CHAPTER 451: PRINCESS IN LOVE WITH YE LANFENG

"What? Oh, right, the Beast Blood Pearl. Just rest, I’ll find it right away," Mu Cheng said with a giggle and flattery in his tone, finally drawing his longsword and searching the Wind Wolf, but still failed to find the Beast Blood Pearl.

That wasn’t surprising, though. Although a Beast Blood Pearl’s value couldn’t match that of Beast Bone Relics, it was still a rare treasure, not something every Exotic Beast could condense.

Reaching the valley’s bottom, the terrain became more complex, with giant stones crisscrossing and undulating, interspersed with towering trees and dense shrubs.

Navigating the gaps between giant stones, Mu Hanyan and her two companions advanced toward the belly of the valley.

...

As one flower blooms, offering each its own branch.

While Mu Hanyan was participating in the trial, Ye Lanfeng, with his subordinates, had already arrived at Anyun Country’s Capital embassy and settled down.

This embassy was clearly prepared for distinguished guests; everything within was of the highest quality, the servants were all well-trained, and the guards at the door remained steadfast and unmoving.

At this moment, Ye Lanfeng sat quietly on a stone bench in the courtyard, gazing at a white jade pendant in his hand. If Mu Hanyan were here, she would recognize it as her own, one she thought she had carelessly lost some time ago, but who would have thought that Ye Lanfeng had picked it up.

Under the corridor, Jin Yuguang gnawed on a bun, sneaking peeks at his Lord lost in thought.

"Brother Bing, what do you think the Lord is pondering? Could it be that he’s moved by Princess Jin Hua?" Jin Yuguang puffed up his cheeks like a hamster, turning to Zhou Binghai beside him.

Holding a book in his hands and engrossed in reading, Zhou Binghai looked up at Jin Yuguang’s question and glanced at him, saying indifferently, "What did you just eat?"

"A bun," replied Jin Yuguang, bemused. It was clear, wasn’t it? He had been eating a large meat bun, his favorite beef filling, too.

"I thought you were eating shit, with all the nonsense in your head," Zhou Binghai said flatly, with biting sarcasm.

"Damn, Brother Bing, can’t we have a proper conversation?" Jin Yuguang retorted angrily, then blinked and muttered to himself, "That’s true, I guess. What stature Lord Ye has—Princess Jin Hua is not his match at all." Princess Jin Hua, the beloved daughter of Anyun Country’s monarch, enjoyed much favor, but so what? She still couldn’t compare to their Lord.

"That’s better," Zhou Binghai said, ignoring Jin Yuguang and returning to his book.

"Brother Bing, do you need to be so studious? Always reading whenever you get the chance, and such profound books at that. ’Chronicles of the Various States’..." Jin Yuguang grumbled.

Zhou Binghai paid him no heed and continued reading.

Jin Yuguang smacked his lips, still savoring the taste of the beef bun he had earlier. After some thought, he decided to go out and buy a few more. As he approached the entrance, a guard came in to report that Princess Jin Hua requested an audience with Lord Ye.

"Not seeing anyone, the Lord is very busy right now," Jin Yuguang said, waving his hand to dismiss the guard. Busy? Of course, he was, preoccupied with deep contemplation.

"Yes," the guard bowed and respectfully withdrew.

After sending off the guard, Jin Yuguang saw Princess Jin Hua waiting at the entrance with two maids.

Jin Yuguang looked over Princess Jin Hua out of the corner of his eye; it was clear that today, she had put a lot of effort into her attire. Clad in a lotus-colored dress, simple yet elegant, and adorned with understated yet refined accessories, Princess Jin Hua lacked the typical ostentation of royalty. Instead, one could easily take a liking to her. And moreover, this Princess Jin Hua was very beautiful—rumored to have many admirers within the Capital.