Chapter 196 - 194: Mmm, I Believe You

Chapter 196: Chapter 194: Mmm, I Believe You

Although Li City was a border city in Ye Country.

However, it was different from Barbaric City. Barbaric City was left to its own devices, whereas Li City was a key city that the royalty and nobility of the capital had prioritized for development.

It was also a heavily guarded border fortress.

Therefore, whether from the inside or out, Li City appeared far more prosperous than Barbaric City.

The markets were stocked with every imaginable good.

And the City Lord Mansion in Li City was even more grand and opulent than its counterpart in Barbaric City.

The City Lord Mansion was especially lively today, as it was rumored that mysterious members of the Flood Dragon Clan would be attending a banquet.

Consequently, all the prominent figures in Li City had been invited to the City Lord Mansion as guests.

The common folk of Li City who had heard the news also gathered outside the City Lord Mansion early on, craning their necks in anticipation. Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the legendary, mysterious members of the Flood Dragon Clan and see what they actually looked like.

But which member of the Flood Dragon Clan was it?

But regardless of who it was, the chance to see a member of the Flood Dragon Clan was, in itself, a tremendously exciting event for them!

So, when Shen Yue, Huang Ziyue, and Wu Huo arrived at the entrance to the City Lord Mansion, the gate was already completely blocked by a massive crowd.

"Members of the Flood Dragon Clan are here in Li City! This is wonderful!"

"The Flood Dragon Clan is so mysterious. I wonder if we’ll get to see what they look like today?"

"Maybe they have three heads and six arms, are eight feet tall, and have Dragon Claws!"

"Are you even describing a person? The Flood Dragon Clan is so noble; they must be far more handsome than us common members of the Beast Clan!"

"Exactly! Stop talking nonsense!"

Listening to the chattering crowd, Shen Yue couldn’t help but glance at Huang Ziyue, whose expression had darkened beside her.

Huang Ziyue had concealed his aura and was completely wrapped in a dark red cloak, the brim of its hood obscuring his devastatingly handsome face.

The only thing he couldn’t hide was the icy chill emanating from his body.

His tall, slender frame was equally impossible to ignore, even as he stood silently in the crowd.

She reached out, playfully tugging on his sleeve, and teased:

"Your Excellency, the Great Emperor Master, why don’t you show me those Dragon Claws of yours!"

Huang Ziyue stiffened. He glanced down at her delicate fingers clutching his sleeve, and his throat tightened.

Then, in a tone that was anything but joking, he uttered a single word:

"Tonight."

Shen Yue blinked, confused.

"Tonight? What do you mean?"

Huang Ziyue lowered his voice.

"I’ll show you tonight."

Shen Yue: "..."

She was utterly baffled.

’I was just teasing him. I didn’t say I actually wanted to see them.’

’Besides, why would he have to wait until tonight to show me a Dragon Claw?’

’If he really thought I wanted a look, he could just hold out his hand right now. Why make me wait?’

She cleared her throat.

"Uh, I didn’t say you absolutely have to show me."

But upon hearing this, Huang Ziyue seemed displeased.

"Why not? You said you wanted to see, so why don’t you want to anymore?"

He stared at her with such intensity it was as if he absolutely had to show her.

He looked as though he would get angry if she refused.

Shen Yue thought he was being a little too intense. Although she had no idea why he was getting so worked up over showing her his claws, she decided to indulge her man and said resignedly:

"Alright, alright, I’ll look. Show them to me tonight."

Only after hearing her agree did Huang Ziyue’s features relax.

"Mm."

From that single, short sound, Shen Yue could hear his delight.

She was completely bewildered.

’Was it really that big of a deal?’

’Could looking at a claw really make him this happy?’

But she had no idea just how ecstatic Huang Ziyue felt at that moment...

After all, only he truly understood the significance of what showing his claws meant.

Just then, the clamor at the gate suddenly died down, replaced by a hush.

Everyone turned to look to the side, automatically parting to form a path.

Some even gasped audibly.

Shen Yue followed the crowd’s gaze and saw a face with the beauty of an Immortal.

His silver hair shimmered with a faint luster, flowing with the cool elegance of a waterfall cascading down a snowy mountain, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.

He wore an immaculate white robe that seemed to grace the very ground it touched. With every step, he seemed to stir the very essence of worldly grace and splendor.

He was like a flawless jade from a snowy peak—incomparably precious, a treasure the world would not dare to tarnish.

Shen Yue froze for a moment.

She hadn’t expected to see Bai Chaosi here.

And when she saw Xiao Ya—graceful and charming, with her innocently blinking eyes—following beside him, her heart clenched uncontrollably.

Huang Ziyue’s eyes narrowed. The icy aura around him intensified as he instinctively pulled Shen Yue into his arms, as if to shield her in the safest, warmest harbor he could provide.

As Bai Chaosi drew nearer, the gasps from the crowd grew louder:

"Heavens! How can any man in this world be so beautiful!"

"He’s so beautiful I can hardly believe my eyes. Could that be one of the legendary Flood Dragon Clan?"

"Impossible. Those aren’t dragon horns on his head. Are those... fox ears?"

"He looks like he’s from the White Fox Clan, but I’ve never heard of any White Fox Clan in Ye Country."

"That’s right. Doesn’t the White Fox Clan live in seclusion on Snow Ridge?"

The crowd’s exclamations of awe reached the ears of Xiao Ya at Bai Chaosi’s side.

Her heart leaped, and her pulse quickened.

This feeling—being the center of everyone’s attention—was exactly what she had always craved.

And it was all because of the man at her side.

An expression of pride bloomed on her face as she reached out, wanting to take the arm of this revered, precious, and unattainable man.

"A Xi, there are so many people... I’m scared!"

As she spoke, she leaned closer to Bai Chaosi. But before her hand could touch his arm, the man, as aloof as a snow lotus, took a subtle step to the side and evaded her touch.

He looked at her, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he had just dodged her advance.

"Don’t be afraid. I’m here."

Xiao Ya’s hand clutched at empty air, and she felt a pang of disappointment.

But meeting Bai Chaosi’s earnest, protective gaze, she chalked it up to his naturally aloof personality.

He was just the type who didn’t like people getting too close.

She spoke meekly.

"But I’ve never seen so many people before. So, I’m a little nervous..."

"A Xi, could you hold my hand?..."

She gazed at the man before her, her eyes timid and winsome.

Bai Chaosi stopped and looked at her. His eyes still held the gentle warmth that so intoxicated her, but the words he spoke were:

"You must slowly build your courage. If you can’t even get used to a crowd like this, how will you stay by my side in the future?"

"After all, if you wish to remain with me, there will be many more occasions like this."

These words, which sounded both comforting and heartfelt, instead made a sense of inferiority well up inside Xiao Ya.

She instantly retracted her hand.

’So he’s just thinking of what’s best for me,’ she thought. ’He wants me to be able to stay by his side.’

Not wanting to disappoint Bai Chaosi, she pressed her lips together and said:

"I understand, A Xi. I will learn to adapt. As long as you’re by my side, I’m not afraid of anything!"

Bai Chaosi gave a faint nod, but his gaze drifted, subtly but surely, toward the spot where the figure in red was standing.

"Mm. I believe in you."