Chu Tianjiao

Chu Ling and Mu Rou continued to ride their horses, eventually arriving in a vast and open field. A distant entrance was guarded by armored soldiers.

"That entrance leads to the Royal Palace gardens," Qin Wentian observed, his gaze fixed on the entryway. He guessed that this would be the passage used by members of the Royal Clan to enter the hunting grounds.

"Please wait outside for now, as the esteemed 3rd prince and the esteemed guests from Snowcloud Country have yet to arrive," a polite soldier informed Chu Ling and Mu Rou. They both dismounted and patiently waited outside the entrance.

"Why does Snowcloud Country act so arrogantly?" Chu Ling asked with a hint of annoyance.

"Well, they were invited as honored guests. Let's wait patiently for them," Mu Rou replied with a smile. More guests had arrived, greeting Chu Ling and Mu Rou. While not all of them were familiar with each other, they maintained a facade of harmony.

"Chu Ling," a voice called out. Chu Ling turned to see the speaker, a smile lighting up her face. "Ye Zhan, you're here too!"

"Of course," Ye Zhan responded with a nod and a smile. However, when he glanced at the guard standing behind Chu Ling, he was taken aback by the cold, murderous look in the guard's eyes as they bore into him.

Qin Wentian had recognized Ye Zhan, the person who had attempted to kill him along with Orfon during the expedition in the Dark Forest.

Ye Zhan's expression froze momentarily, but he quickly recovered, flashing a faint grin.

"Qin Wentian," Ye Zhan uttered the name, causing many nearby to turn their attention toward him. Soon, they recalled where they had heard that name before.

A descendant of the fallen Qin Clan, a newcomer at the Emperor Star Academy, the one who had killed Orfon!

Chu Ling was taken aback. She had not expected Ye Zhan to know Qin Wentian's identity, let alone shout it out so loudly, putting her in a difficult position. The Violet Palace's influence paled in comparison to that of the Ye Clan.

Qin Wentian, too, noticed Liu Yan and Liu Yue standing beside Ye Zhan, a sense of unease gnawing at his heart. On that day when he and Fan Le were fleeing from Orfon and Ye Zhan, Qin Wentian had advised Liu Yan not to reveal their acquaintance to avoid trouble.

Qin Wentian hadn't anticipated that Liu Yan would align herself with Ye Zhan, let alone the seemingly intimate connection between them.

Ye Zhan noticed Qin Wentian's gaze and playfully pulled Liu Yan closer. "Yan'er, you and Qin Wentian seem well-acquainted. You've never mentioned it."

Liu Yan felt a surge of awkwardness. After all, Ye Zhan had tried to kill Qin Wentian while she owed him her life. However, she held a sense of goodwill toward Qin Wentian for saving her, which prompted her to keep their acquaintance a secret.

"Yes," Liu Yan nodded shyly, smiling at Qin Wentian. "Thank you for saving me back then."

"No need for thanks. Consider it repayment for saving me," Qin Wentian replied calmly. He believed Liu Yan was the one who had saved him in the Dark Forest.

Ye Zhan's laughter carried a cold edge. He shifted his attention to Chu Ling and asked, "Chu Ling, you know that Qin Wentian hails from a traitorous clan, and he's responsible for the deaths of Ye Mo and Ye Lang from my Ye Clan, right?"

"This guy," Chu Ling muttered under her breath before explaining, "I didn't know he was Qin Wentian. He's just a servant hired to protect me."

"A servant?" Ye Zhan sneered and turned back to Qin Wentian. "So, you've stooped to being a servant. Quite fitting for someone of your status."

"I endure it for the sake of Sister Qin Yao," Qin Wentian muttered to himself. He never expected this princess's character to be so deplorable.

Ye Zhan had already deduced that Qin Wentian was here because of Qin Yao. As a Ye Clan member, he had inside information about the event. With Qin Wentian's arrival, Ye Zhan couldn't help but feel triumphant.

Grinning coldly, Ye Zhan led Liu Yan away, holding her hand. Chu Ling found herself at the center of attention.

"Qin Wentian, leave now. This place isn't suitable for you," Chu Ling whispered urgently, aware of the crowd's scrutiny. "I'll explain everything to my friend. I don't want to help you any longer."

Although Chu Ling's voice was low, it was audible to the crowd. They now knew that Chu Ling had brought Qin Wentian at someone's request.

"As an Emperor Star Academy disciple, he doesn't even have the qualifications to be here. That's the difference in status," Liu Yue remarked, eyeing Qin Wentian. He was keenly aware of the vast gap between his current life and his past one. In the Royal Capital, aristocrats varied widely in rank, and the weak existed solely to serve the strong.

"The Ye Clan is our only support," Liu Yue thought to himself. He whispered to Liu Yan, who was beside him, "Liu Yan, you're aware that Qin Wentian is interested in you. You should distance yourself from him."

"I understand," Liu Yan said with a nod after a moment of contemplation.

Chu Ling's words stunned Qin Wentian. She had already agreed to help and had brought him this far. Now, at the last moment, she wanted to abandon him and prevent him from entering?

"How laughable. Farewell," Qin Wentian said with a bitter laugh. It wasn't that he lacked temper, but for the sake of seeing Qin Yao, he needed to restrain himself. Yet, Chu Ling was telling him to leave at the eleventh hour.

"What kind of attitude are you showing me?" Chu Ling shouted coldly.

"If you hadn't agreed to help earlier, that would have been the end of it. But since you've already committed, why the long-winded cold attitude and treating me like an actual servant? Who do you think you are?" Qin Wentian stared coldly at Chu Ling with disdain. He immediately blurred into motion, displaying unparalleled speed and grace. If Chu Ling didn't want to help, he wouldn't linger and beg. Qin Wentian had to come up with another plan.

"Huh?" At that moment, Mu Rou observed Qin Wentian's movement technique, and her heart raced. She was intimately familiar with this style.

Countless sparring sessions with Qin Wentian in the Dreamsky Forest had made her well-acquainted with his movements.

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

"Wait." Mu Rou spoke up, causing Qin Wentian to pause and face her.

"You can come in with me," Mu Rou said with a smile to Qin Wentian. His expression shifted to one of puzzlement.

"Aren't we friends?" Mu Rou continued with a beautiful smile. Qin Wentian widened his eyes in surprise but understood that Mu Rou was extending a helping hand. He didn't want to appear pretentious, so he nodded and said, "Thank you."

"Mu Rou." Chu Ling looked unhappily at Mu Rou. Didn't this mean that Mu Rou was undermining Chu Ling's decision?

"Chu Ling, I didn't interfere with your choice earlier. I'm bringing him in now for my own reasons, not to oppose you," Mu Rou explained, hoping to convey her intentions to Chu Ling.

"Is that so? But it feels like you're doing this on purpose," Chu Lin retorted, clearly upset. "Mu Rou, I considered you a friend, but you still did this to me? I'm so disappointed in you."

Chu Ling turned and walked away after expressing her disappointment.

"Chu Ling," Mu Rou attempted to continue, but Chu Ling interrupted, "No need for more explanations. We'll go our separate ways from now on. Let's just pretend we were never friends."

Mu Rou's expression froze, and as she turned back to Qin Wentian, she forced a smile, though it carried a hint of bitterness.

"Chu Ling's personality is like this; please don't hold it against her," Mu Rou explained to Qin Wentian. She added, almost to herself, "She'll calm down after a few days and won't be as angry with me."

Inwardly sighing, Qin Wentian recognized that Chu Ling's moral character could be easily discerned by how easily she broke her promise to a friend. Mu Rou had held Chu Ling in high regard, but Qin Wentian realized that Mu Rou was too kind-hearted.

Mu Rou didn't even know who he was, yet she had readily stepped forward, citing a 'friend' to help him gain access. Her actions were open and unafraid of offending others. In comparison, Chu Ling appeared hypocritical.

As the soldiers guarding the entrance to the garden were dismissed, the crowd began to make their way in.

"Let's go in," Mu Rou said to Qin Wentian with a smile, keeping her knowledge of his identity a secret. She felt a sense of awe. The person who had clashed with Yanaro turned out to be none other than Qin Wentian, the new student of the Emperor Star Academy!

Qin Wentian followed Mu Rou into the garden. The landscape was a vibrant green, adorned with beautiful lakes. In the heart of this lush setting, a sumptuous banquet had been prepared. However, since the 3rd prince hadn't arrived yet, no one dared to start.

In the distance, a figure emerged from a pavilion, walking leisurely.

It was a young man dressed in simple yet neat attire. His build was proportionate, his eyes shining with vitality. His looks were extraordinary, radiating a unique aura.

His eyes held a glint of laughter, seeming to twinkle with such vigor that they could brighten up the entire atmosphere.

Beside him was a person familiar to Qin Wentian. It was none other than the Emperor Star Academy's demon, Luo Qianqiu!

They walked together, ignoring differences in status.

After stepping out of the pavilion, they paused. The exceptionally handsome youth turned around with a smile, as if he were waiting for a distinguished guest to appear. A graceful figure stepped forward, causing a stir among the onlookers. The last person to emerge was Qin Yao.

"His Highness, the 3rd Prince, has arrived."

"His Highness looks as refined as always, truly a son the Heavens favor."

Smiles adorned the faces of the crowd, and praises involuntarily left their lips as the exceptional youth approached. The 3rd Prince, Chu Tianjiao, named "Tianjiao" which meant "Heaven's Pride," was the prince with the highest chances of ascending to the throne in the Chu Country. He held a special place in the current Emperor's heart. Not only was he immensely talented, but he also held the second rank among the ten prodigies of the Royal Capital.

Chu Tianjiao, the embodiment of this generation's heavenly pride!