Chapter 530: I Was Meant to Be the Star of the Show Today!

Chapter 530: I Was Meant to Be the Star of the Show Today!

Xue Lingxue was also a bit surprised.

The idea of a marriage between the Second Prince and Shen Qingyan started when the chancellor suggested it. When the imperial family talked to the South Melody Conservatory about the union, both sides seemed to agree.

However, the South Melody Conservatory never had the tradition of bestowing marriages. And so, they arranged for Shen Qingyan to meet up with the Second Prince during the Assembly of Immortal Sects in the capital. If there was mutual interest, things could move forward from there.

This meeting was essentially a formal matchmaking event.

To avoid awkwardness for both himself and Shen Qingyan, the Second Prince used a banquet for the prodigies from other immortality cultivation sects as an excuse. He invited several cultivators from the capital he had befriended, hoping that the lively atmosphere would make his first meeting with Shen Qingyan more comfortable.

The arrangement was reasonable overall.

He only made one mistake, which was to extend an invitation to Chu Liang to smooth things over out of fear that his attendant could have offended Chu Liang. After all, this would only add another person to the banquet and make things even merrier.

Since Xue Lingxue knew Chu Liang and wanted to avoid sitting near the main seat, she chose to sit next to him. This arrangement allowed Shen Qingyan to sit next to the Second Prince, giving them a chance to converse privately. It all made sense.

But unexpectedly, Shen Qingyan chose to sit on Chu Liang's other side, as if she wanted to discuss something with him. This was certainly unusual.

The three of them huddled together, creating a small group that ultimately isolated the Second Prince, the host of the banquet.

Xue Lingxue smiled and asked, "Qingyan, do you know Young Hero Chu?"

Shen Qingyan gently shook her head and paused for a moment. She felt something very peculiar.

That throbbing feeling that Chu Liang felt—Shen Qingyan felt it too.

She had been raised by her teacher and possessed only half of a pendant engraved with the character "Shen" to prove her identity. After all these years, it was the first time the jade pendant had reacted. She couldn't help but wonder if Chu Liang had the other half.

Driven by intense curiosity, she sat next to Chu Liang. Sure enough, as they drew closer, the jade pendant in her possession became increasingly restless, as if it were ready to leap out on its own.

Feeling the same abnormality from his own jade pendant, Chu Liang began pondering as well.

When Chu Liang had visited the abandoned Shen Family Residence, he learned about the tragic events that had befallen the Shen family and found out that the sole survivor, a baby, was taken away by the Master of the South Melody Conservatory. Could that baby be Shen Qingyan?

But if that were the case, why hadn't she returned to the Shen Family Residence all these years? Even though it was haunted, the South Melody Conservatory should have easily been able to handle an abandoned residence.

Unless the Master of South Melody Conservatory had never told her about her true identity.

Why would that be?

Although he felt puzzled, he knew that this would be far more important to Shen Qingyan than to him, which was why he could remain very calm.

The main character of tonight's gathering was supposed to be the Second Prince, and the atmosphere was starting to feel awkward. If the Second Prince had a bad temper, he might get angry at Chu Liang for this situation. On the other hand, if he was a good person, then Chu Liang certainly shouldn't steal the spotlight.

Chu Liang knew he needed to find an excuse to slip away.

As for the half-pendant, if Shen Qingyan was truly the rightful owner, he would simply return it to her.

He just hadn't figured out whether he should say anything at all—if even the Master of the South Melody Conservatory hadn't told her about her origins and background, should he?

As Chu Liang was deep in thought, he suddenly heard a loud voice at the door: "Is Big Sis Shen Qingyan here? Let me see just how beautiful South Melody Conservatory's number one beauty really is!"

A lively girl jumped into the room, looking to be around sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in a scholar's robe lined with red gauze. She had large, bright eyes, fair and delicate features, and an air of playful cleverness about her.

A refined scholar in white robes stepped firmly behind her—it was none other than Zhang Chen from Ascending Dragon Academy.

As he entered, he softly chided, "Fangling, behave yourself."

"How much is a little something?" Xu Fangling asked curiously.

Chu Liang was unsure how to respond when Xue Lingxue chuckled and said, "The whole peak."

Most outsiders didn't know that Chu Liang had leased Red Cotton Peak, but those from the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten like Xue Lingxue were aware of it. After all, many immortal sects had opened shops there and had dealt directly with Chu Liang.

"Wow..." Xu Fangling's eyes widened. "You own the whole Red Cotton Peak?"

"Not really, not really," Chu Liang quickly laughed. "I'm just in charge for a while, handling some tasks for the sect. My fellow disciples focus on cultivation, so these mundane matters fall to me."

Come on, just keep praising the Second Prince! Don't shift the focus to me, he thought to himself.

"As cultivators, we should focus on training first. After all, we have limited energy," Zhang Chen added, steering the conversation back. "Even though the Second Prince is often burdened with state affairs, his cultivation level is no less than that of the immortal sect prodigies. I heard he nearly broke into the top ranks in the last Assembly of Immortal Sects, and a few years ago, during his northern patrol, he even slew a descendant of Hundun.[1]."

"Yes! I heard that too!" Xu Fangling chimed in. "That descendant of Hundun could have become a true vicious beast after a few more hundred years of cultivation, one of the Four Great Vicious Beasts! The Second Prince killed it before it could reach that level. This kind of achievement definitely makes him a prodigy among the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten. After all, at his age... huh..."

As she spoke, she suddenly turned to Chu Liang. "They say you became famous for slaying the Taowu with your sword. Is it really true? I'm curious—can it really be done?"

Chu Liang thought to himself, How did this come back to me?

He quickly responded, "It was just luck, aided by our sect's legendary swords. Any of my fellow disciples could have done it."

Xue Lingxue said with a smile, "I heard that the Violet and Azure Twin Swords are extremely selective in choosing their master, but both swords chose you. That's not something just anyone can achieve, is it?"

"Heh, I'm not sure why either," Chu Liang replied casually, then quickly added, "There are plenty of people in the Mount Shu Sect with far superior cultivation and virtue."

"Speaking of which, virtue is the most important quality for both ordinary people and cultivators like us," Zhang Chen continued. "Our headmaster often praises the Second Prince's virtue. He made a deep impression on all his teachers during his years at the academy."

"Yes, yes! Our headmaster shared stories about the Second Prince," Xu Fangling added. "He often helped his less fortunate classmates and once saved a girl from being assaulted by criminals. Those are all good deeds that build merit and virtue."

"Oh, right." On this topic, Xue Lingxue turned to Chu Liang and said, "Back when you saved those hundreds of innocent women in South Gate City, some of them had nowhere to go, so South Melody Conservatory took a few of them in. They wrote some thank-you letters and asked me to give them to you. I almost forgot to mention it."

As she spoke, she took out a stack of letters and handed them to Chu Liang.

Back then, some of the women sold from the Southern Regions were taken in by South Melody Conservatory, since most of their staff, from servants to performers, were primarily women.

"How thoughtful of them..." Chu Liang could only force a smile as he accepted the letters.

The atmosphere was becoming increasingly weird. I'm supposed to be the side character today—can't I just stay out of this?

At this moment, Chu Liang realized that he could not stay here any longer.

As he sat there, he felt as if a light was shining on his back.

Without bothering to come up with a proper excuse, he immediately stood up and said, "The Grand Peakmaster has instructed me to return early tonight for some important matters. I'll take my leave now. Thank you, Second Prince, for your hospitality. Goodbye, everyone."

He finished his string of farewells and swiftly exited the room.

Just as the Second Prince noticed that Chu Liang had finally left, he sighed in relief and was about to smile and resume the pleasant conversation.

At that moment, Shen Qingyan, who had remained silent the entire time, suddenly stood up and said, "Apologies, I'm not feeling well, so I'll be leaving as well."

The Second Prince's smile froze as he stared blankly at Shen Qingyan's departing figure, his once-upturned lips quickly drooping down.

What is happening? Did they arrange to leave together? This is nothing like what I imagined... I was meant to be the star of the show today! the Second Prince shouted inwardly.

1. "Hundun" (混沌), described as resembling a bear but without a head or tail, and with wings. In the Shen Yi Jing (神异经) or the Classic of Divine Wonders, depicts Hundun as having the form of a dog with long hair, four feet, a bear-like appearance without claws, eyes that cannot see, ears that cannot hear, a human-like disposition, a stomach without internal organs, and a straight intestine through which food passes without digestion. It repels virtuous people but seeks out those with malevolent traits. (Refer to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundun ) ☜