Ye Xiu paid it no mind, strolling leisurely through the bustling streets and alleys with his hands clasped behind his back. Suddenly, an elderly vendor selling candied hawthorns rushed up to him and exclaimed, "Isn't this Hero Ye Xiu, the one who triumphed over Jian Hongchen at the martial arts tournament?"

Ye Xiu was taken aback, offering the elder a brief, slight nod and a gentle smile.

"Everyone, come look! Here is the great Hero Wei!" At this, the surrounding merchants and innkeepers poured out, quickly forming an impenetrable wall of people along the entire street.

Ye Xiu stiffened, glancing left and right, realizing that men and women, young and old, were all looking at him with eyes filled with adoration. Could it be he had become a celebrity?

"Hero Ye, please, come to my humble shop for a cup of tea!" A young boy bowed deeply, trying to usher Ye Xiu inside.

"No! No! No! Hero Ye should try the noodles at my place instead!" A burly man with a long beard suddenly grabbed Ye Xiu's arm, attempting to drag him toward his own establishment.

The hawthorn vendor from before immediately grew angry, cursing loudly, "I saw him first! Naturally, he should taste my candied hawthorns first!"

"Wait... wait... just wait a moment!" Ye Xiu violently shook off their hands, his patience wearing thin. "I just want to take a walk down the street right now. Can't we deal with food later?"

"Oh, Hero Ye wants to stroll!" Two men carrying a sedan chair rushed forward from the crowd, grinning sheepishly. "If Hero Ye wishes to walk the streets, leave it to us brothers! Tell us where you want to go, and we guarantee it will be fast and comfortable."

"This..." Ye Xiu hadn't expected such treatment; everyone on this street was scrambling to serve him. "But I don't have any money."

"Hero Ye is joking! We don't want your money." Without another word, the two brothers swiftly lifted Ye Xiu and placed him onto their sedan chair. "Up!"

After a slight jolt, Ye Xiu found himself moving along as leisurely and contentedly as a true nobleman. Exhilarated, he crossed his legs and commanded, "Carry me just like that and keep pace with the man and woman up ahead. Yes, yes, go a bit faster, you must stay right beside them."

"Heh heh, Brother Ye is quite popular, isn't he?" Lang Taotian watched Ye Xiu ordering people around with a hint of envy.

"Tch, this is nothing. Wait until he falls off that sedan chair and doesn't even know how he died," A Jiao’s mindset was clearly immature; the more popular Ye Xiu became, the more displeased she grew.

"Fine! I'll let you ride the sedan while I walk, how about that?" Ye Xiu was at a loss with her. He instructed the bearers to place A Jiao in the chair and then walked alongside Lang Taotian.

"Haha, this feels quite comfortable," Although A Jiao was a princess, she rarely experienced being carried like this, so she naturally felt wonderful.

"Princess A Jiao, would you like a candied hawthorn?" Ye Xiu grinned mischievously, casually snatching a hawthorn from a nearby stall and handing it to A Jiao, making her burst into laughter.

"Isn't that improper, Brother Ye? You didn't even pay for it," Lang Taotian was certainly not the sort to take advantage of others.

"Don't worry. Those people are practically begging me to use their things. Who am I now? A star! Using their goods is the same as giving them free advertising," Ye Xiu declared.

"I don't understand what you're saying; it's all muddled," Lang Taotian was completely perplexed, unable to grasp what went on in his Brother Ye's mind all day.

"Hurry and buy! The candied hawthorn eaten by Hero Ye will surely make you spirited and help you master your divine arts after eating!" Before Lang Taotian could react, a voice shouted out plainly from behind them.

"Did you hear that?" Ye Xiu looked back smugly. The hawthorn stall was already swarmed with people.

Ye Xiu spent the day accompanying the Lang siblings. However, that stubborn girl A Jiao insisted on catching up with her elder brother to reminisce, forcefully kicking Ye Xiu away. Now, as dusk settled and boredom set in, he returned to the Myriad Sword Pavilion to find Shen Ying.

"Young Master Ye, where have you been wandering all day?" Shen Ying was genuinely surprised that Ye Xiu had sought her out voluntarily. Assuming their relationship had deepened considerably, she dismissed the attendants with a wave and threw herself into Ye Xiu's arms.

Ye Xiu felt a surge of tension. Being young and full of vigor, the temptation regarding intimacy was difficult to resist. Yet, he didn't want Shen Ying to think he sought her out merely for conjugal matters; he was not that kind of person.

Shen Ying nestled against Ye Xiu’s chest, murmuring softly, "My elder brother was assassinated last night. The assassin still hasn't been found. All members of the royal family are on high alert; that assassin was targeting us specifically."

Ye Xiu nodded. "I heard about it too. But the Grand City Lord isn't receiving visitors today. I wonder who would try to kill him."

Shen Ying lifted her head, gazing at Ye Xiu as she whispered, "That person is Dugu Bingchen, the son of Dugu Wencheng from Myriad Sword City years ago. The Dugu family betrayed Myriad Sword City and defected to the Beast Race, so my elder brother ordered their entire line executed. I never expected Bingchen to still be alive and now returning for revenge."

"Oh, there's a story to that. What I heard from the common folk in the city today was completely different," Ye Xiu had gathered some gossip during his outing, but he felt he should trust Shen Ying.

"You are practically a member of the Myriad Sword City royalty; it’s fine for you to know these things," Shen Ying continued softly. "Actually, the events back then were done solely to save Father King's reputation. Big Brother shouldered the sole blame for executing loyal subjects. He has been wronged all these years. I never thought Bingchen would hold such a grudge; perhaps I am his next target."

"Silly girl!" Ye Xiu reached out and held Shen Ying tightly, pressing a gentle kiss upon her forehead. "With me here, how could anyone get near you? Forget a mere assassin; I could fight off thousands of troops single-handedly. Do you believe me?"

"Mm." Ye Xiu's words warmed Shen Ying’s heart. Sometimes, women truly didn't need a man to do anything for them; such a simple affirmation was enough to bring them deep contentment.

"Actually, I have another secret I want to tell you," Ye Xiu suddenly lowered his head, looking at Shen Ying mysteriously. "But first, you must take me to the Myriad Sword Peak at Profound Heaven Lake."

"It's so late, why go there now?" Shen Ying didn't understand the urgency, but her heart was filled with eager anticipation.

Ye Xiu kissed Shen Ying lightly on the cheek once more and pulled her along as they hurried out. In truth, he couldn't let go of his worries regarding the Hengchen Sword. Since no one could help him unlock the secret of the renowned sword, he had to investigate it himself. The lift mechanism whirred into motion. The Blade Guards offered little restraint on the movements of Ye Xiu and the Princess; indeed, by now, any clear-sighted person understood that Ye Xiu was destined to become the future Prince Consort.