"Empress, there happens to be a restaurant here. After driving for so long, you must be hungry. Shall we go have a meal, or rather, partake in a repast? What do you think?" Shangguan Zifeng, seeing his beloved car was now beyond repair, knew it would take some effort to find someone to fix it at this hour. So, he decided to first appease The Five Viscera Temple, noticing a high-end restaurant right across the street. At this moment, he himself was famished.
"I am not hungry," Shangguan Linlang responded petulantly. But no sooner had she said this than her stomach betrayed her with a growl, causing the Empress a moment of embarrassment.
Shangguan Zifeng considered himself to be a gentleman of good moral fiber and hence didn't take the young lady's pique to heart. Pretending not to have heard, he alighted first from the wreckage that could no longer be called a car. Then, with due respect, he opened the shaky car door, which was almost falling apart, and courteously invited Shangguan Linlang to step out.
The Empress didn't dither; she alighted with grace and poise, following behind Shangguan Zifeng at a leisurely pace toward the so-called restaurant.
As soon as this eye-catching pair of a handsome man and a beautiful woman appeared, the patrons dining in the restaurant took in a sharp breath. Shangguan Zifeng was exceptionally handsome and carried himself with a suave air, so it was not unusual for him to attract the gazes of female guests. However, today his limelight was completely stolen by Shangguan Linlang walking behind him, for he wasn't subjected to the usual half-hour scrutiny by men and women alike. In less than a minute, everyone's eyes were fixed on Shangguan Linlang, looking stupefied. People had never seen a girl like the Empress, who embodied both soft beauty and commanding aura. Especially in her phoenix crown and shawl that enhanced her dazzling beauty, she was unmatched in the world.
"My heavens, this lady could pass for the Mysterious Lady of the Ninth Heaven descending upon us. That vermilion bridal gown seems tailor-made for her. I have never seen a woman wear red with such unique distinction. Wuji, what do you think?"
Li Mufan, one of the Fourth Young Masters of Demon City, was dining in a private room on the second floor when he heard the commotion below and promptly looked out to find the stunningly indifferent girl amidst the crowd. He then turned and asked his friend, Xuanyuan Wuji, who had the title of the Lord of Demon City.
"Hmm, she is indeed very beautiful," Xuanyuan Wuji, hearing Li Mufan's comment, fixed his gaze on the delicate beauty in the vermilion gown below and responded indifferently.
"That's it? You're not moved by her? I really suspect you're gay. Does a fairy like her not catch your eye?" Li Mufan was utterly dumbfounded.
"She indeed possesses all the qualities to make any man's heart flutter, but sadly, I do not believe in such trifles as love at first sight," Xuanyuan Wuji quipped with a half-smile.
Bombarded by the stares from everyone, Shangguan Linlang was on the verge of a meltdown. Just as she was about to lose her composure, the Empress suddenly felt a strong gaze and naturally looked up, her eyes inadvertently meeting Xuanyuan Wuji's.
Xuanyuan Wuji had not expected the beautiful girl to look directly at him. Initially indifferent, he was taken aback when Shangguan Linlang gave him a disdainful glance and then dismissed him from her attention altogether. Such treatment left Xuanyuan Wuji somewhat astonished; suddenly, a crack appeared in his heart, as an unfamiliar feeling rushed into his five viscera and six bowels–mysterious, very mysterious.