Princess Jiang's Rival

The gloomy sky hung heavy with moisture as the sound of galloping horses echoed unexpectedly outside the Meridian Gate of the inner city.

A rabbit with a broken leg hobbled desperately through the crowd before finally crashing into Li Mo’s leg, too exhausted to move. A pair of small hands scooped it up. The rabbit lifted its head, saw the face behind the cool sunglasses, and its white fur instantly stood on end.

"Brother Li, Sister Bing, a rabbit!" Jiang Chulong blinked and cradled it gently.

Ying Bing cast a glance at the creature, and the rabbit, which had been about to struggle, shuddered and froze in fear.

"Brother Li, let’s help it."

"Sure. Let’s save half of it first—spicy or braised?"

"Brother Li, I think it fainted from fright."

"That’s quite the spirit."

Li Mo feigned a stern expression but pulled out medicinal ointment instead, its floral fragrance so potent it left even Xie Xuan speechless. Aside from the sword at his side, selling everything Xie Xuan owned wouldn’t have been enough to buy that bottle.

Just then, the crowd parted. Xie Xuan turned to see Jiang Yu and his entourage riding in, the royal princes and princesses clad in military attire as if returning from a hunt.

"My rabbit?"

As he passed, the Eighth Prince noticed Li Mo tending to the rabbit and checked his empty hunting pouch. His frown flickered before smoothing out.

"Consider yourself lucky. You can keep it."

"?"

Li Mo looked up, a question mark practically floating above his head.

Wait, who are you?

He was about to use his Heavenly Eye to check when Xie Xuan spoke up beside him.

"That’s the Eighth Prince. He owns the capital’s Golden Fortune Gambling House and the Moonlit Pavilion. Last time, you won a one-to-eight bet against him. Didn’t you go collect?"

Li Mo had been swamped lately, his mind occupied with investments, swordsmanship, and the icy beauty’s legs. He’d placed that bet just to boost Jiang Chulong’s confidence and barely remembered the winnings.

"I forgot."

"Brother Li, treating money like dirt—you and I are truly alike."

Xie Xuan nodded approvingly.

"How much was it?" Zhong Zhenyue asked curiously.

"Uh, sixteen golden mountains and four thousand mystic crystals," Xie Xuan replied casually, as if wealth meant nothing to him. Zhong Zhenyue looked thunderstruck, his gaze growing distant as he muttered under his breath, staring at the Eighth Prince.

"Pay up, you deadbeat."

Eighth Prince: "?"

"Hello. Repayment, please. It’s not much, but debts should be settled."

Li Mo extended his hand, cutting straight to the point.

The dashing Eighth Prince narrowed his eyes. He’d assumed Li Mo was sensible enough to let it slide, never expecting him to actually demand payment.

Then why hadn’t he mentioned it in the past two days?

Could he really not care about that much money? Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

"You’re not broke, are you?"

Young Li looked at him with pitying eyes.

For the first time in his life, the Fourth Prince was subjected to such an impolite stare. A vein throbbed on his forehead.

"You didn’t show up these past two days. I’ve already paid out the silver to other patrons. Tsk, some gambler actually dared to bet one-to-eight. Even us royals are tight on funds these days."

With so many watching, he couldn’t outright refuse.

"If you’re broke, use assets as collateral." Though it wasn’t his money, Zhong Zhenyue was already feeling the sting.

"The Moonlit Pavilion would do nicely." Xie Xuan suggested after some thought.

The Fourth Prince scoffed angrily. "Though I oversee the Moonlit Pavilion, I’ve gifted shares to the Eldest Prince. Why don’t you ask him for it when you face him in the arena later? Otherwise, keep waiting."

"Oi, Jiang Yu, are you backing his refusal to pay?"

Young Li completely ignored the veiled threat.

Jiang Yu: "?"

The murmurs around them instantly quieted. The Fourth Prince stiffened, his soul practically leaving his body. He hadn’t expected Li Mo to demand repayment on the spot.

"Give it to him," Jiang Yu said flatly.

The Fourth Prince’s lips parted. The Moonlit Pavilion wasn’t just a business—it was a hub for networking with nobles and officials, a platform maintaining crucial connections.

Managing it for the Eldest Prince and fostering ties with the elite was his greatest value to Jiang Yu. If he lost that usefulness...

But then his throat moved as realization struck.

This was the imperial capital.

The Moonlit Pavilion wasn’t liquid assets—it couldn’t be taken away. Once the Hidden Dragon Tournament ended, who would outlast whom?

"Take it. Just don’t come begging to return it later."

The Fourth Prince retrieved the deed from his spatial pouch. Before he could toss it disdainfully, Xie Xuan and Zhong Zhenyue swiftly snatched it, one on each side.

"Holy hell, so the Hammer Tyrant is now the owner of the capital’s biggest pleasure house?"

"Probably just temporary..."

"Today’s enough! Several beauties from the Flower Ranking are at the Moonlit Pavilion. I’ve dreamed since childhood of owning the grandest pleasure house—locking the doors and playing however I want."

"No wonder the Hammer Tyrant risked offending the royals for it. Is this his plan all along?"

"Damn, isn’t Frost Fairy already with him? How could he do this? Scumbag."

Li Mo’s lips twitched at their chatter. "Ice Block, you know my tastes. I’m planning to renovate the place."

"You’re turning it into..."

"Exactly—a foot massage parlor!"

For the next incense stick’s worth of time, the royal descendants kept stealing glances their way—until the morning bell tolled, and shimmering projections descended from the Scroll of Mountains and Rivers.

Everything mirrored the previous day. Names drawn by golden orbs were displayed above.

[Huang Donglai vs. Ning Que]

[Li Mo vs. Zhong Zhenyue]

"Seems like whoever wins between you and Ning Que will face Brother Li next," Zhong Zhenyue remarked, his injuries not fully healed.

The matches were grouped—these four would compete to determine the strongest among them.

"I can’t beat Ning Que. His sound-based martial arts counter me perfectly—he doesn’t even need to catch up to hit me."

Huang Donglai shook his head.

"Since I only use a sword, it’ll take some effort to deal with him too."

Li Mo had observed Ning Que’s performances.

Hearing this, Huang Donglai touched one of the vials hidden in his robes and fell into thought.

"Little Jiang’s up against Murong Xiao."

Li Mo grinned—until his smile vanished.

The next pairing in their group appeared.

[Jiang Yu vs. Qu Songyun]

Meaning if Jiang Chulong defeated Murong Xiao, her next opponent would be Jiang Yu.