Chapter Forty-Four: An Unexpected Visitor

“Princess, even if I agreed to this, the Dragon King would never consent, so you mustn’t let your imagination run wild. You’re still young and don’t understand how treacherous the world can be. What if that young man turns out to be a villain?” Chancellor Turtle reasoned with both sincerity and logic, his face etched with helplessness. After all, she was the precious daughter of the Dragon King, and no matter how high his own position, he was still a servant. If he provoked the princess, nothing good would come of it.

His millennia of experience allowed him to quickly arrive at a decision: this matter could only be guided gently, never forced. At the very least, he had to keep himself uninvolved—if the Dragon King were to blame anyone, it must not fall on him.

“Then let’s just not let him know. Once the rice is cooked, he’ll have no choice but to accept it. Besides, I trust my own judgment—he has such a sunny disposition, so warm and gentle, he can’t possibly be a bad person. Grandpa Turtle, you can rest assured a thousand times over.” Ao Xiuxiu’s eyes flashed with cunning. Once the idea formed, it spread like a spring bubbling forth, filling her mind with anticipation and delight.

She had even begun to consider names for their future children.

“Once the rice is cooked…”

Upon hearing this, Chancellor Turtle was dumbfounded, feeling utterly disoriented. Was this still the same little princess he had always known?

She could be willful at times, but never so bold or reckless.

This wouldn’t do, not at all.

If the Dragon King ever found out, he would surely flip his shell.

At this thought, Chancellor Turtle shivered involuntarily.

“Grandpa Turtle, don’t just stand there! Quickly, go and bring him to the Crystal Palace for me, or he’ll be gone soon!” Ao Xiuxiu called out to Yi An in the distance, her excitement barely contained.

Chancellor Turtle found himself in a quandary. He had tried his utmost to stay out of this, hoping the princess wouldn’t involve him—but now he realized there was no way out. No matter what he did, he would end up in trouble.

He sighed heavily. Life was truly too hard.

“Princess, I’ll help you, but we must agree on three conditions. First, if the Dragon King asks, you mustn’t betray me. Second, if that young man is unwilling, we cannot force him. And third—”

Before Chancellor Turtle could finish, Ao Xiuxiu interrupted eagerly, “Agreed, agreed, all as you say! I am not an unreasonable person. Besides, if I fancy him, it’s his good fortune from a past life—why would he refuse?”

As for whether she had truly listened to his conditions, only the heavens would know.

Chancellor Turtle wore a mournful expression. If things progressed beyond his control, there would be real trouble.

…

Yi An was still diligently practicing the Water Avoidance Technique, entirely unaware of Ao Xiuxiu’s “plot.” It wasn’t until an old turtle appeared before him that he sensed something was amiss.

He stared at the odd figure before him—a deep, penetrating gaze fixed upon him, yet the figure made no move to approach. Suspicion grew in his heart.

Yi An asked in a low voice, “Who are you, and why must you lurk in the shadows?”

Chancellor Turtle’s feelings were complicated. Were it not for the little princess watching nearby, he would have cursed aloud.

Was this boy a fool? His hints had been so obvious; why hadn’t the young man run?

He had been projecting danger as clearly as possible, yet any sensible person would have left immediately.

But Yi An had not only stayed—he initiated conversation. Chancellor Turtle was filled with frustration. A hopeless case!

The truth was, Chancellor Turtle had decided on the spur of the moment to appear fierce, hoping to frighten Yi An away. As long as the boy fled, he could feign failure, and even if the princess blamed him, she couldn’t hold him responsible—he couldn’t control someone else’s legs, after all.

But at the crucial moment, Yi An failed to understand his intentions and instead exposed his presence, leaving no room for retreat. Chancellor Turtle now had no choice but to act.

“Hmph!”

With a disgruntled snort from Chancellor Turtle, the once-calm river surface was suddenly stirred by tumultuous winds. A wall of wind rose, dividing the waters. From within, a white-bearded elder emerged—it was the old turtle in human form.

“A member of the Water Tribe?!”

Yi An’s eyes narrowed in alarm, his face tense with wariness.

He could sense no fluctuation of magical power from the old man, and recalling the elder’s strange methods, he could only conclude that this old turtle was unfathomably powerful.

“You’re not entirely clueless, are you? Our Water Tribe hasn’t roamed the mortal world for centuries, yet you still recognize our name.” Chancellor Turtle nodded in satisfaction.

Yi An’s expression darkened at being called a fool, but, recalling the elder’s immeasurable strength, he decided against protesting.

“Elder, you didn’t come all this way just to exchange pleasantries, did you?” Yi An disliked the uncertainty of the situation—it made him feel unsafe, especially as he could not discern friend from foe.

“Ha! There’s nothing much—this old one merely sees that you possess extraordinary bones and seems fated to meet you. I’d like to invite you to the Crystal Palace for a chat. What do you say?” The old turtle looked kindly at Yi An, praying inwardly that the young man would refuse, so he could move to the next phase of dealing with the princess’s caprice.

Yi An’s mouth twitched. Fated? Who would believe that?

“I just remembered something urgent at home. I must take my leave—another day, perhaps. Please don’t take offense. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

He swore that, once he returned, he would steer clear of this place and never come back!

Chancellor Turtle was secretly delighted but kept his face neutral. “That’s truly a shame. Should fate allow, you must visit again. I will surely be a gracious host.”

Yi An paused, a little surprised by the elder’s easygoing acceptance. Had he been overthinking things? Was the old man simply being friendly?

Just as both sides were about to part ways, an untimely voice rang out.

“No! I do not agree!”

Yi An turned to see a girl of about sixteen or seventeen—or so she appeared on the surface—her expression stern and accusatory. In the blink of an eye, Ao Xiuxiu appeared beside Chancellor Turtle, ready to demand an explanation.