Chapter 194 The Engagement Banquet Has Begun

Chapter 194: The Engagement Party Has Already Begun

Wu Yue's mind raced—so the woman who appeared in the elevator was the Luo Shen mentioned by Nv Ba, which explained why she had been so friendly with her.

This meant Luo Shen had recognized her the moment she saw her.

Luo Shen hadn’t revealed her identity, likely because she was restricted by the Order's rules.

Now, to protect her, Luo Shen had even confronted the Order officers sent to capture them, and Dylan had openly used his ID badge to help them escape.

Wu Yue grew increasingly anxious—would Luo Shen and Dylan face punishment for this?

How could she return to that otherworld and use the Spirit Summoning Talisman to summon Luo Shen and Dylan back?

At the moment, the only way seemed to be through the Fox Spirit instance.

Wu Yue stole a glance at Squire. He didn’t seem the least bit impatient, just standing there quietly, waiting for her to end their Soulmate status.

Well, of course—Prince Squire already had his own candidates for a future bride.

This whole thing must be awkward for him too.

And after all the times she’d mentally called him names and labeled him a player, wouldn’t it be despicable, she thought, to try and use him now to re-enter the Fox Spirit instance?

Though it was a shame to waste the ready-made 60 intimacy points, given her relationship with Squire, she couldn’t bring herself to ask him to run the dungeon together again.

Forget it—she’d sever the bond first and figure out the rest on her own.

Opening the predestined bond interface again, Wu Yue took a deep breath and steeled herself to dissolve the connection.

Just as she was about to click [Sever],

"Wu Yue."

Wu Yue looked up in surprise. "Lieutenant? Why are you still here? Didn’t you leave?"

Jian Suiyu glanced at Squire beside them and smiled. "Mm, Wu Chong and I were waiting for you."

Wu Chong butted in excitedly, "Yue Yue, Yue Yue!! You were amazing!! Absolutely incredible! You’re the best!

If I ever run out of food, you’ll take care of me!!

Mom took care of me when I was little, then my sister took care of me, and now that she’s gone, Yue Yue will feed me!!"

Wu Yue, "...Fine." Though she wasn’t sure if Xiuli would first kill him upon hearing that.

Jian Suiyu nudged Wu Chong. "Let’s go. There’s still the phase two development of the planting zone at the base to deal with."

Wu Chong nodded eagerly, grabbing Wu Yue's arm. "Right, we’ve waited long enough. Come on."

Wu Yue, "Wait, hold on—"

Jian Suiyu waved at Squire. "Prince Squire, thank you for your care during this time. We won’t take up more of your time.

Oh, and we must also thank you for that single shot.

Appreciate it—spared me another bullet wound."

Shen Que looked at him, "No need to stand on ceremony, Deputy Captain Jian."

Their eyes locked in a brief battle of wills.

Jian Suiyu led the bouncing Wu Chong and the hesitant Wu Yue away, like he was picking up kids from preschool.

Wu Yue turned her head, "Wait..."

Jian Suiyu cut her off, "What is it?"

Wu Yue, "I haven’t severed the soulmate connection with Prince Squire yet."

As they watched, Squire stood in place while the crowd around him grew larger, echoing with his fans' screams.

The crowd rushed forward, and Squire stood bewildered in the middle, looking completely lost before turning and walking away from the overwhelming crowd.

"Ahhhh! The prince is so adorable!!"

"Ahhh! The prince is shy!! I’m even more excited now!!"

"Ahhh, don't run, sweetie, come to Mama!!"

Jian Suiyu's eyes sparkled with amusement, "No way you're getting through that mob now."

Wu Yue nodded, "Then I’ll just cut it off remotely."

Wu Chong blinked, "Huh? Isn't that kinda rude?

While waiting for you earlier, I heard Prince Squire’s fans say you two made a great team in the instance.

They said you knew how to keep proper distance and left a great impression.

They even spoke up for Squire, hoping Blaze would collaborate more with them privately."

Wu Yue, "But we already agreed on it—I just dragged my feet on the execution."

Jian Suiyu, "We’re at the airport. Let's board the skiff first?"

Wu Yue nodded, "Yeah, okay."

The three boarded the skiff, with Wu Yue automatically taking the controls.

The skiff started up, the route was set, and they officially lifted off.

Back and forth, by the time Wu Yue had a spare moment, an hour had already passed.

As time went on, Shen Que studied the soulmate interface for a while before sending Jian Suiyu a private message:

"Blaze Shen Que: Wu Yue was injured by my malice in the Desert Survival map. Remind her to get it treated ASAP."

Jian Suiyu looked up, "Wu Yue."

Wu Yue had just opened the soulmate interface and turned her head, "Hm?"

Jian Suiyu, "You were injured in the Desert Survival instance. You should hit the medpod."

Wu Yue nodded, "Okay."

Injury... treatment... Wu Yue suddenly remembered.

Right! She still needed to check on Nv Ba's condition!

Entering her personal rest chamber, Wu Yue immediately opened the spirit system.

Through the system, she saw that Nv Ba was currently unsummonable due to injuries, slowly self-recovering.

"Current recovery at 15%. Can only be summoned for battle when recovery exceeds 70%."

Seeing that even an S-rank like Nv Ba could sustain severe injuries in another world, Wu Yue grew increasingly anxious about Luo Shen and Dylan's situation.

In her distress, the malicious backlash flared up, causing Wu Yue to cough up blood.

She lay down in the med-pod for treatment, but even by the time the dropship reached the base, the treatment wasn't complete.

....

As the mass matchmaking event concluded, Fu Mingli and Yi Na's engagement was officially scheduled.

Fu Yanqi looked puzzled at the elder, "You mean none of us are going to Mingli's engagement?"

The elder nodded, "Mm-hmm."

Fu Yanqi frowned, "You're acting weird."

The elder stiffened internally but kept a straight face, "What's off?"

Fu Yanqi carried a large pot of meat, "When you first came to Blaze, you ate three rice bowls per sitting, alongside a pot of braised pork.

Lately, you can only manage one and a half bowls with half a pot of meat.

Finally noticed you've been indulging yourself and gained weight?"

The elder threw a bowl at him, "Back when you were a kid, you wouldn't utter a peep even if beaten—always worried you'd get bullied without speaking up.

Now you've got no problem giving your master lip, like there's no tomorrow!"

As Fu Yanqi cleaned up the dishes, the elder secretly touched his newly acquired double chin and the love handles around his waist.

"I have been eating a bit more lately..."

"Are you and Grandmaster hiding something from me?"

"Grandmaster and I are just—"

The elder suddenly turned to see Fu Yanqi had returned impossibly fast—so quick even he hadn't noticed.

The elder snapped, "You little brat, daring to trick me!"

Fu Yanqi frowned, "Is Grandmaster planning something at Mingli's engagement?"

The elder evaded, "How could that be? You know how much he dotes on Mingli!"

"Dotes on him so much that no noble families, business magnates, or even an Alliance Council officiant is invited?

I've had my doubts since you first brought me back to Blaze.

I've been watching the sect's activities.

Instead of preparing for the engagement, Grandmaster has everyone mass-producing Spirit Summoning Talismans.

With the engagement imminent, no invitations sent, no special arrangements—even Mingli hasn't been seen outside for ages, not involved in planning his own engagement. I'm heading back to investigate what's really happening."

Watching Fu Yanqi leave, the elder said gravely,

"It's too late.

The engagement... *has already begun*."