Chapter 1343: Envy

She seemed to guess the reason for Zu An's disguise and did not expose him.

Her voice seemed to possess a subtle magic, making everyone feel at ease. Chi Wen, indeed, was no longer as volatile as before. He merely grumbled, "That last time doesn't count. I wasn't full or well-rested, which affected my performance. Next time will be different, I assure you."

Everyone could detect the feigned confidence in his tone. While they chuckled, they were also secretly astonished. Just how powerful was Zu An? First, he defeated the Golden Crow Prince, then soundly thrashed the Ninth Prince of the Dragon Clan. It was even rumored he'd effortlessly beaten Lion Ling, the Lion Clan's genius young prince. If one victory could be attributed to luck, then such a string of consecutive wins surely couldn't be faked.

It was then that Princess Soren found a moment to approach Yu Yanluo. "Hello, Sister Yu," she greeted.

"Hello, Sister Princess," Yu Yanluo replied with a smile. Not long before, Princess Soren had helped the Snake Clan out of a predicament, so Yu Yanluo naturally held her in high regard.

Princess Soren quietly inquired, "Has he truly left?"

Yu Yanluo suppressed the urge to glare at Zu An, who seemed to go about charming women wherever he went, leaving a trail of stirred hearts.

Zu An cried foul, protesting that he hadn't flirted at all. He figured the other person was merely deeply impressed by their last experience in Marquis Sui's tomb, which made him unforgettable.

Yu Yanluo gave a firm reply: "Yes, he's certainly gone."

"But I received news that it was very likely him who previously entered the palace to assassinate the Crown Prince," Princess Soren persisted, her voice heavy with worry.

Yu Yanluo answered, "That's probably just the palace's side of the story. Think about it: even if he did come to the royal court, why would he assassinate the Crown Prince in the imperial palace for no reason? Isn't that simply seeking death?"

Princess Soren considered this and agreed. While Zu An had demonstrated immense power in Marquis Sui's tomb, he was still vastly outmatched by the Demon Emperor. How could he possibly sneak into the imperial palace, where the Demon Emperor resided, to commit an assassination? Crucially, there was no discernible motive.

It seemed he truly hadn't come to the royal court. A hint of disappointment crossed Princess Soren's face as she realized this.

"I've long heard of the esteemed Medusa Queen, and seeing you today, your reputation is clearly well-deserved," said Hu Yong, approaching with his two brothers. Upon seeing Yu Yanluo, each of them showed clear admiration.

"You flatter me, Princes. I've also heard much of the Tiger Clan warriors' distinguished demeanor..." Yu Yanluo, adept at such polite exchanges, quickly gathered information, learning that the three were Hu Yong, the Tiger Clan's Second Prince; Hu Cheng, the Fifth Prince; and Hu Xin, the Ninth Prince.

Yun Jianyue quietly nudged Yan Xuehen beside her. "Ice Stone Woman," she whispered, "normally you're swarmed by men showering you with attention and flattery. How does it feel to wear a mask now and be completely ignored?"

Yan Xuehen replied coolly, "For a Grandmaster such as yourself, why would something like that warrant your attention?"

Yun Jianyue felt a twinge of annoyance. Though logic told her such matters were trivial, she couldn't help but feel disgruntled recalling how men used to constantly flock around Yan Xuehen while deliberately avoiding her.

A typical woman, getting the benefit and still feigning innocence!

At this point, Hu Yong and his brothers learned that Yu Yanluo and her companions were there to gamble on stones with Shi Min. They quickly warned, "Medusa Queen, don't be fooled by Shi Min's gentlemanly facade. That fellow is full of malice and loves to scheme against others. His invitation for you to come up here surely hides ill intentions."

Shi Min's face darkened. "Hu Yong," he retorted, "slandering others behind their backs is hardly the act of a gentleman."

"Is speaking the truth considered slander?" Hu Yong asked, shrugging with a look of disdain.

Shi Min was speechless.

Lion Gong, standing nearby, interjected, "Enough. Today, for the Second Prince's sake, we won't stoop to your level. Don't push your luck."

Hu Yong's face also darkened. "Lion Gong," he retorted, "that might be appropriate if your elder brother said it to us, but do you even qualify?"

Seeing both sides on the verge of another confrontation, the manager of Green Garden quickly stepped forward to mediate.

Princess Soren, unwilling to participate in the conflict between the Lion and Tiger Clans but also concerned about bystanders being caught in any potential crossfire, kindly inquired, "I just heard cheers from downstairs. It's said someone in the 'Yellow' room unearthed a Heaven-grade gem. As you've just come from below, do any of you know what transpired?"

"Oh, such an interesting turn of events?" The Little Golden Peng King, who had been observing impassively from the pavilion, also spoke, as if he had just heard an incredible tale.

Zu An smiled faintly. "It was just a stroke of luck," he said, "and I owe it all to a few of the Lion Clan princes."

Shi Min and the others' faces immediately flushed crimson, almost suffering internal injuries from suppressed anger.

"What exactly happened?" Even the Second Prince was now intrigued.

At his inquiry, the Green Garden manager briefly recounted what had just transpired downstairs, and everyone's expressions became wonderfully varied.

Hu Yong and his brothers burst into laughter. "Shi Min, so you finally got your comeuppance!" Hu Yong chuckled. "You must have intended to trick them, but instead, you ended up playing right into their hands."

Shi Min snorted. "Gambling on stones naturally involves both wins and losses, so no outcome is truly unexpected," he said. "We readily accept our losses; we're not as unreasonable as you."

Perhaps seeing Shi Min discomfited, Hu Yong didn't get angry this time. Instead, he chuckled, "Knowing you as I do, the more you talk like that, the more likely you're planning something. Medusa Queen, you should be wary."

Yu Yanluo merely smiled, saying nothing. She could easily discern the Lion Clan's sinister intentions.

"Don't try to sow discord," Shi Min snorted. "With so many masters watching here, do you really think I'd try to cheat?"

As the two sides bickered, Shang Liuyu approached. With each step, watery ripples seemed to form beneath her feet, supporting her as if she were performing a graceful, rippling walk.

Even Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen, both seasoned Grandmasters, showed a hint of surprise at this sight. "This woman is rather interesting," they murmured to each other.

"Last time, Zu An obtained so many Heaven-grade weapons from Chi Wen, seemingly because she helped him," Yan Xuehen said. Her face suddenly flushed as she recalled one of those Heaven-grade weapons was the Wind-Fire Wheels, and the memory of Zu An carrying her...

Yun Jianyue, oblivious to her reaction, mused, "Do you think this woman might also be Little Anzi's beloved?"

Yan Xuehen frowned. "Probably... not," she replied, though her tone lacked conviction.

She approached Yu Yanluo, also slightly taken aback by her captivating splendor. With a faint smile, she said, "I used to hear Zu An speak of your beauty, and seeing you today, you are indeed stunning beyond compare."

Yu Yanluo's expression became somewhat peculiar. From Shang Liuyu's words, she couldn't help but feel as though Shang Liuyu considered herself the established one, and Yu Yanluo the newcomer.

Shaking off this absurd sensation, Yu Yanluo responded with a smile, "I also heard him speak of how exceptionally refined and unique Teacher Shang was, but today I realize his vocabulary was far too limited to describe you."

A shiver ran down Yun Jianyue's spine. "What are these two women doing?" she thought, "It's as if they're competing for affection. That scoundrel Little Anzi has accumulated a mountain of romantic entanglements. Alas, my poor, precious apprentice, I fear she'll be utterly manipulated by these enchantresses in the future."

Yan Xuehen's expression was equally peculiar. She mused that if even a woman like Qiu Honglei couldn't handle them, her own disciple, Chu Yan, who was as pure as a blank slate, stood no chance. After all, she, as a master, wasn't particularly skilled at navigating such complicated situations herself.

The surrounding crowd displayed various expressions, utterly surprised by the Medusa Queen's extensive connections. It seemed it was time for a re-evaluation.

Despite the many people who had entered and the numerous conflicts that had arisen, the Second Prince and the Little Golden Peng King had remained composed in the pavilion. Now, seeing Shang Liuyu emerge, they too rose and followed.

The Second Prince laughed heartily. "Allow me to introduce everyone," he announced. "This Miss Shang is the Mermaid Princess of the Sea Clan, and she is here to represent the Sea Clan at the Grand Assembly of Ten Thousand Races."

Zu An looked sharply at Shang Liuyu. Although he had harbored a faint suspicion before, receiving confirmation still surprised him somewhat.

No wonder her small courtyard at Bright Moon Academy always had a swimming pool. No wonder she wasn't accustomed to wearing shoes.

Soon, a group of people began greeting Shang Liuyu. After all, the Sea Clan was both mysterious and exceptionally powerful, so the status of their Mermaid Princess was naturally extraordinary.

A moment later, the Little Golden Peng King chuckled. "I'm not particularly concerned about the extent of Zu An's cultivation," he remarked, "but his association with so many peerless beauties certainly makes me quite envious."

His comment instantly shifted the conversation to Zu An.

"Medusa Queen," the Second Prince asked, his gaze sharp as he looked at Yu Yanluo, "what exactly is your relationship with him?"