Chapter 519: Chapter 519 : (Extra) Jiang Muchen’s Love Story (4)
The annual hunt was an event where particularly the young, recently differentiated alphas showcased their martial arts proficiency and made names for themselves before the entire Heavenly Realm.
It was also an event to select the fairest omega of all, allowing them to carry the title "Ethereal Beauty" of the year.
This year, the pressure on the alphas were particularly great.
It was to take place in Mount Yulin, courtesy of the Golden Dragon Palace itself.
Since the event was hosted by the Golden Dragon Palace, the Heavenly Emperor himself was present, along with the Imperial Consort, the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince Consort, also known as the Supreme General of the realm.
The participants’ awful performances in this hunt would be remembered long after the royal family forgot about it. It was because their own families would never forgive them for tarnishing the good family names.
To add salt to the wound, Shuiran Palace Master, the Fire Guardian Jiang Muchen, also participated in the hunt.
When the other alphas found out, they were overwhelmed by the desire to toss their weapons into the air and walk away.
Because who could compare to him???
Why not just slay the most impressive beast, hand it to him, and say, "Congratulations, Shuiran Palace Master, if you can now head back to the entrance and claim your prize, thank you."
On the other hand, the omegas almost went crazy from excitement.
An eligible bachelor was to take a wife!
Why else would he bother joining this hunt?
Which part of his sparkling presence did he wish to scrub to perfection?
Other than, maybe, the sulking expression across his face.
"I hate this," Jiang Muchen murmured.
"No one expects you to like it," Xie Jianshen quipped.
"There, there," Jiang Rufeng was all smiles. "Muchen, just don’t discourage the other alphas too much, hmm? Take a look at all the beautiful and enchanting omegas over there. Your mother and I support your choice completely."
"Pick a smart one," Xie Jianshen said as he scanned the crowding omegas one by one. "Preferably one with zero ambition toward the Dragon Throne."
Needless to be said, it must not be a wolf. Or a fox.
Jiang Muchen knew his mother’s taste very well.
He threw a glance at Xie Jianyu, who was cradling Zhang Yueting in his arms while soothing the little tiger with soft words.
The baby was almost two years old now, but she stuck to her mother the entire time.
Zhang Fengxi, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen. The last time he saw the alpha tiger, he was being dragged around by his two energetic sons close to the edge of the hunting ground.
Jiang Muchen fingered the pink orchid at his chest, his face gradually darkening.
He considered himself extremely unlucky. The only omega he wished to present the pink orchid to was claimed years ago, and had already given birth to three children.
Jiang Muchen seethed inside.
What was the point of participating in this hunt, again?
He would like to rip the flower off his chest, flung it away, and escape from Mount Yulin.
Alas, his every movement was being watched by his doting parents.
If he did not follow their scenario and court an omega at the end of the hunt, he would be done for.
Just then, Zhang Fengxi arrived. He had Xie Junjie slung against one shoulder and Zhang Mingrui in his arms.
"What happened?" Xie Jianyu asked with a frown. Both boys looked so exhausted.
"We practically went around the mountain," Zhang Fengxi replied with a smile. "They wanted to participate in the hunt so badly."
Xie Jianyu chuckled. He reached out and patted the boys on the back.
"Come sit with me," the Crown Prince said. "It is about to begin."
As if sensing a burning line of sight at his back, Zhang Fengxi turned around and spotted Jiang Muchen.
Their gaze met for a split second before Zhang Fengxi grinned at him shamelessly. Before Jiang Muchen’s very eyes, he pulled Xie Jianyu into his arms and claimed his lips in a ravenous kiss.
Snap.
Enraged, Jiang Muchen snapped a tree branch into two with a single hand.
Zhang Fengxi, you shameless bastard! He cursed in his heart. I hope your thing falls off in near future!
Before long, Head Eunuch Lu’s booming voice was heard.
"All hunt participants, kindly gather at the entrance!!!"
Jiang Muchen swung himself atop his spiritual lion.
He threw his dear parents, Xie Jianyu, and Zhang Fengxi one last miserable look before he moved toward the entrance area.
Most of the alphas were younger than him. And only a few had prestigious enough lineage and wealth to afford a spiritual mount.
They all looked at Jiang Muchen in a mixture of awe and envy. Whenever their eyes met Jiang Muchen’s, they lowered their gaze in a subservient but also begrudging manner.
The Fire Guardian could not help but feel sorry for these other alphas. He thus tucked his staff away and decided to hunt with his childhood weapon -- a sword and a bow.
A firework was shot into the air, signaling the start of the hunt.
Atop his spiritual lion, Jiang Muchen meandered, unburdened by the need for a swift ascent or the thrill of the hunt.
He was just going to catch something remotely acceptable, give the pink orchid to an omega, and be done for the day.
Let the other alphas shine for once.
It was the perfect time of the day to take a nap, anyway.
...
Hmm.
In a shocking turn of events, the laziest person stumbled upon a fantastic idea.
Jiang Muchen patted his spiritual lion lovingly at the side.
"Rowr?" The lion looked up at his master.
"Hongzhen, I am going to rest on top of the tree for a little bit. You are free to wander around and catch some monsters. If you catch a particularly big one... I will give you an entire deer for dinner."
An entire deer!
"The best one," Jiang Muchen said in a the most enticing manner. "The juiciest one with the most tender and flavorful meat."
Hongzhen took off without further persuasion and Jiang Muchen stepped off the ground.
He quickly found the perfect napping spot.
The lion alpha had only closed his eyes for several minutes when he heard Hongzhen’s frantic yowl some distance away.