“The Dragon King knows full well that Qingxue is no match for you, so why force the issue?”
Yun Qingxue fell silent for a moment before speaking, her eyes flickering with emotion.
Jin Lin had remained haughty and aloof from start to finish. Upon hearing Yun Qingxue’s words, he sneered coldly, “This Sovereign has already given you a chance. If the Flower King dares not, then obediently return the Sacred Snake A-Dai to me, and I may let bygones be bygones!”
“This Sovereign will compete in her stead!” Cang Yan’s gaze was as cold as ice. Jin Lin’s relentless pressure on Yun Qingxue right before him was a blatant insult to his dignity! If he allowed Yun Qingxue to be bullied in his presence, he, the Beast King, would soon become the laughingstock of the entire Xuanling Continent!
That was exactly the response Jin Lin had been waiting for. Concealing his delight, he narrowed his eyes slightly and glanced at Yun Qingxue. After a moment of apparent deliberation, he said, “Very well! This Sovereign agrees to the Beast King’s substitution, lest anyone accuse me of bullying the weak!”
“Attendants!” Cang Yan commanded, and several guards swiftly appeared in the previously empty space, led by his trusted aide, Qing Yan.
“Greetings, Your Majesty, Flower King,” the guards bowed respectfully to Cang Yan and Yun Qingxue.
With a wave of his hand, Cang Yan solemnly ordered, “Escort the Flower King back to her palace to rest. Ensure she is well cared for and guarded. Any negligence will be severely punished!”
“As you command,” the guards replied deferentially.
Qing Yan stepped forward slightly and bowed to Yun Qingxue. “Your Majesty, this way, please.”
Yun Qingxue did not move immediately. Instead, she looked at Cang Yan and, after a brief silence, cautioned, “Be careful.”
Cang Yan smiled, the coldness on his face softening slightly. “Qingxue, rest assured. This Sovereign’s beast territory is not a place where just anyone can act recklessly!”
Yun Qingxue gave a faint smile and, as she turned away, quickly glanced at Jin Lin once more.
A subtle smile suddenly curled at the corner of Jin Lin’s lips. He had caught Yun Qingxue’s fleeting, almost imperceptible glance.
Though it lasted only a moment, the concern in her eyes had not escaped him.
Xuexue was worried about him—that was enough…
Love knows not its origin, yet it runs deep…
Under the protection of the guards sent by Cang Yan, Yun Qingxue walked step by step back to her residence in the Beast King’s palace.
She could only hope that no one would be harmed in the contest between Jin Lin and Cang Yan, that Jin Lin and Feng Zihuang could successfully stall Cang Yan, and that…
Tonight’s plan would proceed smoothly!
At Yun Qingxue’s residence in the Beast King’s palace, the maids who had earlier delivered flowers had all departed. Only Xiao Yao and Xiao Ling stood outside her palace doors, heads bowed respectfully.
“Your Majesty!” Xiao Ling greeted cheerfully upon seeing Yun Qingxue escorted back by the guards.
Yun Qingxue waved dismissively, signaling for her and Xiao Yao to rise before heading straight into the inner chamber.
Xiao Ling hurried after her and asked with a smile, “Has Your Majesty had breakfast yet?”
Yun Qingxue shook her head. “I’m not hungry.”
“His Majesty ordered us to take good care of you. If you skip breakfast, he will surely punish us when he finds out,” Xiao Ling said playfully, her tone more teasing than fearful.
Irritated, Yun Qingxue waved her off. “Leave me. I’m tired.”
Xiao Ling’s attempt to ingratiate herself and build rapport had been rebuffed, leaving her somewhat deflated.
The sun climbed to its zenith and then slowly descended.
The entire Beast King’s palace buzzed with talk of the ongoing duel in the royal gardens between Beast King Cang Yan and Dragon King Jin Lin.
Some marveled at the two kings’ formidable powers, others speculated about the outcome, and many debated the reason behind their clash.
In less than a day, countless versions of the story had already spread.
At the residence of the Fox Elder Qing Yuan, Qing Mei’er had smashed everything breakable in her room. The maids attending her stood with heads bowed, not daring to breathe too loudly.
The version of the duel that reached Qing Mei’er’s ears was that the Flower King’s unparalleled beauty had incited a rivalry between the Beast King and the Dragon King, leading to a fierce battle for her favor.
“Shameless! Absolutely shameless!” After destroying everything in the room, Qing Mei’er still felt no relief from the rage in her heart. She paced back and forth, her face twisted with fury as she spewed a stream of curses.
Meanwhile, in the front hall, Fox Elder Qing Yuan was busy entertaining several respected elders of the beast tribe.
Gathered together, Qing Yuan wore a practiced smile as he sat in the host’s seat. Without beating around the bush, he got straight to the point: “I presume all of you have heard about today’s events in the Beast King’s palace.”
Leopard Elder Shou Yang sipped his tea expressionlessly, while Bear Elder, his voice gruff, replied with little warmth, “We’ve heard something. Did you summon us here in such haste just to gossip about palace affairs?”
The last time Qing Yuan had used the excuse that the Dragon King and Phoenix King had come for the Flower King, invoking the tragedy of the previous Flower King Lan Xuechen’s marriage to the Demon King Yun Ye a thousand years ago, he had incited the group to petition Cang Yan to deal with the Flower King. This had left a lingering resentment among those present.
Thus, though they had come out of courtesy after receiving his invitation, their attitudes were perfunctory at best, and their wariness of Qing Yuan ran deep.
Having been made fools of once, none were eager for a repeat performance.
Qing Yuan’s expression turned slightly awkward. Suddenly, he rose from his seat and bowed deeply to his guests, clasping his fists in salute.
The elders exchanged puzzled glances, unsure what tactic Qing Yuan was employing this time.
“My previous actions were indeed ill-considered, dragging all of you into His Majesty’s reprimand. I am deeply ashamed!” Qing Yuan’s voice carried a note of genuine remorse.
“To err is human, to forgive divine. Let bygones be bygones, Fox Elder. There’s no need for this!”
“Indeed, Fox Elder, there’s no need to dwell on it.”
The invited guests quickly offered polite reassurances.
Leopard Elder Shou Yang took another sip of tea and set his cup down, remaining silent as he observed the scene.
“Ah!” Qing Yuan straightened with a sigh. “Though I have been stripped of my duties and live in retirement, my loyalty to the beast tribe has never wavered! When news of His Majesty’s duel with the Dragon King reached me, I grew deeply uneasy. That is why I shamelessly invited you all here today.”
“Fox Elder,” Leopard Elder Shou Yang finally spoke, his tone calm. “As subjects, it is our duty to share His Majesty’s burdens. But His Majesty has always been far-sighted. There is no need for us to panic at every shadow.”
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