Chapter Seventy-Five: Why Don't the Three of Us Go to the Lantern Festival?

Zhang Ning immediately replied with delight, “Yes, Senior Brother, thanks to your help!” The two exchanged a knowing smile, as if nothing had just happened between them.

Yet just as Zhang Ning relaxed, Han Zun’s voice rang out, “Utterly spineless! How can you simply swallow your anger when faced with something like this?” Zhang Ning turned toward the sound and saw Han Zun had rushed back as well. The fierce wind at this altitude whipped his silver hair and robes, but the habitual arrogance and scorn in his crimson eyes had faded, replaced by an almost bitter disappointment, as if he could not bear to see promise wasted.

In his hand, he held the scabbard he had just snatched from Han Zhifei. Noticing Zhang Ning’s gaze, Han Zun let out a cold laugh and threw the scabbard toward her.

Han Zhifei, anticipating Han Zun’s counter, had been bracing for a fight, not expecting him to suddenly toss something at Zhang Ning. Zhang Ning, sensing the scabbard would fall near her feet, didn’t dodge. Just as the melodramatic scene of someone being slighted by a thrown object was about to play out, a shadow darted out from behind Zhang Ning, intercepting the scabbard with swift precision.

He pushed off the deck with his hands, legs moving so fast they blurred, and with a thud, his foot struck the flying scabbard, driving it deep into the battered deck—its sturdy material far tougher than steel, despite being damaged by the earlier fight.

Startled by the sudden appearance, Zhang Ning almost reflexively used her Great Freedom Hand to fling the intruder away, but managed to restrain herself just in time, pressing her hands together to halt the impulse. Glancing over, she saw the agile, quick-footed figure now standing tense as a drawn bow before her, eyes fixed warily on the others, a blade of grass improbably clenched between his teeth.

This was none other than Lin Feng, who had accompanied Han Zun in search of the Fifth Prince.

With Lin Feng’s intervention, the atmosphere shifted from melodramatic strife back to a standoff reminiscent of a chaotic skirmish. It looked as if everyone were ready to resume fighting at any moment. Zhang Ning shuddered, quickly grabbing the back of Lin Feng’s collar. Caught off guard, Lin Feng stumbled, staring blankly at Zhang Ning, the grass slipping forlornly from his lips.

Only then did Zhang Ning find her voice. “It’s all a misunderstanding! Actually, at the time, I was—just listen to me!” she cried in frustration. It was understandable; Han Zun now looked at her as if she were a fool desperately trying to cover up for an abusive husband, swallowing her tears in silence, while Han Zhifei’s expression remained impassive.

As if things weren’t chaotic enough, a chubby youth suddenly tumbled out from the side, tripping twice over the damaged deck before coming to a stop before them. Bowing to Zhang Ning, he said, “Your Highness, we’ve arrived at Wuning City. I heard there’s a lantern festival below—may I go have a look?” His eyes curved into delighted crescents on his round face.

Three hours later

Zhang Ning glanced anxiously at her senior brother’s stoic expression on her left, then met Han Zun’s gaze on her right, feeling a weight settle on her heart. She pressed her hand to her chest, stifling a sigh.

After the chubby youth’s abrupt, unrelated question had broken their tense standoff, Zhang Ning finally found a moment to calm herself and recount the entire story from start to finish, especially for Han Zun’s sake. Her fourth senior brother, out of consideration for her, refrained from escalating things further. Han Zun, however, looked even more unconvinced, his expression saying he believed her as much as he would a battered wife denying her wounds. Zhang Ning nearly went mad under his gaze.

Yet, unexpectedly, Han Zun actually apologized for his earlier harsh words. Touched, Zhang Ning’s irritation faded—for insulting another sect was indeed a grave breach of etiquette. Still, she suspected Han Zun apologized only out of regard for her; he clearly didn’t believe her situation at the Great Freedom Demon Sect was as good as she claimed. Unable to let things go, he seized every chance to antagonize her fourth senior brother, prompting Han Zhifei to nearly lash out several times, only to be restrained by Zhang Ning clutching his sleeve.

Han Zun had, after all, saved Zhang Ning’s life; even if someone else might have rescued her had he been a moment later, both she and her sect acknowledged the debt. So, after explaining herself over and over to no avail, Zhang Ning could only glare at Han Zun through gritted teeth, while her fourth senior brother treated Han Zun as though he were invisible.

For the second time, Zhang Ning experienced the agony of being caught between two quarreling men. She sat through a tasteless lunch with them, and continued to endure the awkward tension. That evening, seeing the dazzling lights of Wuning City below, she impulsively decided to take them both to the lantern festival.

She had forgotten, though, that men do not reconcile with a single shopping trip. The two stood at her sides like stone guardians, so imposing that the crowds parted for them, leaving Zhang Ning unjostled amid the throng. She resigned herself to this small blessing. After yet another fruitless attempt to ease the tension, she glanced back in envy at the harmonious scene behind her.

There, surrounded by familiar faces, Lin Feng—always free-spirited but equally prone to trouble—laughed and joked with the others: the chubby Chen Baishu, who had interrupted the earlier standoff with his whimsical logic; the dashing young lord Luo Suiyuan; and Yin Hongling, daughter of the fearsome Demon Lord Yin Wuji.

They clustered around Lin Feng, chatting and laughing. Standing at a distance, and unwilling to intrude, Zhang Ning could not catch their conversation, but watching their easy camaraderie, she could not help but envy Lin Feng’s popularity.

Of course, if Zhang Ning had known Lin Feng’s true predicament, she might have spared some sympathy for him instead.