Chapter 27: Ye Xingyun’s Provocation

Everyone present was momentarily dazed by Jun Xiaoyao’s looks and bearing.

All the women’s beautiful eyes were fixed on him, their souls seemingly ensnared by the sight of this youth so fair he appeared otherworldly.

Jun Xiaoyao stood there like a celestial being descended to the mortal realm, exuding an aura far above the mundane.

“So this is the Jun Family’s Divine Child? Seeing him in person truly surpasses all the rumors… He’s almost godlike.” Everyone sighed inwardly.

In this hush, a sudden exclamation rang out.

“Wow, wow, wow! You’re the Jun Family’s Divine Child, Jun Xiaoyao?”

A lively young girl shouted excitedly, her bright eyes sparkling, and crystal drool glistening at the corner of her rosy lips.

“Mm, and you are?” Jun Xiaoyao lifted a brow, looking at the spirited young girl.

His first impression was… small.

Yes, that was it.

Although Jiang Luoli had bright eyes and pearly teeth, looking adorably charming, and when she smiled there were two little dimples on her cheeks, her figure was quite petite, seemingly only around one-and-a-half meters tall.

“I… I’m Jiang Luoli…” Her pretty face was slightly flushed.

“Jiang Lolita?” Jun Xiaoyao tilted his head slightly.

“No… not Jiang Lolita—no, I mean Jiang Luoli…” Jiang Luoli’s face reddened, her heart pounding, words tumbling over themselves.

Jun Xiaoyao suddenly understood.

So she was someone from his mother Jiang Rou’s side of the family.

Thinking of that, Jun Xiaoyao offered a slight smile to Jiang Luoli. “I appreciate that Miss Jiang would attend the banquet.”

Pfft—choo!

The sight of Jun Xiaoyao’s strikingly handsome features, shrouded by a faint celestial radiance, made Jiang Luoli go weak at the knees, as though an arrow from Cupid had just pierced her heart.

For someone who valued looks as much as she did, Jun Xiaoyao’s appearance pushed all her excitement buttons.

This was truly what one might call a godlike visage.

Off to the side, Jiang Shengyi gazed at this nephew, whose perfect features scarcely seemed human, feeling a momentary sway in her emotions.

She had been planning to tease Jiang Luoli, but now she herself was a bit transfixed.

The instant she saw Jun Xiaoyao, a subtle, ineffable feeling surged in her chest. Even her innate Dao Embryo constitution seemed vaguely stirred.

“What’s happening…” Jiang Shengyi thought in alarm, touching her white jade cheeks, which felt slightly warm.

“Xiaoyao, come here. This is your mother’s cousin, your aunt, Jiang Shengyi. And this is Luoli, the treasured young lady of the Jiang Family. It’s a good chance for you to get to know each other.” Jiang Rou smiled, beckoning Jun Xiaoyao over.

Jun Xiaoyao was speechless.

So this short little lass was the esteemed darling of the Jiang Family, the one his mother Jiang Rou and Jun Zhantian kept mentioning for a possible future marriage alliance.

“Auntie.” Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly.

“That makes me sound old—call me ‘Big Sis’ instead.” Jiang Shengyi, perhaps trying to mask her odd feelings, put on a casual air, showing her pearly teeth in a radiant smile.

At the same time, she discreetly observed Jun Xiaoyao, curious about the unique nature of his constitution.

From the moment Jun Xiaoyao arrived, Jiang Luoli had been blushing furiously and couldn’t even look at him directly. Originally cheerful and vivacious, she now seemed uncharacteristically shy.

Watching this scene, the other guests sighed inwardly. It seemed the beloved young lady of the Jiang Family had already developed feelings. Loving someone’s appearance alone could be quite shallow indeed.

From one of the tables, Ye Xingyun looked at Jiang Luoli’s shy expression. He was so furious that he began to tremble, his face turning deathly pale.

“How could this happen?” A hint of dark clouds gathered between Ye Xingyun’s brows.

Truth be told, he had never wanted to provoke Jun Xiaoyao. But seeing all this, Ye Xingyun felt a stabbing pain in his chest.

After all, Jiang Luoli was the woman he had set his sights on.

Aside from looks, Ye Xingyun believed he was inferior to Jun Xiaoyao in neither talent, power, nor family background. Plus, he had interacted with Jiang Luoli previously in the Falling Moon Secret Realm. But now, Jun Xiaoyao didn’t have to lift a finger—his looks alone were enough to make Jiang Luoli melt.

How was that fair?

So being handsome was all that mattered?

On the other side, Jun Zhangjian sighed. “It’s only been a few years, and Cousin Xiaoyao has already grown to this level.”

Jun Zhangjian felt a wave of relief. Back then, he had not offended Jun Xiaoyao but instead befriended him with the Yuan Tian Supreme Token. That had been his wisest decision.

Beside him, Jun Xuehuang gazed at Jun Xiaoyao. Her ice-blue eyes flickered with a momentary daze. Still, she was not as smitten by appearance alone as Jiang Luoli was.

“This Divine Child truly lives up to his name; one can’t detect his realm at all.” Jun Xuehuang shook her head slightly.

Their peripheral vision also noticed Jun Wanjie. From the moment Jun Xiaoyao arrived, Jun Wanjie’s cold gaze had been fixed on him, revealing a hint of scrutiny and indifference.

Evidently, having come from a branch family and suffered countless slights, Jun Wanjie harbored little goodwill toward such a prince, born with every advantage.

Why did he have to struggle for everything, while another was simply born with it?

“Seems like Jun Wanjie doesn’t think much of Cousin Xiaoyao,” Jun Zhangjian whispered.

“To be honest, even I can’t help but feel envious of the Divine Child’s lofty status and treatment,” Jun Xuehuang murmured.

Nonetheless, for the moment Jun Wanjie just watched coldly, making no further move.

Soon after, the banquet officially began. Yet most guests kept glancing at Jun Xiaoyao. Even the Great Shang Princess stared at him, infatuated, before shaking her head slightly in resignation.

“This princess… is not worthy of the Divine Child…” she whispered.

That single sentence startled many listening nearby. The renowned Great Shang Princess was saying that even she might not be worthy of the Jun Family’s Divine Child?

“Who knows how powerful that Jun Family Divine Child truly is? For all we know, he might only have a pretty face and nothing more.” Someone’s voice muttered quietly. Only a few heard it and turned to look.

“It’s Ye Xingyun, the one with the Star King Physique…” Several people’s eyes gleamed.

He was obviously voicing his displeasure. Yet it wasn’t as though the Divine Child had ever provoked him.

“Young Master, you mustn’t speak so carelessly!” the nearby half-saint-level servant cautioned, frowning.

“Hmph…” Ye Xingyun’s features grew even darker.

He was a proud genius of the Ancient Ye Family. Could he not even speak his mind?

Meanwhile, Jiang Rou was leading Jun Xiaoyao around, mostly introducing him to Jiang Luoli. “Xiaoyao, you’re not so young anymore. Perhaps it’s time Mother got a grandchild?” Jiang Rou teased merrily.

Jun Xiaoyao actually broke a sweat. “Not so young,” she said. Though he looked like a lanky youth of fourteen or fifteen, he was only ten years old.

And as he eyed the petite young girl that was Jiang Luoli, he truly felt no sort of attraction whatsoever. If they really did form an alliance through marriage, he would feel like he was committing a crime.

Jiang Luoli’s face was still flushed, and she didn’t dare meet Jun Xiaoyao’s eyes.

“Tut-tut, wasn’t there someone who said she’d rather die—rather jump off a cliff—than accept an arranged marriage…?” Jiang Shengyi teased with a bright laugh.

“Sister Shengyi, what nonsense! I never said anything like that!” Jiang Luoli pouted, shaking her head almost in panic, as if the mere act of denial would erase her words.

“Still… he’s the most handsome person I’ve ever seen…” Jiang Luoli thought, her heart fluttering. She suddenly felt that an arranged marriage might not be so bad after all.

Yes, how unexpectedly satisfying!

Watching Jun Xiaoyao together with Jiang Luoli and the others, Ye Xingyun on the other side was practically green with envy. Rage flared within him as he slammed his wine cup sharply onto the table.

The entire great hall fell silent.

“So you’re the Jun Family’s Divine Child? I am Ye Xingyun of the Ancient Ye Family. Might I request a match with you?”