Chapter 196
Chapter 196: A Mark of Sovereignty
Meng Yun Jiao’s reaction fell into the eyes of Ye He Qi and Shi Zi Chu.
Watching the tension that had already begun to form between the two, Ye He Qi lowered his gaze and took a sip of tea, saying nothing.
“She walked in and accused me of seducing Clan Chief Ye, then immediately wanted to start a fight,” Shi Zi Chu said calmly. “In the end, it was Clan Chief Ye’s guard who threw her out. What do you think, Third Junior Sister?”
Faced with Shi Zi Chu’s eyes, slightly curved like peach blossoms, Chu Zhi Rou felt that Meng Yun Jiao was like a hot potato. But, in order to maintain her pure, innocent image, she couldn’t just throw the person out.
“Big Brother, Senior Sister Meng is actually a good person, perhaps there’s some misunderstanding?” Chu Zhi Rou said with a flawless, delicate expression, trying to plead on Meng Yun Jiao’s behalf.
“Third Junior Sister, are you implying that I have a problem?” Shi Zi Chu’s face showed a trace of disappointment. “Did I really seduce Clan Chief Ye?”
Chu Zhi Rou was startled, realizing she had walked into a trap!
She quickly looked at Ye He Qi. He was sipping his tea, and although there was still a smile on his face, the aura around him had become distant.
Big Brother had always kept his distance from women, especially when it came to romance. Tch! Meng Yun Jiao was truly a nuisance! If she had known, she would have just pretended not to see anything!
Supporting Meng Yun Jiao, Chu Zhi Rou put on a helpless, aggrieved posture. “Second Senior Sister, you misunderstood me. I didn’t mean that.”
Shi Zi Chu lowered her eyelids, her face shadowed with sadness.
A female cultivator standing behind Chu Zhi Rou couldn’t take it anymore and spoke up, “How can you, Senior Sister, be so aggressive?”
Ye He Qi’s gentle voice rang out, “Zhi Rou, do you know why I asked Daoist Shi to come here?”
Chu Zhi Rou shook her head, showing a bit of hesitation.
“I’m here to clean up your mess.” Ye He Qi’s voice, once warm, suddenly turned stern. “You pushed Daoist Shi off the Ascending Towers Island. Venerable Xing Lan only said that the good and bad deeds were balanced, but are you really just going to ignore this?”
The moment Ye He Qi mentioned cleaning up the mess, Chu Zhi Rou’s scalp tingled with a sense of dread.
She looked at Ye He Qi, her eyes full of pleading, but she couldn’t stop him from finishing his words.
The eyes of the men and women standing behind her all turned in different directions.
“Enough,” Shi Zi Chu waved her hand, her tone indifferent. “Since Junior Sister is determined to have friction with me, I won’t shamelessly seek reconciliation anymore.”
Of course, any drama needs an audience.
Look, the entire hall full of diners—aren’t they the best audience?
Ye He Qi’s sharp gaze focused on Chu Zhi Rou. “Zhi Rou, what exactly are you thinking?”
“Senior Sister, please listen to me explain…”
“Zi Chu?”
Chu Zhi Rou’s explanation was abruptly interrupted by a strong male voice.
Shi Zi Chu looked up and saw Lu Yun Zhen striding in from the outside, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit.
A man standing behind Chu Zhi Rou gave a respectful bow. “Alliance Leader.”
Lu Yun Zhen waved his hand. When he saw Shi Zi Chu pursing her lips, looking a bit downcast, he took a few steps forward and asked, “Have you been bullied?”
Shi Zi Chu shook her head, signaling that she was fine.
Lu Yun Zhen said, “If that’s the case, I’m going to inform Yan Jie.”
“You’re so annoying.” Shi Zi Chu glared at Lu Yun Zhen, then awkwardly said, “I’m not very happy with Third Junior Sister.”
Seeing Shi Zi Chu’s somewhat bashful, awkward expression, Lu Yun Zhen couldn’t help but feel she seemed a bit like a young lady now.
The last few times he had seen her, she was always composed, smooth, and mature. Now, seeing her in such a lively state, she seemed like an exquisite porcelain doll that had come to life.
“You little girl, you’re unreasonable.” Lu Yun Zhen teased, then turned to look around.
Without a doubt, among everyone in the room, Chu Zhi Rou was the most striking figure.
Her delicate features were non-threatening, her innocent and sweet appearance like the girl-next-door, with eyes wide and round like a fawn, full of confusion and grievance.
Unfortunately, after seeing Shi Zi Chu’s supreme beauty, Chu Zhi Rou’s pure, innocent face now seemed a little bland.
Indifferent, Lu Yun Zhen turned to Shi Zi Chu and asked, “Is she the one, Chu Zhi Rou?”
“Mhm.” Shi Zi Chu nodded.
Lu Yun Zhen continued, “Her name is Zhao Zhi Yu, Deputy Alliance Leader of the Azure Cloud Alliance. He knows a few interesting young juniors and wants to introduce them to me.”
Sitting calmly, Ye He Qi took another sip of his cool tea.
The tavern’s master was Yan Yan, and it wasn’t appropriate for him to extend his influence too far, but it seemed Shi Zi Chu had used Yan Yan to get acquainted with the Azure Cloud Alliance’s leader.
It looked like Lu Yun Zhen had a good impression of Shi Zi Chu.
At that thought, Ye He Qi glanced at Chu Zhi Rou, and something flashed through his mind.
Shi Zi Chu’s gaze lingered on Chu Zhi Rou for a moment before turning to Lu Yun Zhen. “I see. Then I should introduce her as well.”
With that, she stood and pointed at Chu Zhi Rou, saying, “This is my Third Junior Sister, from Ye Clan. She is Clan Chief Ye’s younger sister, also known as the Heaven’s Favored Daughter. She is renowned for her kindness, pure like a lotus.”
Lu Yun Zhen showed little reaction and chose to change the subject. “Yan Jie and the others are at Warm Jade Pavilion. Would you like to join me there?”
Shi Zi Chu, who hadn’t eaten yet, was about to politely refuse when the sound of clinking silver jewelry interrupted her.
It seemed her time was up!
“Qing Qing.”
A cold voice echoed from outside.
A dark purple figure flashed past, and when everyone saw clearly, Jiang Wan Sheng was already standing beside Shi Zi Chu, his arm like a vine, winding around her slender waist.
Ye He Qi lifted his gaze slightly.
The intimate gesture seemed to cause some discomfort.
Suddenly, the arm around her waist tightened just a bit.
Shi Zi Chu, in a rush to leave for the appointment, hadn’t applied her usual fragrance, so the scent of sandalwood clung to her. If one was far away, it was hard to notice, but if they were close, the fragrance was unmistakable.
That scent of sandalwood emanating from within her seemed like a mark of sovereignty!
Jiang Wan Sheng looked up, his cold eyes turning towards Ye He Qi.
With his gentle and elegant face, Ye He Qi raised his tea cup as if to greet him.
But to Jiang Wan Sheng, this gesture felt like pure provocation.
He knew it!!!
That old man Xing Lan deserved to die!
And Ye He Qi, that old man, deserved to die even more!!!
Shi Zi Chu lightly slapped the arm around her waist and, turning to Lu Yun Zhen, gave an apologetic smile. “I still have some matters to attend to. We’ll arrange another day.”
Lu Yun Zhen nodded, giving Zhao Zhi Yu a glance before turning to leave.
Chu Zhi Rou watched as the man left in large strides, inwardly cursing Shi Zi Chu.
She had approached Zhao Zhi Yu for Lu Yun Zhen!
But now, the moment Lu Yun Zhen arrived, Shi Zi Chu had already caught his attention!
If she couldn’t have him, neither would Shi Zi Chu!
Her head spinning with anger, Jiang Wan Sheng glared at Shi Zi Chu, his red-rimmed eyes almost frightening. He looked as though he wanted to devour her whole.
Seeing Jiang Wan Sheng in such a state, Chu Zhi Rou’s eyes flashed, and a plan formed in her mind.
“Second Senior Sister, I didn’t mean to push you down at that time, luckily there was the Sect Master and Young Master Jiang present.” Chu Zhi Rou timidly apologized.
“Does it matter whether they were there or not? What? You think a light ‘it wasn’t intentional’ can smooth this over?” Jiang Wan Sheng’s voice darkened as he scolded. “If you’re not sincere, just get lost.”
Already seething with jealousy and unwilling to let Qing Qing be upset, he could no longer hold back. Wasn’t this a perfect opportunity to vent?