2765 Shut Up!
“Who instructed you to cease speaking and feign ignorance of human speech?” Qiao Mu’s head throbbed incessantly in response to the woman’s piercing scream. A surge of malice surged within her eyes. She paid no heed to the subject of the woman’s tirade and instead acted decisively, leading to her demise.

Had he been aware that this woman was also trapped within the belly of the crash fish, he would have prevented the creature from expelling her.

/Utterly vexing!/

A blanket of silence shrouded the entire arena. Fearful of the servants of Zhongli, the spectators retreated, maintaining a cautious distance.

“What is the meaning of this?” A cry resounded from the periphery.

Shi Yongqian failed to secure passage on the air-transportation spiritual tools of the Young Sirs from the Qin Estate. Consequently, she embarked on the journey alongside the patrician families and nobles departing from the royal capital.

Initially simmering with resentment, her anger escalated upon encountering the young crown prince consort.

Yongqian, a level-five spiritual cultivator with grade-five spiritual fire cultivation, was, by all accounts, ineligible for admission to the Imperial Academy.

Curiously, the Imperial Academy welcomed individuals from all walks of life.

For instance, even someone like Fifth Sir Qin, dismissed as useless, gained entry due to his extraordinary zither skills.

Conversely, Shi Yongqian’s expertise lay in ore smelting.

Despite her youth, she had risen as a preeminent smelting Great Master, distinguishing herself as one of the most exceptional talents within the Shi Clan.

Qiao Mu was well aware of Shi Yongqian’s status as a grade-one smelting engineer.

In her prior life, this woman often flaunted her skills before her.

But what of it?

Miss Qiao had no dependency on her for ore smelting or spiritual tool forging.

/Her Lian possessed all-encompassing knowledge. With sacred fire at her disposal, smelting anything became a trivial task./

/There was simply no reason to grant this woman any courtesy!/

Before Shi Yongqian could chide her, Miss Qiao had already rendered Zhongli Zhiwei unconscious.

Upon hearing Shi Yongqian’s voice, she ceased her idling and turned to face her. “Are you also seeking a confrontation?”
“You!” Frustration welled within Shi Yongqian as if she had encountered an immovable obstacle.

/Did you really think you could contend with the Crown Prince Consort? Could you even withstand a single blow from her?/

“Enough!” Qiao Mu scolded, “You’re incredibly verbose! If I had known, I would have allowed all of you to perish within the fish’s belly.”

How could she have foreseen that, aside from Dai’er and her companions, these worthless individuals were also trapped within the crash fish?

/As the saying goes: a thousand ounces of gold can’t buy awareness. If she had known, she wouldn’t have saved them!/

At that moment, a maiden who had been standing alongside Zhongli Zhiwei approached and adjusted her attire with quiet grace. She respectfully cupped her fists and bowed to Qiao Mu and her group. “I extend my gratitude to the Crown Prince Consort for the rescue.”

“Who are you?” Qiao Mu glanced at the maiden, noting her attractive features and watery eyes.

The maiden offered a smile devoid of obsequiousness or arrogance. “My name is Zhongli Zhiyi. My younger sister was causing a scene in front of the Crown Prince Consort just now. It was her fault, and I apologize on her behalf.”

“You are yourself, and she is herself.” In other words, you needn’t apologize to me for someone else’s rudeness.

Qiao Mu had always been adept at distinguishing between gratitude and grievances. She was acutely aware of who owed what to whom.

Qiao Mu gave her an indifferent glance before pivoting to stride toward Mo Lian.

Meanwhile, at the opposite end, both Crown Prince Mos were in the final stages of sorting through the heap of ores. Hua Tao and Ma Ta’s pagoda washed away a layer of mineral crystals, unveiling a black object that bore the semblance of jade yet differed.

Mo Lian’s eyes sparkled upon sighting the object.

“Incredible, it’s heavenly water mithril!” Shi Yongqian exclaimed in awe.