Transcending Dreams

Interlude: Princess Jin Has an Assignment

Princess Jin supposed this could be much worse.

Instead of being exhausted, paranoid, and significantly injured, she could be all that while also dealing with Ren Bo’s affection.

Thankfully, she had been able to avoid getting discovered by the boy so far. Though, there were some close calls since they had been dropped in the same area.

Princess Jin knew that her main goal should have been to try and find Ren Bo before he got himself killed in this place, but a large part of her hoped that was precisely what happened.

Her grandfather had told her to endear herself to the so-called genius of the Jade Healing Sect, but when her clan had given her the information about his personality, she didn’t know how strongly she could be disgusted with someone until then.

Ren Bo was a spoiled child that never had the word ‘no’ said to him. Princess Jin recognized parts of her older brother in the boy, but it was taken to extreme lengths. She didn’t like her brother much, and being reminded of a worse version when looking at Ren Bo didn’t help her impression of the boy.

Still, Princess Jin knew her feelings on the matter were unimportant. Her grandfather, Prince Rong Tai, was the ruler of Xuanjing City, and his orders were law. It didn’t matter if she was his favorite granddaughter. When it came down to it, she was a tool to be used.

That much was obvious when she took up the title Princess Jin. It required the sacrifice of her individuality but also came with the benefit of drastically increased cultivation resources. The only way to regain her previous name, Rong Jin, was to gain the acknowledgment of the main line of the imperial family.

Of course, the hope of being called the Princess Rong Jin was why she chose this path. It would mean she would have real power in the Empire and only be accountable to the reclusive Elders or the Emperor himself.

Until then, Princess Jin might be sent on unsavory tasks such as this, being used as bait to possibly lure a genius away from a sect. It hadn’t been the first time a member of the Imperial family had been used this way, and it wouldn’t be the last.

She was snapped out of her thoughts and looked down when she heard growls to see a pack of pitch-black beasts staring at her with yellow eyes. From the few things she knew about this Shard, they should be the eyes and ears of the forest's protector.

Princess Jin held back the shiver of fear when a few of them started to head toward her, effortlessly climbing up by jumping on the branches of the trees.

Everything was fine. She wasn’t going to die. The protector just wanted to be more vigilant, or that’s what she told her rapidly beating heart.

She didn’t bother to run since even a cultivator in the Nascent Soul realm had no hopes of escaping. These beasts could draw on the protector’s energy if needed, and that was a situation she didn’t want to occur.

“Greetings,” She bowed deeply as the first beast that reached her, “I am Princess Jin of the Tianxia Empire. I have no intention of causing any disruption. I hope you will allow me to travel through the forest peacefully.”

Princess Jin kept herself in a bow until she heard a soft growl. When she lifted her head to look at the beast, it was no longer looking at her. It was staring up to the protector's lair.

Of the few things she knew about the Shard, one was that when traveling through the Verdant Veil, the name of this forest, it was best to do so at the greatest heights possible. Most spirit beasts didn’t dare to travel there, which made it the safest way to get out alive.

Another thing Princess Jin was repeatedly told was that in no circumstance should she ever have the gall to enter the protector’s lair. In fact, it was best to avoid looking at it altogether. Death would be bliss compared to what would happen if she attracted the protector’s attention.

“I have no intention of disturbing the honored protector,” Princess Jin said as she warily eyed the slow build-up of the beasts. There had to be at least ten of them surrounding her now.

Her fingers twitched when they growled in unison as they stared at her before looking at the protector’s lair again. When a hole big enough for her opened up in the leaf ceiling, what the beasts were trying to tell her became obvious.

“The protector is calling for me?” She hoped she was wrong, but when she got a nod from all the beasts, she put away her fear and nodded in acceptance.

Princess Jin wasn’t afraid of death. She knew it was a likely fate for her on this path, but she was afraid of not even having the chance to prove herself. Her only hope now was to rely on the protector’s benevolence.

She jumped, easily going through the space made for her before it quickly closed beneath her. She got a glimpse of emerald scales before averting her eyes.

“Lord Protector,” Princess Jin kowtowed respectfully, never looking the mighty serpent in the eyes.

“Hmm, now you seem more familiar than the trespasser before.”

She stiffened slightly, wondering if Ren Bo had already met his end. Wei Liang briefly appeared as a possibility, but she had already given up on him.

All the newcomers to the Shard would be deposited in one of the ruins outside the Verdant Veil. It was a relatively safe place, but there had been some fatalities in the past, mainly due to poor timing and bad luck.

She had searched tirelessly for the adorably serious boy before a close call nearly took her life. It was unfortunate, but it was likely that Wei Liang had been added to the list of fatalities.

“He was bold, even daring to try and steal from me, but I let him go.”

“Steal?!” Princess Jin asked with alarm, though she was still kowtowing and staring at the floor, “I apologize for his stupidity, honored protector. I do not think the Imperial Family intended to let him enter the Shard this early. My grandfather informed me that the main line wants the branch to test his capabilities before extending benefits.”

“None from the Imperial Family allowed him access. He carries the mark of a Dao Seeker. They are given this opportunity freely. Him being next to Imperial blood allowed you both this chance.”

She stayed quiet, her mind whirling at the revelation that Ren Bo might know a legend of the human race. It suddenly made sense why the main line seemed to have such a keen interest, though if they knew the whole truth, there was no doubt an Imperial Princess from the main line would have been sent to act as a lure.

Princess Jin realized this might be the chance to get recognition from the main line. Having to swallow the disgust of making nice with Ren Bo was nothing if she could successfully pull him from the Jade Healing Sect.

“Good, your foolish reluctance has no place here. If I, a beast, could easily sense your emotions, then think of how easy it will be with that boy.”

“Yes, honored protector,” Princess Jin bit her bottom lip, simultaneously holding back tears and convincing herself it wouldn't be so bad. If this was successful, Ren Bo’s personality would make it likely that she would be cast aside when a more beautiful girl crossed his path.

It would only mean a few years of her life traded, which was nothing when considering what this could give her.

“Go. I sent the boy to the Oasis of Respite. You must trek through the desert with an unwavering heart before it reveals itself to you. His low cultivation will make that place useless besides acting as a safe zone. Your presence will open up some opportunities. Use it well.”

“Yes, honored protector,” Princess Jin repeated before she yelped in surprise when the floor opened below her kneeling form. She quickly shifted her body to land on the branch feet first.

Spotting her, one of the pitch-black spirit beasts fixed its gaze on her from a distance among the trees. Then, it gestured with its head, indicating something behind itself.

Princess Jin watched it leap onto some branches in that direction before making the same motion at her. It wasn’t hard for her to guess that it was telling her to follow, likely to the desert the protector mentioned.

She took a deep breath and did as asked.