This selection was decided jointly by the three great families of the Southern Borders and their elders!

And even though I'm also at the Refinement Realm, the gap between me and the disciples from the other two families is far too wide! I don't stand a chance! How could I possibly become Young Master Chen's handmaid? This… this is simply too humiliating!

"Since you're unwilling, then forget it." Chen Zheng shook his head and turned to leave.

"No! I... I'm willing!" Zhao Yumei reacted instantly. She dashed forward and grabbed his arm, genuinely terrified of this Young Master Chen. If she hadn't dodged so quickly just now, she would have been reduced to a pile of withered bones!

This Young Master Chen is truly terrifying!

"Are you sure you want to be my handmaid?" Chen Zheng turned and glanced at her.

"Yes!" Zhao Yumei nodded vigorously.

"Fine then, you can stay," Chen Zheng replied with a nod.

"Young Master Chen..." Zhao Yumei stood stunned for a few seconds before suddenly wrapping her arms around Chen Zheng's waist, her entire body trembling with excitement.

Holy crap! This is amazing! I've never experienced anything like this in my entire life! And I'm being hugged by a man! This is the happiest moment of my life; nothing can compare!

"Let go. Don't forget, I'm a man," Chen Zheng said speechlessly, his eyes drifting toward Zhao Yumei's chest.

So what if he's a man! Can't a man have a woman?

"Uh..." Startled, Zhao Yumei quickly released her hold, a blush creeping up her cheeks.

"What's with that expression? Are you disappointed?" Chen Zheng glanced at her and asked indifferently.

"Ah?" Zhao Yumei was slightly taken aback. She never would have expected him to say something like that.

"When I asked you a question earlier, why didn't you answer? You've never been like that before," Chen Zheng stated, looking at her coldly.

"..." Upon hearing this, Zhao Yumei's pretty face turned an even deeper shade of red. For some reason, she felt utterly ashamed.

"Alright, you don't need to follow me. Just go on back," Chen Zheng said, turning to leave.

"I don't want to go back... I don't want to go back! I'm just a lowly slave... I want to stay by your side and serve you, Young Master Chen! I know I'm not qualified to be your handmaid, but I beg you not to send me away! Please... I'm begging you..."

The moment Zhao Yumei saw him preparing to leave, she fell to her knees with a thud. Her voice trembled and her eyes grew red. She was truly terrified. The incident just now had left a deep and horrifying impression on her.

Young Master Chen... he's simply too powerful! Zhao Yumei feared this young man from the very bottom of her heart.

"You wish to follow me?" Chen Zheng paused, his gaze settling on her.

"Yes! I want to follow you, Young Master Chen!" Zhao Yumei nodded desperately.

"Very well. Since you're not ashamed of it, I can't be bothered with you. Do as you wish." Chen Zheng shot her a glance and began walking off into the distance.

"Young Master Chen, my name is Zhao Yumei..."

Hearing him say that, Zhao Yumei froze.

Young Master Chen just said my name is Zhao Yumei! This... this... What in the world is happening? How does he know me?

"Zhao Yumei? Your surname is Zhao, from the Zhao Clan. You must be the granddaughter of Family Head Zhao Wenbin, correct?" Chen Zheng turned his head, looking at her with a placid expression.

Zhao Wenbin... The Zhao Clan...

Zhao Yumei was dumbfounded. She didn't know how to explain. She was, indeed, a young lady of the Zhao Clan, as her grandmother was from there.

"If you're Zhao Yumei, then our Zhao Clan certainly wouldn't need these things," Chen Zheng said flatly as he looked at her. "But since you had the courage to enter the Zhao Clan's selection, you shouldn't be lacking in Spiritual Medicine and elixirs, right?"

"Young Master Chen... you must have misunderstood... I'm not from the Zhao Clan..." Zhao Yumei hastily tried to explain.

Although she was part of the Zhao Clan, she was from a concubine's lineage. She had been forgotten and left to fend for herself outside the clan, receiving no care or support whatsoever. Because of this, she had been living in utter destitution, forced to do all sorts of menial jobs and even suffering abuse from the clan's servants. She was deeply grateful to Young Master Chen for this chance to escape her fate, but she had no idea that he was the very same Chen Zheng whose name and status were so terrifyingly powerful. If she knew his true identity, she likely would have been scared out of her wits.

"Oh? Not from the Zhao Clan? Then where are you from?" Chen Zheng raised an eyebrow, staring at her with a half-smile.

Zhao Yumei grew nervous under his scrutiny. "This... I can't tell you... Young Master Chen... please, just let me go..." she bit her lip and pleaded, bowing her head.

"You can't say? Then I'll have no choice but to hand you over to the authorities and let them deal with you," Chen Zheng stated expressionlessly.

Zhao Yumei's face turned deathly pale. Her father was from the direct line of the Zhao Clan—and one of its most outstanding members at that. Her mother was the clan's Great Elder. The Zhao Clan was a super-faction in the Southern Wasteland, and though they didn't serve the Southern Wasteland's emperor directly, they wielded immense power and authority.

"Young Master Chen, I don't want to be arrested! Please, let me go!" Zhao Yumei cried, begging for mercy. Her mother was the most distinguished woman in the clan, which was backed by several experts who had surpassed the Nine Heavens. If she were captured, there would be no escaping punishment. She couldn't bear the thought of being locked away and forced to do menial labor every day. The Zhao Clan was a great power in the Southern Wasteland, but they were nothing before Young Master Chen!

"Hmph!" Chen Zheng snorted.

BANG!

With a swing of his right hand, he sent her flying.

"Ah!" Zhao Yumei cried out in pain as she felt herself slam into an invisible wall.

"You'd do well to remember that my patience is limited," he warned. "I don't care if you're from the main line of the Zhao Clan or just some distant relative. If you dare to scheme against me, Chen Zheng, then don't blame me for being merciless!"

"Young Master Chen!" Zhao Yumei clutched her nose, staring at him in horror.

Young Master Chen... This time... I've really gotten myself into serious trouble!

"Get out," Chen Zheng said, retracting his divine power. He gave her an indifferent glance and waved his hand dismissively.

"Young Master Chen, thank you for saving me," Zhao Yumei quickly said. She didn't dare linger a moment longer and scurried away.

Once she was gone, Chen Zheng turned to walk toward the front courtyard.

Just then, a chorus of shouts erupted. "Who are you! How dare you trespass in the imperial palace! That's a crime punishable by death! Guards!"

Chen Zheng turned his head and saw a group of guards completely surrounding him.

"Heh, are casual visitors not allowed within the imperial palace?" he asked with a faint smile. His cultivation had already reached the peak of the Transformation Realm; even if all these guards swarmed him at once, they couldn't harm him in the slightest.

"You're courting death!"

"Men, seize this intruder!"

"Quickly, report to the Emperor!" the guards roared, infuriated by his words.

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