Chapter 13: The Unexpected Fiancé and a Drunken Dance

Truth be told, a considerable aversion towards Huang Yao Yue still lingered within Lan Wu Xi’s heart.

Having been inexplicably entangled with her, persistently hounded, and then haphazardly saddled with the title of her fiancé, he found himself enduring envious, jealous, and hateful gazes from every direction.

Whether it was the alcohol’s influence or not, Lan Wu Xi’s mind was presently filled with the fleeting tenderness Huang Yao Yue had just shown him; perhaps she wasn’t so detestable after all? Regardless, he was determined that this group of people wouldn’t easily take her away from his side today.

“What are you staring at! Haven’t you ever seen someone as handsome as me?”

Before his opponents could fully recover from Lan Wu Xi’s domineering words, he pointed a finger at the men once more, reprimanding them.

Nor had Huang Yao Yue anticipated such an assertive demeanor from Lan Wu Xi; he bore no resemblance to the man in her memories, seeming almost like a completely different person in this moment, or perhaps this was simply the true him. Yet, Huang Yao Yue knew, deep down, that Lan Wu Xi was undeniably handsome right now—24-karat pure handsome.

“You… what do you mean? Are you trying to oppose us? We are nobles; a bumpkin like you, reeking of poverty, would be crushed with a single hand if not for Miss Huang’s sake!”

They had not expected Lan Wu Xi to pull such a stunt. With this turn of events, Huang Yao Yue now possessed a legitimate reason to refuse them; after all, if her fiancé forbade her from going, and they still insisted on forcing her, they would ultimately be the ones branded as shameless.

However, in doing so, Lan Wu Xi had inadvertently drawn the ire of everyone, now needing to withstand the wrath of powerful forces from all directions. Even the formidable Huang family would need to carefully consider such repercussions. Huang Yao Yue, her brow furrowed with worry, gently tapped Lan Wu Xi’s back, signaling him to stop and not be so aggressive.

“Hmph! You just wait. Once I return, I’ll have someone investigate your background and uncover who precisely is backing you, emboldening you to be so dismissive.”

A flicker of fear touched the men; what if this fellow was truly a wolf in sheep’s clothing? Could a formidable power genuinely be supporting him from behind?

“It seems that Wang Lang fellow has kept quite a lot from us. At the very least, this domineering personality is completely contrary to his description.”

These men had only dared to come forward due to Wang Lang’s instigation, as he had described Lan Wu Xi as nothing more than a complete coward—pusillanimous and timid. Now, seeing him in person, his actions were diametrically opposed to Wang Lang’s description, which meant Wang Lang had inadvertently offended several powerful factions.

“Hmph, let’s go!”

As the saying goes, one can lose a battle but not one’s dignity in retreat. Furthermore, without first ascertaining which powerful entity was backing Lan Wu Xi, none of them dared to act rashly in public. Otherwise, they would have severely taught Lan Wu Xi a lesson the moment they arrived.

“Wait! You just called me a bumpkin, didn’t you? Hiccup~”

A faint scent of alcohol began to emanate from his breath, clearly indicating the aftermath of the liquor had begun. Lan Wu Xi’s cheeks were flushed, and his speech had grown disoriented, yet his awareness still lingered. Thus, upon hearing the insult, rage surged through his mind, the jarringly harsh words reverberating in his thoughts. Finally, Lan Wu Xi slowly, almost with deliberate emphasis, questioned them word by word.

“I said, what about it? Don’t think we won’t dare to touch you just because you’re Miss Huang’s fiancé…”

Before the speaker could finish, they collided as if with an invisible, colossal wall, sent spinning 360 degrees before collapsing motionless onto the ground. Crimson blood stained the already vibrant red carpet, making it even more lurid.

“What are you doing? How dare you…”

A surge of Gungqi, an immense spiritual energy, followed a massive hand that could no longer be described as a mere slap; it was more akin to a crushing blow aimed directly at the opponent’s head.

Before the tearing pain could even register, the opponent’s skull seemed to scramble like a roller coaster, their vital energy bursting through their body, gathering at their head before exploding. The impact instantly rendered them unconscious, a mouthful of fresh blood spraying from their mouth as they collapsed to the ground, eyes rolled back, their fate uncertain.

“You… don’t come any closer. My father is the Deputy Head of the Judgment Hall! If you dare to touch me, my father will never forgive you…”

Lan Wu Xi’s actions were swift, decisive, and ruthless. Even though his two companions possessed cultivation at or above the 9th stage of Qi Refinement, they still could not withstand that full-force strike.

“Who did you just say wouldn’t forgive me?”

Lan Wu Xi spoke with hazy eyes, his body swaying slightly. While the Profound Wheel realm had significantly enhanced his physical functions, he had not yet surpassed the limits of the human constitution, thus retaining zero immunity to alcohol.

“Fa…ther…”

Trembling uncontrollably, his legs frozen in fear, he could only watch helplessly as Lan Wu Xi gradually approached him. His pupils slightly dilated as he saw Lan Wu Xi’s hand, like a grim reaper’s scythe, slowly descending upon him. Finally, panic-stricken, he closed his eyes, resigned to his fate.

The sensation that greeted him, however, was not the anticipated pain, but rather a cool touch. Slowly, he opened his eyes, then stared incredulously at the cold palm resting gently on his cheek.

“Such a good boy~”

With a smile, Lan Wu Xi withdrew his hand, then wrapped an arm around the astonished Huang Yao Yue and swaggered into the center of the ballroom. He left the other man sprawled on the floor, overwhelmed with relief and bone-deep terror, clutching himself and silently trembling.

Lan Wu Xi’s recent actions naturally did not escape the notice of some at the banquet. Soon, the three men, now rendered unconscious, dizzy, and utterly helpless, were escorted out of the banquet hall, their destination unknown.

“Are you alright? Stop touching me everywhere, you hooligan!”

Huang Yao Yue cursed, blushing with indignation, though her voice was only audible to Lan Wu Xi. While her face showed annoyance, her words sounded more like a playful rebuke than genuine anger.

“My apologies, apologies. I was just trying to put my arm around your waist, but I forgot you…”

“Go to hell!”

Owing to Huang Yao Yue’s high heels, that long, thick object directly pierced through Lan Wu Xi’s flesh—specifically, his toe. The intense pain jolted Lan Wu Xi, causing him to nearly bite off his tongue.

Yet, that single stomp seemed to restore some clarity to Lan Wu Xi’s mind. Vaguely recalling his previous actions, he then surveyed the surrounding crowd, observing the elegant and magnificent dancing, all perfectly coordinated. His mind instantly jolted awake as he realized the utter foolishness of what he had done.

‘He couldn’t dance at all!’

“Idiot, move! Why are you standing there stunned? Everyone is watching.”

Seeing Lan Wu Xi standing foolishly motionless, Huang Yao Yue’s delicate brows furrowed as she asked in an urging tone.

“I want to tell you something…”

“What is it?”

Huang Yao Yue, who had initially not intended to dance, found herself reluctantly pulled onto the floor by Lan Wu Xi, could only self-deprecatingly concede, ‘Who told him he was my fiancé? What harm could come from letting him take a little advantage?’

Yet, upon catching Lan Wu Xi’s familiar, knowing gaze, an ominous premonition slowly arose within her. Her eyes widened as she asked with a hesitant, questioning tone.

“Don’t tell me… you actually can’t dance at all…”

“Ah, you guessed it right, haha.”

Lan Wu Xi rubbed the back of his head awkwardly and chuckled, but to Huang Yao Yue, he seemed as terrifying as a demon. How could she, in a moment of impulsive madness, have agreed to dance with this fellow? He was truly a natural oddity.

“So what now…? Don’t tell me you’re planning to keep this up.”

“Why not?”

At that moment, Huang Yao Yue had a strong urge to slap Lan Wu Xi across the face. Staring at his shamelessly provoking smile, she wondered if she had truly been drunk earlier to think he was handsome. Had her alcohol tolerance diminished?

“Put your arm around my waist and follow my rhythm. I absolutely will not allow us to make such a spectacle of ourselves in front of so many people. Even if we’re going to crash and burn today, you will dance this song properly with me!”

Without waiting for Lan Wu Xi to react, she actively took his hand and wrapped it around her slender, willow-like waist. It was the first time she had ever committed such a shameless act.

Countless men longed to dance with her, yet this clueless oaf had snatched the opportunity, and she had even initiated it herself? If word of this spread, she would be mortified to leave the house.

“Huh? Are you sure… wait a moment.”

Lan Wu Xi had not anticipated Huang Yao Yue’s unwavering resolve; their roles had instantly reversed. As he embraced Huang Yao Yue’s slender waist, devoid of any excess flesh and truly perfect, a ripple of sensation spread through him.

“Hey, isn’t that the Huang family’s eldest young lady?”

“What? Wait! It really is her, isn’t it? Who is that man dancing with her? I’ve only just arrived and haven’t heard of such a formidable person.”

“You don’t know? It’s been practically going wild around the banquet! That fellow is Miss Huang’s fiancé.”

“What! I’ve never heard of this. Is it truly real?”

“Absolutely! Just now, quite a few people tried to approach her, but all returned empty-handed. Some were even knocked unconscious on the spot by her fiancé—truly a hero among men!”

“I just wonder which prominent family he comes from. Perhaps I know a thing or two; maybe I could even go and exchange a few words with him.”

“You? Give me a break. With the Huang family backing him, even a prince would have to show him some deference.”

Little did they know, Yun Tianqi had appeared behind them at some point. His eyes, bloodshot, fixated on the comical pair on the dance floor, his gaze bore into Lan Wu Xi as if he wished to devour him whole. The elder behind him let out a heavy sigh.