Chapter 189: Duan Wuya's Temptation
The crowd all stared at Lin Feng, their eyes flickering uncertainly. No one stepped forward to speak.
Lin Feng had casually crippled Feng Xiao, a peak Sixth Layer of Spirit Martial Realm cultivator, with a single finger. His strength needed no further elaboration, and the terrifying battle intent he exuded made people's hearts tremble. Fighting Lin Feng was extremely dangerous.
At that moment, a surge of battle intent landed on Lin Feng, causing his gaze to sharpen. His eyes then fell upon Yue Tianchen.
"You want to fight?"
Sensing the faint battle intent emanating from Yue Tianchen, Lin Feng asked coldly.
Yue Tianchen did not reply. He merely stared at Lin Feng, his eyes flickering.
Lin Feng, though only at the Sixth Layer of Spirit Martial Realm, absolutely possessed the strength to clash with a Seventh Layer Spirit Martial Realm expert. Yue Tianchen's own cultivation was precisely at the Seventh Layer of Spirit Martial Realm.
If he lost this battle, this madman Lin Feng would certainly not let him off. He might end up like Feng Xiao and Meng Chong, with his cultivation crippled by Lin Feng. If that happened, his future would be utterly destroyed. Even if he later made Lin Feng pay with his life, it wouldn't be worth it.
In Yue Tianchen's eyes, Lin Feng's life meant nothing. How could it compare to his own cultivation?
And even if he won this battle, it wouldn't be worth boasting about. He was the heir of the Yue Clan, one of the three great families. His status and position were extremely noble. A mere victory in a challenge was insignificant in the eyes of many. Lin Feng simply didn't have enough weight or reputation. Yue Tianchen had no need to take such a risk.
Thinking this, the battle intent on Yue Tianchen vanished without a trace. He didn't look at Lin Feng again, lowering his head to drink his wine in silence.
The crowd's eyes froze. They had clearly sensed Yue Tianchen's battle intent just now, but it had disappeared in an instant. Even Yue Tianchen was unwilling to risk a fight. Naturally, they wouldn't go and clash with Lin Feng either. It wasn't worth it.
For a moment, the pavilion fell into an especially profound silence, devoid of any sound.
"Heh." Second Prince Duan Wuya let out a light laugh, breaking the stillness. He lowered his voice and said to Duan Xinye beside him, "Xinye, what do you think of Brother Lin Feng?"
At this moment, Duan Xinye was looking at Lin Feng, a hint of surprise in her heart. Although Lin Feng was shabbily dressed, he was unexpectedly so overbearing and proud. Duan Xinye silently praised him. Lin Feng was such a proud young man.
But it was precisely this proud young man, at his core, who didn't care about his attire on such an occasion. Perhaps, just like when he conceded to Feng Xiao's challenge, Lin Feng simply disdained it, didn't care about any of it.
Suddenly hearing Duan Wuya's call, Duan Xinye was startled. She turned her gaze and saw Duan Wuya's slightly teasing smile. She couldn't help but lower her head slightly and say, "Second Brother, what are you talking about?"
"Haha, what's wrong with my little sister? She's actually distracted, and her face is even blushing."
Duan Wuya said with a hearty laugh, making Duan Xinye even more embarrassed. Although she was a princess, a body worth a thousand pieces of gold, she was still a young girl. Such topics were always a bit hard to face.
The crowd's eyes froze, however, their expressions turning cold as they cast cold glances at Lin Feng.
Most of them had feelings for Duan Xinye. Even if it wasn't true love, they still hoped to win her over.
If they could get Duan Xinye, their futures would become much smoother and broader.
Now, hearing Duan Wuya imply that Duan Xinye seemed to have some fondness for Lin Feng, they naturally shot cold looks at Lin Feng.
But Lin Feng's brow furrowed slightly. Instead of any joy, a chill arose in his heart. He turned his gaze and glanced coldly at Duan Wuya.
"Alright, everyone must be clear about the purpose of today's gathering. Since there's nothing else now, you may all take your leave."
Duan Wuya said to the crowd, issuing an order to leave. At the same time, his gaze fell on Meng Chong and Feng Xiao, who were lying on the ground, and he said, "Take them away with you as well."
"Lin Feng, stay behind. I have something to say to you."
Finally, Duan Wuya glanced at Lin Feng, causing the crowd's eyes to freeze once more as they cast cold looks at Lin Feng.
But since Duan Wuya had already issued the order to leave, they could only depart reluctantly.
Wen Aoxue walked over to Lin Feng, gave him a meaningful look, patted him on the shoulder, and then stepped out of the pavilion, following the red wooden corridor towards the lakeshore.
Soon, within the lake, inside the pavilion, it became especially quiet. Only Duan Wuya, Duan Xinye, and Lin Feng remained.
"Your Highness, is there something you need to instruct me about?"
Lin Feng looked at Duan Wuya, his voice cold.
"Heh." Duan Wuya chuckled lightly, looking at Lin Feng and saying, "You don't seem very happy."
"Does the Second Prince think I should be happy?" Lin Feng asked coldly. Duan Wuya didn't mind at all, still smiling.
"Second Brother, you two talk. I'll be going now."
Duan Xinye stood up, intending to leave, but Duan Wuya stopped her, saying, "Xinye, Second Brother has nothing to hide from you. Stay here, no need to leave in a hurry."
Her beautiful eyes flickered slightly. Duan Xinye nodded gently, then slowly sat back down, remaining very quiet.
"Lin Feng, tell me, why aren't you happy?"
Duan Wuya asked with a gentle smile on his face.
Lin Feng looked at Duan Wuya and then said slowly, "Since Your Highness wants to hear it, I'll speak."
Lin Feng certainly understood why he wasn't happy. Duan Wuya knew it perfectly well.
"Your Highness, just now, you deliberately said that sentence to the princess, asking her in front of everyone what she thought of me. Wasn't that intentionally drawing everyone's attention to me? And then, as if that wasn't enough, you deliberately kept me and the princess behind. Now, everyone probably thinks you intend to match me with the princess. Those people are probably wishing I were dead right now."
Lin Feng said coldly. Others might think he should be delighted, but Lin Feng was clear about his situation. Those people were no pushovers. Their status and positions were extraordinary, their power immense. Moreover, they all had designs on Princess Duan Xinye, some even with a determined mindset, like Yue Tianchen.
By deliberately creating this illusion in front of everyone—that Princess Duan Xinye had feelings for him and that he, Duan Wuya, wanted to match them—Duan Wuya had undoubtedly made Lin Feng a target of public criticism, remembered by all those people.
Those noble sons were all ruthless characters who would devour people without spitting out the bones. Being remembered by them would make Lin Feng's every step in the imperial city difficult.
Duan Wuya was trying to harm Lin Feng.
"Lin Feng, you are indeed as clever as I imagined." Duan Wuya chuckled lightly, very satisfied with Lin Feng's answer. Just now, when he had said that sentence, he had been watching Lin Feng. If it were an ordinary person, hearing that the princess had feelings for him, they would certainly be overjoyed. But Lin Feng wasn't. At the first moment, his expression changed, turning cold. Lin Feng's gaze could see through to the essence.
Lin Feng frowned, not understanding what Duan Wuya meant.
"Lin Feng, tell me yourself, how many enemies do you have in the imperial city?" Duan Wuya continued.
Lin Feng thought for a moment, then shook his head slightly and said, "Many."
The Yu Family, the Bai Family, Duan Tianlang and his son, the Meng Family, and so on. Lin Feng had offended too many people. He couldn't even count them all.
"And what about their strength?" Duan Wuya asked again.
"Very strong. Extremely strong," Lin Feng answered truthfully.
"Since you understand that, does it make any difference to make a few more enemies?" Duan Wuya chuckled lightly, causing Lin Feng's gaze to freeze.
"Heh." Duan Wuya looked at Lin Feng, who was speechless, and smiled slightly. "Lin Feng, I asked you here for a reason. I only have this one sister. If she could take a liking to you, I wouldn't mind you two associating. Then, you would be the husband of our royal princess. Who would dare to touch you? So, what I said just now wasn't purely to make you enemies. It was also sincere."
Both Duan Xinye's and Lin Feng's eyes trembled slightly. Then, their gazes met in the air. But Duan Xinye immediately looked away, a trace of shyness flashing across her face, stirring the heart.
"If one could marry such a woman, it would truly be a blessing."
Lin Feng thought to himself. He was very surprised. Why was Duan Wuya treating him so favorably, even introducing his sister to him?
Of course, Lin Feng also understood that even if he were willing and Duan Xinye were willing, as someone without any background or status, marrying the princess of Snow Moon Kingdom would not be as easy as Duan Wuya made it sound.
That was clearly impossible.