Mu Qingran fled from Xuan Tian's bedroom in a mixture of horror and humiliation. She had never been subjected to that kind of public embarrassment before. And that commoner girl! How dare she! Her mind then shifted to Xuan Tian. Oh no! He must think this Princess is crazy!
Wu Zhenhai followed closely behind, but his mind wasn't on the Princess—it was on his fight with Xuan Tian. That man had been the first opponent Wu Zhenhai had ever faced who, despite being at a lower cultivation level, was vastly superior in combat.
Xuan Tian had only staggered three steps, while Wu Zhenhai had been pushed back five. By that measure alone, Wu Zhenhai considered the battle lost.
Is he the one who defeated Tie Yanfang? Wu Zhenhai didn't want to believe it, but deep down, he knew it was possible.
Lost in thought and not paying attention to where he was going, he barely managed to stop himself from stumbling into Mu Qingran when she suddenly came to a halt.
She whirled around, jabbing a finger at him. "You! Why didn't you say anything?! Why didn't you do anything to—to that—commoner!"
Wu Zhenhai stared at Mu Qingran. Tear streaks ran down both of her cheeks, her eyes blazed with anger, and her mouth twisted in disgust.
He exhaled, steadying himself. "Princess, I did do something. And I lost."
"Fighting him?! This Princess had ordered you to STOP!"
Wu Zhenhai opened his mouth to respond, but his attention shifted as Bai Xunli entered the chamber.
He gave her a slight nod. "Captain Bai. Everything went well?"
Bai Xunli nodded. "Yes. The carriages are on their way here, along with Yan Zhen and Luo Heng."
Her gaze flicked to Mu Qingran, who was still visibly fuming. "What happened?"
Mu Qingran spoke before Wu Zhenhai could answer. "This Princess was humiliated! That's what happened!"
Bai Xunli remained unfazed. Her eyebrows lifted slightly, but her expression remained unreadable as she turned her eyes to Wu Zhenhai, silently asking for clarification.
He shook his head, his expression serious. "I believe I have met the injured comrade."
Bai Xunli's posture shifted, her face showing interest. "Really? Is he truly injured?"
Before Wu Zhenhai could answer, Mu Qingran interjected, her voice dripping with mockery. "Oh, he was really injured, and yet our Captain Wu still lost!"
Bai Xunli, calm and composed, responded, "If he really defeated Tie Yanfang, it's not surprising that Captain Wu lost."
"Defeated Tie Yanfang?" Mu Qingran's demeanor shifted instantly. Her eyes sparkled with pride, her face lighting up with awe and admiration. "Captain Bai, you think that man defeated Tie Yanfang?!"
Both Captains were stunned by the drastic change. Bai Xunli glanced at Wu Zhenhai, silently mouthing, What happened?!
Wu Zhenhai merely shrugged but then shook his head. "Something doesn't add up. That man's cultivation is only at Mid Immortal One. I don't think he was alone in the fight."
"Mid Immortal One?" Mu Qingran frowned, then suddenly her face lit up. "Oh! So that's what it was!"
She clasped her hands together, her voice dreamy. "This Princess shared a private moment with him."
Both Captains stiffened. Wu Zhenhai immediately asked, "Private moment? Princess, what did you see?"
Mu Qingran shyly admitted, "This Princess witnessed him breaking through from Low Immortal Five into Mid Immortal One." Then, her expression quickly shifted into fury. "That commoner saw it too!"
Bai Xunli's eyes widened in shock. "He just broke through into Mid Immortal One? He was Low Immortal Five? That means it's impossible for him to have fought Tie Yanfang! And how did you lose to someone at Mid Immortal One, Captain Wu?"
Wu Zhenhai ignored Bai Xunli and pressed Mu Qingran further, "Princess, could you please describe exactly what you saw?"
Mu Qingran, oblivious to the captains' growing urgency, recounted what she had seen in a dazed, dreamy voice.
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Back inside Xuan Tian's room, Ling Yu was explaining why she and Zhao Zhi had decided not to use Tie Yanfang's core to heal Xuan Tian.
Xuan Tian regarded her in a new light. "Thank you, Ling Yu. You were right not to use his core."
He then turned to Gu Tianzhu. "Gu Zhenren, I have no reservations about you using that core. I trust that you only did it because you had no choice. If I were in your place, I would have done the same."
Gu Tianzhu exhaled loudly, visibly relieved that Xuan Tian still trusted him. He bowed deeply and saluted. "Thank you, Shengzun. You have saved both my life and my disciple's. I can never repay this debt. My life is yours, Shengzun."
Xuan Tian remained calm. "There's no need for such formality, Gu Zhenren. I still need you to take care of the awakened people."
"I will do my utmost, Shengzun."
Xuan Tian nodded. "Any news on the inn?"
Gu Tianzhu quickly updated Xuan Tian on everything that had happened while he was unconscious.
At the stone bed chamber, Mu Qingran had just finished recounting her story.
Wu Zhenhai and Bai Xunli exchanged a look.
"It was really a breakthrough into Mid Immortal One. There's no doubt," Bai Xunli confirmed.
"But how could I have lost to him?" Wu Zhenhai muttered, still perplexed. It didn't make sense.
"Then how did you?" Bai Xunli pressed. "Was it a matter of spirit energy, strength, technique?"
"I immediately recognized that his cultivation was lower, but his fighting prowess was superb! None of my attacks landed. He deflected them all with ease."
He paused before adding, "But in terms of spirit energy, I believe he was weaker than me. In the end, he coughed up a little blood."
"Did you get pushed back?" Bai Xunli asked, her tone sharp.
"Yes, I did," Wu Zhenhai admitted with a sigh. "He was pushed back as well—three steps. While I took five."
Bai Xunli inhaled sharply. She knew how strong Wu Zhenhai's fist techniques were. If she had to fight him, she wasn't confident she could push him back five steps.
Mu Qingran casually dropped another bomb. "Oh, this Princess heard Gu Tianzhu call him 'Shengzun.' Does that mean he's a Saint? But you said he's only at Mid Immortal One. Why would Gu Tianzhu call him 'Shengzun?'"
"Shengzun?!" Both captains exclaimed loudly.