202: Yaoyue's Attack

He refused!

He actually refused!

The entire square once again fell into a deathly silence!

Everyone thought they had misheard!

Such an incredible opportunity to ascend to the heavens, and he actually… refused?

And he refused so decisively, without even a hint of hesitation or struggle?

Jia Xingtian's smile stiffened slightly, and a trace of unconcealable disappointment flashed in his eyes, but more than that, there was admiration.

This young man's will was indeed extraordinary. He had known the chances were slim, but hearing the refusal firsthand still brought some regret.

When Princess Yaoye Princess heard Mo Yuhan's first half-sentence, "How dare I aspire to such a thing?", her heart sank, and an indescribable sense of loss and… a faint feeling of grievance surged within her.

But when she heard his later statements about his aspirations, that sense of loss was gradually replaced by a complex emotion.

Longing for the vastness of the world, pursuing the peak of Dou Qi… this must be the real him, right?

Such resolve, such spirit… Yaoye Princess looked at Mo Yuhan's calm and resolute profile, and the strange brilliance in her cold, beautiful eyes not only did not dim, but became even brighter.

The refusal, instead, allowed her to see the true breadth of this man's character.

Nalan Yanran's tightly clutched hand on her robe quietly loosened a bit, and she inexplicably felt a sense of relief in her heart, immediately followed by a touch of shame for her own reaction.

"Hahaha!" Jia Xingtian was an old fox after all; after a brief moment of disappointment, he immediately burst into hearty laughter, diffusing the awkwardness, "Good! What a noble ambition, to be devoted to the path of alchemy and pursue the peak of Dou Qi! Young Friend Mo's aspirations are lofty, and I, Elder Jia, admire them! It seems my Imperial family's temple is too small to accommodate a true dragon like you!"

He changed the subject, his smile still hearty and with an undeniable closeness: "Let's put aside the matter of recruitment.

However, Young Friend Mo, you helped Old Nalan dispel theBrand poison, brought glory to my Empire's Alchemist Guild, and even resolved General Nalan's predicament here at Yunlan Sect. Both publicly and privately, you are a great benefactor to my Imperial family.

If you don't even give me the chance to host you for a few days in my Imperial Palace and fulfill my duties as a host, that would be truly unreasonable! Surely, Little Friend, you can grant me this small favor?"

Mo Yuhan looked at Jia Xingtian's sincere smile, then glanced at Yaoye Princess, whose expression was complicated, and Princess Yao Yue, who was looking at him eagerly from afar.

The little princess had also come over at some point and was winking at him vigorously, knowing that further refusal would seem overly unreasonable.

He smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "Elder Jia's kind invitation, how could this junior decline again? It is better to obey than to be respectful."

"Good! How straightforward!" Jia Xingtian clapped his hands and laughed heartily, "Then it's settled! Once this matter is concluded, I, Elder Jia, will personally take you back to the palace! Yaoye Princess, Princess Yao Yue, for these next few days, you two sisters must treat Young Friend Mo well, and do not neglect him!"

"Yes, Imperial Grandfather."

Yaoye Princess suppressed the turmoil in her heart, regaining the dignified demeanor of a crown princess, and nodded slightly to Mo Yuhan, her voice cool yet with a hint of undetectable softness: "Mister Mo, the Imperial Palace welcomes you at any time."

That address, "Mister Mo," seemed to carry a more serious meaning than the previous "Young Master Mo."

"Got it, got it!"

Princess Yao Yue, on the other hand, skipped over excitedly, her amethyst-like eyes curving into crescent moons as she playfully made a face at Mo Yuhan, "Mo Yuhan, the Imperial Palace is so much fun! I'll take you to the Imperial Garden to watch the stars! There are so many, many glowing flowers there!"

Her enthusiastic liveliness lightened the solemn atmosphere from before.

Looking at these two imperial sisters, so different in temperament yet equally beautiful, Mo Yuhan could only smile wryly.

This Jiama Imperial family seemed determined to 'tie' him to their chariot.

Well, so be it, consider it a few days of rest.

The Jiama Imperial Palace, located in the center of the Holy City, had continuous, magnificent palaces, everywhere displaying the Empire's majesty and heritage.

Under the cover of night, the Imperial Palace lost some of its daytime solemnity and gained a sense of mystery and tranquility.

Mo Yuhan was arranged in a serene courtyard called 'Tinglan Courtyard', near the Imperial Garden. The environment was quiet, and the furnishings elegant, clearly prepared with care.

That night, the moonlight was like water, casting a clear glow through the carved window lattices.

Mo Yuhan did not rest, but instead sat cross-legged on the soft couch by the window, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing.

Although he hadn't personally fought in the battle at Yunlan Sect during the day, his mental energy consumption was not small.

The Xuan Huang Purple Flame slowly circulated within him, like a gentle galaxy, nourishing his Dou Qi and Soul Power.

Suddenly, an extremely faint rustling sound, like a civet cat sneaking, came from outside the window, followed by the subtle sound of the window lattice being carefully pried open.

Mo Yuhan's brow subtly raised, but he did not open his eyes. His powerful Soul Power had already sensed the arrival—a lively aura, carrying the unique fragrance of a young girl and a hint of nervousness, it was indeed the little princess, Princess Yao Yue.

This little princess, prying open his window in the middle of the night?

What did she want to do?

Mo Yuhan was curious but remainedKeep calm, wanting to see what she was up to.

The window was silently pushed open a crack, and a petite figure, like a nimble fish, slipped in, landing lightly without making a sound.

Under the moonlight, Princess Yao Yue was dressed in a light purple, action-ready outfit that outlined her nascent, graceful curves. Her small face held the excitement and blush of a thief, and her amethyst-like eyes sparkled in the darkness, like a kitten stealing fish.

She held her breath, tiptoed closer to the soft couch, and looked at Mo Yuhan, who was sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, seemingly unaware. A sly, triumphant smile curved her lips.

She took a deep breath, as if having made some kind of decision, and a shy but incredibly firm light flashed in her eyes.

Then, with Mo Yuhan completely unprepared—at least on the surface—she suddenly pounced.

"Ah!"

Princess Yao Yue, like a young swallow returning to its nest, brought with her a fragrant breeze and the warmth of a young girl's body, firmly tackling Mo Yuhan onto the soft couch.

Her movements were quick, precise, and ruthless, carrying an undeniable, forceful momentum.

"Uh…"

Mo Yuhan was caught off guard, or rather, he simply hadn't expected this little princess to be so "bold." For a moment, he was indeed tackled squarely.

Soft warmth filled his embrace, and the unique softness and fragrance of a young girl instantly enveloped him.

He opened his eyes in astonishment, meeting Princess Yao Yue's amethyst eyes, so close, filled with moisture and shyness.

"Mo Yuhan!"

Princess Yao Yue sat astride him, her hands braced on either side of his chest, her small face flushed crimson, her breathing somewhat rapid, but her eyes were astonishingly bright, carrying a sense of desperate courage, "I know Imperial Grandfather wants to use my sister to win you over, and you don't like it. I also know many people want to tie you to the Empire. But… but…"

She bit her tender pink lips, her voice trembling slightly but speaking with surprising clarity: "I don't want to see you troubled, I don't want to see you bound by those annoying rules. I like you… From the day of the Alchemist Convention, when you became champion, I liked you, liked you so much!"

She leaned down, her warm breath caressing Mo Yuhan's neck, her voice carrying a sacrificial gentleness and resolve: "So… tonight, I chose this myself.

It is I, Princess Yao Yue, who am willing. You don't need to feel burdened, you don't need to think about responsibility. I just want to give the best of myself… to you!"