Chapter 33: The Protagonist’s Harem and a Fiery Interruption

A common adage claims that when adversaries finally meet, their eyes blaze with animosity.

Yet, the encounter between Lan Wu Xi and Yun Jingping now held not a hint of the rage expected between foes. Their earlier exchange of blows, in fact, had been remarkably synchronized, as if they were a dance troupe who had trained together for years. Such flawless coordination would be impossible without a deep, long-standing rapport.

“Haha, my apologies, Brother Lin. Our Young Master has always been so unconventional; there’s little I can do about it~”

Yun Haoxiong strode towards the grim-faced Lin Fengting, laughing heartily, seemingly delighted to see the man discomfited.

“Heh heh, truly befitting the Yun family’s rising young master. Your strikes are indeed as sharp and decisive as the rumors claim.”

Lin Fengting sneered, a smile that wasn’t quite a smile playing on his lips, revealing a set of chillingly white teeth that instilled a sense of dread.

After ensuring everyone else was settled, Lan Wu Xi and Yun Jingping’s gazes locked once more. Though a hint of hesitation flickered in Yun Jingping’s eyes, he still approached Lan Wu Xi with a beaming smile.

“Senior Brother Lan, what a coincidence.”

“Indeed, Junior Brother Yun. I hadn’t expected us to meet again.”

Perhaps a lingering fear of the protagonist remained in his heart, for Lan Wu Xi’s gaze dared not meet Yun Jingping’s eyes directly. He subtly shifted his eyes upward, avoiding a direct confrontation.

Yun Jingping’s emotions were similarly complex at that moment. Despite having long shed the label of a ‘waste,’ and with his strength steadily climbing, a deep-seated shadow persisted in his heart, an indelible knot that he couldn’t unravel.

Even after defeating the younger generation of the Yun family to become their strongest, earning their recognition, that particular unease in his heart refused to dissipate. With each passing moment, it seemed to grow only heavier.

This lingering shadow was Lan Wu Xi—the man he hated most, and also the man he feared most.

Even with his own rapid advancements in power, Lan Wu Xi remained an enigma. It was as if an unfathomably deep well stood before him, its depths unknown no matter how diligently one tried to plumb them, its end never in sight.

Lan Wu Xi’s defeat of Yun Tianqi was a well-known tale throughout Yunxiao Kingdom. When Yun Jingping first heard the news, he wasn’t surprised at all; in fact, he found those who reacted with shock to be overly dramatic.

To him, Lan Wu Xi was akin to a final boss, and for any lesser ‘cats and dogs’ to think of defeating him was nothing short of a fool’s errand.

“Brother Yun~, are you alright? That was truly perilous just now. If not for this young master, I fear…”

At that moment, the woman who had been standing with Yun Jingping rushed over, speaking with palpable anxiety. Her hands were firmly clasped around Yun Jingping’s arm, clearly indicating an unusual closeness between them.

Though her looks, in Lan Wu Xi’s estimation, didn’t quite match Lin Yufei’s, she was still a rare beauty. Moreover, it was obvious without a second thought that she was yet another member of the protagonist’s harem.

This thought elicited a sigh from Lan Wu Xi. ‘I truly envy the protagonist’s way with women,’ he mused. ‘It’s a good thing he also cultivates body refinement, otherwise, at this rate, even an ox would eventually be depleted.’

“Idiot, are you hurt? Your moves just now were incredibly cool!”

Lin Yufei descended from the eaves at that moment, rushing to Lan Wu Xi’s side and speaking with evident delight.

Upon seeing the young woman’s smiling face, Lan Wu Xi’s previously gloomy mood was instantly dispelled, filled instead with that radiant cheer. He couldn’t help but offer a faint smile in return.

“Of course,” he boasted, “just look at who I am. Even if a few more opponents like that showed up, it would be effortless for me.”

Lan Wu Xi, who typically disliked bragging, thumped his chest confidently, a declaration that only made Lin Yufei’s smile grow brighter. Her joy was like the warm spring sun, radiating warmth through every fiber of Lan Wu Xi’s being.

“Miss Lin? You’re here too? What a delightful coincidence!”

Yun Jingping exclaimed in surprise upon seeing Lin Yufei, his words cutting through the moment.

“Young Master Lan, it’s been a while. Thank you so much for your help last time.”

“It was merely a small effort,” Lan Wu Xi replied, “but Miss Lin, you’ve become even more radiant in just a few days. I was almost captivated, unable to tear my gaze away.”

‘With just a few words, he’s already charming her,’ Lan Wu Xi thought. ‘This Yun Jingping truly has the makings of a scoundrel. With just one line, he has this silly girl blushing and beaming like a flower.’

“Look at how he speaks, then look at you. All you do is argue with me every day and make me unhappy.”

Though Lin Yufei didn’t voice the words, the reproachful glances she shot Lan Wu Xi told him everything. He immediately understood the young woman’s meaning and could only stand with his hands on his hips, a scowl on his face, as if to say, ‘How can you claim I’m so insensitive?’

“Young Master Yun certainly knows how to talk,” Lan Wu Xi remarked. “I imagine you’ve won over quite a few young ladies with that skill.”

“Oh, no, no, I was merely speaking the truth.”

At this point, Lan Wu Xi could no longer stand idly by. If he let them continue, trouble was bound to brew, and as the self-proclaimed ‘conversation terminator,’ he knew he had to intervene!

“Heh heh, Young Master Yun is quite the jester,” Lan Wu Xi interjected. “However, the young woman beside you appears even more stunning. At least half the men here are completely captivated by her.”

Lan Wu Xi spoke suddenly, clearly intending to shift the topic to the other woman. This, he reasoned, would prompt Lin Yufei to inquire about her relationship with Yun Jingping, thus exposing Yun Jingping’s true nature as a philandering scoundrel. ‘Truly, I am a genius!’

“Oh, by the way, Young Master Yun, who is this young lady?”

As expected, Lin Yufei followed Lan Wu Xi’s lead, turning her gaze to the woman beside them and asking with curiosity.

“Oh, I apologize, I forgot to introduce you. This is…”

Before Yun Jingping could finish, the woman beside him nodded gracefully, then spoke in a melodious, enchanting voice.

“Hello, I am Tian Yilan. Brother Yun is my savior~”

‘Hold on, is he just her savior?’ Lan Wu Xi internally grumbled. ‘Shouldn’t the story go something like, ‘This humble maiden has no way to repay you, save by offering herself in marriage’?’

As Lan Wu Xi inwardly complained, he once again activated his ‘terminator mode.’

“Oh? A savior, you say~” Lan Wu Xi mused aloud. “But it seems this young lady’s feelings for Junior Brother Yun are more profound than simple gratitude.”

“Idiot, what are you talking about?”

Lin Yufei gently nudged Lan Wu Xi’s arm, her brows slightly furrowed, her tone tinged with a hint of reproach, as if chastising him for his thoughtless words.

“I… I actually feel towards Young Master Yun…”

‘Heh heh, let’s see how you answer this,’ Lan Wu Xi thought gleefully. ‘Today, I’ll definitely let the young woman see your true colors!’

Just as Lan Wu Xi had anticipated, Tian Yilan blushed, demurely lowering her head and fiddling with her collar, clearly acting like a shy young woman. Now, it was Yun Jingping’s turn to respond.

“Well…”

As expected, Yun Jingping hadn’t foreseen Lan Wu Xi’s direct question and paused, slightly stunned. Seeing Tian Yilan’s expression, his own face took on a somewhat peculiar look, perhaps surprised that Tian Yilan harbored feelings for him.

‘Regardless, today, Lan Wu Xi was determined to crown Yun Jingping with the title of ‘Casanova’!

‘How dare he try to win over my girl!’

‘Even if I can’t defeat him in a fight, making him squirm in other ways is perfectly fine.’

“Actually, it’s just unrequited affection on my part,” Tian Yilan confessed. “Young Master Yun is a very kind person; he doesn’t want to take advantage of my gratitude towards him, so I…”

“Oh, I see!” Lin Yufei exclaimed. “Young Master Yun is indeed very chivalrous. Last time, I was almost… and it was Young Master Yun who saved me…”

Just like that, these two women, who would undoubtedly become intimately connected with Yun Jingping in the future, began chatting amiably.

Boom!

Lan Wu Xi’s body felt as though it had turned to stone.

‘This is possible?!’

Meanwhile, the temple fair resumed, now entering its next peak of excitement. The previously boisterous crowd instantly hushed, their eyes fixed intently on the performance.

Lin Fengting and Yun Haoxiong returned to their seats. However, Lin Yunxi’s seat was now empty, as was Lin Hong’s.

“Yilan~ Look at that person’s movements, they’re so comical, haha.”

“Yes, yes, the performer must have done that on purpose earlier. Otherwise, they couldn’t have achieved such an effect.”

Lin Yufei and Tian Yilan stood at the front, laughing and discussing, appearing like old friends who had known each other for years. Perhaps this was the undeniable charm of shared interests.

Lan Wu Xi, however, stood beside Yun Jingping, watching the performance with a dejected expression. His heart was heavy; he had put so much thought and effort into this, intending to use the opportunity to confess his feelings to the young woman.

Instead, the protagonist had arrived and become a ‘third wheel.’ The problem was, it seemed he wouldn’t find an opening to separate the two anytime soon. Was his plan for today truly going to be ruined, all his efforts wasted?

A sudden, sharp clap echoed!

Lin Fengting abruptly rose, clapping his hands together, a gesture that initially bewildered the surrounding crowd. Soon, however, they exchanged wary glances, as if pondering something, before ultimately joining Lin Fengting in applause.

With the exception of the Yun family members and Lan Wu Xi’s group, the arena was suddenly filled with inexplicable, thunderous applause. This clearly demonstrated the Lin family’s deeply ingrained, domineering presence in these people’s minds; it was no wonder they feared the Lin family and were compelled to comply.

“Excellent, truly excellent! This temple fair has certainly been worth the journey.”

Lin Fengting rose, clapping as he spoke, appearing genuinely moved by the performance.

Though Yun Haoxiong remained seated, he narrowed his eyes and gazed at Lin Fengting with profound confusion. He seemed to be wondering what schemes the man was concocting now.

“Since today is so lively, our Lin family also intends to present a performance for everyone,” Lin Fengting announced. “We hope you will honor us with your attention.”

With that, Lin Fengting snapped his fingers. The stage curtains, which had been in place moments before, inexplicably ignited with flames, quickly turning into a raging inferno that billowed black smoke into the air, merging with the night.

Moreover, sparks began to converge towards the center, advancing in strange directions, instantly forming eerie runes.