Chapter 443

Just as Xia Hong noticed Cai Mengya turning to gaze into the depths of Bai Feng Forest, he already grew suspicious; though fighting the Beast King-level Snow Phoenix, he kept one eye always on the deep direction.

So the moment he sensed two Xianyang-level qi signatures moving in the depths, he instantly realized he had been tricked by Cai Mengya.

The woman’s true purpose in coming to Bai Feng Forest was whatever those two Xianyang-level cultivators were fighting deep inside; as for him, in her scheme, his main role was merely to distract the Snow Phoenix pack.

Of course, the most important target was the strongest of them—the Beast King-level Snow Phoenix.

If the earlier suspicions were still partly conjecture, then the moment he saw Lu Xinghai and Meng Zizhou, Xia Hong’s mind was certain.

Lu Xinghai and Meng Zizhou were the two young silver-armored generals wielding sword and blade before him; their identities were far from ordinary.

First, their lineage: besides the Fangbo’s own family, Cai Qiu had six other hereditary clans, including the Lu and Meng families;

Second, their strength and talent: both possessed Xianyang-level cultivation and were under sixty years old—unheard of even in Cai Qiu, let alone across all four Fanzhen;

Third, their status: Qinghuacheng’s ten-thousand-strong army was commanded by the Chengzhu and four Commandants, two of whom were Lu and Meng.

Coincidentally, a month ago at the Chengzhu’s banquet, it was these two who, jealous over Cai Mengya’s attention toward him, had orchestrated the provocation that pushed him into agreeing to accompany Cai Mengya to Bai Feng Forest.

“These people and Cai Mengya staged a play together—all that jealousy and rivalry was faked for my benefit, meant to lure me here to draw the Beast King-level Snow Phoenix’s attention…”

The moment Xia Hong saw Lu and Meng, everything became clear.

His face showed no surprise; Lu and Meng’s provocation had been clumsy, and he’d seen through it long ago—pretending to fall for it was merely to maintain his image as a wealthy, powerful heir.

What he hadn’t expected was how early their scheme had begun.

They’d started acting the moment they competed over her affection…

Too bad, it’s fallen apart now!

“You think you can play games with me?”

The giant rabbit, struck by the Shattered Divine Light, froze instantly, then shattered like a porcelain vase—cracking first, then flaking away, leaving only its five differently colored tails standing firm behind it.

Within three or four breaths, the rabbit’s body completely dissolved; the five tails slowly straightened and contracted, then erupted in a blinding flash.

When the light faded, the giant rabbit was gone entirely, leaving only a five-string ancient qin, two meters long, its five strings colored gold, blue, green, red, and yellow—directly matching the rabbit’s five tails.

“Move!”

Seeing the qin, Lu Xinghai acted immediately.

Meng Zizhou, hearing the cry, refused to lag behind.

Both ignored Xia Hong hovering above and lunged to seize the qin.

Crack…

A blade of sword-light slashed down from above; Lu and Meng had sensed it, but they clearly underestimated Xia Hong’s power—after a slight frown, they pressed on.

As the blade descended, their right arms were instantly severed, bones cracking with a sharp snap; the overwhelming force sent them crashing face-first onto the ground before the qin, their faces finally twisting in terror.

“Dare to compete with this Young Master for treasure? Who gave you the nerve?”

Xia Hong dropped swiftly, landing three or four meters above their heads, his voice low as he raised his Shattered Star Sword and slowly laid its edge against their necks, his eyes brimming with unmasked killing intent.

Unaccustomed to such a scene, they were instantly stunned into silence.

“Big Brother Hong, Lu and Meng are here to help Mengya catch the rabbit fur—what are you doing?”

Cai Mengya arrived late, her brow furrowing at the sight, but she quickly feigned innocence, as if unaware.

Xia Hong turned to look at Cai Mengya, his expression half-smiling, watching until her face grew awkward, then shifted his gaze to the black-robed elder behind her—just one glance, and he turned away in contempt.

“If they’re here to help you, then this Young Master will spare their lives.”

Xia Hong sneered in reply, made no mention of Cai Mengya’s deception, and picked up the five-colored ancient qin from the ground.

Seeing Xia Hong take the qin, Cai Mengya’s pupils tightened with urgency; she stepped forward two paces, her voice dripping with saccharine charm: “Big Brother Hong, the rabbit fur is gone—please, let me have this qin?”

Xia Hong turned back to her, his face filled with disbelief.

At this point, she’s still acting? Is my playboy persona too convincing—or is this woman just absurdly naive?

In that instant, Xia Hong lost even the desire to be angry.

“Hahahaha…”

He suddenly laughed a few times, then raised the qin and teased, “You really want it?”

Cai Mengya, of course, heard the mockery in his tone—her once seductive expression froze stiff.

“Young Master Hong, my lady has publicly declared: whoever helps her capture the Five-Color Demon-Sound Rabbit earns the right to marry her. You are an heir of a powerful outer Fanzhen clan; my lady is a descendant of the Cai Qiu Fangbo. If this Demon-Sound Rabbit can unite you two, perhaps a fine tale will be born!”

The black-robed elder behind Cai Mengya could no longer stay silent—he stepped forward with a bow, speaking as if offering kind advice.

As he finished, Cai Mengya subtly blushed, displaying the delicate shyness of a maiden whose secret had been revealed.

“You’re… Bai Jiangyuan, a retainer of the Cai clan. At the banquet in the Chengzhu’s mansion, the Chengzhu introduced you to me—am I remembering correctly?”

Bai Jiangyuan, the black-robed elder, bowed and nodded immediately; perhaps because Xia Hong’s tone was too calm, he misread it as leniency, and even smiled.

But the next second, Xia Hong’s tone turned sharp:

“What are you, exactly? Daring to meddle in this Young Master’s marriage? With my strength, status, and position, who in Cai Qiu Fanzhen could I not marry? Who would dare refuse me? You dare suggest I need your permission to marry her?”

He turned his head directly to Cai Mengya as he spoke the final words.

Hearing them, Cai Mengya’s feigned shyness vanished instantly—her face flushed crimson. Never had anyone spoken to her this way; her humiliation and rage surged to its peak, and she whirled on Bai Jiangyuan, shrieking: “Kill him! Kill him! Kill him for me! I want him dead, I want him dead!”

The mask is off—this is it?