“The Dragon King’s imagination is truly vivid! Or perhaps, does the Dragon King often perform songs and dances personally to welcome guests, as a gesture of sincerity?” Cang Yan’s azure eyes turned to Jin Lin, a smile on his face but his gaze indifferent.
Their eyes met, and the temperature in the entire Chongming Hall seemed to drop inexplicably by several degrees.
Jin Lin was at a loss. He couldn’t stand seeing Cang Yan standing there, flaunting his affection with Xuexue, so he deliberately made that remark to belittle him. Yet, to his surprise, Cang Yan threw it all back at him!
How infuriating! Absolutely infuriating!
“What kind of talk is this, Beast King?” Jin Lin averted his gaze and looked toward Yun Qingxue, a faint smile curling on his lips, like the first thaw of winter snow.
“In this world, if there’s anyone worthy of this humble one personally performing songs and dances to welcome as a guest of the Water Tribe, it would only be the Flower King, whose beauty rivals the heavens!”
Cang Yan’s expression darkened. Jin Lin’s words were a blatant provocation, a clear declaration: *I’ve set my sights on your woman, Beast King!*
How utterly despicable!
“Delusions can sometimes be a sickness!” Cang Yan chuckled, taking Yun Qingxue’s hand and leading her step by step to the main seat. Once the host was seated again, Feng Zihuang and Jin Lin also took their places.
Since things had already escalated to this point, Jin Lin couldn’t be bothered to hide his feelings anymore. His eyes openly followed Yun Qingxue.
“Ah~ Qingxue’s beauty is truly unsettling!” Cang Yan whispered into Yun Qingxue’s ear, his eyes deep, his tone ambiguous.
Yun Qingxue smiled faintly. “Wasn’t it you who had me forcibly brought here? I only took one bite of dinner and am still starving!”
“Are you blaming me, Qingxue?” Cang Yan raised an eyebrow, murmuring softly into her ear.
From any other angle, the two of them looked like a couple deeply in love, whispering sweet nothings to each other!
A shadow of sorrow crossed Jin Lin’s face as he turned away bitterly.
“I’m just stating the facts, nothing more,” Yun Qingxue replied coolly.
Cang Yan was deliberately playing this ambiguous game in front of Feng Zihuang and Jin Lin, and she had no choice but to go along with it. Yet, in her heart, she truly didn’t want to. Her emotions were in turmoil!
Ever since transmigrating here, she hadn’t had a single day of peace. In her past life, she was betrayed by Zhou Dao, the one she trusted most. In this life, she was living so miserably. *What sins did I commit in my past lives to deserve this?*
“I adore your honesty,” Cang Yan chuckled again, putting on a lovesick expression as if to say, *I’ll love you no matter what.*
*Acting! Keep acting! You can act all by yourself!!!*
Yun Qingxue turned her head away.
“I propose a toast to the Beast King,” Feng Zihuang raised his cup, a warm smile on his face. “Today, the rulers of the four great clans of Xuanling Continent have gathered here, all thanks to you, Beast King. This cup—I toast to you!”
“One might say it’s the Phoenix King and the Dragon King who share a telepathic bond! The two of you arrived in the Beast Tribe one after another, the timing so precise it feels orchestrated! For this coincidence, bottoms up!”
Cang Yan’s words carried a hidden meaning as he raised his cup and downed the wine in one go.
Feng Zihuang and Jin Lin followed suit, draining their cups as well.
Below the hall, the melodious strains of silk and bamboo instruments played softly, while the dancers swayed with enchanting grace. Amidst the intoxicating revelry, schemes and calculations lurked in every corner.
“Dragon King!” After the three men finished their toast, Yun Qingxue suddenly raised her cup—directly toward Jin Lin.
Startled that she would toast him, Jin Lin’s hands moved faster than his mind, instinctively reaching for his cup.
By the time he realized what was happening, the cup was already in his hand.
The fine wine, fragrant and intoxicating…
Jin Lin held the cup, his expression wooden.
*Xuexue is toasting me…*
This extraordinary woman who had suddenly appeared in his life.
In this moment, on this day, what did she want to say to him?
*Jin Lin, I’ve found the one destined for me, so I no longer wish to endure the hardships of seeking a master. Please bless me…*
Seeing how intimate she had been with Cang Yan earlier, had Xuexue truly decided on him?
Had she really chosen Cang Yan as the one to entrust her life to?
*What has Xuexue been through these days? How did she even meet Cang Yan?*
*I was the one who met her first!*
*Why, in the end, did this despicable Beast King get to claim her?!*
“Previously, when I passed through your noble territory, I was ignorant of many customs and inadvertently offended you, Dragon King. Today, I take this chance meeting in the Beast Tribe to toast you—may we let bygones be bygones!”
Yun Qingxue smiled as she spoke.
“To the ignorant, no blame is given,” Jin Lin replied, raising his cup and draining it in one go.
Yun Qingxue frowned but also finished her wine. “The Dragon King is magnanimous!”
She withdrew her gaze and turned to Feng Zihuang.
“This cup, I toast to the Phoenix King. That day in the garden, had you not intervened, I would have suffered greatly!”
“Hahaha, let me join Qingxue in toasting Brother Feng—thank you for your timely assistance that day!”
“You flatter me, Flower King. It was my honor to be of service,” Feng Zihuang raised his cup in response, acknowledging only Yun Qingxue’s thanks.
As for Cang Yan, Feng Zihuang merely lifted his cup slightly in his direction.
Cang Yan’s grip on his cup tightened.
*These two—one the Dragon King, the other the Phoenix King—are openly trying to cozy up to Qingxue right in front of me. Do they think I’m dead?!*
Without warning, an arm draped over Yun Qingxue’s shoulder, pulling her closer to Cang Yan.
Raising his cup, Cang Yan addressed Feng Zihuang and Jin Lin: “Qingxue and I will soon be wed. If the two of you have no pressing matters, why not stay for the ceremony before departing?”
“Naturally!” Feng Zihuang raised his cup, his smile serene.
*Liu Ying had already informed me that the Flower King is being forced into this marriage. Who is Cang Yan trying to fool with this act?*
*A wedding, huh? Well, I, Feng Zihuang, would love to see if it proceeds smoothly!*
Jin Lin also raised his cup and downed the wine in one gulp.
*Xuexue refuses to acknowledge me and even deliberately toasted me in front of Cang Yan and Feng Zihuang, making it sound like we had some past conflict!*
*Is she doing this because she’s afraid Cang Yan might grow jealous knowing she once stayed with the Water Tribe?*
*But right now, who’s the one who should be jealous?!*
*I was the one who met Xuexue first! I had the advantage!*
*How did it end up with this damned Beast King swooping in and winning her over?!*
“I toast to the Beast King—may you and the Flower King remain united for a hundred years, blessed with harmony and happiness!” Jin Lin’s frustration grew as he raised his cup, his expression despondent, his heart filled with bitterness.
*As much as I despise Cang Yan, if Xuexue has chosen him, then I shall offer my blessings.*
“Many thanks, Brother Jin,” Cang Yan promptly raised his cup in return, his smile triumphant.
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