Chapter 109: We’re Here for Prince Lin Qi’an, Who Do You Think You Are?
The literary gathering had yet to officially begin, but already, betrayal brewed between the sisters. Mo Shuiqiu’s chest heaved with anger, her emotions surging uncontrollably.
“Move! What are you all standing around for?” Zhao Qingmeng snapped, her frustration mounting, as she cursed Lin Qi’an under her breath.
As a Princess of Tai’an, renowned for her devastating beauty, she couldn’t believe that all she got from Lin Qi’an was a smack on the bottom, while other women received poetry and compliments.
“How is this fair?” she fumed inwardly.
Mo Shuiqiu, trying to maintain some composure, said, “But the Crown Prince mentioned he went back to fetch something. Shouldn’t we wait for him?”
“Wait for what? Forget it!” Zhao Qingmeng retorted angrily. “Does he deserve for me to wait? Let’s go!”
Lin Qi’an chuckled softly and followed behind Zhao Qingmeng, with the maids naturally trailing close by.
Mo Shuiqiu exchanged a glance with Lu Miaoyin.
“Hmph!” Mo Shuiqiu huffed in frustration and stormed off, while Lu Miaoyin hurried to explain, “I just thought that since the Prince praised us, it’s only polite to return the compliment.”
“Sure, sure. You’re so dignified,” Mo Shuiqiu muttered.
—
Meanwhile, in his chambers, Zhao Ziyu lay back, feeling incredibly pleased with himself. The thought of Lin Qi’an foolishly waiting outside for him made him chuckle.
Suddenly, one of his maids burst through the door.
“Your Highness!”
“They couldn’t wait any longer, could they?” Zhao Ziyu asked, grinning smugly.
“No… they’ve already left,” the maid replied nervously.
“What?!” Zhao Ziyu shot up from his bed, his face a mixture of disbelief and rage.
He rushed outside, only to find the courtyard completely empty. His expression immediately turned as sour as if he had swallowed something foul.
“Damn it… They dared to leave without me? How could they?”
“Your Highness, it seems that it was Princess Zhao Qingmeng who insisted on leaving,” the maid whispered, her head bowed.
“Zhao Qingmeng? So she’s siding with that Lin Qi’an now? Very well! As her elder brother, I’ll make sure to teach her a lesson when the time comes.”
“Let’s go!” he barked, storming out.
—
At the Wenqu Waterfall in the back mountains of Yunmo Dao Palace, the surrounding mountains were blanketed in mist.
The moon hung high in the sky, and the stars shimmered brilliantly. The grand waterfall, over a hundred feet tall, cascaded down like a river from the heavens, sending countless droplets into the air.
This was the place where the Wenqu Emperor had proven his Dao!
Around the waterfall, countless lotus lanterns were lit, creating an ethereal, dream-like atmosphere. Many first-time visitors couldn’t help but stop and admire the breathtaking view.
By now, hundreds of people had already gathered—all participants in the literary event, talented men and women from various sects and factions.
“Who is that? How dare they write such a poem?”
“Apparently, he’s from Qinglian Immortal Island, but he’s just an ordinary man with no spiritual power.”
“An ordinary man? He sure has guts!”
At that moment, everyone’s eyes were fixed on a figure in scholar’s robes, who was writing on the stone wall beside the waterfall.
“Prince Lin Qi’an has arrived!” someone shouted, drawing everyone’s attention.
As Lin Qi’an appeared, gasps of admiration filled the air. He was dressed in snow-white robes, exuding unmatched elegance and charisma. However, it wasn’t just his presence that drew attention—it was the entourage that surrounded him.
With him were Princess Zhao Qingmeng, Su Xueni—the Saintess of Tianchi Holy Land and ranked second on the Celestial Fairy and Saintess List—Lu Miaoyin, the Saintess of Qinglian Holy Land, and Mo Shuiqiu, the Saintess of Yunmo Dao Palace.
There was also Zi Lianyou, the Saintess of Ziyou Holy Land, and another striking beauty, Ran Yuwie, said to hail from the desert lands.
Each one of these women was considered a goddess by countless male cultivators. To even catch a glimpse of them was rare, yet here they all were, gathered around the Young Lord.
“I’m so jealous… If I could have even one of them, I’d die happy.”
“Keep dreaming, brother. You’re drooling.”
“With all these women around him, do you really think the Young Lord has time to notice the likes of us?”
“Don’t worry, the literary event is just starting. Everyone will have their chance!”
The group stopped in front of the waterfall, where their attention was drawn to the words written on the stone wall. Mo Shuiqiu frowned as she read the powerful, flowing script:
“How could I bow my head and bend my knees to serve the powerful, denying myself the joy of my heart?”
This verse was a blatant mockery, suggesting that everyone present had bent to Lin Qi’an’s power, becoming spineless sycophants.
“Who wrote this? Show yourself!” Mo Shuiqiu demanded, her voice cold.
“I did!” came a voice as Ji Bai, dressed in scholar’s robes, stepped forward proudly.
A murmur of discussion spread through the crowd.
“Say what you will, but that poem is well-written. This kid isn’t simple.”
“True, but to mock the prince so brazenly—does he have a death wish?”
“Ha, just watch. This is going to be interesting.”
As Ji Bai stepped forward, Lu Miaoyin’s expression soured.
He had come to cause trouble under the banner of Qinglian Immortal Island? Wasn’t this just putting Qinglian in a precarious position? How utterly annoying.
Unaware of her thoughts, Ji Bai felt quite pleased with himself. After all, that poem was originally written by the Wenqu Emperor!
As the event was about to reach its peak, Ji Bai saw this as the perfect moment to undermine Lin Qi’an and seize the spotlight. At that moment, Zhao Ziyu finally arrived, just in time to witness the spectacle.
A grin crept onto his face as he muttered to himself, “Lin Qi’an, you’ve flaunted your power long enough. It seems like your moment of downfall has arrived. Let’s see how you handle this.”
“What are you trying to do?” Mo Shuiqiu asked, her tone cold and questioning.
Calmly, Ji Bai spoke in a clear, confident voice. “The Young Lord of Beiyang, Lin Qi’an, has abused his power, turning this once-elegant literary gathering into nothing more than a beauty contest, which is utterly disgraceful!” His voice rang out, unwavering.
“Moreover, he has somehow been appointed a judge for this event, standing on equal footing with the Palace Master of Yunmo Dao Palace and the revered Book Saint. I wrote this poem to remind everyone here not to bow their heads to the pressure of power!”
His words were bold, and a confident smile spread across his face. He was certain that from this moment forward, everyone would be in awe of his literary prowess.
After all, who but a protagonist with his luck would have the courage to stand up to someone as powerful as Lin Qi’an without any cultivation? If he hadn’t shown up, this gathering would have belonged entirely to Lin Qi’an, and winning over Lu Miaoyin wouldn’t have been difficult.
Lin Qi’an chuckled.
“What are you laughing at? Did I say anything wrong?” Ji Bai raised his voice, his tone indignant.
At this, Lin Qi’an’s maids, faces now frosty, fought the urge to strike Ji Bai down. Sadly, the rules of the literary gathering forbade any form of physical violence. All disputes had to be settled through literature.
“Shall I have him removed, Your Highness?” Mo Shuiqiu whispered, ready to act.
“There’s no need.” Lin Qi’an stepped forward and calmly asked, “Tell me, in what way have I abused my power? Did I force anyone to attend this gathering?”
Upon hearing this, the crowd quickly responded.
“Your Highness has done nothing but add a little incentive! No one was forced to come, so how is that abusing power?”
“Exactly! Participation was voluntary!”
“In fact, it’s thanks to His Highness that this event is so lively! Don’t accuse him unjustly!”
“Right, previous years never had such a turnout!”
Ji Bai quickly retorted, “More people attending only brings disorder. I wonder how many here slipped in through sheer luck, reducing the quality of this once-prestigious event. It’s truly a shame.”
His words instantly triggered a wave of outrage.
“Who do you think you are, calling us unworthy?”
“If it weren’t for the rules, I’d slap that smug look off your face right now!”
“Trash! You really think you’re someone important?”
An overwhelming storm of insults rained down on Ji Bai, drowning him in hostility. His earlier confidence began to waver. He hadn’t expected such an honest remark to offend so many people.
“Quiet, everyone,” Lin Qi’an interjected, silencing the angry crowd. “Since he believes I’m spoiling the event, fine. I retract my earlier words. Let it be known, everyone is here simply for the pleasure of literature and nothing more.”
It was as though a boulder the size of a mountain had been dropped into the sea.
“No, Your Highness, please don’t say that!”
“We’re all here because of you, Your Highness!”
“Please reconsider! Don’t let this fool anger you!”
“Where is the Palace of Yunmo Dao? How can you allow this man to remain here when he disgusts us all?”
“I heard he’s from Qinglian Immortal Island. Saintess Lu, would you care to say something?”
“This idiot doesn’t know his place! Your Highness, please don’t lower yourself to his level!”
The crowd was panicking. They had journeyed from all corners of the land, and the sole reason for their efforts was to win Lin Qi’an’s favor.
They had burned the midnight oil, improving their knowledge and refining their skills, all in hopes of catching His Highness’s eye. And yet, this fool, Ji Bai, had dared to suggest that Lin Qi’an was abusing his power?
The truth was obvious to everyone present. They weren’t being pressured by Lin Qi’an—they were the ones eager to take advantage of him, hoping to climb the social ladder through him.
At long last, Lu Miaoyin spoke.
“Get down.” Her voice was cold as ice.
The Saintess of Qinglian, Lu Miaoyin, was angry.
How could this be happening?!
Ji Bai’s chest tightened, and his heart sank. Just moments ago, Lu Miaoyin had shared his disdain for Lin Qi’an. But now, why was she angry with him instead?