Chapter 16: Princess seeks revenge

In the midst of Drake Dragon's contemplation on how to gradually uncover the mastermind, an immense net suddenly descended from the heavens, ensnaring him before he could react. The intricately designed net swiftly tightened around Drake Dragon, securely binding him in its grasp. As he prepared to struggle against his captors, he noticed with surprise that he was lifted into the air, carried by a majestic falcon. Typically regarded as wild creatures rather than mystical beings, falcons were often utilized as steeds due to their large size and gentle temperament. However, Drake Dragon now realized that this particular falcon served as a means of transportation for the individual responsible for his capture. A sense of regret washed over him as he acknowledged his own carelessness in falling into this trap. The falcon ascended hundreds of feet into the sky, and as Drake Dragon gazed down at the distant ground, fear engulfed him, leaving his face pale and immobile. He fervently hoped that the net holding him captive was of the highest quality, for should it break, even if Drake Dragon possessed ten lives, they would all be forfeit upon impact from such a great height. Despite his formidable abilities, a fall from this height would reduce him to nothing more than a mere pancake, the impact area extending beyond even the drop zone where Ethan Zhou had plummeted before. "Hmph, audacious slave! How dare you torment my brother!" A crisp yet enraged voice erupted from behind the falcon. The pleasant quality of the voice belied the anger contained within, causing Drake Dragon to inwardly wince. Clinging tightly to the sturdy netting, he strained to catch a glimpse of the person riding the falcon, but to no avail. Fearful of further provoking the woman, he chose silence, aware that if she were to release her grip, his fate would be sealed. Drake Dragon firmly adhered to the notion of not engaging in combat with women, recognizing that he lacked the knowledge required for such a confrontation. His mouth remained shut, conveying a sense of fear to anyone observing. The woman atop the falcon ceased her verbal assault upon realizing Drake Dragon's silence. Spotting a nearby mountain, she urged her mount to glide over it. To Drake Dragon's surprise, the mountain they approached turned out to be none other than Luoxia Mountain, although this visit was distinct from his previous excursion with Dreama Qi. Instead of riding on the back of an eagle as before, he now found himself suspended mid-air, soon to experience a divergent landing. Unlike the smooth descent of his prior visit, this time he hurtled toward the ground, free-falling from a height of over ten feet. "Boom!" The impact resounded loudly. Though prepared and fortunately shielded by a stroke of luck, this fall left him momentarily dazed, stars dancing before his eyes. The rage within Drake Dragon rekindled upon hearing the familiar voice. Now firmly grounded, he resolved to confront his captor head-on, lest he fail to show the proper respect due to Lord Long. As Drake Dragon swiveled around, however, the fiery fury in his eyes began to fade upon glimpsing the woman responsible for his capture. She appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old with an elegant figure, well-endowed curves accentuated by a slim waist. Adorned in a white gown cinched by a jade belt, her bosom was further emphasized, captivating Drake Dragon's attention. What intrigued him the most were her willowy eyebrows, peach blossom eyes, a straight nose, and a hint of anger resting on her small lips, exuding an unconventional beauty. "Insolent slave! Where do you think you're ogling?" The woman exclaimed angrily, her rebuke reigniting Drake Dragon's previously diminished wrath. Undoubtedly, Drake Dragon couldn't help but feel a twinge of confusion and remorse as he uttered in shocked disbelief, "Miss, have you mistaken me for someone else? Or have you taken an excessive dosage of some strange medicine? These baseless accusations of love and treachery...are you suggesting that you've fallen madly in love with this young master's striking good looks and conspired to commit evil acts?" With each word, his expression transformed into one of regret, as the girl's face flushed crimson with anger. The woman furiously shouted, "You disgraceful individual, you have bullied my brother! Today, I am here to release my anger on behalf of my brother. Your actions are repulsive, and even if I were blind, I would never fall in love with someone like you." Drake Dragon was slightly puzzled, asking, "Your brother?" "Hmph, my brother is Curtis Chu, the Seventh Prince. You have brought shame upon him today, and I have come to seek vengeance for him," replied the woman. This woman was none other than Crystal Chu, the biological sister of Curtis Chu and the third princess of the empire. Emperor Fengming had seven sons and three daughters, with Crystal Chu and Curtis Chu being the youngest among them. Crystal Chu had noticed Curtis Chu returning home unexpectedly, which aroused her curiosity. However, when she questioned him, he was genuinely terrified and refused to disclose the reason behind his distress. Through other sources, Crystal Chu discovered that Curtis Chu had been lured by Prince Manhuang Hou, and soon she learned the complete story. Enraged by the fear inflicted upon her younger brother, Crystal Chu wanted to confront Drake Dragon. However, as a princess, she couldn't openly act against him, so she patiently waited for Drake Dragon along his usual route. Unaware of the impending confrontation, Drake Dragon was lost in his thoughts. He didn't anticipate being confronted openly in the imperial capital and unknowingly walked right into Crystal Chu's trap. "It seems that I haven't done anything to your brother," Drake Dragon responded with a frown. "Insolent slave! Frightening my brother warrants death! Do you not understand the hierarchy of superiors and inferiors?" Crystal Chu coldly stated. Drake Dragon felt his anger rise as he was berated, causing him to curse, "You foolish woman, do not think that just because you are a woman, I won't dare to confront you. Do not underestimate Master Long, as he is capable of handling you until you beg for mercy." Crystal Chu, taken aback by the manner in which Drake Dragon scolded her, felt a wave of anger surge through her delicate face. With her jade-like hand outstretched, Crystal Chu launched a powerful palm strike towards Drake Dragon. To his surprise, he discovered that Crystal Chu possessed remarkable strength, capable of gathering energy up to the ninth level. As her palm descended, it emitted scorching heat resembling flames, indicating a combat skill surpassing the mid-level human capabilities. Drake Dragon quickly discerned the abnormality of her palm strike. Although he wasn't afraid, he didn't wish to engage her in brute force combat. In a quick motion, Drake Dragon evaded her attack and lightly deflected her palm strike. Crystal Chu exerted her full strength, but her efforts were effortlessly nullified by Drake Dragon. Her strike felt as though it connected with air, leaving her deeply disheartened. "You insolent wretch! How dare you avoid my strike!" Crystal Chu exclaimed, stepping closer and slapping him again. Drake Dragon was astonished by Crystal Chu's choice of words. How could such a beautiful woman utter such nonsense? Despite his anger, Drake Dragon couldn't bring himself to harm a beautiful woman. If it were Ethan Zhou, he would have kicked her relentlessly. Dodging several consecutive attacks, Drake Dragon realized that although Crystal Chu possessed a high cultivation level, her foundation was weak. Her actual cultivation level was likely inferior to an average Qi Gathering Fifth Level practitioner. Though her moves were elegant, they lacked flexibility. Drake Dragon found it comical that Crystal Chu adhered strictly to a fixed set of movements, even using the same routine repeatedly, tempting him to burst into laughter. "Asshole, why are you laughing?" Crystal Chu seethed with anger, unable to catch Drake Dragon for an extended period. Observing his suppressed amusement, her frustration grew. "You ignorant fool, accustomed to mundane tricks, how dare you challenge me using such methods." Unable to suppress his laughter any longer, Drake Dragon finally burst into mirth. This was the first time he had encountered such an amusing woman in his life. Despite his amusement, Crystal Chu's face flushed with rage upon witnessing Drake Dragon's behavior, perceiving it as the ultimate mockery. "Fool!" Crystal Chu yelled angrily, abandoning her routine and charging at Drake Dragon like an amateur in martial arts. Drake Dragon was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. He had never witnessed such an aggressive approach in a game before. Quickly, he reached out to push Crystal Chu away. To his surprise, Crystal Chu appeared to be possessed by madness, completely ignoring Drake Dragon's attempt to restrain her and continuing to charge towards him. Reacting instinctively, Drake Dragon used his hand to forcefully push against Crystal Chu's chest. The soft sensation against his hand was completely unfamiliar to him, causing his eyes to widen with astonishment. Crystal Chu suddenly felt a pair of large hands on her chest, as if struck by lightning. Her entire body froze, disbelief visible in her eyes. "This is a misunderstanding, definitely a misunderstanding," Drake Dragon hastily explained, his nerves causing him to forget to retract his hand before speaking. "Fool! I'll fight you!" Crystal Chu shouted, grabbing hold of Drake Dragon's arm and fiercely biting down. "Hey, hey, stop! No, please stop!" Drake Dragon's arm throbbed in pain. Crystal Chu held on tightly, refusing to release her bite. Despite his attempts to shake her off, the pain only intensified. Driven by anger, Drake Dragon felt a surge of panic and without thinking, he slapped Crystal Chu's buttocks. The snap of his hand connecting with her skin caused Drake Dragon's heartbeat to momentarily skip. However, the severe pain in his arm brought him back to reality. "Let me go, or I'll spank you again!" Drake Dragon threatened loudly. As her buttocks stung, Crystal Chu whimpered but still clung onto Drake Dragon's arm with determination, continuing to bite down hard. Frustrated by the increasing pain, Drake Dragon couldn't help but grow angrier. He swung his hand forcefully, delivering three consecutive slaps. The strikes were strong and forceful this time. Crystal Chu groaned in agony, tears streaming down her face. While feeling both pain and injustice, she still refused to let go. To Crystal Chu's surprise, after Drake Dragon delivered the three slaps, he suddenly ceased all movement. No matter how hard she bit, he remained still. After a while, perhaps due to fatigue or the soreness in her mouth from biting, Crystal Chu slowly released her grip. Drake Dragon's arm was now a bloody mess, staining his sleeves with red. Sighing, he asked, "Are you angry?" Crystal Chu gazed at Drake Dragon's face, noticing not a trace of anger, but instead a hint of loneliness. For some reason, her heart fluttered slightly. "Why... why didn't you fight back?" Crystal Chu found herself inexplicably asking such a question. Instantly regretting it, her face flushed with embarrassment. "I'm not one to hit women," Drake Dragon responded with frustration. As he spoke, he tore open his sleeves to reveal his arm, which had almost been bitten through. Taking a piece of cloth, he attempted to bandage the wound. Drake Dragon's words caused Crystal Chu's face to redden, and her initial anger vanished without a trace. Observing that Drake Dragon struggled to properly bandage his arm with one hand, she hesitantly reached out her delicate hand, snatched the cloth from him, and softly said, "Let me help you bandage it."