Ruin Wielder-Chapter 25: Wedding Banquet. (3/3)

What a cheeky one you are.

Liyun thought, then simply smiled at Old Wang Mu. The air turned stiff as Liyun offered no reply, and all eyes fell on Wang Mu as if he were a clown performing tricks.

"Get down."

Ergou’s voice cut across the hall. His qi carried the pressure of a mid-stage Soul Transformation cultivator, and Wang Mu’s knees almost buckled under it. The man had foolishly climbed onto the raised platform meant only for Prince Liyun and True Disciple Ximen, daring to stand where he had no right or permission.

"Y...Yes... Ladies and gentlemen, let us begin this auspicious day. His Highness Prince Zhen Liyun is here, and so is the True Disciple of the Sword Mountain Sect. First, let us hear a few words from our two honored guests. Then, the wedding ceremony can officially begin."

Wang Mu stepped back into the hall with a practiced smile. He hadn’t survived Luo clan politics with thin skin, his face was thicker than the city walls themselves. The awkwardness from earlier was buried under that false composure. Still, his words were a deliberate trap—by not naming who should speak first, he had tossed bait at both Liyun and Ximen, hoping to watch one seize the stage and the other lose face.

Liyun just smiled, as he was not one to talk, he was, although, very chatty as usual. He was here on a mission to pee on the protagonist, that’s why he was also bloated a little. His eyes were searching for the arrogant-looking young man, surely every protagonist is arrogant and confident in their abilities.

If I can’t defeat him, Ergou can. I have to pee on him for sure, by hook or crook, hehe.

Liyun, thinking about all the crooked methods he could use, smiled broadly and watched while Ximen stood up with a glass of wine, his face full of pride as he prepared to speak first at the banquet.

"I want to say, I really loved yesterday night. It was really fun. Also, I want to thank Old Uncle Wang Mu for always giving back to the real family. Cheers."

Ximen, saying this, chugged down the whole wine glass, while eyebrows were raised in the Elder Camp of the Luo family.

Not that Sharp, Sigh! A pathetic third-class villain, I don’t have much hope for the protagonist being super strong, he might be a fucking loser now. It would be easy to take back what’s mine then. Luo Yan is mine no matter what anyone says.

Liyun thought, while chewing on a grapefruit, he was not interested. In this farce, he wanted to take back his maid, and also while doing it, he had to pee on the protagonist.

After Ximen sat down after saying his words, everyone looked at Liyun as he might say something, but Liyun gestured for Li Mei to come close to him and whispered in her ear instead.

"My master said to begin the ceremony, as it will be his bedtime soon."

Li Mei said with a soft chuckle, "As Liyun was a baby, no one can say it was truly an excuse, it was fitting, and Tang Empire subjects were loyal to Liyun for some reason and nodded their head in acknowledgment."

"That’s right."

"Yes, His Highness is an honored baby."

"Wang, start the ceremony."

The guest now became restless, with just one sentence, the whole crowd shifted. Ximen, looking at the men and women who were nodding their heads, gritted his teeth, because when he toasted, barely a few people acknowledged it.

"Yes, yes, I am afraid I have to apologize to His Highness. The groom, as everyone knows, is my nephew-in-law and is a bit slow-witted. For some reason he refuses to come out and has locked himself inside his room."

Wang Mu came rushing in after a servant whispered the grave news to him. Outwardly his face carried apology, but inside he was gleeful—because the more foolish and unstable this nephew appeared today, the better it was for him.

Liyun frowned, then gestured for Li Mei to lean closer. She bent slightly, only so her ear could catch his small whisper.

After listening, Li Mei straightened and calmly announced.

"My master says... he will personally go and bring this nephew of yours. He will see to it that the boy is guided back onto the proper path."

"That... that would be the best of both worlds. This servant will personally escort Your Highness to his courtyard."

Wang Mu said quickly. His voice was polite, but inside he was almost laughing—what better chance to humiliate that useless nephew of his? Without waiting, he eagerly walked ahead, leading the way.

Liyun rose slowly from his chair, floating like a drifting feather, and followed at an unhurried pace. With just a flick of his hand, he gestured for only Ergou to come along. The hall quieted as his tiny figure glided out, golden sleeves gleaming under the lanterns, Ergou’s heavy armored steps thundering right behind him.

In Luo Tian’s courtyard, the atmosphere was calm, the main room was locked, and the old maid was going to the kitchen to eat something, she was tired after cleaning up the mess from Luo Tian’s door.

*psshhht*

The old maid, called Gao Qiao, suddenly halted her steps when she heard someone whistling nearby. She went to check, only to see the powerful old immortal from yesterday standing in a suave manner while leaning on a white pillar.

Chen Tao felt bored when he was hearing Ximen talk, so he walked out of the banquet, he decided to check on the old maid with the spirit body of corpse rot. She was his next target after all.

"Qiao has seen the Immortal."

Gao Qiao kneeled when she saw him, she was a mortal and a maid at that. She couldn’t dare to even look at someone of such status.

Chen Tao immediately rushed to her side to help her stand up very gently, as he might kill her with a flick of an aggressive finger.

"My Love, What are you saying? Last night after laying my eyes on you, I fell in love."

Chen Tao said he was obviously lying, he was from an orthodox sect, he doesn’t know the technique called kidnapping, and he is always in seclusion inside his sect, so the most lethal plan he could think of was this.

"W...What?"

Gao Qiao blushed, she was not sure what to make of this. She was a married woman, after all.

"I know, I know. An old man like me and a beauty like you... Heaven would never approve. Sigh! Forgive my selfish words."

Chen Tao, after helping her up, sighed deeply, turning away like a tragic lover in a play. He deliberately avoided eye contact, as though the weight of his passion was too much to bear.

"B...But..."

Gao Qiao said she wanted to say more about her life and let him know she was a married woman, but Chen Tao turned around and put his index finger on her lips.

"No buts. Tell me your answer tomorrow, when the moon is high in the sky, come to my courtyard."

Saying this, he vanished. Gao Qiao stood frozen in the corridor, dumbfounded, her lips still tingling where his finger had pressed. She had no idea what had just happened. Then, suddenly, she caught a whiff of fragrance, so intoxicating it felt heavenly. She blinked and saw Wang Mu walking toward her with a broad smile. Flustered, she bowed quickly, her heart still racing.