MTLNOVEL Chapter 501: The Dagger Unsheathed
Chapter 501: The Dagger Unsheathed
At this moment, a tall beauty stood up beside Jun Yunzheng. With his arm around her, he walked toward Lin Fengmian and the other two.
The woman had fair skin and striking features, standing half a head taller than Jun Yunzheng, creating a stark contrast between them.
However, Jun Yunzheng didn’t seem to mind at all. With the beauty in his arms, he calmly approached Lin Fengmian.
“Junior Brother Wuxie, why are you so late?”
Lin Fengmian smiled and replied, “The two beauties took some time to get ready. I’m not late, am I?”
“Not late, but everyone was waiting for you, the star of the night. Don’t you think you should punish yourself with a drink?” Jun Yunzheng chuckled.
“Brother, what are you talking about? Tonight, you’re the star. I’m just here to accompany you.”
Lin Fengmian’s smile was bright. The two of them chatted and laughed, with no trace of tension between them.
This was the so-called grace of royal descendants. Even though they had already torn off all pretense, they still had to maintain a facade of peace.
Jun Yunzheng introduced the woman to Lin Fengmian, “This is Qin Yan, Senior Sister Cen of Junyan Palace. This is my thirteenth brother, Jun Wuxie.”
Lin Fengmian quickly estimated Qin Yan’s strength-Soul Severing Realm!
Jun Yunzheng really had some tricks up his sleeve!
The two exchanged polite greetings, and then Jun Yunzheng looked at Shangguan Qiong and the other woman, smiling, “Aren’t you going to introduce them to me, Brother?”
Lin Fengmian wrapped his arm around Shangguan Qiong and said, “This is the sect master of the Joyful Union Sect, Fairy Shangguan.”
Shangguan Qiong nodded slightly with a graceful smile, appearing calm and composed without a hint of nervousness.
“So this is the widely known Fairy Shangguan. I’ve heard your name for a long time, and now I finally have the chance to meet you.”
Jun Yunzheng’s smile was warm, exuding an air of courtesy. Then, his gaze shifted to You Yao.
You Yao wished that she could dig a hole and disappear, hoping to avoid the embarrassment of being exposed.
Lin Fengmian was surprised that Jun Yunzheng didn’t recognize You Yao. Seeing her unease, he smiled faintly.
“This beauty is a bit shy. Brother, you’ll find out who she is in due time.”
Jun Yunzheng chuckled, “Are you afraid that I’ll steal her from you?”
At that moment, there was a commotion outside. It was clear that Jun Qingsheng and the others had arrived.
Lin Fengmian and Jun Yunzheng finished their disingenuous investigation and returned to their seats.
Shangguan Qiong and You Yao sat on either side of Lin Fengmian. Shangguan Qiong sent him a mental message, “This Qin Yan is also at the Soul Severing Realm. She’s not weak.”
Lin Fengmian acknowledged it, realizing that he had brought the right people with him. Otherwise, he might have been at a disadvantage.
On the other side, Qin Yan sent a mental message to Jun Yunzheng: “This Shangguan Yuqiong is at the peak of the Soul Severing Realm, but her aura feels weak, as if she’s injured.”
“As for the other woman, I can’t sense any cultivation from her. Either her cultivation is higher than mine, or she’s an ordinary person.”
Jun Yunzheng glanced at You Yao, who was nervously fidgeting, worried about exposing herself. He sneered coldly.
“She is definitely an ordinary person. This guy thinks he can scare me by bringing a random woman in an eye patch and pretending she’s You Yao?”
“He’s clever, but has he considered the reality of it?”
“Would You Yao wear such revealing clothes? Would she let him hold her like that?”
At that moment, a eunuch entered and announced, “His Majesty has arrived!”
Everyone stood up to greet him. Music filled the hall as Jun Qingsheng entered, accompanied by two women.
One of them was Consort Xuan, with whom Lin Fengmian was familiar. She had been brought here because of Lin Fengmian.
The other was a dignified and haughty woman holding a small white lion.
This woman was Ding Wanqiu, the mother of Jun Yunzheng, the younger sister of the current head of the Ding family, and the daughter of Grandmaster Ji Mu, Ding Fuxia.
Although Ding Wanqiu was beautiful, her thin lips and sharp features gave her a somewhat harsh appearance.
“Your son (subject) greets His Majesty, Her Majesty the Queen, and Consort Xuan.”
The three took their seats and Jun Qingsheng waved his hand, “We’re all family here. No need for formalities. Please sit down.”
Everyone responded and took their seats, waiting for Jun Qingsheng’s opening remarks.
Jun Qingsheng noticed everyone’s eyes on him and couldn’t help but laugh, “Why are you all staring at me? Now that everyone is here, let the banquet begin!”
His words broke the ice and the crowd laughed.
Beautiful palace maids moved among the tables, serving spirit fruits and fine wine. The hall was filled with music and dancing.
Jun Qingsheng chatted and laughed with everyone, toasting and drinking without a trace of royal aloofness. He successfully warmed up the atmosphere.
Lin Fengmian had no interest in these social niceties. He drank the spirit wine by himself, but he found it lacking.
Damn it, I’ve been drinking fake wine for too long. The real stuff doesn’t taste right anymore.
He shifted his attention to the spirit fruits, occasionally teasing Shangguan Qiong and the others.
Shangguan Qiong was somewhat annoyed and wanted to remind him several times:
You’re Jun Wuxie now!
Don’t act so recklessly. What if you’re found out?
But Lin Fengmian didn’t care. I know him better than you!
Someone as reclusive as Jun Wuxie wouldn’t feel comfortable at such a banquet.
It would be better if he stayed in the corner.
After several rounds of drinks, Jun Qingsheng, accompanied by Queen Ding Wanqiu and Consort Xuan, stood up and left, saying that they would leave the space to the younger generation.
Everyone stood up to see them off, knowing that the real show was about to begin.
Consort Xuan glanced back at Lin Fengmian with concern, worried that he might be bullied.
Lin Fengmian responded with a smile, showing no signs of worry.
After the three of them left, Jun Yunzheng didn’t immediately confront Lin Fengmian. Instead, he basked in the flattery of the crowd.
Listening to the endless stream of compliments, Lin Fengmian felt increasingly uncomfortable.
The constant flattery was impossible to ignore, so he could only pass the time by chatting with Shangguan Qiong and You Yao.
Lin Fengmian picked up a spirit fruit and offered it to Shangguan Qiong, saying, “This spirit fruit nourishes beauty. Try it, my dear.”
Shangguan Qiong opened her cherry-like lips and ate the fruit, smiling, “Thank you, Your Highness.”
Lin Fengmian caressed her jade-like leg and said with a sly smile, “Eat more to build up your strength. You’ll need it tonight.”
Shangguan Qiong shivered in fear and cast an angry glance at this increasingly bold man.
Lin Fengmian then turned to You Yao, who was sitting on pins and needles, and asked, “Why are you covering your neckline? Don’t you like the spirit fruits?”
He planned to feed her a spirit fruit as well.
But You Yao picked up a small knife from the table, so he had no choice but to eat the fruit himself.
“It is so delicious. You don’t know what you’re missing!”
“You like it, huh?”
You Yao smiled sweetly, “Here, let me feed you!”
She picked up a fist-sized spirit fruit, skin and all, and shoved it into Lin Fengmian’s mouth.
In front of everyone, Lin Fengmian had no choice but to eat it, nearly choking to death in the process.
Seeing his pained expression, You Yao seemed to enjoy it and fed him several more fruits.
Lin Fengmian, who hadn’t choked to death, was now on the verge of being stuffed to death.
Just as he was about to cry out in despair, someone came to his rescue.
After what felt like an eternity of flattery, Jun Yunzheng and his group finally revealed their true intentions and made their move against Lin Fengmian.
It started when a prince praised the graceful dance of the performers, and Ding Bonan suddenly laughed.
Jun Yunzheng pretended to be curious, “Bonan, why are you laughing?”
Ding Bonan replied, “These dances are so stiff and awkward, completely devoid of beauty. They’re not worth mentioning!”
His words made everyone curious, and they all turned to him, waiting for him to continue.
Jun Yunzheng played along, “Oh? Have you seen a more breathtaking performance?”
Ding Bonan said meaningfully, “I haven’t, but Brother Wuxie must have, right, Brother Wuxie?”