Knock! Knock!
Opening my eyes up lazily I got off of my bed and headed to my door "Your highness, a formation master that was sent by the emperor has arrived" Jade informed me, I nodded my head "bring him to the room" closing my door I went back to bed and continue cultivating.
The white essence shined brightly, signifying that I will soon breakthrough into qi refinement stage 7. Breathing in deeply I focus on refining the needed essence for my breakthrough, the smell of the seaside intensified tenfolds.
Opening my eyes all I could see is water, looking around at first thought I might have been kidnapped but that was ruled out when I recognized my surroundings. First of all, how can I breathe under all of this water?
Getting out of my lotus position all of the water rushed towards my abdomen as if my body was a drain, "Did I somehow make all of this water appear?" many questions swirled in my mind, that's when a good looking young fellow barged into my room with his sword drawn.
By now all of the water is clear but the smell of the sea lingers, tilting my head to the side a bit confused about this individual entering my chambers "where am I?" his voice sounded stern and deep. A forgotten memory emerge from the depths of my mind "you are in my manor, I found you in the middle of the road so I took you home with me" I replied casually.
He lowered his sword a bit "I will like to offer you a job as one of my personal bodyguards" he furrows his brows and looked at me uncertainly "Little miss why? I am only in qi gathering stage?" he continued to frown in confusion.
I smiled gently at him "I can break that seal off of you that hide away your true capabilities" his eyes widen at my proclamation, he carefully re-shelf his sword and eyed me from head to toe. His frown soon turned into that of fear "Why is a high-ranking master such as yourself asking for this lowly one to guard you?" he started to kowtow. It seems he has concluded.
"You see everyone thinks I am a powerless princess that has no cultivation base to protect herself. To keep my act up I need some bodyguards that can protect me when the beasts are watching" his eyes brighten up.
"Then I will happily serve you my lady" he stated a tad bit too cheerful to my liking, despite me lying straight to his face. Well, whatever he concluded in that big head of his hopefully it ain't nothing too absurd; stretching my arms I realize I have been talking to my newly hired bodyguard in wet clothing…
Fuck
"I will form a contract of loyalty later after I get changed into dryer clothing" as soon as those words left my mouth he started blushing before running out of my chambers like a rat, a few maids enter to clean up the leftover sand on my wooden floors, some dried the furniture with wind qi.
A few other maids changed me out of my clothing "your highness how did your room become so wet?" one of them asked with genuine confusion, smiling sheepishly I replied "potion has gone wrong but at least it is not black smoke" the maids laughed at my remark to my last failed potion attempt.
"Alright your highness, this should do," one of the maids said while putting the last hair clip into my hair; smiling I dismissed everyone with a simple flick of my wrist. "Angel what kind of herbs do I need to undo the seal?" asking this question towards the flying chibi angel.
"Luckily for you, you just need the eyes of the fiery raccoon along with that raccoon stomach and a few water element herbs to help cool down the red fury raccoon eyes," Angel explained patiently, nodding my head in understanding.
I walked towards a maid known as Jade, "Jade you're getting a promotion, come with me" my order rang clearly in everyone's ears in the hallway many of them looked at my shock and surprised since not that long ago I had Jade punished for her failure to do her job.
Jade follow me with a look of curiosity, looking back at her above her head I could see her potential in handling these kinds of affairs, I plan to have her fill in for me for when I am absent from the manor.
Bringing her to my study she furrows her brows upon entering "your highness how may this humble maid help your majesty?" she asked in a low tone, she gripped the hem of her hanfu skirt fidgeting under my piercing gaze.
"Jade I am going to teach you how to handle my mansion affairs, the ones that are meant for my eyes only will be stored away. You will just be helping me with managing the village, I have already set down the foundations, as for my reasoning why I am asking you. You have been serving me for a long time and are one of the few who knows how to read" her eyes widen due to disbelief.
Jade smacked her head onto my wooden floorboards "this humble maid is not worthy of your highness praises" Jade kept kowtowing with a loud smack; crossing my arms my feature contracted into one of distaste "I am giving you a chance to redeem yourself, don't question me further and get over her so I can teach you Jade" my firm voice stopped Jade from kowtowing.
After teaching jade how to handle a bunch of different types of affairs I left her in my study and went to the kitchen where all of my cooks bowed deeply upon my entrance "you all may raise" the quiet kitchen became lively at once as the sound of oil crackled.
Chatter filled between the kitchen cook apprentices, my head chef approached me with a smile "your highness, what has brought you here to the kitchen today?" he asked with a polite smile on his wrinkly old face.
"Have you guys made the dried-up strips of meat yet?" getting straight to the point my head chief nodded his head "of course, my lady. May I ask what do you need the dried-up meat for?" the old chef with a small glint in his eyes.
"I plan to give some out to the village folk and I need some for a hunting trip. I plan to go and get more magical beast meat" I explained simply, the old chef nodded his head. "Your highness how come you don't ask the guards to do it?" the old chef asked a bit puzzled on why I haven't ordered my guard to go hunting.
"That ain't their job chef Zixin, so I have taken upon myself to do some hunting" chef Zixin made an 'oh' sound. Done with explaining I told his apprentice to go and get me twenty days' worth of dried meat along with a few water pouches.
Leaving the kitchen I went to go look for Lai Shufen as he would have a heart attack if I went on my own. I found my new bodyguard nearby flirting with one of many maids "Come" beckoning him to me said he excused himself and walked three feet behind me without questions.
After finding Lai Shufen I left with my two bodyguards into the forest with Angel guiding the way where the red fury raccoon lived, on the way we stopped by a stream. Using this moment I search the water for some herbs that are filled with the water element.
Luckily I found some dark blue seaweed and some spring water grass, both items are a rare find so they should do the trick on cooling down the red fury raccoon's eyes. The sun had started to settle so Lai Shufen started setting up the camp and the other guy has gone off to gather some wood for a fire to keep us warm through the night.
Once he has arrived back I walked towards him "I forgot to ask for your name, what is it?" he looked a bit caught off guard. He place down the branches "My name is Xiaobo Feng my lady" he introduce himself with a grin, Lai Shufen made a coughing sound drawing my attention towards him.
"In three days we will be at the beast den" I announced, Lai Shufen looked stern as ever like a worried big brother and Xiaobo looked ecstatic as he took in the beautiful luscious forest green scenery.