Chapter 2434: Betting Everything

The Mermaid Queen’s mouth fell agape as her mind went completely blank. Countless thoughts rushed into her head.

No wonder he was quiet for the entire night. I waited in my room, thinking he would come to initiate a conversation, but he never came. I even considered going over to look for him!

But she held herself back. On one hand, she thought it was indecent for a woman to knock on a man’s door in the middle of the night. On the other hand, she had her pride and didn’t want to lower herself too much.

Now I know he was having fun with the Peacock Princess the entire time!

She hadn't heard anything, but given his cultivation, it wouldn’t be hard for him to conceal the commotion from others.

She even began doubting herself.

How am I inferior to the Peacock Princess? I feel like a laughingstock, being kept in the dark about it.

As she regained her rationality, however, she realized something was amiss. It was just a moment earlier that the other party was still discussing ways to rescue the Peacock Princess with her.

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

He had also been cultivating when she visited his room earlier, and there was no weird smell in the room. Women were exceptionally sensitive about fragrances that weren’t theirs.

The Peacock Princess’ shocked expression further reinforced her deduction. A smile slowly crept onto her face.

Ah, he was just trying to rescue her. It is a good method, just a little... crude. And it looks as if it implicates me too...

Everyone in the palace looked between a few key figures, but most eyes were centered on her.

This fellow was having fun with another woman in your residence; how can you tolerate something as ridiculous as that?

No one spoke those words aloud, but the Mermaid Queen could guess as much. Her face slowly reddened, as she realized this was going to be a stain on her reputation...

The grieving North Sea Dragon King was the first to snap out of it. “Utter rubbish! We caught her within fifty kilometers of the crime scene, so how could she have been with you last night?”

The East Sea Dragon King added, “Esteemed guest, I’m afraid your excuse does not hold.”

“Is it that hard to understand? She was already in admiration of me when I rescued her from the Four Way Palace, so she went ahead and betrothed herself to me. We spent last night together. However, she got jealous when she saw the Mermaid Queen in the morning and stomped out in a fit of anger. She somehow escaped here and was treated as a criminal by you people,” Zu An calmly recounted the chain of events.

The Peacock Princess’ eyes widened further.

His story is getting more ridiculous! I was in admiration of you? I betrothed myself to you? And we spent the night together?!

What a load of baloney!

You have successfully trolled Kong Qingwu for 100... 100... 100...

Even so, she was smart enough to understand that the other party was trying to save her, so despite her anger, she didn’t refute those claims.

The crowd in the palace was astounded to learn that the mysterious individual wasn't satisfied with just the Mermaid Queen. In the earlier half of last night, the Mermaid Queen had confessed that she'd been intimate with him. Who could have thought he would find another woman to get hot and steamy with in the latter half of the night?

Besides, what did he mean when he said the Peacock Princess saw the Mermaid Queen in the morning’?

Does he mean to say that the Mermaid Queen entered their room in the morning to look for them, or that the Mermaid Queen was on the same bed last night all along, but the Peacock Princess was too out of it to notice her till daybreak?

Oh lord!

Please don’t let it be the latter, or else it would be too much! How could you treat the goddess we dream about day and night like that?!

The crowd suddenly remembered the mysterious individual’s earlier anomalous action.

No wonder he stared so intently at the Peacock Princess earlier. They're having an affair! These deviants! How dare they trample over our Mermaid Queen like that?

The Mermaid Queen also looked conflicted. She could guess what Zu An was up to, but she was suffering a huge blow to her reputation at the same time. The usual admiring gazes fixated on her were now adulterated with sympathy, mockery, shock, and many other emotions.

She felt numb. She opened her mouth, but in the end, she still held her tongue.

Fine, do whatever you want.

The crowd took notice of her angry yet aggrieved response, and that sent their fury shooting through the roof. They furiously glared at Zu An.

How dare you defile such a perfect woman? You piece of trash! You scum of the earth!

Had they not known they were no match for him after witnessing his prowess last night, they would have long since pounced on him and ripped him to shreds.

Looking at the massive influx of Rage points, Zu An was once again amazed by the Mermaid Queen’s frighteningly high popularity. He'd received over 100,000 Rage points in just an instant.

“That’s all your one-sided words. Many of our experts witnessed that woman killing my son,” the North Sea Dragon King hissed through clenched jaws as he pointed at the woman in the cage. It was obvious to him that the mysterious individual had merely spun up a lie on the spot to save the Peacock Princess.

His words dragged the crowd back to their senses.

Oh yeah. How could the Mermaid Queen allow her partner to take on another lover and mess around in her residence? It must be a lie!

“Oh? But I have evidence and an eyewitness.” Zu An calmly turned to the Mermaid Queen and smiled at her. “My queen can testify on my behalf.”

The sudden convergence of gazes on her flustered the Mermaid Queen. For someone who enjoyed being in the limelight, this had never happened before. She felt a strong desire to cover her face and run away!

This fellow! You should have at least given me a heads-up beforehand. What gives you the confidence that I would help you? I would be ruining my reputation if I testified for you right now!

This put the Mermaid Queen in a dilemma.

“My queen, please feel free to speak your mind. You need not fear. Our Ocean races’ experts are your sturdiest backing,” the East Sea Dragon King said.

His eyes were filled with anticipation, as he'd noticed the Mermaid Queen’s hesitation.

Could their relationship not be what I thought it was? Or did that mysterious individual coerce her into doing his bidding, and she doesn’t truly fancy him?

Come, tell us!

It was a rare show of hot-bloodedness from his side. As long as she denounced the mysterious individual, he wouldn’t hesitate to lead the Ocean races’ many experts into a huge fight against him.

He had never understood stories in which men destroyed themselves standing up for women, but looking at the Mermaid Queen’s pitiful appearance, they suddenly all made sense to him.

No wonder my queen has refused my love thus far. I simply wasn’t brave enough. This is my chance to prove myself. I’ll free her from that man’s demonic claws!

Looking at the crowd’s expectant eyes, the Mermaid Queen pursed her lips before finally nodding. “Yes, I can testify that we were together last night.”

The light in the East Sea Dragon King’s eyes was extinguished.

An uproar broke out in the palace.