Nine Star Hegemon Body Art c1-2048

by Translator: BornToBe; Author: Ordinary Magician (平凡魔术师); Licensed From: 17k

  At the entrance into the imperial city, he saw Xia Yunchong, Xia Youluo, and the other members of the imperial family. Xia Youluo was in her best clothes and adornments, looking like a lotus flower breaking out of the water. When she saw Han Wenjun, she turned completely red, filled with excitement and delight.

  “Prince Wenjun has come a long way. Please forgive me for not being able to receive you sooner.” The one in charge of receiving them here was not Xia Yunchong, but another prince.

  Xia Yunchong was focused on the martial path, and he had no heart to control the nation. The third prince Xia Yunfeng was currently acting as the crown prince, and so he was the one in charge of receiving them.

  “Crown prince Yunfeng is too courteous. I came here in a rush, so I was only able to bring a meager gift. Please accept. Other than that, the seventeenth princess is about to turn eighteen. Last year, I asked an artisan to create this ornament. Seventeenth princess, please don’t laugh at me for this little gift.” Han Wenjun took out two cases, one big and one small. The large one was given to Xia Yunfeng. A national gift had to be prepared, and it was usually some kind of local product of the nation. It didn’t necessarily have to be very valuable.

  Xia Youluo turned red as she received Han Wenjun’s case. “Thank you.” She lightly rubbed the case, her head low.

  Xia Yunchong’s expression became frosty, a hint of killing intent in his eyes. He knew that Han Wenjun was simply trying to seduce his little sister.

  And his foolish sister wasn’t able to realize the consequences. It was impossible for her to marry Han Wenjun.

  Han Wenjun was only doing this in order to harm Xia Youluo. But as her big brother, Xia Yunchong was helpless to do anything. He wished he could kill this hypocrite Han Wenjun right here and now.

  To Han Wenjun, whether he succeeded or not, he would only benefit. If he succeeded, he would have pulled over the Grand Xia’s princess, who was also a rank eight Celestial. That would be a vicious slap in the Grand Xia’s face.

  If Xia Youluo tried to marry him but he was unable to bring her away, she would still be executed, and the Grand Xia would lose a talented expert, as well as lose their face.

  Right now, all Han Wenjun had to do was dote on Xia Youluo and completely captivate her heart. The deeper his poison got into her heart, the less she would listen to others.

  Seeing his sister be drawn deeper into Han Wenjun’s trap step by step, Xia Yunchong could practically see his father’s butcher blade raised. The hatred in his heart grew even stronger.

  “Please, go ahead and open it. This is a present I meticulously prepared for you.” Han Wenjun smiled at Xia Youluo. It looked like a very warm smile, but looking at it made Long Chen’s hair stand on end, and he got goosebumps.

  Xia Youluo trembled slightly. She seemed extremely moved as she gently opened the case to see a phoenix hairpin.

  The phoenix hairpin was a shining golden color with interweaving silver. The two colors made the hairpin almost look alive. Even Long Chen had to admit that it was truly beautiful and definitely had immense power over a woman.

  “Thank you… for your gift. I really like it. Many thanks.” Xia Youluo happily looked at the phoenix hairpin in its case.

  “This phoenix hairpin has a total of nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine runes that I personally engraved. It took a long time,” said Han Wenjun caringly.

  Fuck, what trash pick-up arts. Are you using them in front of me to disgust me? Isn’t this far too low grade?

  And yet, this low-grade tactic ended up working. Seeing Xia Youluo smiling so happily, Long Chen didn’t know what to say.

  “Hm, standing by the door isn’t very suitable. Let’s enter. If we wait too long, the wine we prepared will get cold,” said Long Chen upon seeing Xia Yunchong’s killing intent about to explode.

  As he had wanted, his words immediately broke the romantic atmosphere. Xia Youluo glared at Long Chen, but Long Chen was surprised to see that she wasn’t actually angry with him.

  “Long Chen is right. The food and drink have already been prepared, and they’re just waiting for prince Wenjun.” Xia Yunfeng ended up being the steady one, his polite smile never fading. He gestured courteously to Han Wenjun.

  Han Wenjun bowed slightly in return and walked side by side with Xia Yunfeng. The others all followed behind them. Long Chen was planning on walking with Xia Yunchong and saying a few things to him, but instead he was caught by Xia Youluo.

  “What is it? Are you trying to get revenge on me? Let me tell you, I am currently working under the emperor’s orders, so don’t do anything crazy,” warned Long Chen.

  “Hmph, I’m not so petty. Look, do you think this hairpin is pretty?” Xia Youluo opened the case, flaunting it.

  “It’s pretty, but it’ll be prettier on you.” Long Chen really had to admit that the Grand Han’s craftsmanship was not bad. When he returned, he would have to get a pile of them to give one to each of his wives. Then these people would see what was truly called a fairy-like beauty.

  “Long Chen, help me put them on. I want to wear it now,” said Xia Youluo.

  “Now’s not a good time. People will laugh at you for being so impatient.” Long Chen shook his head.

  “Who cares? I want to wear it right now. I want to see what it feels like,” said Xia Youluo.

  “Fine, you’re the princess. As soon as you get angry, I get nervous, so I’ll help you put it on!” Long Chen received the phoenix hairpin and gently inserted it into Xia Youluo’s high bun.

  Just at this moment, Han Wenjun, who was smiling and talking with Xia Yunfeng at the front, inadvertently turned back to see this.

  He saw Xia Youluo holding Long Chen, while Long Chen helplessly put the phoenix hairpin on her. His expression changed, and killing intent appeared in his eyes.

  On the other hand, Xia Yunfeng and Yunchong both smiled, a trace of hope appearing in their hearts.

  [1] Pearl and pig sound similar in chinese. /

  [2] Flavor and smell are the same term in chinese.

  Chapter 1192 Agreement of Ten Exchanges

  “Long Chen, do I look pretty with the phoenix hairpin?” Xia Youluo turned her head back and forth slowly. She looked at Long Chen expectantly.

  “Even if you didn’t wear them, you’d still be very beautiful.”

  Long Chen smiled. Xia Youluo truly was very beautiful. Although she couldn’t compare to Meng Qi or Tang Wan-er, she was definitely a figure capable of bringing about the downfall of a nation. Furthermore, she possessed an innate air of nobility which made her even more attractive.

  “Hehe, I’m happy you’re learning how to talk properly.” Xia Youluo smiled excitedly, giving Long Chen some rare praise.

  “Are you saying I didn’t know how to talk properly before?” demanded Long Chen.

  “Hehe, for some unknown reason, I’m happiest when I’m with you.” Xia Youluo smiled.

  “Oh? Were you not happy just now?” asked Long Chen.

  Xia Youluo turned red. Looking at Han Wenjun’s back, she whispered, “I used to really like him. Sometimes I even dreamed about him. So I was happy to see him and extremely excited to receive a gift from him. However, I don’t know why, but I feel a kind of pressure at the same time that makes my heart uneasy. I think I’m afraid.”

  “Afraid of what?” asked Long Chen curiously.

  “I’m not sure. But while being with him does make me very excited, it also gives me a feeling of unease. But being with you, although I’m not happy or excited, I feel very peaceful. It’s a very warm kind of feeling.” Xia Youluo looked at Long Chen with a smile.

  Long Chen raged, “Tch, do you know how to talk properly? Being with me doesn’t make you happy or excited? Then what are you doing entangling me?! Hmph, I’m mad now. If you’re so unhappy, then hand over the wine I gave you.”

  Xia Youluo smiled at Long Chen who feigned anger. Today, she had finally seen the Han Wenjun she had been thinking about day and night, but now that she did, sh
e felt a strange feeling.

  She had always greatly adored Han Wenjun. Her room was even filled with portraits of him. She was infatuated with the romantic stories that came from the Grand Han, and she also longed to have a warm, intimate man looking after her.

  As the princess of the Grand Xia, she didn’t have many close relationships. Her father and mother were all busy with politics, while her brothers and sisters were focused on cultivation and studying the ways to rule a nation. The only one who she could count on to spend time with her was her brother Xia Yunchong.

  But a big brother’s love was not enough for a young maiden in the springtime of her youth. The first time she saw that grand, handsome, and tender Han Wenjun, she had been left with a deep impression and unable to extricate herself from it.

  Then she had become engrossed with the romantic stories that circulated out of the Grand Han. She had longed even more for those kinds of intense romantic feelings.

  But Long Chen’s arrival had unconsciously changed her thoughts. Long Chen was incomparably domineering and didn’t pamper her at all. He would scold her, curse her, and make her cry several times out of anger.

  And yet he also treated her especially well sometimes. He had been willing to split half of that incredibly precious wine with her, making her exceptionally grateful.

  Furthermore, he was like a deep well. He didn’t look very conspicuous on the outside, and yet no one could tell how deep he was. As someone who dared to swindle the Wine God Palace’s people of their wine, he had to have huge guts.

  The more she was with Long Chen, the less she understood him. He was like a riddle that made her want to solve him.

  He was sometimes domineering, sometimes amiable, sometimes petty, sometimes magnanimous. Sometimes a sentence from him would make her laugh, and sometimes it would make her cry.

  Originally, Xia Youluo hadn’t really felt this. But now that she saw Han Wenjun, when she compared the two, she felt the feeling of danger and mystery around Long Chen was much more attractive, making Han Wenjun’s charisma seem much weaker.

  Furthermore, being with Long Chen made her feel peaceful, as if whatever happened, he would be able to handle it easily.

  Now that Long Chen looked like a child demanding his toy back with his fake anger and his extended hand, she felt it to be extremely funny.

  “Nice try. The things that enter my hands are mine forever! You should give up on that thought,” said Xia Youluo.

  Just at this time, they entered the inner gate of the imperial city, and there was a red carpet in front of them leading to a grand palace.

  This palace was used by the Grand Xia to welcome and entertain guests. It was extremely spacious, and once they were inside, they had to go through all kinds of special etiquettes and sequences before they were able to take a seat.

  This was no ordinary family feast. The tables were low to the ground tables that could only be seated by two people on each side.

  Long Chen wasn’t a prince, so he had no qualifications to sit at the top. He found a table for himself that was near the edge.

  He had only just sat down when a burst of fragrance blew over. Xia Youluo had actually also come.

  “Girl, are you drunk? Your spot’s up there.” Long Chen pointed to the main spots at the front. The banquet hall was split into two parts, one for the main characters and one for the minor characters. Naturally, the first part was meant for the princes and princesses. For Xia Youluo to come here was unsuitable to her status.

  “You’re the one who is drunk. Sitting up there is so constricting. Just the toasting, blessings, salutations, and return etiquettes are enough to exhaust someone to death. I don’t want to go through that, so move over a bit. Why is your butt so big? Are you trying to take up two seats on your own?” Xia Youluo forced Long Chen to scooch over.

  “Aren’t you afraid of your imperial father scolding you for this?” asked Long Chen as he moved over.

  “You think that’s possible? He won’t even make an appearance in such a banquet,” said Xia Youluo.

  At this time, everyone had found seats for themselves. Seeing Xia Youluo take the initiative to sit beside Long Chen made Xia Yunchong and Xia Yunfeng smile at each other.

  On the other hand, Han Wenjun’s expression was now a bit unnatural. He could have accepted Xia Youluo sitting anywhere except beside Long Chen. Furthermore, she was quietly whispering to him in a questionably intimate manner.

  But he also couldn’t express anything over this. He was sitting beside Li Wanji, and he raised his cup. “This first glass of wine is to bless the citizens of the Grand Xia, to wish the Emperor good health, and to the long friendship of the Grand Xia and Grand Han.”

  “My imperial father was working hard all day. He’s extremely busy[1] and simply does not have the time to greet you personally. Please forgive him for this. But I will represent my imperial father to raise this cup to you.” Xia Yunfeng smiled and raised his cup.

  After he said this, everyone felt the atmosphere change a bit. Li Wanji’s expression darkened, as she finally realized why everyone’s expressions had grown odd after Long Chen had said that back then.

  “Long Chen, I challenge you to a battle! If you’re a man, you’ll accept!” Li Wanji glared at Long Chen, looking like she wanted to bite him to death.

  What was going on?

  Xia Yunchong, Xia Youluo, and the other princes and princesses were all startled. They had no idea what was happening because they didn’t know about what had happened before.

  “Brother Wenjun, this…” As the master of this banquet, Xia Yunfeng was the one to ask what was happening.

  “Um… Long Chen and my friend argued a bit before. Her name is… Li Wanji…” Han Wenjun also didn’t quite know how to explain it, so he did it very vaguely.

  Hearing her name, Xia Yunfeng and Xia Yunchong both realized what was going on. But the others still didn’t quite understand.

  “This matter was my mistake. I did not know miss Wanji’s name. I apologize.” Xia Yunfeng magnanimously took the blame.

  But in reality, he was speechless inside. Who had come up with this name? Was it to intentionally cause trouble with his Grand Xia?

  “Crown prince, this matter has nothing to do with you. It is Long Chen who went too far. Moreover, it just so happens that it’s a tradition to have a martial competition before a feast. I simply wonder whether Long Chen will agree to exchange some pointers with Li Wanji or not,” said Han Wenjun.

  To have a martial competition before the feast was in reality a friendly exchange of pointers to see who was stronger. The four ancient nations had truly done such things in the past.

  But in the past few years, such martial competitions had grown rarer, and they were replaced with different events.

  Furthermore, a competition on this level was extremely rare. Li Wanji was a rank eight Celestial, while Long Chen’s power was also explosive. Once they fought, it probably wouldn’t be so simple as exchanging pointers, especially considering Li Wanji’s current expression.

  “This isn’t really appropriate. It could harm our friendship.” Xia Yunfeng shook his head.

  “It’s just a way to liven things up. Both sides are aggrieved, so why not have a little fight? However, ten exchanges is the limit. If a victor is not determined by then, it’ll count as a draw.” Han Wenjun smiled.

  “In truth, Long Chen is also a guest of my Grand Xia, and I cannot decide this for him.” Xia Yunfeng shook his head.

  “Long Chen, if you’re a man, you’ll get up and fight me. Don’t cower like a turtle in its shell.” Li Wanji stood up and pointed at Long Chen.

  “This person goes too far. How can she point at others like this? Long Chen, go put her away.” Now, even Xia Youluo found this unacceptable. Although she was willful, she knew she couldn’t point at others when speaking at them. That was an insult, so she encouraged Long Chen to fight.

  Right now, everyone was looking at Long Chen. Long Chen lazily stood up an
d stretched. Looking at Li Wanji, he said, “Why bother? From the start, I never said anything that went overboard toward you. Is it worth it for you to persistently force me until I have no choice but to fight you? Intentionally angering me won’t bring you any benefits.”

  “Hmph, there’s no need to say so much. You disgust me, and I have to properly teach you a lesson today,” sneered Li Wanji.

  “You have to teach everyone who disgusts you a lesson? Do you like being disgusted? Since you want to fight, then I’ll accompany you. However, when you embarrass yourself, don’t cry.” Long Chen slowly stood up.

  “You’re the one who will be crying.” Li Wanji smiled coldly upon seeing Long Chen agree to her challenge.

  “Don’t try to kill him. Just make him lose face. You can’t kill people here.” Han Wenjun sent Li Wanji a secret transmission.

  “Understood. I won’t kill him. I’ll make sure to only cut off a single arm,” replied Li Wanji, a ruthless gleam in her eyes.

  “Since both parties consent, let’s start. Don’t do anything that would harm our friendship,” said Xia Yunfeng.

  Two balls of light appeared in the palace hall, enveloping the two of them. They suddenly appeared on an ancient martial stage.

  [1] He uses the same expression used a few chapters ago, Ri Li Wan Ji, which sounds the same as have sex with Li Wanji.

  Chapter 1193 Berserk Energy

  Space trembled as Long Chen and Li Wanji appeared on top of an ancient martial stage. The surroundings of the martial stage were filled with mist so that the two of them couldn’t see anything outside the stage.

  But from the palace hall where Xia Youluo and the others were, they could see them clearly. There was a projection at the center of the hall showing the martial stage.

  It was an incredibly clear projection that made it feel like it was the real thing. Even the pressure coming from the two of them could be sensed clearly.

  Everyone stopped breathing. Every person here was an expert in their own rights, and they all liked to see other experts exchanging blows in order to confirm their own strength.