Chapter 18: A Drunken Proposal and a Painful Distraction

When a man is proposing to the woman he loves, only for some fool to emerge from nowhere and interrupt his proposal, how would he feel?

The answer, undoubtedly, would be a furious rage.

Yun Tianqi glared at Lan Wu Xi, the interloper who had dared to disrupt his proposal, a fleeting glint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes before being swiftly concealed.

Yun Tianqi had long harbored animosity towards Lan Wu Xi; for this audacious man who dared to steal his beloved, Yun Tianqi had mentally murdered him a hundred times over.

However, given the public nature of the locale, openly resorting to violence or targeting him would, despite many hesitating to intervene due to Yun Tianqi’s status, inevitably lead to unsavory rumors.

Though the King of Yunxiao appeared to be in robust health, he had, in truth, sustained severe internal injuries years ago during a battle.

Over the years, that dormant affliction had steadily worsened, threatening to plunge him into a life-or-death situation if a cure wasn’t found.

Therefore, Yun Tianqi absolutely could not act on impulse.

While he could indeed crush this man with a single hand, he was currently the most favored heir to the Yunxiao royal family.

Even the slightest ripple around him could be seized upon by malicious individuals, twisted into slander, and widely publicized.

Even if he personally disregarded such gossip, it would invariably complicate his future efforts to control the Yunxiao Kingdom.

This was hardly a desirable outcome, and thus, by all logic, no matter how much this man provoked him today, he would absolutely refrain from striking.

“My good sir, what precisely do you think you are doing?”

Restraining the jealous fury surging within him, Yun Tianqi strove to calm his simmering anger, speaking in a measured tone.

“You ask what I’m doing? Ha, how can you be so utterly shameless? A grand Prince of Yunxiao openly forcing my fiancée to marry you in such a public display—dare you question if my actions are justified?”

Lan Wu Xi sneered, a wave of satisfaction washing over him as he observed Yun Tianqi’s enraged yet restrained expression.

He understood this infuriating powerlessness perfectly.

‘Go on, hit me if you dare,’ he thought. ‘Let’s see if you have the nerve to do anything to me in front of all these people.

I highly doubt the sect elders wouldn’t seize this opportunity to make a huge fuss and strike a heavy blow against the foundations of the Yunxiao Kingdom.’

“I merely wished to express the admiration I hold in my heart for Miss Huang.

While you may be her fiancé, you are not yet married, so my actions are hardly improper, are they?”

“Heh, to go to such lengths proposing to my fiancée, it seems His Royal Highness the Prince has a penchant for stealing another man’s woman.

I am truly impressed, deeply impressed!”

“A virtuous lady is a gentleman’s delight, after all.

I merely admire Miss Huang Yao Yue.

To suggest I have a ‘penchant for stealing another man’s woman’ is utterly baseless.

Sir, please refrain from such wild assertions.”

Every word was a direct challenge, their gazes locking with an almost visible spark of electricity, as a tense and volatile atmosphere began to permeate their surroundings.

‘Fight! Fight!’ Wang Lang laughed inwardly, a smug satisfaction spreading through him. ‘This is truly heaven-sent! Offending His Royal Highness the Third Prince? Let’s see how you manage to survive in the Yunxiao Kingdom now.’

Wang Lang smirked, watching Lan Wu Xi and Yun Tianqi, a profound sense of vengeance fulfilled blossoming in his chest.

What if Lan Wu Xi had Huang Yao Yue’s protection?

Yun Tianqi was destined to become king, and the power he wielded would make even the Huang family wary.

Wang Lang refused to believe Lan Wu Xi could rely on the Huang family’s shelter forever.

‘Heh, I told you I wouldn’t let you off easily.

Let’s see how you die this time.’

Wang Lang had never imagined Yun Tianqi also harbored feelings for Huang Yao Yue.

Fortunately, he hadn’t mentioned his earlier flirtation with her; otherwise, he might have found himself in dire straits.

“No matter what you say, my fiancée will not accept this proposal.

Your Royal Highness, please cease making things difficult for us.”

Bolstered by the alcohol, Lan Wu Xi’s words carried an undeniable force.

Concurrently, his arm tightened around Huang Yao Yue, as if to meld her entirely with himself.

She, in turn, flushed crimson, struggling faintly against his chest before falling still, resting quietly against him, a picture of meek compliance.

This sight infuriated Yun Tianqi to no end.

He had been on the verge of scoring a home run, only for a ‘Cheng Yaojin’ to suddenly appear, complete with buffs.

It seemed that unless he produced a legitimate reason today, he wouldn’t be able to stop them.

“Sir, are you not being excessively overbearing and unreasonable?

Regardless, I am merely expressing my admiration for Miss Huang.

She hasn’t even refused me, so how can you act so presumptuously and disrespectfully?

Do you perhaps look down upon our Yunxiao royal family?”

Left with no alternative, Yun Tianqi invoked the formidable name of the Yunxiao royal family, hoping to intimidate Lan Wu Xi.

Yet, he overlooked a crucial detail: Lan Wu Xi was utterly reeking of alcohol, his mental capacity drastically impaired.

His reason for obstructing Yun Tianqi was simply that he found him insufferable.

How dare Yun Tianqi flirt with his fiancée without permission?

He despised being NTR’d to his face.

“Yunxiao royal family? What’s that? Is it powerful…”

At these words, everyone present was stunned, their jaws nearly dropping.

Wang Lang, too, gaped, his eyes wide with disbelief.

“’He must be insane, that’s absolutely audacious.’

‘Not simple at all.

This is getting interesting.

It’s my first time seeing anyone talk back to His Royal Highness the Prince like this.’

‘Absolutely brilliant, haha.

I’m growing increasingly curious about the identity of this Eldest Miss Huang’s fiancé.’”

Hearing this, the surrounding crowd erupted in murmurs, especially those opposing Yun Tianqi; their voices were so loud it was as if they wanted Yun Tianqi to hear every word.

Yun Tianqi, shaking with rage, fixed his gaze on Lan Wu Xi, his eyes a tumultuous mix of surprise, fury, and a strange sense of smugness.

“You’re insane, aren’t you? Are you an idiot? Aren’t you just provoking him?”

Huang Yao Yue tugged hard at Lan Wu Xi’s collar, her eyes now holding a strange expression, her voice laden with worry.

Observing his hazy gaze, the pungent scent of alcohol on him, and his current unusual behavior, she realized something.

“You haven’t gotten drunk again, have you?

Didn’t you say you couldn’t drink? Why are you showing off?

You’re going to get me killed this time!”

Huang Yao Yue suddenly felt as though she had boarded a pirate ship, her earlier gratitude towards Lan Wu Xi instantly diminishing.

Previously, she had vaguely regarded Lan Wu Xi as a prince charming from her dreams.

She had even noticed an uncanny resemblance between his silhouette and that of a certain little boy, their images slowly overlapping without any discord.

This realization had startled her greatly.

‘It absolutely cannot be him, impossible!’ she thought.

“In all my years, I, Yun Tianqi, have never encountered such an arrogant individual.

Since you hold our Yunxiao royal family in such contempt, then as a member of the royal house, I must certainly exchange a few moves with you.”

A sinister expression crossed Yun Tianqi’s face as a powerful, surging aura erupted from his body, forming a formidable current that dispersed around them.

Many sect members present frowned, recognizing that this aura had clearly reached the Golden Core realm.

One must understand that a Golden Core realm expert could at least secure an elder position within a sect, or at minimum, serve as a minor general commanding a region in the Yunxiao Kingdom.

As the foremost figure of the Yunxiao royal family, Yun Tianqi had been pampered with rare treasures since childhood.

His physical constitution far surpassed that of ordinary cultivators, and combined with his mastery of numerous potent martial arts, Lan Wu Xi, merely at the Xuanlun realm, would be absolutely no match for him in a real fight!

“’Heh, let’s see how I teach you a lesson—’

“Lan Wu Xi! Lan Wu Xi, wake up, stop being crazy! Damn it, there’s no other way!”

Huang Yao Yue, sensing the gravity of the situation and seeing Lan Wu Xi’s eager-to-fight movements, surmised that the alcohol had taken over, making him want to brawl with Yun Tianqi.

Yun Tianqi was, after all, a Golden Core expert.

Lan Wu Xi, currently in a daze, his head swaying slightly, would only be roused by some external stimulus.

Seizing the moment, Huang Yao Yue’s small hand darted downwards, aiming to pinch Lan Wu Xi’s ribs hard to shock him awake.

However, perhaps too nervous, her hand slipped, gliding past its target and inadvertently reaching deep into his inner thigh, until she felt something soft…

“Huh! What is this thing?”

Feeling the soft, mud-like object in her hand, Huang Yao Yue was slow to react, assuming Lan Wu Xi was carrying some strange, peculiar item.

“’What is this? It’s moving!’”

At that moment, the strange object suddenly twitched a few times, then slipped past her small hand, making Huang Yao Yue think it was some small animal.

“’Don’t go, I won’t hurt you, shh~’”

She gently stroked it a few times, like a feather brushing past, adding a hint of suggestive playfulness to Huang Yao Yue’s subtle actions.

Lan Wu Xi’s body jolted suddenly.

Although his sensory perception was greatly diminished by the alcohol, he still retained some awareness of certain vital parts of his body.

“’Hiss~ what is this person doing?’”

Lan Wu Xi had already felt the feather-light caress on his body, a tingling numbness and ticklish sensation that made his already alcohol-flushed cheeks turn an even deeper crimson.

“’Could this person be a pervert? This is incredibly stimulating… Are girls these days really this open-minded?’”

Lan Wu Xi was experiencing such treatment for the first time.

Although as a child, he had used his innocent appearance to deceive many unsuspecting women, often sneaking into women’s bathhouses with his curvaceous mother, he always carried a sense of guilt towards his father.

Still, at most, it was harassment, and before his transmigration, it would merely have been classified as voyeurism.

It was important to remember that he was a man with a lustful heart but no courage.

While his appearance and strength had indeed won him the admiration of many girls, Lan Wu Xi would, at most, take small liberties.

Physical contact beyond that, apart from with Lin Yufei, was unheard of.

Yet today, it seemed he and Huang Yao Yue had swapped roles.

“’Hey, even if I know I’m handsome, dashing, and possess a certain allure that’s slightly lethal to women, and I don’t mind being taken advantage of, Big Sister, you really need to consider the situation!

There are so many people around, and that guy could rush over at any moment.

Couldn’t you perhaps save this for another day?’”

Lan Wu Xi thought, secretly reveling in the sensation, even as a wicked heat slowly began to rise from his lower abdomen.

“’This thing is so strange.

Why is it getting harder and bigger? Is it some kind of rare weapon? No, wait, why is it getting hotter and hotter!’”

Huang Yao Yue’s unease grew with each passing moment, her doubts intensifying.

Just then, she heard Lan Wu Xi’s increasingly heavy breathing.

Puzzled, she looked up and met his gaze.

Upon seeing the ambiguous look in his eyes, her intelligence instantly returned, and she finally realized what the object she was playing with truly was.

In a mix of shame and shock, she instinctively gave it a firm squeeze.

“Hiss~…Ooh, ooh, ooh!!!”

The sudden, excruciating pain instantly assaulted him, his lower abdomen aching in tandem.

Lan Wu Xi felt as though his *member* had been run over by a car.

The unbearable agony brought tears to his eyes, his strength draining away in an instant.

The tearing pain made his waist involuntarily buckle slightly, and cold sweat drenched his entire body.

He was on the verge of collapse.

If not for his cultivator’s physique, he believed he would have been writhing on the ground in public, dying on the spot.

“I… I didn’t mean to… you have to believe me… I’m absolutely not the kind of person you’re thinking of.”

Huang Yao Yue stammered her explanation, but Lan Wu Xi was in too much pain to listen.

Squinting and crouching slightly, he swallowed his tears, his words coming out in a choked whisper.

“I… I can’t be a man anymore.”