"Yes, Lord Tie Yi!" Xue Yi showed an excited expression, as if feeling honored to become the young lady's personal guard.
Tie Yi added, "The personal guards for all the young masters and misses of the manor are selected through multiple rounds of competition. Although you were appointed directly by the young lady without going through the competition, you still need to pass the Chief Commander's assessment and evaluation. The Guards Department will summon you in about three days. Be prepared."
"Assessment... I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Lord Tie Yi!" Xue Yi's mood grew solemn.
Being a personal guard wasn't easy. Although he had established a connection with Xiao Qingruo by a stroke of good fortune, Holy Might Manor was no ordinary place. The personal guard of the young lady would definitely be heavily screened and rigorously selected.
This assessment would absolutely not be easy. If he alerted the Chief Commander, it could even threaten his life!
If he passed smoothly, he would secure the position of personal guard and stick by Xiao Qingruo's side closely, following her wherever she went.
If he failed, at best he would be disabled and lose the chance to continue getting stronger; at worst... he would die!
Fortunately, he had three days' time to make some preparations.
Tie Yi didn't say anything more. He was a man of few words to begin with, an introvert. Today he had offered a few reminders only because this was the first time he met the young lady's personal guard.
Xue Yi waited outside the door for a while without seeing Xiao Qingruo emerge.
At this time, footsteps approached, a young man and a woman.
The man had a slightly sinister and effeminate look; the girl had an excellent figure.
Seeing these two, Xue Yi as a servant had to step forward and bow: "Eldest Young Master, Second Young Miss."
The effeminate youth was named Xu Lingtian. With the third layer cultivation of the Cave Heaven Realm, his strength was quite formidable. He was the eldest son of Lord Xu Conglong, master of Holy Might Manor.
The girl was Xu Lingzhi, whom he had encountered yesterday. The two were siblings by blood.
"You are Xue Yi?"
Seeing Xue Yi, Xu Lingzhi's expression was unfriendly.
Xu Lingtian also revealed some contempt.
"Yes," Xue Yi replied evenly, neither servile nor overbearing.
Xu Lingtian gave a cold laugh. "Don't think you can become a crane that's flown up to a branch just because you found a good mistress. A servant is always a servant. I'm letting you off this time out of respect for Qingruo. Take one palm strike from me—if you don't die, we'll call it even for this matter. Otherwise, you've only yourself to blame."
Xue Yi's expression instantly turned ugly.
With one palm strike at the third layer of the Cave Heaven Realm...
If the other party went all out, he had a ninety percent chance of dying!
With her brother backing her up, Xu Lingzhi became much more arrogant. She taunted, "What's wrong? Scared?"
"..." Xue Yi found it difficult to respond.
Acting tough now would surely lead to terrible consequences. He could only hope Xiao Qingruo would come out soon to deter these two and take him away.
But there was no sign of the study door opening.
"Eldest Young Master," Tie Yi spoke up at this time.
"Uncle Tie Yi," Xu Lingtian and Xu Lingzhi responded in unison, turning their heads and bowing.
Tie Yi said, "Personal guards are not merely servants, but their masters' second life. Since the young lady has chosen Xue Yi, you shouldn't make things difficult for him casually. Understand?"
"Well..." Facing his father's trusted aide, Xu Lingtian felt somewhat unhappy, but could only make concessions.
"But Uncle Tie Yi, this guy openly beat my man in front of me yesterday and was rude to me. We're just letting it go?" Xu Lingzhi refused to accept this.
As the adult son, Xu Lingtian had to act reasonably and differentiate right from wrong.
As a daughter who hadn't come of age, she could afford to be a bit more unruly.
Hearing this, Tie Yi was also in a difficult position.
On one side was the young lady's reputation; on the other was the beloved daughter of the manor lord. He couldn't disregard either side.
So he compromised: "Xue Yi, take one palm strike from the Second Young Miss to resolve yesterday's grudge. There must be no more conflicts going forward."
Xue Yi was helpless inside. It looked like he had no choice but to take this palm strike.
But Xu Lingzhi was only at the peak of Gang Qi, not as frightening as Xu Lingtian. He should survive without dying, after nursing his wounds for a few days.
He just didn't know if Xiao Qingruo would think differently of him after seeing him injured...
Xue Yi gritted his teeth. "I obey."
"Hmph, you're as good as dead!"
Xu Lingzhi revealed a cruel sneer on her beautiful face as she strode over to him.
A domineering Gang Qi erupted from her body, gushing out and forming an invisible energy like a sharp sword.
From the looks of it, she clearly wanted to prepare her ultimate move, going all out to take Xue Yi's life in one strike.
Xue Yi's mood was uneasy. He hurriedly circulated his Gang Qi to protect his body.
Just then!
Creak—
The study door opened.
Everyone glanced over to see the green-clad maiden Xiao Qingruo emerge from inside, her expression tranquil.
Seeing the scene outside, she frowned slightly.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"You've come at just the right time," Xu Lingzhi gave a cold laugh. "Today, in front of Uncle Tie Yi, I will teach this ignorant servant some manners on your behalf, lest he humiliate you in the future."
As she spoke, she moved to attack.
"You dare!"
Xiao Qingruo's expression changed as she shouted coldly.
Boom!
Terrifying energy exploded from her in an instant.
A wild wind blew, flattening all the surrounding plants. Xu Lingtian and Xu Lingzhi instantly lost their footing and stumbled back several steps.
Even Tie Yi revealed a look of astonishment at her formidable aura.
"Long Life Realm... third layer!"
A shocked voice came from Tie Yi's mouth.
"What! She broke through again!"
"Long Life Realm, third layer!"
"She's... only seventeen!"
"This can't be, this is impossible!"
Xu Lingtian and Xu Lingzhi let out startled cries, their pupils contracting with fright.
Maintaining her terrifying aura, Xiao Qingruo stepped down the stairs one step at a time, saying coldly, "Anyone who dares touch what is mine will suffer!"
"You, you..."
Suppressed by her aura, Xu Lingzhi retreated two steps for each of Xiao Qingruo's steps. Her previous arrogance had vanished completely.
"Qingruo, don't be rash!"
Xu Lingtian took a sideways step to stand in front of Xu Lingzhi, shielding her.
As the Eldest Young Master, although his reputation wasn't as prominent as Xiao Qingruo the young lady, his status in the manor was still very high.
Moreover, as the lawful firstborn son, he had no blood ties to Xiao Qingruo, who came from a collateral line. Many in the manor were privately gossiping, saying the manor lord intended to match the two of them. They might become husband and wife in the future and jointly take charge of Holy Might Manor.
But in the face of the Eldest Young Master, Xiao Qingruo didn't show him any cordiality at all. On the contrary, her aura grew increasingly ostentatious, like a volcano on the verge of eruption. It seemed she was about to make a move.
Xue Yi broke into a cold sweat watching her put on such an act.
If she provoked Xu Lingzhi and Xu Lingtian at this point, the two of them would surely retaliate. As a cripple, Xiao Qingruo would almost certainly die if it came to blows!
Just as the two sides were about to come to blows, a gentle and rich voice sounded from the study.
"That's enough. Don't make trouble. Xue Yi will forfeit three months' wages—this matter ends here. It must not be brought up again, and there must be no private retaliation, or the law enforcement officials will punish the offenders themselves."
The manor lord had spoken!
The master of Holy Might Manor, Xu Conglong, one of the eight grand masters of the Ancient Divine Dynasty, had a voice that seemed to possess magic power. With just one line, the tense situation instantly defused.
Xu Lingtian and Xu Lingzhi both relaxed.
Hearing this, Xiao Qingruo also reined in her aura.
The two sides exchanged rigid looks.
Seeing this, Tie Yi said, "Why haven't you left to carry out the lord's orders yet?"
Xu Lingtian and Xu Lingzhi hurriedly responded, "Yes, Father! Your child/daughter dares not stir up trouble again!" They felt fortunate inside.
If it really came to blows, even the two of them together were no match for Xiao Qingruo alone, let alone with Tie Yi present. They likely couldn't have stopped Xiao Qingruo after she broke through to the third layer of the Long Life Realm.
A peaceful resolution was good news for them.
Xiao Qingruo only let out a contemptuous snort before saying to Xue Yi, "Let's go."
Then she swaggered away.
Watching Xue Yi leave unharmed, hatred gnawed at Xu Lingzhi's heart, but Xiao Qingruo was too terrifying. Xu Lingzhi was very anxious and didn't dare say anything more.
"I can only deal with this dog slave when he's alone..." she thought to herself.
After Xiao Qingruo and Xue Yi's departure, the siblings felt lingering fear. They watched the two's retreating figures for a while before entering the study room.
In today's matter, the manor lord had clearly shown partiality toward Xiao Qingruo.
Forfeiting three months' wages was barely a punishment at all. With Xiao Qingruo's status and private funds, she could easily pay Xue Yi under the table.
What's more, money wasn't too important to them.
Although she felt unwilling, there was no other way. Who made her Xiao Qingruo?
The peerless beauty of the Ancient Divine Dynasty, who appears only once in ten thousand years. Even the prince was willing to marry into her Holy Might Manor as her husband. It was understandable that the manor lord favored her.
nce】【Lighthearted Comedy】【Ultimate Gentleman's Novel】【Viewer Discretion Advised for Under 16】 The mightiest human hero, Sharen Morian, is resurrected after a thousand years by his wife—the Demon King. This is not your typical hero-vs-demon-king tale.
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
s + Rent Collection Wealth】 At the start, he inherited a rundown house in the urban village from his grandfather. The house had no tenants, but the moment he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, a self-proclaimed empress from the Tianxuan Continent arrived as his first tenant. Ye Chuan soon discovered that with every new tenant moving in, not only did he receive massive daily payments, but he also obtained unique items related to their backgrounds. 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Tiger Strength Pill—dramatically enhances physical power!】 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Deer Blood Pill—significantly boosts vitality!】 …… From that day on, all sorts of bizarre tenants began appearing in the house: the empress from Tianxuan Continent, an apocalyptic sorceress from the Magic Realm, a mysterious scientific girl who fell through a spacetime rift… Every single day, he received strange, powerful items and endless money. Then one day, he suddenly realized—he had become invincible. Enough, enough! Stop giving me more!
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
