Free Web NovelChapter 123: Chapter 123: An Unannounced Delegation
The news reached Han Soi before Feng Yansheng even left the dining room.
His man caught up to him halfway down the white marble corridor with uneven breath and wary eyes.
"Duke... the Land Empire delegation has arrived. They are already at the outer gates."
Han Soi stopped.
His body went rigid in an instant, as if every muscle had been pulled tight by invisible strings.
The Land Empire. His homeland and his leash at the same time.
Slowly, he exhaled through his nose and turned around. His expression was calm, but his back was straight, his shoulders squared in a way that only appeared when he was preparing for confrontation.
By the time he reached the main gates of the temple, the delegation had already dismounted.
Golden banners fluttered in the wind, embroidered with the crest of the Land Empire. The marble courtyard felt suddenly smaller, crowded by pressure rather than numbers. freewёbnoνel.com
At the center stood the Second Prince.
Dressed in layered silk robes of imperial gold and deep crimson, the man carried himself with open arrogance. His sharp eyes swept across the temple grounds as if he already owned them.
When he saw Han Soi, those eyes lit up.
"Han Soi!" the Second Prince called out warmly, spreading his arms as if greeting an old friend. "It has been far too long."
Han Soi clasped his fists at his chest, a typical way to give respect to the royalty in the Land Empire.
He bowed, the movement stiff and controlled. "Second Prince."
The prince laughed lightly and stepped closer, ignoring the clear tension in Han Soi’s posture. "No need to be so formal. After all, you are no longer just a subject of the Land Empire."
"And who knows, soon we may become family."
His gaze sharpened, lowering slightly. "You are the first husband of a female with dual S+++ abilities."
The words landed heavily.
The officials behind the prince immediately reacted, their expressions shifting with interest and greed. Their earlier caution melted away, replaced with smiles that did not reach their eyes.
"How fortunate for our empire," one of them said smoothly.
"The heavens truly favor the Land Empire."
"To think such a treasure belongs to our empire."
Han Soi’s jaw tightened.
They were surrounding him not physically, but with words. Praise layered with pressure. Compliments mixed with expectations.
And the man actually dared to say that they would become family. He felt sick just hearing it.
The Second Prince leaned in, lowering his voice. "Tell me, Han Soi. How is she?"
Han Soi’s eyes darkened.
"She is resting," he replied flatly.
The prince chuckled. "Ah, modest as always. But surely you understand our concern. A female like her, such a rare existence..."
He paused deliberately. "The empire only wishes to protect her."
Protect.
Han Soi almost laughed.
His fingers curled slowly, nails biting into his palm. Every instinct screamed at him to step forward, to block them, to drive them away from the temple gates with force if necessary.
But he did not move.
This was the Land Empire.
And standing before him was his direct superior.
"Second Prince," Han Soi said coldly, "this is the Temple’s territory."
The prince waved a hand dismissively. "And we are merely guests. Surely the High Priest will not mind."
The moment the words left his mouth, the surrounding pressure changed.
A sharp, icy force swept through the courtyard like a sudden winter wind.
Footsteps echoed from the inner path. They were slow, measured, and heavy with authority.
Everyone turned around.
Feng Yansheng emerged from the temple gates, his High Priest robes immaculate, his silver white hair tied neatly behind him. His face was calm, expressionless, noble, and distant, like a god carved from ice.
Feng Yansheng was no longer wearing his blindfold, as the redness in his eyes had completely disappeared thanks to Yue Yue.
Han Soi felt it instantly.
The pressure lifted slightly from his chest, but only because it had shifted targets.
The Land Empire delegation froze for half a heartbeat.
Then,
"High Priest!"
"We greet the High Priest!"
"This humble delegation pays respect!"
They bowed deeply, far deeper than they had bowed to Han Soi.
The Second Prince straightened his robes and stepped forward with a practiced smile. "High Priest Feng. We apologize for arriving unannounced."
Feng Yansheng’s cold and indifferent gaze swept over them.
His eyes paused briefly on Han Soi, just long enough to acknowledge his presence, before returning to the delegation.
"State your purpose," Feng Yansheng said, without any warmth or courtesy.
The Second Prince’s smile stiffened, but he quickly recovered. "We heard rumors of a successful rite within the temple. Such a matter concerns the balance of the realms."
Feng Yansheng’s lips curved faintly. Not a smile, but a warning.
"The Temple answers to the heavens," he replied calmly. "Not to the Land Empire."
The temperature dropped again.
The officials exchanged uneasy glances.
The Second Prince cleared his throat. "Of course. But surely information can be shared between allies..."
"No," Feng Yansheng interrupted.
The word was soft and absolute, leaving no room for further discussion.
Silence fell over the courtyard.
Feng Yansheng stepped forward, stopping beside Han Soi. His presence was overwhelming, his posture relaxed yet dominant, as if the entire space belonged to him.
"The female you speak of," Feng Yansheng continued, his voice even, "is under the Temple’s protection."
His eyes sharpened.
"And under mine."
The Second Prince’s expression finally cracked.
For just a fraction of a second, the practiced smile on his face faltered. But he recovered quickly, smoothing his expression as if nothing had happened.
"High Priest," he said smoothly, "there is no need to be so guarded. After all, this matter concerns our own people."
He turned his gaze toward Han Soi, his eyes sharp and calculating.
"We have already conducted a background investigation on the female."
Han Soi’s expression darkened.
The Second Prince continued calmly, as if reciting a harmless report. "She was originally a nameless female from the Land Empire, without any background or noble lineage."
A murmur rippled through the delegation.
"She was discovered by Han Soi," the prince went on, "in an A level polluted zone. Probably abandoned by her so called family."
Han Soi’s fingers curled.
"They fell in love," the Second Prince said lightly, "and married by choice."
His lips curved faintly. "There was some internal conflict, of course. Han Soi’s younger brother attempted to interfere."
The prince tilted his head. "Unfortunately for him, he was beaten badly."
A few officials chuckled under their breath.
"And in the end," the Second Prince concluded, "even our father acknowledged the marriage."
He spread his hands. "Which makes this all the more fortunate. The Land Empire is her maiden house."
His voice grew confident.
"Therefore, we are here to escort her back."
