Main hall of the Flower Queen Banquet.
The atmosphere had turned freezing cold. The intense affection from earlier had instantly transformed into even stronger jealousy and hatred, and was fermenting into murderous intent.
All the clan young masters at the banquet stared at Mo Hua like savage, hungry wolves.
The Flower Queen Banquet was a hunting ground for these young masters of Kun Province's great clans.
The supremely beautiful Flower Queen was their prey.
This was a game of hunting beauties.
Yet now, for no reason at all, an outsider had arrived, stepped into their territory, and even laid a hand on the object of their hearts' desire.
What was even more infuriating was that all this person had paid was a single, insignificant spirit stone.
This was a tremendous humiliation.
So the real clown was not Mo Hua. All of them were the real clowns.
Not only the young masters of ordinary clans were speechless with rage.
Even the direct-line young masters of the Four Great Clans had murder in their eyes when they looked at Mo Hua.
And the one most enraged of all, first and foremost, was the eldest young master of the Earth Sect.
A dignified eldest young master of the Earth Sect had spent a heaven crystal and still couldn't see that woman.
But someone else had become her intimate guest for a single spirit stone.
This was no different from ripping his face off and throwing it to the ground to be trampled—a humiliation he had never suffered in his life.
"Fine... very fine..."
The eldest young master of the Earth Sect laughed in fury. For a moment, he couldn't control the force of his bloodline, and his solid jade seat was instantly shaken to powder, making everyone's pupils contract.
The eldest young master of the Earth Sect turned his head and stared coldly at Mo Hua. His expression didn't look cruel, but the hidden ferocity in his eyes was enough to make anyone's blood run cold.
Even Madam Miao of the Jade Fragrance Pavilion felt a moment of terror and went pale.
The eldest young master of the Earth Sect held overwhelming power in Kun Province. His wrath was not something just anyone could bear.
What's more, as he raged, his blood qi surged and his flood dragon might radiated outward, making even unrelated bystanders feel their hearts jump in fear.
Only Mo Hua remained as calm as ever, as if no one else were there.
His acting as though no one else were there looked to others like pure "looking down on everyone," arrogance carried to the extreme.
Bai Xiaosheng watched and felt his head ache terribly.
It was exactly what one feared that came. The more he feared Mo Hua would cause trouble, the more trouble Mo Hua caused. And if it wasn't big trouble, he wouldn't even bother.
This kid really was born under a "star of calamity"...
Bai Xiaosheng sighed, and was already thinking about how he would get Mo Hua out if a chaotic fight really did break out.
After all, he was the Little Mistress's junior martial brother; he had to be protected one way or another.
Young masters from clans usually had to maintain some rules and dignity. They wouldn't truly tear all pretense apart.
But once the fight was over a woman, none of that mattered anymore.
The more hot-blooded and young the master, the easier it was for lust to cloud his judgment, and the more likely he would do incomprehensibly stupid things for a woman.
Even more, Mo Hua was not a young master of a local Kun Province clan. He was an "outsider."
The local young masters of Kun Province were bound to exclude outsiders.
There was no way they would tolerate Mo Hua stepping on their faces and touching the Flower Queen.
Yet aside from his headache, Bai Xiaosheng was more shocked than anything.
He had never expected the Flower Queen would actually give Mo Hua the chance to enter her private chamber.
Although it was said that everyone had a chance depending on fate, this was way too coincidental.
Bai Xiaosheng wasn't naive enough to believe in that nonsense about "fate." Instead, he guessed that between Mo Hua and Yu Nujiao, this man and this woman, there had to be something fishy going on.
It wasn't just Bai Xiaosheng. Most of the others thought the same.
The eldest young master stared hard at Mo Hua, his voice majestic and slightly hoarse:
"Do you know Yu Nujiao?"
Mo Hua shook his head. "Not yet."
The eldest young master's brow sank. "If you don't know her, why did she choose you?"
Mo Hua said, "You have to ask her, not me."
The implication was that the Flower Queen had chosen him; he hadn't chosen the Flower Queen. If one wanted to know why, one naturally had to ask the Flower Queen.
The eldest young master's gaze swept over Mo Hua's handsome, picture-perfect face for a moment, and his jealousy burned even more fiercely.
The women of this world really were all blind fools, doting only on pretty boys.
The eldest young master ordered, "Leave on your own. Put the peony down, and I won't hold your offense against you."
Mo Hua was always more responsive to softness than hardness. If an ordinary person had advised him, he might have considered it. But this so-called eldest young master was very likely a brute from the Young Masters' Pavilion. How was he qualified to lecture Mo Hua?
Mo Hua's temper could be quite bad sometimes.
Madam Miao was still holding the jade tray, presenting it in front of Mo Hua.
So right in front of everyone, Mo Hua took the big, crystal-clear, translucent jade-colored peony into his hand. He weighed it casually and toyed with it for a moment, then said with a half-smile:
"A peony that delivers itself to your door—why refuse?"
This act was no different from pouring oil on fire.
The eldest young master of the Earth Sect, and every clan young master in the hall, burned with jealousy and fury, wishing they could eat Mo Hua's flesh.
On the eldest young master's body, the rotting poppies within his karmic chains also began to twist.
Mo Hua, however, didn't care. He couldn't be bothered to waste words, and simply said to Madam Miao:
"Lead the way."
His time was precious, and he didn't want to tangle with these young masters.
Madam Miao glanced at the eldest young master, then glanced at Mo Hua, secretly astonished. She bent her body and said:
"Yes. Young Master Mo, please follow me."
With that, Madam Miao began to lead Mo Hua to the Flower Queen's private chamber.
Seeing that Mo Hua really did have the audacity to approach the Flower Queen, the eldest young master immediately roared, "Young Master Mo!"
Mo Hua stopped, turned around, and looked at the eldest young master.
The eldest young master said coldly, "Have you thought it through? Do you really want to become an enemy of Kun Province's clans over a woman?"
Mo Hua was calm. Then he shook his head and said:
"It's you who should think it through. Do you Kun Province clans really want to become my enemy over such a trivial matter?"
At these words, the eldest young master froze. Even all the clan young masters in the hall were momentarily dazed and shocked.
What boldness! What arrogant words!
What did he mean, Kun Province's clans becoming his enemy?
What was he, to dare speak such crazy words?
Did he think he could defeat the entire Kun Province clans on his own?
Even Bai Xiaosheng was filled with wonder. He had thought Mo Hua was already arrogant enough before.
But Mo Hua's arrogance went beyond his expectations. In fact, the word "arrogant" was no longer enough to describe it.
Someone who could be arrogant to such an abstract degree was rarely seen in this world.
The crowd inexplicably felt fearful, and for a moment, no one said anything.
Seeing that no one dared to respond, Mo Hua said to Madam Miao again, "Lead the way."
Madam Miao snapped back to her senses. She looked at Mo Hua with a "frightened" gaze, then lowered her eyes and said:
"Yes."
Then Madam Miao lowered her head and continued leading the way for Mo Hua.
When they reached the edge of the high stage, large red peony petals suddenly fell from the top of the hall, spreading into a bright red flower carpet that draped down to Mo Hua's feet.
Mo Hua stepped onto the flower carpet, and before everyone's eyes, ascended step by step in the petal rain toward the highest point of Spring Tower.
That was the private chamber of the Flower Queen, Yu Nujiao.
The other young masters could only watch helplessly.
Some were unwilling and wanted to stop Mo Hua from entering the Flower Queen's chamber.
But they didn't dare act rashly, fearing they would break the rules. They were also afraid of losing face and poise in front of Lady Yu.
After all, the choice was Lady Yu's.
They didn't dare go against Lady Yu's wishes either.
By the time everyone came to their senses, Mo Hua had disappeared step by step along the flower carpet and entered the topmost floor of Spring Tower—the Flower Queen's Pavilion.
That place no man had ever set foot in.
Everyone's hearts were icy, while the fire of jealousy scorched their bodies, and their eyes were filled with ferocity.
Bai Xiaosheng sensed the resentment and hostility of a group of Young Masters' Pavilion brats toward Mo Hua, and smiled bitterly in his heart. This damned Mo Hua would always find people who wanted him dead wherever he went.
But then again...
Bai Xiaosheng frowned again, a little worried.
"This kid goes to play the zither and discuss the Dao with the Flower Queen... it can't really be just playing the zither, can it?"
"They won't do anything reckless, will they..."
Bai Xiaosheng took a quiet deep breath, feeling somewhat anxious, but also a little envious.
After all, in all of Houtu City, only this cheeky brat Mo Hua had such good fortune.
But if Mo Hua did do something reckless... how was he supposed to explain it to the Little Mistress when he went back?
Bai Xiaosheng thought for a moment, then felt he was worrying too much.
The Little Mistress was the senior martial sister, and Mo Hua was the junior martial brother. They were simply in a senior-junior relationship.
Besides, the Little Mistress was someone from the heavens.
If Mo Hua went around fooling around outside, would the Little Mistress even bother to look at it?
And the Flower Queen of Houtu City was not an ordinary woman at all.
So many young masters of the Earth Sect were toyed with in the palm of her hand, longing for her day and night without success. How could she possibly let Mo Hua take advantage?
Bai Xiaosheng looked around, shook his head, and sighed in his heart:
"I just hope we can still walk out of the Jade Fragrance Pavilion later..."
All the young masters around were sitting with icy expressions, looking up at the tower where the Flower Queen was, each lost in their own thoughts.
Madam Miao had wanted to say, "The Flower Queen Banquet ends here. Young masters, please return."
But looking at the nearly silent hall full of cold, angry nobles, she ultimately couldn't bring herself to say it.
These young masters were all waiting for Mo Hua to come down.
They wanted to know what kind of zither this Young Master Mo would play with the Flower Queen, what dao he would discuss...
They also wanted to know whether this Young Master Mo could still leave the Jade Fragrance Pavilion alive tonight.
...
At this moment, at the highest point of Spring Tower.
The Flower Queen's Pavilion.
Mo Hua stepped on the peony flower carpet and entered this private chamber that countless men in Houtu City dreamed of.
Everything he looked at was full of unspeakable luxury and splendor.
Warm jade paved the floor, colored glass formed the windows, cloud-silk curtains hung like mist, and a jade couch was draped with mermaid silk. The air carried a soft yet rich fragrance of musk.
Night pearls on the walls emitted a brilliant glow, illuminating a woman at the center of the room. She wore a bright red robe with pearl-embroidered crabapple flowers and was as dazzling as snow.
The woman sat upright on the jade couch, her face cold and breathtakingly beautiful, like ice and snow on a high mountain, radiating a stern, inviolable temperament.
This woman was none other than the Flower Queen, Yu Nujiao.
Every man who saw this lofty, peerless beauty would probably feel inferior.
But Mo Hua was calm. He looked around and saw a white jade table in the center of the room.
On the table were fine wine and food, and in front of it were two cushions made of spirit beast fur.
Mo Hua sat down at the table without ceremony, then raised his head and looked at Yu Nujiao with a somewhat cold expression.
At just this one casual glance, all the nobility and coldness on the jade couch melted away from Yu Nujiao.
It was like the ice and snow on the high mountain melting into a pool of spring water. Her brows were soft and charming, and a smile hung at the corners of her lips.
Yu Nujiao walked gracefully in front of Mo Hua, knelt on the cushion opposite him, her back straight, her posture gentle as water, with an indescribably soft and docile beauty:
"Young Master Mo, this slave has waited for you for a long time."
Mo Hua glanced at her and said casually:
"Yu Lian'er?"
With her identity exposed, Yu Nujiao was not flustered. Instead, her eyes lit up, bright as stars, and she smiled:
"I didn't think Young Master Mo would still remember this slave's name. Lian'er is truly flattered..."
Mo Hua's expression remained indifferent.
No woman of the Joyous Union Sect was easy to handle, let alone a Saintess.
Mo Hua's gaze turned slightly cold, and he said with a half-smile, "You invited me here just to make enemies for me among the young masters of Kun Province's clans?"
Yu Nujiao quickly said, "How would this slave dare..."
Mo Hua looked at Yu Nujiao.
Yu Nujiao sighed, her brows slightly knit, beautiful in a delicate, heartbroken way, and spoke in a lovesick voice:
"This slave merely... wanted to see you, Young Master Mo..."
"Back then at Dragon Pool, Young Master displayed your divine might and swept through the battlefield on all sides. This slave truly admired you deeply. But after that parting, you disappeared without a trace, and I had no chance to meet you. I thought of you day and night, but to no avail..."
"Now that you have arrived in Kun Province, I happened to hear news of you. Knowing you are safe and have escaped from the calamity of the Great Wilderness, this slave was of course overjoyed."
"It's just..." Yu Nujiao sighed. "This slave has fallen into a place of wind and dust, with no control over my own fate. I am kept under the elders' watch and cannot leave the door, so I couldn't see you. So I had no choice but to resort to this low trick, secretly sending someone to deliver an invitation to you, in the hope of seeing you at the Flower Queen Banquet, to ease..."
Yu Nujiao gazed at Mo Hua with infatuation, her eyes full of tender affection and an indescribable shy, lovely beauty. "...to ease the pain of love and longing."
After hearing this long speech, Mo Hua's expression was cold. He said to Yu Nujiao:
"Be serious."
"Oh..."
Yu Nujiao immediately put away her tender, flirtatious manner, sat down obediently and seriously, and stopped saying those sappy love words.
Mo Hua said again, "Tell me the truth. What exactly did you invite me here for?"
Yu Nujiao put on a lovesick expression again. "Naturally, because I admire you..."
Mo Hua's gaze turned cold.
Yu Nujiao no longer dared to play around, so she sighed with some disappointment:
"Young Master, your eyes are sharp. What you said is right. This slave did indeed want you to have some unpleasantness with those clan young masters..."
Mo Hua asked, "Why?"
Yu Nujiao's eyes sparkled, and she gave a charming smile. "No particular reason. This slave is just a little vain. I like watching a crowd of clan young masters fight over me, flatter and fawn on me, ask for my love and fail, and burn with jealousy. I feel very happy inside when I see that."
"Women are just like that, after all..."
Yu Nujiao's face was all smiles.
But Mo Hua knew she was definitely not telling the truth.
The vanity was real, but things couldn't be just that.
Mo Hua asked again, "This kind of thing has nothing to do with me, right?"
"How could it have nothing to do with you..." Yu Nujiao said coquettishly. "I wanted you to see how beautiful I am, to see how many people under heaven love me, fight over me, and snatch at me. Maybe..."
At this point, Yu Nujiao's face reddened. "Maybe then you... could fall in love with me too..."
Mo Hua said, "If you still won't tell the truth, I'm leaving."
Seeing that Mo Hua truly seemed about to leave, Yu Nujiao became anxious and quickly said, "Young Master Mo... please wait."
Mo Hua looked at Yu Nujiao.
Under Mo Hua's gaze, Yu Nujiao was first a little flustered, as if she found it hard to speak. Only after a moment did she bite her red lips and say in a sweet voice:
"Young Master Mo... have you ever considered joining the Joyous Union Sect?"