96: Chapter 96 Pursuit

"I did keep some things from you, but now we are even."

As the Ninth Princess finished speaking, her figure leaped from the pool like a light swallow.

Her movements were as fast as lightning, and in an instant, she was fully dressed.

Seeing this, Xiang Tian was momentarily stunned.

After regaining his senses, he immediately straightened his face and argued, "How is this even? Did you get my consent? Who told you I like looking at your body? Perhaps I don't even like looking at it at all!"

"Hehe, do you even believe that yourself?" The Ninth Princess chuckled.

"Tsk tsk, so in other words, you knew I would come looking for you? You bathed during the day on purpose just to wait for me to take the bait?" Xiang Tian raised an eyebrow.

This princess was even more interesting than he had imagined.

"Do you think I am the type of person who does not cherish her own reputation?" The Ninth Princess walked over to a soft couch on the side and sat down.

She raised her hand and patted the empty seat beside her.

Xiang Tian didn't think much of it and walked over.

He sat down beside her.

"I summoned you to the Princess Mansion largely to protect you." The Ninth Princess changed the subject, her tone becoming serious.

This was not a lie, and Xiang Tian knew it in his heart.

However, even so, he was still very repulsed by this kind of calculated deception.

If it weren't for her outstanding appearance, it would have been impossible for him to converse with her so calmly.

"So, what exactly are you plotting regarding my Dragon?" Xiang Tian's eyes turned cold.

"Haven't you heard? All emperors are blessed with Dragon Qi." The Ninth Princess spoke slowly.

Xiang Tian immediately raised an eyebrow. This woman's ambition was truly massive!

"Hehe, then your calculations are wrong." Xiang Tian scoffed.

"If it were a proper Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, perhaps you could borrow some Dragon Qi. But I must tell you, this Dragon of mine is an Evil Dragon born from the negative emotions of a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon."

The power of this Evil Dragon is strange and overbearing; it is by no means easy to control or utilize. If one is not careful, they will be doomed eternally.

He wanted to see if the Ninth Princess would still be so persistent.

"So what if it was born from negative emotions?" The Ninth Princess looked completely unconcerned.

"If you are willing to lend me this Dragon, who in the entire Imperial City could stop me from reaching the top?"

The moment she finished speaking, a majestic pressure radiated from her body, sweeping across the entire room.

Martial Emperor Realm! Xiang Tian was greatly shocked.

This woman actually possessed such strength; no wonder she dared to be so unscrupulous in front of him.

"You want to be the Empress that badly?" Xiang Tian raised an eyebrow slightly.

A woman who yearns for power is terrifying. When they get ruthless, they are even worse than men.

"Xiang Tian, as long as you help me ascend to the throne, the position of Empress shall be reserved for you. In this life, I will only have eyes for you." The Ninth Princess said.

She slowly stood up and walked to Xiang Tian. Without hesitation, she straddled his lap, and a fragrant scent assailed his nostrils.

"Your Highness, I apologize, but this Young Master already has a wife and children. I am afraid I must decline your kind offer." Xiang Tian immediately refused.

This woman acted recklessly; it was best to stay away as soon as possible.

"What if I don't care?" The Ninth Princess shook her head gently.

"As long as you do not let your wife and children appear before me in the future, I will not touch a hair on them."

Hearing this, Xiang Tian's brows furrowed even tighter. A hint of anger had already arisen in his heart.

He abruptly pushed the Ninth Princess away, stood up, and put some distance between them.

"What? You dare to refuse me?" The Ninth Princess's face darkened.

One had to know, becoming her partner was something many men dreamed of. With just a single word from her, countless men would flock to her.

Xiang Tian actually dared to refuse?

"Ninth Princess, I entered your Princess Mansion only agreeing to be your advisor, not your bedfellow." Xiang Tian's tone was calm.

"Xiang Tian, why do you reject me?" The Ninth Princess took a deep breath. Her expression became serious again, and she gazed at him with calm eyes.

"As long as you can provide a reasonable explanation, I will no longer force you."

"Your Highness, to be honest, I have always lacked ambition and have no grand pursuits." Xiang Tian sat back down and sighed softly.

"My only hobby is to marry a few more beautiful wives. If I were to become your Empress and be confined to the deep palace, what would be the point of my life?"

The Ninth Princess was stunned upon hearing this. She clearly had not expected this to be the reason for his refusal.

"This... this is the reason you are unwilling to be my Empress?"

"Otherwise what? Do you expect me to be like you and fight for that supreme power?" Xiang Tian rolled his eyes.

"Not everyone is obsessed with power; at least, I am not. Power can allow one to stand higher, but it can also become shackles that bind a person."

His answer was excessively honest.

The Ninth Princess frowned tightly. "Xiang Tian, I originally did not want to pursue that supreme power either, but..." The Ninth Princess took a deep breath, words on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them back, unwilling to continue.

"Oh? Your Highness, so you have a story?" Xiang Tian instantly captured the meaning in her words. He enthusiastically pulled a bag of melon seeds from the System store and started cracking them, looking like he was ready to listen to gossip.

"You..." Seeing him acting so frivolous, the Ninth Princess's chest heaved violently with anger, yet she didn't know how to lash out.

"Forget it, you may leave!" A moment later, the Ninth Princess suppressed the anger in her heart. She regained her composure and sat back down beside him.

"Your Highness, if you have any hidden difficulties, you might as well tell me; just treat me as your best friend. If you feel lonely at night, you can also look for me to sleep with you for free!" Xiang Tian raised an eyebrow.

Only he dared to say such bold words. If it were anyone else, they would have probably been slapped away by the Ninth Princess long ago.

"I know you are hiding secrets." The Ninth Princess ignored his teasing. "My intuition tells me that I cannot be your enemy. So, while I am not yet Life Qi, you should leave quickly."

After saying this, she turned her head to the side and stopped looking at him.

Xiang Tian rubbed his chin, feeling increasingly curious. There must be a huge secret behind this, which made his curiosity climb to its peak.

"Your Highness, why not tell me your story? I might have a way to help you." Xiang Tian stood up and walked to her side. He raised his hand and placed it on her shoulder, his tone becoming rare and serious. "A beautiful woman like you should not turn herself into a cold-blooded person without emotion for the sake of power."

The Ninth Princess's body trembled slightly. She did not push him away immediately.

"You do indeed have Opportunity." She was silent for a moment. She spoke slowly, "But this is a royal struggle, far more complex than you imagine. I grew up in the Imperial Palace and have seen countless intrigues. In this, having strength alone does not mean you can be unscrupulous."

"Hehe! Mere royal struggles are not something this Young Master takes seriously." Xiang Tian was full of confidence.

This confidence naturally came from the System. The System was a supernatural existence. Almost nothing in the world could escape its deduction and calculation.

"Stop bragging. Alright, I am tired, you may withdraw first!" The Ninth Princess finally raised her hand and knocked his hand away, her tone carrying a hint of exhaustion.

"Your Highness, if you have any difficulties, you can come to find me at any time. I will wait for you at the Xiang Family." Xiang Tian said. He quickly reached out and touched the Ninth Princess's cheek, then immediately turned and fled quickly.

The Ninth Princess's body stiffened. By the time she reacted, Xiang Tian had already run to the door. She looked in the direction he had fled and softly uttered three words: "Princess Zhou Zhiyan."

Xiang Tian did not stop; his figure vanished outside the door in an instant, leaving no trace.

The Ninth Princess raised her hand and gently caressed the cheek he had touched. A faint smile slowly curled at the corners of her mouth. She whispered, "This guy is actually quite interesting."

After leaving the Princess Mansion, Xiang Tian looked at the sky. A large part of the day had passed. A thought stirred in his mind, and he decided to return to the Ouyang Family first to report his safety to his aunt.

But just as he walked to an alley not far from the Ouyang Family,

"Swish!" A cold arrow shot toward him. Xiang Tian reacted extremely quickly, dodging it by the skin of his teeth by turning to the side. At the same time, he reached out and grabbed the incoming arrow.

"Hmm?" He looked down and discovered that a note was tied to the fletching of the arrow. He casually threw the arrow away and unfolded the note. There was only one line of text on it: "Bai Shanfeng, if you do not come, Ouyang Yunyan will surely die."