Chapter 15: The Thunderous Fart and Rising Tensions

“Darling~, you simply missed the expression on Miss Huang’s face just now; it was utterly gratifying.”

“Hmph! She brought it upon herself, the brazen hussy. I doubt she would dare to make a scene in such a public setting, and should she display even a hint of improper behavior, we can seize the opportunity to capitalize on it, severely tarnish the Huang family’s reputation, and curb their arrogance!”

“But she is, after all, a member of the Huang family. What if she insists on retaliating against us?”

A flicker of apprehension crossed the woman’s face. After all, the Huang family was the preeminent force in the Cloud Firmament Nation. Though they too were nobility, compared to such a colossal power, they were worlds apart.

“Heh heh, rest assured. If not for that esteemed figure’s directive, I certainly wouldn’t dare to offend the Huang family. But now that we have that esteemed figure backing us, the Huang family is nothing to fear.”

The man’s hand, which had been resting on the woman’s waist, suddenly slid downward, giving her alluring curves a firm squeeze. Feeling the supple resilience, he couldn’t help but chuckle softly, eliciting a blush as she cast him a coquettish glance, seemingly chiding his audacity, yet more so conveying a seductive allure.

“Darling, you’re impossible~, don’t be so impatient now~. So many people are watching. Once we’re back, I’m yours to do with as you please~”

“Haha, when we return tonight, I shall certainly give you, my vexing little enchantress, a proper ‘welcome.’”

If it were any other day, even if his courage were amplified tenfold, he wouldn’t dare to incur the enmity of the Huang family. After all, offending Huang Yao Yue was practically offending the entire Huang family.

Yet, with that esteemed figure’s directive, he no longer had to dread the Huang family’s reprisal. Indeed, if he could curry favor with that esteemed figure, promotions and boundless prosperity would be within his grasp.

As the man reveled in his clandestine triumph, Lan Wu Xi and his companions were quietly approaching. Thanks to Lan Wu Xi’s extraordinary, almost ethereal dance skills, Huang Yao Yue had been inadvertently honed into an adept master of evasion, deftly sidestepping each successive lunge. She even began to instinctively follow Lan Wu Xi’s intricate footwork, gradually finding her own rhythm.

“They’re over there. What exactly is your plan to teach them a lesson?”

Huang Yao Yue gnawed lightly on her vermilion lip, her gaze fixed intently on that loathsome pair, exchanging pleasantries and laughter.

“Just listen for my cue later, and you’ll understand soon enough.”

Lan Wu Xi chortled mischievously, his gaze growing hazy and distant once more, as it appeared the effects of the alcohol he had only just managed to suppress were surging back.

“Thump!”

Lan Wu Xi feigned a misstep in his dance, his body abruptly lurched off balance. He stumbled back several paces, ending up back-to-back with the man, then his palm swiftly glided across the man’s posterior.

“You…”

The man naturally felt the touch on his backside, his brow furrowed in a sudden surge of fury. What in the blazes was that? Had he just been groped? Shouldn’t that happen to women? Could this fellow be… of that persuasion?

“My apologies, my apologies.”

Lan Wu Xi cupped his hands apologetically, his face etched with feigned regret, as if the incident truly had been nothing more than an accident.

But the man refused to believe Lan Wu Xi. He had only just mocked them, and in less than a heartbeat, such a thing had occurred. This fellow was undoubtedly deliberate!

Moreover, gazing into Lan Wu Xi’s subtly knowing gaze, a chilling sense of apprehension emanating from his very core washed over him, making his scalp prickle with unease. He felt like a lamb marked for slaughter.

“Hmph, vulgar commoners will always remain vulgar, forever unfit to exist in a world that is not theirs.”

The man muttered, his voice barely audible to Lan Wu Xi, then let out a cold snort and continued dancing. He knew perfectly well that he couldn’t cause a scene over such a minor incident. Furthermore, if he truly did, they would only be the ones to suffer the consequences.

Yet, Lan Wu Xi’s expression remained unchanged. He merely narrowed his eyes slightly before resuming his hold around Huang Yao Yue’s waist and continuing to dance.

“What did you just do? Weren’t you going to help me get revenge?”

Huang Yao Yue asked, puzzled, evidently remaining oblivious to the subtle maneuver Lan Wu Xi had just executed.

“Heh heh, I just channeled spiritual energy to cast a special seal upon him. It’s my exclusive, secret technique, the Heaven-Shaking Thunder Fart, oh~”

Lan Wu Xi chortled mischievously, with an air of gleeful mischief.

“The Heaven-Shaking Thunder Fart? Could it be…”

A peculiar expression crossed Huang Yao Yue’s face. No sooner had the words left her lips than–

“Boom!”

A sudden, colossal boom reverberated through the entire ballroom. The deafening roar was akin to a thunderbolt from the heavens, even shattering the glass cups arranged on nearby tables. Water cascaded from the shattered fragments, pooling on the floor and dampening the shoes of the bewildered onlookers.

“What just happened? Was that thunder?”

Yun Jingping and the others, who had been dancing, also paused, looking in the direction of the sound. Their faces, too, contorted into expressions of profound bewilderment.

“It stinks so bad, cough, cough, what is that smell?”

Simultaneously, a pungent, noxious aroma began to permeate the air. The entire ballroom was instantly enveloped in an unprecedentedly foul stench. Everyone instinctively clapped their hands over their noses, desperate to avoid inhaling the repulsive odor.

Meanwhile, the man who had caused the sound, his face flushed a violent crimson, his entire body trembling uncontrollably, was unable to fathom that he had just committed such an unpardonable transgression.

The woman who had been dancing with him earlier had simply fainted on the spot; it was unclear whether she had been stunned by the shockwave or overwhelmed by the stench.

“That sound just now actually came from that man.”

“How utterly disgusting! I can’t believe someone like him managed to infiltrate this place. This truly has utterly disgraced the royal family.”

“Indeed. I imagine that man’s family is likely ruined beyond repair. After committing such an indecent act, he could certainly forget about thriving in the Cloud Firmament Nation ever again. Even the forces behind him will not escape responsibility.”

“Heh heh, this is the first time I’ve encountered such a thing. It’s truly an eye-opener.”

The putrid stench clung to the man like a shroud. His mind had already ceased to function coherently; everything had happened far too suddenly. Yet, seeing the mixture of revulsion and pity in everyone’s gazes, a chilling premonition that his fate was irrevocably sealed began to settle within him.

“No, listen to me, I’ve been wronged! I don’t know what happened just now…”

The man hurriedly stepped forward to explain. Seeing this, everyone instinctively took a collective step backward, gesturing for him to keep his distance.

Behind him, a faint, swirling wisp of vapor continued to coalesce above his head. The unbearable, acrid, nauseating smell assaulted everyone’s senses; it was the very essence of gastric lavage.

This particular technique was, perhaps, a small special perk granted by the System to Lan Wu Xi, the transmigrator. The Heaven-Shaking Thunder Fart seal was truly malevolent; its effects were amplified when cast upon someone weaker than the caster, unleashing a deafening roar and an unbearable, inescapable stench, making it the ultimate retaliatory maneuver for humiliating one’s foes.

“No, this is even worse than the smell in my stable. What a truly venomous seal, to emit such a horrifying stench!”

Huang Yao Yue bit back her laughter. Watching the man, now the cynosure of all eyes, wearing a bewildered expression and utterly speechless in his torment, her spirits soared instantaneously. Her earlier despondency evaporated in an instant.

“I didn’t expect you to actually have some tricks up your sleeve. I misjudged you.”

Huang Yao Yue pursed her lips, a soft chuckle escaping her as she covered her mouth, her words laced with a note of approval.

“No… listen to me… I don’t know what happened… This is absolutely a misunderstanding… No? It must be a setup!”

The man, belatedly grasping the situation, whirled around to glare at Lan Wu Xi and his companions, who were barely concealing their mirth. Lan Wu Xi, in turn, raised a challenging eyebrow at him, while Huang Yao Yue even playfully stuck out her tongue.

“You… I will not let you get away with this…”

“What are you all standing around for? Quickly, expel this scandalous individual!”

Yun Feiyan exclaimed in a furious outburst, offering the man no opportunity for explanation. She ordered the guards to haul away the man, still vociferously proclaiming his innocence, along with his unconscious dance partner. She then commanded the others to cleanse the ballroom, announcing that the ball would resume shortly thereafter.

“That fellow was truly courting death, daring to offend even Sister Huang.”

Yun Feiyan let out a cold, knowing laugh, watching the man, still vociferously proclaiming his innocence as the guards dragged him away.

She was no fool; a mere glance was enough to discern that Lan Wu Xi and his companions were undeniably involved. Although she wasn’t sure of the exact reason, since such an incident had already occurred, why not seize the opportunity to further her own agenda? Not only could she aid Sister Huang, but she could also subtly cultivate a favorable impression with Sister Huang’s intended.

Now, in Yun Feiyan’s mind, Lan Wu Xi was no longer merely Huang Yao Yue’s fiancé.

From her understanding of Sister Huang, the latter had always been disdainful and contemptuous of men. Despite her elder brother’s apparent affections for Sister Huang, he had, on numerous occasions, subtly conveyed his romantic interest to Sister Huang through various channels. Yet, each attempt had met with dismal failure, never affording her brother even the slightest glimmer of hope.

But at this very moment, the usually aloof Sister Huang was actually dancing with her fiancé, hand-in-hand. This was entirely contrary to Yun Feiyan’s impression of Sister Huang, strikingly akin to a maiden deeply smitten. Her intuition, she knew, was never mistaken.

“Brother Yun, what do you make of what just happened? Did I truly misunderstand them?”

Yun Feiyan tugged at Yun Jingping’s sleeve, tilting her head as she asked softly, deferring the question to Yun Jingping while effortlessly portraying the role of an innocent, sweet ingénue.

“I imagine it was some trick orchestrated by a certain someone. Truly, he lives up to his notoriety.”

Yun Jingping also sensed the inherent oddity of the situation but offered no explicit comment. He knew that for such a person to provoke Lan Wu Xi was to invite his own demise. Even despite the immense surge in his mental fortitude and strength after his recent fortuitous encounter, he still found Lan Wu Xi utterly inscrutable. This pervasive sense of mystery only deepened his wariness of Lan Wu Xi, even leading him to regard Lan Wu Xi as his most formidable adversary to date.

Lan Wu Xi, standing nearby, remained oblivious to the grave intensity of Yun Jingping’s gaze upon him. In Yun Feiyan’s eyes, Brother Yun seemed to have a rather deep connection with Sister Huang’s fiancé, perhaps even being close friends.

As the saying goes, to win a man’s heart, one must first win over his friends and family. Thus, Yun Feiyan seized the moment, her small hand subtly slid down Yun Jingping’s arm, pressing against it before intertwining their fingers, eliciting a momentary start from Yun Jingping, who then whispered in a rather flustered tone.

“Sister Feiyan, what are you doing…?”

“Brother Yun, look, that’s Sister Huang whom I just told you about. Let’s go say hello.”

Before Yun Jingping could even admonish her for her forwardness, Yun Feiyan pulled him gently towards Huang Yao Yue and Lan Wu Xi. Upon seeing Yun Jingping, Lan Wu Xi’s previously smug expression instantly transformed into one of stern indifference. Meanwhile, Huang Yao Yue, feeling the arm lightly encircling her waist, which now trembled imperceptibly, a wave of confusion washed over her.

‘Does this fellow know them? No, that can’t be right. Sister Feiyan is from the royal family; logically, they shouldn’t have had the chance to meet. Could it be…’

Huang Yao Yue couldn’t help but scrutinize Yun Jingping once more. Earlier, she had only given him a cursory glance. Now, upon closer inspection, he did indeed possess an extraordinary bearing, just as Sister Feiyan had described. Compared to him, Lan Wu Xi was…

Well, in terms of appearance, both men had their own merits. However, compared to Lan Wu Xi, Yun Jingping’s displayed composure and wisdom surpassed that of her fiancé.

Of course, this was merely a superficial observation. Deep down, Huang Yao Yue still harbored a faint preference for Lan Wu Xi over Yun Jingping. The image of Lan Wu Xi shielding her back then lingered in her mind, and an emotion, not intense but steadily etching itself into her heart, slowly began to flow within her.

“Sister Yao Yue~, that fellow just now was truly outrageous! I never expected such a thing to happen. You weren’t too startled, were you?”

Yun Feiyan smiled sweetly, reaching out intimately to take Huang Yao Yue’s hand. Lan Wu Xi and Yun Jingping, meanwhile, exchanged glances, then assessed each other with a mutual understanding. Realizing that the other’s strength had seemingly advanced significantly, both couldn’t help but frown slightly.

“Sister Feiyan, there’s no need to worry. He was merely an insignificant character; there’s no talk of being startled or not. However, you’ve gone to such trouble. If word of this gets out, we’ll surely be laughed at again.”

With that, Huang Yao Yue glanced at Yun Jingping, covering her mouth as she chuckled, a hint of teasing in her voice.

“This must be Young Master Yun, whom Sister Feiyan mentions constantly. Seeing him today, he truly lives up to your constant thoughts.”

“Sister Huang, what are you saying~? Honestly, if you keep this up, I’ll get angry, hmph~”

Despite her words, Yun Feiyan showed no sign of letting go of Yun Jingping’s arm. Instead, she gripped his hand even tighter, as if fearing he might escape her grasp.

“Isn’t this a compliment to you, my dear sister? Young Master Yun clearly seems like he’ll be a good husband who cherishes his wife in the future. I’m simply happy for you.”

“Don’t say it anymore! Aren’t you ashamed? Brother Yun, please don’t mind her; Sister is just like that.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Sister Yun and I have been very close since childhood. Especially my father often used to lament to me, ‘How wonderful it would be if Sister Yun were my own younger sister.’ I’ve always regarded Sister Yun as my own sister.”

Yun Jingping smiled faintly, entirely dismissing Huang Yao Yue’s words as mere teasing directed at Sister Feiyan, not taking them seriously.

‘Hey, hey, hey, isn’t his emotional intelligence a bit too low? Can’t he see that she likes him?’ Lan Wu Xi grumbled inwardly, thinking the male lead was far too naive.

Did he truly believe she only saw him as an older brother? Besides, who said a younger sister couldn’t like an older brother? On the Azure Continent, while consanguineous marriage wasn’t promoted, it wasn’t strictly forbidden either, though ethical norms had been deeply ingrained in people’s minds since ancient times.

However, in the face of cultivation, such matters held no restrictive power whatsoever. Especially within certain ancient and powerful factions, consanguineous marriage was considered the best, if not the only, way to preserve their bloodlines.

So, even if Yun Feiyan and Yun Jingping were truly siblings by blood and genuinely harbored mutual affection, Lan Wu Xi believed it wouldn’t pose too significant an issue. Moreover, their relationship at most amounted to that of ‘sworn siblings.’

“Heh heh, Sister, don’t tease me. To be honest, Sister, you’re the cunning one~. This is the first I’ve heard of Sister having a fiancé. Are you perhaps afraid that your fiancé is too outstanding and will be coveted by others?”

At this, even Lan Wu Xi, thick-skinned as he was, felt a blush creep up. Although he had heard such flattering words frequently in the Profound Phoenix Manor, hearing others praise him in this manner still made him somewhat shy, especially with the protagonist right there. A surge of vanity welled up within him, and Lan Wu Xi suddenly felt his entire body begin to float.

‘Please, where does this guy even touch upon being outstanding? If Sister Feiyan truly knew his nature, her personality would surely drive her mad,’ Huang Yao Yue thought, giving Lan Wu Xi a sidelong glance, then said helplessly.

“Sister Yun, you flatter him too much. How could he be as outstanding as you say? I think he’s far inferior compared to Young Master Yun. Sister, please don’t praise him so much; I’m afraid he’ll get so conceited he won’t know up from down.”

Lan Wu Xi, hearing Huang Yao Yue speak so disparagingly of him, couldn’t help but retort. ‘Please, I kindly (completely forgetting he was forcibly dragged into this mess) came to be your fiancé, and you’re slandering me like this? That’s too much.’

“Indeed, I’m actually not as outstanding as Miss Yun claims. However, I’ve long heard of Miss Yun’s beauty, and seeing it today, you truly live up to your reputation. When I first saw you, I nearly had my soul enchanted, haha.”

“Pervert~”

Hearing this, Huang Yao Yue’s hair practically stood on end with anger. What did he mean, his soul was enchanted? Did she have no charm at all? Was she perhaps inferior to Sister Feiyan?

A surge of girlish jealousy instantly erupted from Huang Yao Yue’s heart. Ordinarily, others would go to great lengths to flatter her, yet he always seemed to infuriate her before finally relenting.

Thinking this, Huang Yao Yue secretly glanced at Yun Feiyan, wondering where she fell short compared to her. Wasn’t it just…

‘Stare~’

Alright, wasn’t it just those fatty accumulated bosoms? What was so great about them? Wasn’t she just a little smaller there? It’s not like they wouldn’t grow later! The books clearly stated that the size shouldn’t be too big; suitable was best!

‘Do they really all prefer larger ones? Am I, who can be held in one hand, truly undesirable?’

Huang Yao Yue almost wanted to discreetly measure herself. She sighed, glancing at Lan Wu Xi, then frantically straightened her back, attempting to accentuate her chest.

“Sister, Sister, what’s wrong?”

Seeing Huang Yao Yue fall silent, Yun Feiyan asked worriedly. A moment later, Huang Yao Yue recovered from her complex thoughts, then glared angrily at Lan Wu Xi before continuing to chat animatedly with Yun Feiyan, her conversation clearly having been unlocked.

“Actually, this is all…”

“Brother Lan is here too! What a coincidence. I never knew Brother would have such a beautiful fiancée; this truly makes me envious.”

When women talked, men had little to contribute. So, Yun Jingping seized the opportunity to converse with Lan Wu Xi. They sounded like long-lost friends, but in reality, who could have known that their enmity had already been established, and it was only due to various reasons that neither side had truly shown their true colors?

Lan Wu Xi, who had intended to explain the misunderstanding to Yun Jingping, swallowed his words the moment he heard Yun Jingping’s praise. Especially after the last incident, Lan Wu Xi had heightened his guard against Yun Jingping by twelve layers, strictly forbidding him from meeting Lin Yufei again. He harbored an endless jealousy toward Yun Jingping, and his inner sense of inferiority grew even deeper.

So, hearing those subtly envious words, Lan Wu Xi suddenly felt a surge of pride, as if he had surpassed Yun Jingping. He boldly and shamelessly admitted it.

Seeing Lan Wu Xi and Yun Jingping conversing like old acquaintances, Yun Feiyan discreetly took it all in. She had secretly confirmed that Lan Wu Xi and Yun Jingping must be good friends, so it seemed her subtle favor to Lan Wu Xi had been well-placed.

“Sister Yun, I’m curious, what method did Brother-in-law use to win your heart? Heh heh~”

Suddenly, in Yun Feiyan’s mouth, Lan Wu Xi was upgraded once more, from fiancé to brother-in-law, clearly implying a settled designation.

“What are you saying? Who’s your brother-in-law? Nothing has been settled yet.”

Huang Yao Yue, realizing Yun Feiyan had misunderstood her relationship with Lan Wu Xi, hurriedly waved her hands, signaling her not to speak so loudly. If this reached her grandfather’s ears, the matter might truly be decided, leaving no room for reversal.

‘Although this guy isn’t entirely useless, and sometimes he’s quite manly… that doesn’t mean I’ll admit he’s my fiancé. My standards for a fiancé are very strict. This guy barely meets one-tenth… no! Two-tenths at most! I absolutely cannot like him!’

But in Yun Feiyan’s eyes, this behavior took on an entirely different meaning. Yun Feiyan interpreted it all as shyness and embarrassment, indicating that she needed to add more fuel to the fire and encourage her outwardly cold but inwardly warm older sister.

“Heh heh~ Sister, wasn’t I just joking? Speaking of which, upon closer inspection, that Young Master Lan doesn’t seem all that remarkable. He’s just a bit handsome, at best a pretty boy. Compared to my Brother Yun, he’s miles apart…”

“How can you speak of him like that!”

Huang Yao Yue instantly bristled with anger at Yun Feiyan’s mockery of Lan Wu Xi. He was her fiancé, after all. To speak of him like that was to subtly imply her own poor judgment, wasn’t it? How was this any different from calling a deer a horse…

“Sister Huang, I…”

“I think that Young Master Yun is nothing special. Didn’t he only rise to prominence by relying on the Yun family? Otherwise, how could his strength have advanced so rapidly? For someone who cultivates with the aid of medicine, even if their strength is good in the early stages, their weaknesses will surely be exposed in the later stages.”

Huang Yao Yue spoke slowly. As she finished, Yun Feiyan’s face twitched slightly, her eyes filled with suppressed anger.

“Sister Yun must be joking. Even if Brother Yun did achieve such progress with the aid of medicine, it only proves his extraordinary talent. Moreover, background can sometimes be a form of strength. But as for that Young Master Lan, who knows where he comes from? Could he be the son of some ordinary noble? Sister Huang should think carefully; those with such backgrounds are often glib-tongued. Sister Huang, don’t be deceived by that smooth-talking scoundrel.”

“Heh heh, then I won’t trouble you with my worries, Sister. Perhaps you should concern yourself with your own affairs first.”

And so, a quarrel sparked by two men quietly unfolded. Since both sides spoke very softly, Lan Wu Xi, observing the two women ‘chatting’ so fervently from a distance, could only silently sigh.

“These two truly have a good relationship~”

Just then, a maid in a low-cut maid’s dress approached, carrying an exquisite tray with two bottles of dark red wine. Lan Wu Xi and Yun Feiyan each took a glass and drank together.

Compared to the lively conversation between the two women, his and Yun Jingping’s discussion was far less animated. Their words were extremely bland, neither overstepping any boundaries nor offering any depth. Rather than close friends, they resembled adversaries who grudgingly respected each other.

“Come, Junior Brother Yun, I heard from Feier that what happened last time was all a misunderstanding. I, your Senior Brother, will toast you first!”

Lan Wu Xi raised his wine glass and drained it, hoping this gesture would reduce the protagonist’s aversion towards him. But Yun Jingping merely smiled, then waved his hand dismissively.

“Those are all in the past, Senior Brother, no need to blame yourself too much. I, your Junior Brother, still hope that Senior Brother will look after me more in the Profound Phoenix Manor in the future.”

“Of course! I, your Senior Brother, will certainly give you a proper ‘welcome’!”

Lan Wu Xi said, his face flushed, even patting his chest emphatically as he promised.

However, in Yun Jingping’s eyes, it took on a different meaning. It was as if Lan Wu Xi was threatening him, implying he would be ‘welcomed’ properly in the Profound Phoenix Manor. This made Yun Jingping sneer inwardly, his hatred for Lan Wu Xi intensifying once more.

“No! The restroom…”

Just one glass of wine, but for Lan Wu Xi, who had never touched alcohol before, it was a different story. His previously settled stomach began to churn again, like a raging torrent eroding his insides. An even stronger wave of dizziness surged to his head; even Yun Jingping appeared as two, then three figures, testament to the potency of the wine he had just consumed. This was truly a case of putting on a brave face and suffering the consequences.

Just as Huang Xiaoyun and Yun Feiyan were ‘chatting happily,’ a radiant Yun Tianqi appeared from nowhere, interrupting their conversation.

“Oh? Miss Huang is chatting with my little sister. I wonder if I’m interrupting your enjoyment?”

“Hmph! Nothing much, just casually chatting with Sister Huang.”

Yun Feiyan snorted coldly, clearly still holding a grudge about Huang Yao Yue mocking Brother Yun.

“Haha, Miss Huang, please don’t mind her. My little sister is just spoiled by us. If she’s done anything improper, please be lenient.”

Yun Tianqi cheerfully patted Yun Feiyan’s head, then fixed his piercing gaze on Huang Yao Yue. Finally, he simply performed a gentleman’s bow to a surprised Huang Yao Yue in public, half-bowing and extending his hand.

“I would like to invite Miss Huang for a dance. What do you say, Miss Huang?”