“Sigh, I don’t know what’s wrong with your sister, she seems to clash with this Hei Mu. Look at Chen Qing’er, striking while the iron’s hot. If Hei Mu gets pulled in by the Chen family, it’d be a huge loss of talent!” At that moment, beside Zhou Xiong, his grandfather Zhou Morui sighed in exasperation, as if scolding iron for not turning into steel.
Zhou Xiong nearly spat blood. His own grandfather, truly his own grandfather! Knowing he liked Chen Qing’er, yet praising her, knowing he’d been thrashed by Lin Xiao, yet suggesting his sister pursue him…
“Haha, I underestimated Qing’er. She may seem gentle and quiet usually, but when she’s clever, she’s sharper and braver than anyone, striking first. Good, well done! When we get back, I’ll make sure she’s well rewarded!” On the other side, Chen Wendao chuckled with delight.
Chen Yan nodded approvingly too. Hearing about Hei Mu, he’d personally mentioned to Qing’er the family’s intent to win him over, and he hadn’t expected her to act so swiftly today.
“That Chen girl moves fast, Yingying, you’d better seize this chance. We can’t let Hei Mu fall into someone else’s hands,” Emperor Meng remarked thoughtfully to Meng Ying from another seat.
“I…” Meng Ying hesitated, then replied, “I’ll try my best…”
At the regular seating outside, near the Spirit Controller Alliance’s front row, Wu Meng coughed anxiously, “Cough cough, this lad’s too good at catching girls’ attention. I hope he doesn’t get snatched away first!”
Wen Renliang beside him gave an awkward smile.
At that moment, Lin Xiao, the centre of it all on the stage, stiffened in shock. Could Chen Qing’er really discern the emotions he’d shown when looking at the Chen family?
And whether his claim of enmity with both families was true or false?
To see through someone’s thoughts so easily, wouldn’t that be terrifying?
What kind of eyes did Chen Qing’er have, could they be some special pupils?
Of course, he wasn’t foolish, her final words clearly carried a hint of intent towards him.
“Enmity with the family, but not between us, I’d like that!” Recalling Chen Qing’er’s words, Lin Xiao shook his head inwardly. If he told her he intended to kill her brother, would she still feel the same?
“Hey, ugly, you’re not grinning like an idiot, are you?” Seeing Lin Xiao’s complex expression, Xuan Xuan piped up again.
By now, Chen Qing’er’s face, not far off, was flushed red, further convincing everyone she’d confessed to Lin Xiao.
In truth, for Chen Qing’er, it was indeed so, though she hadn’t finished her last sentence.
To Xuan Xuan’s prodding, Lin Xiao sighed speechlessly and shook his head, casually explaining, “You’re overthinking it, Miss Qing’er just told me a few things.”
A few things? Who’d believe that? Everyone wore looks of blatant disbelief.
“Haha, I’ve got something to say to Little Brother Hei Mu too!” Feng Huo’s teasing laugh rang out as she stepped forward, leaning close to Lin Xiao’s ear.
Lin Xiao felt helpless, letting her fragrance wash over him. At this point, even if it was just talk, it’d be misinterpreted.
Yet, to his astonishment, it wasn’t a misunderstanding, Feng Huo kissed him on the face. Yes, not words, a kiss, right on the exposed lower side of his face, leaving Lin Xiao dumbfounded.
In front of thousands, under everyone’s eyes, she’d kissed him on the face?
This Feng Huo, her boldness was unreal!
Though Lin Xiao didn’t mind, the setting made him feel a tad awkward.
The others were outright gobsmacked.
Chen Qing’er’s whisper might not have been a confession, there was a slim chance she was just talking.
But Feng Huo’s action was blatant, that kiss said it all.
“Heavens, this, this is too much! That’s Feng Huo, a Third-Grade Mid-Level Spirit Controller, her beauty and talent on par with the four great beauties, kissing Hei Mu in public like that!”
“Admired by Chen Qing’er, one of the four beauties, and now Feng Huo too, this Hei Mu’s living the dream!”
“Who can blame him for being a genius? At his age, a Third-Grade Spirit Controller who beat Zhou Xiong, Zhou Xiong paved the way for him.”
“Sure, but he’s reaping all the benefits! I don’t mind flowers on cow dung, but not all the flowers on one pile, even if he’s not cow dung!”
“Sigh, I heard Feng Huo used to fancy Ye Yu, why the sudden change of heart? Wonder what Ye Yu thinks…”
The crowd buzzed with chatter, especially the young men, their tones laced with frustration, wishing they were Lin Xiao, with all the beauties throwing themselves at him.
The world was too unfair, beauties always belonged to someone else.
“What a disgrace, what a disgrace, haha…” On the main platform, Feng Ziyang laughed, his words scolding the impropriety, yet his face beamed brightly.
The Feng family would be thrilled to win over a talent like Lin Xiao, especially with a Martial Venerable backing him.
Zhou Morui and the others nearby felt their faces burn, this wasn’t reprimanding, it was flaunting.
“Using Sister Feng Huo to win over Hei Mu, not a bad move,” Feng Lanyue smirked slyly.
Chen Wendao frowned slightly. Though allied with the Feng family through marriage, he still hoped to bring a genius like Lin Xiao into the Chen fold.
“Compared to Feng Huo, Qing’er’s still a bit green,” Chen Wendao shook his head lightly.
“Given Qing’er’s nature, reaching this point is already impressive, and doing it in front of so many people, probably only Feng Huo could pull that off,” Chen Yan said beside him, knowing Feng Huo’s boldness, though not expecting it to this degree.
“Besides, if Hei Mu aligns with the Feng family, it benefits our Chen family too, no harm done,” Chen Yan added.
Chen Wendao nodded in agreement.
At another seat, Emperor Meng furrowed his brow slightly, saying meaningfully, “Yingying, feeling the pressure yet?”
Meng Ying blinked, dazed. The contest hadn’t even started, and factions were already vying for him, the pressure was indeed mounting.
“Yes, a bit,” Meng Ying answered blankly.
“Stealing the spotlight before the contest even begins, this lad’s something else!” Emperor Meng sighed deeply.
Below, at the Spirit Controller Alliance’s spot, Wu Meng grumbled under his breath, “That woman’s shameless!”
“Now Wu Sha’s got another tough rival,” Pang Po chuckled, teasing from the side.
“He’s bound to get snatched up, poor Wu Sha,” Wen Renliang clucked gleefully beside him.a
