Chapter 44: Clash of Powers

Li Ge nodded approvingly while also helping Ling Mo serve the vegetarian dishes he loved, saying casually, "Mo, you should eat too."

Ling Mo looked at Li Ge, who was enjoying her meal, with a smile in his eyes. He reached out and gently removed a grain of rice from the corner of her mouth, his dark eyes fixed on her. He sighed in his heart: "Just watching her eat is enough happiness."

Even the slow-witted Li Ge blushed, and Dongfang Ji beside her chuckled. Before Ling Mo could get angry, Jian Luo, who had been barely noticeable, lowered his head and said coldly, "Your Highness, let's go investigate Piaoxiang Pavilion first."

Without waiting for Dongfang Ji to react, he grabbed his arm and walked out.

Dongfang Ji, realizing his good fortune, followed obediently. If it weren't for Jian Luo's timely intervention, he didn't know what kind of hardship the Lord would assign him to.

It was a little past noon when Ling Mo finally led Li Ge to arrive.

Piaoxiang Pavilion, the first pavilion in Chaofeng, was also one of the most renowned establishments in all of Tianhe Continent.

It was a hotel that combined dining and lodging, but it was most famous for its cuisine. Piaoxiang Pavilion offered signature dishes from most countries in Tianhe Continent, and they were prepared with authentic flavors. Therefore, in Chaofeng, it attracted not only locals but also many people from other countries, or foreigners who had lived in Chaofeng for a long time.

The main hall on the first floor was where ordinary diners usually went, while the second floor was reserved for high-ranking officials. The third floor, however, was said to be where the owner of Piaoxiang Pavilion lived. No one in all of Tianhe Continent knew who the ultimate owner of this chain of Piaoxiang Pavilions was, and the third floor of every Piaoxiang Pavilion in every country was reserved for the owner.

Under the complex gazes of the crowd in the main hall, Ling Mo carefully helped Li Ge out of the carriage. Led by an attendant, they arrived at the private room reserved by Qin Lie. As they stood at the door, a delicate fragrance wafted towards them. Inside the exquisitely decorated room, two people were already seated. Qin Lie was lounging on a couch, while the Prince of Lanhan was sitting upright. Upon seeing Ling Mo and Li Ge, Qin Lie merely raised an eyebrow, looking at the couple with a playful smile. The Prince of Lanhan, however, stood up with a smile and greeted them politely, "Min first congratulates Your Highness and Lady Li Ge, wishing you both happiness."

It's always good to be polite. Even though Ling Mo was cold, he was willing to hear someone offer him blessings. So, he forced a smile and nodded at Lan Min.

Ling Mo didn't look at Qin Lie, but gently pulled Li Ge and walked into the room, sitting on the couch opposite Qin Lie. He asked Li Ge, "Would you like something to drink?"

Having just finished lunch, Li Ge wasn't hungry. However, Piaoxiang Pavilion was famous for its excellent wines and a unique fruit-flavored drink only available there.

Seeing that Qin Lie and the Prince of Lanhan both had cups in front of them, Li Ge thought she should get Mo something too. She smiled sweetly at Ling Mo and said, "Mo decides."

Knowing Li Ge's love for all kinds of fruits, he turned to the attendant who was respectfully waiting at the door and said, "Bring a pot of Dragon Plum Water."

After the attendant left, Qin Lie, who had been silent, finally put down his cup and turned his gaze towards Ling Mo and Li Ge, saying with a frivolous tone, "I didn't expect the Qingyi Prince, who usually disregards women, to be someone who cherishes them. It's truly eye-opening."

"Prince Lie is free to find a woman to cherish." Ling Mo glanced at Qin Lie and retorted.

Qin Lie shook his head at Ling Mo's words. His eyes glanced at Li Ge, with a provocative meaning in his blood-red eyes. After a long moment, Qin Lie sighed, "But the one I desire seems to already have an owner."

Regardless of whether he was interested in the woman or not, just knowing that she belonged to Ling Mo was enough to excite Qin Lie. Everything Ling Mo had, he, Qin Lie, wanted to snatch away. Since the woman was beautiful and had piqued his interest, if he could hold her in his arms, how wonderful would Ling Mo's expression be?

How could Ling Mo tolerate Qin Lie's blatant gaze? He felt a surge of anger, and the teacup he had just picked up was thrown at Qin Lie's face in an instant, so fast that Li Ge couldn't even see his movements.

If it were an ordinary person, the teacup, filled with the force of thunder, would have been fatal. But Qin Lie was a worthy opponent to Ling Mo, so as the teacup was about to pierce his eyes, Li Ge closed her eyes, not wanting to see the impending bloody scene.

The scream Li Ge expected didn't happen, but the oppressive atmosphere around them became increasingly intense. Opening her eyes in confusion, she saw that Ling Mo and Qin Lie were already engaged in a fierce battle in mid-air, their lazy eyes meeting cold, dark ones. The aura around both of them tightened, and for a moment, everything in the room floated into the air. The two men were expressionless as they exchanged palm strikes.

Although they could easily kill each other, Li Ge had to admire their elegant and graceful movements, like flowing clouds and water, without a trace of clumsiness.

The atmosphere became increasingly tense, and Ling Mo and Qin Lie both stood up, their movements becoming faster and faster, their faces filled with an indescribable excitement. This was the first time they had fought in ten years, and they both felt a sense of mutual appreciation.

Ling Mo's movements were agile and decisive, while Qin Lie's were strong and forceful. Their palms clashed, creating a resounding sound that struck people's eardrums.

Just as their hands were about to strike again, the floating teacups, tables, and chairs began to crack. With a crash, almost everything in the room turned into powder. Of course, except for the couch they were sitting on, a wave of energy struck towards them, but it avoided Li Ge, so after a moment, everything except the area around her was covered in powder.

In the messy room sat four people who looked noble and exceptionally handsome. This was the first impression the Piaoxiang Pavilion attendant had when he entered the room.

"G-guests?" the attendant asked cautiously, holding a tray with teacups.

Within such a short time, everything in the room had turned to powder. Even the clumsy attendant knew that the people inside were not to be trifled with. This matter could only be resolved by the manager. The attendant's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

However, Qin Lie's next words completely solved his predicament. He straightened his clothes and said with a smile, "The Qingyi Prince will compensate for everything in this room. Have someone clean this up."

Li Ge rolled her eyes at Qin Lie's stinginess. He was really cheap. If he hadn't provoked Mo, Mo, with his cold personality, wouldn't have fought with him.