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Translator: Fate
Proofreader: Silavin
To the members of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan, their tails were their most fatal weakness.
Many youthful talents were aware that tails were equivalent to the very lives of the individuals of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan, so none dared to mindlessly touch it, or they would be either tormented or brutally slaughtered.
Given Gu Changge’s smug gesture, the crowd was dazed as their hearts trembled, as though their eyes were going to pop out.
“Yin Mei…” Seeing that, Bai Lie, as Yin Mei’s fiance, was thoroughly exasperated. His body trembled as he intensely clenched his teeth, muttering her name through his gritted teeth.
As a matter of fact, their pre-arranged marriage was determined a few years ago. Back then, Yin Mei was training in Skyward Schloss, while Bai Lie was in his clan. In other words, they had never met each other.
Nonetheless, the marriage was agreed upon unanimously by their seniors, and Yin Mei expressed no reluctance toward it. On the other hand, Bai Lie, a youthful talent who possessed the strongest bloodline in the White Tiger Clan, was remarkably more formidable than his peers, so there was no way Yin Mei could reject the marriage. Besides, Yin Mei was the Gifted Lady of the Nine-Tailed Clan and also one of the most exceptional vixens in her clan.
Being a young man, Bai Lie was naturally passionate about such things, and he was joyful to have such a fiancee. As one among countless youthful talents in innumerable Ancient Immortal Races, he felt proud to have such a beautiful wife. Upon the occurrence of the heavenly treasure underneath Skyward Schloss, he decided to stop by Skyward Ancient City to meet his fiancee.
Indeed, he finally got to meet her, but Yin Mei didn’t even bother to look at him or greet him. Instead, she stayed by Gu Changge’s side. This made him livid, to the point veins popped out from his skin. Seeing him so furious, the crowd couldn’t help but feel anxious.
With that, Yin Mei’s body trembled. Although she was extremely loyal to Gu Changge, she remembered his words from earlier—she was not to reveal the nature of their relationship to outsiders. Swiftly, she collected her thoughts and put up a cold face as she withdrew her tail from within Gu Changge’s hand. “Please mind your behavior, Senior Gu…”
Gu Changge’s remained unaffected as his eyes grew darker like a billow of gray clouds, and none could fathom what his thoughts were. However, in his heart, he complimented Yin Mei. [That’s my Nine-Lives Gifted Lady! Her reaction speed alone is incomparable. A smart woman is certainly a lovable woman!]
“Oh, Yin Mei, are you not going to greet your fiance?” Gu Changge leisurely asked. There was not a trace of emotion on his face, as though he wasn’t affected by what just happened.
Nonetheless, his facial expression turned the atmosphere in the room rather stressful, to which the youthful talents immediately shut their mouths as they grew nervous and dared not to behave rashly. Despite his benign look, according to the rumors, Gu Changge was an immensely heartless, merciless man.
Upon those words, Yin Mei’s face turn pale. She seemed somewhat frightened, as if she was intimidated by Gu Changge. Followingly, she gave Bai Lie a glance with her remorseful eyes from a couple of seats away before she stopped talking and lowered her head.
Seeing that, the crowd felt a chill up their spine. There were rumors about Gu Changge being the most dominant person in Skyward Schloss, whom even the elders dared not to oppose him. And with what the youthful talents were currently witnessing, the rumors seemed to be true, especially with how the Gifted Lady of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan was bottling up her frustrations.
“D*mn it…” Accordingly, Bai Lie was rather relieved as he heaved a sigh in his heart. [As long as she wasn’t willing… Judging by her face, she is definitely being coerced by Gu Changge. Luckily it’s not what I imagined…]
Thinking that, Bai Lie grew even disdainful toward Gu Changge as he continued to coldly stare at him with his rage-filled eyes.
“Gu Changge, you perverted b*stard! Let go of Yin Mei! What did you do to her!?” He coldy shouted as his daunting aura surged in the room, leaving many youthful talents terrified.
As expected, Bai Lie was awfully terrorizing as a youthful prodigy of an Ancient Immortal Race. As he expressed his vexation, a silhouette of an alarming white tiger occurred behind him. The stripes on its head bore an otherworldly aura that was tremendously intimidating.
Sipping his wine, Gu Changge casually shot him a glance. “What do you mean, Brother Bai Lie? Yin Mei is a disciple of Skyward Schloss. Is there a problem for me, her senior, to take care of her?”
“Are you using her to threaten me!? You’re strong, but don’t think I’ll easily give in!” Bai Lie yelled out of anger.
*Whoosh!* As the air quivered, dark, golden runes wafted around his body as if they could tear the world apart. That was the might of the Golden Force. Shocked, numerous youthful talents quickly stepped backward. If a fight were to break out in the tavern, the aura it could cause would be unimaginably horrifying.
Gu Changge’s strength was unquestionably, immeasurably powerful, but Bai Lie was no easy foe as well. If they were to start a fight, this whole place just might get destroyed.
[Brother Gu seems to have the intention to engage Bai Lie.] Ye Langtian snickered in his heart as he looked at Gu Changge. As he wasn’t exactly fond of Bai Lie, he indubitably wanted to see him get humiliated.
“This man is the same Ye Ling. How annoying,” Ye Liuli scoffed.
Hearing that, Bai Lie grew even more furious. Dark, golden beams surged in his hands as the runes gleamed with outworldly lights that seemed to be as powerful as the wrath of nature.
“No youth have ever dared to make a move on me. Are you trying to die?” At that moment, Gu Changge finally put down the cup in his hand as he leisurely turned Bai Lie and blandly questioned. His tone was as calm as a millpond, bearing not the slightest menace. Nevertheless, the crowd couldn’t help but feel distressed as their foreheads were drenched with sweats.
Gu Changge’s question made Bai Lie even more exasperated as the latter clenched his fist, feeling a terrifying power in the room. As a fellow youthful prodigy, he, naturally, wasn’t afraid of Gu Changge. Moreover, only a little knew that he had already broken through to Honoured King Realm. Compared to Chu Wunian, the Prince of Great Chu Celestial Dynasty, he was significantly stronger.
However, he wasn’t exactly confident that he could trump Gu Changge. If he were to lose the fight, he would be thoroughly embarrassed, and from then on, he would never be able to look Gu Changge in the eye again. Yin Mei, on the other hand, would be disappointed with him as well. Conversely, if he were to back out, he would be known as a coward. Therefore, regardless of his choice, he was put in a pinch, unable to make up his mind whether to aggress or retreat.
“Senior Gu, please do not trouble Bai Lie. For my sake, please look past his violations and not blame him!”
All of a sudden, Yin Mei, who had been lowering her head, suddenly yelled. As the skirt of her red dress fluttered, an ambiguous shadow appeared. As her eyes were surging with perturbation and resolution, she stood right in Gu Changge’s way. At the same time, an enormous silhouette of a nine-tailed fox appeared out of thin air.
Blocking all sources of light, the silhouette took up most of the space as it emitted an alarming aura, levitated in the air as it wagged all nine of its tails like blossoming flowers. Decisively, Yin Mei stood before Gu Changge, fearing that he might attack Bai Lie.
“What!?” At once, the crowd was dumbfounded.
[What timing, Nine-Lives Gifted Lady…] The youthful talent from Plutonic Land shook his head in disappointment of missing the chance to see the battle.
Not only Gu Changge’s followers, but Ye Langtian and the rest were also stupefied.
“Yin Mei…” Somewhat dazed, Bai Lie felt a gush of warmth flowing through his heart as he felt moved. At such a critical time, knowing that he was in a difficult spot, Yin Mei actually defended him and saved him from his conundrum. Realizing how he was doubting her earlier, he now felt guilty.
Very soon, he came to his senses. His ego wouldn’t let a woman protect him. If words were to get out, the mass would surely think that he was afraid of Gu Changge.
As he was about to speak, Gu Changge revealed a scowl as he looked Yin Mei right in the eyes. “If that is your wish, I shan’t pursue it for your sake. If this were to happen again…”
As though she was relieved, Yin Mai hastily replied, “Worry not, Senior Gu. This shall not happen again.”
In that instant, the crowd came to a realization. It was only natural for Yin Mei to fear Gu Changge as he was the dominator of Skyward Schloss, and none would dare to oppose him unless they no longer wanted any ties to Skyward Schloss.
The moment Yin Mei stood up for her fiance, many grew more respectful toward her. [Going up against Gu Changge… Only the Nine-Tailed Gifted Lady is able to do that…]
Despite that, Bai Lie was still obviously disconcerted given how the situation made him seem to be immensely scared of Gu Changge, and he needed his fiancee to beg for mercy for his sake.
In the meantime, Yin Mei, as though she was absolutely afraid that he might upset Gu Changge again, quickly eyed him with an apologetic look.
Looking at her eyes, Bai Lie eventually held back his anger as he didn’t want to burden her any longer. Though, in his heart, he swore, [Gu Changge, I’ll definitely teach you a lesson once I achieve Intermediate Honoured King Realm!]
After that, he frustratingly got back to his seat, retaining the coldness in his eyes while remaining wordless.
Seeing that, Yin Mei let out a sigh, but she didn’t bother to explain herself to him, as though she was bearing an unspeakable pain, to which Bai Lie silently nodded at her, signaling his acknowledgment of her uneasiness.
With that, numberless youthful talents were also relieved.
As of now, anyone in Skyward Schloss that dared to go up against Gu Changge would only end in two ways—death or exile. After the minor conflict, in the banquet, the youthful talents grew more wary of their own actions and were no longer as carefree as they were before. After all, in the territory of Skyward Schloss, Gu Changge was the overseeing god. And given his extraordinary background, none would dare to oppose him.
Therefore, Bai Lie, the Young Master of the White Tiger Clan, could only hold his emotions in. And that was the best proof of Gu Changge’s influence.
Undisturbed, Gu Changge proceeded with his casual chat with Ye Langtian and the rest, as though he wasn’t at all bothered by the disturbance earlier.
Soon, the banquet began. In the center of the Skyward Gate Tower, a huge area—filled with energies and mystical fogs—was deliberately cleared out as it was surrounded by tall, giant old fences, and it seemed very grand and ancient.
Intending to seize the spotlight, the youthful talents began to compete. Nonetheless, as the banquet was organized solely by the Alliance of Thousand Merchants, the spotlight meant nothing to each of the youthful prodigies, so they simply remained seated.
Meanwhile, Bai Lie continued to dwell in his frustration as he was drinking wine. From time to time, he would take a look at Yin Mei, who was far away. Each time, he grew even more resentful toward Gu Changge. Regardless, his behavior was considered as jealousy resulted from the rivalry between peers, which was regarded as competition between peers.
Hence, even if Bai Lie were to summon the elders, probably none of them would be able to contain Gu Changge. Besides, given Gu Changge’s position as the Young Master of the Gu Family, Bai Lie was undoubtedly inferior identity-wise, so there was basically no one for him to turn to. Therefore, his effort would only lead to embarrassment.
During the banquet, Gu Changge, having gotten information regarding the new Fortuitous One, was quite satisfied. On the other hand, Bai Lie, the ignorant fool, would only be awaiting the unforeseen torments going his way.
Right now, Gu Changge could utilize Bai Lie’s friendship with Ye Ling to discover the latter’s precise whereabouts.
Silavin: The author could have used Nine-Tails but specifically used Nine-Lives. I wanted to change it to Nine-Tails but refrained as it might have some significance down the line. But, I guess you should be able to tell that these two are related in a way.
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