Translator: Sparrow Translations  Editor: 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 att.i.tude 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 .  

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 reb.u.t.ted . . . 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 . . .

They had retaliated . . .  

But their retaliation had hit a sore spot . Fang Zhengzhi was 'deeply saddened' by it .

That was all very natural .

Most people would buy it .  

At the very least, the candidates had bought it . Once a group of them believed it, they would influence the others to believe it as well .  

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to act this out when Shan Ling made things difficult for him .

But Shan Ling didn't play along . . .  

As such, he had to make use of the candidates to manufacture such a scenario . Even though the results weren't as good, he would have to make do .  

In fact, there were elements in this entire scene that made it seem a little forced . However, these would be overlooked when Fang Zhengzhi talked about his body .  

That was the reason why Fang Zhengzhi had brought it up .  

"Speaking of my body, aish . . . I've felt as though there has been a hole in my body the past few days . It's almost as if something is missing . . . " Fang Zhengzhi wasn't going to keep them in suspense .  

"Hole?"

"Something is missing?"

"Is his cultivation ruined?" 

The candidates immediately got the 'gist' of it . They looked at each other . Their expressions were like mirror images . . .  

Fang Zhengzhi looked like he was depressed .  

Fang Zhengzhi looked like he was depressed .  

But in fact, he was quite satisfied with this result .  

Talent? He had loved the sound of it before the war . But now . . . his views about that term had changed . . .  

Bai Xing had targeted him . . .

Canyang had also targeted him . . .  

This all served to prove one point .  

Being a talent was tough .

Furthermore, he had antagonized the entire demon race during this war . If he continued to be that proud and aloof, there may be a second sage coming for him .  

What was he going to do then? 

He would just reap the rewards from this war and live out the rest of his life peacefully .

The other thing he valued was his freedom .

He wanted to live a carefree life .  

Fang Zhengzhi had already gotten their attention . He also had control of the room . His words had given them much to think about .  

Just as they were all thinking about the implications of Fang Zhengzhi's words . . .

Fang Zhengzhi glanced at the King .

Would the King let his daughter marry an individual with no cultivation prospects?

The result . . .

Was clear . . .

The King of the Southern Region seemed a little disappointed but had seen it coming . He still had a faint smile on his face .

"He's really going to tolerate it? But . . . there is one thing that he definitely can't take lying down . " Fang Zhengzhi wasn't too surprised . He knew that the King would have considered this possibility before making a decision .  

Hearing the guesses of the candidates . . .  

Made Fang Zhengzhi rather depressed .  

The candidates' curiosity was piqued . Could there be anything worse than having one's cultivation future go up in smoke? 

Just as they were thinking about it .  

Fang Zhengzhi spoke up .

"Other than the hole in my heart, I have had many dreams . Recently, my dreams have become increasingly weird . I feel like I'm floating in the sky, and I always see a bridge . . . and there are words on that bridge . . . " 

"What words?" One of the candidates couldn't hold back any longer .

"I can't really see the words clearly, but I believe it is "Naihe" . Furthermore, there is a fire burning under the bridge!" Fang Zhengzhi recalled .  

"It's Naihe Bridge!" 

"My G.o.d . . . does h.e.l.l really exist?" 

"This . . . this . . . " 

All of the candidates were stunned when they heard this . They looked at Fang Zhengzhi awkwardly .  

Fang Zhengzhi ignored the candidates .  

His gaze never left the King of the Southern Region . The King's expression had changed from smiles to pain .  

"I guess he can't tolerate that!" Fang Zhengzhi smiled, then continued, "I don't know if this is true, and I couldn't see it clearly in my dreams . I vaguely recall an old lady waving towards me, telling me that time is almost up . She keeps asking me to hurry . . . " 

"Fang Zhengzhi, are you serious?!" The King of the Southern Region stood up and glared at Fang Zhengzhi .  

"I guess he can't tolerate that!" Fang Zhengzhi smiled, then continued, "I don't know if this is true, and I couldn't see it clearly in my dreams . I vaguely recall an old lady waving towards me, telling me that time is almost up . She keeps asking me to hurry . . . " 

"Fang Zhengzhi, are you serious?!" The King of the Southern Region stood up and glared at Fang Zhengzhi .  

"How can one take dreams seriously?" Fang Zhengzhi replied respectfully as he bowed to the King .  

"Mm . . . Official Fang is right . Dreams cannot be believed . " The King of the Southern Region reacted quickly . Realizing that he had lost his composure before, he changed the way he addressed Fang Zhengzhi to the more appropriate "Official Fang" .  

Fang Zhengzhi did not speak .  

He knew that he had already done his job . There were believers and naysayers in every world .  

However . . .  

For a religious place like the Southern Region, there were definitely many people who believed in heaven and h.e.l.l .  

It was clear that the King of the Southern Region was one of them .

Even though he had his doubts, it was enough . . .  

"I am tired, Shan Yu, come and help me!" The King of the Southern Region spoke up .

"Yes!" Princess Shan Yu nodded .  

Then . . .

Just as Fang Zhengzhi had predicted, the King used the excuse that he was 'tired' to pause the ceremony .  

As for the lamb . . .  

It was left behind .  

"Yum!" Fang Zhengzhi licked his lips and bit down on the leg of lamb . It melted in his mouth .

d.a.m.n, it was good! 

Fang Zhengzhi loved eating such great food . He picked up a flask of wine and took a gulp . This was enjoyment at its finest .

He was very satisfied with the result .  

All of the candidates were extremely jealous of what they were seeing . They too wanted to try the lamb, but they had been rejected by Princess Shan Yu .

They couldn't possibly go up now .  

Fang Zhengzhi ignored the gazes of the candidates as he enjoyed his lamb . He finished the leg in his hand and took another one .  

His mouth was filled with the taste of that delicious lamb .  

It was out of this world! 

Then, he began to feel dizzy, almost as if all the energy went out from his body .  

It was dark . . .  

Why was the room spinning? 

Fang Zhengzhi felt like he was floating . Were all his lies coming true? That didn't seem very possible . . .  

No! 

This meat . . .  

Fang Zhengzhi recalled that no one went to check the food that Princess Shan Yu had prepared . She had used all kinds of herbs and spices . . .  

For the banquet . . .  

Every dish was tested for poison . However, no one tested Princess Shan Yu's lamb . No one, bar Fang Zhengzhi, had even managed to go near it .  

"d.a.m.n it, it's a trap!" Fang Zhengzhi felt the world around him go dark .  

"Get someone to help! Official Fang is drunk! Help Official Fang to his room to rest!" Shan Ling's voice rang out as Fang Zhengzhi fell to the ground .