Chapter 45 This woman can manipulate him at will

Li Bao'er's gaze was fixed on Li Yan: "Sister, you have such keen eyesight and eloquence! The slightest movement is enough for you to concoct such a grand drama! If this scroll is truly so effective, able to predict people's fates, why not let it first reveal whether your heart is red or black?!"

Then, she turned to the crowd, a mocking smile playing on her lips: "You are all learned people, well-versed in the ways of the world. Yet today, you're facing this old sheepskin, unearthed from who-knows-where, and judging others' fates based on a few vague words? How utterly laughable! If destiny and fortune are so easily determined by a mere piece of leather, what are we still struggling for? We might as well all go home and lie down and wait for this sheepskin to do its bidding!"

Her words were forceful and resounding, leaving many people blushing with embarrassment, and for a moment no one could refute them.

However, at that moment, Mu Cenlin slowly rose and walked to the altar. He didn't look at anyone; his deep gaze fell directly on the ancient sheepskin scroll, especially on the spot marked with the fierce "Kill, Break, Wolf" pattern that had just flashed.

His slender fingers gently brushed across the cold vermilion patterns.

Strangely, the moment his fingertips touched it, the previously dim and ominous hexagram lit up clearly again! This time, the light lasted longer than the one triggered by Li Bao'er before, and the runes representing "war," "lonely evil," and "bloodshed" seemed to be activated, exuding a chilling sense of foreboding!

The entire square in front of Longhua Temple was completely silent.

Everyone was stunned by this bizarre scene, staring blankly at the glowing ominous divination symbol, and then at His Highness Prince Jing with his cold expression.

Mu Cenlin stared at the blinding red light, then suddenly chuckled softly, his laughter filled with a cold self-mockery and amusement.

"Heh, Kill the Wolf, the master of war, the master of loneliness, the master of upheaval..." He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the horrified crowd, finally landing on the pale-faced host, his tone carrying a hint of absurd laughter, "I have fought for many years, killed countless people, my hands are covered in blood, and the number of lives I have borne is probably more than the number of roads you have walked. If we are talking about ominous signs, I am the real 'lone star of calamity'."

He paused, his fingertips still pressed on the glowing, ominous hexagram, as if resonating with it.

"Now it seems that I and Miss Li are truly... a match made in heaven." His words sounded like a joke, but his eyes were like a bottomless abyss. "Anyone who didn't know better would think that this scroll was specially designed by one of my enemies to bring us together."

With a "plop" sound!

The abbot of Longhua Temple, who had been trying to keep a low profile, could no longer hold on. His legs buckled, and he knelt on the ground, his voice trembling: "Your Highness, please calm your anger!"

Mu Cenlin ignored Xuan Mi kneeling on the ground, turned around and sat in the main seat. He pulled Li Bao'er into his arms and looked down at the crowd below with an air of superiority. "Tell me, do you think I am a good match for her?" He even had the leisure to twirl a strand of Li Bao'er's loose hair with his fingertips.

This isn't an inquiry, it's a threat!

The audience fell silent instantly, drenched in cold sweat.

Who dares to say they're unworthy? The strange phenomena of that scroll and the even stronger "ominous sign" triggered by His Highness Prince Jing are still fresh in our minds! This guy is the kind of person who even dares to accept the title of "a cursed lone star"!

"A perfect match! It's a match made in heaven!" the quick-witted official immediately echoed.

"The Prince and Miss Li are a match made in heaven!"

"A match made in heaven! A match made in heaven!" Everyone seemed to wake from a dream, forcing out their most sincere smiles and rushing to express their agreement, afraid that being a step too slow would bring utter disaster.

For a time, flattery and sycophancy filled the air.

Amidst this chorus of "harmony," a sharp, resentful female voice suddenly rang out:

Li Yan: "This clearly shows that I am a woman of destiny, not that I'm here to praise you for being an unsuitable match!"

Her words came to an abrupt end.

Because the playful smile on Mu Cenlin's face vanished instantly, replaced by a bone-chilling coldness.

He didn't even get up; with a slight flick of his wrist, the sword at his waist was already half an inch out of its sheath, the cold tip pointing directly at Li Yan's throat, moving so fast that it left only a blur!

Li Yan was so terrified by the murderous intent that she was completely out of her mind. Her face turned ashen, and she couldn't even scream.

Just at this critical moment, a figure in pure white suddenly pulled Li Yan back and stood in front of her!

It's Fang Xu!

A flash of sword light, and the white veil of the veil tore open.

"Clang!"

In an instant, Xu staggered backward, frantically trying to cover his face with his wide sleeves, but it was too late. Silver threads flew through the air, and the crowd gasped in surprise.

The Imperial Advisor actually has white hair!

"Xu'er!"

Master Xuanmi slammed his staff heavily on the ground, and more than ten martial monks immediately formed a formation to protect Fang Xu in the center. The old monk bowed deeply to Mu Cenlin: "Your Highness, please forgive me, my disciple has had an eye ailment since childhood and cannot withstand strong light..."

Li Bao'er looked up from Mu Cen's arm and happened to see a few strands of silver hair peeking out from between Fang Xu's fingers.

Only then did Li Bao'er realize that Fang Xu was actually Xuan Mi's disciple.

"Longhua Temple has quite the airs. They don't even kneel before me, and they dare to protect such a disrespectful person. Who gave you the audacity?"

Xuanmi held Fang Xu tightly behind him, fearing that Mu Cenlin might take Fang Xu's life if he was displeased.

"Get out of the way." Mu Cenlin's voice was very soft, but it made Master Xuanmi's face turn ashen instantly.

The old monk's staff slammed to the ground with a clang, his withered fingers gripping Mu Cenlin's sword scabbard tightly: "Your Highness! I beg you, for my sake, spare him this time."

Mu Cenlin flicked his wrist, sending Xuan Mi staggering back several steps, the sword tip pointing directly at Fang Xu's throat.

"Your Highness!" Li Bao'er suddenly grabbed Mu Cenlin's sleeve.

Everyone gasped. The last person who dared to get close to the King of Jing in his rage was long gone, his grave overgrown with weeds.

But then Mu Cenlin stopped and looked down at her, the bloodshot in his eyes fading slightly: "Hmm?"

"Today is the day to choose the chosen one. Your sword strike only confirms that we are abusing our power." She tiptoed and whispered something in Mu Cenlin's ear.

The moment the sword returned to its sheath, Mu Cenlin swept his long arm around Li Bao'er and picked her up in his arms in front of everyone. Prince Jing didn't even spare him a glance and went straight back to the main seat with her in his arms.

Amidst gasps of astonishment from the audience, someone's teacup shattered into pieces.

"Didn't they say that Miss Li was willing to die for the Third Prince?"

"No, does this Miss Li really not like His Highness the Third Prince?!"

Who spread the rumor that these two were irreconcilable enemies and hated each other?

"They're showing off their affection so openly!"

Mu Cenlin felt a strange calm as he listened to these words. He turned to look at Fang Xu, who was frantically putting on his new veil, and uttered two words: "Kneel down."

Fang Xu's chest trembled violently. He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, but when he met Master Xuanmi's pleading gaze, he finally knelt down heavily with a "thud".

Time seemed to freeze at that moment. Mu Cenlin looked down at him, letting the dignified Imperial Preceptor kneel at his feet in front of everyone.

A quarter of an hour passed, and Mu Cenlin still showed no sign of speaking.

He casually played with the ends of Li Bao'er's hair, letting the dignified Imperial Preceptor kneel and tremble in front of everyone.

"I'm so bored." She tilted her head back, her red lips almost brushing against his chin. "I want to go back to the manor."

Mu Cenlin froze.

The girl's soft body leaned against him without any defenses, the faint scent of pear blossoms from her hair lingering around his nose. Her intimate posture made it seem as if they had been inseparable for many years, rather than the sworn enemies as rumored.

His palms and fingertips were slightly numb. The way she pulled his hand away was so natural that he was momentarily dazed, as if they were meant to be this intimate.

He looked down and saw her thick eyelashes casting a shadow under her eyes, and a mischievous smile on her lips.

Even though he knew she was doing it on purpose for all the guests, when her hair brushed against his Adam's apple, the heat still surged uncontrollably up his spine.

"..."

Mu Cenlin's Adam's apple bobbed. Before carrying the person away, he left a message: "Send Li Yan directly to the palace to see the Empress. Furthermore, Longhua Temple will no longer be responsible for sacrificial rites."