CHAPTER 497: THE WAYS OF THE WORLD
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What that meant, everyone understood perfectly well.
"Su Lin, stop smiling. Even if General Ye He didn't mean it that way, you still need to keep striving!"
"In the eyes of His Royal Highness, you still have a long way to go."
Su Lin nodded earnestly, thinking to himself: Brother Wang truly understands.
These Godslaying Kings were indeed formidable warriors, but not a single one of them was decent!
Sometimes they could even drive Su Cheng so mad he couldn't sleep, let alone Su Lin!
Still, the big fox behaved quite well in front of Su Cheng.
The moment the fox mocked Su Lin as a young punk, Su Cheng would pin a treason charge on her…
But since they were alone, and Ye He was family to Su Cheng anyway, a little banter didn't matter.
"Su Cheng, you goddamn piece of shit, you worthless bastard, you actually had the nerve to come back!"
"You fucking bastard! I could wring your neck! Playing hooky, huh?"
"You promised to let me go after the war ended! Where the hell are you?"
The cursing started before she even entered the door, leaving Chu Youwei utterly dumbfounded!
But as the woman entered, Chu Youwei recognized her. This woman was also the Godslayer King, whose statue stood in the chamber.
Unlike the Great Fox, however, this one was so important that Su Cheng and Su Lin personally came out to greet her…
Seeing this, Chu Youwei slowly rose to her feet, standing dumbstruck to the side…
"Mengdie, with all these people here, couldn't you spare me a little face?"
"You still have some damn shame left? Calling you names is too kind! I should slap you across the face!"
As she spoke, her jade-like hand shot straight for Su Cheng's head. She was the only woman who could still lay a hand on him now, and Su Cheng could only endure it…
She was also a great beauty, seemingly the same age as the fox-like woman. She wore a plain skirt and draped herself in the same style of military uniform as Su Cheng.
Su Cheng's maternal aunt was named Pingji. The woman before him was Pingji's younger sister, Mengdie—Su Cheng's aunt.
"Xiao Ai greets Lady Mengdie."
Mengdie's gaze swept over Xiao Ai, her expression equally contemptuous.
"Don't bother greeting me. It's best you don't. Every time you see me, you ask for money!"
"You and Su Cheng are cut from the same cloth—both of you are scum!"
Though she appeared young, Mengdie was actually much older than Su Cheng. She now served as the chief administrator of the Dawn Palace, overseeing internal affairs alongside Xiao Ai, while Xiao Ai managed military affairs.
"Uh… Youwei, greets Lady Mengdie."
Mengdie heard the voice and only then noticed Chu Youwei standing beside Su Cheng.
She immediately turned to Su Cheng: "You damn fool, all you do is mess around with women instead of focusing on your duties!"
Su Cheng looked utterly innocent. "Hey, hey, hey, Mengdie, watch your words! She's my disciple!"
A flash of gold flickered in Mengdie's eyes at the mention, though it vanished in an instant.
She hadn't been looking, but now that she did, she couldn't help but laugh.
"This… this physique? After all your teaching, this is the result?"
Chu Youwei quickly intervened: "Lady Mengdie, it's just that I'm naturally slow to learn…"
But to Su Cheng's surprise, Mengdie seized Chu Youwei's wrist.
"Do you know who I am?"
"I don't."
"Can't you tell this isn't your place to speak?"
At this point, Chu Youwei wasn't one to shy away from a confrontation!
"Didn't I just say I don't know who you are?"
But this remark piqued Mengdie's interest.
"I watched Su Cheng grow up. I changed his bedsheets when he wet the bed. Can't I say a few words?"
Chu Youwei remained impassive. "Didn't I just pay my respects to you? But when you speak of my master, I take offense."
Chu Youwei’s temper flared. I showed you respect—I gave face to the Godslayer King—but you insult my master? I won’t stand for it!
Su Cheng was utterly dumbfounded by her words!
"Hey, hey, hey! Mengdie, why are you picking a fight with the child? She's just a kid!"
Mengdie remained silent, shoving Su Cheng aside as she fixed her gaze on Chu Youwei.
Chu Youwei showed no fear. Her height meant she didn't have to look up at the Godslayer King before her.
"Youwei?"
"That's correct, Lady Mengdie. That is my name."
Mengdie chuckled. She'd only been teasing Chu Youwei—she wasn't about to get angry with a woman whose life was as fragile as paper.
"I rather like it. Join me for a drink later."
"It would be Yuwei's honor."
With that, Mengdie pulled Chu Youwei along, seating her opposite the Great Fox. She nodded to Ye He, signaling for the wine to be served first.
"Following him may not be the best choice for you now, but I know you won't listen even if I say so."
"Lord Gu Ai said the same thing."
"Do you know the one across from us?"
As the words fell, Mengdie snatched the wine flask from the maid and took a deep gulp.
"General Ye He, the Godslayer." Chu Youwei recognized Ye He.
"Even she must speak to me with utmost respect. Do you understand?"
"It was presumptuous of me, Youwei."
Shoving the half-empty flask back into Chu Youwei’s hands, Mengdie leaned against her shoulder and spoke slowly.
"It's fine. I know you'll keep overstepping. You're cut from the same cloth as that fool Xiao Ai."
"But you're nowhere near as good as Xiao Ai. You need to learn to hide your light under a bushel. Look at that fox across the way—if you could give her five thousand sets of armor, she'd agree to sleep with you for one night."
"Now look at that pink-haired one by Su City. If you could give her five thousand sets of armor, she could find fifty foxes to take turns or all sleep with you at once."
"Don't let her lack of a seat fool you—she stands because within Qinglong Pass, that pink-haired one reigns supreme."
"As for beyond Qinglong Pass, the foxes over there call the shots."
"The white-haired foxes are responsible for slaying enemies beyond the front lines, while the pink-haired little one keeps the beasts pinned beneath the throne."
"That's how your master sleeps soundly at night."
"I oversee the Fuyue Hall. With me here, the white-furred foxes' army gets fed, and the pink-furred little one gets paid."
"Do you understand my meaning?"
Chu Youwei looked earnest: "It was Youwei who spoke out of turn to Lord Mengdie. Please do not hold it against me."
Mengdie slowly shook her head, then spoke plainly: "Do you think I'm truly angry with you? A little brat like you would die from a single glare of mine~"
"What I mean is, you can't go on like this. You can't wear your emotions on your sleeve."
"Look at that fox across the way. They say her beauty is carved from solid ice, yet she’ll still coax your master and wear me down with sweet talk to get what she wants."
"I rather like you. If you're interested, you're welcome to visit my Fuyue Hall."
But Chu Youwei remained utterly calm. It must be said, she lacked Ye Qinghan's sharp wit.
"Youwei belongs to my master."
But Mengdie didn't care. She'd seen through this long ago. She disliked overly smooth operators like the big fox or Xiao Ai.
One must have their ways in dealing with matters, but losing one's own temperament would be pointless.
To become like Su Cheng—in essence, that meant losing one's humanity.
Mengdie still preferred Su Cheng before he became the Supreme. Back then, he was truly fascinating.
Ever since ascending to that seat, Su Cheng had changed—becoming like a king…
"You possess great talent. I can afford to give you some time."
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