The items in the room, though mostly destroyed by the two, still left the doors and windows intact. Even if the window had been broken, there were no trees outside. Where on earth did this thing come from?
Zhao Yuying glanced at Qian Ye, her eyes gleaming unnervingly.
Qian Ye shrugged and spread his hands, indicating that he was not involved. To be honest, he was a bit annoyed. He had been under pressure facing Zhao Yuying earlier and couldn’t pay attention to the surroundings. Now that the atmosphere had relaxed, he felt as if he was being secretly observed.
Clearly, this leaf acted like an eye. The conversation and battle between him and Zhao Yuying might have been witnessed by someone. As for who secretly infiltrated their domain, did it need to be asked?
Song Zining, originally more careful, might have been too shocked by the sight of Qian Ye and Zhao Yuying’s battle. Or perhaps the residual power from both sides had shaken his domain, causing him to accidentally drop a leaf.
Zhao Yuying suddenly sneered, “Dare to play tricks in front of me!”
She raised her slender, delicate yet powerful hand and slapped, not at a person, but at the floating autumn leaf.
A sharp sound echoed. The slap landed on the leaf, producing a crisp sound, startling Qian Ye.
It was just a fallen leaf, but it felt as if she had slapped someone’s face. As if to answer Qian Ye’s confusion, a pained cry sounded from outside, suggesting that someone indeed received a slap.
Zhao Yuying smirked, raising her palm again, saying to the leaf, “Keep pretending! Go on, keep pretending!”
Just as she was about to slap again, a shout came from outside, and Song Zining rushed in, pleading, “Spare me, my lady!”
Zhao Yuying gave Song Zining a sidelong glance, asking, “What did you just call me?”
Song Zining straightened his clothes, opening and closing his expensive fan, and said seriously, “Your beauty is beyond comparison, your figure and grace are unparalleled, and your skills are exceptional. You are beautiful inside and out. Though the word ‘beauty’ is mundane, it suits you perfectly!”
Qian Ye was dumbfounded. He suddenly wanted to pretend he didn’t know this guy. This was the first time he had seen Song Zining flirt, and he couldn’t find words to describe his feelings.
But then, Qian Ye noticed a change on one side of Song Zining’s face—a clear palm print with five distinct fingers. It was clearly from Zhao Yuying’s hand.
Though her slap hit the leaf, it actually landed on Song Zining’s face. Realizing that her second slap was coming, he hurried out to avoid getting the other side of his face slapped.
Hearing Song Zining’s shameless and brazen flattery, Zhao Yuying seemed stunned, then asked, “Am I really… so good?”
“Of course! When have I ever lied?” Song Zining said with righteous indignation, as if Zhao Yuying’s question offended him. He flipped his fan, revealing another masterpiece, and waved it, declaring, “If you’re not a beauty, who else could be?”
Qian Ye felt a bit dizzy, and his body swayed. Zhao Yuying’s reaction nearly made him fall over.
Zhao Yuying looked happy and a bit shy. She reached out, grabbed the leaf, and twirled it between her fingers, asking, “Are you telling the truth?”
“Absolutely true!” Song Zining replied with great fervor.
Qian Ye was amazed. He never knew flirting could be so shameless. The crude and direct flattery worked, and he didn’t know whether to admire the man or the woman.
Meanwhile, Song Zining secretly watched Zhao Yuying’s reaction and breathed a sigh of relief, glad to have passed another hurdle. This woman was extremely formidable, capable of counteracting his domain, which was rare even for an eleventh-level warlord.
At that moment, Zhao Yuying’s eyes lit up, and she sneered, “How dare you use those tricks on me? I’ve seen it all. Do you think I’d believe your lies?”
She squeezed the leaf with her hand. With her strength, even a metal leaf would crumble.
Qian Ye didn’t understand why Zhao Yuying was so harsh on the leaf, but recalling the slap that landed on Song Zining, he began to see the connection.
When he looked at Song Zining again, his expression was priceless, as if he was trying to scream but couldn’t. He wondered which part of Song Zining the squeezing of the leaf was affecting. Judging from his expression, it wasn’t pleasant.
Suddenly, Qian Ye’s eyes turned sapphire blue, and he saw many lines of primordial power.
He recognized the faint, net-like green glow, which resembled the veins on a Bodhi leaf—this was Song Zining’s domain.
The net was contracting, most of it already escaping, except for a portion trapped by a purple-black dawn power. Every time the purple light quivered, waves of primordial power surged along the lines into the void.
Qian Ye grasped some understanding, deepening his comprehension of the visualization of primordial power.
Finally, the leaf, unable to bear the humiliation, flashed and transformed back into primordial power, returning to its origin. In Qian Ye’s real vision, the warring primordial powers dissipated.
Song Zining breathed a sigh of relief, stepping back, looking at Zhao Yuying as if she were a snake. Qian Ye, with his keen eyes, noticed that his fingers were trembling.
Song Zining finally put away his frivolous attitude, his face serious as he looked at Qian Ye, “Are you okay, Qian Ye? Is she… your friend?”
The bedroom was like a tornado had just passed through, almost all furniture shattered, a scene of devastation.
Zhao Yuying, however, had an exaggerated smile, “So, planning to get revenge? Fine, I’ll give you a chance. Choose your fight, one-on-one or group, I’m Zhao Yuying, from the Zhao Clan of Yanyun!”
“Zhao Yuying?” Song Zining was stunned, his hostility vanishing, his expression becoming incredibly complex.
“How? Have you heard of me before?”
Song Zining gritted his teeth, “Zhao Junhong! I won’t let this go!”
Zhao Yuying was confused, “What does this have to do with the second brother?”
“Nothing, I’ll take my leave.” Song Zining returned to normal, bowed slightly to Zhao Yuying, and left. Before he left, he turned and said sincerely, “Lady Zhao, in all honesty, the word ‘beauty’ is quite fitting for you.”
Zhao Yuying was taken aback, unsure whether to react, but Song Zining was already far gone.
“Who is this pretty boy? Why does he hate Junhong so much?” Zhao Yuying asked.
Qian Ye knew the reason for Song Zining’s reaction. Zhao Junhong had proposed a marriage alliance, and Song Zining had later told Qian Ye about his thoughts.
Song Zining wasn’t opposed to the marriage, given his awkward position in the Song family. A powerful in-law could be a way to gain independence. The Zhao family was far stronger than the independent dukes and marquises. Compared to the Zhao Clan, the young lady of the Yu Kingdom was of higher status and value, and was said to be quite capable, not just a showpiece.
However, Song Zining hadn’t decided to publicly leave the Song family, so he hadn’t agreed, though he had considered it seriously.
Today, meeting Zhao Yuying, Song Zining realized what a natural nemesis looked like. He now hated the second brother and was even more afraid. If he had agreed back then, his life would have been ruined.
Naturally, Qian Ye wouldn’t tell Zhao Yuying everything, only saying, “He’s Song Zining, the seventh of the Song family, and my brother.”
Zhao Yuying, who had heard of Song Zining, raised an eyebrow, “So it’s him. I can understand not recognizing the fourth, but calling this weakling your brother? Don’t be surprised if the fourth tears him apart.”
Qian Ye focused on the important parts of Zhao Yuying’s speech, ignoring the coarse language. How could a noblewoman speak like a street thug? But Zhao Yuying understood Zhao Jundu, and the fourth indeed had such intentions.
Since Song Zining was already far gone, Qian Ye didn’t want to drag him in, so he asked, “You mentioned that Zhao Jundu offended many people. What happened?”
Zhao Yuying said, “You must be the bastard son from the uncle’s house who was kidnapped when he was young, right?”
Qian Ye’s face changed slightly.
Zhao Yuying looked at Qian Ye, puzzled, “You don’t know? Or was there something fishy about that event?”
Qian Ye took a deep breath, struggling to remain calm, and asked, “What have you heard about it?”
Zhao Yuying knew very little. It was said that Zhao Wei Huang’s family once had a bastard son, about a year older than Zhao Ruoxi, who was abducted by assassins over a decade ago, and was never seen again.
Qian Ye had never imagined there was such a story.
The worst thing that happened to him was the primordial power theft, and Zhao Jundu should know the truth, otherwise, he wouldn’t have checked his wounds. But Zhao Yuying, a core disciple of the Zhao family and granddaughter of the Duke of Yu, seemed to know nothing.
Frustrated, Qian Ye realized talking to the uninformed Zhao Yuying was pointless. He returned to the original question, “What about Zhao Jundu?”
“A few days ago, he announced that he would recognize a younger brother, adding him to the clan records and setting him up in his household,” Zhao Yuying explained, seeing the confusion on Qian Ye’s face, knowing he didn’t understand the significance of Zhao Jundu’s actions.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage