Chapter 663 644: Circle of Best Friends

The Celestial Fragrance Tower in Haojing.

Compared to the one in Wang City, the Celestial Fragrance Tower here was far grander. Beyond the main building, which was open to all guests, a trip through the rear courtyard revealed all sorts of secret towers, hidden terraces, and private pavilions. There were even places like the Wild Fox Residence and the Wild Nest, filled with a mysterious allure. Of course, only the true scions of Haojing's elite could ever hope to gain entry. Wang Rencai, for instance, had been a regular at the Wild Fox Residence. To outsiders, anyone who frequented these establishments was simply part of the degenerate generation.

Inside the Celestial Fragrance Tower's Wild Fox Residence.

"Wang Rencai is back!"

"Perfect timing for that waste of space to return! I was just worrying that it'd be too hard to deal with him while he was so far away!"

"Tch, the Wang Family has already taken him back. He has a new name now: Wang Meng."

"Speaking of which, Little Fox, that waste of space was your great benefactor back in the day, haha. Any thoughts?"

Little Fox was the star of the Wild Fox Residence, and her name was Nine Foxes. She let out a delicate, foxy laugh and said, "What thoughts could I have? He's back, so what? I belong to you young masters now."

"Spit it out, you shameless vixen! Be honest, how many times did he have you back then?"

"He could never get it up!"

Nine Foxes said this deliberately. 'She knew perfectly well that these rich young masters sought her out precisely because she had once been Wang Rencai's private prize. What did it matter to her? She was a woman without a soul anyway.'

Nine Foxes shook her head, burying the thought deep inside. She then asked, "Young masters, what game would you like to play today? I'll go and prepare."

"Clever little thing. Go get the ropes!"

Nine Foxes led a group of attending maids out of the room. With fake fox tails pinned to their rears swaying, they all departed with seductive, smoky gazes.

The young masters chuckled. The one in the lead then said, "I don't need to say it, but now that Wang Rencai is back, our original plan for revenge is still on, regardless of whether he's truly returned to the Wang Family."

"Besides us, there are several other groups who definitely won't give up either."

"So, we should wait and see how things develop first."

"Right, the rumors say this Wang Rencai is an Artifact Refining Master, a Spirit Control Genius, and a Pill Master skilled in Alchemist Techniques. A triple-threat genius!"

"More like a master of shamelessness!"

"The Wang Family's methods are so shameless. How could they have the thick skin to plot something like this? Does Wang City really have that much potential?!"

"But I heard Zhan Yingluo was the one who brought the news back."

"The relationship between the Zhan Family and the Wang Family? Does that even need to be said? The Wang Family made a move behind the scenes this time and seized Wang City, this new city of opportunity. But they still need a sacrificial lamb. This Wang Meng is just coming back to die. Just watch, the real show is yet to come."

"Makes sense."

"In other words, the Wang Family doesn't actually care if this waste of space lives or dies."

"Heh, that's exactly right."

Zhan Yingluo was also at a gathering, this one with her circle of close friends. Just as men would critique and comment on beautiful women, young girls experiencing their first crushes were also interested in men. This interest didn't change just because she was beautiful; beautiful girls are still girls, after all.

"Latest news! The Tenth Princess had another breakthrough recently. I'm afraid her talent might now surpass the Seventh Princess's."

The 'talent' they spoke of was actually the height one could reach in the Divine Space.

"No way! The Seventh Princess's talent is already terrifying enough!"

"That's old news. By the way, Little Yu, isn't Mo Chengkong back? You know, the one who's so crazy about you he said he'd die if he couldn't marry you? How come he hasn't come to see you lately?"

"Yeah, Little Yu, has he… gotten his way with you yet?"

"Never let a man take advantage of you. Hmph! It's in their wicked nature to dump you as soon as they get what they want!"

"Are you guys trying to get killed?! For that, you should ask Yingluo. It seems Mo Chengkong got wrecked by someone in Wang City."

"Yes, he was defeated by Wang Meng," Zhan Yingluo said lightly. 'Inside, though, she felt a thrill of satisfaction. For some reason, she had been hoping Wang Meng would come back and completely shatter all those nasty rumors.'

"Wang Meng? You mean… that Wang Rencai? Him?"

"I heard about that from my brother. It seems Mo Chengkong got the short end of the stick, but apparently someone secretly helped Wang Meng, and Mo Chengkong was ambushed. Little Yu, you don't feel bad for him, do you?"

"Who the hell would feel bad for him! Hmph, it would be a cleaner world if both Wang Meng and Wang Rencai were dead."

"Now I remember! Wang Rencai used to harass Little Yu so much that she didn't even want to go to the Spirit Control Association for lectures anymore."

"You're one to talk! Didn't he grope you too…?"

"Ah! I'll kill you! Say that again and I'll rip your mouth off!"

"Bring it on! Let's see who rips whose mouth off! And I won't just rip the one on your face, but the one down below too!"

The level of craziness when women fight among themselves far exceeds what even the most iron-willed men could ever imagine…

And just like that, the beautiful-girl-battle began… Of course, their weapons were just soft cushions and pillows made of celestial feathers…

However, Zhan Yingluo blinked, not joining the fray. Listening to her friends, it sounded like Wang Meng was completely worthless. There were quite a few friends, like Little Yu, who had been harassed by him.

But… the Wang Meng she saw in Wang City was nothing like the person they were describing!

"Do you think… maybe there's more to the story?"

She asked in a low voice.

Instantly, the air in the room froze.

"Yingluo… are you feeling sick?"

"Yeah, you went to Wang City this time and not only did you not teach that bastard a lesson for us, you're actually speaking up for him."

"Mhm! But it's okay. We know this is a strategic cooperation between your Zhan Family and the Wang Family. We have to admit, it was a beautiful move."

"But in front of us sisters, it's better if you don't say things like that."

All at once, they stopped their roughhousing and gathered around Zhan Yingluo, their faces full of concern as they spoke.

Zhan Yingluo gave a wry smile. She knew exactly what they meant. They were genuinely concerned for her… They were worried she had been deceived by Wang Meng.

"Don't worry! It's just that… Wang Meng, he's really changed." But Zhan Yingluo alone could not stand against the power of so many voices.

"Sigh, we get it."

"Heh heh, Yingluo is so diligent."

Her friends just smiled, not taking Zhan Yingluo's words seriously. It made sense when you thought about it. The Wang Family's method of taking Wang City was a bit of a foul play. The Yuan Family, for one, was surely very displeased!

If the great families were to act directly against each other without any rules, the power involved would be too immense. The resulting clashes could trigger a war that would shatter the very foundations of the Great Zhou's rule. For a new point of interest, an untapped territory like Wang City, the top families could only compete against each other through third parties, within the bounds of unwritten rules!

In everyone's eyes, the Wang Family first removed the waste, Wang Rencai, from the family registry. Then, they had him join the struggle for Wang City under the name Wang Meng, while secretly sending people to help him. This was basically toeing the line of the rules!

But the deed was done. No matter how dissatisfied the Yuan Family was, they could only endure it. Although the great families were hostile enough to wish they could slaughter each other, maintaining that precarious, tightrope-like stability was still in their common interest. It had to be said, with the Fire Emperor's return looming, the Wang Family had played this move of 'recycling their trash' beautifully!

The Wang Family's Patriarch, Wang Zongzheng, may not have cultivated his Merak Fire Cloud Technique to its peak, but his Heart Attack Technique was quite brilliant.

To these beautiful girls, Zhan Yingluo was just being tight-lipped. In their eyes, whether he was Wang Rencai or the current Wang Meng, he was still that same worthless, giant pervert!

Little Yu blinked. Although she didn't like Mo Chengkong, seeing the man who liked her get "ambushed" by the man who used to bully her still made her unhappy. It was a matter of vanity, after all. What was the fun in being liked by a loser? Only being desired by an invincible powerhouse could make a girl feel a climax rising from the depths of her soul.

In this dazzling city of Haojing, even among the closest of friends, there were endless disputes and comparisons among the noblewomen.

At that moment, Little Yu said, "I've noticed that ever since Yingluo came back from Wang City, she's been a bit distracted. She's even spoken up for that pervert several times! It couldn't be that…"

"Couldn't be what?"

"Shh, you can't guess?"

"Ah! Don't tell me it's…!"

Zhan Yingluo leaped to her feet. "Ah! What nonsense are you all spouting? If you keep this up, I'm leaving!"

"Tsk tsk, she's getting angry from embarrassment. This is your home, isn't it? You're under house arrest again. Where could you possibly go?"

"Hee hee, I didn't believe it at first, but seeing you now… what Little Yu said might actually have some truth to it."

The beautiful girls erupted in a wave of teasing!

Zhan Yingluo was both annoyed and angry, but… deep inside, a tiny trace of shyness welled up. She quickly shook her head and cursed inwardly, 'Shy my ass! That's absolutely impossible. I'm just not used to being teased like this by my friends…'

'Still, that bastard Wang Meng hasn't even come to see me after returning to Haojing,' she thought. 'And after I've been saying so many good things about him!'

It wasn't that Wang Meng didn't want to see Zhan Yingluo. In his eyes, she was a good friend. However, caught in the middle of a vortex, he didn't want to bring trouble to others. He was a natural taunt magnet who already attracted hatred. Now that he was back in the "monster's den" of Haojing, it would be a miracle if people didn't gang up on him. Besides, with the Wang Family's great victory in Wang City, those people couldn't do anything to the family itself, so they would surely vent all their anger on him.

Master Wang called this 'waiting to see how things develop,' but in reality, he was quite relaxed.

To be part of the world, one must integrate into it. Familiar memories were everywhere, yet everything felt foreign. Wang Meng needed to familiarize himself with it all.

It had to be said, this would truly take some time. In Wang Rencai's memories, the most deeply etched place was, of all things, the Wild Fox Residence at the Celestial Fragrance Tower…

Wang Meng was a bit speechless. Everything else, in contrast, was just a hazy blur.

The next day, Wang Shifeng arrived first thing in the morning, bringing more than twenty servants with him.

"The Patriarch says that the grand family competition is coming up soon. To avoid disturbing your cultivation, he has decided to summon you after the competition is over. For the next few days, you should focus on cultivating here." Wang Shifeng wiped the sweat from his brow. 'Isn't he just messing with me? Before I left for Wang City, the Patriarch clearly told me to bring the man back to see him as soon as possible. But now that I've actually brought him back, he says he'll see him after the competition.'