Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 378 - 264: Routine_2

Chapter 378: Chapter 264: Routine_2

"At present, the only commanders higher in rank than myself should be Mr. Zong and Marquis Wucheng. On what authority does the young master make decisions here? Are you a trusted aide of His Highness, or..."

"Would it suffice to say my father is Xu Yinhè?"

"....." Luo Qingfeng.

"...." Hou Jiancheng.

As he watched the two suddenly fall silent, Xu Yuan waved his hand and spoke lightly with a smile:

"You two, drop any cunning plans you may have in front of me. Mr. Zong has already informed me of everything you might contemplate doing. So, I ask one last time, will you hand them over, or will you not?"

"....."

Luo Qingfeng and Hou Jiancheng exchanged a look, seemingly coming to some realization, and nodded subtly to each other:

"Since the Third Young Master has spoken thus, it would be rather disrespectful of us to refuse. However, we are left with little in terms of supplies."

After speaking,

they removed the Sumeru Rings from their fingertips neatly and passed them to Xu Yuan with their Origin Qi, simultaneously lifting the restraints on the rings.

Xu Yuan caught the two Sumeru Rings and peered inside with his Will-spirit, his eyes slightly lifting at the corners.

Truly laden with wealth...

Silver notes, Elixir Medicine, and all sorts of precious medicinal herbs were innumerable, but actual provisions and supplies were few.

Xu Yuan glanced back at Li Qingyan and outright laughed:

"Gentlemen, there seems to be a lack of military provisions inside your Sumeru Rings."

Luo Qingfeng responded with a cupped fist gesture:

"In that case, we would like to request that the Third Young Master return the Sumeru Rings..."

"Eh."

Xu Yuan interrupted, frowning, "At this moment, we need Elixir Medicine and funds to boost the morale of our troops. I’d like to keep these two Sumeru Rings for safekeeping on your behalf. Don’t forget, you are currently on the brink of death, and once you have redeemed yourselves by your merits, I will return them to you."

Luo Qingfeng and Hou Jiancheng seemed to have anticipated this, as they had already braced themselves for the inevitability the moment they handed over the rings. Still, their faces displayed a precisely calibrated mix of embarrassment and anger.

After a contemplative pause,

Hou Jiancheng suddenly cupped his fist and gritted his teeth:

"If that is so, Third Young Master, given the rigors of military life, may Qingfeng and I be excused to rest?"

"Rest?"

Xu Yuan’s eyes gleamed with a touch of amusement as he raised a finger to point at himself, his gaze tinged with greed, and he licked the corner of his lips:

"Who would believe that a Commander of an army has only one Sumeru Ring?"

Luo Qingfeng’s eyes flashed annoyance:

"Xu Changtian, what do you want?!"

"A search, of course," said Xu Yuan, fixing his gaze on her and uttering two words.

"You’re going too far..."

"And what if I am?"

Xu Yuan tossed his sidearm at the feet of Hou Jiancheng, who had spoken out, and sidelong stared at her:

"When a common man is angered, blood spills within five steps. If you do not submit, come and cut me down."

"......" Hou Jiancheng.

With veins on his forehead bulging, Hou Jiancheng bent down to pick up the knife, only to be stopped by Luo Qingfeng’s firm grasp, as the Princess in the hall above had completely locked down their Energy Mechanisms.

After taking a deep breath, Luo Qingfeng focused her beautiful eyes on the unrestrained profligate before her and spoke softly:

"How does the Third Young Master intend to conduct the search?"

Xu Yuan pondered for a moment, then suddenly smirked suggestively:

"Miss Luo will be inspected personally by me. I have some understanding of such matters after all, given that women have quite a few places to conceal things. Hmm... As for General Hou, let Prince Wu Yuan’s deputy take care of that; he has a particular fondness for men."

"......"

At those words, murder flashed through Hou Jiancheng’s eyes.

Luo Qingfeng’s breathing stopped for a moment, and her body trembled slightly:

"Third Young Master... there is no need to humiliate us so."

"Talk not of humiliation; respect is something one earns. Your current plight is entirely of your own making," Xu Yuan retorted and then gestured towards the outside of the Government Office hall, inviting Hou Jiancheng forward with a beckoning hand: "Please, General Hou."

Clutching his fists, Hou Jiancheng’s Origin Qi trembled uncontrollably, yet he stood still.

Xu Yuan laughed with slight surprise:

"Ah, General Hou, you wouldn’t want to personally witness this young master searching Miss Luo’s body, would you? This... might be a bit indecent."

"Xu Changtian!"

"Hmm?"

"....."

Hou Jiancheng’s face grew dark, and after a long silence, he managed to squeeze out through clenched teeth, "The Sumeru Ring... I can hand it over to you."

Xu Yuan blinked and feigned surprise as he smiled, "Really?"

After a pause, Xu Yuan continued speaking to himself, "According to the allocation of my Black Scale Army, a force of twenty thousand would typically be outfitted with three to five Sumeru Rings."

Hou Jiancheng clenched his fist and nodded, "I know."

Seeing this, Xu Yuan straightforwardly extended his hand, palm open.

Hou Jiancheng gently shook his head, his voice trembling slightly, "The Sumeru Ring is not on us, it is buried under a cedar tree fifteen miles outside the city."

"...."

Luo Qingfeng lowered her eyes slowly upon hearing this.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan chuckled under his breath.

Done.

Cang Yuan is indeed true to his word.

This lovesick fool really couldn’t stand his goddess being desecrated, especially when he himself had such hope.

With that thought, Xu Yuan suddenly spoke aloud, "Mr. Jiu, would you mind accompanying General Hou out of the city to retrieve the Sumeru Ring containing the military supplies?"

Shortly after he spoke, a middle-aged man descended from the sky, landing outside the hall, and walked over to Hou Jiancheng with a gesture of invitation, "General Hou, please."

"......"

Hou Jiancheng, his fists clenched, walked out of the hall in silence, followed closely by Mr. Jiu.

And then,

Under Xu Yuan’s disappointed gaze, Luo Qingfeng was also led away by a maid.

The government office hall grew quiet for a moment.

Sitting in the main seat, Li Qingyan’s indifferent expression gradually turned somewhat amused as she stared at Xu Yuan’s back standing below, "Did you do that on purpose just now?"

Xu Yuan still gazed at the graceful figure of Luo Qingfeng, "Of course. Some people value power above everything, but some value affection more. Hou Jiancheng and Luo Qingfeng grew up together, he could never stand me defiling the one he’s loved all his life."

Li Qingyan noticed his line of sight and snorted lightly, "Why do I feel like, Prince Consort, you seem somewhat disappointed?"

"Disappointed?"

Xu Yuan withdrew his gaze and turned to look at the woman sitting above, her flawless face, and spoke roguelike, "Your Highness allows me to see but not taste; one who didn’t know better might think Xu Yuan is a eunuch.

"Just now, that Luo Qingfeng’s beauty was otherworldly, and the chance to share an intimate moment with her is rare, and now it’s gone, of course, I’m disappointed."

"..."

Li Qingyan stood up from her seat, her phoenix eyes focusing on Xu Yuan, "You really don’t consider my feelings at all".

"Do you have feelings of admiration for me?" Xu Yuan asked with a chuckle.

Li Qingyan stared at him for a few breaths and then shook her head, "No, but I don’t like it."

Xu Yuan looked at the red-dressed woman who approached, almost eye to eye with him, "Life is full of things we cannot control, Your Highness. Some things won’t stop happening just because you don’t like them."

Li Qingyan gave Xu Yuan a look, "Shameless."

"Heh... thank you for the compliment. Being shameless is a skill in its own right."