Chapter 208: Chapter 205: "Arrogant" Young Master Fang_1
In the matter of alchemy, there's truly not a hint worth learning from Princess Fulan...
Isn't that statement just hilarious?
Then why isn't anyone in the entire venue laughing?
Xia Fulan also stopped laughing, quite puzzled as she looked around. Clearly, it was Young Master Fang who had jumped into the pit himself, so it wouldn't be her fault for mocking his arrogance.
But why was no one in the audience on her side?
It was supposed to be the moment she made Bai Qi's fiancé lose face, yet why were these onlookers so unhelpful?
How could she even continue with her following remarks?
"I presume Young Master Fang must be exceptionally talented in alchemy, perhaps junior Fulan was a bit too presumptuous this time."
Just as the Tiandao Sword Sect disciples felt awkward, Song Mobei, who was standing to the side, suddenly spoke up, his face bearing that refreshing smile as he looked at Fang Ren.
"Brother Song, you..." one of the Tiandao Sword Sect disciples looked at Song Mobei, somewhat unable to comprehend why he would want to defend someone from the outside.
Fang Ren looked straight at Song Mobei with a blank expression on his face and said, "Compared to them, Brother Song's words are much more refined and agreeable."
Having said that, Fang Ren turned his gaze to the female disciple who had previously mocked him and said, "See, I've taught you another lesson now, that even disciples of the same rank might not possess the same moral quality."
That was the exact same thing the woman had told him earlier, and now he was giving it right back to her.
"You!"
The female disciple bit her teeth in anger, her True Qi about to burst forth to embarrass Fang Ren on the spot, but before she could explode, Xia Fulan stretched out her hand to stop her.
By this time, Bai Qi had already approached. Her face showed a struggle as she glanced at Song Mobei, who then nodded at her with a smile, and Bai Qi returned it with a smile of her own.
However, after the brief smile, Bai Qi went straight to Fang Ren's side, reaching out to grab his arm, and said with a smile to the gathering of Tiandao Sword Sect disciples, "I'm sorry, fellow brothers and sisters, his mood has been a little off lately, and he speaks like this to everyone. I hope the brothers and sisters won't take it to heart."
"Bai Xi junior..."
Seeing Bai Xi come forward to say this, all the Tiandao Sword Sect disciples also felt helpless.
Just because they were in conflict with Fang Ren didn't mean they had a bad relationship with Bai Qi. On the contrary, Bai Qi had a very good relationship with them during the months she had studied at Tiandao Sword Sect, not to mention she was also Princess Tianjiang, which demanded certain courtesies.
They were well aware that Fang Ren was Bai Qi's fiancé in name, but they also knew that the person Bai Qi really liked couldn't be Fang Ren; instead, it was their Brother Song, that was the truth.
Logically, Bai Xi should be quite disgusted with her fiancé, so why would she appear at this time and apologize on behalf of her hated fiancé? They couldn't understand.
Could it be that junior Bai Xi's affections had changed?
Of course, when they said they were on good terms, this didn't include Xia Fulan.
"You are too kind, junior Bai Xi,"
As no one else spoke up, Song Mobei once again said, "Young Master Fang and the brothers simply had their first meeting, and a few teasing remarks between them are all there is to it, there's surely no need for apologies."
Listening to Song Mobei smooth things over for her, Bai Xi's heart couldn't help but appreciate once more just how nice Brother Song was as a person.
"Brother Song is right, but most of his current mood might be because of me, so I still owe everyone an apology," Bai Xi said.
"Please don't say such things, junior Bai Xi," a female disciple of the Tiandao Sword Sect also came out, smiling as she spoke to Bai Xi, "We haven't seen you for a long time, and all the brothers and sisters here have missed you greatly."
"I've missed all the brothers and sisters too," Bai Xi said with a smile.
Xia Fulan, standing to the side, grew increasingly irritated, yet she kept her emotions in check on the surface, giving Fang Ren a look of disdain as she said, "Since junior Bai Xi has sincerely apologized, we should forgive Young Master Fang. Though I have to say, I really feel for junior Bai Xi, what a shame to be saddled with such a well-mannered man as a husband."
Obviously, she had no intention of letting go of this opportunity to embarrass Bai Xi in front of Song Mobei.
As Xia Fulan's words fell, the voices of the surrounding Tiandao Sword Sect disciples stopped abruptly as well; if there was to be any conflict between the two princesses, they truly dared not intervene.
Bai Xi frowned, she had never had a great impression of Xia Fulan. During her time at Tiandao Sword Sect, she preferred to avoid contact with her, always feeling as if this woman was constantly scheming against her in the shadows.
"Sister Furong, I've already apologized for the incident, there's no need for you to continue making sarcastic remarks," Bai Xi said with a frown.
"No, junior Bai Xi, I'm only stating the truth, how could you think of me as so mean?" Xia Fulan feigned a look of incomprehension.
The situation took a sudden turn, escalating from a friction between Fang Ren and the others to a conflict between two princesses.
Everyone watched in utter silence, not daring to utter another word.
In the sky, Chen Cheng frowned as he looked down, ready to enter the scene at any moment to ease the conflict, while Lin Bozhong beside him was not at all focused on the discord between the princesses. His gaze was fixed on Bai Qi holding onto Fang Ren's hand.
Lin Bozhong slapped himself on the cheek, his mind filled with complex thoughts.
Oh no! It's over! Princess Bai Xi actually took Young Master Fang's hand in front of Song Mobei! It seems that Princess Bai Xi really fancies Young Master Fang, she wants to marry him! This is going to be a big deal!
It seems that the war between Madame Xuan and Princess Bai Xi is just around the corner.
...
After Bai Qi apologized and Xia Fu Lan persisted in her relentlessness, Fang Ren had already closed his eyes, activating his inner vision.
He didn't immediately pry Bai Qi's hand off his, because doing so would indeed make Bai Qi lose all face, and Xia Fu Lan would be exceedingly smug.
The purpose of activating his inner vision was not to see Xia Fu Lan's soul or to comprehend the cultivation levels of the Tiandao disciples, but to see how Song Mobei would react to such a situation.
The reason he didn't use his physical eyes was because a Xuanyang Realm powerhouse like Song Mobei would immediately become aware of it, which could lead to some intentional actions.
During the process of activating his inner vision, it was precisely when Xia Fu Lan was delivering her barbed comments.
Song Mobei beside became silent again, his face shifting from a smile to resignation, and he shook his head as though he too was at a loss.
Seeing this, Fang Ren stopped using his inner vision and opened his eyes. Indeed, one wouldn't understand without coming into contact.
Song Mobei played his part well; if Fang Ren had just used his physical eyes, he certainly would not have detected the fleeting abnormality in Song Mobei's expression. This man, known as a gentleman of modesty, had a momentary smile that was definitely not one of helplessness or politeness.
Of course, Fang Ren didn't take this as a key point in judging a person's character, but Song Mobei had just spoken words of pacification and now, seeing Xia Fu Lan stir up trouble, he adopted an attitude of helpless silence.
To say he was silent because he was considering the relationships and didn't dare to scold his fellow disciples? Impossible. A prominent Brother Song, respected by everyone in the Tiandao Sword Sect, would not be concerned about such relationships at this moment; he should have continued playing the peacemaker, yet he did not.
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It was as if he was resigned to this being a minor scuffle and chose to turn a blind eye.
In this matter, Fang Ren did not feel guilty of suspecting noble motives; whether or not Song Mobei was a nobleman, it didn't matter much to him.
To anyone who stood in the way of him and Mu Huanqing, even the Emperor of Heaven would be an enemy. What good was being a nobleman?
Seeing that Fang Ren remained silent and Bai Qi found herself at a loss for words, Xia Fu Lan continued with a laugh, "Sister Bai Qi, it seems your relationship with Young Master Fang is much better than we imagined, to hold hands even in front of so many people. I'm really curious, what exactly about Young Master Fang, who is so cultured and surpasses me in alchemy, has touched your heart?"
"Sister Fulan, Brother Song has already said, it was just..."
Bai Qi furrowed her brows, trying to speak, when Fang Ren suddenly squeezed her hand, stopping her from continuing.
"I think although Princess Fulan has rarely listened since childhood, her last statement was rather good," Fang Ren said. "I indeed am not worthy of Bai Qi, and her future husband will certainly be a very outstanding man. As for me, there is truly nothing about me that would captivate Princess Bai Qi's heart."
As he spoke, Fang Ren released Bai Qi's hand under her bewildered gaze and continued, "The reason Princess Bai Xi came on stage and took my hand is certainly not because she likes me so much, but because Princess Bai Xi has a kind heart and didn't want me to lose face in front of so many people. She's too kind-hearted, hence she can't be as adept at verbal jousting like Princess Fulan."
In one sentence, he clarified his relationship with Bai Qi, attributed her disadvantage in the argument to kindness, and mocked Xia Fu Lan as well.
Bai Qi looked at Fang Ren, flabbergasted. She didn't understand why he had publicly disclosed his lack of affection for her. Wouldn't that become a reason for the people of Tianjiang to mock him?
"Young Master Fang is quite amusing," Xia Fu Lan laughed. "So frank, and quite self-aware too."
"Your comment is not bad either," Fang Ren responded. "In terms of self-awareness, perhaps I'm doing a bit better than Princess Fulan. After all, when I said there wasn't the slightest thing in alchemy worth learning from you, that was also true."
"As Sister Bai Qi said, you really do have an unusual mind," Xia Fu Lan continued, thinking that she had the upper hand in mocking him.
Fang Ren said, "And precisely because of self-awareness, I now feel that, Princess Fulan, in terms of the Sword Dao, there is also nothing worth my learning from you, not the slightest bit."
Whoosh—
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire motionless assembly suddenly came to life.
Arrogant! This was too arrogant!
To speak such words to the daughter of the Leader of the Tiandao Sword Sect!
If it were only about alchemy, everyone would feel that Fang Ren was spot on, but in terms of the Sword Dao, a mortal with no cultivation level at all dared to make such a statement, and to Xia Fu Lan no less, that was simply brazen to the point of being brainless!