Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 306 - 286: Beating Xun Yu

At the entrance of the hot spring, Shangguan Ling, who had witnessed everything, quietly asked Xun Qi, "What exactly did the Princely Heir say to make them so angry?"

Xun Qi chuckled. "Lord Shangguan, it’s best you don’t pry into the private matters of my third and fourth brothers."

Shangguan Ling said, "I was just casually asking, that’s all."

After the group of four departed, Si Snake stood up and said, "I’ve soaked enough. The hunt begins tomorrow, yes?"

Ji Li said coldly, "I can’t wait for tomorrow. My hands are already itching right now."

The two of them changed into dry clothes and left the hot spring.

The vast area now only had Yu Zichuan by the shore and Lu Yuan still in the pool.

Lu Yuan remained motionless in the thermal waters, the rippling waves gently lapping at his shoulders.

His face was expressionless, as though nothing had happened, as though he cared about nothing.

And yet, the night was like the gaping maw of a colossal beast, ready to devour him whole, to rot him in endless shadows, trapping him in an eternal despair.

Yu Zichuan lowered his head, silently wiping his bow.

Suddenly, the sounds of intense fighting came from outside.

Ji Li had started a fight with them.

Yu Zichuan raised his head and glanced at Lu Yuan in the hot spring.

Lu Yuan didn’t move.

Yu Zichuan resumed wiping his bow.

Ji Li, one against two, had become entangled in a fierce fight with Xun Liu and Shangguan Ling.

Xun Qi approached Si Snake and asked, "Aren’t you going to help your friend?"

Si Snake replied, "He’s not my friend."

Xun Qi sighed. "I thought you two were together."

Si Snake, watching the three of them exchange blows, replied, "We are together."

Xun Qi chuckled. "You’re quite an interesting person."

Si Snake said indifferently, "I’d say you’re not that interesting."

Xun Qi shook his head in puzzlement. "Are all members of the Twelve Guards this strange?"

Si Snake said, "Strange or not, I don’t know—but you? You’re just an eyesore."

Xun Qi laughed. "I’ve seen many people, and Lu Yuan was the first to make me feel he was special. Not long ago, Meng Xiaojiu joined that list. And today, I’m honored to meet you, Lord Si Snake."

"You possess a terrifying resolve. No matter how many rhetorical traps I set, you refuse to follow my lead, nor are you easily provoked by anyone."

Xun Qi’s competitiveness seemed piqued as he smiled, looking at the three locked in combat. "However, your companion seems a bit impulsive. Shouldn’t you rein him in?"

Si Snake said, "Impulsiveness is only when you lose."

Xun Qi was momentarily stunned by the remark. His gaze returned to the three in the fight.

Xun Liu and Shangguan Ling were both top-tier warriors, yet Ji Li, fighting them simultaneously, wasn’t losing the upper hand.

Not for nothing is he ranked among the top three of the Twelve Guards in martial prowess.

However, Ji Li was still one against two. His power would deplete faster, and being defeated was inevitable.

As expected, just as the thought crossed Xun Qi’s mind, Ji Li was struck by a palm from Xun Liu.

But before Xun Qi could rejoice, he saw Ji Li drive his knee into Xun Liu, sending him flying.

At the same time, the Brocade Spring Saber that Shangguan Ling had thrust at Ji Li’s back was caught between Ji Li’s fingertips.

Xun Qi’s expression subtly changed.

Fortunately, Xun Liu’s inner strength was profound. He quickly rebounded and rejoined the fight against Ji Li.

Xun Yu had no interest in watching the fight. He said to Xun Qi, "Seventh Brother, let’s go."

Ji Li spoke coldly, "Xun, are you a coward? Leaving so soon?"

Xun Yu sneered. "Defeat my Sixth Brother first, then we’ll talk."

With that, he left arrogantly.

But he never expected to be kicked squarely in the chest, sent flying backward, and landing heavily in an unsightly heap before skidding to a stop.

Meng Qianqian, draped in a pale pink fur-lined cloak, her wet hair cascading like a waterfall, stood there.

Her attire was charming, but her expression was as frosty as ice. Her eyes burned with unrelenting murderous intent, as though she wanted to condemn Xun Yu to the deepest level of Purgatory.

"Third Brother!"

Xun Qi immediately abandoned his attempts to spar words with Si Snake and quickly dashed over to help the pained Xun Yu up.

"What are you all doing?"

With a stern reprimand, Chief of Staff Huo, Great General Han, and Imperial Censor Wang strode toward them.

The three had just concluded discussions with the Emperor about tomorrow’s events at the government residence when the sounds of fighting reached them.

It was Chief of Staff Huo who spoke.

Shangguan Ling, Xun Liu, and Ji Li all stopped fighting.

The three officials scanned the crowd, their gazes finally landing on the blood-stained Xun Yu.

Chief of Staff Huo said sternly, "Private fights are forbidden outside the hunting grounds. Violators will be imprisoned. Don’t you all know that?"

Shangguan Ling smiled and said, "Lord Huo, we were merely sparring in martial arts, not fighting. It’s nothing serious."

Chief of Staff Huo then looked toward Xun Yu.

Xun Yu smiled as he addressed Meng Qianqian. "You, however, probably can’t call this sparring, right? After all, I don’t know martial arts, and you’re a Yin Hu Guard who’s killed countless enemies at the border. No matter how you look at it, it seems like you want to kill me."

Imperial Censor Wang furrowed his brows.

The three officials had indeed witnessed Meng Qianqian injuring Xun Yu—this was becoming problematic.

"Just a joke with the Princely Heir, surely he won’t take it to heart?"

Lu Yuan emerged from the hot spring, unhurriedly.

He was draped in a long robe, his wet hair as dark and smooth as satin.

He was breathtakingly handsome, his damp, languid appearance exuding an ethereal, icy allure.

Xun Yu smiled, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "So, it’s a joke from a Yin Hu Guard. Since the Grand Commander has spoken, then as the Princely Heir, I won’t pursue it further."

Imperial Censor Wang said gravely, "If there’s nothing further, disperse."

Seeing that the involved parties chose not to escalate, neither Chief of Staff Huo nor Great General Han could enforce further. They had to let it go.

Xun Yu saluted them. "Farewell, my lords."

The three officials nodded slightly and turned to leave.

With the outsiders gone, Xun Yu reverted to his address for Lu Yuan. "Fourth Brother, see you at the hunting grounds tomorrow."

As he brushed past Meng Qianqian, she said icily, "Xun Yu, I will ensure your life ends here."

Xun Yu finally dropped all pretense and smiled coldly. "I’ll be waiting."

"Let’s go back."

Si Snake said to Ji Li.

Ji Li sneered coldly. "I’m not done fighting."

Si Snake glanced up at the stars above. "Tomorrow, there’ll be plenty to fight."

After they left, Lu Yuan approached Meng Qianqian.

With a closer look, he noticed she was barefoot, her cloak soaked through and dripping wet.

Beneath the cloak, hints of her nightwear were faintly visible.

She must have been soaking in the hot spring and rushed over upon hearing the commotion, without changing her clothes, throwing on the cloak in haste.

"Don’t do this again—you’ll catch cold," he said.

"Oh."

Lu Yuan took off his outer robe and draped it over Meng Qianqian.

Meng Qianqian looked at his own drenched nightwear in surprise. "And you tell me—aren’t you..."

Carrying her in his arms, Lu Yuan began walking back toward the courtyard.

"I can walk myself."

"You’re not wearing shoes."

"Neither are you."

The sudden shifts between heat and cold left their soaked hair and clothes clinging tightly to their skin, sapping their bodies of warmth but kindling a faint, smoldering heat within their chests.

"Is anyone else still in the hot spring?"

"No, they’ve all gone to sleep."

Lu Yuan carried Meng Qianqian into the wooden hot spring gazebo in the courtyard. "Soak a bit longer to warm up before going to bed."

He placed her into the thermal waters and was about to leave.

Meng Qianqian grabbed his sleeve and looked up at him. "Stay... Your body is colder than mine."

"No need."

He straightened up, pulled his sleeve from her grasp, and refused without hesitation.

Meng Qianqian looked deeply at him, then grabbed the hem of his pants. "Shouldn’t you say, ’Meng Xiaojiu, are you inviting this commander to bathe with you? I knew your intentions toward me weren’t pure!’"

"Don’t be ridiculous."

Lu Yuan, back to her, maintained his usual tone, though his deep, phoenix eyes concealed an unfathomable insanity.

Instincts told Meng Qianqian that if she let him leave now, he might never walk out of the shadows of his past for the rest of his life.

Meng Qianqian resolutely stood up and grabbed his hand. "Husband, your hand is so cold—is your old illness acting up again?"

"I—"

Lu Yuan’s words were cut off when Meng Qianqian suddenly pulled him into the hot spring.