Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 562 - 86: Peerless Beauty Under the Moonlight (Part 2)

"Senior Brother Lin, you promised to visit Yan Country and see your Junior Sister. I was going to show you our country’s cuisine, but you haven’t come even after so long. Now that you’re finally here, you didn’t inform me. Could it be that you don’t care about me?"

Her tone was filled with grievance, her brows furrowed like a delicate mist veiling the moon, a pitiful appearance that invited sympathy.

Murong Xin understood; there was a story between her sixth sister and Lin Chen.

No wonder Lin Chen rejected her; in terms of beauty, she indeed fell short compared to her sixth sister, and her sister knew Lin Chen first.

Murong Xin was all too aware of her sister’s allure, few men in this world could resist it.

But her sister also wanted to introduce Lin Chen to Yan Country’s cuisine, then what about Su Zhe?

Murong Xin’s gaze shifted to Su Zhe, and the rest of the people present, quick of mind, also realized this point and turned their attention to Su Zhe.

If memory served correctly, just a moment ago Su Zhe claimed the sixth princess had invited him to Yan Country as a guest, promising to show him Yan Country’s cuisine.

Now the sixth princess personally invited Lin Chen to tour Yan Country and experience the cuisine.

So, who is the sixth princess really planning to show Yan Country’s cuisine to?

She couldn’t possibly intend to host both, could she?

The sixth princess probably wasn’t this reckless.

To take a step back, even if the sixth princess cast a wide net and said the same words to both, she couldn’t possibly appear in public during the banquet, as being exposed would tarnish her reputation.

Thus, there was only one possibility: someone was lying.

As for who was lying, the answer was evident.

"Puh!"

From Liang Kingdom, Li Yuan was the first to laugh, along with several fellow disciples, while martial artists from other kingdoms, wary of Han’s strength, stifled their laughter.

The sixth princess gave Su Zhe no face.

Many perceptive individuals had already guessed the reason.

The princess hadn’t intended to appear, but Su Zhe’s arrogant words angered her, leading to her personal appearance to expose him.

As for why the princess was angry?

The princess’s gaze at Lin Chen explained everything.

She feared Lin Chen would misunderstand.

In that moment, many martial artists at the scene didn’t know whether to envy Lin Chen or mock Su Zhe.

Su Zhe was indeed worth mocking, but Lin Chen made them jealous.

The two Yan Country princesses both favored him; if this spreads, it might cause a stir.

"Since my sixth sister knows Young Master Lin, let her host him."

Murong Xin wanted to leave, feeling relieved for Su Zhe’s presence; otherwise, even with her sister’s appearance easing the awkwardness, she would face private gossip.

But now she didn’t mind, as everyone’s focus was on Su Zhe.

Murong Yan boldly sat next to Lin Chen, as the seat Yan Country assigned to each martial artist was long enough. Seeing Murong Yan sit down, Su Zhe’s face turned dark, unable to contain himself: "Has the sixth princess truly forgotten last year’s words?"

Originally intending to ease the awkwardness, Murong Shuang was thinking of arranging for palace maidens to play music to dissolve the tension, but on hearing Su Zhe’s words, her expression turned cold.

The words spoken by her sister were clear enough; why humiliate oneself?

Murong Yan’s eyes glimmered, her lazy voice tinged with a hint of chill: "Last year at Han’s Princess Residence banquet, I said, ’If any have time to visit Yan Country, I will certainly host them well.’ Now the fourth sister is hosting a banquet, isn’t it entertaining Young Master Su?"

Murong Yan spared no face for Su Zhe; with these words, everyone present understood the situation.

Last year, she spoke politely at the Han event, and it wasn’t directed solely at Su Zhe but at many during that banquet; Su Zhe was just imagining things.

Imagining things is one thing, but fabricating words tarnishes the princess’s reputation.

"Such behavior is despicable."

Meng Xing sternly spoke from the side; Meng Family rules state that tarnishing a woman’s reputation is the act of a vile person.

The term "vile person" made the Han martial artists’ faces cold, and Su Zhe was furious, seeing himself as the Han State Preceptor’s grandson, never having been called a vile person.

"Perhaps Young Master Su made a mistake in recollection. To welcome everyone, I’ve specially arranged a piece of music for your enjoyment."

Murong Shuang spoke, attempting to smooth things over.

Her sister may refuse Su Zhe face, but she was presiding over the banquet on behalf of the emperor, needing to consider Han’s dignity.

However, to Murong Shuang’s surprise, after offering conciliatory words to Su Zhe, he suddenly burst into laughter.

"I thought Yan Country’s sixth princess to be pure and noble, but she’s just another opportunistic woman."

"Junior Brother Su, you mustn’t speak nonsense."

The Han martial artist beside him frowned, gently advising; though Han was far stronger than Yan, Yan’s royal family had strength, and the Crown Prince Consort was Yan’s Eldest Princess.

Even if Yan is not respected, the Crown Prince Consort ought to be respected.

"I’m not speaking nonsense!"

Su Zhe sneered, knowing that when this incident spreads, he would become the Nine Kingdom’s laughingstock, and he certainly wouldn’t let the two who caused him shame get away.

As for the Yan Royal family’s anger, he was unconcerned, since with his status as the State Preceptor of Han’s grandson, the Yan Royal Family couldn’t touch him.

Yan Country, in essence, was just a small territory.

On ordinary days, being polite to Yan is merely giving some face; if pushed to a conflict, Yan is insignificant.

"Yan Country’s sixth princess once proclaimed she would choose her own husband, and the husband she selects must be a renowned Martial Path genius across the Nine Kingdoms. I suppose many present were on her selection list; she probably just sees more potential in Lin Chen now."

Having heard about Murong Yan’s intentions to personally choose her husband from the Crown Prince Consort, Su Zhe hadn’t pressured his grandfather to propose as he felt confident in his Martial Path potential, unmatched in the Nine Kingdoms.

Murong Yan intended to choose a true Martial Path genius, ultimately seeing no one but him as worthy.

Yet Murong Yan chose Lin Chen, indicating she felt Lin Chen’s potential exceeded his own.

Su Zhe’s words made many contemplate, while Murong Yan wore a frost cold expression; she cared not for Su Zhe’s words but feared Lin Chen’s misunderstanding.

"Senior Brother Lin..."

Lin Chen raised a hand to stop Murong Yan from speaking further; he could already guess her thoughts.

Murong Yan valued him largely due to the Martial Path potential he revealed.

But that didn’t matter much.

Love without reason doesn’t exist; if he were just a normal martial artist, would Murong Yan still fancy him? In his view, that wouldn’t be pure love, but foolishness.

Admiring talent and charm is only human.

"No need to explain; I trust you."

Lin Chen smiled at Murong Yan, who finally relaxed.

Su Zhe, witnessing Murong Yan’s concern for Lin Chen’s attitude, burned with jealousy, staring at Lin Chen: "If the sixth princess thinks your potential exceeds mine, will you dare to face me in combat?"

To erase the shame, he had to defeat Lin Chen.

Beating Lin Chen wouldn’t only be an act of redemption, it would show Murong Yan her mistake in choice.

Then Murong Yan would regret her choice, likely attempting to reconnect, and he would thoroughly disgrace her.

"Today is Yan Country’s banquet; if you wish to battle, there will be opportunities at the Martial Arts Academy ranking competition."

Before Lin Chen could respond, Li Yuan stood and spoke; Junior Brother Lin was eighth on the Earth List, while Su Zhe was first, and Li Yuan feared Junior Brother Lin couldn’t hold up.

"That view is wrong."

A young man from Han likewise stood: "Exchanging skills can add excitement to the banquet; unless Liang Kingdom is too afraid, let’s forget it then."

"Senior Brother Lin, do not be provoked; Su Zhe’s family has deep roots..."

Murong Yan softly cautioned, fearing Lin Chen’s response to the provocations. Seeing her worried eyes, Lin Chen replied with a smile: "A challenge has been issued; how could I not respond?"