Chapter 115: The Little Master of Drawing Hatred

Yun Qingxue silently watched Jin Lin and Cang Yan down their wine as if it were water.

Cang Yan smiled and casually remarked to Jin Lin and Feng Zihuang, “What do you think of today’s wine?”

“Sweet and mellow—excellent wine!” Feng Zihuang replied with a charming, carefree smile, appearing utterly relaxed.

Jin Lin also gave a faint smile, resisting the urge to glance at Yun Qingxue.

Since Xuexue didn’t want Cang Yan to know they were acquainted, he would respect her wishes.

As for the wine in his cup—when his heart was bitter, how could he even taste its quality?

“Good wine naturally deserves fine dishes. Don’t just drink—come, have some food!” Cang Yan urged with a smile.

Only then did Yun Qingxue notice the spread on the low tables before them. Feng Zihuang, the Phoenix King, had mostly seafood—river crabs, prawns, fish, and the like—on his table.

Jin Lin, the Dragon King, had mostly poultry—chicken, duck, eggs, and such.

Strangely, the only thing missing from the Beast Clan’s banquet was meat from land animals.

The Phoenix King ruled over all winged creatures, the Dragon King governed all aquatic life, and the Flower King presided over all plants.

Now… was Cang Yan deliberately serving the subjects of the other three clans—excluding himself—on the dining table?

And this was surely premeditated.

He placed the aquatic creatures under Jin Lin’s rule on Feng Zihuang’s table, and the winged creatures under Feng Zihuang’s rule on Jin Lin’s table, forcing them to consume each other’s subjects.

As for her own table, it was a mix of winged creatures (chicken, duck), aquatic creatures (fish, shrimp), and plant-based dishes (greens).

“Qingxue, didn’t you say you hadn’t eaten tonight? Have some—I’d hate for you to starve,” Cang Yan said, picking up a vegetable and placing it in her bowl.

Yun Qingxue stared at the greens with a strange expression. Vegetables… she had eaten them for so long, yet only now did she realize that what lay on the plate was also her own people.

Come to think of it, the most consumed beings in the world were the subjects of her Flower Clan. Staple foods like wheat, rice, fruits—apples, pears, oranges, hawthorns, watermelons—all belonged to her domain.

Only now did she realize how great her Flower Clan truly was. Her people, generation after generation, sacrificed themselves to nourish countless lives.

But there was no cruelty in this. The natural order dictated that plants, before attaining enlightenment, had life and could grow and reproduce, but lacked consciousness, emotions, or the ability to perceive pain or death.

They flourished in spring and withered in autumn—nurtured by heaven and earth, in turn nurturing all living beings.

Vegetables on the table were part of nature’s cycle. But the poultry and fish served to the others? That was sheer predation.

After all, these creatures, though many had not attained enlightenment, could still feel pain and perceive life and death.

Even if domesticated fowl and fish were considered lowly beings, they were still subjects of the Phoenix or Dragon Clan.

To make Feng Zihuang and Jin Lin watch as their own people were consumed—Cang Yan was truly despicable!

What was even more astonishing was that Feng Zihuang and Jin Lin managed to restrain themselves from joining forces to beat him up.

“Qingxue, why aren’t you eating?” Cang Yan frowned when he noticed she hadn’t touched her chopsticks.

Yun Qingxue snapped out of her thoughts—she had wandered too far in her musings.

She rubbed her temples. “Perhaps drinking on an empty stomach has made me a little lightheaded.”

“In that case, let me escort you back to rest,” Cang Yan offered, reaching out to help her up.

The way Feng Zihuang and Jin Lin had been looking at Yun Qingxue had irritated him for a while. This was the perfect opportunity to remove her from their sight—and flaunt their closeness to spite those two single dogs.

Yun Qingxue stopped his hand. “There are still honored guests here. I can return on my own.”

*Let you escort me? I’d rather stay as far away from you as possible!*

Cang Yan hesitated, then smiled. “In my heart, no one is more important than you, Qingxue.”

Yun Qingxue didn’t know how to react. His words left her speechless. Cang Yan was clearly using this moment to elevate her status while subtly belittling Feng Zihuang and Jin Lin.

The implied meaning was: *In the eyes of me, the Beast King, you Phoenix and Dragon Kings are nothing!*

What a perfect way to provoke hostility.

*Beast King, are you treating your ‘guests’ like air?*

Cang Yan kept stirring trouble, overtly and covertly, but Yun Qingxue had no intention of becoming his accomplice.

“I appreciate your concern. But guests must be treated with courtesy. If the Beast Clan loses face because of me, I’d feel guilty.”

Cang Yan frowned again, his gaze lingering on her with apparent reluctance and worry.

“Qingyan!” he called.

Qingyan, who had been waiting outside the hall, entered immediately. “Your orders, my lord?”

“Escort the Flower King back to her quarters,” Cang Yan instructed. Then he added, “Have the maids at Boxi Palace prepare sobering soup, and summon the royal physician to stand by outside.”

“Yes,” Qingyan replied respectfully.

Cang Yan then declared with authority, “Tell the maids at Boxi Palace—if they neglect their duties in the slightest, they will face severe punishment!”

“As you command.” Qingyan bowed again, expressionless.

Once the orders were given, Cang Yan turned back to Yun Qingxue, his stern demeanor melting into tenderness. “Rest well, Qingxue. I’ll visit you later.”

“Alright,” Yun Qingxue replied with a faint smile, inwardly marveling at how swiftly Cang Yan could switch masks.

As before, she was carried back to her residence in a palanquin under Qingyan’s escort.

Qingyan relayed Cang Yan’s instructions, and the maids of Boxi Palace immediately sprang into action.

The fates of Fox Elder and Qing Mei’er served as stark warnings. With the Beast King’s direct orders, everyone worked with extreme caution, terrified of making even the slightest mistake.