392: Chapter 392 A Feast with Hidden Thoughts

These words were spoken naturally and sincerely. Paired with those harmless almond-shaped eyes and a sweet smile, it was hard to remain guarded.

Ai Wei's tail relaxed a little, and she responded hesitantly, "Oh... thank you."

Shen Youqing seemed not to notice her restraint, continuing with a smile, "You were so amazing that day. The previous nine people came up one after another, and you knocked them all flying."

"If not for my husband's good luck, you might have really defeated ten in a row."

At the mention of the competition, Ai Wei's ears drooped slightly. The memory of defeating ten in a row only to be crushed in reverse still made her face burn when she thought about it.

Before she could mock herself, Shen Youqing added, "But I think this actually shows how incredibly strong you are."

"The first nine people couldn't beat you, which proves you have genuine seventh-stage strength."

"My husband winning against you was purely because he is too special."

Ai Wei was stunned for a moment and looked up at her. Shen Youqing's smile was still just as sweet, with not a hint of politeness or perfunctoriness in her eyes.

That feeling of being genuinely praised without feeling offended allowed Ai Wei's tense nerves to quietly relax quite a bit.

"You... you really know how to talk," Ai Wei muttered.

Shen Youqing giggled and leaned in closer, "Then let's chat more in the future, okay?"

"Anyway, you and your Revered Master will be staying in the Lingyuan Empire for a few more days, right? I'll take you around; Lingyuan City has so much delicious food."

Before Ai Wei could answer, another figure walked over from the side. Qiao Feifei was carrying a fruit platter, her steps lively and cheerful. She circled half the table and sat directly on Ai Wei's other side.

With a piece of candied fruit in her mouth, she greeted her indistinctly, "Big Sister Ai Wei! I wanted to say this earlier, your cat ears are truly beautiful! Are they natural? Can I touch them?"

Ai Wei froze, her tail puffing up.

Shen Youqing and Qiao Feifei flanked Ai Wei, sandwiching her in the middle. One chatted in a gentle, soft voice, while the other chattered away, asking all sorts of questions, their coordination seamless.

It wasn't long before most of the restraint on Ai Wei's face dissipated. She was even amused enough that the corners of her mouth secretly curled up.

King Xuanyin took in this scene, but did not speak to stop them.

Her gaze shifted away from Ai Wei and swept across the surroundings. Su Yingxue was no longer at the main table. She was holding a glass of wine, walking toward this side unhurriedly.

Her steps were steady, and her demeanor was graceful and poised. A perfectly appropriate smile hung on her face—neither overly enthusiastic nor cold.

"Your Highness King Xuanyin." Su Yingxue walked to her side and bowed slightly. "I haven't congratulated Your Highness yet. The Disciple Your Highness has raised is so outstanding; it is truly admirable."

These words were flawless. She praised Ai Wei first, placing the focus of the conversation on the "outstanding Disciple." It neither touched upon the awkwardness of the competition results nor did it fail to elevate King Xuanyin's status.

A glimmer of amusement flashed in King Xuanyin's eyes. This was the little girl. Su Yingxue. Lin Yun's main wife, the backbone among those sixty-plus sisters.

In all the investigative materials regarding Lin Yun, this name appeared most frequently. It was she who allowed Lin Yun to walk step by step from a Martial Artist failure to where he was today.

It was she who personally arranged for those stunning women to be brought into the Lin family one by one. And it was she... whom King Xuanyin had to face squarely at this moment.

"You are Su Yingxue." King Xuanyin spoke, her tone neither cold nor warm, yet carrying an indistinct sense of scrutiny.

Su Yingxue met her gaze calmly and smiled slightly, "Your Highness recognizes me?"

"You are quite famous." King Xuanyin picked up her wine glass and took a sip. "In Lin Yun's past, you appear too often. It would be hard not to know you."

"It is my honor to be remembered by Your Highness." Su Yingxue took the opportunity to sit in the empty seat beside her. Her movements were natural, without the slightest awkwardness.

There was a small distance between the two. King Xuanyin did not chase her away, and Su Yingxue did not rashly lean too close. The boundaries were handled perfectly.

After a moment of silence, King Xuanyin suddenly asked, "You came to sit by me—are you trying to win me over for your husband? Or do you want to probe my plans for tomorrow?"

Su Yingxue's hand holding the wine glass paused slightly, then she smiled. There was not a shred of guilt in that smile; instead, it carried an open, candid sincerity. "Your Highness is joking."

"I just felt that since Your Highness came to attend my husband's wedding banquet, as the hostess, I should come and offer a toast to fulfill the duty of a host."

She raised the wine glass in her hand toward King Xuanyin. "This glass of wine is to toast Your Highness on behalf of my husband. Thank you for honoring us with your presence."

King Xuanyin looked at the wine glass offered so calmly and was silent for two breaths. Then, she too raised the glass in front of her and lightly clinked it against Su Yingxue's. "Clink."

A crisp sound. It was not very loud in this noisy hall, yet it felt like some sort of subtle signal. Both of them tilted their heads back and drank the wine in their glasses in one gulp.

Su Yingxue put down her wine glass. A perfectly appropriate, slightly tipsy rosy flush appeared on her face. She looked at King Xuanyin's profile and suddenly whispered, "Your Highness is dressed very plainly today."

King Xuanyin looked into her eyes. Su Yingxue continued, "The last two times I saw Your Highness, you were in purple robes and fine attire, enchanting and moving. Wearing moon-white today, you have a unique charm."

King Xuanyin was silent for a moment and said indifferently, "Today is someone else's wedding; dressing too ostentatiously is inappropriate."

"Oh~?" Su Yingxue's tone rose slightly. "I thought Your Highness wanted to be a less conspicuous white flower amidst the hall full of red silk."

These words were spoken gently, without any intention of offense, yet they hid a look that only women could understand. King Xuanyin gave her a deep look, then smiled.

The smile was not the kind of charming allure that captivates all living things, but a very faint, faint smile carrying a hint of self-mockery. "You are much better at talking than your husband."

Su Yingxue's smile remained unchanged. "Your Highness is too kind."

The air between the two, in these few short exchanges, inexplicably softened a little.

Nearby, Ai Wei had been teased by Qiao Feifei and Shen Youqing until she completely relaxed. Her tail swayed gently as they discussed which shop in Lingyuan City had the best sugar cakes.

She was completely oblivious to the exchange between her Revered Master and Su Yingxue. It was the very scene she had longed for, yet she was unaware of it.

Until Su Yingxue's gaze quietly shifted away from King Xuanyin. It lingered on Ai Wei's fluffy cat ears for a moment, then fell back onto King Xuanyin's profile. That gaze was very light, as light as the wind blowing over the surface of water.

King Xuanyin sensed it. Her fingertips tightened slightly, but she said nothing. Wei Wei is so beautiful. It is only natural for Su Yingxue to have her eyes on her. Even she herself had been targeted, hadn't she?

If not for seeking to eliminate the influence on her Divine Soul, she would never have come. The more she interacted with Lin Yun, the greater the influence became. If she wasn't careful, she would truly fall.

This wife of Lin Yun is truly bold! It would be one thing for a mere fourth-stage Martial Artist to have her eyes on Wei Wei. But to actually dare to have her eyes on her as well. Could... it be? Does she know that she has been influenced by Lin Yun?