Breaking Army - Chapter 27

At the banquet, Hu Qu, as the host, naturally occupied the seat of honor. Xiao Chen sat at the high table, with Mu Qing positioned further down. Opposite them sat the two princes at the top, followed by the other four officials lined up in order.

Xiao Chen noticed that Xiang Zhi had been shoved into a far corner at the very end. If they were ranking by official position, he was clearly wearing the same uniform as the other civil officials. It was strange, had the usually sycophantic Xiang Zhi somehow found it harder to get ahead in the Celestial Realm than Geng Xie? Xiao Chen thought to himself that it wasn’t easy to make this pampered little ancestor taste the bitterness of a cold shoulder, he wondered what new tricks the boy would learn from this.

Still, he likely wasn’t being bullied. Xiang Zhi wasn’t the type to let himself suffer, it was more likely he was the one plotting against others.

Rong Yuan noticed that Xiao Chen was indeed consciously controlling his alcohol intake, no longer drinking without restraint. Xiao Chen had always been capable of great self-control, knowing that if he would get drunk, he would not indulge. Furthermore, Xiao Chen seemed to genuinely enjoy good food.

Just like how they did not enter reincarnation after death, the only ones in the six realms who didn’t need food or drink to maintain their bodies were the Underworld folk and the Star Lords. During the pacification of the rebellions, conditions were poor. In the three years Rong Yuan had followed Xiao Chen back then, he had never seen the Highness show any interest in wine or delicacies. Just as Xiao Chen was now getting to know him as Rong Yuan, he was also discovering more sides to Xiao Chen.

This was good. It was enough that Xiao Chen knew his current self. And every time he understood Xiao Chen a little more, that already boundless love grew even deeper, until his heart could almost no longer contain it. When his heart was in unbearable torment, this joy was the best medicine, making even the pain feel less severe.

Hu Qu insisted on choosing beauties even for his personal attendants. He had two leaning against him just to pour his wine. He performed his duties as Demon King diligently, but he didn’t miss out on a single luxury either. Xiao Chen and the others declined such intimate service, which Hu Qu found quite a pity.

To Hu Qu, besides the great affairs of the Yao race, the only other meaning in the world was beautiful people.

Xiao Chen said to Hu Qu, “The chefs here are not bad, the flavor of the dishes is excellent.”

Hu Qu gave a lingering smile, “That is natural. If Your Highness likes it, then stay for a few more days, I will take you to properly taste all our delicacies.”

Rong Yuan: The food on the table suddenly lost its flavor.

Because they didn’t need to eat, very few people in the Underworld knew how to cook. Some people brewed wine, but as for meals, eight out of ten people were clueless. The banquet on their wedding day had been prepared by ghosts temporarily residing in Fengdu.

Back when Rong Yuan wore the Ghost Mask and pretended to be from the Celestial Realm, he naturally had to eat occasionally. Roasting things or boiling a pot of food was within his skill set, but making refined dishes was beyond him. Xiao Chen had been in the Underworld for so long and had hardly eaten anything, Rong Yuan felt he had suddenly been outdone by the Yao race.

He pursed his lips, deciding to find time to learn culinary arts later.

Xiao Chen set down his chopsticks, “We can discuss that later. Hu Qu, do you know why I have come to the Yao Realm?”

At the mention of official business, everyone pricked up their ears. Hu Qu also straightened his posture, clapping his hands to dismiss the musicians and dancers, “I have some guesses. Your Highness, regarding Hua Wuhen, I have something to say.”

Xiao Chen looked at him with interest, “Go on.”

“Lately, I have turned everything related to him upside down. I found a garden that he turned into a land of death, even the soil is toxic.”

As soon as the word “poison” came out, the expressions of the Celestial Realm officials turned solemn, but Xiao Chen showed no surprise, “Oh?”

Seeing Xiao Chen’s expression, Hu Qu knew he was already aware. It was the right choice to speak up, so he felt a sense of relief instead, “Your Highness, it was my dereliction of duty that I failed to discover his hidden malice. Who knew he was actually Zhi Luo’s dog as well. It is late today, but tomorrow I shall take everyone to the garden to investigate.”

He swiftly distanced Hua Wuhen from the current Yao Realm, repeatedly calling it a “dereliction of duty” with a humble attitude. Ci Shu watched this with awe. This was the current Demon King, compared to a madman like Zhi Luo, he was indeed smooth, a different kind of person to deal with. One of the Celestial civil officials wanted to speak but was stopped by a look from Ci Shu.

Trying to kick the Yao Realm while it was down right now would only invite Hu Qu to kick back.

Hu Qu hadn’t seen Xiao Chen in years and seemed genuinely excited, constantly toasting him. Xiao Chen didn’t dodge, but he subtly avoided filling his cup to the brim. Even though the wine at the banquet was clearly mild, Xiao Chen didn’t dare to drink recklessly again.

Cheng Feng was also very happy to see Xiao Chen, wishing he could say more, so he used the wine as an excuse to strike up a conversation. Rong Yuan pursed his lips. It was a pity that as an attendant, his status didn’t allow him to sit as an equal with the Celestial princes, otherwise he could have helped block the wine.

When the group from the Celestial Realm all rose to toast Xiao Chen, Rong Yuan finally couldn’t hold back and stood up with a “swish.”

Several startled gazes landed on him.

When Hu Qu said “Welcome to everyone from the Celestial Realm,” the Celestial people could rise together to return the gesture. But with Xiao Chen and Mu Qing, everyone always mentally separated the two. In their subconscious, they didn’t feel Xiao Chen belonged to the Underworld, so no one took the identity of the Underworld Sovereign’s consort seriously.

Xiao Chen blinked gently. Rong Yuan met his gaze, his eyes moving in a way that mimicked Xiang Zhi’s “acting cute” routine. Xiao Chen was most helpless against that look. He cleared his throat, laughed, and said, “Mu Qing, join us as well.”

Ci Shu was the quickest to react, raising his cup and saying, “Then let us also toast the messenger from the Underworld.”

His words elevated Rong Yuan’s status. The Underworld hadn’t been involved in the conflicts between the Heavens and the Yao, so sending a messenger would be strange. Rong Yuan was disguised as an attendant, but since Ci Shu put it that way, the awkward atmosphere dissipated, and the wine was drunk.

Hu Qu observed silently: the Celestial Crown Prince had mediocre cultivation but knew how to handle people and affairs; the Second Prince had a straightforward personality and was skilled in combat—once he matured, he could become a deterrent.

The Demon race were all a bunch of war-hungry lunatics who weren’t afraid of a fight. Sigh, unlike him, struggling alone to manage the mess Zhi Luo left behind. Among the three realms, the Yao race was truly having a hard time right now.

As for the Underworld, he originally didn’t care, but now things had changed. His gaze landed on Rong Yuan. When they first met, he had flirted with him, asking the little beauty to stay by his side, but what Hu Qu was actually thinking was that a beast’s intuition told him this kid was wearing some kind of camouflage. Unfortunately, he couldn’t see through it.

The little beauty looked so young, yet he possessed something even Hu Qu couldn’t penetrate—was he really just an attendant? Besides, Xiao Chen didn’t like being personally looked after. Back then, among so many personal soldiers, the only one who could stay in the same tent as him was the Ghost Mask who appeared suddenly and left in a hurry.

Hu Qu was indeed clever. A single flaw was enough for him to trace back many things, but living with such a personality was actually exhausting. For the sake of the Yao race, he had no choice but to be this way.

After several rounds of drinks, everyone went down to rest. Hu Qu found a separate courtyard for Xiao Chen. The courtyard had more than one room, so naturally a room could be spared for an attendant, but Hu Qu arranged a different lodging for Rong Yuan.

In the courtyard, Xiao Chen exchanged messages with Xiang Zhi and Geng Xie. Even though he was alone here, they decided it was better to meet elsewhere. It was always better to be careful.

The Yao Realm had day and night. In the middle of the night, Xiao Chen walked to the front of the courtyard and pulled open the door, only to find someone standing outside unexpectedly. It was none other than Rong Yuan.

Text quickly appeared before Rong Yuan: “I am only here for protection.” He then immediately stepped aside to let him pass. Xiao Chen was clearly going out on his own, yet he didn’t ask what Xiao Chen was doing, being extremely considerate.

Xiao Chen’s expression was a bit complicated. The temperature in the Yao Realm at night was very low. Although their cultivation meant they weren’t afraid of the cold, he remembered Rong Yuan’s ice-cold hands. Standing outside like this all night, wrapped in the damp, cold air, and in his youth-like avatar that wasn’t as tall as his original form, he looked like quite a pitiful child in the night wind.

Xiao Chen said slowly, “Go find a room inside to stay in… I have things to do, I’ll be back in a while.”

A look of pleasant surprise appeared in Rong Yuan’s eyes. He stepped over the threshold, but before any text could appear in front of him, both he and Xiao Chen suddenly snapped their heads up toward the eaves of the neighboring roof, standing there was a Demon King who had climbed over the wall in the middle of the night.

Xiao Chen: “…”

Rong Yuan: “…”

Hu Qu waved his hand, “Good evening?”

Climbing someone’s wall at midnight and being caught on the spot by their “partner,” this was exactly the kind of storybook plot Xiang Zhi loved to read.

Xiao Chen: “Can’t you use the front door if you have business?”

That fox gave a suggestive wink, “Don’t you think this is more exciting? It feels like a secret tryst.”

If it were anyone else, this might be impossible to explain. Xiao Chen took a deep breath and hissed, “Get down here.”

Hu Qu hopped down gracefully, his fan unfolding and swaying in front of his face, “How is it that young Master Mu Qing is also here? Your lodging isn’t in this place.”

Not only was it not here, it was quite far away. Rong Yuan looked at him expressionlessly, large characters floating before him: “What does that have to do with you?”

Hu Qu let out a “Hoh,” and said amiably, “I have words to say to His Highness, would the young master please excuse us?”

Rong Yuan wrote: “I will leave if His Highness tells me to.” The implication was: your words don’t count.

The hand Hu Qu used to shake the fan paused, and he shook his head with a “tsk tsk,” “The rumors say the Underworld Sovereign has a strange temperament. Young master, with such beauty, you shouldn’t learn your Sovereign’s temper.”

Outsiders didn’t usually visit the Underworld for fun, so their understanding of Rong Yuan was mostly based on rumors. Xiao Chen thought to himself: No need to learn, the one in front of you is the Sovereign himself… well, his avatar.

However, Xiao Chen found it strange. Rong Yuan had always been quite well-tempered in front of him, he had thought Rong Yuan was a gentle person. Why was he so cold toward Hu Qu now? Could it be because Hu Qu had flirted with him the moment they met?

It couldn’t be because he saw Hu Qu climbing over the wall in the middle of the night, could it?

Surely not?

Hu Qu’s good looks combined with his silver tongue rarely met with failure in social interactions. He narrowed his eyes slightly, “Wait, this temper gives me a strange sense of familiarity…”

Rong Yuan was startled. How could he have forgotten? This fox’s ability to remember people was top-tier. His current foul temper toward Hu Qu wasn’t much different from Ghost Mask’s attitude back then. Therefore, he immediately reined it in, turned to look at Xiao Chen, and gave a silent, obedient inquiry with his eyes, as if saying: If Your Highness tells me to leave, I will leave immediately.

Ah, once he reined it in, the similarity vanished. Hu Qu thought to himself that this kid was quite good at using a “beauty trap” to act spoiled. He then also looked at Xiao Chen, using his usual drawn-out, soft voice, “Your Highness?”

Xiao Chen: “…”

For a moment, he wanted to kick both of these troublesome nuisances out the door.

“Enough,” Xiao Chen couldn’t stand their acting anymore, “Hu Qu, I know what you want to say by sending him away. You’re smart, my whereabouts in the mortal realm were leaked, and you suspect the Underworld isn’t clean either.”

“Oh my,” Hu Qu hadn’t expected Xiao Chen to be willing to say it in front of the attendant, “It seems Your Highness trusts him.”

Hu Qu didn’t just suspect the Underworld wasn’t clean, he also suspected the so-called attendant was secretly sent to monitor Xiao Chen. But since Xiao Chen had spoken plainly, Hu Qu folded his fan and said directly, “Indeed. Take the Underworld Sovereign’s intervention to save you—has Your Highness never doubted it? Or has he already set some conditions, and Your Highness has paid a price?”

The Underworld Sovereign was listening right now.

And this kid said he was willing to save me because he adores me, believe it or not?

“Don’t try to bait me,” Xiao Chen didn’t answer, only saying, “Even if someone in the Underworld is involved, it won’t be Mu Qing.”

“Mm-hmm, if Your Highness says so, then I was rude just now, young Master Mu.”

Rong Yuan was currently the picture of obedience, stating generously: “The Demon King is being polite, but I ask the Demon King not to play tricks on me at will, lest there be a misunderstanding.”

Hu Qu smiled lightly, “The love of beauty is universal, my apologies.”

Xiao Chen: “If there’s nothing else, you”

Hu Qu cut him off, “We haven’t met in years, how about we have a heart-to-heart talk by candlelight tonight?”

Xiao Chen was cold, “No. Leave. Mu Qing, you go pick a room too, stay inside and don’t come out.”

Hu Qu’s eyes widened slightly, “You’re letting him stay here?”

It seemed Xiao Chen did indeed trust Mu Qing to some extent. He hadn’t been in the Underworld for very long. It was a pity the place was so isolated that those outside rarely knew what happened within. Hu Qu genuinely wanted to ask what Xiao Chen had encountered in the Underworld to make him trust this youngster so quickly.

“There are rooms, so naturally he can stay.”

“Then I’ll also”

“No, go back to your palace. Me staying in the Demon King’s palace is the same as you coming to stay here, it invites rumors.”

Xiao Chen took hold of Rong Yuan’s shoulder, gently pushing him into the courtyard, and said to Hu Qu, “Go back to your palace, I’ll walk with you for a bit.”

Hu Qu had been pestering him for a while just for a chance to talk away from others. Clearly, he hadn’t completely let down his guard regarding the attendant from the Underworld. Whether it was a secret meeting via climbing a wall or walking together for a bit made no difference to him, so he immediately agreed this time, “Alright, after you.”

The author has something to say: In the middle of the night, one by the door and one on the roof, Xiao Chen has something to say.

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