The journey to Crimson Lotus City took three days.
During that time, Princess Yue Lianhua recovered steadily under Xian Tiandi's care.
Her cultivation base stabilized, her injuries healed, and her spiritual energy gradually returned to normal levels.
But more significantly, a rapport developed between them.
It started with simple conversations. Lianhua was curious about the young man who had saved her life.
She asked about his background, his cultivation, his goals. Xian Tiandi answered selectively, revealing some truths while keeping his deeper secrets hidden.
In turn, he learned about her. She spoke of growing up in the royal palace, of the political pressures and expectations placed on princesses.
She described her cultivation journey and her acceptance into the Blue Rain Sect, one of the few places where she could be judged by her abilities rather than her birth.
"The palace is a gilded cage," she said one afternoon as the carriage rolled along.
