AGM 0078 – Qin Yao’s Thoughts
The moment Qin Wentian cast a glance at Chu Tianjiao, he could sense that this person was a dragon and phoenix among the masses. He had never thought that the 3rd prince would be someone so outstanding and extraordinary.
“Everyone, please, have a seat. There’s no need to be ill at ease.” Chu Tianjiao slowly strode forwards and smiled to the crowd. After doing so, he graciously first invited Qin Yao and her entourage to be seated before he himself sat down. The crowd followed after.
“Today, all those whom I’ve invited are the talents and heroes of the younger generation. This way, there would surely be common topics of interest.” Chu Tianjiao laughed. “Let me introduce to you all Qin Yao from the Snowcloud Country. And as for the person on my left, he is my best friend, Luo Qianqiu. I’m sure all of you have heard of him.”
Mu Rou’s seat was quite a distance away from the main seat. Next to her, Qin Wentian’s gaze was riveted on Qin Yao. Qin Yao had spotted him as well, but for some reason, her eyes contained traces of hidden bitterness, as if she were blaming him for appearing here today.
Previously, the reason why Qin Yao intentionally ignored Qin Wentian was because she didn’t want to embroil Qin Wentian with the matter of obtaining revenge for the Qin Clan. To think that this fellow came all the way here today.
Qin Wentian, as though he knew what Qin Yao was thinking, involuntarily sighed in his heart, “Sister Qin Yao didn’t want to implicate me, this was the intention of 2nd and 3rd uncle previously as well. Of course I’ve understand this point. But to think that she appeared in the Chu Country, how could i sit on the fence and ignore the matter, not asking her the actual reason behind her visit.”
“Luo Qianqiu, the Emperor Star Academy’s genius Luo Qianqiu. How could anyone not know about him?.” A hearty voice drifted over as a few silhouettes appeared in the distance, walking over. The person in the lead clasp his hands and bowed slightly with a smile to Chu Tianjiao. He greeted, “Yanaro was slightly late. I seek Your Highness’s forgiveness.”
“Yanaro, quickly come in and be seated.” Chu Tianjiao didn’t exude a majestic air as he earnestly waved Yanaro to his seat. “You and Luo Qianqiu are both geniuses from the Emperor Star Academy. You all can have a good chat later.”
“There are too many geniuses hailing from the Emperor Star Academy. In this very banquet, there’s one here who’s been in perpetual highlights, even daring to steal Young Master Luo’s Blood Ember Fruits. He has no regards for anyone and is incomparably arrogant.” Yanaro smiled coldly as he walked towards Qin Wentian. Stopping right in front of him, he added. “Qin Wentian, am I right?”
Luo Qianqiu’s gaze drifted over and landed on Qin Wentian. However, it lasted for merely a second, indicating that he didn’t care too much about it.
In his eyes, Qin Wentian wasn’t worthy of his notice.
He and Qin Wentian belonged to different worlds. He remembered that previously, were it not for the appearance of the Greencloud Association’s leader, Qin Wentian would have already died under his hands.
But now, since matters had passed and he already spared Qin Wentian once, he wouldn’t care too much if Qin Wentian were to die today.
Qin Wentian’s eyes were on Yanaro. Just like what Luo Huan had said, over here at the banquet, he would meet many people he didn’t want to meet. But since he was already here, he didn’t have any complaints.
“Based on your status, you shouldn’t be appearing in a place such as this.” Yanaro, noting the silence of Qin Wentian, continued his provocation.
“He followed Chu Ling in using the status of a servant.” Ye Zhan interjected with a laugh, causing Yanaro to lightly nodding his head. He then shifted his gaze to Mu Rou, who was beside Qin Wentian, and smiled. “Mu Rou, why are you sitting together with such a fellow?”
“He is a friend of mine.” Mu Rou smiled coldly to Yanaro. “Since he is my friend, it’s only natural that we sit together.”
“Friend? This person is the man who killed Ye Lang and Orfon. Mu Rou, are you sure he’s your friend?” Yanaro’s smile turned even colder, causing Mu Rou’s countenance to grow extremely unsightly. This Yanaro was too ruthless. If she continued to claim that Qin Wentian was her friend, wouldn’t she be offending the Ye Clan and the Ou Clan?
A struggle could be seen visibly on Mu Rou’s countenance before she spoke, “A friend means a friend, no matter his background or status. That is my problem alone.”
“And what if i tell you that Makino also died by his hands?” Ye Zhan laughed coldly. Hearing this, Mu Rou’s eyes to tremble as she gazed back at Qin Wentian.
“During the training expedition in the Dark Forest, Orfon brought along a cultivator with the power to control beasts to kill me. I killed that person in response.” Qin Wentian confirmed when he saw Mu Rou looking at him. Although Makino had been slain by Fan Le, essentially, it was the same as him killing Makino. Even so, he wasn’t afraid to admit it, although he still sighed in his heart. He didn’t expect that Mu Rou, someone that was willing to help him, would actually be of the same clan as Makino.
“Since that’s the case, we can only blame the fact that Makino was not strong enough to even protect himself.” Mu Rou sighed. Although she and Makino hadn’t been very close, they were undeniably from the same clan. And thus, Mu Rou felt slightly uncomfortable in her heart regarding this matter.
“But even if that’s the case, what does it have to do with me being friends with Qin Wentian?” Suddenly, Mu Rou smiled. “Him being my friend has nothing to do with the my clan’s affairs.”
“Hehe.” Yanaro smiled icily before sitting down in his seat.
Qin Wentian’s fists were tightly clenched. He was now close to turning 17. During this past year, he had experienced many things, so with regards to this current circumstances, he no longer had a youth’s impulsiveness. With a smile free of worries, he poured a cup of wine and raise the cup towards Mu Rou.
“If there’s ever a chance, I will definitely repay this debt of favor in the future.” Qin Wentian drank the cup of wine.
Casting his gaze around the crowd, Qin Wentian noticed that Liu Yan intentionally avoided his gaze when it drew near.
Qin Wentian was still calm, feeling no anger nor disappointment. His only reaction was to smile lightly.
“Qin Wentian.” Liu Yan suddenly called out and lifted up her cup. “Thank you for saving my life that day back in the Dark Forest. If you ever need help in the future……”
“You have no need to say anything further.” Qin Wentian interjected. He lifted his cup in return, draining the cup in one gulp. “Each to his own. I don’t have the qualifications nor the power to direct your choices. At the same time, thank you for your intentions, but I have no need for your help. From this moment onwards, just treat it as though we were strangers who were once acquainted with each other.”
Liu Yan still wanted to speak, only to see Liu Yue speak first. “It would be better this way.”
As Qin Wentian swept his gaze over to Liu Yue, sharpness radiated from his gaze. He had long known that Liu Yue was this type of person, and had no desire to bother himself with Liu Yue. After all, they would have no further interactions in the future.
Standing up, Qin Wentian walked to the middle of the crowd and looked at Chu Tianjiao.
He was very clear in his heart that on the day when the Ye Clan led men to extinguish his Qin Clan, the person in front of him had been one of the masterminds behind the assault other than the Ye Clan.
“Your Highness. The reason for my appearance here today is to speak with my sister, Qin Yao. Could Your Grace allow me some time alone with her?” Qin Wentian directly stated, looking at the 3rd prince.
Chu Tianjiao’s expression remained still, but he eventually smiled and nodded his head, “I will not interfere if she agrees.”
“Thank you, your Highness.” After Qin Wentian spoke, he didn’t walk towards Qin Yao’s direction. Instead, he walked towards the direction of the crowd as he turned his head back and ordered, “Sister, come with me.”
Hearing Qin Wentian’s strict tone, Qin Yao revealed traces of embarrassment on her face as she stood up and followed after Qin Wentian. The scene caused many to feel humourous. Although Qin Wentian was her little brother, why did it felt as though Qin Yao was the junior and Qin Wentian was the elder instead?
Qin Wentian walked for quite a distance before arriving at a remote location of the garden. Seeing Qin Yao close behind him, his face contorted with worry as he asked, “What exactly is happening?”
“You…this fellow…you know that I’m your elder sister, right!” Qin Yao glared at Qin Wentian helplessly.
“Glad that you know it.” Qin Wentian stepped forwards and cupped his hands around Qin Yao’s face. The gaze in his eyes softened with gentleness.
“Sister, what exactly is happening? Why did you become one of the candidates for the wife of the Snowcloud Country’s crown prince? Is this what you want? Or were you forced into it?”
“Wentian, don’t bother yourself with this. You should just focus on increasing your strength in the Emperor Star Academy. For matters outside the academy, leave it to me.” Qin Yao’s heart softened after looking at Qin Wentian’s gentle gaze. The tone of her voice was lined with traces of pleading, hoping Qin Wentian would stay out of the matter regarding the Qin Clan.
She had been constantly keeping tabs on Qin Wentian while she was in the Snowcloud Country. Knowing that her brother was highly regarded by the Emperor Star Academy, she had no wish to see him implicated with matters of the Qin Clan.
“How can I stand aside and not concern myself with your problems? Even if this was what you want, you have to let me first take a look at the crown prince of Snowcloud Country to see if he’s a suitable match for you. If this is against your wishes, as long as I, Qin Wentian, am alive, I swear to the Heavens that I will allow no one to force you into doing anything that’s against your will.”
Qin Wentian’s gaze was filled with resoluteness. This was his promise to Qin Yao. They had grown up and depended on each other for so many years, and thus, the closeness they shared had long surpassed that of ordinary blood siblings. Not only that, he had behaved like an elder brother many times instead of the younger brother. How could he allow Qin Yao to suffer?
Qin Yao gazed at Qin Wentian as she whispered. “When I was cultivating in the Snowcloud Academy, I became acquainted with the Crown Prince of Snowcloud Country. He was very good to me and would even send bodyguards to ensure my safety. Not only that, he’s willing to help me save Grandpa as well as Father. Thus, I’ve made a promise to him. As long as Grandpa and Father can truly be saved, I’m willing to become his woman.”
“Sister, why are you so foolish?” Qin Wentian sighed. It appeared that Qin Yao made the sacrifice purely for the sake of Qin Chuan and Qin Wu, hoping to borrow the Snowcloud Country’s strength.
“2nd Uncle is currently in a deadlock. As long as the Chu Country sends troops to pressure him, sooner or later, he will be defeated. I can’t wait around for that to happen.” Qin Yao’s heart was filled with sadness..
“Why did you come back to Chu Country?” Qin Wentian continued asking.
“I wish to meet with Grandpa and Father to see if there’s any possibility of discussing terms with the Chu Country. However, today is also the first time i’ve met the 3rd prince.” Qin Yao stated.
“Miss Qin.” At this moment, several silhouettes appeared. They were none other than Qin Yao’s body guards. Qin Wentian could feel the sharpness of the pressure they emit as they cast their gazes over, causing him to furrow his brows.
“Wentian, let’s return. You stay out of this matter, got it?” Qin Yao lowered her head and mentioned this to him. Hearing this, Qin Wentian felt his heart grew heavy.
“This matter shouldn’t be so simple as what Sister Yao described.” Qin Wentian silently stated. As both of them returned to the banquet, they discovered that the majority of the guests were discussing him.
Qin Wentian didn’t mind. After all, he was just about to leave the banquet. However, at this moment, two silhouettes walking towards him from a distance away. The crowd’s discussion grew silent as their gazes all shifted over to the two silhouettes.
The reason for their sudden pause was that the one of the figures’ beauty was too sensational.
The moment she appeared, it was as though everything around her lost their splendor. She was the main lead, and her appearance caused several aristocrats to lose their manners. They fixated their stares on her, lost in her soul-stirring beauty.
“Where is she going?” Those in the crowd saw that Mo Qingcheng was walking towards them and couldn’t help but feel their heartbeats quicken.
“How beautiful.” Liu Yan involuntarily felt traces of a loss in her heart after looking at Liu Yue and Ye Zhan’s stunned countenance.