Chapter 363: We’re Both 1000-Year-Old Foxes, So Why the Charade?

Chapter 363: Chapter 363: We’re Both 1000-Year-Old Foxes, So Why the Charade?

With a twitch of Ye Feng’s shoulder, his backpack suddenly fell to the ground, its contents spilling out with a clatter.

A longsword, in particular, caught everyone’s eye.

Cao Cang looked at Ye Feng and burst out laughing. "Kid, are you a scrap collector or something? What is all this junk in your bag? And you’re carrying a sword? You think that makes you a swordsman? You know, carrying a sword could just mean you’re a total tool, haha..."

But as soon as the words left his mouth, the old man behind him got a clear look at the sword and couldn’t help but cry out, "The Sword of State! That’s the Sword of State, representing the Emperor’s authority!"

"What nonsense are you spouting? How could he possibly have the Sword of State? Can something like that even show up here?" Cao Cang glared at the old man, speaking with annoyance.

’I was in the middle of posturing here. He’s totally ruining my flow.’

But the old man’s voice trembled as he said, "Young Master, I’m not mistaken. See for yourself!"

"Even if I look, it’s impossible!" Cao Cang curled his lip and glanced at the sword. The next moment, he froze as if struck by lightning.

Carved upon the sword was a ferocious, golden dragon, and a soul-shaking pressure instantly radiated from it.

It really was the Sword of State. The real deal, no doubt about it.

He stared at Ye Feng, his eyes instantly going vacant. ’How does this guy have something like that?’

Along with the sword, a red booklet had also fallen out.

Wei Qingqing quickly picked it up and opened it. The next moment, she gasped, "The letter of appointment for a Prince of Equal Standing! You’re a Prince of Equal Standing!"

BOOM!

It was like a clap of muffled thunder rolling overhead. Cao Cang froze on the spot, utterly dumbfounded.

’Heavens, this guy is actually a Prince of Equal Standing, and I was just showing off in front of him? How humiliating is that?’

He was too ashamed to stay any longer and fled in disgrace with his entourage.

Just then, Wei Qingqing came to Ye Feng’s side, hugged his arm, and exclaimed excitedly, "Ye Feng, I never thought you had such an incredible background! You’re a Prince of Equal Standing! If I marry you, doesn’t that make me a Princess? Haha, I can finally see what it’s like to be a Princess! Oh, I’m so happy!"

Ye Feng gathered his things, looked at Wei Qingqing, and said with a curl of his lip,

"Get this straight. That was just an act to help you out. You want to be a Princess? In your dreams!"

With that, he shouldered his backpack and walked away.

Behind him, Wei Qingqing was so angry she could have exploded. She stared after Ye Feng and ground out through her teeth, "You just wait! The man I, Wei Qingqing, set my sights on never gets away. I am going to be that Princess!"

Just then, Jue Yuan returned. He looked at Wei Qingqing and asked in confusion, "Qingqing, what are you shouting about?"

Wei Qingqing looked at Jue Yuan and exclaimed, "Dad, did you know that Ye Feng’s sister is Mu Qingyun, the CEO of the Cyan Cloud Group, Great Xia’s top conglomerate? And did you know that Ye Feng himself is the dynasty’s Prince of Equal Standing?"

Jue Yuan’s eyes lit up and he burst out laughing. "Haha, this time I’ve really found a good son-in-law!"

But Wei Qingqing looked at Jue Yuan with a pitiful expression and said, "He said he was just putting on an act with me and doesn’t actually want me!"

Jue Yuan’s eyes widened. "He doesn’t want my daughter? Fine. I’ll go find him right now!"

With that, he quickly caught up to Ye Feng.

Seeing Jue Yuan, Ye Feng’s eyes lit up. He asked urgently, "Master, did you get the Compass back? Let’s start restoring it now!"

Jue Yuan looked at Ye Feng with a wide grin. "So, you want to restore the Compass!"

"Yes, yes!" Ye Feng nodded eagerly.

"Then let me ask you, do you want my daughter or not?" Jue Yuan was still smiling.

Ye Feng said earnestly, "Master, to be honest with you, I’m already a married man. It’s impossible for Qingqing and me to be together.

"Master, let’s be frank. With Qingqing’s qualities, she can definitely find someone much better than me..."

Jue Yuan looked at Ye Feng and chuckled dryly. "Fine. If you’re going to be heartless, then don’t blame me for being ruthless. I’ll have someone smash that Compass right now!"

He then took out his phone and prepared to make a call.

"Master, don’t be rash! I’ll take Qingqing! I’ll take her!" Ye Feng was utterly defeated.

Jue Yuan looked at Ye Feng and roared with laughter. "You little rascal. We’re both thousand-year-old foxes; what’s the point of playing games with me!"

Ye Feng: "..."

Just then, Jue Yuan’s phone rang. He answered it and after a moment, turned to Ye Feng with a smile.

"Your mother-in-law is back. Come on, let’s go get her. I’ll arrange the wedding for you two right away!"

Ye Feng looked at Jue Yuan and chuckled. "I must say, Master, a monk with a wife... you sure live a colorful life!"

"COUGH, COUGH..." Jue Yuan broke into a fit of violent coughing, his old face flushing bright red. He said,

"Monks are people too, you know! We have normal physiological needs!"

With that, he grabbed Ye Feng and headed out of the temple.

「Outside the temple,」

「on a commercial street.」

The street was lined with souvenir shops. Shaolin Temple was a major tourist destination, and with the endless stream of visitors, business here was quite good.

Inside a shop named "Cherished Connections," a woman sat behind the counter, staring blankly at the entrance.

The woman had curly hair and delicate features. A pale green qipao perfectly accentuated her exquisite figure.

She had aged remarkably well; it was impossible to guess her age.

The shop’s owner, Lin Meng.

Just then, a group of people pushed open the door. With their garishly dyed hair and thuggish air, it was clear they were trouble.

The leader was a tall man with a scorpion tattooed on his right cheek, giving him a bizarre and terrifying look.

He was the local tyrant of this area, Cui Erleng.

Cui Erleng stared intently at Lin Meng, the greed in his eyes completely undisguised.

Lin Meng glanced at Cui Erleng and his men, a flash of disgust in her eyes, before turning her head back toward the window.

A young man with green hair walked over, knocked on the counter, and yelled at Lin Meng,

"Hey, boss lady, time to pay the protection fee!"

Lin Meng looked at the green-haired man and said calmly, "I’ve had this shop for ten years, and no one has ever come here to collect protection money."

"Well, we’re collecting it today. Are you going to pay up or not? If you don’t, we’ll smash your shop," the green-haired man roared arrogantly at Lin Meng.

A cold glint flashed in Lin Meng’s eyes, but it vanished just as quickly. Without another word, she opened a drawer, took out a thousand yuan, and tossed it onto the counter.

The green-haired man glanced at the wad of cash, then glared at Lin Meng. "Let me tell you, starting this month, the protection fee has gone up to two thousand. This isn’t enough. Pay up!"

This was clearly a provocation, but Lin Meng’s expression remained calm. She opened the drawer again, counted out another thousand yuan, and threw it onto the counter.

The green-haired man was clearly taken aback for a second. He turned to Cui Erleng. "Boss, this lady boss is really obedient!"

Cui Erleng laughed heartily. "She’s a woman from out of town, all alone here. How could she dare to be defiant!"

With that, he walked up to the counter, hoisted himself onto it, and blew a smoke ring toward Lin Meng. He smirked and said, "Boss lady, as long as you’re obedient, I, Cui Erleng, will have your back. I guarantee you’ll be able to do whatever you want on this commercial street!"

Lin Meng turned her head to look at Cui Erleng and asked calmly, "And what would being ’obedient’ entail?"