Chapter 77

Chu Ling and Mu Rou rode their horses, leading Qin Wentian and others to a vast grassland. In front of them, there was an entrance guarded by armored soldiers.

"This must be the royal garden inside the hunting ground," Qin Wentian said, looking into the entrance. The buildings stood tall, elegant, and spacious, a place where the royal children enjoyed living, from where they would enter the Dark Forest for hunting.

"The Third Prince and the distinguished guests from Xueyun Kingdom have not arrived yet. Please wait here," a soldier said to Chu Ling and Mu Rou, who dismounted and waited outside.

They both knew that the estate had other entrances.

"Xueyun Kingdom sure has a lot of face," Chu Ling said, somewhat displeased.

"Since they are guests, we should just wait patiently," Mu Rou said with a smile. At this moment, more people arrived, greeting Chu Ling and Mu Rou. Clearly, most of them knew each other, though they might not be very close, they at least appeared to be on good terms.

"Chu Ling," a voice called out. Chu Ling turned her gaze and smiled slightly, "Ye Zhan, you're here too."

"Yes, I'm here," Ye Zhan said with a smile, then his gaze turned to Qin Wentian, whose eyes were cold, with a glint of killing intent.

Clearly, Qin Wentian recognized Ye Zhan, one of the people who had pursued and tried to kill him along with Ou Feng.

Ye Zhan's expression only paused for a moment before he resumed his usual faint smile.

"Qin Wentian," Ye Zhan said, and immediately many people looked at Qin Wentian, quickly recalling his name.

After the Qin family, he was a famous new student at Dixin Academy, having killed Ou Feng of the Ou family.

Chu Ling's expression stiffened. Ye Zhan knew Qin Wentian and had loudly mentioned his name, which made her feel awkward. However, the Ye family was powerful, even more so than her Zijun王府.

Qin Wentian noticed Liu Yan and Liu Yue beside Ye Zhan, feeling a bit uncomfortable. In the Dark Forest, Ye Zhan and Ou Feng had pursued and tried to kill him and Fan Le. At that time, they had just saved Liu Yan, and to avoid trouble for her, he had even told her not to say she knew him.

But Qin Wentian had not expected that Liu Yan would be with Ye Zhan, and their relationship seemed quite intimate.

Ye Zhan seemed to notice Qin Wentian's gaze. He smiled and then held Liu Yan's hand, saying, "Yan'er, you must have known him for a while, right?"

Liu Yan's expression was somewhat awkward. After all, she knew that Ye Zhan had once pursued and tried to kill Qin Wentian, while Qin Wentian had saved her and Liu Yue. In her heart, she had some good feelings for Qin Wentian.

"Yes," Liu Yan nodded lightly and smiled at Qin Wentian, "Thank you for what happened last time."

"No need, consider it a repayment," Qin Wentian said calmly. Everyone has their own choices, and Liu Yan had the right to make her own decisions. However, the fact that Liu Yan had chosen Ye Zhan, who wanted to kill him, made him feel awkward. How should he treat Ye Zhan?

To this day, Qin Wentian still believed that Liu Yan had once saved him.

"Ha ha," Ye Zhan's smile seemed to have a hint of coldness. He then looked at Chu Ling and continued, "Chu Ling, Qin Wentian is from the rebellious Qin family, and he killed my Ye family members, Ye Mo and Ye Lang. You wouldn't know this, right?"

"This guy," Chu Ling cursed inwardly and then said, "I didn't know he was Qin Wentian. He is just my guard servant."

"Guard servant, I see," Ye Zhan said calmly, turning to Qin Wentian and smiling, "So, you are willing to be a servant to others, truly bringing honor to the Qin family."

"For Yao, I will temporarily endure her," Qin Wentian thought to himself, not expecting Chu Ling to be such a person.

Ye Zhan guessed that Qin Wentian had come for Qin Yao, but he was inwardly sneering. As a member of the Ye family, he knew some of the inside information about today's banquet. Qin Wentian coming here was quite amusing.

Holding Liu Yan's hand, Ye Zhan walked away with a faint smile, making Chu Ling the focus of the crowd for a moment.

"Qin Wentian, you should go back. This place is not suitable for you," Chu Ling said, feeling the gazes of the crowd. "I will explain this to my friends, but I don't want to help you anymore."

Chu Ling's voice was not loud, but the people present could still hear it. Clearly, Chu Ling had been asked to bring Qin Wentian here.

"A disciple of Dixin Academy doesn't even have the qualifications to enter this circle. This is the difference in status," Liu Yue also paid attention to Qin Wentian, sighing inwardly. Since entering the imperial city, he had deeply felt the difference between the imperial city and his previous life. Here, there were many nobles, with a strict hierarchy and a survival of the fittest, all more naked and brutal.

"The Ye family is the support," Liu Yue thought to himself and then whispered to Liu Yan, "Liu Yan, although Qin Wentian has feelings for you, you should distance yourself from him."

"I know what to do," Liu Yan paused and then nodded lightly.

Hearing Chu Ling suddenly say this, Qin Wentian's eyes stiffened. Looking at Chu Ling beside him, he suddenly found it somewhat amusing. Since she had agreed to help and they had already come here, now she said she wouldn't take him in?

"Truly ridiculous, farewell," Qin Wentian said with a cold laugh. He was not without a temper, but he had endured it for the sake of seeing Qin Yao. He did not expect Chu Ling to say such a thing to him.

"What attitude is this?" Chu Ling shouted coldly.

"If you hadn't agreed to help others, it would be fine, but since you did, now you criticize me like this, treating me as if I were your servant. What are you?" Qin Wentian glanced at Chu Ling coldly and then left, his steps quick and his gait extremely skilled. Since Chu Ling wouldn't help, he wouldn't beg. He would have to find another way.

"Hmm?" At this moment, Mu Rou saw Qin Wentian's gait and her eyes narrowed, her heart beating slightly. This gait was very familiar to her.

Mu Rou had fought Qin Wentian multiple times in the Dark Forest. She was very familiar with this gait. Thinking about it now, Qin Wentian's figure seemed somewhat familiar too.

"It's him," Mu Rou's heart trembled.

"Wait," Mu Rou said, making Qin Wentian stop and turn to look at her.

"Come with me," Mu Rou smiled at Qin Wentian, leaving him somewhat puzzled.

"We are friends, right? I will bring my friend to the banquet, there should be no problem," Mu Rou said with a smile. Although Qin Wentian was puzzled, he understood that she was trying to help him, so he didn't hesitate and said, "Thank you."

"Mu Rou," Chu Ling looked at Mu Rou with displeasure. Wasn't she going against her?

"Chu Ling, I won't interfere with how you act. I am bringing him in not for you, but for myself," Mu Rou said to Chu Ling, hoping she would understand that this was not directed at her.

"Is that so? I feel like you are doing this deliberately," Chu Ling was very displeased. "Mu Rou, I considered you a friend, but I didn't expect you to act like this, making you seem so magnanimous. You have disappointed me greatly."

Saying this, Chu Ling turned and left.

"Chu Ling," Mu Rou wanted to explain, but Chu Ling continued, "No need to say more. From now on, we will go our separate ways. Consider me as if I never had you as a friend."

Mu Rou's expression stiffened. Turning around, she saw Qin Wentian approaching and forced a smile, though it was somewhat bitter.

"Chu Ling is like that, don't blame her," Mu Rou said to Qin Wentian, then muttered to herself, "In a few days, she will probably calm down."

Qin Wentian sighed inwardly. A person who could renege on a promise to a friend clearly had poor character. Mu Rou had overestimated Chu Ling, but it also showed Mu Rou's kind heart.

A stranger, she had directly brought him in as a friend, openly and without any pretense, not afraid of offending anyone. Compared to Chu Ling, she seemed much more genuine.

At this moment, someone from the estate came to welcome them, and the soldiers let them pass. The crowd entered the estate.

"Let's go," Mu Rou smiled at Qin Wentian, not exposing him. She was very surprised that the person who could match Yan Yuhán was actually the new student Qin Wentian from Dixin Academy.

Qin Wentian followed Mu Rou, and they were led to a green grassland with rivers on both sides. The grassland was already prepared for the banquet, but the Third Prince had not arrived, so no one had taken their seats.

In the distance, a group of figures emerged from a pavilion.

The leader was a young man, simply dressed, with a well-proportioned figure, black hair flowing over his shoulders, and bright, piercing eyes, a handsome and elegant youth.

This handsome young man's eyes held a smile, but they seemed to contain a divine light, making him radiant and extraordinary.

Beside him stood a young man in white, whom Qin Wentian recognized as the prodigy of Dixin Academy, Luo Qianqiu.

The two walked side by side, seemingly on equal footing.

After they stopped, the handsome young man smiled and looked behind him, as if welcoming distinguished guests. Then a group of figures emerged, led by Qin Yao.

"The Third Prince has arrived."

"The Third Prince still has such extraordinary bearing, truly a son of heaven."

The crowd smiled and could not help but praise the young man who had just arrived. The Third Prince, Chu Tianjiao, named Tianjiao, was the most likely to inherit the throne of the Chu Kingdom, favored by the emperor, and with exceptional talent, ranking second among the ten best in the capital.

Chu Tianjiao, a son of heaven!