Chapter 27: The Abduction of the Little Princess

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye! The royal capital had returned to its former splendor, yet within a mile of the northern prison, the area had become a forbidden zone. In the southern district mansion, everyone had immersed themselves in diligent cultivation these past days; Fire Dance and the others had essentially mastered Leng Tian’s Swift Blade technique.

In the courtyard, Leng Tian asked Duoming, who had just returned from the Purgatory, “Have you made up your mind?” Duoming did not answer directly, but muttered to himself, “If I have time, I’ll come back and have a drink with you.” Without turning back, he strode away.

Leng Tian was momentarily stunned, then shook his head helplessly. Just as he was about to leave, a lewd yet familiar voice echoed behind him.

“Kid, not bad! Haven’t seen you for a few days and you already have your own mansion!”

Zhuang Zhuang appeared out of nowhere, dressed in his usual odd attire, settling atop Leng Tian’s shoulder. He glanced around the vast mansion with a tone of admiration. “Tsk, tsk… Bear Lord has decided—this is my new home! I’m not leaving. After all, there are plenty of beauties in this city!”

Leng Tian could only sigh inwardly; this fellow hadn’t changed a bit, always lecherous at heart.

Just then, an elderly servant hurried over, reporting, “Master, a few people have come from outside, claiming they wish to purchase your mansion!”

“Oh…” Leng Tian was a bit surprised. He had only just acquired this place, and already someone wanted to buy it. Was there something fishy about it?

He waved the servant away, indicating he understood, and proceeded to the entrance to see who these buyers might be.

“Kid, you go ahead. Bear Lord is going to stroll the city. I haven’t enjoyed a woman’s embrace in ages!” Zhuang Zhuang laughed wickedly and vanished in a flash.

Leng Tian paid no heed to his words; this fellow did nothing all day but tease women anyway.

He walked straight to the gate, where he saw three young men dressed in finery waiting outside. Their expressions declared them to be the typical spoiled heirs.

Sizing them up, Leng Tian descended the steps with a cordial smile. “Gentlemen, to what do I owe today’s visit?”

One of the trio, a particularly refined dandy toying with a pair of jade balls, replied arrogantly, “We’ve taken a liking to your house. Name your price. Money’s not an issue.” Though his tone was forceful, his voice lacked vigor, betraying a body long sapped by women.

Leng Tian loathed these privileged sons who flaunted their family power, oppressing others wherever they went. His gaze turned cold. “Sorry, my house is not for sale. Please leave.”

He turned and ordered the servants to close the gate and ignore the three.

“How audacious! For Master to buy his house is his good fortune, yet look at that attitude! Infuriating!” The jade balls flew from the dandy’s hand, shattering on the ground.

“Calm down, young master, don’t stoop to his level. He looks like he’s from some mountain backwater!” one of his sly, rat-faced companions soothed him with a servile grin.

These three were all of considerable background. The leader, Yinxiang Shaluo, was the only son of Grand Duke Shaluo of the capital, who held a third of the nation’s military power. Thus, the young master acted with unchecked arrogance, and no one dared to rein him in. His companions were also scions of powerful families, and together they caused mischief across the city.

Recently, these bullies had abducted several beautiful girls from outside the city, seeking a discreet place to indulge their desires. Yet, ever since the demon incident, their families had tightened supervision; even the emperor had decreed that any who bullied men or women would be executed, no matter who they were.

Despite the Shaluo family’s power, they dared not defy the emperor. The Grand Duke knew his son’s character well and sternly warned him to behave or no one could save him.

For the first time, the young master saw his father so serious and sensed the gravity of the situation. He restrained himself, only visiting brothels for amusement. Still, after a while, he grew bored and frustrated, unable to pursue new conquests, his heart itching as if gnawed by a thousand ants. He lost his appetite and sleep, growing thin and haggard.

His two loyal cronies, seeing this, wracked their brains for a solution and finally devised a plan: it would be too risky to act within the city, but outside, in remote places, they could act with impunity.

Taking their advice, the young master felt as if a lamp had lit his dark life—finally, a glimmer of hope.

On a dark, windy night, the three bullies and their loyal guards slipped out of the city. For miles around, stories spread of three ravenous wolves prowling villages and towns.

One day, they came upon a lakeside in the mountains. Shaluo, weary from days of fruitless searching and having seen only coarse peasant women, regretted listening to his foolish friends. His pampered body was nearly at its limit.

Just as he was about to curse his companions, one suddenly shouted, “Damn!”

Already in a foul mood, the young master furiously kicked the outburst’s source. “What are you yelling for? Careful, or you’ll never get it up again!”

But the crony was oblivious, drooling as he pointed to the lake. “A masterpiece! Perfection! I’m done for!”

Shaluo followed his gaze and froze, his heart crying out, “She’s mine, she’s mine…”

Before them, four young girls were frolicking in the lake. One, her flawless skin exposed, faced them directly.

Her long black hair, wet and clinging to her shoulders, framed a face like jade adorned with dewdrops, fresh and pure as a lotus rising from water. She could hardly be called a woman—she looked only sixteen or seventeen—a beauty with lively eyes, long lashes, elegant nose, and rosy lips, like a spirit or a goddess untouched by the mortal world.

Saliva dripped from the corners of a dozen lecherous mouths.

The girl glanced their way, stunned for a few seconds, then shrieked. Her companions, equally alarmed, quickly helped her ashore and fled into the forest.

The pack of wolves was ready to pounce, but Shaluo held them back, feigning righteousness. “Anyone who dares mistreat these ladies will answer to me. Can’t you see they’re frightened?”

He then turned and added, “When we’re back in the city, treat them gently. Don’t hurt my darlings—fetch a carriage, I want to enjoy myself!” Only then did a smile break on his face.

What followed was simple: the four girls were brought back to the city under the young master’s so-called “gentle” persuasion. But this act would bring disaster upon the Shaluo family.

Among the four was the ethereal girl, none other than Princess Night Moon of the Canglan Empire—the very one Leng Tian had once saved. She had come with her elders to watch a duel between two young martial masters, Du Qingfeng and Yan Nanfei, mainly to broaden the royal princes’ experience. She had only tagged along for fun, hoping, perhaps foolishly, to see again the stranger who had once rescued her.

Her father, the Emperor of Canglan, doted on her. Ever since the events in the Lianyun Mountains, she had been withdrawn and melancholy, so he granted her wish for a little freedom.

The young master Shaluo had hidden the princess and her friends at one of their usual haunts, but as that place was too well-known, he sought a new haven—hence his interest in Leng Tian’s mansion after hearing of recent events there.

“Showing you respect and you throw it away. Think I’m easy to push around?” Shaluo fumed, his words more bravado than conviction. Even his cronies sneered inwardly, muttering, “Who dares push you around in the capital? If you don’t bully others, it’s their good fortune!”

“Figure out a way to make that brat beg me to take his house as a gift!” With that, the young master stormed off.

The two looked at each other, finding their leader changed since encountering the young lady. In the past, he would have taken what he wanted by force; now he was all courtesy and gallantry, as if turning over a new leaf.

And so, the three left.

Leng Tian did not dwell on the matter, focusing instead on how to improve his and his brothers’ cultivation. He planned to return to the deep pool for more spiritual nectar, as absorbing the world’s energy was no longer enough to meet his needs.

Each cultivation session, the energy absorbed by his dantian was mostly devoured by the black mountain mark on his chest, stunting his progress. His body was also absorbing energy, so relying on the world’s essence was insufficient; he had to seek external resources. Luckily, he still had spiritual nectar, or it would have been a real problem.

Martial Path Extreme Edge, Chapter 27: Abducting the Little Princess—end of update.