Upon hearing that the young man from the Upper Realm had no connection with her Da Zhou Immortal Court, Ji Lingxian's eyes dimmed.
She had expected this outcome, but it still left a trace of sadness in her heart.
"In that case, I won't bother you any further, Young Master," Ji Lingxian hesitated for a moment but decided to leave.
In her mind, even though Qin Tian was a direct heir of a powerful faction from the Upper Realm, it was unlikely he would risk offending other Upper Realm powers just to help the Da Zhou royal family. Even if Qin Tian was willing, the people backing him wouldn't be.
"Tell me what's on your mind. Perhaps I can help," Qin Tian smiled gently at Ji Lingxian. Normally, he wouldn't care, but the person before him was a "fated female protagonist."
There were many ways to strip the fortune from a protagonist, and one particularly effective method was altering the fate of someone closely tied to them, especially the female protagonist connected to their destiny.
Ji Lingxian gazed at the handsome face of Qin Tian, marveling at how such a beautiful man could exist—like an immortal prince descended to the mortal realm. His beauty was mesmerizing, unmatched by any.
Qin Tian's natural charm was undeniable. In the Qin Clan, countless outstanding women hoped to serve as his maid, not for any other reason but just to gaze upon his ethereal face every day.
To them, the phrase "like jade among men, unmatched in the world" perfectly described Qin Tian.
"Little princess, if you have something to say, go ahead. Don't just keep staring at the Young Master," Chu Xinyue chuckled, understanding the effect Qin Tian's appearance had on people. She herself had felt the same way when she first met him.
Ji Lingxian blushed slightly but quickly calmed down.
"Is this about the Da Zhou royal family?" Qin Tian asked softly, his tone making it clear that he already knew.
Ji Lingxian's head dipped in acknowledgment. There was no need to hide it, as many lords and sect leaders were already aware of the situation.
"I can protect the Da Zhou royal family," Qin Tian said calmly.
"Really?" Ji Lingxian's eyes brightened, hope returning to her face. She had sought help from so many factions, only to be rejected over and over again. Slowly, she had begun to lose hope.
"Why would I lie? However, there will be a price," Qin Tian said, looking at the now-energized Ji Lingxian.
"What price would I need to pay?" Ji Lingxian asked cautiously.
Despite her hesitation, she thought to herself that if Qin Tian was truly willing to help, even if he couldn't completely solve their problems, the Da Zhou royal family would surely be in a better position. After all, the Da Xia dynasty wouldn't dare provoke someone from the Upper Realm.
"You will need to follow my orders unconditionally. Whatever I ask of you, you must do it. In return, I will take care of the Da Zhou royal family's crisis." Qin Tian smiled slightly as he spoke.
Hearing that she would have to obey him completely, Ji Lingxian's face reddened with anger. She was a princess of a noble lineage, and now this man wanted her to be at his beck and call? He was asking for absolute control over her!
"What are you imagining? All I need you to do is help me deal with someone," Qin Tian said, noticing the flickers of anger and embarrassment on Ji Lingxian's face. He chuckled inwardly—did he really come across as some sort of lustful villain?
"Who does Young Master want me to deal with?" Ji Lingxian asked, perplexed. She couldn't fathom why someone as powerful as Qin Tian would need her help in dealing with anyone.
"You'll find out soon enough," Qin Tian replied with a slight smile. He was genuinely curious to see what would happen when a female protagonist, standing on the side of the villain, clashed with the protagonist of destiny.
Ji Lingxian, realizing that she had no other options, decided to put her doubts aside. As long as Qin Tian could save the Da Zhou royal family, she was willing to go through with anything he asked.
"Also, I assume you're planning to head to the Ancient Forbidden Land? Join us. We're going there as well." Qin Tian suddenly suggested.
The Ancient Forbidden Land was sure to be teeming with excitement and opportunities. And where there were opportunities, Lin Fan, the protagonist, was bound to be.
Hearing mention of the Ancient Forbidden Land, Ji Lingxian couldn't help but feel sorrow. Her beloved royal grandfather had decided to venture into the Forbidden Land, even though he was now old, weak, and his vitality had faded.
Most of her family had opposed the idea of him going, knowing it was a near-death mission. But he had insisted.
"Oh, right. Go fetch Qing Yao. She's coming with us," Qin Tian instructed Chu Xinyue. A wicked thought crossed his mind. Both women whom the protagonist adored would be by his side—one as a companion, the other as his maid. What would Lin Fan's reaction be when he saw the woman he admired serving Qin Tian tea, completely submissive?
Just imagining the scene made Qin Tian's heart race. If Lin Fan saw this, it might just crack his Dao Heart.
"Thank you, Young Master." Ji Lingxian hesitated briefly before accepting. She couldn't afford to offend Qin Tian over something trivial.
...
"Wow, this flood dragon is so powerful!" Chu Xinyue exclaimed as she held onto Qing Yao. Chu Xinyue had never seen a creature as majestic as the flood dragon.
Even Ji Lingxian, despite her familiarity with dragons, had never encountered one as massive and powerful as this.
The dragon's eyes, as large as caves, glanced at them with disdain. "Lower realm humans, always so ignorant," the dragon thought. "No wonder the young master has no real interest in them."
After all, even in the Upper Realm, Qin Tian was highly sought after by the most prestigious clans. He could easily marry any princess, saintess, or goddess with just a word.
But here, he was casually chatting with these "commoners" from the Lower Realm. The dragon found it baffling, but as long as its young master was happy, nothing else mattered.
"A dragon's life is simple," the flood dragon mused. "Obey the young master and don't think too much."