The female attendants of the Fox Clan quickly stepped forward to welcome Zhen Yu to their seat.
Zhong Zhao sat beside Zhen Yu, and upon noticing Bai Shuo’s absence, they glanced around, only to find Fan Yue sitting next to that mysterious woman whose presence was like a deep and unfathomable abyss. Their brows furrowed slightly.
“Who would have thought the esteemed Hall Master would attend this little one’s wedding? Jingyou Mountain is truly honored.”
“I never expected the Heavenly Fox Demon Lord and the young clan leader to be arranging a marriage. It is indeed surprising.” Zhen Yu’s expression carried a faint smile, their tone lighthearted.
“But… given the temperament of the Heavenly Fox Demon Lord, for this marriage to be decided in such a rushed manner, one wonders whether Hao Yue Hall and Jingyou Mountain share a deeper connection… or if there is something else behind it.”
Chang Mei seemed deep in thought as she looked toward the sky, her gaze solemn.
Ever since the incident at Phoenix Island a year ago, Lingquan Palace had continuously encroached upon the demon realm, frequently clashing with Hao Yue Hall. Zhen Yu’s words were laden with provocation, hidden behind polite phrasing. Cang Shan, standing to the side, narrowed his eyes, gripping the hilt of his blade tightly, his face tense. Seeing this, Mu Zhu hesitated but eventually stood up as well.
“Nonsense!”
“Sit down, child.” Chang Mei’s voice was cold and firm.
Zhen Yu, however, remained indifferent. “Fox King, I came to Jingyou Mountain to attend the wedding at your invitation, but from the looks of it, I don’t seem very welcome here.”
“Mu Zhu is the successor of our Fox Clan. His wedding is of utmost importance to us. I trust that the Hall Master knows their boundaries,” Chang Mei spoke in a measured tone, her words carrying a veiled warning. “As for you, you are a guest of this King. Any disrespect toward you is an insult to my Fox Clan.”
“Cang Shan.”
Fan Yue finally spoke, and with a single command, Cang Shan withdrew his blade and quickly stepped back.
Zhen Yu chuckled, their sharp gaze suddenly locking onto Fan Yue. “Fan Yue, I must say, your presence now looks far better than when I first saw you on Phoenix Island. You should take care of yourself. A moment of carelessness, and you might end up like Ziyuan’s little fox, forever caught between two realms. If that fox had dared to challenge this King or the Fox King, it would have been a rather lonely fate.”
Fan Yue’s divine power was the strongest in Hao Yue Hall, nearly absolute. Upon hearing Zhen Yu’s words, the expressions of everyone in Hao Yue Hall tensed, and the entire room fell into silence.
Seeing the two sides on the verge of drawing their swords, Chang Mei suddenly spoke up,
“Young people these days… drowning in the pleasures of love like fish in water, yet struggling to maintain their dignity—what a shame. The Hall Master must find such things quite amusing.”
Chang Mei smiled and looked toward Fan Yue, her gaze sharp.
“This one here must be the rumored disciple of the great and renowned figure, the future spouse of the Hall Master of Hao Yue Hall, Lady Bai Shuo?”
The moment these words were spoken, the hall fell into silence. Other than Chong Zhao and Fan Yue, everyone’s expressions turned strange.
A-Yue’s face paled slightly, and her slender figure tensed as she stared at Fan Yue, unable to believe what she had just heard.
The guests in the hall wore various expressions, while Zhen Yu had the look of someone enjoying a good show.
Fan Yue, as always, remained distant and indifferent. Taking a sip of wine, they said lightly,
“The Fox King is mistaken. She is not Bai Shuo.”
“Oh?” Chang Mei raised an eyebrow, then chuckled.
“I truly did not expect the Hall Master to have yet another confidante by their side.”
“I am not interested in such matters, and neither is the Fox Clan.” Fan Yue set down their wine cup, their tone indifferent.
“You misunderstand, Hall Master. I was merely curious as to what kind of woman would make you go to such lengths at Phoenix Island, even to the point of committing a crime against the entire immortal realm and Heaven’s Court on her behalf.”
A-Yue lowered her gaze, her fingers trembling slightly. Fan Yue gently comforted her,
“Fox King…”
“Regardless of that,” Chang Mei interrupted with a smile, raising her wine cup elegantly before glancing at Chong Zhao, who had been silently watching the exchange. Her gaze turned meaningful.
“I happened to hear an interesting rumor—that the Hall Master’s new disciple from Lingquan Palace’s Third Hall is actually this Lady Bai Shuo’s senior martial brother, and not just that, but they were childhood sweethearts. The two once shared deep affection… Tell me, Chong Zhao, do you think this rumor is true or false?”
As soon as these words were spoken, a chill spread through the entire hall. Fan Yue remained calm and turned toward Chong Zhao with an indifferent gaze.
“The Fox King is not wrong. If you are truly interested in Bai Shuo, then you should be asking the Third Hall Master of Lingquan Palace instead.”
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