C55 They Were All Shrewd!

"Yan Lu, what took you so long to arrive? Well, the Berserk Golden Rhino can't fly after all, so it's no surprise it couldn't keep up with the Songbird."

Van Le, with a playful grin and dressed in opulent attire, was strikingly handsome. As soon as he caught sight of the Berserk Golden Rhino, he couldn't help but chuckle and jest.

Before the Moonfall Sanctuary, young women from the major families and several cities cast glances his way, most with a mix of curiosity and admiration.

Van Le was renowned throughout the Silvermoon Empire for his good looks, ranking alongside Lee Yu, Yan Lu, Su Yan, and Lin Zhuyun as one of the illustrious Five Moons.

Lee Yu was known for his haughty and detached demeanor, while Yan Lu had a reputation for being brash and fierce. Neither were particularly easy to get along with.

Van Le, however, was the exception. His temperament was mild, his manners impeccable, and he was skilled in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Coupled with his extraordinary looks, it was nearly impossible for him not to draw the affection of women.

"Lee Yu, I look forward to your guidance in the trials of the forbidden area."

Yan Lu steadied the Berserk Golden Rhino, paying no mind to Van Le's ribbing, and instead focused on Lee Yu, who had descended from the Songbird and was gently caressing its feathers.

Lee Yu turned slightly, acknowledging Yan Lu with a distant glance and a subtle nod, but remained silent.

His reticence and cool demeanor were well-known, and no one expected more.

"Lin Zhuyun, I ran into your fiancé on my way here," Yan Lu suddenly said with a wide, hearty laugh. "He's quite the character."

Across the way stood Lin Zhuyun, poised and serene, her presence reminiscent of a tranquil bamboo grove.

"Hmm," she responded nonchalantly.

"Character?" Van Le snapped his fan shut, interest piqued. "Do tell, what makes him so?"

"My Berserk Golden Rhino nearly collided with him during its charge," Yan Lu, aware of Yu Yuan's peculiarities and considering him a formidable rival, couldn't resist a jibe. "I must admit, I was impressed by his quick thinking. He cleverly took cover behind Ms. Yuan, as if he'd rather she face death first."

His comment elicited chuckles from the crowd.

Yet, no further questions came.

They all understood that Yuan Lianyao was more than capable of stopping the Berserk Golden Rhino and that Yan Lu had enough control over the beast to rein it in at the last second if necessary.

"A kindred spirit indeed!" Van Le exclaimed with a slap to his thigh, his face beaming with appreciation. "If I were in that situation, facing the Berserk Golden Rhino and knowing I was outmatched, I'd definitely seek out the strongest person to take the hit for me."

"Yan Lu, what's his name?"

"From Asvetaesi, of the Yu family—Yu Yuan."

"Yu Yuan, huh?" Van Le's grin widened. "Regardless of his realm, I've decided he's going to be my friend! He's clever and utterly shameless; we're sure to hit it off!"

The members of the five great families and the guests from the other six cities all glanced over, intrigued.

Those familiar with Van Le understood that behind his playful demeanor lay a terrifyingly cunning and intelligent mind, capable of ruthless tactics.

Those who didn't know him might think he was simply easygoing, seemingly indifferent to everything.

"Van Le, you and Yu Yuan do share some similarities," Su Yan interjected unexpectedly. Her gentle and tranquil nature meant she seldom spoke up, so her comment caught everyone off guard.

Even a member of the Lee family looked over in surprise from beside the Songbird.

"Do you think so, Lin?" Su Yan asked, turning to Lin Zhuyun with a smile.

Lin Zhuyun furrowed her brow, pondering for a moment before responding, "Van Le does resemble him in some ways. But I believe that at an equal cultivation level, he wouldn't stand a chance against that guy."

She couldn't help but recall Yu Yuan's wild and frenzied behavior in the Yu family's great hall, which still sent shivers down her spine.

He had recklessly used the Lizard Blood Pill to poison them, regardless of the consequences. Had it not been for Yuan Lianyao's intervention, the Yu family might have suffered many more casualties, and she and her father would certainly not have survived.

At that moment, she had sensed that Yu Yuan was utterly indifferent to the fate of his own family.

Later, when Ann Ziqing, the maid in purple, employed the arcane arts of the Colddeath to sternly warn an elder of the Winter's Bite, it only added to the string of alarming incidents.

These events had instilled a profound wariness of Yu Yuan deep within her.

She truly believed that if Van Le were on an equal footing with Yu Yuan, he would likely be outmatched.

Her words were sincere.

Yet, they stirred a tempest of reactions.

In front of the forbidden area, the guests from the five great families and the six cities were all abuzz with shock and speculation.

"How could Yu Yuan possibly be a match for Van Le?"

"Forget being on the same level, I think Van Le could take him down even if he were a level lower!"

"How can the Yu family's resources even compare to the Van family's? Don't they realize that armor and weapons can significantly boost one's combat effectiveness?"

"And what about intellect? Does he have the wisdom to outsmart Van Le?"

"To think she would compare such an insignificant figure to Van Le! Lin Zhuyun must be resting on her laurels!"

"She's probably just dissatisfied with her foolish fiancé and said that to endanger him. Women can be so malicious!"

The crowd was either shouting or murmuring among themselves, all agreeing that Lin Zhuyun's comments were preposterous.

The young women who adored Van Le were particularly incensed, itching to confront Lin Zhuyun face-to-face.

However, these young ladies were held back by their family elders, who forbade them from acting rashly.

Lin Zhuyun, as one of the Lin family's Five Moons, was their pride. The elders, unlike the impetuous youth, were not about to let them stir up trouble.

Yet, despite being restrained, Lin Zhuyun's remarks had already caused these girls to view Yu Yuan as an enemy deep down.

This was especially true after Yan Lu had mentioned that Yu Yuan had hidden behind a woman when faced with danger.

At this moment, these girls conveniently forgot that Van Le, whom they admired, had said something similar. He had admitted that he would do the same as Yu Yuan if placed in such a predicament.

Once a woman falls for someone, she often loses her sense of reason.

This is even more pronounced in young girls who are naive to the ways of the world.

"I never expected you to hold your fiancé in such high regard," Van Le said, his smile radiant yet slightly strained. "Are you telling me that the rumors of the past decade are all false? Isn't your fiancé supposed to be a fool?"

Lin Zhuyun didn't respond and simply closed her eyes.

Van Le paused, taken aback, then turned to Su Yan.

"I vouch for him; he's not foolish," Su Yan declared.

While speaking, Su Yan subtly furrowed her brow and glanced at Lin Zhuyun, wondering to herself, "Is this genuine, or is there another motive?"

She was acutely aware of Van Le's hidden affection for Lin Zhuyun.

No matter how well Van Le concealed it, she was certain of his feelings.

She sensed that Lin Zhuyun probably felt it too.

Knowing full well what Van Le is plotting and the terrifying nature of this venomous snake, why would you tell Van Le that his abilities are inferior to your fiancé's at the same level?

Given Van Le's temperament, could he possibly allow Yu Yuan to leave the Moonfall Sanctuary alive?

As a member of the Silvermoon Empire's New Moon, she understood Lee Yu's true arrogance and aloofness. Yan Lu might seem rough and violent, but beneath that exterior, he possessed a keen attention to detail. When it was necessary to be delicate in thought, Yan Lu could be exceptionally so.

Van Le, adored by the empire's young ladies, concealed a heart of pure malice and cruelty behind his playful grin. He was akin to a venomous snake, coiled in the shadows, ever ready to strike and viciously attack its prey.

Yan Lu, aware of this, ignored Van Le's mocking words upon his arrival.

He had no desire to entangle with such a fearsome serpent.

Beside the Songbird, Lee Yu of the royal family was clad in simple sackcloth, devoid of any opulent adornments. At a glance, he resembled a destitute Wanderer.

Suddenly, Lee Yu looked up, gazing into the distance.

He was the first to detect an approaching disturbance.

Soon after, the rest began to hear footsteps and the whistling of the red lotus.

Many of them were of a higher realm than he.

A short time later.

Led by Yuan Lianyao, Yu Yuan and the youths of Asvetaesi successfully reached the entrance to the Moonfall Sanctuary.

"You're the last to arrive."

A general from the Lee family, who had been seated for days, finally rose leisurely to his feet.

"Who is Yu Yuan?"

"Which one is that fellow?"

"I'd like to see how he dares compare himself to my brother Van Le."

"Yu Yuan, show yourself!"

Sharp voices of young women echoed from the family ranks and from those hailing from the six cities.

The girls glared, eyes wide with indignation, as if Yu Yuan were their most hated foe.

Yu Yuan, looking utterly bewildered, glanced around and remarked with a sigh, "Aside from Asvetaesi, it seems all the women of the empire are nothing but shrews!"

He shook his head, his expression one of regret and profound dismay.

"..."