Felix Yu, master of Jade Dragon Manor, had survived the treacherous martial world for years, yet at this moment, he found himself unable to recover from the shock.
Damien Gray curled his lips and said, "Cloud Guildmaster, your skills are impressive!" Now it seemed that such a generous gift surely had deeper motives.
Morgan Shangguan ignored him and spoke calmly, "Master Yu, you should check if the item inside has been damaged. This little thief has been eyeing it for a long time, and tried several times to sneak into my Cloud Guild to steal it, but never succeeded. Who knew he would still try to act on this day of celebration? Now that he’s been dealt with, you can rest easier knowing your possession is safe. Still, bloodshed on such a joyous day—please don’t hold it against me, Master Yu!"
Knowing Felix Yu was eager to inspect the item, she gave him an out. As for the bloodshed, Felix Yu certainly wouldn’t blame her; what mattered most to him now was the treasure in his hands. She had saved him from being robbed, and he was grateful to her.
Hearing her words, Felix Yu quickly replied, "Cloud Guildmaster, what are you saying? How could those in the martial world hold such things against you?"
As he spoke, he opened the box in his hands, completely unconcerned about whether this item might bring disaster upon Jade Dragon Manor.
The crowd unconsciously moved closer, eager to see what was inside the box.
When the wooden box was opened and its contents revealed, a collective gasp arose from those nearby.
"It’s really the Bloodheart Jade Scepter!"
"Cloud Guildmaster, what a grand gesture!"
"Congratulations, Master Yu!"
The area erupted in lively chatter, all focused on the treasure in Felix Yu’s hands.
Inside the box, frosted with a layer of white, lay a flawless, crystal-clear jade scepter. It was stunning—far more beautiful than any ordinary scepter. At its center glimmered a faint red light, as if a swirl of blood flowed within. That was the heart of the Bloodheart Jade Scepter!
Legend had it that the bloodheart could instantly grant twenty years of martial power, though not without side effects. After using it, any injury would take twice as long to heal. But compared to gaining twenty years of strength, such drawbacks were trivial and hardly worth mentioning.
It was said that if the Bloodheart Jade Scepter was stored in a Frostfire Box, the bloodheart would be nourished and its power enhanced. Over time, the two became inseparable in legend—everyone agreed that only the Frostfire Box was fit to hold the Bloodheart Jade Scepter.
Noticing the greedy looks around him, Felix Yu finally realized that keeping this treasure would be no easy task.
He hurriedly called for Morgan Shangguan and Damien Gray to come inside, clutching the Bloodheart Jade Scepter tightly as he rushed into the manor—no doubt to find a safe hiding place.
Morgan Shangguan entered first, with Damien Gray following behind, looking somewhat abandoned—though with his mask on, no one could see his expression.
The voices of gossip behind her never ceased, and Morgan Shangguan couldn’t help but smile. This was exactly the effect she wanted! Suddenly, a teasing voice whispered in her ear, "How much did Princess Consort earn this time?"
Morgan Shangguan raised her brow—secret voice transmission? She curled her lips and replied, "Not much, just a hundred thousand taels of silver! The Bloodheart Jade Scepter has already been gifted, so it doesn’t count!"
The employer’s order was clear: kill anyone who coveted the Bloodheart Jade Scepter. The reward was the scepter itself, plus a hundred thousand taels of silver.
That person was willing to part with something as precious as the Bloodheart Jade Scepter—all for the sake of avenging their family.
It was customary to bring a gift to a wedding banquet—she was not as clueless about etiquette as Damien Gray! Since she had to offer something, she brought the Bloodheart Jade Scepter. If she kept it, she’d only end up selling it, and with its side effects, she’d never let Damien Gray use it.
Her flamboyance was all a ruse—to lure out her enemies. Now that everyone had seen Felix Yu acquire such a rare treasure, Jade Dragon Manor would surely know no peace. Whether righteous or wicked, greed was human nature! For those in the martial world, twenty years of power was an irresistible temptation.
Morgan Shangguan wanted to create trouble for Felix Yu. The purpose of this banquet was still unclear, but with more problems to juggle, Felix Yu would surely slip up and reveal something.
In a quiet pavilion, Maxwell Jing rolled up his sleeve and frowned at his bleeding wound. "Speak. What is it?"
Quentin Hua lounged lazily against the pavilion’s pillar, perched on the railing. He glanced at Maxwell Jing and asked with a slight frown, "Earlier—was someone trying to kill Morgan Shangguan?"
Maxwell Jing paused, narrowed his eyes at him, and asked in a low voice, "What do you know?"
Quentin Hua sighed but didn’t answer. Instead, he said, "Tell Damien Gray and Morgan Shangguan to be careful! That person is a lunatic—maybe nothing will happen for now, or maybe an assassin is already waiting for them!"
Maxwell Jing’s frown deepened, but he didn’t press further. He knew that if Quentin Hua didn’t want to speak, not even a blade at his throat would make him say a word.
The reason Quentin Hua and Damien Gray could maintain their ambiguous friendship was mutual admiration. Though they seemed vastly different on the surface, deep down, they shared something in common.
Quentin Hua was lost in thought when a hand suddenly reached out in front of him. He instinctively dodged, only to realize it was Maxwell Jing’s hand.
Quentin Hua raised his brow, wearing a mischievous smile. "Little Max, are you planning to fall for me instead?" His gaze swept up and down Maxwell Jing, as if weighing whether to accept him.
When Maxwell Jing reached out again, Quentin Hua didn’t dodge. He let Maxwell Jing grab his collar, even seeming eager to be embraced. With a seductive glance, he lowered his head and said shyly, "Don’t rush—we’ll go back to the room first, then..."
Ethan Gu followed behind Damien Gray, habitually surveying the surroundings. He happened to catch sight of the two men flirting, which confirmed his suspicions. He couldn’t help but frown. He didn’t think two men being together was against nature—so long as they were happy, he believed Prince Damien would approve. Still, such things were bound to invite gossip, and he didn’t want Maxwell Jing to get hurt.
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