Watching Damien Gray leave the room in high spirits with Morgan Shangguan, Maxwell Jing finally frowned and slowly made his way outside.
Ethan Gu noticed his distracted demeanor and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
Maxwell Jing suddenly looked at him, asking seriously, "Ethan, do you think it's better to be a man or a spy?"
Ethan Gu was completely baffled. What man? What spy?
Maxwell Jing glanced at the two sitting side by side and asked again, "Do you think the Guildmaster falling in love with a man is better, or with a spy?" He was certain Damien Gray was genuinely moved.
Upon hearing this, Ethan Gu frowned at him, "What do you mean?"
Before Maxwell Jing could answer, he suddenly sensed Morgan Shangguan's gaze on him. The words stuck in his throat, and he glanced nervously from side to side. He still had no idea how far the prince had fallen; if there was a conflict between him and Morgan Shangguan, who knew whom the prince would support?
Ethan Gu noticed the glance from Morgan Shangguan, frowned, and seemed to have figured something out, yet also felt as if nothing was clear at all.
A palanquin draped in pink gauze, carried by eight stunning beauties, floated weightlessly over the water. Following behind were four more beauties carrying flower baskets, scattering vibrant petals as they walked, while the petals inside the hall were laid by the two leading beauties.
Morgan Shangguan looked at the spectacle with indifference, her gaze sweeping to Damien Gray, who was sipping wine. Her eyes flashed as she suddenly whispered, "This really is like a peacock displaying its feathers." Fortunately, Damien Gray wasn't so ostentatious—he didn't need such frivolous displays to stand out.
Even if the Ghostmaster arrived with a crowd, he would still be the center of attention. And even if he came alone, his presence would never be diminished; there was simply no need for such theatrics.
"Pfft... cough, cough..." Damien Gray managed to spit out his wine, unfortunately choking on it.
Maxwell Jing lowered his head, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. He wondered how Quentin Hua, that enchanting troublemaker, would react if he heard someone describe him this way. Ethan Gu's face was also flushed, clearly holding back a laugh.
Those who had been captivated by the spectacle, waiting to see the Lotus Sect Master, were all snapped back to reality by Damien Gray's coughing fit. Puzzled, they wondered what had happened to the Ghostmaster—they had never seen him lose composure like this before!
Morgan Shangguan finally vented her pent-up resentment, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly—her mood was clearly improved.
Damien Gray glanced at her, knowing she was retaliating. He felt a bit helpless; it seemed his days ahead would be anything but easy.
The palanquin stopped in the center of the hall. One beauty lifted her delicate hand and swept aside the pink gauze curtain. Inside, a beauty lounged lazily, yet no one could look away. A collective gasp rose from the crowd.
To call the person inside breathtaking would be no exaggeration. His stunning phoenix eyes seemed to seduce all who looked, and his rosy lips curved with an alluring smile. He was a true enchantress—but the slightly open collar revealed a flat chest and a sensual Adam's apple, making it clear this beauty was a man!
Susie Yun finally sneaked behind Morgan Shangguan to stand properly. Earlier, when Morgan wasn't around, she'd been curious about the spectacle and had run out to see it.
Quentin Hua cast a cool glance at the stunned crowd, a hint of barely detectable sarcasm flickering in his eyes.
Damien Gray noticed Morgan Shangguan staring blankly at Quentin Hua as well. His eyes darkened, and a sudden chill in his aura made everyone nearby snap back to their senses.
But Morgan Shangguan seemed completely oblivious, continuing to gaze intently at Quentin Hua.
Damien Gray nearly fumed himself into internal injury, his cold eyes fixed on that troublesome beauty, wishing he could glare holes through him to vent his frustration.
No one could ignore such a heated stare. Quentin Hua raised his brows and looked back at the man who seemed ready to kill him, smiling, "Ghostmaster, ever since we parted, I've been unable to eat or sleep. Even when I'm not dreaming, I dream of you. Did you miss me, Ghostmaster?" He even threw Damien Gray a flirtatious wink, then coyly lowered his head.
To dare flirt with the Ghostmaster—no wonder Maxwell Jing called him a real troublemaker!
Morgan Shangguan sensed something unusual between Quentin Hua and Damien Gray, and Maxwell Jing's earlier tone suggested he was familiar with Quentin Hua. She thought for a moment, then asked the person beside her, "Is he one of yours?"
Damien Gray snorted, "He's Crown Prince Adrian's man!"
Morgan Shangguan raised her brows. Crown Prince's man?
Though the court and the martial world appeared to keep to themselves, in reality, their connections were tangled and complex.
Morgan Shangguan studied Quentin Hua, her eyes thoughtful. Was he really just the Crown Prince's man? She doubted Adrian could truly control him. If someone said Quentin Hua belonged to Damien Gray, she might believe it. And this person...
Seeing her stare at Quentin Hua, Damien Gray's anger only grew. His sharp gaze locked onto Quentin Hua as he coldly ordered, "Get out!"
Quentin Hua was surprised by his unusually icy tone. He turned to look at Morgan Shangguan, guessing she must be the Cloud Guildmaster, Fiona Yun. But her gaze was strange—not dazzled like the others, but thoughtful and probing, with something unreadable in her eyes. Most importantly, Damien Gray seemed angry because of her. How odd!
Quentin Hua looked at Damien Gray with a face full of grievance, softly asking, "Ghostmaster, do you really dislike me that much?"
Damien Gray replied with a half-smile, "I only like women!" And he had his eye on just one. So, anyone who dared compete with him for her, he'd gladly send to the Hall of Yama for tea.
Quentin Hua's eyes widened in surprise. Hadn't he always said he liked neither women nor men? Now he claimed to only like women. Could it be that the unromantic Ghostmaster had fallen for a woman?
Before he could figure it out, Damien Gray added coolly, "Besides, I detest effeminate men!"