The Princess Smells So Good (GL) - Chapter 32

The light and shadows scattered around, and all that could be heard were the continuous clattering sounds of metal, echoing everywhere.

The people of the capital loved sword dancing, and many famous dancers were invited as honored guests by princes and noble families. At Wei Zhao’s own residence, there were skilled dancers, with the most talented one able to handle the Qingfeng sword in her hands with grace, making it both soft and fluid. Everyone praised her for it. Now, Wei Zhao seemed to be back in the brightly lit Long Princess Mansion, where slaves on the deck moved with a fluid grace. The man she was facing seemed to be the perfect partner in a dance, their movements so synchronized that the audience was treated to a dazzling performance.

But everyone knew, if a blade were to strike true, it would be a battle of flesh and bl00d.

Yet, dancing with blades was such an exhilarating and captivating thing.

Wei Zhao was both nervous and drawn to the elegance of Fa Yilian’s movements.

If it weren’t for the current moment, Wei Zhao would have asked the painter to capture her figure so she could admire it later.

Though Fa Yilian’s frame was similar to that of men from the Great Zhou, she was still a bit smaller compared to the foreign tribes from the northern cold regions. She knew that she couldn’t rely on brute strength, so she had to win with skill. After testing her opponent, it was clear that he was growing impatient. He let out a roar and charged at her. His large frame and the narrow space on the ship meant there was no way for her to avoid him.

The crowd gasped in shock.

The man was already upon her, but just at that moment, Fa Yilian suddenly leaped into the air. She placed her palm against his shoulder, then performed a graceful somersault, using his shoulder as leverage. She soared up like a feather, twisting in the air at a great height, and in a fluid motion, she bent her waist, her body flipping over. With the weight of her body, she struck down with her blade.

In that instant, a flash of light illuminated her face, half in the light, half in shadow. Her eyes locked onto the man’s neck, her jaw clenched, and her gaze turned ferocious, like a hungry beast ready to pounce.

There was a loud noise as Fa Yilian was struck by a tremendous force, sending her flying. Bl00d sprayed through the air in a thin line. She tumbled on the ground a few times before finally stopping, clutching her shoulder, glaring fiercely ahead.

Ahead of her, a slave dressed as a water thief stood with a bird gun, smoke still rising from the barrel.

“Despicable! Shameless!”

“That’s our bird gun!”

Seeing the golden opportunity ruined, Wang Biao and others immediately shouted angrily. The gun had been on the ship, but had been stolen by the enemy, led by an inside traitor.

The thief leader, who had just come to his senses, glanced back at his comrades and nervously touched his neck. If it weren’t for his comrade’s cold arrow, his head might not still be resting safely on his shoulders.

Honor meant little when compared to life. The thief leader didn’t scold his men; instead, he grinned savagely, gripping his battle axe and advancing toward Fa Yilian.

Fa Yilian stood up and looked at the thief leader, her face darkening. “You’ve broken your oath. Do you want to end up in the afterlife never reaching the Hall of Heroes?”

“Haha, hahaha!” The thief leader laughed loudly. “Where am I? This is the land of heathens! There is no god of mine here! My god abandoned us long ago!”

Fa Yilian’s expression darkened, and for a moment, she was speechless. Meanwhile, the thief leader continued to laugh mockingly at her naivety.

Wei Zhao clenched her fists. She fixed her gaze on the thief leader, vowing that he would pay for his actions! But she didn’t know if Fa Yilian could hold out until then. If Fa Yilian lost, neither she nor anyone else on the ship would be safe.

“Alright, enough games. Hand over the goods!” The thief leader seemed to have assessed that Fa Yilian was the strongest on the ship. He laughed loudly, his confidence returning, and he turned his gaze to her. “How about you join me?”

Fa Yilian remained silent.

The thief leader smiled. “You’re a slave, aren’t you? I can smell it on you.” His eyes widened. “Don’t you want your freedom? Or are you content being a pet?”

Wei Zhao felt a jolt in her heart.

“Smell?” Fa Yilian lowered her head, her voice light but carrying an inexplicable seductive undertone. She dragged out her words, and in that instant, the previously rigid woman now radiated a strange allure. “What smell? The rotten smell of people like you, down to the bones?”

“You!” The thief leader was enraged and took several steps forward.

“A Xian!!” Fa Yilian suddenly called out.

Everyone looked up, confused, but instinctively followed Fa Yilian’s gaze. Standing on the second floor balcony, which had remained empty until now, were two people. One was the weak and pitiful beauty, though she was hardly in a good position now, as a strikingly beautiful woman stood behind her, holding a dagger to her throat.

“Miss!” A voice from the crowd cried out.

“Shut up!” The thief leader turned angrily, and it became clear that he had understood Fa Yilian’s intentions. In a fit of rage, he slapped the slave, A Zong, across the face. A Zong’s head was knocked to the side, and only the sound of Song Sisi’s shocked cry broke the silence. As the cry became tinged with pain, A Zong quickly looked up and saw Song Sisi struggling in her bonds, a red mark already appearing on her throat where Wei Zhao’s dagger had pressed.

“Miss…” A Zong mumbled under her breath.

“You want to threaten me?” The thief leader spat. “I don’t take threats!”

He had clearly had enough of this humiliation. He shouted, “Kill them all!”

Fa Yilian gripped the hilt of her sword. “A Zong, do you want your mistress to die?”

“Mistress? Who’s the mistress? We’re…” The thief leader’s voice suddenly cut off. He stared at the bloodstained hand that had pierced his chest, appearing right before his eyes.

“… free…” The thief leader began to cough up bl00d, his words finally coming out before his body collapsed to the ground.

The thieves around them erupted into chaos, raising their blades at A Zong.

But none of them dared to make a move. A Zong’s martial skills were too high, and what they had just witnessed had been so shocking it made their skin crawl.

A Zong remained silent. She looked at the dead thief leader’s body, trembling slightly but saying nothing.

“Is this your first time killing?” Fa Yilian’s voice rang out. A Zong immediately lifted her head to look at her. Fa Yilian, still clutching her wounded shoulder, was already aware that several bird guns were now aimed at them. It became clear that the thieves had never fully trusted them as slaves. They had hidden their weapons, waiting for the right moment to strike.

A Zong stared at Fa Yilian. She pulled back her hand, feeling the disgusting squelching sound of bl00d as it dripped from her arm. The thief leader’s body slumped down, his bl00d dripping steadily onto the deck. The only sounds were the crackling of the torches and the dripping of bl00d.

“Isn’t this great?” Fa Yilian continued calmly. She still held her shoulder, bl00d soaking through her fingers. But she was completely composed, as if the victory was already certain. “You’re free. As a reward, your mistress will be fine.”

A Zong’s hand suddenly trembled. As Fa Yilian raised her hand, guns were aimed at the remaining thieves. “Aren’t you leaving yet?”

“…” The thieves exchanged looks but remained silent. With their leader dead, they were like a scattered pile of sand, without a leader.

A Zong turned to face them. “Leave. We go.”

“Why… why should we?” One of the thieves dared to speak. But when he saw A Zong turn to look at him, his eyes scanning his chest, he quickly realized he couldn’t stand up to the deadly woman. He hurriedly lowered his head and backed away, hiding behind his companions.

“Go!” A Zong ordered.

Though the others were clearly angry, they dared not speak and quickly turned to leave.

A Zong followed them, and with each step she took, the lifeless aura around her seemed to lift. She walked faster and faster, as though eager to embrace the future, never once looking back.

“A Zong…” Song Sisi whispered, kneeling to the ground, tears streaming down her face.

Wei Zhao released her grip. Her gaze moved from Song Sisi to A Zong’s retreating figure, then to her own slave. The people on the ship, now free of danger, finally let out a cheer.

They gathered around Fa Yilian, wanting to pat her on the back, but hesitating due to her injury. Instead, they cheered for her, shouting for the ship’s doctor. Fa Yilian smiled faintly, speaking a few words to the crowd before looking up.

In that moment, Wei Zhao felt that Fa Yilian’s eyes had truly lit up. She saw her running toward her, unable to wait to reach her. Instead of going up the stairs, Fa Yilian used the momentum of her run to leap over the railing, landing directly in front of Wei Zhao. Her green eyes sparkled. “A Xian.”

She should’ve said “Mistress…”

Wei Zhao’s mouth moved, but she didn’t say anything.

Her hand was grabbed, though it didn’t have a tail, it still felt like a large dog wagging its tail.

Wei Zhao lowered her head, thinking for a long time before asking, “Why don’t you leave? Don’t you want freedom?”

Her slave, in that strange accent and with a tone that seemed completely natural, replied, “What are you talking about? I’ve always been free.”