Chapter 182: Rumors Are Fearsome

Wuhen nodded toward the people inside, counting as a greeting. That aura is always cool, with a faint aloofness, noble and solitary, making people feel that a nod is the most fitting way to greet them.

The few people present all have high status, but facing Wuhen, they also all stood up to show respect.

Gu Dongliu sized up the man before him. Though his face is plain and unremarkable, just looking at the features, they are anything but ordinary, even very delicate; together they look almost otherworldly.

What a marvelous appearance!

Yet that aura is indeed damn charming, even a handsome man would overlook his looks and be enchanted, let alone a girl whose heart is budding.

After all, which girl doesn't like a man who hides mystery in coldness, aloofness with nobility?

"This Wuhen is probably not simple!"

Gu Dongliu's eyes flickered slightly, muttering to himself.

"Wuhen, you're here."

Ye Qingran looked at that familiar yet strange face, and for some unknown reason a gentle brightness rose in her heart. Since parting at Jiu Fu Lin, they had had no contact, she hadn't missed Wuhen, yet after seeing him in person she felt a sudden joy.

Wuhen's gaze fell on Ye Qingran; those eyes, unlike Fu Hanxiu's pure black pupils, had a hint of moonlit silver, mysterious and elegant, making anyone who meets his stare inevitably sink into it.

"Hmm, long time no see." Wuhen replied, his tone low, voice full, low and magnetic, carrying a fresh icy aura.

Exaggeratedly, it was the kind of voice that makes your ears feel pregnant.

"You sit here." Ye Qingran pointed to a spot beside her, indicating that Wuhen should sit there.

Wuhen walked toward that spot; his long legs moved with wind, his back straight, towering height neither thin nor overly bulky, combining beauty and strength, almost describable as perfect.

He slowly sat down, each movement frame by frame elegant and beautiful. Watching Xia Zhimeng, they couldn't help to rest their chin on both hands, eyes filled with fervor.

If a perfect score is one hundred, she wanted to give Wuhen two hundred.

This person, aside from his face, is flawless in every other way!

Ye Qingran offered a toast to everyone; after a cup went down, the atmosphere, which had been cold at first, gradually became warm and lively.

This gathering was originally because these few people had met and helped each other at the Royal Hunting Grand Event; naturally the conversation turned toward the events of the hunting grand event.

"Wuhen, there's something that's been nagging me."

Everyone looked at Xia Zhimeng curiously, waiting for the continuation.

"I clearly worked hard, so why can't I end up in last place?"

Everyone: "……"

Gu Dongliu's mouth twitched, his Folding Fan fluttered, smiling flamboyantly: "Little Dream, you're really different. Others care about not getting first, but you care about not getting last."

Xia Zhimeng glared at Gu Dongliu, irritated: "What do you know? I'm not obsessed with being last! I never believed that someone as excellent as Wuhen wouldn't be good at archery!"

It's not a secret that Wuhen placed last in the Archery Competition, but Xia Zhimeng has never believed that the Wuhen who can defeat Xuan Sect strongmen wouldn't be good at archery.

"Hmm, I did it on purpose."

Wuhen lightly nodded.

Xia Zhimeng's eyes brightened, "See, I told you, if my brother Wuhen couldn't shoot, the sun would rise from the west!" Unconsciously, in Xia Zhimeng's mouth, the address turned into "Brother Wuhen."

"Why did you do that back then? Was it deliberately low‑key?" Ye Qingran saw Wuhen openly admit, raised an eyebrow, and asked curiously.

Wuhen shook his head, "No."

"Then why?" Ye Qingran, rarely breaking the pot, asked to the end.

Wuhen's eyes flashed. He naturally wouldn't tell Ye Qingran that he had known Gu Huanghou's plot in advance, learned she would covertly arrange the two people who placed first and second in the Archery Competition to be Ye Qingran's hunting teammates, so he deliberately took last place.

If he said that, wouldn't that be telling Ye Qingran that he deliberately approached her with ulterior motives?

"My archery skill is decent. However, at the time I joined the hunting grand event, it was a momentary heat of brain; after going there I found it meaningless, so I lost motivation."

Ye Qingran looked at Wuhen with half belief, half doubt, always feeling he wasn't telling the whole truth. Yet she didn't ask further.

"Sister Qing, in Jiu Fu Lin, you defeated two Xuan Sect strongmen, does that mean you actually aren't... unable to cultivate?"

Ling Shaoyang heard this, but his brow twisted, a thick murderous aura radiated from his body, "What Xuan Sect strongmen? Xia Zhimeng, what did you just mean?"

Gu Dongliu's Folding Fan motion paused, his eyes flickered, seeming to guess something, his complexion grew darker, frost versus snow, his hand gripping the fan showed visible veins.

"Ah, you didn't know? On the first night of the hunting trial, in Jiu Fu Lin we encountered four Xuan Sect Assassins chasing us, oh, the target of the chase was actually Sister Qing, I was terrified, thought something would happen, but Wuhen and Sister Qing were unusually in sync, one lured away two assassins, then soon returned, both unharmed..."

Wuhen could easily slay two Xuan Sect Assassins, Xia Zhimeng didn't find it odd at all, because Wuhen is too mysterious; even if one day she were told Wuhen is a saint, she wouldn't be surprised.

As for her Sister Qing…

It's not that she refuses to believe her, it's just that the rumors outside are too many, and Sister Qing has never explained…

Hearing Xia Zhimeng's exposition, Ling Shaoyang and Gu Dongliu's faces didn't look good.

"Who sent the assassins?"

Ling Shaoyang asked coldly, his expression stern.

Ye Qingran raised an eyebrow, but her gaze fell on Gu Dongliu, "Gu Huanghou."

Gu Dongliu's body stiffened.

Raising his eyes to meet Ye Qingran's half‑smiling, half‑serious gaze, he gave a wretched laugh.

Though he had already guessed the truth, hearing Ye Qingran say it herself still made him feel a pang of discomfort.

Gu Huanghou, no matter how you say it, is still his aunt. Even though, actually their aunt‑nephew relationship is shallow.

"Rest assured, I always help the law, not the kin." This sentence indicates Gu Dongliu's stance.

Ye Qingran lightly nodded, answering Xia Zhimeng's question: "I don't think I've ever said I can't cultivate, have I?"

"But the outside…"

"That's what they spread, it has nothing to do with me." Word‑of‑mouth, even black can be turned white. Rumors are terrifying, not without reason.

"Then, your Spiritual Root…"

"I indeed have no Spiritual Root. Or rather, my Spiritual Root was removed five years ago." Ye Qingran said this calmly, as if detached.

However, such a shocking thing was like a bomb, exploding in the ears of those present.

Spiritual Root, removed?