As for the other people at the back, they were nothing special. They were all dressed simply and looked powerful, that was all.

 Before they even arrived, she had already noticed their presence. However, she did not feel any danger from them, so she did not pay them any attention.

 Deeply shocked by Zihou’s power, Qi Shaoyang looked at her in admiration. This was the first time he had seen a girl as beautiful and powerful as her. Compared to the girls who could only dress up prettily, play music, and admire flowers in the West Capital, she was much better.

“I know that I’m a beauty, but please keep that lovestruck gaze to yourself!” Zihou smirked and said narcissistically to the young man who was staring at her intensely.

As soon as she said that, everybody was struck even more speechless. Their faces turned dark and the corners of their mouths twitched. It felt as if a strong gust of wind had hit them.

 They had never seen someone as conceited as her!

 “Ugh…” Qi Shaoyang was stunned and stared blankly.

 “Okay, you guys can continue to daydream. I’ll take my leave first.” After she took her belongings, Zihou waved her hand and prepared to leave.

 Although these people did not have any ill intentions, she was unfamiliar with them and did not want to get involved.

 “Huh?” Looking at her elegant back, Qi Shaoyang let out a cry. “You are leaving? Don’t go, wait for me!” He exclaimed as he chased after her.

 “Is there anything you need?” Zihou raised an eyebrow and questioned the young man who was blocking her.

 “I’m Qi Shaoyang. May I know your name?” I will be able to find her easily next time with her name, Qi Shaoyang thought.

 “Are you sure you want to know my name?” Zihou’s lips curled up into a wicked smile. In the eyes of the person looking at her in anticipation, her lips were red and dreamy. “Zihou!”

 “Zihou from the Wei Estate?” A clear, deep, and pleasant voice said eagerly behind her.

 Zihou turned around and looked at the quiet, stoic man dressed in black who resembled Wei Ziyu. She nodded. “Yes.”

 At that moment, she knew who this man was.

 In her memory, she had an aunt who entered the palace as a concubine over 20 years ago and was loved by the emperor. Her memory of that aunt was hazy, and she could not even remember her appearance. The only thing she knew was that this aunt gave birth to a son, Fifth Prince Chu Lingye.

 She could not remember anything about this so-called cousin, but she knew of his existence. Upon a closer look, that person in front of her matched that blurry figure in her head.

 “Cousin, hope that you’ve been well!” Zihou smiled as she greeted him.

 Confusion appeared on Chu Lingye’s face—a rare occurrence. In his memory, his cousin was foolish, naive, and ignorant. Her face was always covered in terrible and exaggerated makeup with no trace of her original looks.

However, the young girl in front of him was elegant and beautiful. Her face which seemed to be smiling subtly was in high spirits. Those eyes of hers shone bright like the stars, yet they were also deep like the abyss.

 This young girl who was bright and graceful, could she really be that cousin in his memories?

 The quiet lake in Chu Lingye’s heart was disturbed by a large boulder, forming ripples in an instant and even huge waves.

 8“What?” Qi Shaoyang’s eyes widened. He pointed at Zihou and stuttered as he turned pale, looking like he had seen a ghost. “You, you’re actually that…”

 Qi Shaoyang was utterly shocked. He had heard tons of stories about Zihou’s terrible reputation. Not only that, but he had also seen that foolish girl many times. Even he, the number one foppish and vain person in West Capital, acknowledged defeat when it came to her!

 However, how could it be that the person before him was actually that useless, immoral, foolish, naive, and ugly girl?

 His world view was shattered in a moment!

 “It’s been a long time. Cousin, you’ve changed a lot,” Chu Lingye said as a slight smile appeared on his calm face.

 “Oh my God, it’s actually true!” After hearing Chu Lingye, Qi Shaoyang slapped himself on the forehead in despair. It was hard to accept this reality.

“There are many strange things in the West Mountains, it’s really dangerous for a person alone. Why don’t you join us?” Chu Lingye invited her after looking around and confirming that Zihou was traveling alone.

 “Yes, come with us. Anyways, I’m here to train. We’ll just follow whatever you want to do!” Qi Shaoyang immediately followed up. He was really amazed by Zihou and wanted to understand just how a person could change so much.

 Zihou frowned and pondered for a while, before nodding and saying, “If that’s the case, let’s go together.”

 Why would she not make use of the free extra protection? With all these experts, she would be able to enter deeper into the mountains. The chance of her obtaining the Nine-Section Purple Bamboo would be greater too.

 The mountain forest was dense and the trees towered into the sky as the group of people walked through.

 “Cousin, why are you traveling through the mountain alone?” Chu Lingye turned to Zihou and asked.

 “I’m here to find the Nine-Section Purple Bamboo.” Zihou did not hide anything. After all, these people might know its location.

 “Nine-Section Purple Bamboo?” Chu Lingye’s eyes turned cold as he pondered. “The Nine-Section Purple Bamboo grows on the edge of a cold lake with abundant spiritual power and extremely low temperature. I know a place on this mountain with a cold lake. However, it’s rather deep in the mountain and it’s dangerous to go there. Are you sure you want to go there?”

 “With cousin here, what do I have to be scared of?” Zihou said as she smiled casually and her eyes glistened, after a short silence.

 Chu Lingye did not expect Zihou to say this and was stunned. His dark eyebrows twitched ever so slightly. He gazed at her and something flashed across his eyes.

 “Since cousin wants to go, I won’t object. But I want to know, why do you want the Nine-Section Purple Bamboo?” According to his knowledge, the purple bamboo was something only a skilled doctor would know how to use. Could it be this cousin of his was also proficient in medicine?

Thinking about it, he found this idea rather funny.

 “Ah! What’s this?!” Before Zihou could reply, Qi Shaoyang let out a cry.

 “Your Royal Highness, be careful!” This was the cry of Qi Shaoyang’s guard.