Genius Doctor: Black Belly Miss Volume 9

by North Night (夜北)

  The other four people in the top ten ranks had in the initial stages of the ranking matches of the final ten spontaneously declared their surrender. It was not because they were cowardly, but it was because the disparity in the power levels of the opponents was too huge and even if they went up on stage, before the six monsters from the Zephyr Academy, they would only end up looking sorely inadequate. Instead of embarrassing themselves like that, they chose to just accept their position in the lower ranks in the top ten and retreat early in the matches.

  The matches of the top ten that was supposed to be the most attention grabbing had under the solo performance by the Zephyr Academy turned to become dull and unexciting. After the other four participants forfeited, only the contestants from the Zephyr Academy were left. Jun Wu Xie and the others had not even bothered to fight and they just showed their faces on stage to merely raise up their hands to announce their forfeiture, forcibly pushing Fan Zhuo up the ranks to attain the Spirit Battle Tournament’s highly vaunted first position.

  To Fan Zhuo himself…..

  Being elevated up onto the pedestal in such a manner, he could not feel the slightest bit of glory from it!

  But in his heart he knew, that Jun Wu Xie and the others had done this for only one reason. It was because his surname. Fan!

  With a member of the Fan Family gaining the top position in the Spirit Battle Tournament, to Fan Jin and the Zephyr Academy, it was a matter that would boost the confidence people had for them.

  After the Spirit Battle Tournament ended, Fan Jin had gotten himself roaring drunk in the middle of the day, his face filled with a goofy grin as he was carried by Fan Zhuo to go back to the room to rest.

  According to the Spirit Battle Tournament’s yearly itinerary, after the matches for the top ten ranked concluded, The Yan Country’s Emperor would invite the top ten ranked winners to join him in a state banquet and this year was no exception.

  On the second day after the Spirit Battle Tournament ended, Jun Wu Xie and the others received the Imperial Edict, inviting them to make their way into the Imperial Palace to partake in a state banquet. Lei Chen had also sent them congratulatory gifts and word that he would be joining them in another round of merrymaking at the banquet that night.

  “I dare to swear, that this Imperial Edict, must have been drafted while the Emperor was vomiting blood out of his mouth.” Qiao Chu exclaimed, turning the scroll round a few times in careful scrutiny, laughing out in an endless guffaw.

  Ye Sha had gathered information back from within the Palace, that the Emperor had intended to stir up another storm during the matches of the top ten ranked contestants. But would have expected that Jun Wu Xie and the others would only use less than half a day’s time to conclude the entire competition that was supposed to be highly gripping and exciting. The minions of the Emperor had just been rubbing their hands in glee in preparation for their schemes to commence when they found that the competition had already ended.

  That had caused the Emperor to be unable to give vent to the anger he had lodged in his chest which infuriated him endlessly.

  “It must be really hard on him. He would obviously not want to see us in the slightest but he is forced to extend the invitation to us.” Fei Yan said smilingly. The schemes the Emperor had thought up and planned for had fallen flat before they could even be executed, unable to stir up anything during the final matches between the top ten ranks. The companions were widely seen to be closest to Lei Chen and according to regulations, they would all return back to their academies soon after the Spirit Battle Tournament ended whereby the Emperor would not have any more opportunity to try to poach them but forced to watch helplessly as the alliance between Lei Chen and them becoming stronger and stronger. How frustrating that must feel.

  “Tonight, I say let’s all make a few more toasts to Lei Chen right before the Emperor’s eyes!” Qiao Chu said with an evil glint in his eye.

  “Of course toasts are a must! It would be more perfect if a nuptial toast with crossed arms could be made as well! I think you would be the most suitable candidate for it.” Fei Yan said to Qiao Chu, his eyes blinking innocently at Qiao Chu.

  Qiao Chu cussed with a laugh and reached for the vase at the side and threw it, which Fei Yan nimbly raised his hand to catch easily.

  “I don’t really care how the Emperor feels about it. What I would like to know more is what Little Xie intends to do from here onwards. There won’t be many opportunities to gain entry into the Imperial Palace and if we are unable to make our move tonight, we will have to find an excuse to remain here in the city and try to find a way through Lei Chen to enter the Palace to locate the map.” Fan Zhuo said, his chin held in his palm as he looked at Jun Wu Xie.

  Jun Wu Xie replied: “We give it a try tonight.”

  Volume 9

  Chapter 882 : “Banquet in the Palace (1)”

  Night fell, and the Yan Country’s Imperial Capital was brightly lit up with countless lanterns. The dazzle of candle flames threw out their light, pushing back the darkness the shrouded the prosperous city.

  Two horse carriages belonging to the Zephyr Academy slowly moved off from the Immortals’ Loft, rolling towards the gates of the Imperial Palace.

  As they passed along on the street, there were many youths from the various academies who had not yet left and they stopped in their tracks to peer at them. Before the Spirit Battle Tournament began, none of them had expected that the Zephyr Academy which had seemed to be on a decline, would put up such an astounding show of power in this year’s Spirit Battle Tournament. The Zephyr Academy’s fame had now grown instead of a decline, giving everyone a faint and indistinct feeling that they might have surpassed the War Banners and the Dragon Slayers, all ready to fully take the top spot as the most elite of academies.

  The Imperial Palace was filled with hanging lanterns and colourful banners, to welcome the ten highly talented individuals who had stood out from the rest in this year’s Spirit Battle Tournament, where every place in there was filled with joyous celebratory decorations.

  The horse carriages from the other academies were stopped before the palace gates. Among the top ten ranks, besides the Zephyr Academy having taken up six spots, the War Banners and the Dragon Slayers took two spots each. The ten youths had arrived at the palace gates at almost the same time. The four disciples from the War Banner and the Dragon Slayers were lavishly clothed, obviously having carefully dressed themselves up. They all stood under the night sky, their heads raised up to gawk at the majestic towering palace gates, their eyes deeply mesmerized.

  The six of them, Jun Wu Xie and her companions, were still wearing their Zephyr Academy uniforms as if they did not have a second set of clothes besides those.

  But when the six companions appeared, the Dragon Slayers’ and the War Banners’ demeanour immediately weakened, their arrogance quickly dissipating.

  The might the six of them possessed was the best dress up they could give themselves and without needing any adornments, they were already seen as heaven defying monsters who outshone all of them!

  The junior eunuch in the Imperial Palace led the ten of them inside. The Yan Country had indeed lived up to its name as the most prosperous country. Every part of the interior exemplified grandeur and lavish luxury. Although he four youths from the Dragon Slayers and the War Banner tried hard to hide their excitement, the pairs of eyes burning fervently however did not even subside a moment.

  Jun Wu Xie and her gang on the other hand were calm and collected. Jun Wu Xie was the Young Miss of the Lin Palace and she was no stranger to Imperial Palaces. The Qi Kingdom’s Imperial Palace was her the garden in her own backyard where she come and went as she wished.

  Although Qiao Chu and the others had lived a life of poverty for a long time, but they had grown up within the Twelves Palaces when young and the extravagant luxuries back in the Middle Realm was something the Lower Realm would find hard to catch up to.

  After passing through almost halfway t
hrough the Imperial Palace, they finally arrived at the banquet. Within the banquet hall, their seats have been arranged and allocated and they had not arrived early as there were already some people seated in waiting.

  All the four princes of the Yan Country were present and besides them, there were people from the Thousand Beast City that included Xiong Ba, Feng Yue Yang, Qing Yu and Qu Ling Yue at the banquet who were all sitting formally, straight backed in their seats. Xiong Ba had met Jun Xie once on the day they had gone to bring Jun Xie out from jail and he now saw Jun Xie as a delicate youth who had been unjustifiably implicated to suffer needless injustice. Xiong Ba saw Jun Xie coming in and he nodded to the youth with a smile on his face.

  Qu Ling Yue was however looking at Jun Xie with her face deeply ashamed where she only managed a brief and quick flustered smile before lowering her head as she did not dare look at Jun Xie after that.

  Jun Wu Xie and the others took their seats and sweet melodious music filled the Imperial Palace, accompanied by palace maids who served them fresh fruits and wine. Everyone quietly savoured the moment as they waited for the banquet to begin.

  Lei Chen was looking at Jun Xie, his wide smile showing his great joy at the moment. Lei Chen knew very well that Lei Fan who was seated right beside him was at the moment gnawing with jealousy and highly infuriated by his big smile and his hands hidden below the table would be leaving countless deep scratch marks underneath.

  Volume 9

  Chapter 883 : “Banquet in the Palace (2)”

  Jun Wu Xie nodded slightly to Lei Chen, although there wasn’t a smile on her face, it was nevertheless still a polite gesture.

  Jun Wu Xie’s response made Lei Fan’s rage boil up another notch. He fought to suppress the rage within his heart, his face all smiles.

  If not for an unexpected accident in the incident with Qu Ling Yue, Jun Xie would now be his closest aide, and Lei Chen would not have a chance to show off his friendly relations with Jun Xie here.

  His hatred was so intense he wished he could just kick Lei Chen into oblivion but he was forced to maintain that innocent smile on his face and Lei Fan was almost about to puke out blood from holding it in.

  Finally after a short wait, the Yan Country’s Emperor slowly walked into the banquet. His long robe of brilliant yellow colourfully embroidered with a five claw golden dragon accompanied with a shiny cape appeared before everyone’s eyes as he walked slowly to go sit upon his throne.

  “I must have caused my esteemed guests to wait. The Spirit Battle Tournament this year was just spectacular and although I have not been fortunate enough to be able to go witness all our outstanding talented youths battle, I have however heard much about it in the Imperial Palace. Tonight, I have invited all of you here to congratulate and wish all of you the best in winning success and recognition, achieving a place of your own throughout these lands!” The Emperor said with a benign smile, raising up his cup in a toast.

  “Thank you Your Majesty!”

  The ten youth all stood up in unison, downing the wine in their cups in one go,

  “All have a seat. All of you do not need to restrain yourself here tonight.” The Emperor said with a laugh, his eyes surreptitiously swinging over to the direction of the six people from the Zephyr Academy, looking at them one by one, and he found himself highly surprised.

  Although he had seen the portraits of Jun Xie and the others previously, and knew that five among the six of them possessed highly attractive looks and features, he discovered that what his eyes saw today seeing them in person, was a million times more good looking than the countenance he had seen on the portraits.

  And all six of them commanded an outstanding presence and just one look told him that these youths would soar to extraordinary heights in the days to come!

  When the thought that these six extraordinary and exemplary youths had been won over by Lei Chen, the Emperor felt his chest inexplicably tighten, and if the person these youths were friendly to was Lei Fan, he would be absolutely overjoyed.

  Fei Yan had just sat down when he suddenly bent his body slightly to move close to Jun Wu Xie.

  “The one sitting next to Lei Chen, is that the Fourth Prince Lei Fan?”

  Jun Wu Xie nodded slightly. Lei Fan had come to her two times, and in both instances, her companions had not been around her.

  “Then that makes things rather strange.” The corners of Fei Yan’s lips lifted up into a thoughtful smile.

  “What?” Jun Wu Xie said in a low voice.

  “You knew that I had carried out an investigation to gather more information about the Yan Country? I happened to chance upon the portrait of the concubine that the Emperor favoured long ago. I have seen it, and she does look rather attractive. According to what Lei Chen told us before, Lei Fan would most probably not have been born from that woman. But….. the looks and features of Lei Fan is however very much alike to the lady in the portrait.” Fei Yan was suddenly finding this discovery an interesting fact.

  An illegitimate child of the Empress and a high ranking official was looking so much like the lady the Emperor had favoured and loved? What was really going on here?

  Jun Wu Xie narrowed her eyes. When she had met with Lei Chen before, she had not paid much attention to Lei Fan’s looks.

  “No wonder the Emperor would dote on the Fourth Prince so much. With a face looking like that, it will constantly remind the Emperor of the woman he had always loved and wouldn’t the Emperor shower Lei Fan with endless love and indulgence?” Fei Yan laughed secretly to himself.

  “Face Changing Technique.” Jun Wu Xie said softly.

  “Can that be unraveled?” Fei Yan asked, highly excited.

  “I need to know what method was employed.” Jun Wu Xie chose not to ascertain it as fact carelessly. There were many ways to carry out the Face Changing Technique in the world and to expose it, one needed to first find out which method the target had employed.

  Lei Fan seemed to notice Jun Xie looking in his direction and besides being surprised, his face immediately broke into a wide guileless smile. He lifted his cup and raised it up in the direction that Jun Xie was at and said: “Having Jun Xie looking at me in such manner is really making me feel rather shy about it. Such a rare opportunity for us to have a drink in the same place, I hope Jun Xie will oblige.”

  Volume 9

  Chapter 884 : “Banquet in the Palace (3)”

  At the banquet, everyone’s attention was drawn into Lei Fan’s words and they all turned to look at Jun Xie. Although there was a smile on Lei Chen’s face, the smile had however not reached his eyes.

  Jun Wu Xie did not immediately give a response and just continued staring at Lei Fan’s smiling face. After remaining silent for a while, she slowly lifted up her cup and took a tiny sip out of it for show.

  The Emperor had at that moment then said smilingly: “This must be the Zephyr Academy’s youngest contestant right? Your name is Jun Xie?”

  Jun Wu Xie stood up and answered: “I am.”

  “Good, good, good! Heroes are indeed discovered from the youths. I would not have thought that one so young will be able to attain such high achievements, the future in front of you is limitless! You are of a similar age to the Fourth Prince and both of you should get together a little in future.” The Emperor said with a laugh, his smiling eyes scrutinizing Jun Xie from head to toe. However, when his gaze swept over the ring that Jun Xie was wearing over his finger, the smile on his face suddenly congealed a moment!

  “Jun Xie, you are the youngest contestant to ever take part in the Spirit Battle Tournament. The youngest in the history of the tournament. Take a step forward and let me have a good look at you, the little prodigy.” The Emperor continued to say without showing any change in his demeanor.

  Jun Wu Xie didn’t want to make it embarrassing for the Emperor in front of everyone present and she took a few steps away from her seat to stand before the Emperor.

  The Emperor’s face was still smiling, but there was a
faint tinge of shock that shone deep within his eyes.

  [The ring on Jun Xie’s finger! He will never forget it!]

  “Jun Xie, is the ring on your finger your ring spirit? This is the first time I am seeing someone wearing their spirit ring on that finger.” The spirit ring was most commonly worn on the middle finger on the right hand and it was not decided by choice of the owners but the moment when one’s ring spirit awoke, the spirit ring would just appear on the middle finger and most people would not consciously change the position of the spirit ring.

  But the silver ring on Jun Xie’s hand was worn on the ring finger.

  Jun Wu Xie lowered her head and looked at the ring on the fourth finger. It was the one she had picked up in the little stone dwelling at the bottom of the Heaven’s End Cliff. After departing from the Heaven’s End Cliff, she had always worn it on her hand and had not removed it since.

  One reason was that it was the only item her “Master” had left behind, and another reason was that her original spirit ring was not visible to anyone and having the silver ring on her hand, it was also able to confuse her opponents.

  “Yes it is, Your Majesty.” Jun Wu Xie answered with those simple words. Although the Emperor was trying his hardest to hide it, she was still able to notice from the minute and seemingly insignificant changes in his reaction and demeanor that the Emperor cared greatly about the ring.

  “I see.” The Emperor said, his heart feeling slightly more relieved, but the worry deep within his eyes had still not disappeared.

  “ Well, I was just curious about it. Jun Xie, you can go back to your seat. Today, it is to congratulate all of you and a celebration for the winners of the Spirit Battle Tournament. So please do not stand on ceremony.”

  Jun Wu Xie went back to her seat but in her heart, she was going to keep a close eye out in regards to the queer actions of the Emperor.