Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 529 - Three Hundred and Forty-One: Will Not (2)

Chapter 529: Chapter Three Hundred and Forty-One: Will Not (2)

Speaking of which,

Xu Yuan took out a porcelain bowl, cradled a roughly one-foot-diameter porcelain jug with both hands, and poured the warm broth into it:

"This is a small token of Qingyan’s and my regard for you, Your Highness. I hope you won’t refuse."

Splash...

For a moment, the spacious loft fell silent, with only the sound of broth filling the bowl.

"Thud!"

After placing the porcelain jug heavily on the desk, Xu Yuan pushed the fragrant broth in front of Li Zhaoyuan:

"This soup is very nutritious. Even if you’re on the verge of Mortal Transcendence, Your Highness, it should be quite beneficial."

Li Zhaoyuan sat upright on the soft couch, staring at the meaty aroma emanating from the bowl in front of him without speaking.

Xu Yuan sat across, gauging the other’s expression.

Honestly, he didn’t like people like Li Zhaoyuan.

They kept all their thoughts hidden inside, making it impossible to tell what they were thinking—no sense of retributive satisfaction at all.

After a while,

Li Zhaoyuan raised his finger, gently rubbing the porcelain bowl:

"Is this... Primordial Demonic Beast meat?"

"Good eye."

Xu Yuan praised, and from the Sumeru Ring, he took out a piece of white fur and carelessly placed it on the desk:

"The soldiers’ hands are a bit rough, and their cultivation isn’t enough to properly skin it. The head is gone, leaving only the body."

Li Zhaoyuan glanced at the snow-white fur for a moment, then withdrew his gaze. He took a deep breath and spoke in an even tone:

"The soldiers?"

Xu Yuan nodded, leaning his head on his hand, speaking softly:

"You should know that we disappeared along with the Barbarian King, right Your Highness?"

"This Prince was still in the military when the incident occurred, so naturally, I am aware," Li Zhaoyuan said without a change in expression.

Xu Yuan smiled gently:

"The reason we disappeared was that this great demon used a rare ancient artifact to assassinate Qingyan and me. But fortunately, Qingyan and I have deep blessings. After the ancient artifact shattered, we were directly transported to the Extreme Black Lands."

Li Zhaoyuan’s fingers, rubbing the bowl, hesitated for a moment. He did not inquire about the ancient artifact, but went straight to the point:

"...People from the Ancient Abyss are rather bold, daring to assassinate you at such a time. So, this demon died in the military formation?"

Xu Yuan’s smile faded slightly. The assassination was something known between the two of them, but it could not be spoken of openly. He nodded slightly:

"I am not sure whether it was a plot by the Ancient Abyss, but the great demon died of its own injuries. The one who perished under the military formation was the Barbarian King."

Li Zhaoyuan’s voice remained calm and steady as he said softly:

"Qingyan slaying the Barbarian King... When this news reaches the Imperial Capital, the Emperor will surely be overjoyed."

"What’s there to say about the Barbarian King, that dark and ugly monster?"

Xu Yuan shook his head, speaking in a mysterious whisper:

"Your Highness, the world often speaks of the enchantment of fox spirits. It was only then that this Young Master understood the charm of the Fox Tribe’s Third Young Master, Nan Jinxi."

As he spoke, Xu Yuan gazed into Li Zhaoyuan’s eyes, his lips curling into a teasing smile:

"I wonder if you have ever seen the allure of a fox spirit, Your Highness?"

Li Zhaoyuan’s pupils were dark, revealing no brilliance:

"I have."

Xu Yuan raised his eyebrows, grinning:

"There are only so many shape-shifting fox spirits in this world. I wonder which one Your Highness has seen?"

"Just a fleeting glance from afar."

"Did you like it?"

"I did," Li Zhaoyuan’s voice was as even as ever.

Xu Yuan tapped the side of the porcelain jug in front of him:

"I like it too, but with Qingyan present, I couldn’t explore further."

Li Zhaoyuan’s gaze lowered, silent for a moment:

"That is indeed regrettable."

"No need for regrets. This fox spirit dared to attempt to assassinate Qingyan and me; naturally, we wouldn’t let it die so easily."

"....." Li Zhaoyuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He... recalled the soldiers Xu Yuan had mentioned earlier.

Xu Yuan shook his head, his lips curling into an ambiguous smile:

"What are you thinking? This Nan Jinxi seems to have someone in her heart. Before her death, she caused us quite a bit of trouble. We only tortured and interrogated her physically, that’s all."

Speaking of which,

Xu Yuan’s tone grew slightly heavier:

"Your Highness,

"Such a nourishing thing, won’t you drink it?"

"....."

Li Zhaoyuan’s deep eyes flashed sharply.

Under the spirit vision, Xu Yuan sensed the overwhelming killing intent around him.

Seeing this, he directly dispelled the spirit vision and met the gaze before him with indifference.

A sudden silence spread within the attic.

Li Zhaoyuan gently picked up the porcelain bowl before him, gazed at Xu Yuan, drank it in one gulp, and after setting down the bowl:

"Third Young Master, such a cherished item, won’t you partake as well?"

"...."

Xu Yuan shook his head and placed his hand on the surface of the porcelain pot, a flash of blood in his eyes as his fingertips brushed over it.

The foot-wide porcelain pot was split in two by a blood glow, the top half removed.....

And upon seeing what was inside the pot, Xu Yuan’s heart skipped a beat.

He had not taken part in the cooking, nor could he cook the flesh of the Primordial.

The fox was handed over to Lou Ji to deal with; after all, the flesh of a Primordial Demonic Beast was quite nourishing, and he couldn’t leave any advantage to Li Zhaoyuan.

But indeed, he hadn’t expected the old lady to stew with such direct intent to kill and dishearten....

Inside the porcelain pot,

lay a peeled fox wrapped in numerous spices.

Preserving its original form.

Gently pushing it towards Li Zhaoyuan, Xu Yuan smiled slightly:

"This is prepared by Your Imperial Highness; I shall refrain."

"Why?"

"Sickening."

"...."

Li Zhaoyuan exhaled and said, "A shape-shifted beast once had a human form..."

"Your Imperial Highness, you mustn’t find it sickening, for this delicacy was carefully picked out for you by your Imperial Sister."

Xu Yuan cut him off, his voice very light, "If you don’t partake now, she will personally come to ensure you eat."

With these words,

a sudden cold glint coupled with a streak of Lightning Arc flashed within the attic.

A short-handled dagger inlaid with gems appeared in Li Zhaoyuan’s hand, the blade glistening with blue electrical arcs.

Li Zhaoyuan’s gaze stayed fixed on Xu Yuan, straightforwardly plunging the blade into the fox’s body, moving like a dragon, a sliver of meat hooked on the tip of the dagger and lifted up.

He brought it to his lips, bit off a piece, chewed carefully, and swallowed.

Suddenly, Li Zhaoyuan said:

"Tastes good. Are you really not going to try it, even though it was once in human form, it is still a Demonic Beast."

Xu Yuan shook his head:

"No, the Soul Condensation Realm can’t handle the nourishment of a Primordial Demonic Beast."

With a smile on his lips, Li Zhaoyuan again gently peeled off a slice from the fox’s body.

Chewing, swallowing.

For a moment, the only sounds in the attic were chewing and swallowing.

Cold and desolate river winds entered the room, stirring Li Zhaoyuan’s hair behind him.

His eyes were calm yet tender, his movements slow, almost as meticulous as one would be when making love for the first time with a deeply cherished partner, savoring every bite with care.

Leaning against the soft couch, Xu Yuan squinted at the man opposite him eating the fox, his mind conjuring the supreme beauty of the Fox Tribe’s long past third king, he sighed softly and then said:

"Before Nan Jinxi died, she wanted to ask her most beloved person a question. Your Imperial Highness, would you like to hear it?"

Li Zhaoyuan’s hand paused slightly, he lifted his gaze, his laughter stable and soft:

"Oh? Someone facing execution had such elegance to ask a question?"

He knew her too well to believe anything Xu Yuan said.

And Xu Yuan knew that he didn’t believe him.

It didn’t matter, though. He had learned these bits of information from the Cangyuan Chronicles.

Choosing not to kill and rob, but to cooperate with Nan Jinxi, he got to hear deeply resentful snippets during their partnership.

"Perhaps," Xu Yuan sighed leisurely, stood up, and walked out to the balcony as snow fell with the wind, creating white specks: "If you don’t believe me, then just take it as a joke told for Your Imperial Highness’ entertainment?"

Li Zhaoyuan glanced at Xu Yuan, nodded his head:

"Since that is so, Third Young Master, please do tell."

Xu Yuan leaned against the railing, looking up at the inky black sky:

"She said, ’If I die, he... he should grieve for me, right?’"

["If it had been me who died back then, that guy would probably have been sad as well..."]

Li Zhaoyuan’s knife-holding hand trembled slightly, his thin lips tightened for an instant, but these expressions were fleeting, so quick that Xu Yuan didn’t even notice.

Li Zhaoyuan’s face remained unchanged, he said nothing, only slowed down his movements even more, his eyes becoming even more steadfast.

Seeing that he didn’t respond, Xu Yuan turned back and looked at him:

"Your Imperial Highness, do you think in her heart, she believed that person would grieve for her?"

Having completely finished the content of the pot, Li Zhaoyuan wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin, his gaze toward Xu Yuan indifferent as he uttered two words:

"No way."