Regarding Yuan Xiao’s sudden aggression, Shi Jingxian actually wasn’t surprised at all. 

Yuan Xiao was naturally suspicious and had a strong desire for control. Even when Ji Xuanran had shown him genuine affection, he still kept a tight rein on Ji Xuanran, being overly cautious and cutting off all of Ji Xuanran’s social connections, making it so that the other person’s entire life revolved around him. 

Now, taking advantage of Yuan Xiao being busy with celebrations and socializing, Shi Jingxian had been away for more than half a month. If it weren’t for being distracted by Lan Luohai midway, Yuan Xiao would have already settled accounts with Ji Xuanran. 

Moreover, after Yuan’s mother failed to pick a fight, Shi Jingxian knew from the start that Yuan Xiao wouldn’t let things go easily. However, after weighing his options, he still chose to stay at the Fendelin research institute. Ji Xuanran’s exceptional talent wasn’t meant to be used as a mere tool for Yuan Xiao. 

But the system had its own standards for judgment, and Shi Jingxian couldn’t retaliate against Yuan Xiao in a way that exceeded the original body’s capabilities—if he really poisoned Yuan Xiao to death, not only would Ji Xuanran be unable to escape his predicament, but Yuan Xiao would also evade disaster due to the rules of the mission’s plot, coming out unscathed. 

Fortunately, after a long period of secret arrangements—those carefully obtained intelligence networks, the ongoing research on potions, and the unexpectedly acquired two-life flower seeds—the situation finally began to develop smoothly in the direction Shi Jingxian had envisioned. 

The core country sent a formal invitation to Yuan Xiao. Since Lan Luohai had returned early, Yuan Xiao didn’t want to wait even a day longer. After receiving the invitation at the royal palace, he immediately decided to set off the next day. 

This way, he had no time to trouble Ji Xuanran anymore. However, to outsiders, this decision seemed a bit hasty. Not to mention that the departure required overnight preparations, but Yuan Xiao had also fainted before going to the royal palace. 

Even though the fainting spell didn’t last long, such an incident happening to an eighth-tier ability user was quite rare. Yet, Yuan Xiao attributed this incident to a sudden interruption of interest, and he not only didn’t suspect Shi Jingxian but also ordered his servants not to mention it again. 

Shi Jingxian was quite pleased with this. The servants were busy tidying up, and Yuan Xiao was also occupied with necessary matters at the military camp. Although Shi Jingxian wasn’t allowed to leave, he still found an opportunity to message Fendelin to request leave. 

The next morning, under the royal family’s send-off, the group set off directly to the core country. With the envoy team left by Lan Luohai, they would arrive at the core country within a day. 

Yuan Xiao sat with the envoy team, while Shi Jingxian was arranged alone in a vehicle, with one of Yuan Xiao’s subordinates sitting in the passenger seat to monitor him. 

Shi Jingxian behaved himself and secretly began counting his supplies in the storage ring. When Ji Xuanran had accompanied Yuan Xiao to the core country, due to Yuan Xiao’s deeply moving confession at the celebration banquet, the royal family of Country A had regarded Ji Xuanran as Yuan Xiao’s weakness. To prevent Yuan Xiao from being poached by the core country and not returning, they had secretly poisoned Ji Xuanran beforehand. 

Now, with Shi Jingxian stirring things up, Yuan Xiao’s words were only seen as a shield for him. Plus, since Yuan Xiao was in a hurry to leave, the royal family of Country A didn’t have time to act against Ji Xuanran. 

However, it was clear that they wouldn’t just let it go—just a moment ago, Shi Jingxian had been watching the king’s kind demeanor as he held Yuan Xiao’s hand to send him off, and the next moment, he received news that royal guards had been spotted at the sanatorium where Yuan’s mother was. 

To guard against anyone else keeping an eye on him, Shi Jingxian had prepared quite a few defensive potions. The potions were stored in Ji Xuanran’s high-tier storage ring. When Shi Jingxian first took over the body, he found that Ji Xuanran had organized the space in the high-tier storage ring very neatly. He was someone who liked to hoard supplies, and in Shi Jingxian’s eyes, he resembled a little hamster, neatly stocking up on both rare raw materials and perfectly crafted potions in his safe domain. 

However, after getting married, all of Ji Xuanran’s perfectly crafted potions had been plundered by Yuan Xiao. During the time Shi Jingxian had been here, he had been busy, and it wasn’t until this trip that he finally helped Ji Xuanran fulfill his wish to replenish the stock in the high-tier storage ring. 

After counting the defensive items to ensure everything was in order, Shi Jingxian had some free time, so he casually counted the other items in the storage ring. Perfect quality high-tier potions, rare raw materials bought after completing orders, and those blooming two-life flower seeds… 

As he was counting, Shi Jingxian suddenly heard a notification sound. 

【Ding—Task completion progress: 21%】 

Shi Jingxian: … 

How strong was this little hamster’s desire to hoard? Counting his own things could make him so happy. 

By the time they arrived at the capital of the core country, it was already late at night. Yuan Xiao and his group were arranged to stay near the royal palace. Perhaps because the conditions were favorable, aside from Yuan Xiao’s accompanying guards, everyone else was assigned to a separate luxurious room, and Shi Jingxian no longer had to share a room with Yuan Xiao. 

When checking in, Shi Jingxian noticed that, whether by coincidence or not, his room was the farthest from Yuan Xiao’s, requiring access through two different corridors. 

After a peaceful night, the next morning, Yuan Xiao was summoned by the king of the core country. Not long after, the others also received notifications that the core country had specially prepared a welcome banquet for Yuan Xiao, which would start at noon and last until the evening. The core country provided the formal attire, and everyone Yuan Xiao brought along was invited to attend. 

Upon entering the royal palace of the core country, this group of outsiders deeply felt the difference in power between the two royal families. 

Although the royal palace of the core country was equally luxurious, it didn’t have the blinding golden decorations like Country A; instead, it exuded a sacred elegance. From the moment one stepped inside, it could evoke the most sincere reverence from the heart. 

The hall where the banquet was held was equally opulent. If it weren’t for the core country providing the clothing, the guests from Country A would probably feel out of place just walking in. 

Even with the splendid attire, many still felt a bit restrained. The only exception was Shi Jingxian, who wore a blue-gray formal outfit. 

However, from the moment this group entered, the casual glances that were initially swept over them gradually converged, either overtly or covertly, on Shi Jingxian. 

The main characters of the banquet and the members of the core country’s royal family had already arrived. Logically, the subsequent arrivals shouldn’t attract much attention. Initially surprised by these gazes, Shi Jingxian was taken aback until he spotted a familiar face that was exceptionally dazzling yet surrounded by no one— 

With golden hair shimmering with an otherworldly glow, a fitted formal outfit outlining a flawless silhouette, and holding a transparent crystal wine glass, Lan Luohai was conversing with a noble lady dressed in a brocade gown. The lady’s gaze was kind, and although there were slight wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, it couldn’t hide her noble aura. 

Shi Jingxian quickly guessed the identity of that lady, but what shocked him wasn’t the appearance of this queen but rather the cold demeanor surrounding Lan Luohai that even the maids had to step back a few paces. 

—It was Lan Luohai’s gray-blue formal outfit and the handkerchief in his chest pocket that matched the color and pattern of Shi Jingxian’s tie. 

At first, Shi Jingxian thought he was overthinking it until he looked down to check the decorations on himself. 

The gold lapel pin with a short chain, and the tie clip pinned to Lan Luohai’s chest were the same color, made from the rare perfect quality gold crystal. 

The carved floral cufflinks were the same shape as the fixed button on Lan Luohai’s collar, with the only difference being their sizes. 

And the silver ring on Shi Jingxian’s hand—of the same material and dark patterns—was also present on Lan Luohai’s right ear. That small, exquisite long stick earring was like a spotlight, drawing all of Shi Jingxian’s attention. 

It wasn’t until Lan Luohai turned his head and met his gaze that Shi Jingxian suddenly snapped back to reality. 

That earring… 

There wasn’t much time for Shi Jingxian to ponder. As soon as Lan Luohai saw him, he briefly exchanged a few words with the queen and then walked directly toward him. 

His azure blue eyes resembled the melting ice of spring, with warm light mixed with a hint of laughter. In the few short steps he took toward Shi Jingxian, his previously imposing aura completely dissipated. 

By the time he stood in front of Shi Jingxian, he had transformed back into that gentle man with a smile at the corner of his lips. 

“Ji Yaoshi, long time no see.” 

Shi Jingxian: “…” 

Why did it feel like the entire banquet hall had gone silent? 

“Oh right, I haven’t had the chance to congratulate you yet.” Lan Luohai took a wine glass from beside him and handed it over, “Congratulations, the youngest high-tier potion master.” 

Shi Jingxian was a bit puzzled by the other party’s enthusiasm, but in front of so many eyes, he couldn’t refuse Lan Luohai’s toast. 

He reached out to take the glass, and to outsiders, it was even impossible to discern his brief hesitation. 

However, Shi Jingxian heard Lan Luohai’s voice, lowered with a smile, “It’s sweet tea fruit juice, you won’t get drunk.” 

He raised his hand and lightly clinked glasses with him. 

“Thank you, Your Highness.” 

The sweet and creamy fruit juice spread in his mouth, and Shi Jingxian glanced at the clear liquid in the glass. 

It really was juice. 

Although the guests around had various expressions, soon the banquet returned to its normal atmosphere. No matter how shocked or curious the gazes were, they had all reined in quite a bit. 

However, Shi Jingxian quickly sensed a gaze that felt like a sharp blade at his back. 

He turned his head to look and saw Yuan Xiao, also holding a wine glass, standing among a group of well-dressed nobles, his expression dark enough to wring water out of. 

Yuan Xiao exchanged a few words with those beside him and quickly walked toward Shi Jingxian. But before he could reach, Lan Luohai had already spoken up. 

“Today, a few high-tier potion masters happened to come. Ji Shenyaoshi, would you like to chat with them?” 

Shi Jingxian hesitated for a second. 

“Is that okay?” 

“Of course,” Lan Luohai smiled, “You are a distinguished guest who has traveled a long way.” 

The other subordinates of Yuan Xiao who were left out to the side: … 

It seemed they had also come from Country A. 

Under Lan Luohai’s introduction, Shi Jingxian quickly met four or five high-tier potion masters gathered in a corner of the dining hall. They seemed uninterested in the banquet; unlike the other guests who were just drinking and chatting, their table was filled with a variety of sumptuous food that had clearly been enjoyed. 

However, when Lan Luohai walked over, they all stood up collectively. 

“Your Highness.” 

Lan Luohai nodded and introduced both parties to each other. 

“Master Des?” Shi Jingxian was slightly surprised, “The formula for the high-tier vision potion… was it you who successfully formulated it?” 

The gray-haired, serious middle-aged man had sharp eyes. He paused for a moment and asked, “You know this formula?” 

“I experimented with it a couple of days ago,” Shi Jingxian said, “It was very effective.” 

A few high-tier potion masters exchanged glances, and when they looked at Shi Jingxian again, their expressions were clearly different. 

“You succeeded in making it?” Des asked. 

“Yes, but the number of experiments wasn’t enough, so the quality isn’t very good,” Shi Jingxian said, “It might be because the drying of the Ganji flower wasn’t thorough enough.” 

Seeing that he had indeed pointed out the key issues, Des’s expression visibly softened: “The Ganji flower is difficult to dry thoroughly without compromising quality; you could try using a dehydrating agent.” 

The conversation gradually picked up, and their enthusiasm grew. It wasn’t until a server came over with wine that someone suddenly remembered, “Oh, where’s His Highness?” 

They had just left Lan Luohai out to the side. 

Another person said, “His Highness went back to socialize; look, he’s over there.” 

Following his指引, the others quickly spotted Lan Luohai, who was talking with Yuan Xiao. 

Saying it was a conversation was a bit misleading; in reality, it was Yuan Xiao doing all the talking, while Lan Luohai merely took a cold sip of wine, soon shook his head, and left. 

Someone scoffed, “That marshal from Country A is quite enthusiastic toward His Highness.” 

This remark immediately sparked quite a discussion. 

“What good is enthusiasm? He’s just a scoundrel who treats potion masters like laborers.” 

“Isn’t that him? Keeping his potion master partner locked up and forcing them to make potions for the military.” 

“Des, I remember your research institute had invited his partner, right?” 

Des frowned: “That was a good seed.” 

“If they’re being exploited every day to supply potions for the military, even a good seed will be ruined.” 

Someone recalled Shi Jingxian and casually asked him, “Ji Shenyaoshi, do you know about his partner’s situation?” 

Shi Jingxian cleared his throat and couldn’t help but rub his nose. 

He said softly, “That’s me.” 

“What?” The person didn’t hear clearly. 

Shi Jingxian said, “His legal partner is me.” 

Several high-tier potion masters fell silent for a few seconds in unison. 

After Shi Jingxian explained how he became a high-tier potion master, they expressed their sentiments and then resumed discussing potions. They were all elite geniuses who had immersed themselves in the forefront of the field for many years, and after one conversation, Shi Jingxian naturally benefited greatly. 

The fame of these high-tier potion masters was well-known, and no one dared to disturb them, allowing Shi Jingxian to enjoy a moment of peace as well. The royal family’s welcome for Yuan Xiao had little to do with them, and it wasn’t until the banquet was about to end that Shi Jingxian parted ways with them. 

As evening approached and the welcome banquet was nearing its end, many still wanted to continue chatting. As Shi Jingxian walked past, he heard several people planning to invite Yuan Xiao, but when he saw Yuan Xiao, the latter had already stood beside Lan Luohai. 

“The king said he would find someone to show me the night view of the capital; what do you think, Prince Lan?” 

Lan Luohai: “Sorry, I don’t have time tonight.” 

Shi Jingxian rubbed his chin. 

Had Yuan Xiao also been this persistent with Lan Luohai in the original plot? 

Yuan Xiao seemed to want to say something else, but Lan Luohai directly bid farewell. As soon as he left, other nobles who had plans surrounded Yuan Xiao. 

Once Lan Luohai stepped out, he spotted Shi Jingxian not far away. 

“Ji Shenyaoshi!” Lan Luohai’s eyes lit up. 

He took a few steps forward and smiled, “I have something to discuss with you; do you have other plans tonight?” 

Shi Jingxian was taken aback for a moment. 

Hadn’t he just said he was busy tonight? 

Lan Luohai continued his advance: “Just now, a few high-tier potion masters said they hit it off with you and wanted to…” 

Before he could finish, Shi Jingxian was suddenly pulled by Yuan Xiao, who grabbed his arm. 

“Your Highness, sorry, my wife has to accompany me tonight.” 

Shi Jingxian frowned, and the right arm that was grabbed twitched slightly. 

Lan Luohai ignored Yuan Xiao’s words and coldly said, “Let go!” 

Yuan Xiao’s gaze darkened, and his expression also soured. 

Lan Luohai directly reached out and grabbed Yuan Xiao’s wrist, forcing him to release his grip. 

He didn’t look particularly strong, yet he easily made the eighth-tier ability user Yuan Xiao feel pain and lose strength. 

“Lan…!” 

Lan Luohai turned a deaf ear. He used the back of his left hand to support Shi Jingxian’s forearm, while his right hand carefully rolled up Shi Jingxian’s sleeve. 

Beneath the soft fabric, the horrifying purple-blue bruises were glaringly visible, contrasting starkly with his fair skin, making them even more shocking. 

Just moments ago, Yuan Xiao had held Shi Jingxian’s wrist, but as the sleeve was rolled up, those bruises extended all the way to his elbow. 

And it was clear that these were not old injuries. 

Shi Jingxian glanced at his hand and then remembered where the injuries had come from. 

These were the marks left by Yuan Xiao when he had gone mad and forced him to wear golden hair two days ago. 

By the time Shi Jingxian looked up again, Lan Luohai’s thin lips were tightly pressed together, his expression devoid of emotion. 

Those azure blue eyes were as cold as a thousand miles of ice, and the chilling aura seemed to lower the temperature in the banquet hall. 

Lan Luohai spoke each word clearly. 

“Who did this?”