Chapter 34: The Magic Lamp Awakens the Sleeping Beauty

Without a word, Ye Qing lunged forward, his greatsword sweeping directly toward the Rose Prince’s head.

The Rose Prince, however, did not dodge or parry. Instead, he raised one hand, which morphed into a pitch-black claw, and grabbed the blade of the greatsword. With a single tug of his dragon-like claw, he pulled Ye Qing off balance and slammed his other fist into Ye Qing’s chest. Ye Qing lost his grip on the sword and was sent flying, crashing through the decorative structures of the garden.

He scrambled to his feet instantly, but the Rose Prince was already upon him, kicking him away again.

Outside the manor, Snow White watched as soldiers surrounded the estate, her expression filled with worry. She did not know what was happening inside, but she knew it was far from simple.

"Huh?"

Just then, she bent down, spotting a small creature hopping along the ground.

"Little one, how did you get here?" She cupped her hands to lift it up until it was level with her face. It was a bright green little frog, quite charming to look at.

She never expected the frog to leap with all its might, its mouth brushing against her lips.

"Ah!"

Startled, Snow White fell backward, losing her grip on the frog. But when she looked up, the frog was gone; in its place knelt a handsome youth, bare-chested.

"Thank you, beautiful princess, you have saved me!" the Frog Prince said with heartfelt gratitude.

"You..." Snow White was bewildered by the sudden transformation.

"I was cursed by a wicked sorcerer to be a frog, and now, thanks to your kiss, I have been restored!" The Frog Prince stood up excitedly and took Snow White’s hand. "Your Highness, please let me thank you properly!"

Ignoring the two of them, the battle inside the manor had reached a fever pitch. Ye Qing relied on the power of the Azure Dragon to protect his body, allowing him to recover rapidly from the Rose Prince’s blows. But he knew this couldn't last—his strength was bound to run out eventually.

"I am an Executioner," Ye Qing said calmly. "I am currently dealing with an unauthorized transmigrator. I require your assistance; each of you shall be rewarded with a copper badge!"

[Assist the Executioner in eliminating the unauthorized transmigrator!]
[Mission Reward: Unlock the Merit Shop, one copper badge!]

Having just used his authority to initiate the quest, the nearby players received the notification. Murong Xun did not quite understand what the Merit Shop was, but judging by the reactions of the others, it was likely something valuable.

Zhong Ye immediately unleashed his attack with eight banners. Ye Cangyi, whose appearance was nearly identical to Ye Qing’s, drew the sword from his back and joined the fray. The Rose Prince, who had just dodged Zhong Ye’s attack, was forced to sidestep to avoid Ye Cangyi’s strike. Seeing another person identical to Ye Qing, he was curious.

"Oh? Brothers-in-arms, are we?" Though he said this, he showed no fear; if Ye Qing alone was no match for him, then Ye Cangyi certainly wouldn't be either.

He continued to evade Zhong Ye’s attacks with ease. Ding Xiang, who had previously been providing support from a distance, rolled up his soul banner, transforming the pole into a long spear.

"Roar—"

A phantom of a Lightning Lion roared behind him. Soul Banner Masters were known for imprinting soul beasts, and the Lightning Lion was one of his. Under the assault of the three, the Rose Prince was overwhelmed, finally giving Ye Qing a chance to catch his breath. With Ye Qing serving as the vanguard and the other three providing support, they finally managed to suppress the Rose Prince. Although they couldn't finish him off immediately, the stalemate ensured that the Rose Prince would eventually be defeated.

Meanwhile, the Rose Queen lay dying on the ground, and most of the banquet guests were scattered about, unconscious. Cinderella, hiding in a corner, remained confused, unable to comprehend how the situation had descended into such chaos.

As for Murong Xun, he was quietly moving the Deep Blue King and Queen to safety. They were the rightful monarchs, and if they could get out, they could still rally the troops, even if many of the nobles were already dead. The Black Dragon’s poison was potent, but it could not stop him. The King, a man of reason, took the Queen’s hand and followed Murong Xun in silence.

"Stop them!"

The Rose Prince had noticed. Unable to break away from the fight, he ordered the guards surrounding the estate to intercept them. If the Deep Blue King escaped to lead an army, all his plans would fail.

"Yes!" The soldiers charged. These were elite troops trained by the Rose Prince using special methods, boasting immense combat power—truly formidable soldiers for this era.

But at the end of the day, they were merely mortals. To Murong Xun, they were easily cut down one by one. He protected the King and Queen as they broke out, failing to notice Cinderella watching his retreating figure with a look of profound loss.

Escaping the manor was not difficult, as Murong Xun’s strength far exceeded that of an average Tier 0 player. With the Rose Prince’s limited number of soldiers, the defensive line was easily breached. Once outside, the trio headed straight for their carriage.

"Take me with you! Take me!" A voice called out from the side—it was Aladdin. "I must wake the princess; take me with you!"

"You can wake the princess?" The Deep Blue King looked at him with agitation. The Queen, though silent, shared his expression.

"Of course!" Aladdin smiled proudly, clutching his magic lamp. "I can definitely wake her!"

Murong Xun did not waste time. Once they boarded the carriage—chosen because it was pulled by two horses, allowing for greater speed—they sped off. In the silent night, the only sound was the magnificent carriage racing through the empty streets.

They soon arrived at the palace. The King went to mobilize his troops, while the Queen, filled with hope, led Aladdin and Murong Xun to the princess’s chambers.

The three stopped at the threshold. The palace was overgrown with vibrant, blooming roses. They could not pass, and in the center of the sea of flowers, a figure lay in slumber. The Queen looked at Aladdin with fervent expectation. She prayed that he could truly wake her daughter. The prophets had said that when the princess’s true love arrived, the roses would part to clear a path, but seeing the unmoving flowers, her heart sank.

Aladdin, however, calmly took the lamp and rubbed it three times.

"Master, what is your command?" The Genie appeared once more.

"I need to wake that girl!" Aladdin ordered.

"As you wish, my master!" The Genie flew over the sleeping princess and blew a breath upon her.

The ailment that had plagued the Deep Blue King and Queen for years was dispelled by a single breath from the magic lamp. The surrounding roses withered away, as if they had never existed, leaving only the lavish bed and the girl awakening as if from a dream.

Aladdin looked at the beautiful princess with immense satisfaction. She would be his future wife. It was well worth the precious wish to break her curse.

The Queen, who had not spoken for years, finally found her voice. "My dear daughter!" As she spoke, she could no longer hold back her emotions, and tears streamed down her face. As she wept, several gold coins appeared on the palace floor—this was the Queen’s curse: whenever she spoke, gold would fall.

With the mission to wake the princess complete, Murong Xun ignored the touching mother-daughter reunion. He had no interest in how Aladdin would court the princess. He went to find the King and discovered he had already rallied a significant force to march on the manor. As a kingdom, Deep Blue possessed its own strength; even if the King had neglected state affairs for years, the foundation remained. It was not a nation to be easily bullied.

The army’s movement was slow, so Murong Xun didn't wait for them and set off on his own. With the Rose Prince dealt with, this matter could be put to rest.

Upon learning his daughter had awakened, the King hesitated. He wanted to see her, but he also wanted to personally lead the troops to finish off the Rose Prince. In the end, his love as a father won out. He would see his daughter first; everything else could wait. If he were a man who prioritized state affairs, the kingdom would not be in its current state.

Put simply, he was a good father, but a poor king. Between the nation and his family, he always chose the latter. This time was no exception. He had already lost one child; now that his daughter had finally awakened, he refused to wait a single moment longer. He wanted to be by her side. And the Queen, his most beloved—after so many years of silence, he wondered if things would change for her now.