Chapter 70: Boundless Hatred!

“Pfft...”
A mouthful of pus and blood burst violently from Zhuge Yu's lips once more, his face contorted and deathly pale. This time, however, it was not a wound to his body, but a wound to his heart.

He and Donggong Qianxue had grown up together since childhood, childhood sweethearts. He had long harbored feelings for her, dreaming of making her his own. Yet now, Donggong Qianxue had become Young Master Chen’s maid, defending him without reservation.

It was as if a thousand arrows pierced his heart!

“Zhuge Yu, leave at once,” Donggong Qianxue snapped coldly, “Return to the imperial court and tell my father that I will not be returning for the time being.”

She scoffed, “I intend to stay by the young master’s side, to serve him and his daughter well!”

Zhuge Yu’s body trembled uncontrollably, his gaze dark and venomous as he stared daggers at Chen Changsheng.

He was consumed by hatred!

The hatred was overwhelming!

The powerful figures who had accompanied him from the imperial court were all equally ashen-faced. To serve Young Master Chen and his daughter—was this something a princess ought to say?

“We’re leaving!” Zhuge Yu snarled, leading his retinue back to the flying vessel in a humiliating retreat.

“Why is this happening?” Chen Changsheng looked up, watching the departing vessel, utterly bewildered.

He had thought this was a friendly world. Now he realized how wrong he had been—even the Holy Emperor of the Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom wanted him dead.

Why? What was the reason behind this?

“Young Master Chen, I’m certain my father has been swayed by that scoundrel Bing Changtian and simply doesn’t know your true character, that’s all...” Donggong Qianxue approached him, her earlier murderous intent now replaced by nervousness so great that beads of sweat glittered on the tip of her delicate nose.

“Miss Donggong, why are you so nervous? You are you, and your father is your father,” Chen Changsheng said with a gentle smile as he noticed the crystalline drops on her nose. “Besides, your father’s attempt on my life is nothing I take to heart.”

After all, now that he and his daughter had the Blood Demon Patriarch as their personal guardian, what was there to fear?

Though he was but a mere mortal, with the Blood Demon Patriarch at his side, he could walk unchallenged even in the Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom.

A hush fell over the group; they drew sharp breaths and looked at one another in silent shock.

Even the threat of the Holy Emperor meant nothing to him!

There could be no doubt—this Young Master Chen was surely some immortal descended from the Realm of the Gods, to speak so lightly of such things.

They could only look up to him—

—to revere him!

To the countless beings of the Snowy Domain, in his eyes, they were but ants.

“Ahem.” Chen Changsheng cleared his throat and turned his gaze to Donggong Qianxue’s breathtakingly beautiful face, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “So you’re a princess of the Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom...”

“Ah!” Donggong Qianxue, who had just begun to relax, instantly tensed again and hastily cupped her hands. “Young Master Chen, please don’t misunderstand. I hid my identity as a princess from you simply to avoid unnecessary trouble.”

“You’re far too nervous, Miss Donggong.” Young Master Chen shook his head with a smile. “I don’t blame you at all. In fact, I rather like it this way. Come, let’s go buy more groceries.”

Huh?

Rather like it?

What does that mean?

Donggong Qianxue and the others stared at him in confusion.

A princess of the Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom, serving as a maid for his daughter—how could that not feel satisfying?

Chen Changsheng’s vanity swelled to the brim.

Of course, he would never admit such a thing out loud.

“Your Highness, Young Master Chen must be referring to your performance just now,” Bing Muer whispered to Donggong Qianxue. “His bearing is something we mortals could never hope to imitate. Your father tried to kill him, and he doesn’t even care—instead, he praises you.”

“The young princess speaks the truth,” Donggong Qianxue’s eyes sparkled. Relief washed over her, and a trace of joy appeared on her face. To be praised by Young Master Chen was an honor beyond measure... She resolved to serve his father and daughter even better in the future.

...

After buying various cuts of meat, they returned to the mountain.

Chen Changsheng led Chen Die’er to his orchard, intending to pick some vegetables for the hotpot.

However, he discovered the Firebath Divine Phoenixes he had planted earlier had already fully matured.

These Firebath Divine Phoenixes looked as if they were about to take flight, their forms suffused with a delicate fragrance.

Each plant bore many leaves, clustered together to form the likeness of a phoenix.

“Just as the old man said—these are truly divine herbs!” Chen Die’er exclaimed, inhaling deeply through her delicate nose. “Wow, Dad, it smells amazing!”

“Yes, it really does,” Chen Changsheng’s eyes lit up as he rubbed his chin. “If it smells this good, it must taste just as fine. Let’s just pick a couple and add them to the hotpot.”

“Ahhh!”
The Blood Demon Patriarch sprang from Chen Die’er’s necklace in a panic, beside himself with fury. “Young Master Chen, do you have any idea how precious these Firebath Divine Phoenixes are? Even in the Realm of the Gods, they’re priceless! If you threw all these herbs into that world, people would fight to the death for them—a storm of bloodshed would erupt!”

He was on the verge of spitting blood. Such rare and valuable divine medicine—this wretched brat wanted to use them as hotpot ingredients!

Could there be anything more outrageous in the world?

“What are you so worked up about, old demon?” Chen Changsheng shrugged indifferently. “Perhaps they are as precious as you say, but I’m just a mortal. What use have I for divine medicine? I might as well taste it in the hotpot and see what it’s like.”

“Yes, Dad! Let’s use them in the hotpot. They smell so good, they must taste amazing!” Chen Die’er was an absolute foodie—there could be no doubt about that.

“You...you...” The Blood Demon Patriarch was speechless with anger, his heart aching unbearably.

Such flagrant waste would surely incur heaven’s wrath!

“Die’er, pick two of them,” Chen Changsheng instructed, ignoring the old demon.

“Okay, Dad!” Chen Die’er answered, carefully picking two Firebath Divine Phoenixes. As she plucked them, a viscous sap oozed from the stems and the aroma grew even richer.

“Wow, it smells even better now!” Chen Die’er exclaimed, eyes sparkling like stars.

“You two...” The Blood Demon Patriarch was nearly beside himself.

Back at the wooden cottage—

Chen Changsheng set to work on the hotpot. He arranged a stove on the table, lit it, and placed a pot of water on top.

He prepared a variety of ingredients for the hotpot, along with an assortment of condiments.

“Young Master Chen, is this how you make hotpot?” Among them, Mu Wanqing was undoubtedly the biggest foodie. She sat to the side, quietly swallowing her saliva, looking at Chen Changsheng with curiosity.