My Years in the Jianghu with the Prince: A Time of Unethical Conduct

As Xie Yan rode on his horse, watching the ever-growing procession, he exclaimed, "These treasure maps are so easy to collect! Even the Dragon Balls aren't this fast!"

"Dragon Balls? Are they luminous pearls?"

Yu Bai rode up beside him, glanced in the direction of Chu Ling upon hearing this, and said, "The Prince has plenty in his storeroom. Would Young Master Xie like some?"

Xie Yan coldly refused: "No, we working people have to rely on our own hard work to earn wealth, understand?"

Yu Bai nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite. So assassins are considered working people too?

"Speaking of which, who is that?"

Xie Yan raised her chin, gesturing for Yu Bai to look to the other side, "When did your Rainbow Team get another person?"

Turning his head, he saw a man in a tight-fitting outfit whispering with Xuanfeng in the direction Xie Yan indicated.

"Ah, he is Heshan, one of the prince's personal guards. He was away on business and only recently returned," Yu Bai explained.

"Out on business?"

"Yes, the prince sent them out a long time ago to find...something? Or maybe someone?"

Yu Bai scratched his head, and his mouth trembled like a sieve as he said, "I've been looking for it for several years. Now that I'm back, I guess I've found it."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yan nodded noncommittally, then pondered for a moment, and an idea arose in her mind.

So he patted Yu Bai on the shoulder meaningfully and said, "Get ready, you might be getting a princess."

Yu Bai: "Huh??? You mean the person Your Highness is looking for is the King and Queen?"

Xie Yan glanced at Chu Ling in the distance and said, "I was wondering why I've been feeling that your prince has been a bit flirtatious lately."

Rippling, swaying?

Yu Bai was startled and could hardly believe that these two words would one day appear on the prince.

He shook his head, trying to shake the image out of his mind, then corrected, "Young Master Xie must be referring to the fact that His Highness seems to be in a very good mood lately, right?"

"Tsk, tsk."

Recalling Chu Ling's arrogant demeanor these past few days, Xie Yan raised a finger and shook it with a profound expression.

"Can a good mood last that long? Look at your prince, hasn't he been smiling a lot lately?"

Yu Bai: ...It seems like I only smile at you.

"Take another look at your prince. Hasn't he been unusually easy to talk to lately?"

Yu Bai: ...It seems like he's only nice to you.

Finally, Xie Yan cleared her throat and nodded at Chu Ling, "And, hasn't he been dressing up quite flamboyantly lately?"

It seems to be either right or wrong.

Yu Bai looked in the direction he was pointing, and his eyes were instantly dazzled.

Today, Chu Ling was dressed in a black robe with cloud-patterned trim, his long hair was tied up high with a golden crown, revealing his sharp profile, and he looked noble and extraordinary.

A white jade belt was tightly fastened around her waist, which accentuated her slender figure and tall, graceful posture.

Even the jade fan in his hand had been replaced with a gold-flecked fan, which shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight.

As if sensing their gazes, Chu Ling looked at them from afar and suddenly smiled.

Yu Bai felt so much laughter that he could barely open his eyes. He swallowed hard. It seemed that it really was true.

Xie Yan gave a knowing smile, "That's what peacocks do during... cough, courtship."

Yu Bai gasped, dumbfounded, and couldn't help but wonder if Xie Yan's words were true, and He Shan had found them a princess.

After a long while, he finally came to his senses and found his voice, "But, but Your Highness already has you..."

Xie Yan sighed and interrupted Yu Bai, "I'll say it again, my relationship with your prince is purely financial."

Yu Bai remained silent: ...Then it doesn't seem very pure, does it?

"cough."

Xie Yan coughed, realizing she might not have expressed herself accurately, and added, "Employment, employment relationship, you understand?"

Yu Bai responded, then muttered under his breath, "But I have a feeling that the Prince doesn't want a purely employer-employee relationship with you..."

"What?" Xie Yan was so engrossed in her own world that she didn't hear what he said at first.

"It's nothing!" Yu Bai shook his head vigorously, like a rattle drum.

Xie Yan looked at him with some skepticism, and was about to say something when she saw the front of the group stop, clearly indicating that they had already reached their destination.

The Martial Alliance is located on the outskirts of Yunzhou, not far from the Cheng family's Maple Mountain, only a few days' journey away.

Xie Yan rode ahead, and the first thing that came into view was a surging river that blocked their way.

The group stopped by the river, and everyone looked up.

As far as the eye can see, rows of wooden houses are built against the mountain on the opposite bank, standing on the water. They stretch endlessly, seemingly blending into the surrounding mountains and waters, creating a magnificent sight.

"This is the Martial Alliance?"

Seeing this, Xie Yan raised her eyebrows in surprise, "I thought it would be the kind of place built on a mountain with a plaque in front of the gate that reads 'Martial Alliance'."

Yu Bai and the others behind him nodded in agreement.

Master Zixiao stroked his beard and chuckled a few times. He didn't say much, but instead said, "Let's get on the boat first. There will be fog on the river tonight, and we won't be able to see the other side until it gets too late."

"The horse can stay here for now; someone will come to take it over later."

Several large ships were prominently moored at the dock on the riverbank.

On the large ship stood several young men dressed in similar tight-fitting clothes, presumably disciples of the Martial Alliance.

As the Lord of Zixiao Manor approached with his entourage, the group quickly bowed and greeted him, "Greetings, Lord of Zixiao Manor."

Master Zixiao nodded, "Thank you for your hard work."

"You flatter me, Master. The Alliance Leader has already received the news and specifically ordered us to wait here to escort you across the river."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with the group, the Master of Zixiao Manor turned to Xie Yan and the others and said, "Let's get on the boat."

Because the boat was large and carried many people, it moved rather slowly.

Xie Yan leaned against the side of the boat, bored, listening to Chu Ling and the Lord of Zixiao Manor chatting idly.

"If what you said is true, then only the next leader of the martial arts alliance can obtain that half of the treasure map?"

Chu Ling closed his fan and clapped it a few times in his hand.

The Lord of Zixiao Manor nodded and said, "This is the old alliance leader's intention. However, I forgot to tell the prince earlier that this treasure map is just an extra."

"Oh?"

The Lord of Zixiao Manor said with a meaningful look, "The person elected as the next leader of the alliance will not only receive half of the treasure map, but will also be able to marry the daughter of the old leader."

The group was taken aback upon hearing this.

"Among you gentlemen, who is it that intends to run for office?"

As the Lord of Zixiao Manor spoke, he turned his gaze toward Xie Yan and the others.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Chu Ling looked at Xuan Feng, Xuan Feng looked at He Shan, He Shan looked at Yu Bai, Yu Bai looked at Meng Lan, and Meng Lan looked at... somewhere unknown.

Finally, they all said in unison, "Peach Fairy."

Taoxian: "?"