Chapter 2674: Chapter 2674
Ye Liuyun and Liu Yunyao chatted and laughed together with effortless ease.
"Honestly, the princess has some nerve, summoning someone for a chat in the middle of the night!"
"Surely she didn’t drag Master Ye over just to tame beasts for her?"
Outside, the women who had been waiting for ages finally gave up when Ye Liuyun failed to emerge. After grumbling among themselves, they all retreated to their own quarters.
Peering through his golden pupils, Ye Liuyun noted the situation outside and decided it was time to leave.
"If you stumble upon something... unusual, will you blame me?" Liu Yunyao suddenly asked, her tone unreadable.
"Unusual how?" Ye Liuyun frowned, puzzled.
"You’ll find out tomorrow. Just don’t hold it against me, alright?" She deliberately left him hanging, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Fine. See you tomorrow, then." He didn’t press further.
"See you tomorrow." Her farewell was unexpectedly solemn.
Ye Liuyun realized then that Liu Yunyao carried an air of quiet authority when she was serious.
*The princess?* The thought struck him abruptly as he pieced together recent events.
From Liu Yunyao’s supposed death to her inexplicable wealth, from her name itself to the imposter princess, Hong Ling—the more he considered it, the more plausible the idea seemed.
After leaving the warship, he returned to his tent and immediately activated his golden pupils, gazing back toward Liu Yunyao’s vessel. Sure enough, he caught her in the midst of changing clothes. Though she was only switching into casual attire, Hong Ling and another maid were attending to her with unmistakable deference.
He averted his gaze at once, unwilling to intrude. But that single glance was enough.
*She really is the princess.*
"So she’s the princess!" Ye Liuyun finally realized the truth.
He completely understood Liu Yunyao’s earlier reluctance to reveal her identity. After all, as royalty, she had to be cautious about potential kidnappings. Even ordinary martial artists wouldn’t disclose their full background upon first meeting someone—he himself still hadn’t revealed his own secrets.
With a faint smile, he simply closed his eyes and resumed his cultivation practice without dwelling on it further.
Meanwhile, the Sixth Prince received the news as well. Twirling a teacup in his hand, he murmured, "After spending so much time together, winning him over might prove difficult now."
After changing into proper attire, Liu Yunyao had a conversation with Hongling.
"You didn’t tell him you’re the princess?" Hongling asked, clearly surprised.
Liu Yunyao shook her head. "I couldn’t bring myself to say it! I was afraid he’d start treating me differently."
"What about tomorrow?" Hongling voiced her concern.
Liu Yunyao sighed helplessly. "We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I just hope he won’t hold it against me."
"You don’t think he’ll expose everything between you two right then and there, do you?" Hongling pressed anxiously.
"Of course not! He’s not that kind of person—far from it. And he’s certainly no fool." Liu Yunyao wasn’t worried about that. Her real fear was that Ye Liuyun might distance himself after learning she was royalty.
Tossing and turning all night, Liu Yunyao rose early the next morning and dressed in her royal robes, waiting nervously to meet Ye Liuyun. Though she still wore her mask, she was certain he’d recognize her voice.
The group reconvened in the main tent. Besides the Sixth Prince, the princess, and Ye Liuyun, five noble youths had failed to return.
The excitement of the gathering was dampened by this sobering realization—those missing were likely lost forever. They waited anxiously until noon, but when no one appeared, the grim conclusion became unavoidable.
Soon after, Lin Fengzhi officially declared the hunting competition concluded. He dispatched search parties to look for the missing while instructing participants to present their captured beasts for comparison. Messengers were also sent to summon Ye Liuyun, the Sixth Prince, and the princess to the proceedings.
Before entering, Liu Yunyao had already composed herself and assumed the appropriate demeanor. She greeted everyone casually, deliberately avoiding any special attention toward Ye Liuyun.
However, her maid Hongling had been keeping a close eye on Ye Liuyun for her. Noticing that he showed no unusual reaction, Hongling assumed he hadn’t noticed anything amiss.
When it came time to display the captured beasts, the highest-level ones presented were only at the Heavenly Human Second Layer, indicating most participants hadn’t taken excessive risks. Even the Sixth Prince’s catch was merely a Heavenly Human Second Layer beast. The princess didn’t present any, but no one paid it much mind—everyone knew she hadn’t participated in the hunt.
With all the beasts at the same cultivation level, it became difficult to determine superiority. If judged by the order of return, the Sixth Prince would naturally rank first, aligning with the competition’s original rules.
Yet some were dissatisfied, arguing that their beasts were stronger. The Sixth Prince had captured a Cyanwind Wolf, while others had subdued Lion-Tigers, giant pythons, and other imposing creatures that appeared far more ferocious. But in Ye Liuyun’s eyes, they were all rather ordinary.
Only one young man had caught a small crimson snake. Unaware of its uniqueness, he hadn’t even considered competing for rank. His family’s status was also relatively low, so he had no intention of vying for recognition. The red serpent coiled tightly around itself, visibly nervous, showing no signs of aggression.
As the debate grew heated, the Sixth Prince finally spoke up.
"Since we’re comparing the strength of beasts at the same level, why not ask Master Ye to evaluate them for us?"
The others quickly agreed, confident that Ye Liuyun, as a beast tamer, would have deeper insight.
Lin Fengzhi also believed Ye Liuyun was more than capable of handling the situation and joined in urging him to share his assessment.
Ye Liuyun pondered for a moment, realizing this wasn’t the time to show favoritism toward the Sixth Prince. Besides, he had no intention of currying favor—it would be far more meaningful to impart genuine knowledge about these beasts.
So he answered honestly, "In truth, comparing beasts of the same cultivation level is quite difficult. Each has its own unique attack methods and characteristics.
"For instance, lion-tiger hybrids naturally exert dominance over other beasts. Larger creatures also intimidate smaller ones. But these aren’t absolute standards—each beast must be evaluated individually."
As he spoke, Ye Liuyun used the present specimens as examples.
"Take this Lion-Tiger. Its size gives it a clear advantage over the Cyanwind Wolf. However, its bloodline purity and essence quality are inferior. Meanwhile, the Cyanwind Wolf’s lineage isn’t as refined as that of the Sabertooth, though their essence levels are comparable."
So if they were to truly battle, it’s hard to say who would win—it largely depends on their performance in the moment and how they utilize their techniques. If we’re talking about a savage beast controlled by a martial cultivator, then its ferocity also hinges on how the handler wields it.
"But..."
Ye Liuyun’s sudden shift in tone immediately recaptured everyone’s attention.
"When assessing the value of a savage beast, the principle of rarity should apply. Though these large beasts are indeed uncommon, they’re still relatively easier to encounter.
Among them, however, there’s one whose worth stands far above the rest!" Ye Liuyun paused deliberately, letting his words hang in the air.
