Chapter 111: Irritated by Stupidity
A flicker of hostility flashed in Wen Xu’s eyes as he turned his attention to Qin Li.
Though the Qin and Wen families appeared to coexist peacefully on the surface, they were locked in a silent but fierce rivalry.
The Qin family had long attempted to wrest control of the Eastern Army’s command from the Wen family.
While Wen Yu still held the position of commander, the Qin family had planted their influence within the Eastern Army ranks, causing some of Wen Yu’s loyal officers to disappear mysteriously or be arrested by the Ministry of Supervision on fabricated charges.
To Wen Xu, the Qin family was like the Void itself—a consuming force that sought to devour everything, including the empire’s power structure. The Qin family already dominated the Cardinal Council and now had their sights set on military authority.
‘Do they want to crown themselves emperor?’ Wen Xu thought bitterly.
His gaze swept over Qin Li coldly as he declared, “I said no one is allowed to bully Anran. If anyone does, I will consider it a direct challenge to me and the Wen family.”
The declaration sent a chill through the gathered nobles. All eyes shifted to Gu Anran. Wen Xu was willing to go this far for her?
Zhao Haoran and the others echoed Wen Xu’s sentiment with stern expressions.
“That’s right. No one can bully Anran,” Zhao Haoran said firmly.
Shi Wei’s face stiffened. She hadn’t expected Gu Anran to have such powerful supporters.
Qin Li, however, remained composed, though a subtle glimmer of killing intent flickered in her eyes. Growing up under Qin Xian’s influence, her temperament mirrored her brother’s—equally domineering and ruthless.
She smiled faintly, her tone light but cutting. “Wen Xu, feel free to try. But I assure you, if you do, your steward will meet a very unpleasant end.”
The atmosphere turned icy as Qin Li’s words hung in the air.
Wen Xu’s expression darkened, and his voice carried a sharp edge. “I’d like to see you try.”
The crowd watched in shock as what began as a minor scuffle escalated into a clash between two of the empire’s most powerful families. This confrontation could have far-reaching consequences for the empire’s political balance.
Suddenly, a light chuckle broke the tension.
“What’s all the commotion about?”
The crowd turned toward the voice and saw Qin Xian approaching, accompanied by Sheng Junchen and several powerful Qin family members.
Sheng Junchen acted like a deferential guide, his obsequious manner making him look more like a doorman than the fearsome head of the Ministry of Supervision.
The atmosphere shifted instantly as Qin Xian arrived. All eyes focused on him, and a mix of respect, awe, flattery, and apprehension rippled through the crowd. Regardless of sentiment, Qin Xian’s presence was undeniable.
He radiated an innate nobility, as if he were destined to stand above others.
“Young Master Qin!” the crowd greeted him with bows and deference, their tones warm and respectful.
“That’s Qin Xian?” Gu Anran murmured, her eyes widening.
Even in her naïve state, she had heard of Qin Xian—the empire’s greatest genius, an SSS-grade Oracle Knight. The rumors of his ruthless exploits in the ‘Shattered Heaven Dungeon’, where he slaughtered tens of thousands, had even reached Azure Sun Academy.
Many students had labeled him cruel and heartless, a sentiment Gu Anran shared. Yet now, seeing Qin Xian in person, she couldn’t help but be taken aback.
While Zhao Haoran, Yang Ling, and Wen Xu were all undeniably attractive, Qin Xian outshone them effortlessly. His commanding presence and refined elegance made others pale in comparison.
There was something magnetic about him, a combination of grandeur and charisma that made people instinctively want to win his approval.
But then Gu Anran pouted, puffing her cheeks in displeasure.
‘So what if he’s handsome? He’s still a bad person! No good man would kill tens of thousands!’
Wen Xu, meanwhile, grew tense at the sight of Qin Xian. He was acutely aware of Qin Xian’s cunning and influence within the Qin family. Many of the family’s key strategies originated from him.
“Brother,” Qin Li called out with a smile as she approached Qin Xian.
Shi Wei followed suit, curtsying gracefully and greeting him with an adoring look. “Young Master Qin.”
Qin Xian nodded at them both, his tone warm. “What’s going on?”
Qin Li softly recounted the events, her voice steady and matter-of-fact.
Qin Xian’s gaze shifted to Gu Anran, his brow furrowing slightly as a notification from his system appeared.
His expression briefly froze as realization dawned.
‘So she’s a “child of destiny,” is she?’
Images of typical tropes flashed through Qin Xian’s mind: the innocent fool, the clumsy beauty, the reverse harem, the Mary Sue heroine…
His eyes narrowed as he studied Gu Anran, who was still blinking at him with wide-eyed innocence, completely unaware of the escalating tension around her.
What others found endearing—her clueless expression and naïve demeanor—only filled Qin Xian with disdain.
In his eyes, Gu Anran epitomized the kind of stupidity he couldn’t tolerate. A flicker of irritation crossed his face.
‘Great, my aversion to stupidity is flaring up again.’