Chapter 141
Su Zhelan entered the tent, where two attendants stood respectfully to his side, whispering, "Holy Son, please rest. If you need anything, please let us know."
Su Zhelan nodded slightly, remaining silent. He walked to the low couch and sat down, removing his hood to reveal the eerie, deep purple runes on his face. In the dimly lit tent, the runes seemed to come alive, emitting a faint, mysterious glow. Two attendants secretly glanced up and were immediately startled, hurriedly lowering their heads, unable to look any longer.
"You may all leave now." Su Zhelan's voice was cold and calm, carrying an unyielding sense of detachment. "I need to calm my mind and focus, so please do not disturb me unless necessary."
"Yes! Yes! Your Highness!" The attendant, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, quickly bowed and left the tent, lowering the curtain.
About half an hour later, the curtain of the commander's tent was gently lifted. Xiao Qiyun appeared in the doorway. He had tidied his appearance again; his black armor gleamed, and he was full of energy. There was no sign of fatigue between his brows, only his usual coldness and the composure of someone in control.
He did not head towards the banquet tent, but went straight to the quiet room where Su Zhelan was.
The servants guarding outside Su Zhelan's tent saw Xiao Qiyun approaching and immediately bowed, saying, "Your Highness!"
Xiao Qiyun nodded slightly, his voice low: "Has the Holy Son rested enough?"
The attendant hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, His Highness the Holy Son has been in meditation and has not summoned us."
Xiao Qiyun said no more and went straight in, lifting the curtain.
The tent was dimly lit, with only the flickering firelight from the stove illuminating Su Zhelan's figure.
He was sitting on the edge of the low couch, holding a large, plain white hood in his hand, as if he was about to put it on.
Hearing the sound of the curtain being lifted, he subconsciously looked up, his eyes showing a hint of wariness that he hadn't yet managed to conceal.
When he recognized the person as Xiao Qiyun, his wariness vanished instantly, replaced by an indescribable sense of peace and gentleness. He lowered the hood in his hand, a slight smile curving his lips: "Your Highness."
His breath hitched almost imperceptibly. He strode up to Su Zhelan, not speaking immediately, but simply reaching out his hand, his fingertips gently tracing the most intricate vine-flame pattern on Su Zhelan's forehead.
"Your Highness?" Su Zhelan looked at him with some doubt, feeling the warmth of his fingertips and his unusual focus.
Xiao Qiyun's fingertips lingered on the deep purple patterns, his profound eyes fixed on Su Zhelan's, which clearly reflected her current appearance. His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a barely perceptible hint of suppressed emotion and... intense possessiveness:
"The way those people looked at you just now..." Xiao Qiyun's Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice lowered a few decibels, as if a vibration emanated from deep within his chest, "made me jealous."
Su Zhelan was slightly taken aback, then understood. He recalled the undisguised amazement, curiosity, greed, and fear in the eyes of the soldiers and servants, especially Zhao Cangqu and the King of the Southern Border, when he entered the camp.
Those gazes were almost tangible, trying to penetrate his disguise and see his true face.
Looking into Xiao Qiyun's eyes, where he saw undisguised possessiveness and a hint of suppressed anger, a warm feeling welled up in his heart, mixed with a touch of bitterness. He gently grasped Xiao Qiyun's fingers that were resting on his forehead, pulled them down, and enveloped them in his palm.
“Your Highness,” Su Zhelan’s voice was soft and gentle, with a soothing tone, “those gazes are nothing more than a symbol of a ‘holy son,’ a deity they have imagined. What they see are runes drawn by Your Highness’s own hand, a disguise Your Highness has put on me.”
He tilted his head slightly, looking directly into Xiao Qiyun's deep eyes, and said each word clearly and firmly: "Only what Your Highness sees is the real me. Only you... can touch the me beneath these runes."
“I know.” Xiao Qiyun’s voice was deep and magnetic, carrying a sense of preciousness from something lost and then regained. “It’s just… the thought of those greedy eyes falling on you, even if it’s just on these pretenses, makes me…” He paused, seemingly unable to find the right words to describe the restlessness and possessiveness he felt.
Su Zhelan smiled softly, a smile that, against the backdrop of deep purple runes, possessed a breathtaking purity. He leaned forward and placed a light, feather-like kiss on Xiao Qiyun's tightly pursed lips.
“Your Highness,” he stepped back slightly, his eyes clear and focused, “my gaze will always follow only Your Highness.”
These words were like the most effective soothing balm, instantly calming all the restlessness in Xiao Qiyun's heart. He took a deep breath, pulled Su Zhelan into his arms, and held her tightly. He rested his chin on the top of Su Zhelan's head, taking a deep breath of the herbal fragrance emanating from her.
"Hmm." Xiao Qiyun's muffled voice came from above, tinged with a satisfied sigh. "I know."
Xiao Qiyun looked at him with satisfaction, his eyes filled with pride and admiration. But he did not move immediately. Instead, he stepped forward, gently placed his hands on Su Zhelan's shoulders, and his gaze became extremely serious and earnest.
“Listen, Su Zhelan,” Xiao Qiyun’s voice was low and carried an unquestionable admonition, “Once we get to the banquet, you just need to maintain this aloofness and mystery. Speak little, and don’t speak unless necessary. The King of the Southern Border is cunning and treacherous, and Zhao Cangqu is reckless and impulsive. I will handle any verbal probing or provocation from them.”
His fingertips gently brushed the edge of the rune on Su Zelan's forehead, the movement filled with tenderness: "You only need to remember that you are the 'Holy Son,' possessing the ability to restrain the Heart-Burning Evil Power. Your very existence is the greatest deterrent. Ignore their gazes, heed their words. Your gaze should only fall upon me."
Xiao Qiyun's gaze was deep and focused, as if he wanted to etch these words into Su Zhelan's heart: "No matter what happens, I'll always be there for you. Just standing by my side is your greatest support. Understand?"
Meeting his concerned yet resolute gaze, Su Zhelan felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He clearly sensed the heavy protectiveness and determination to control everything in Xiao Qiyun's words.
He nodded vigorously, his voice soft yet incredibly clear: "Understood. Your Highness, rest assured, I will keep it in mind."
Xiao Qiyun gave him a deep look, the last trace of worry in his eyes disappearing, leaving only complete trust and the tacit understanding of fighting side by side. He reached out and gently tidied the hair at Su Zhelan's temples, making the deep purple runes more clearly visible.
“Very good.” Xiao Qiyun’s voice was deep and powerful. “Remember, you are not alone.”
He said nothing more and reached for the hood beside him. This time, he didn't stop Su Zhelan from putting it on, but instead put the hood on for him himself.
“That’s even better.” Xiao Qiyun’s lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. “Let them only glimpse a corner of divine might, but never see the whole picture. Let them be in awe through speculation, and submit in unease.” He reached out and gently brushed the deep purple hue peeking out from the edge of his hood. “This divine might is only for my use.”
Su Zhelan nodded slightly under her hood, her eyes clear and firm in the shadows: "Mm."
The two walked out of the tent side by side. The servants waiting outside saw Su Zhelan wearing a hood. Although his face was covered, the strange runes clearly visible on his forehead and the faint outlines of patterns in the shadows still made them shudder. They hurriedly lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at him.
Xiao Qiyun's cold gaze swept over the attendants, carrying an invisible pressure. He took Su Zhelan's hand and walked steadily toward the brightly lit banquet tent where the sounds of string and wind instruments could be faintly heard.
As they reached the tent entrance, the attendant's voice trembled slightly as he announced loudly, "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived! His Highness the Holy Son has arrived!"
The noise inside the tent fell silent instantly. All eyes were fixed on the lifted curtain.
Xiao Qiyun stepped into the tent first, his gaze sweeping across the entire area like lightning. Su Zhelan followed closely behind, his face obscured by a wide, plain white robe, revealing only his beautifully shaped jawline and pale lips. However, what was most striking was the clearly visible pattern on his forehead!
Under the bright light, it was clearly visible in every detail, winding and coiling like a living creature, radiating a chilling, dark glow! And in the shadow of the hood, the dark outlines faintly visible at the corners of the eyes and cheekbones added a touch of mystery and eeriness.
The gazes of the Southern King and Zhao Cangqu instantly sharpened, filled with shock, greed, and deep apprehension! They stared intently at the strange rune on Su Zelan's forehead, trying to see more through the shadow of the hood, but only felt an invisible pressure bearing down on them.
Su Zhelan's gaze, just as he had promised, calmly fell on Xiao Qiyun in front of him, as if all the noise and prying around him had nothing to do with him.
Xiao Qiyun held Su Zhelan's hand tightly, as if declaring an unshakeable sovereignty, and as the strongest bulwark, protecting Su Zhelan under his wings.
This treacherous banquet, with the protagonist making a mysterious and shocking entrance, has finally entered its most crucial and dangerous phase.
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