Chapter 623: Two Kinds of Judgment

"Hmm?"

Hearing this, everyone was stunned, all secretly applauding.

Master Chen Yue's question was clearly meant to strike at the heart; any answer would be wrong. Yet, faced with such a difficult question, Master Hong countered in one sentence.

Fine, you say I'm late, but the crown prince hasn't arrived either—isn't he even later? Do you dare say the crown prince is late? What do you mean by that?

It's just a banquet, and you deliberately pin a label on me—what's your intention?

With these words, not only did he answer the other, but he also used the momentum to counterattack, leaving Chen Yue unable to answer or not answer, his face alternating between red and white, so frustrated he could vomit blood.

"Oh? In just a few days, Master Hong's eloquence has improved greatly!"

Seeing his ally Master Chen speechless, Luo Zhao spoke up.

"Not only has his eloquence improved, but his skills have too. Master Luo, would you like to try?" Master Hong filled a cup of fine wine, smiling as he looked toward a corner: "Don't you agree, Master Feng?"

"You... pfft!"

Feng Yu's body swayed, aggravating his injury, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Weren't we not going to talk about this? Why bring it up again? Besides, those two were looking for trouble with him—what does it have to do with me? I was quietly hiding in a corner, not daring to speak, and still got caught in the crossfire...

"Master Feng was out hunting and was injured by a spirit beast... He's been keeping to himself these past two days, how could he know whether your skills are good or not!" Luo Zhao also twitched his mouth and snorted.

His words were also quite damaging, saying that Master Feng was injured by a spirit beast, indirectly implying that Master Hong was a spirit beast, devoid of human feelings.

"So it was a spirit beast's injury—what a pity!"

Hearing the insult in the other's words, Master Hong was completely unfazed, calmly raising his head: "The wound on his face has no obvious laceration, just bruising and swelling, reddish and blackish—this can only be formed by true energy being infused into it; the nasal bone is slightly sunken, forming a straight line with the forehead—clearly left by a kick; the ear is red and swollen, the lips purple—these are marks left by a slap..."

"Such obvious human-inflicted injuries, yet you say it's a spirit beast..."

At this point, Master Hong raised his eyelids, his gaze like lightning: "May I ask, Master Luo, are you blind? Or have you learned to lie through your teeth?"

"You..." His face reddened, Luo Zhao nearly fainted.

A master's eyesight is excellent; there is a clear difference between human-inflicted injuries and spirit beast attacks. He had said that just to change the subject and avoid embarrassment, but who knew... he directly called it out, making it seem like he was the one lying through his teeth...

Luo Zhao trembled with anger but couldn't say a word.

If he said it was this guy who hit him, the matter of the ambush would surely leak out...

Damn it, wasn't he always clumsy with words? How did he suddenly become so sharp-tongued?

The others also exchanged glances.

Master Hong was too formidable!

Masters Chen and Luo joined forces, using words to provoke him into taking the bait, but instead, he neutralized their attacks and counterattacked successfully, leaving them speechless... How did he do it?

"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong? Or is it that... Master Luo is the very spirit beast he mentioned, and Master Feng's injury was inflicted by you, and now that I've pointed it out, you're embarrassed?" Master Hong said calmly.

"Hmph!" Luo Zhao clenched his fists, wanting to reply but not knowing what to say.

"Alright, you said this is a joyful gathering banquet, why make it so tense?" Seeing his old friend about to explode but unable to say anything, Chen Yue had to step in to smooth things over.

"Indeed, it's just a banquet, no need for this."

Raising his cup and drinking, Master Hong said no more.

"Damn it..."

Seeing him like this, Masters Luo and Chen both looked as uncomfortable as if constipated.

Originally, they were full of anger from this guy's earlier disruption, wanting to give him a show of force before the banquet started and trample on him a bit. They never dreamed that before they could even stretch out their feet, they would be trampled on instead.

And it was the kind where they were stomped on the face several times.

The more they thought about it, the more frustrated they became.

They quietly looked up to see if they had left a bad impression in the eyes of that genius, but saw him still drinking, his face as calm as still water, as if he hadn't heard the argument at all.

"That's good..."

Seeing that he didn't mind, the two exchanged glances and each breathed a sigh of relief.

"This guy is somehow much sharper with his words than before. There's no benefit in arguing with him. Let's wait until the crown prince arrives."

Knowing that continuing the quarrel would bring no benefit, Luo Zhao, Chen Yue, and Feng Yu communicated telepathically.

For a moment, the room fell silent again.

...

Here, each side was unwilling to concede, each with their own thoughts. In a courtyard of the crown prince's palace, a richly dressed young man stood, apparently waiting for someone, and had been waiting for who knows how long.

Yet there was no trace of impatience on his face; instead, he wore a smile.

If Master Hong were here, he would surely recognize this person as the crown prince of the Huan Yu Empire, Ye Qian!

"Damn it, damn it, it's all that guy's fault. If he hadn't snatched my Du Gen Grass, I wouldn't be unable to buy any even now... Xing Yuan, have you found out who that person is?"

A roar followed, and a graceful figure walked in from outside the courtyard.

"This... In a moment, I'll ask Ye Qian to have someone investigate..."

Then a slightly apologetic voice sounded.

A young man followed closely behind.

It was the Sixth Princess and the young man Xing Yuan whom Zhang Xuan had encountered at the Qizhen Pavilion.

After leaving the Qizhen Pavilion, the Sixth Princess had searched everywhere for Du You Grass, but after visiting many places, she found none, and had been at it until now, with nothing to show for it.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, and as soon as she entered, she couldn't help but roar.

"Sixth Princess, Senior Xing Yuan!"

Crown Prince Ye Qian stepped forward, bowing with clasped hands.

"Oh? You're here just in time. There's something I need your help with." Xing Yuan glanced over casually.

"Senior, just tell me what you need!"

Ye Qian quickly said.

"During the day, the Sixth Princess and I encountered a young man at the Qizhen Pavilion, about twenty years old, with a plump butler. Help me find out his identity and report back as soon as possible."

Xing Yuan waved his hand.

"Alright!" Ye Qian nodded.

Although the description was vague, this was the capital of Huan Yu, and with his power as crown prince, finding out someone's identity was still simple.

"Sixth Princess, Senior Xing Yuan, I'll have someone handle this immediately. Tonight, I've prepared a welcome banquet and invite you to attend, and also to meet the new students from our Huan Yu Empire who are being sent to the Master Teacher Academy..."

"Not interested!"

The Sixth Princess waved her hand.

When she went out, she was still a lofty princess; when she returned, she had become someone else's maidservant. She was already furious, so how could she be in the mood to attend any banquet?

"This..." Unexpectedly, this senior sister directly refused, Ye Qian looked awkwardly at Xing Yuan nearby: "Senior, you..."

"Oh, you go back first. I'll come over in a while."

Xing Yuan waved his hand.

"Alright!"

Ye Qian could see that the Sixth Princess was in a rage, so he said no more, bowed, and walked out.

Although he was the crown prince of the Huan Yu Empire, compared to the princess of the Hong Yuan Empire, he was far inferior, not even on the same level.

If she was willing, fine; if not, he dared not force her.

Just a few steps away, before leaving the courtyard, he heard Xing Yuan's telepathic voice in his ear: "The Sixth Princess is in a temper. I'll persuade her, and we'll come together later."

"Thank you, Senior!"

Hearing the promise, Ye Qian's eyes lit up, and he walked out.

The main purpose of this banquet was to welcome the Sixth Princess and the others. If they really didn't come, it would be embarrassing.

"Sixth Princess, don't be angry. Once Ye Qian finds out the other party's specific identity, if necessary, I'll spend the price to buy the Du You Grass..."

Seeing him leave, Xing Yuan comforted her.

"None of your business!" The Sixth Princess sat down huffily.

Xing Yuan stood there awkwardly, not knowing whether to stay or leave.

This Sixth Princess had a strange temper, making his pursuit very difficult.

She had been fine before, but then she changed suddenly, leaving him confused.

To be honest, that kid took you as his maidservant because you agreed. I tried to dissuade you, but you wouldn't listen... and you even refused to let me kill him...

Now you come here and vent your anger on me and Ye Qian—what's that about?

The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he felt.

"Yu Fei'er, what's wrong with you?"

Just as he was wondering how to persuade her, footsteps sounded, and a woman walked over excitedly, smiling as if she might jump for joy.

"Miss Qiqi, you..."

Seeing her like this, Xing Yuan was stunned.

This Luo Qiqi had always been cold as ice; whenever she spoke, she was met with rejection. How could she be all smiles today?

If the academy knew that the ice beauty could actually smile, would they go crazy on the spot?

"Nothing!"

Hearing his words, Luo Qiqi realized her expression was off. Her face darkened, returning to its icy state, and she approached the Sixth Princess: "What's wrong? Why are you so angry?"

"I..."

Princess Fei'er was about to speak, but she frowned and looked at Luo Qiqi: "By the way, what happened to you? Why are you so happy?"

She shared Xing Yuan's thought: Luo Qiqi never showed her emotions. Hadn't she gone out today to teach alchemy? Why was she so happy coming back?

It wasn't like her!

"Me? Just encountered something, nothing much..."

Thinking of Master Zhang's demeanor, Luo Qiqi's eyes showed respect, and the corners of her mouth lifted again. She continued looking at her: "You go first. Tell me, who could have made our Sixth Princess so angry?"

"It's that shameless..."

Halfway through, Princess Fei'er's lips curled, and she shook her head: "No, why should I go first? You go first—tell me who made our always-composed Miss Qiqi so happy?"

"I..." Luo Qiqi hesitated: "How about this: let's say it together. What exactly happened? Neither of us hides anything from the other!"

"Alright!" Princess Fei'er nodded: "Let's start!"

"It's a despicable, shameless young man, the best at tricking people, ignorant and reckless, infuriating!" Princess Fei'er gritted her teeth, her eyes full of hatred.

"It's a gentle, refined, and magnanimous young talent, knowledgeable and admirable!" Luo Qiqi said with admiration.