Interlude: Princess Jin Has an Assignment

Interlude: Princess Jin Has an Assignment

Princess Jin supposed this could be much worse.

Instead of being exhausted, paranoid, and significantly injured, she could be all that while also dealing with Ren Bo’s affection.

Thankfully, she had been able to avoid getting discovered by the boy so far. Though, there were some close calls since they had been dropped in the same area.

Princess Jin knew that her main goal should have been to try and find Ren Bo before he got himself killed in this place, but a large part of her hoped that was precisely what happened.This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.

Her grandfather had told her to endear herself to the so-called genius of the Jade Healing Sect, but when her clan had given her the information about his personality, she didn’t know how strongly she could be disgusted with someone until then.

Ren Bo was a spoiled child that never had the word ‘no’ said to him. Princess Jin recognized parts of her older brother in the boy, but it was taken to extreme lengths. She didn’t like her brother much, and being reminded of a worse version when looking at Ren Bo didn’t help her impression of the boy.

Still, Princess Jin knew her feelings on the matter were unimportant. Her grandfather, Prince Rong Tai, was the ruler of Xuanjing City, and his orders were law. It didn’t matter if she was his favorite granddaughter. When it came down to it, she was a tool to be used.

That much was obvious when she took up the title Princess Jin. It required the sacrifice of her individuality but also came with the benefit of drastically increased cultivation resources. The only way to regain her previous name, Rong Jin, was to gain the acknowledgment of the main line of the imperial family.

Of course, the hope of being called the Princess Rong Jin was why she chose this path. It would mean she would have real power in the Empire and only be accountable to the reclusive Elders or the Emperor himself.

Until then, Princess Jin might be sent on unsavory tasks such as this, being used as bait to possibly lure a genius away from a sect. It hadn’t been the first time a member of the Imperial family had been used this way, and it wouldn’t be the last.

She was snapped out of her thoughts and looked down when she heard growls to see a pack of pitch-black beasts staring at her with yellow eyes. From the few things she knew about this Shard, they should be the eyes and ears of the forest's protector.

Princess Jin held back the shiver of fear when a few of them started to head toward her, effortlessly climbing up by jumping on the branches of the trees.

Everything was fine. She wasn’t going to die. The protector just wanted to be more vigilant, or that’s what she told her rapidly beating heart.

She had searched tirelessly for the adorably serious boy before a close call nearly took her life. It was unfortunate, but it was likely that Wei Liang had been added to the list of fatalities.

“He was bold, even daring to try and steal from me, but I let him go.”

“Steal?!” Princess Jin asked with alarm, though she was still kowtowing and staring at the floor, “I apologize for his stupidity, honored protector. I do not think the Imperial Family intended to let him enter the Shard this early. My grandfather informed me that the main line wants the branch to test his capabilities before extending benefits.”

“None from the Imperial Family allowed him access. He carries the mark of a Dao Seeker. They are given this opportunity freely. Him being next to Imperial blood allowed you both this chance.”

She stayed quiet, her mind whirling at the revelation that Ren Bo might know a legend of the human race. It suddenly made sense why the main line seemed to have such a keen interest, though if they knew the whole truth, there was no doubt an Imperial Princess from the main line would have been sent to act as a lure.

Princess Jin realized this might be the chance to get recognition from the main line. Having to swallow the disgust of making nice with Ren Bo was nothing if she could successfully pull him from the Jade Healing Sect.

“Good, your foolish reluctance has no place here. If I, a beast, could easily sense your emotions, then think of how easy it will be with that boy.”

“Yes, honored protector,” Princess Jin bit her bottom lip, simultaneously holding back tears and convincing herself it wouldn't be so bad. If this was successful, Ren Bo’s personality would make it likely that she would be cast aside when a more beautiful girl crossed his path.

It would only mean a few years of her life traded, which was nothing when considering what this could give her.

“Go. I sent the boy to the Oasis of Respite. You must trek through the desert with an unwavering heart before it reveals itself to you. His low cultivation will make that place useless besides acting as a safe zone. Your presence will open up some opportunities. Use it well.”

“Yes, honored protector,” Princess Jin repeated before she yelped in surprise when the floor opened below her kneeling form. She quickly shifted her body to land on the branch feet first.

Spotting her, one of the pitch-black spirit beasts fixed its gaze on her from a distance among the trees. Then, it gestured with its head, indicating something behind itself.

Princess Jin watched it leap onto some branches in that direction before making the same motion at her. It wasn’t hard for her to guess that it was telling her to follow, likely to the desert the protector mentioned.

She took a deep breath and did as asked.