Yang Cheng's mental strength had long since reached the level of a Martial King. Coupled with his mastery over various martial wills, his resistance against spiritual influence was even stronger.
As a result, Jin Yanyu quickly suffered backlash from her own technique and fell into an illusion herself. Her eyes turned hazy, and she felt as if the Yang Cheng before her had grown up—tall, refined, and peerlessly handsome.
In the dream, he was an eighteen-year-old youth in the prime of his life. Jin Yanyu couldn't help herself and let out a sound like the soft trill of a dolphin—something indescribable.
Yang Cheng gave her a strange look. Just what kind of hallucination was she having?
Outside the door—
"Maybe the courtesan queen isn't doing that with the little young master. She might just be dancing."
"Right. That little young master is too young. I don't believe he even has that… capability."
Several male guests comforted themselves.
But right as they spoke, an indescribable sound drifted out from the room.
The sound was exquisitely beautiful, dripping with temptation. Many men only had to hear it before they felt as if they might lose control.
"This is dancing?" one guest muttered.
"Miss Yan is actually really doing that with the little brat…"
"Incredible… that brat's only three years old. Truly gifted beyond measure."
"From the sound of her voice, he's not just any ordinary fierce one."
Many male guests were hit hard in the heart.
Inside the fragrant chamber—
No one knew how much time had passed before Jin Yanyu woke from the illusion. The first thing she did upon waking was glance nervously at Yang Cheng.
But Yang Cheng was already "asleep."
Seeing his childish face, Jin Yanyu quietly let out a breath of relief.
Then she noticed she was drenched in sweat. Her cheeks flushed bright red.
She had tried to use an illusion technique on a little brat, only to trap herself instead, dancing herself into a full-body sweat.
"Jin Yanyu, Jin Yanyu… you're really pathetic," she scolded herself.
Even though the one in the dream had been a grown-up version of him, she still felt uncomfortable.
She quickly went to bathe.
After bathing, she gave Yang Cheng a complicated look. Without hesitation, she scooped him up in her arms.
Her hands moved over the bed until the bedboard popped open, revealing an underground passage.
The passage sank a thousand zhang deep, ending in a stone cavern.
Inside the cavern was an ancient teleportation array.
Jin Yanyu took out three jade stones and placed them into the array.
The teleportation array lit up instantly.
In the blink of an eye, Jin Yanyu and Yang Cheng vanished.
The next moment, they appeared in a mountain valley.
Inside the valley—
Someone was already waiting.
"Young Mistress, this is the Crown Prince of Great Zhou?"
The burly young man leading them said, "Why bring him here? Just kill him."
"We can't kill him," Jin Yanyu replied.
Gu Wentian frowned at her words. "The Heaven's Mandate Son's order was to have him killed."
"Old Gu, sense my aura," Jin Yanyu said.
Gu Wentian immediately extended his spiritual sense. Moments later, his face lit up with surprise. "Young Mistress, you… you're fine?"
"That's right," Jin Yanyu said. "Yang Cheng is the one who saved me. Do you think we can still kill him?"
"But the Heaven's Mandate Son…" Gu Wentian hesitated.
"We'll just say we killed him. What can he find out?" Jin Yanyu said. "We won't kill him, but we also can't release him. We'll keep him imprisoned here forever. With the income of Golden Jade Courtyard, supporting one person's food and drink for a lifetime is no problem."
She sighed quietly, guilt welling up in her heart toward Yang Cheng. But this was all she could do.
The Heaven's Mandate Son's order concerned the Jin family's countless years of protection, and Jin Yanyu alone could not change the bigger picture.
"Alright, leave this to me. You should hurry back. Nothing can go wrong with Golden Jade Courtyard," Gu Wentian said.
Jin Yanyu gave Yang Cheng one last deep look before turning and leaving.
Gu Wentian locked Yang Cheng inside a stone cavern.
The cavern was a natural stalactite cave, with Earth Spirit Stalactites scattered everywhere.
It was spacious, with a clear pool of water. As long as there was food, surviving here for a lifetime wouldn't be difficult.
He wasn't worried about Yang Cheng cultivating here either.
Although the stalactites contained dense energy, they also held terrifying baleful qi.
Absorb as much stalactite essence, and you'd suffer an equal amount of baleful qi damage.
This harm attacked not only the body but also the soul.
Forget a child—even an adult like him couldn't withstand it.
Once Gu Wentian left, Yang Cheng opened his eyes.
"This really is the place."
His gaze lit up with excitement.
The reason he had obediently gone along with Jin Yanyu was to come here.
This was the Jin family's ancestral land.
In his previous life, after Yang Xiu made contact with the Jin family, his cultivation here had soared.
Now that Yang Cheng was here, Yang Xiu's future opportunity was gone for good.
As for why he wasn't afraid of Jin Yanyu or Gu Wentian killing him—it was because he had a Space Teleportation Talisman.
If danger came, he could escape at any time.
"These Earth Spirit Stalactites are rich in baleful qi that damages both body and soul," Yang Cheng sensed at once, understanding why the Jin family felt safe leaving him here.
He chuckled. "This baleful qi is lethal to others, but with my Tai Sui Breathing Technique and Soul Refining Ancient Method, I can use it to temper both body and soul."
Half a day passed in a blink.
Yang Cheng endured considerable torment, but looked even more spirited.
Outside—
"When this brat wakes up, he'll definitely be terrified and uneasy," Gu Wentian muttered, already picturing the scene.
It wasn't hard to imagine. An three-year-old waking to find himself in an unfamiliar place—it would be strange if he wasn't afraid.
When the door opened, however, Gu Wentian saw Yang Cheng lying half-reclined on the stone bed, perfectly at ease.
When he noticed Gu Wentian, he didn't panic at all. Instead, he spoke like reprimanding a palace servant. "Why did you take so long to bring food? If this palace goes hungry, can you afford it?"
Gu Wentian almost laughed in anger.
But remembering this boy had saved the young mistress, he swallowed his irritation and thought, 'This brat probably hasn't figured out his situation yet. Still thinks he's the Crown Prince of Great Zhou and that people from Great Zhou will come to save him. Let him stay here a few more days. When he finds that no one answers his cries, he'll know real fear.'
Without another word, he set the food down and left.
Yang Cheng glanced at the meal and shook his head.
Two meat dishes and one vegetable—the food was actually decent.
In his past life, such a meal would have been a great luxury.
But after living in the palace, dressed in silk and eating delicacies every day, he found it hard to eat this fare.
"Forget it. I'll head back to the palace. No need to make Mother worry," he thought.
Then he activated the Space Teleportation Talisman.
In an instant, Yang Cheng vanished from where he stood and reappeared in Splendid Radiance Hall.
"Your Highness?" Hu Po gasped at his sudden appearance.
Yun Liyue came out right after, the worry in her eyes fading. But her face turned stern. "Cheng'er, I heard you went to a brothel today?"
Yang Cheng winced inwardly. "Mother, let me explain—"
"Alright, I'm listening," Yun Liyue said, her beautiful eyes carrying a dangerous glint.
Yang Cheng let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Being a little older did have its advantages.
When he was younger, his mother never waited for explanations—she always beat him first and asked later.