Chapter 470: Caught between a rock and a hard place (1/2)

Chapter 470: Caught between a rock and a hard place

Translator: Sparrow TranslationsEditor: Sparrow Translations

The mocking wasn't the key here.

What Fang Zhengzhi wanted to hear was, ”Even if you eat the meat and she doesn't choose you, it'll all amount to nothing.”

That was the key.

This was something that everyone knew in their hearts. However, saying it and knowing it was two different things altogether.

”Do you think that the Princess won't choose me?” Fang Zhengzhi smiled at the crowd.

”Everything is possible until she chooses!”

”Don't think that you've secured your place just because you got a taste of the meat!”

”Exactly!”

The candidates replied without hesitation.

”Is that so?” Fang Zhengzhi smiled as he turned to look at Princess Shan Yu.

”Are you really so confident that I will like you?” Princess Shan Yu felt a wave of pride and wanted to rebut Fang Zhengzhi.

However, she couldn't bring herself to say it.

She recalled what Shan Ling said to her before the start of the banquet.

”Sister, you are not young anymore. You will need to take some responsibility for matters concerning the Southern Region. Fang Zhengzhi's cultivation may have been ruined, but he was the main factor in our victory. I also heard that you promised him ten gold mines. If we let him return, won't we be giving the gold mines to the Great Xia?”

”But brother, that fella and Chi Guyan...”

”As long as you agree, I will arrange everything. I know that this is unfair towards you, but we can't let him have the ten gold mines!”

”Erm...”

”Feelings can be developed over time. Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi is proficient in the Law of Dao. If he stays here, it could be good for our development.”

”Brother, do you think that Fang Zhengzhi... will be willing to stay in the Southern Region for me?”

”Didn't you spend some time with him in the camp? Do you know what he likes?”

”He... likes to eat...”

”Eat?”

”Yes... he loves meat...”

”Hahaha, then things are simple. Even the King loves the things that you cook. I will discuss it with father, then the rest is up to you.”

...

Princess Shan Yu recalled what Shan Ling had told her. She bit her lip and blushed as she looked at Fang Zhengzhi.

The words were at the tip of her tongue but she couldn't bring herself to say them.

Fang Zhengzhi was shocked to see Princess Shan Yu like that. Ordinarily, Princess Shan Yu would not tolerate this.

Even though he was very confident of himself...

But...

It was quite impossible for Princess Shan Yu to fall for him.

He felt that this was a plan by the Southern Region King. Princess Shan Yu only agreed to go along with it because she didn't want to disappoint him.

But it didn't matter...

Once she agreed, everything else wouldn't matter.

Ordinarily, as long as he gave Princess Shan Yu an out... she should have jumped on it. By antagonizing everyone...

Princess Shan Yu could 'reject' him and appease the crowd.

That would be the perfect ending.

Princess Shan Yu wouldn't have to marry him and he could enjoy the leg of lamb. They would both get what they wanted.

But...

She didn't say anything!

Did she really want to marry Fang Zhengzhi?

Fang Zhengzhi started to have doubts. He had interacted with Princess Shan Yu before, but none of those interactions would have resulted in her falling for him.

There must be some other factors at play here.

But what were they?

Fang Zhengzhi wasn't sure, but he didn't think too much about it. He knew that there was one thing that the King of the Southern Region would never be able to tolerate.

”Actually, it is only natural that you doubt the princess would choose me. After all, my body... haish... it's...” Fang Zhengzhi's tone changed instantly. His expression was pained...

All of the infuriated candidates were confused.

In their hearts, they knew that Fang Zhengzhi was shameless and loved agitating the crowd. They weren't surprised that he would mock them.

But what was with the sudden change in tone?

That was completely unexpected...

Could it be...

That he realized that he made a mistake?

No way!

He wasn't someone who would change his attitude so easily! There could be only one possibility. There really was something wrong with his body...

The candidates had not witnessed what happened in The Vast World. Everything they knew was made known to them through word of mouth.

However, this did not dull their curiosity.

They weren't alone. The settlement chiefs, generals, the King, and even the Crown Prince were equally curious.

Swallowing Fruits of Dao!

This was something that no one had ever done and would have never thought of doing. This was equivalent to suicide.

No one would play around with something like that.

But Fang Zhengzhi did...

Most importantly, Fang Zhengzhi was still sitting here, eating and drinking like nothing was wrong.

Even though...

Everyone guessed that Fang Zhengzhi's cultivation was ruined...

It was just a guess. The scene after Fang Zhengzhi exited The Vast World and stopped Ping Yang's Blazing Qilin Spear was still etched in the minds of all the settlement chiefs.

This had thrown some doubts into their guesses.

Was Fang Zhengzhi's cultivation truly ruined?

This was a question which everyone wanted to know the answer to.

The throne room was silent.

Everyone wanted to know how Fang Zhengzhi was doing.

Fang Zhengzhi surveyed his surroundings, smirking as he did so. He knew what they were all thinking and he had control of the room.

Human nature was an interesting thing.

Sometimes, minute changes to one's methods could elicit a completely different reaction.

If Fang Zhengzhi had started off depressed and told everyone his condition, they may not have believed him.

After all...

This was his trump card.

No one revealed their trump card unless it was absolutely necessary.

The candidates did not ask Fang Zhengzhi privately because they had no confidence Fang Zhengzhi would tell the truth.

Asking him would be meaningless...

But now...

After Fang Zhengzhi had mocked them so openly and gotten rebutted... the sadness he showed...

Had a whole other meaning to it.

A painter may have painted a horrible piece of work, but he would always be confident of his art and defend his work.

Fang Zhengzhi had mocked them...