Nine Nether Dragon Emperor

「City Lord Manor, the back courtyard.」

Shangguan Qingrou, who had arrived in a huff, now stared at the room in front of her, conflict and regret written all over her pretty face. Just as she was about to leave, she heard Ouyang Qing's cry of surprise.

Angered, she strode forward and pushed open the door.

Inside, she saw three Ning Xuans frantically writing. Meanwhile, her mother was grinding ink, her eyes glued to the manuscript pages.

Upon seeing Shangguan Qingrou appear, Ning Xuan immediately cried out, "Save me!"

Ouyang Qing is simply too overbearing. She does as she pleases without any regard for others' feelings.

Shangguan Qingrou also took issue with her mother's actions. "Mother, if you want him to write novels, why not have him do it in the living room!"

How improper! If Father found out, he would raise hell.

"The living room is too noisy; it's not good for creativity. You've come at the perfect time. Go grind the ink!" As Ouyang Qing spoke, she had already carried Ning Xuan's freshly written manuscript aside to read.

Shangguan Qingrou was furious. But she quickly had an idea and sent a mental message to Ning Xuan: "Why don't you just write garbage!"

"I *am* writing garbage," Ning Xuan replied matter-of-factly.

Glancing at her captivated mother, Shangguan Qingrou wanted to strangle Ning Xuan. Even his garbage has her this engrossed? Are you sure you're actually…

"Why don't you dictate and I'll write? This is what I have so far…" Ning Xuan, also desperate to escape, quickly sent a mental message to Shangguan Qingrou.

Shangguan Qingrou's eyes lit up. Soon, the only sound in the room was the soft scratching of a brush on paper. Just as they'd planned, Ouyang Qing's expression grew more and more disturbed as she read.

At first, she managed to force herself to read on. But when she reached the next plot point, she finally exploded. "Stop writing! What is this garbage!"

"Madam Shangguan, you can insult my person, but you cannot insult my work," Ning Xuan said with righteous indignation. "I believe my plot is absolutely top-tier. If you lack even this basic level of appreciation…"

Shangguan Qingrou, standing aside, struggled to stifle her laughter.

"Get out!" Ouyang Qing was so enraged that she drove both Ning Xuan and Shangguan Qingrou out of the room.

BANG! The door slammed shut.

「Outside the door.」

Ning Xuan and Shangguan Hong were staring blankly at each other.

Seeing this, Shangguan Qingrou hurried forward, took her father's arm, and whispered as she pulled him away, "Father, let me tell you something hilarious!"

「A few moments later.」

Shangguan Hong almost burst out laughing as he walked out of the back courtyard. The more he looked at Ning Xuan, the more he liked him.

Ning Xuan seized the opportunity. "Uncle, I need to go to the Realm Capital."

"Well…" He started to agree, only to be cut off by a sharp pain shooting up his arm. His daughter was pinching him mercilessly, with no regard for her own father.

"Posa City is quite nice, actually, but I'm being hunted…" Ning Xuan said, reluctantly revealing a bit more. "If I don't leave quickly and they find me here, all the citizens will suffer because of me!"

Hearing this, Shangguan Qingrou realized they truly couldn't keep Ning Xuan here. "Father, take us to the Teleportation Array, quickly!" she urged. "Mother will definitely find out the rest of the story was my handiwork, and I don't want her to beat me to death!"

Shangguan Hong's mouth twitched. So my precious daughter is determined to leave the nest…

"Fine," he said with a sigh. "I'll write a letter for your Uncle Sun. It would be a great breach of etiquette if he learned you were in the Realm Capital and didn't pay him a visit."

Shangguan Qingrou opened her mouth to protest but ultimately relented. The whole reason I held the embroidered ball ceremony was to avoid that son of Uncle Sun's. Going to the Sun Family in the Realm Capital is like a lamb walking into a tiger's den!

But then, she looked at Ning Xuan and had an idea.

While Shangguan Hong went to prepare the letter, Shangguan Qingrou packed her bags. He returned shortly after.

"Young man, could I ask a favor of you?"

"Of course. What is it?"

"When you get to the Realm Capital, please look after Qingrou for me. And when she goes to the Sun Family, please accompany her."

Ning Xuan didn't agree immediately. "I noticed she seems rather opposed to visiting the Sun Family."

"Ahem, it's a long story." Shangguan Hong's expression grew awkward.

Damn it, are kids these days all so hard to fool?!

But he soon realized he had still underestimated the young man.

"I can do that," Ning Xuan said. "However, I'm a bit short on funds right now. I'll need to earn some money first when I get to the Realm Capital."

Shangguan Hong's eyes widened. What a crafty brat! He actually dares to use this opportunity to extort me!

But Shangguan Qingrou is my only daughter. What can I do but give in? He gave in immediately.

"I won't charge you for the teleportation. And here, take these. It's one hundred thousand Divine Crystals."

Ning Xuan didn't accept it. His gaze alone made Shangguan Hong feel ashamed. As a City Lord, it's humiliating to only be able to offer such a paltry sum of Divine Crystals!

Seeing Shangguan Hong's shamefaced expression, Ning Xuan started to feel bad for him.

"Forget it, you should keep it. I'll figure something out myself in the Realm Capital."

Hearing this, Shangguan Hong swiftly withdrew his hand. Unable to meet Ning Xuan's gaze and feeling his face flush with embarrassment, he lowered his voice and said, "The Sun Family is the wealthiest family in all of Gouchen."

"Uncle, rest assured! You can leave everything concerning Qingrou to me!" Ning Xuan immediately thumped his chest and promised.

Just then, Shangguan Qingrou came over, a trace of happiness flickering across her delicate face.

At that very moment, a furious roar, like that of a lioness, echoed from the courtyard. "Shangguan Qingrou, was that your doing…?"

The three of them, terrified, instantly bolted towards the Teleportation Array.

Since it wasn't a cross-Star Domain teleportation, the journey through the Teleportation Array was completely smooth.

Although Shangguan Qingrou was quite attractive, the guard at the Teleportation Array merely glanced at her briefly before looking away. This small detail improved Ning Xuan's impression of the Gouchen Star Realm.

The Gouchen Realm Capital was the undisputed center of the Gouchen Star Realm. The Gouchen Realm itself was far more vast than the Dali Realm, and its main Teleportation Array was situated outside the capital city.

On the road to the Realm Capital, Shangguan Qingrou hesitated for a moment before asking Ning Xuan, "Um, are you really going to accompany me to the Sun Family's estate?"

Ning Xuan nodded without the slightest hesitation. "Of course. I gave your father my word."

"Uncle Sun has a son, and he's been pestering me for a while. He claims our families have a marriage arrangement, but that's just…"

Before Shangguan Qingrou could finish, Ning Xuan cut in, "Don't worry, that's not important!"

"You seem awfully happy about this."

"Happy? Me?" Ning Xuan flatly denied. "Of course not. Why would I be happy?"

"Hmph," Shangguan Qingrou muttered, then walked straight ahead.

She could tell this Ning Xuan fellow had absolutely no romantic interest in her, which gave her an unexpected pang of frustration.

Is that Jiang Chan really so special?!

A competitive spark ignited within her. Staring toward the Realm Capital, her eyes blazed with determination.