I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense

Chapter 191: 192: Which Big Shot is from Your Family?

Translator: 549690339

Early the next morning, Li Xiaobai prepared to set off for the Imperial Palace to attend the banquet.

Ouyang Yue’er had informed him yesterday that today the King of Zhenyuan Country would hold a grand banquet, inviting him to discuss cooperation matters in detail and to thank him in person for saving Ouyang Shuanger.

Li Xiaobai was speechless, finding the family’s approach lacking in originality; they all tried to secure his presence first, then invited him to a feast. Ouyang Yue’er had already played this card once; couldn’t the King of Zhenyuan Country come up with something new?

There were many rules within the Imperial Palace, and security was tight. To meet the King, one needed to bathe and burn incense, all under the supervision of attendants.

Li Xiaobai was led into a small room to soak in a bath and change clothes.

“Meeting the King involves so many formalities, and they’re all waiting for me to attend the banquet!”

“Young Master Li, you mustn’t speak so carelessly. Bathing and burning incense are matters of etiquette. Being able to meet the King is indeed a supreme honor!”

The attendant was startled by these bold words.

At the same time, inside the palace, in front of the hall.

On both sides, the banquet was fully prepared, with officials and dignitaries arriving early, and even the people from Fire Qilin Cave had arrived. The only one missing was Li Xiaobai.

The King of Zhenyuan Country frowned. Li Xiaobai was somewhat disrespectful; for such a grand occasion, to be late was outright disregard for him.

“My lords, your presence here today honors me, Ouyang Di. I toast to you all!”

A moment later, the King of Zhenyuan Country raised his cup, and everyone drank up, marking the beginning of the banquet. Ouyang Shuanger felt anxious inside. Here she was, like an outsider, and with Li Xiaobai failing to show up on time, her confidence was dwindling.

“This must be the young Princess Ouyang Shuanger; truly a sight to behold. This marriage alliance with a distinguished disciple from Fire Qilin Cave is indeed a happy occasion!”

Many officials and dignitaries offered their flattery.

“I thank all the uncles and elders for your kindness.”

Ouyang Shuanger forced a smile and glanced at the people from Fire Qilin Cave across from her; they were all eating and drinking, completely indifferent to her.

“May I ask which paragon of Fire Qilin Cave is setting this marriage agreement with our Miss Shuanger, is it perhaps the young hero Yunkun?”

An elderly man stroked his beard and asked with a smile. He was one of Zhenyuan Country’s retainers, with the cultivation level of the Transcendance Tribulation Stage.

Upon hearing the elder’s question, the group from Fire Qilin Cave also put down their bowls and chopsticks, answering with a grin, “Our young disciple is nothing special, barely a paragon. The one getting married is this young man Zhang Wei.”

Yun Yan pointed to the disciple beside him. The retainer had a cultivation level similar to his, so he responded sincerely. In this world where strength spoke, only the strong were respected.

Ouyang Shuanger looked towards the disciple and her complexion grew even paler. This was obviously just an ordinary disciple, whose cultivation level probably hadn’t even reached the Nascent Soul Stage, weaker than herself. To be married off to such a man meant she truly had become a sacrificial piece for the royal house.

The faces of the crowd also showed traces of awkwardness. This disciple might not even be an official outer disciple, just a menial worker, and yet he was chosen to marry the princess of Zhenyuan Country. Fire Qilin Cave was being rather overbearing.

However, the elder retainer didn’t care about these details. For Zhenyuan Country, it was just the label of allying through marriage with Fire Qilin Cave that mattered. Whomever the other side sent for the alliance was inconsequential.

“Heh heh, not bad at all. The disciple of Fire Qilin Cave is truly outstanding. To achieve such cultivation at a young age is indeed admirable, with a promising future!”

The nobles were inwardly speechless, thinking the elder’s ability to speak such blatant untruths was unmatched, but outwardly they continued to smile and toast amiably.

“Shuanger, when will your friend arrive? Today your father the King and the retainers are here, as are the esteemed guests from Fire Qilin Cave, yet he persistently fails to show up. Isn’t he taking things a bit too lightly?”

After three rounds of drinks, Ouyang Yue’er mockingly said, an extreme dissatisfaction towards Ouyang Shuanger brewing in her heart.

“Eldest sister, our father the king hasn’t even spoken yet. What’s the rush?” The second princess poured and drank her own wine, speaking indifferently.

“Indeed, today, my marriage is the most important event for us all. It seems you haven’t offered your blessings yet, elder sister?” The third princess’s smile concealed a knife.

Being the Eldest Princess invited envy and unwelcome attention, with the other princesses relishing any opportunity to needle her.

“As the elder sister, I was too hasty. Younger sister, on the day of your betrothal, I wish you happiness and fulfillment!”

Ouyang Yue’er’s eyes flickered with cold light as she said this with a forced smile.

“And we have another guest to come. I wonder who it might be?”

Having eaten his fill, Yun Yan from Fire Qilin Cave asked idly, bored with nothing else to do.

“It’s a big shot. Father, Shuanger doesn’t want to get married. After the big shot takes care of things, he will take me away!”

Ouyang Shuanger suddenly stood up and declared.

As soon as these words were out, the room fell into stunned silence. They had not expected the always compliant little princess to be so bold, publicly refusing the marriage alliance with Fire Qilin Cave, courting trouble for Zhenyuan Country!

After all, the envoys from Fire Qilin Cave were sitting right there. Couldn’t you have discussed your thoughts privately with your royal parents later?

Uttering such words in front of them could turn ugly if they were displeased—it might even lead to upheaval in the Imperial Palace today.

“Nonsense, Elder Yun, Shuanger has had too much to drink. Please don’t take it to heart. This king apologizes to you,” Ouyang Di said as he downed his glass in one gulp.

“Younger sister, how can you be so thoughtless? Marrying into Fire Qilin Cave is for your good. Hurry and apologize to Young Master Zhang Wei!” Ouyang Yue’er demanded with intensity.

“Shuanger, you mustn’t be rude. It is a fortune for our Zhenyuan Country to have a marriage alliance with Fire Qilin Cave. Don’t be temperamental like a child. Someone, take the young princess to sober up!”

Behind the curtain, a woman spoke out.

“Madam, hold on. The Miss Shuanger has quite the personality, which I quite admire. However, what I’m more curious about is the identity of the ‘big shot’ that Miss Shuanger mentioned, who seems to give you such confidence,” Elder Yun interjected, halting the approaching servants with a smile, though the threat in his eyes was unmistakable.

“The big shot is very strong. I shared trials and tribulations with him in the Tianbei Secret Realm. You’re bullying me like this—he won’t just stand by and watch!”

Ouyang Shuanger said with a trembling voice, near tears. She was extremely scared, but for the sake of her future, she was ready to risk everything.

“Who is he!”

Yun Yan’s demeanor turned cold as he stared intently at Ouyang Shuanger, infuriated by the slight from a declining Confucian Taoist Kingdom that dared to belittle the dignity of Fire Qilin Cave.

The atmosphere in the room instantly tensed, everyone feeling their breath catch and their hearts pounding.

Ouyang Di and the woman behind the curtain were too afraid to speak, seething with annoyance. Ouyang Shuanger could potentially ruin the carefully built relations with Fire Qilin Cave—such a rebellious girl!

Tears welled up in Ouyang Shuanger’s eyes as she experienced such a situation for the first time. The men from Fire Qilin Cave in front of her seemed like hungry tigers coming down from the mountains, ready to tear her to pieces at any moment. She began to regret her words, fearing that she might indeed lose her life today.

It was precisely at this moment that a chilling voice likewise came from outside the hall: “It’s me!”