Chapter 194 Worse than Beasts

Xue Zhiyu was also taken aback. What was going on? Did her little matter really require such solemnity?

She and Wang Feng had always been a farce; they would just play around and then part ways. With the clan elder being so serious, it wouldn't be so easy to end things now.

Everyone around them froze, thinking they must have misheard. But then, even more shocking words came from the clan elder: "You and Wang Feng are a perfect match. During this Ice and Snow Festival, Zhiyu, you should become engaged to Wang Feng."

Was this for real? Everyone in the room was instantly stunned, almost convinced they were suffering from severe auditory hallucinations, their jaws dropping to the floor.

What did the clan elder just say? What was happening?

The room fell silent, so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping.

Aota jumped up suddenly, his eyes wider than a bull's: "Grandfather, are you losing your mind..."

Crazy!

"Aota, you must treat Wang Feng like a brother and protect him. Protecting him is protecting our Winter's future!" Oscar was not angry but instead instructed Aota.

Xue Zhiyu looked at Wang Feng with a complex expression, while Xuecai’s mouth gaped open wide. Was she seeing a ghost?

At this moment, the entire ice cave was in an uproar, unable to accept the outcome on both emotional and rational grounds.

"Ridiculous!" Oscar cast a glance, his previously cloudy old eyes flashing with a sharp light, which immediately silenced the buzzing whispers around him.

"Cough, Elder, Aota didn't mean it that way..." the clan leader Oba quickly interjected.

Oscar narrowed his eyes, and Aota fell to his knees with a thud, urgently saying, "Great-grandfather, I can't accept this! I object! Wang Feng is not worthy of the princess at all. What kind of spell did he cast on you? This guy even assaulted two of our dancers yesterday..."

Aota was truly about to lose his mind. Oscar was his greatest support, yet he not only refused to help but also turned against him?

The incident involving Wang Feng yesterday hadn't spread widely; only a few people like Xue Zhiyu knew about it. The sudden mention caused a wave of shock throughout the crowd.

The people of Winter were actually quite open-minded about matters of love and relationships, but that depended on the situation and the individuals involved. After all, the person in question was Princess Zhiyu, the future Queen of Ice Spirit. To be worthy of her, Aota had always remained chaste.

"How can a prince of a nation behave so disgracefully!"

"He stayed next to the princess's room last night, which is a grave disrespect to Her Highness!"

Numerous people immediately glared at Wang Feng with fury.

Old Wang heaved a sigh of relief. He was just a temporary worker with no hope of becoming permanent, so he nodded earnestly, “Sir, I’m a bit restless by nature. This matter is significant; you can’t let one leaf blind your eyes. You should listen to everyone’s opinions and consider it carefully.”

Oscar laughed heartily, “Beauty loves heroes, and which hero isn’t a bit frivolous? It’s not a big deal as long as you’re sincere with Zhiyu. Besides, just playing cards doesn’t count as rudeness. But forget about the money they owe.”

Everyone was taken aback. Just playing cards?

Aota was about to explode. Damn it, a long night, freezing cold outside, and two sexy beauties around, yet you play cards and win their money?

Worse than a beast!

Xuecai, who had her mouth wide open, suddenly shut it, feeling both surprised and delighted. She couldn’t resist giving Wang Feng a hard pat on the back: “So yesterday you were playing cards with them? And you didn’t call me! How much did you win?”

Old Wang was speechless. Wasn’t this old man in the cave last night? He had intended to annoy him, but the charlatan’s face was indeed thick.

Aota was both shocked and furious. Grandfather never lies; he must have been tricked by Wang Feng: “That’s still not acceptable! This guy is an outsider…”

“Elder,” Obba also wanted to speak up for his son.

“Sigh!” Oscar sighed heavily, looking sad and weary: “Forget it, I don’t have much time left anyway. I can’t control you anymore. This is just my opinion; you can take it or leave it… Sigh, I’m old and useless now. No one cares, and no one listens to me. Just treat me as if I’m dead and do whatever you want…”

Everyone around exchanged glances. Aota wanted to say something, but his father pulled him back by the arm. Then, led by the elder, everyone around fell to their knees with a rustle: "Elder, please calm down! Everything will be done as you command!"

"Great-grandfather..." Aota was anxious; Great-grandfather was putting him in a dire situation.

"Shut up!" Aoba glared at Aota fiercely.

As the clan leader, he knew the elder's temper all too well. Once the elder had spoken so decisively, it would be impossible for anyone present to change his mind. No matter how much Aota pleaded, it would only enrage the elder further and accomplish nothing.

He turned to look at Wang Feng, and many others also turned to gaze at him. At this moment, it seemed that only Wang Feng could refuse.

But Old Wang couldn’t be bothered. The little tricks he played yesterday were seen through by Oscar. This old man was too shrewd; it would be best not to invite trouble. After all, whatever happened, they would have to resolve it themselves. He was a victim too and could do nothing to help.

From his expression, it was clear he wouldn’t stand up to speak. Aoba sighed slightly.

Fortunately, this matter wasn’t entirely up to the Winter Clan. It was a significant event, and even if the engagement was decided, it couldn’t be finalized immediately. They still needed to seek the approval of King Xue Cangbai. While the Winter Clan members present couldn’t oppose the elder’s decision, Xue Cangbai could, as he was the true king of Ice Spirit Kingdom. The only one who could still turn things around was Xue Cangbai.

...

They had only come to see the elder. After leaving the ice cave, Xue Zhiyu and the others were about to return to Ice Spirit City. Aota, looking dejected and dispirited, had even forgotten to see them off.

Xuecai was ecstatic; the misunderstanding from last night had been cleared up by the clan elders. It turned out everyone had misunderstood Wang Feng.

"You really are something, not even bothering to explain yourself! I thought you were a scumbag!" Xuecai, riding on a snow wolf, chattered excitedly, "And Great-Grandfather! Wang Feng, what did you and Great-Grandfather do in the ice cave last night? What kind of magic potion did you give him? How could it be that..."

"As they say, one is never too old to learn. Last night, the clan elder humbly sought my advice on some rune-related matters..."

"Cut the crap!" Xuecai didn't believe it for a second, "Tell the truth!"

"Fine, you always see through everything. Alright, I'll tell you," Old Wang sighed helplessly, "There's a kind of handsome that's earth-shattering. My cursed good looks are just too outstanding. When the clan elder saw me last night, he was utterly amazed, saying that only I am worthy of the most beautiful princess, that this is a heavenly match, and it would be inauspicious to reject it..."

"Can you speak properly? You're asking for a beating!"

Not just Xuecai, but Jina and the others had also grown accustomed to Wang Feng's habit of talking nonsense. They all found it amusing, except for Xue Zhiyu, whose expression remained calm.

Xue Zhiyu didn't believe those lies for a moment. There was definitely something fishy going on. Wang Feng was just a scapegoat. With Great-Grandfather's wisdom and his ability to read minds, there was no way he couldn't see through it. And the way Great-Grandfather was 'coercing' the clan today clearly showed he wasn't senile. But why? Could there really be some divine will at play? Or perhaps, Great-Grandfather was just helping her find an excuse to leave Bingling?

...

At that moment, a group of people were kneeling in the Grand Hall of Winter.

The clan leader Obba is not here. He has already promised the elders, so it’s difficult for him to change his mind immediately. However, all the other department leaders are present.

“Elder, I think your decision is too hasty. We don’t even know where Wang Feng comes from…”

“The Ice Spirit Kingdom is sealed by heavy snow. If that guy really is an exchange student from Aurora Rose, why would he choose to come at this time of year?”

“We can set those concerns aside, but the key point is that Aota has liked Zhiyu since childhood. We’ve all seen this. Now that they’re finally of marriageable age…”

To put it bluntly, there’s no reason to favor outsiders over family. Moreover, the custom of Ice Spirit and Winter Frost intermarriage has been long-standing. From any perspective, Zhiyu and Aota make the perfect match. For Oscar to suddenly support an outsider in disrupting such a perfect union of affection and politics is simply unreasonable.

Everyone spoke at once, their arguments firm and convincing.

Oscar remained silent throughout, sitting quietly as if in deep meditation, allowing them to speak their minds.

After a long while, when everyone had spoken themselves hoarse and finally paused, Oscar slowly opened his eyes.

“Are you done?”

“Elder…” The leaders were somewhat bewildered, having grown up under the elder’s watchful eye, naturally feeling a sense of awe. Facing the elder, they all felt uncertain.

"Aota’s feelings for Zhiyu, how could I not know?" Oscar sighed. "Arranging a marriage between the two children is just to improve relations between our families, but having Zhiyu marry Wang Feng is a matter of life and death."

"And what makes Wang Feng so deserving..."

"Are the elders referring to the legend of day and night?" Someone recalled the ancient legend of the Winter Clan and the sudden lightning that had startled everyone in the middle of the night recently: "These are merely extraordinary phenomena, like the legends of the aurora."

"Legends are just legends," the leaders were somewhat dismissive. "We have all sorts of strange weather phenomena here; how can the elders take them seriously?"

"Besides, even if it’s true as the legend says, and we Ice Spirits are about to face great calamity, what can that boy do? He’s not even a hero, just a disciple of the Holy Sanctuary..."

Oscar didn’t say more, only gestured for everyone to quiet down, and they immediately fell silent.

"There’s no point in further discussion. I need to enter seclusion for a while, and no one is to disturb me. Here is a letter for His Majesty, to be opened by him personally," Oscar pulled out a letter sealed with wax from his pocket and placed it on the chair, looking weary. "You may all go now."

………………

Daylight, with the sun shining.

The hall was brightly lit as Snow Cangbai broke the wax seal on the envelope. Inside, there were two sections of text. The first was brief, essentially stating that the Ice Spirits might face a great calamity, and requesting that Snow Cangbai quickly recall all active heroes from the Ice Spirit Kingdom.

The Ice Spirit is facing a calamity, and there's a need to recall active heroes. This might be related to the recent 'Day in the Night' legend that has been circulating in the city. Elder Oscar, who always considers himself a servant of the gods, takes such legends very seriously.

Frankly, Snowcangbai doesn't really believe in these so-called prophecies, which are often nothing more than hearsay. However, out of respect for Oscar and a better-safe-than-sorry attitude, issuing such an order as a precaution isn't a big deal. The key issue is the second part of the message...

Please have Their Majesty arrange the engagement of Zhiyu, the Princess, and Wang Feng during the Ice and Snow Festival. Time is short, but the ceremony must not be simplified. Invite representatives from all the duchies to witness the event.

Wang Feng? Who is he?