153 Protector of Flowers

Little Yun's heart stirred as he said, "Sister Yue, today I choose to stay with Sister Xue. I do not plan to return with you, nor will I choose to remain here."

A sharp pang shot through Long Lengyue's heart, yet she still maintained a smiling facade as she replied, "Then I wish you a wonderful time. Whenever you grow tired of playing and wish to come home, the doors of home will always remain open to you... Xing'er, let us leave."

At this, Zhao Wuzong could no longer restrain himself. He had suffered enough misfortune today, having been struck down by Bai Xuehua in a single move. His previous pursuit of Long Lengyue and subsequent rejection were already a humiliation to him, but what angered him even more was that the person Long Lengyue favored was actually this worthless, nobody of a boy named Little Yun.

Furthermore, today this nobody had somehow become the son-in-law of the Feng family. He sneered, "Ninth Miss Long is truly bold and carefree. Doing this, are you not afraid that your beloved might be snatched away by your enemies?"

Long Lengyue replied coldly, "Young Master Zhao worries too much. What belongs to you will ultimately be yours, and what does not belong to you will never be yours."

Hearing this, Qu Buping chimed in, "Young Master Zhao, does this not give you an opportunity?" Qu Buping was mocking him for his past rejection by Long Lengyue. Zhao Wuzong's face turned ashen as he glared at him, then turned and left in dejected embarrassment.

At that moment, Taohua smiled and said, "It is not easy for Ninth Miss Long to come south to Jiangnan; surely you do not intend to return in such a hurry?"

Long Lengyue's heart stirred. "Not return? Could it be that Lady Taohua is inviting me to be a guest at your home?"

Taohua smiled. "I do indeed have that intention, and so I would like to invite Ninth Miss Long to my humble abode for a gathering. To discuss the fairest maidens under the heavens over drinks beneath the cherry blossoms would also be a rare and fortunate event in life."

Long Hanxing could not help asking, "Where is your humble abode?"

Taohua smiled, "Cherry Blossom Island in the East Sea."

Long Hanxing said, "So you are a member of the Cherry Blossom Society."

Taohua smiled, "Indeed."

Long Lengyue said to Hanxing, "Since Lady Taohua is being so courteous, Xing'er, let us make a trip to Cherry Blossom Island. It is said that Cherry Blossom Island is unfathomably mysterious and rarely seen."

Suddenly, Lady Zhu spoke up, "Long sisters, are you not afraid that you will not be able to come back out if you go to Cherry Blossom Island? It is said that almost no one who enters Cherry Blossom Island ever comes out alive—at least, I have never heard of any."

Long Lengyue smiled. "With our sisters' hearts beating as one, our strength can shatter metal. There is no place in the martial arts world capable of trapping our sisters."

Lady Zhu smiled. "Ninth Miss Long looks down upon the martial arts world with such pride; this boldness of yours brings honor to all women."

Taohua smiled. "Lady Zhu, our Cherry Blossom Island has never offended you. Why must you speak of us in such harsh terms?"

Lady Zhu chuckled upon hearing this. "Big Sister Taohua, the reason is actually very simple: you did not invite me, and I am jealous."

Taohua smiled. "If Lady Zhu wishes to go as well, you are welcome. However, our Cherry Blossom Island is merely a desolate isle, and I truly dare not presume to invite someone as noble as Your Highness the Princess."

As soon as Taohua's words fell, a series of crisp, chiming sounds rang out as dozens of people rose to their feet beside Lady Zhu. They appeared to be bodyguards protecting her.

Lady Zhu sighed upon hearing this. "The Cherry Blossom Society is truly well-informed. Since the Cherry Blossom Lady already knows my identity, then the Long sisters and Lady Bai must have figured it out long ago as well."

Long Lengyue and Bai Xuehua remained silent, making it clear that they had guessed it long ago. Qu Buping, Little Yu, and the others were utterly shocked when they heard this. Hua Sanxiao felt a surge of anger in his heart: "No wonder I was deceived by her back then; it turns out this young girl is far from simple." Yet, wearing a helpless smile on his face, he said, "So it is Her Highness the noble Princess. You have deceived this commoner so bitterly."

Lady Zhu smiled. "Third Young Master Hua is truly worthy of being a man of deep affection, ever willing to act as a protector of flowers. Are you willing to act as a flower's protector once again this time?"

Third Young Master Hua replied, "How could my crude martial arts qualify me to be a flower's protector? Besides, Her Highness the Princess has numerous capable people at her disposal, such as Young Master Qu, who possesses the talent to serve as a protector of flowers."

In truth, Qu Buping was vastly inferior to him, and he had no reason to pick a quarrel with Qu Buping. Yet, for reasons unknown, he had deliberately resorted to sarcasm against him.

Lady Zhu smiled. "Third Young Master Hua, it is hardly worth your while to be jealous of the bastard Qu. The bastard Qu is merely a servant of this palace, whereas you, Third Young Master Hua, are a guest of this palace."

It seemed that despite being a princess, Lady Zhu was still attempting to win over Hua Sanxiao. After all, the Hundred Flowers Manor wielded immense influence in Jiangnan, to the extent that even the imperial court treated it with a degree of caution.

These individuals were gathered at the Feng family's banquet, each speaking their own mind without the slightest regard for the host's intentions. The members of the Feng family burned with suppressed anger, yet these people were far too formidable to provoke—particularly with the imperial court's Brocade-Clad Guards present. If a violent brawl were to break out here by some mischance, they would simply pack up and leave the moment the fighting stopped, leaving only the Feng family to bear the misfortune.

Furthermore, today was a joyous occasion for the Feng family, so Feng Qingwu earnestly hoped these plagues would take their leave sooner. She smiled and said, "Young Master Hua, since Her Highness the Princess has put it thus, why not simply accept the role of the flower's protector..."

Hua Sanxiao smiled. "I lack the ability to serve as a protector of flowers. However, should everyone wish to visit the Hundred Flowers Manor, I would certainly welcome you..."

Taohua smiled. "Who would have thought that a dignified Great Ming princess would also take an interest in the petty affairs of the martial arts world?"

Lady Zhu smiled. "Every inch of land under the heavens belongs to the sovereign, and every citizen within the borders is the sovereign's subject. Cherry Blossom Island is also territory of the Great Ming, so naturally I must concern myself with it."

Taohua smiled. "Very well. Since everyone wishes to go, please follow me! However, the seas are perilous and fraught with danger; I shall not be held responsible for any accidents."

The winds and waves of the vast ocean were immense and full of peril, yet human life was all about striving amidst the winds and waves—rising and falling through the tides!

The reason Long Lengyue prepared to go was because she wished to understand the terrain of Cherry Blossom Island. As a woman with ambitions for the entire realm, she knew that a conflict between herself and the Cherry Blossom Society was ultimately inevitable. However, that should only happen after settling matters with the Bai family, which was why she had not opposed Bai Xuehua entrusting Little Yun to Feng Qingwu.

As for Lady Zhu, noble princess though she was, the empire belonged to her Great Ming. She would never permit any faction to grow powerful enough to rival the throne. Yet, the sects of the martial arts world were like spring grass beneath a wildfire—never truly eradicated, they would invariably spring back to life with the vernal winds.

Nevertheless, she had no choice but to keep burning them away. If she did not, these formidable factions would severely undermine the rule of the Great Ming. Thus, noble princess though she was, she still personally braved the perils of the jianghu; she was the most steadfast guardian of the Great Ming.

Taohua had originally intended to invite only Long Lengyue, hoping to strike an agreement with her: rather than throwing the realm into chaos, they should divide it between them. They had once discussed a strategy of befriending distant states while attacking near ones.

Long Lengyue's primary objective was to eliminate the Bai family so as to pacify the northwest, and subsequently push directly into the Central Plains. Conversely, the Cherry Blossom Society's first priority was to subdue the various sects of Jiangnan; once they secured Jiangnan, they could march north into the Central Plains, overthrow the Great Ming, and unify the realm under their own banner.

Lady Zhu was well aware that these martial arts factions had already severely threatened the governance of the Great Ming. Yet, even with the formidable might of the Brocade-Clad Guards, it was impossible to eradicate all these sects at once. Furthermore, since these factions operated in the shadows, destroying them completely was no easy task. Thus, she had no alternative but to employ the strategy of defeating them one by one.