Chapter 264: Senior Brother’s Here?

The hall fell silent. No one had expected Ye Chen to be so brazen, dismissing the princess’s demand for an explanation with such arrogance.

Ye Chen was done pretending. Li Feihuang’s overconfidence was laughable—she even doubted she could beat Champion King, which meant she definitely couldn’t. The Wang Clan? Utterly useless. If Li Feihuang wanted the throne, she’d have to rely on him. So why should he bother with pretense? Who had the right to demand answers from him?

Li Feihuang’s phoenix-like eyes grew colder, her phoenix silhouette flaring as if she were about to strike. The Wang Clan members were stunned. They despised Ye Chen—cultivating Wang Ming had cost them dearly, yet he’d been obliterated before their eyes, his head smashed to pieces. Ye Chen deserved death.

But his strength was undeniable. That single punch had outclassed even Wang Lun by far. If he fought, their chances of victory would soar. If Li Feihuang and Ye Chen clashed now, even subduing him would cost them a vital asset. With the contest just three days away, any injury to Li Feihuang could jeopardize her performance.

If she lost the throne, the Wang Clan would suffer most. Champion King had already marked them for slaughter to set an example. Their clansmen couldn’t even leave the capital. Ye Chen could return to the Divine Will Sect, and Li Feihuang, as a royal, would face only house arrest or a political marriage at worst. But the Wang Clan? They faced total annihilation.

As tension crackled, with Li Feihuang and Ye Chen on the verge of conflict, the Wang Clan patriarch spoke, his voice thick with humiliation. “Your Highness, please hold back… Fellow Daoist Ye might not have meant it. With the throne contest imminent, we must prioritize the crown. Let this matter pass.”

His final words were ground out through clenched teeth, his grief and fury palpable. To defend the killer of their prodigy was a bitter pill.

Li Feihuang’s eyes narrowed, shooting Ye Chen a frigid glance. After a moment’s thought, she withdrew her aura and said coldly, “Take me to my quarters to rest. We’ll discuss this further later.”

The patriarch nodded, leading the way. As Li Feihuang moved gracefully, she cast Ye Chen another icy look. “Follow me.”

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow but followed without comment. The Wang Clan’s resentful glares stabbed at him as they went.

Soon, the patriarch brought them to a meticulously prepared courtyard and bowed out, knowing Li Feihuang likely intended to reprimand Ye Chen. But with Wang Ming dead, what good was a scolding? Once this was over, if the clan survived, he vowed Ye Chen would pay.

…

Li Feihuang dismissed the attendants with a wave, and once the courtyard was empty, her stern expression melted into a smile. She looked at Ye Chen with approval. “That was a bit ruthless, but well done!”

Ye Chen, who’d been contemplating giving Li Feihuang a thrashing if she kept posturing—to show her who the real powerhouse was—blinked in confusion at her sudden shift. Well done? Did she think he’d dropped his act and was now catering to her ego? That didn’t seem like her style.

Li Feihuang lounged in a pavilion, reclining gracefully, her alluring curves catching the eye. Her gaze held genuine appreciation, not pretense. She was truly pleased.

Ye Chen’s ruthless killing had initially startled her, but she quickly reasoned he wasn’t bloodthirsty—his ambush on Wang Lun had only left him heavily injured. For him to suddenly turn lethal, there had to be a reason.

Digging deeper, she pieced it together. Ye Chen was acting on her behalf, asserting dominance. His defiant attitude afterward was to spare her from a difficult position. The Wang Clan had been overstepping, meddling even in her choice of allies, challenging her authority.

Ye Chen had noticed her frustration, seized the chance to teach them a lesson by killing Wang Ming, and then played the untamed rogue to deflect blame. The Wang Clan, cornered by circumstances, couldn’t pursue it further, and the matter was dropped.

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Moreover, Ye Chen’s feud with the Wang Clan was likely deliberate, to reassure her. In the future court, she’d need forces to counter the noble families. By positioning himself against the Wang Clan, Ye Chen gave her a reliable ally she could elevate. He could handle dirty work she couldn’t touch without tarnishing her reputation, even taking the fall if needed.

Li Feihuang marveled at his loyalty. With heartfelt sincerity, she promised, “Ye Chen, I swear, in the future Great Chu Empire, you’ll stand second only to me. The Li royal family has several unwed princesses—you may choose one. Any child you have will bear the Li surname.”

Ye Chen’s mouth twitched. Your kid wouldn’t take my surname anyway. But he realized her warmth was genuine—she truly believed he was devoted to her.

I knew you were overconfident, but this is next-level.