Chapter 524: Harsh Conditions
Lin Feng stared at Duan Wuya, his gaze carrying a hint of coldness.
Again, it was that ethereal sense of dignity, the majesty of the imperial family. They were thinking more of themselves than of Xinye.
"I, Lin Feng, dare to ask the Second Prince one question: If I hadn't saved Xinye last night, what would the consequences have been?" Lin Feng asked coldly, causing Duan Wuya's gaze to freeze. This was inherently a deadlock—no matter who saved Duan Xinye, they would inevitably bear the accusation of defiling the royal family.
"Shouldn't you first investigate who administered that drug, rather than engaging in baseless speculation here and trying to prove some nonexistent imperial dignity? The matter has already happened. Killing me—would that restore the royal family's honor? Have you considered Xinye's feelings at all?"
Lin Feng's angry shouts grew louder with each sentence, leaving Duan Wuya unable to find a way to refute him.
"So what you're saying is, we should just let this go?" Yue Tianming said coldly.
"Shut up."
Lin Feng's cold eyes flashed as he barked, "This isn't your place to speak. What damn engagement? No one recognizes it. I've said it before—Xinye is my woman, even without what happened last night."
Yue Tianming's face stiffened, ugly beyond measure. Hatred—at this moment, he hated Lin Feng deeply. Lin Feng had caused him to lose all face.
What made it even harder for Yue Tianming to accept was that Yue Qingshan, his grandfather, had told him to stop contending with Lin Feng—at least, not to clash with him head-on.
In other words, even his grandfather Yue Qingshan believed he was inferior to Lin Feng.
Hearing Lin Feng's domineering words, Duan Wuya's gaze darkened. He was silent for a long moment before saying, "How do you intend to resolve this matter?"
"What do you want me to do?" Lin Feng asked. Duan Wuya had likely already made up his mind.
"Announce to the world that you, Lin Feng, will immediately marry Princess Duan Xinye. Only this can salvage my imperial sister's reputation." Duan Wuya said with a heavy face.
Yue Tianming trembled all over. Have Lin Feng marry Duan Xinye? What about him, Yue Tianming? What about that engagement?
Although Lin Feng was momentarily stunned, he quickly regained his composure. Duan Wuya's move was undoubtedly the most reasonable course of action. Killing him would be useless and would only make things worse.
"I'll consider it," Lin Feng replied. Of course, he would marry Xinye, but the timing still needed thought.
"Consider? You still need to consider? My imperial sister's reputation is damaged, and this matter is already known to everyone. Are you trying to shirk responsibility? Lin Feng, I need an answer right now." Duan Wuya said darkly.
"I will marry Xinye," Lin Feng affirmed. Of course, he couldn't only look at things from his own perspective. Duan Xinye, as a princess, had shared an intimate relationship with him, and it had already spread. If he didn't marry her, how could she face the world? So, no matter what, marrying Duan Xinye was inevitable.
"Not only must you marry her, but it must be as soon as possible." Duan Wuya stared at Lin Feng. "And you must prove your resolve to the world, and make people know that you are worthy of my imperial sister."
Duan Wuya continued, "As things stand now, my imperial sister's reputation is damaged. If she hastily marries you, it won't restore her lost honor—it would only benefit you, Lin Feng. Unless you prove to the world that you are qualified to marry Xinye, only then can my imperial sister's reputation be restored."
Lin Feng's gaze sharpened. What Duan Wuya said was true.
If he hastily married Duan Xinye, people would only think the royal family was forcing the princess to marry beneath her station to save face. Xinye would still be unable to hold her head high. If Lin Feng could prove to the world that he was worthy, and let Princess Duan Xinye marry him with great fanfare, then her reputation could be restored. But how exactly was he supposed to prove this to the world?
"Elder Brother, you're being too hard on Lin Feng. I don't mind if he marries me just like this."
Duan Xinye rushed out again, speaking loudly. The fact that Lin Feng was willing to marry her was already enough to satisfy her. She had originally planned to abandon everything to follow Lin Feng, including her identity as a princess, so naturally, she didn't care about so-called reputation.
"Xinye, this doesn't concern you."
Duan Wuya said to Duan Xinye, then turned his gaze back to Lin Feng, his eyes sharp.
Looking at Duan Wuya's expression, it seemed he had already planned everything. Lin Feng asked, "Then I ask the Second Prince to tell me, Lin Feng, how should I prove to the world that I am worthy?"
"Participate in the Snow Domain Grand Competition and secure a spot in the top nine. Bring glory back to Snow Moon, and return with honor to marry my imperial sister." Duan Wuya said slowly. "You, Lin Feng, in this Snow Domain Grand Competition, either take the top nine, or die out there and never come back. My imperial sister does not marry an incompetent man."
"Elder Brother, your demands are too excessive."
Duan Xinye scolded. The top nine—that was too difficult.
Lin Feng, from Snow Moon Kingdom—among the thirteen kingdoms of the Snow Domain, it was merely an ordinary nation. Above them were four great empires, and below them were nine equally powerful kingdoms. Among the thirteen kingdoms, even if each kingdom selected its strongest person, that would already be thirteen people. For Lin Feng to secure a top-nine spot, he would have to defeat five of the strongest from these thirteen kingdoms.
In other words, Lin Feng would have to defeat five enemies possibly as powerful as the Crown Prince to earn a top-nine spot. The difficulty was immense.
And Duan Wuya demanded that Lin Feng either take the top nine or die in the Snow Domain Grand Competition.
"I haven't finished speaking yet."
Duan Wuya said calmly, causing Duan Xinye's eyes to stiffen. Not finished yet? Wasn't this enough?
"The one who marries my imperial sister must naturally be the most outstanding person—at least in Snow Moon. After you secure a top-nine spot in the Snow Domain Grand Competition and return with glory and betrothal gifts, in Snow Moon, you must also seize the first seat among the Eight Young Masters. Only then will the world know, and everyone will admire and look up to you, Lin Feng. You will be Snow Moon's pride. When you marry my imperial sister then, it will not damage her reputation further. No one will dare utter a single disrespectful word."
Duan Wuya's words caused everyone present to tremble inwardly. Such harsh conditions. Duan Wuya's demands were too ruthless, too difficult.
The Snow Domain Grand Competition gathered countless geniuses. Lin Feng was only eighteen or nineteen years old. How difficult would it be to secure a top-nine spot? And that wasn't enough—Duan Wuya also demanded that Lin Feng become the foremost of the Eight Young Masters. In other words, Duan Wuya wanted Lin Feng to defeat Crown Prince Duan Wudao and achieve supreme prestige.
This was something few among the younger generation dared to even think about, yet it came from Duan Wuya's mouth. He demanded that Lin Feng accomplish it.
Even Yue Tianming beside him was shocked by Duan Wuya's harsh demands. The thirteen kingdoms of the Snow Domain were filled with geniuses. To secure a top-nine spot was incredibly difficult.
Crown Prince Duan Wudao was domineering and ruthless—those who followed him prospered, those who opposed him perished. Since his rise, he had dominated Snow Moon's younger generation, always the number one, never surpassed. Even now, Yue Tianming knew there was still a huge gap between himself and Duan Wudao. Duan Wuya wanted Lin Feng to defeat him and seize the first seat among the Eight Young Masters—that was too difficult.
"Elder Brother, how can you make things so hard for Lin Feng?" Duan Xinye was getting anxious. Duan Wuya's demands were nothing short of deliberate harassment for Lin Feng.
"If he can't accomplish these demands, what right does he have to marry you?" Duan Wuya remained unmoved, staring at Lin Feng.
At this moment, Lin Feng's eyes flickered. What exactly was Duan Wuya's intention with this move?
If he secured a top-nine spot in the Snow Domain Grand Competition, he would naturally bring glory back. If he then became the foremost of the Eight Young Masters and defeated Duan Wudao, who in the world wouldn't know him? At that time, if he married Duan Xinye, indeed, no one would dare speak a single disrespectful word.
"Is there a time limit for the second condition?"
Lin Feng asked Duan Wuya.
"You must marry my imperial sister within one year," Duan Wuya said heavily. This sentence was undoubtedly telling Lin Feng that he was giving him one year.
The Snow Domain Grand Competition would begin soon, so it naturally wouldn't take a year. This one year was what Duan Wuya left for Lin Feng to seize the first seat among the Eight Young Masters.
From Duan Wuya's meaning, it could also be seen that he believed seizing the first seat among the Eight Young Masters was more difficult than securing a top-nine spot in the Snow Domain Grand Competition. This implied that Duan Wudao's strength was likely more than just top-nine among the geniuses of the Snow Domain Grand Competition—at least, that was what Duan Wuya thought. He had confidence in Duan Wudao.
Even if Lin Feng secured the top nine, it still wouldn't be enough to suppress Duan Wudao.
"Do I have no choice?" Lin Feng asked.
"No," Duan Wuya nodded.
Lin Feng was silent for a moment, then took Duan Xinye's hand and said, "I want to take Xinye away for a few days now."
"Where to?" Duan Wuya asked.
"Longing Forest!" Lin Feng spoke three words calmly. Duan Wuya nodded and said, "Fine. Send Xinye back in a few days. I don't want what happened back then to happen again."
Lin Feng's gaze darkened. What Duan Wuya referred to as "what happened back then" was naturally Yue Menghe and Lin Hai's attempt to escape Snow Moon. The outcome was that Lin Hai was sealed, forbidden from ever entering the Imperial City, and separated from Yue Menghe for eighteen years, unable to even walk openly out of Longing Forest even now.