Chapter 128: Burying the Hatchet?

Chapter 128: Burying the Hatchet?

"Prince Wu, would you do me the honor of a dance? If you do, our grievances shall be wiped clean. As for the matter regarding my brother Wang Liang, I shall let it go."

Little Dongfang approached Wu Hong and extended the invitation in a soft voice.

Wu Hong was taken aback. He had not expected Little Dongfang to be so magnanimous as to set aside their feud. If a gathering like this could resolve such a grudge, nothing could be better. Just as he was about to accept, Wang Biluo, who stood beside Wu Tenglan, remarked, "I only know that my Jade Maiden Sect’s arts of enchantment are peerless under heaven. I had no idea Sect Leader Dongfang was also a master of such ways."

It was clear that Wang Biluo held no fondness for Little Dongfang; her sarcasm was born from a sense of her own charm being challenged. After all, what was the Jade Maiden Sect? Its disciples were known for their purity, yet they practiced arts of allure, possessing a seductive power that was supposedly unrivaled. How could they tolerate a challenge to their authority from an outsider?

Wu Hong, however, knew that Little Dongfang’s martial prowess was formidable—so much so that even he felt wary of her. Her internal energy was formless and traceless, making it impossible to defend against. Furthermore, given her eccentric and solitary nature, he feared Wang Biluo might provoke her into using some secret, sinister technique.

"You are all beautiful, simply stunning! Truly, you are all peerless," Wu Hong said, offering cheesy compliments to the three women to smooth things over. Wu Tenglan blushed crimson at the praise, and even Little Dongfang stood momentarily stunned.

Only Wang Biluo remained unmoved by his flattery. "Tell me, Prince, are you going to dance with us sisters first, or with your lover from the East?"

*Clatter.* A wine jar fell to the floor and shattered. Wu Hong and the three women looked toward the sound to see Wu Lie drinking gloomily by himself. It wasn't that no one had asked him to dance; it was that his heart belonged entirely to Little Dongfang. Seeing her invite Wu Hong to dance had shattered his composure. *All this glory should be mine,* he thought bitterly. *Why is it that he, Wu Hong, is the Prince’s true son, while I am not?*

Wu Hong was aware of Wu Lie’s obsession with Little Dongfang and had intended to refuse, but this was a rare opportunity to end their hostility.

"Alright, alright—stop arguing, all three of you. I shall dance with each of you in turn!" Wu Hong said helplessly.

Little Dongfang cast a provocative glance at Wang Biluo. She enjoyed the feeling of women competing over her, and she equally enjoyed the victory of winning without having to resort to bloodshed.

"Hmph—you lecher! Just because you see a woman wearing a little less, you..." Wang Biluo’s uninhibited remark was cut short by Wu Tenglan covering her mouth.

Wu Hong felt incredibly awkward, helpless against Wang Biluo’s bluntness. Having grown up in an aristocratic family, he was no stranger to the various arts of dance and movement. As a former playboy, there wasn't a pleasure house he hadn't frequented. When he took Little Dongfang’s soft, boneless hand in his, a ripple went through him—the first time he truly felt the stirrings of a man’s desire. A faint, peculiar fragrance drifted into his nostrils, leaving his throat parched.

To be honest, even Little Dongfang didn't know what had possessed her to invite her former enemy to dance, or why she had made a promise she herself found hard to believe—that after one dance, all grudges would be forgotten.

Wu Hong practiced the supreme Yang arts of the universe. If the women possessed arts of enchantment, then the specific techniques Wu Hong practiced from the *Great Sun Tathagata Scripture* were undoubtedly equally potent in their ability to captivate. The aura he radiated left those with weaker resistance dizzy and disoriented, some even longing to throw themselves into his arms.

Women are sensitive creatures, and Wu Songran had been observing the way the women around them looked at Wu Hong. It caused her great distress; the once unremarkable brother now exuded a charm that left countless women spellbound. Even some of Yang Wei’s former crown princesses, now imperial concubines, stared at him with hungry eyes. Wu Hong felt immense pressure, constantly sensing countless gazes fixed upon him.

Little Dongfang was dressed quite scantily, and as they danced, their bodies inevitably brushed against one another, leaving Wu Hong blushing fiercely. Little Dongfang, too, was flushed red, her heart in turmoil. Finally, after half an hour, the agonizing dance came to an end.

Wu Hong took a manual from his spatial ring and presented it to Little Dongfang in front of everyone. The onlookers assumed it was something trivial.

"Miss Dongfang, this is the 'Innate Wood Spirit Art.' It is a technique that can be cultivated without any specific rank requirements. I have written detailed annotations on it; perhaps it will be of help to your brother, Wang Liang."

Indeed, the manuals he had given to Wu Songran and Xiao Hongfei were all the same. Wu Hong had studied this technique for months and discovered it had miraculous effects on those with physical disabilities. It was a powerful art; once a practitioner reached a high level, they could achieve a half-step immortal body. As long as the head or heart remained uninjured, the Wood Spirit Art could rapidly repair any maimed limbs. For those already disabled, it allowed them to fully restore their bodies upon reaching the Innate Realm—a truly remarkable feat.

Little Dongfang opened the manual, her expression one of shock. Her face turned pale as if she had recalled something painful, but soon it shifted to delight.

"Miss Dongfang, we must keep our word! You cannot go back on it and try to kill me the next time we meet, right?" Wu Hong asked, worried by her changing expressions.

"Giggle, my dear Prince Wu. Even if I wanted to seek revenge, given your current status, it would be harder than climbing to the heavens! Just don't target my father, and we shall be fine," Little Dongfang replied with a smile.

She turned and left, leaving only a faint fragrance in the air. Wu Hong stood dazed for a moment before he saw Little Dongfang approach Wu Lie to invite him to dance. Wu Lie, unable to believe his luck, accepted with great excitement.

Soon, Wu Hong was plagued by a massive headache as Wu Tenglan, Wang Biluo, Huang Ling, and a host of noble ladies and ministers’ daughters queued up to dance with him. By the time the clock struck midnight and the ball finally ended, Wu Hong exhaled in relief.

During the party, Wu Hong had learned from Yang Wei that Lady Zhao had fallen ill and had left the palace in search of a famous physician. Since the truth remained murky, Wu Hong had no choice but to wait patiently; Yang Wei could not hide Lady Zhao forever.

As the night wore on, Wu Hong felt restless. The day’s events had been more exhausting than a fierce battle. He walked toward a lake in the garden and found a beautiful silhouette waiting there. It was none other than Wu Songran. He started to turn away, but she spoke.

"What is it, my dear Prince? Having seen so many beauties today, do you wish to abandon me?" Her tone was laced with resentment.

Wu Hong avoided her only because he feared this exact scenario, but since she had spoken, walking away would be cruel. "How could I? Sister Ran, you are the only one in my heart!" he said helplessly.

"Is that true?" she asked, her face full of surprise.

Wu Hong didn't speak. He walked to her side, gently draped his arm around her shoulders, and gazed at the full moon. Wu Songran was intoxicated, resting her head on his shoulder. Their shadows reflected on the lake, the atmosphere perfectly serene.

After a long silence, Wu Hong said, "Sister Ran, don't worry. I cannot answer all your questions right now, but when the day comes that everything is revealed to the world, I will marry you with an eighteen-man palanquin and do it properly."

His voice was infinitely gentle, filled with deep tenderness. The anger that had built up in Wu Songran throughout the day vanished like smoke, though she still feigned stubbornness. "Who wants to marry a lecherous brother like you?"

"Oh my, Prince Charming and his sister, having a secret rendezvous? The scenery here is truly lovely!"

Wu Hong felt a headache coming on at the sound of that voice, and Wu Songran’s brow furrowed slightly. Wang Biluo had appeared behind them, no one knew when.