Chapter 72 Fiancé?

At the entrance to the banquet hall, a tall young woman with her hair in a ponytail strode in, her figure swaying gracefully in her fitted attire. Her features were gentle and smooth, but her nose was high and straight, and her phoenix-shaped eyes radiated a fierce heroism.

"Whoever dares lay a hand on Ye Tian, I’ll kill them!"

In an instant, all eyes in the hall turned toward her.

"Tang Wanyue!" Gu Qing’er exclaimed in astonishment. "Grandmaster Tang’s granddaughter—why is she here?!"

"I heard that after she took over the Northern Expedition Army, she went to the frontier as a general. Why has she suddenly returned to Zhongdu?" Gu Tianzhen looked at the approaching young woman, bewildered but with an unmistakable eagerness in his eyes.

Heavens! That was Tang Wanyue—the national goddess in the eyes of the ancient martial families! It was said she was only nineteen this year and had already reached the mid Taishan Realm, personally taught the 'Thirty-Six Sandslaying Strikes' by Tang the National Guardian himself. She had even crossed borders to slay two Beidou-level masters!

Nineteen years old—with such terrifying achievements, she sent shivers down the spine. Moreover, because she had achieved so much at such a young age, Tang the National Guardian had entrusted her with full command of the Northern Expedition Army.

Now, Tang Wanyue held authority over a hundred thousand troops—her power and status unrivaled! A woman who combined beauty, strength, and dominance—she was the object of every man’s fantasy.

Even Li Shuze, who now stood immobilized, had once shamelessly pursued her. Unfortunately, Tang Wanyue’s standards were sky-high, and one night, after losing her patience, she gave Li Shuze a brutal beating. Only then did he give up in dejection.

"General Tang, it is a great honor to have you here. I, Li, am truly—"

"Get lost!"

The elderly man with the bamboo cane had just begun his ingratiating speech when Tang Wanyue spat out the words, her tone derisive: "Old thief, spare me your pretenses! If you don’t get lost right now, I’ll use you to whet my blade!"

As she spoke, she reached out with both hands, and a massive horse-slaying saber appeared as if from thin air.

"Tang Wanyue, please calm yourself—this is not your northern frontier!" Zhu Feng’s face darkened with displeasure. "You are within the territory of the Dragon Nation. You, a National Guardian General, cannot go about threatening to kill people without fearing the consequences!"

"Tch, you brothel-worn wretch, stop posturing in front of me!"

"Tang Wanyue!"

Zhu Feng’s face flushed scarlet. Having enjoyed years of privilege within the Vermilion Bird Unit, she had never been so insulted. Her chest heaved with rage, as if it might explode.

Yet, she lacked the courage to confront Tang Wanyue directly. Though Tang Wanyue spoke and acted brashly, she was meticulous in her caution; every time she ventured out, she brought a hundred elite guards who would swiftly secure the entire area.

And every one of those hundred started at the Taishan Realm—utterly terrifying! A strategic-level guard force, hidden all around them, would make anyone think twice. Zhu Feng, with her limited manpower and only eight members above the Taishan Realm, had no chance against Tang Wanyue.

So, with Tang Wanyue’s arrival, the four great families, who had just been restless with intent, instantly quieted down, their eyes clearing.

"Tang Long, what are you standing around for!"

"Get over here and give me your report!"

"Yes, Miss!" Tang Long replied with a bitter smile, quickly stepping forward to salute and report all the details to Tang Wanyue.

"Hmph, such a trivial matter and you bungled it so badly—useless!" Tang Wanyue scolded Tang Long in front of everyone, without a shred of mercy. "Thank goodness I didn’t listen to Grandfather and bring you back to the north. With your incompetence, military regulations alone would have finished you!"

"Yes, Miss. I was wrong!" Tang Long admitted without hesitation. Of all who knew her best, he would never dare defy her. If she scolded, he listened. He knew well enough that, though her words were harsh, her heart was soft. Unless it was a matter of principle, she would never truly punish her subordinates.

Hearing Tang Long’s account, Tang Wanyue’s gaze turned to the four women who had been fighting over Ye Tian.

"So, it was you shameless hussies who tried to seduce my fiancé in front of everyone, and when you failed, you flew into a rage?"

Tang Wanyue sneered, "You really deserve a beating."

Her sharp gaze swept over the four women. Except for Zhu Feng, the other three trembled, their bodies shaking. The authority of a true battlefield veteran was overwhelming.

Only Zhu Feng, relying on her own cultivation, dared to respond, "Tang Wanyue, don’t push your luck! Since you say Ye Tian is your fiancé, we won’t fight you for him. Take him if you wish!"

She spoke with bravado, but anyone with sense could see she had yielded. The Vermilion Bird Unit might rule in the south, but this was Zhongdu—and with Tang Wanyue before her, only a fool would challenge her.

Yet, most people’s attention was now on the word ‘fiancé.’

"What? Ye Tian is actually Tang Wanyue’s fiancé?!"

Ye Tian himself was stunned. "What? I’m her fiancé? When was I informed about this?"

The first to break down at the news was Gu Tianzhen.

"Goddess, when did you secretly get engaged to that scoundrel Ye Tian?! Oh, I can’t go on!"

He clutched his head in agony, dropping to his knees as if the news of Tang Wanyue’s engagement was even more devastating than Ye Tian stealing his own fiancée.

No—wait, the one who almost stole his fiancée and his goddess was the same person!

Halfway through his weeping, Gu Tianzhen realized this cruel truth and felt even more miserable.

Others were simply incredulous.

"No wonder General Tang showed up. She’d already agreed to marry Ye Tian!"

"Didn’t they say she was so proud she’d never settle for anyone weaker than herself? What makes Ye Tian worthy of her?"

"Are you stupid? General Tang’s at the mid Taishan Realm, but Ye Tian’s in the Beidou Realm—and he practices internal alchemy! He’s stronger than her!"

Suddenly, everyone understood. Only now did they recall that the silent young man surrounded on all sides was himself a top-level Beidou master!

"So, our goddess really has a fiancé?!"

"Yes—there’s no mistaking it!"

"Our goddess is taken—my youth is over!"

Many of Tang Wanyue’s fans finally recovered from their shock, only to burst into loud wailing and lamentation.

Tang Wanyue, ignoring the uproar, swept a haughty gaze over the four great powers, not sparing Zhu Feng a single glance. She spoke bluntly:

"Each of your families will bring a gift and apologize to my fiancé, and this matter will be over. Otherwise, not a single one of you will leave here today!"