When Fifth Princess uttered the words "shocking news," I felt a surge of azure light flash from her eyes. Simultaneously, the entire space around me became unstable, the pavilion and bamboo forest trembling.
Sensing trouble, the prelude to a berserk state, I quickly spoke, "Fifth Princess, calm down!"
Fortunately, after my words, the space returned to peace, and the azure glow in Fifth Princess's eyes vanished.
Seeing her calm down, I breathed a sigh of relief. I truly feared Fifth Princess reverting to her violent nature; if that happened, I wouldn't know what to do.
Fifth Princess gave me an apologetic look and said, "I'm sorry, I lost control of my temper just now."
I quickly waved my hands, saying, "Don't mention it, it's nothing. Please continue."
What a joke! I certainly didn't want to be beaten again over this. Although this was my dreamscape, I didn't know what method she used to inflict real pain on me.
Having regained her composure, Fifth Princess spoke, "Do you know what I overheard?"
I played along, shaking my head to indicate I didn't.
"General Zuo is speaking with the group pursuing me," she said, then slammed her palm onto the stone table. Instantly, a crack appeared on the table, and with a boom, it shattered into dust.
I was stunned, thinking inwardly how close that was. If that palm had landed on me, wouldn't I have died instantly?
"Do you know, ten years ago, it was that villain Zuo Quan who arranged for people to hunt me? My mother also died by his hand, and my father's whereabouts are unknown because of him. Therefore, I must kill that villain Zuo Quan, or I would be a disgrace to my lineage."
The last few words were roared by Fifth Princess, accompanied by a visible ripple of energy emanating from her body. I instinctively ducked and sprawled on the ground. The entire pavilion was struck as if by a tsunami, instantly reduced to powder, and even the Yin Bamboo in the distance was blown away in swathes.
Looking at the scene of devastation before me, my heart skipped a beat.
"This Fifth Princess is too terrifying! More violent than the person outside."
"Indeed, talking to someone is the best way to relieve stress." After her outburst, Fifth Princess looked at me sprawled on the ground with some curiosity and asked, "Why are you lying on the ground? Is there a treasure there?"
I quickly got up from the ground, brushing dust off myself to alleviate the embarrassment of being scared to the point of lying down.
"No, I dropped something just now, and I was looking for it."
I made up an excuse. I couldn't possibly say that her outburst had scared me to the ground, could I? Besides, she wasn't blind; couldn't she see that the surroundings had been ravaged as if by a typhoon?
Fifth Princess glanced at me suspiciously, then looked around. "I'm sorry! I lost control for a moment, so I got a bit agitated."
"It's fine, it's fine. As long as you're happy," I quickly said I didn't mind. As long as you're happy, but inwardly I thought, "How dare I mind? Your shout is more powerful than the Roar of the Eastern Lion! If I minded, I'd be turned into powder by you."
"It's good that you don't mind. However, I don't want anyone else to know about what happened today. You know what I mean?"
I nodded like a pecking chicken, "Understood, completely understood. I will definitely keep silent."
"That's good," Fifth Princess nodded in satisfaction and continued, "Then do you know what I sent you to do?"
Just as I was about to nod and say I knew, I suddenly realized and looked at her strangely, "Know what? I don't know anything."
What a joke! From what you're saying, you want me to go kill Zuo Quan. Isn't that like an old man wanting to hang himself?
I definitely can't help with this grudge. You, with your high cultivation, can't deal with Zuo Quan, so how could I, a living person, possibly deal with him?
Seeing my panicked expression, she chuckled.
"Look at how scared you are. Do you think I'm asking you to kill Zuo Quan?"
I looked at Fifth Princess with suspicion, "Aren't you?"
"Of course not. I'm not so foolish as to ask you to deal with him. That villain is not someone you can kill yet."
I strongly agreed with this point and quickly nodded, adding, "Fifth Princess is absolutely right. With my frail body, let alone killing Zuo Quan, I'd be half-dead if I encountered even a slightly powerful old ghost."
"Then what do you want me to do?"
Her eyes flickered, and she said word by word, "I want you to subdue the me outside."
I stared at Fifth Princess, somewhat dumbfounded, "Are you kidding me?"
Fifth Princess looked at me intently, "Do you think I'm joking?"
I plopped down onto the ground. "Just kill me then. How could I possibly defeat you? You destroyed the entire pavilion with just one shout, and the one outside is even fiercer than you, more terrifying than a tigress..."
Seeing Fifth Princess's darkening gaze, I couldn't finish my sentence. If I said any more, she would surely dismantle me right then.
"Stop saying useless things. You have to do this, whether you want to or not. It's up to you."
Seeing her eyes starting to glow blue again, I quickly nodded like a pecking chicken, "You decide. Whatever you say, I'll do. But you have to tell me what's going on, right? Why are there two of you?"
Fifth Princess sighed, "The one outside is the manifestation of my evil thoughts, occupying the main soul body. My soul body has too little good thought to suppress the evil thoughts, which is why it has become that way."
Hearing her explanation, I became even more confused and asked strangely, "What evil thoughts and good thoughts? I don't quite understand."
"Did you study the Three Character Classic?"
I nodded, "Of course, I studied that."
"'At the beginning of life, man's nature is good. Natures approximate, habits diverge...' This speaks of how at birth, human nature is good, but after certain experiences, one might turn bad. Therefore, whether good or bad, everyone has an innate evil nature within, but it's usually suppressed by their good nature and rarely shows itself. As for me, because I know my father and mother were both harmed by the villain Zuo Quan, and coupled with the dense Yin energy of the Yin Bamboo forest, my evil thoughts have accumulated and taken over my spirit body, suppressing my good thoughts to the point where they can't lift their heads."
After listening, I finally understood why I had seen two energies battling within Fifth Princess. I had thought she had a split personality; it turned out to be a struggle between good and evil thoughts. No wonder the two energies looked like they were from the same source.
"Then what do you want me to do? Let me say first, I can't defeat your evil thoughts. I managed to trick her once, but if she catches me, she'll skin me alive."
Fifth Princess raised an eyebrow. "I know everything you've done. If it weren't for the fact that you haven't been too excessive towards me, I would have let the evil thoughts deal with you long ago. I wouldn't have the time to talk to you here."
Seeing the anger about to flare up in her eyes again, I knew she must have thought of something, otherwise she wouldn't look at me like that.
Before she could erupt, I quickly said, "Don't get angry. Tell me what to do, and I'll do it. Even if it means going through mountains of knives or seas of fire, I won't hesitate."
"Who asked you to go through mountains of knives or seas of fire?" Fifth Princess gave me a sideways glance. "You've been asleep for quite some time, and it's almost noon. In a moment, you'll take my personal jade pendant and find an opportunity to place it on her heart. Then I will naturally suppress the evil thoughts."
With that, she moved her right hand, and a jade pendant slowly floated towards me from her body.
Feeling a warmth emanating from the jade pendant in my hand, I asked worriedly, "Won't I get hit this time?"
The previous incident of groping was still fresh in my mind. I certainly didn't want to be slapped again for that. But as soon as the words left my mouth.
*Slap!*
"Shameless!"
Then I felt a sharp pain on my face, and I sat up from the bed. Touching my stinging cheek and the jade pendant in my hand, I couldn't help but think, "Even the good thoughts aren't kind!"