Yao Niang dissipated the barrier, "I look forward to that time, too," she smiled.

"There you are; I was looking for you two," Li Hua said, crossing her arms.

"I'm sorry," Xue Yueliang said sheepishly, "Did Zhong Xi make a decision yet?"

"Yes, but she doesn't dare say it without the princess present." Xue Yueliang was stunned before understanding why Zhong Xi would do that. Between them, Yao Niang had the highest status; she was afraid of offending her.

No wonder Li Hua was displeased, "Heh, if I renounce relations with her, would you stop being angry." Li Hua chuckled, the iciness on her face dissipating, and she said, "It's fine; the princess is stronger than me, after all."

Li Hua admitted, "After you, Your Highness." She said, giving her the space to move forward.

"Thanks." Yao Niang replied, a slight questioning tone in her voice, as she moved forward along with Xue Yueliang, but she was yanked away by Li Hua.

"I'll borrow her for a second." Li Hua said, answering the questioning look Yao Niang gave her.

Fixing her messed-up robes, Xue Yueliang grumbled, "What was that for?"

Her complaints were only met with a glare from Li Hua, "You and the princess?"

"Yup." She simply replied, not wanting to explain any further.

"What about Lei Jian?" She asked, confused. "He's my childhood friend; what about him?" She answered brazenly.

"A friend?" Li Hua looked as if she couldn't believe what she had heard, causing the other to look away guiltily.

"You wouldn't understand." Xue Yueliang sighed, "Besides, he knows already."

"He does?" Li Hua was even more confused; there was no doubt in her mind they would be a couple, and this sudden revelation shocked her.

"Oh," she finally said, not fully processing it, "At least I won't have to be a third wheel when you two are together." Xue Yueliang faintly felt a presence, looking up, but nobody was there, "Let's go back."

"They're talking about you, Your Highness." A voice said, "And someone named Lei Jian."

The princess was surprised to hear his name here and asked about the details of their conversation, wondering what would be said about them.

Yao Niang knew the relationship between him, and Xue Yueliang, she did not spend her time idly, uncovering everything she could about her, not that it was hard.

Both she and Lei Jian were infamous amongst the nobility, dubbed as the useless duo, but funnily, they were both exceptional, though people only knew of Lei Jian.

"Won't their sentiments affect your relationship with her?"

Yao Niang shook her head, "She made her choice, so there's no need to worry."

Stolen story; please report.

Xue Yueliang and Li Hua soon appeared behind Yao Niang, and Mo Luli stopped talking to her, silently guarding as she had before. The people from the Silver Armour Sect had built a tent for Zhong Xi, giving her some privacy and a place to rest while she thought things through. None of them seemed to be annoyed by her presence, accepting it easily, not looking down on her.

"You all are too nice." Xue Yueliang commented, "We learnt from Big Sister Hua," Li Yuan laughed, sticking out his thumb, "We're not too nice." Li Hua corrected, "This much is normal."

"I don't know. I think everyone ignoring her would have been more normal." Yao Niang added, giving her opinion.

Hearing the commotion outside of her tent, Zhong XI stepped out, looking every bit as timid as before but having a little composure to her as she neatly knelt on the ground, "Greetings, Your Highness and Saviours."

"Get up," Xue Yueliang said, causing her to hesitate while landing a look on Yao Niang before getting up.

"What's your choice?" Yao Niang asked, seeing her straighten up.

"I wanted to ask a question first if that's okay?" Yao Niang nodded, allowing her to continue speaking, "If I go back to the palace, would I directly work under you?"

Yao Niang shook her head, "No, you will start as general staff, like everyone else."

"In that case, I would like to go to the Xiuqi Kingdom."

She was disappointed by the princess's words but still stated what she wanted to do next, and Xue Yueliang clapped, "We've finally got that out of the way," her smile then suddenly turned demonic, asking, "Now, tell me, what gave you the courage to summon the princess? Or send Li Hua for errands?"

Zhong Xi froze as she stiffly met her gaze, not daring to turn away or reply.

"I barely tolerate you, so I expect you to at least show them some respect."

It did not make sense for her to stay within the tent while demanding Li Hua to bring Yao Niang to her, though she did not know exactly what happened; if she wanted to come along, Li Hua wouldn't have been opposed to it, making her understand what happened more or less.

She probably thought she must be someone important.

It didn't make sense for the three of them to save her, so she must have come up with all sorts of fancy reasons in her head, but Xue Yueliang would not let that stand. Neither Yao Niang nor Li Hua intervened; they weren't happy about how Zhong Xi was acting but did not bring it up, as she was Xue Yueliang's family.

The air seemed to freeze in her throat, stifling the air around her, and her face paled, "Remember, your life is in my hands."

Xue Yueliang said, then retracted her gaze, causing her to gasp for air and collapse onto the ground, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she repeated between her heaves of air.

Xue Yueliang rolled her eyes at the sight in front of her, and Li Hua couldn't help but feel some pity and pursed her lips.

"Get back in," Li Hua ordered, and Zhong Xi quickly left, the composure she had shown previously gone.

"Don't you think you were too harsh?" Yao Niang asked.

"I just told her the truth," Xue Yueliang shrugged, "Besides, there's no need for her to think when her intelligence is subpar."

Zhong Xi, who was in the tent, heard the words clearly, and she bit into her lips, tears streaming from her face as she felt humiliated. Li Hua shrugged, not minding it too much, "So, are you taking her to the Xiuqi Kingdom?" Xue Yueliang nodded, "Yeah, the Xiuqi Kingdom happens to be on my way, so I'll settle her in before I leave."

Li Hua pouted, "Normally, I would love to go with you, but I have to return them to the Silver Armour Sect."

"And yourself," Xue Yueliang added, rolling her eyes, "It's your home too." Li Hua stayed silent, knowing she was right, but she did not consider it home yet.

"Where are you going?" Yao Niang asked, looking at Xue Yueliang. She had not asked about the specifics before, and was now growing curious, "I have to go to the Ocean of Lost Souls." The princess looked at her in shock, "Isn't that too dangerous?"

"You know why I have to go there." The princess thought, remembering it was where the remnants of the Invincible Dao Sect stayed; if Xue Yueliang were to lead them, she would have to join them first.

"Don't worry, Your Highness," Li Hua interjected, "Your little lover wouldn't lose out to any of them."

Her words startled the other two, and red entered their cheeks, "I'm not a little lover." Xue Yueliang said, "If anything, I'm the only lover. Wait, I am, right?"

"Well, I- I'm not worried, just concerned," Yao Niang said before realising Xue Yueliang's words, "Of course, you are! Who else would I have."

Looking at her fluster, Xue Yueliang couldn't help but tease her a little, "Don't worry, princess. I don't judge; just let me know beforehand." She winked at her, watching as her face turned a deeper shade of red, and, "Pfft."

A laugh couldn't help but escape Xue Yueliang's mouth, and the princess felt defeated, looking at the two in front of her, "I'm not arguing with you two." She said, taking the moral high ground, and Li Hua ended up laughing too, "I won't interrupt your alone time much longer. I hope to see you two soon," Li Hua said, bidding them farewell. She left, informing her fellow disciples of their departure, "She can keep the tent!" Li Hua added, "And if you see Lei Jian tell him he was right."

"About what?" Xue Yueliang asked, taken aback, "He will know."

Li Hua made no effort to answer her question, walking away.

"Um," Xue Yuelian did not know what to say and heard Yao Niang laugh, "Seems you can't win against her." Xue Yueliang sighed, "Well, I've never tried."

Being unreasonable was something she could do well, but against her, her chances of winning were not that high.

"I doubt I'll see him, anyway." Xue Yueliang said, "The Xiuqi Kingdom isn't that small."

"What's he doing there?" Yao Niang asked, curious, "Learning sword arts and forging." She replied, "Don't get too curious, though; you promised to be mine."

Yao Niang rolled her eyes, "If anyone has to be worried about him, it would be me." Xue Yueliang laughed, knowing full well what the princess meant, "Don't worry, princess, no one has a chance against you."

Yao Niang faintly smiled, not pressing further, "So, you'll be leaving now?" "Yes," Xue Yueliang answered, knowing she could not stay behind much longer.

The sooner I leave, the quicker I can return. "When are we going to meet again?"

Xue Yueliang thought for a bit, "Princess, why don't we come up with a bet?" Yao Niang looked at the glint in her eyes, and her smile widened, "What is it?"

"If I become the heiress of the Invincible Dao Sect before you become the Crown Princess of the Qinxia Kingdom, you have to visit me, bearing gifts." Xue Yueliang proposed, "And if I become the Crown Princess first?"

"Then I come back here, bearing many gifts too, I promise." Yao Niang smiled, "That seems fair, but I can't help but ask, why the gifts?"

"How else do you do a proposal?" Xue Yueliang asked, batting her eyes at her innocently, "A- a proposal?"

Looking at her confusion, Xue Yueliang saw an opportunity and took it.

"Were you never planning on marrying me?" Xue Yueliang cried, looking aggrieved, "I did not think you were that type of person."

"..."

Yao Niang did not what to say next.