Chapter Three: The Cold and Unapproachable Most Handsome Man

At that moment, a thunderous roar erupted along the street—the moment of the announcement had arrived.

On the cloth banner opposite the loft, several large characters slowly appeared:

“Ningyuan Kingdom’s Wind and Cloud Rankings, Number One: Shen Feng Mo.”

Like a stone dropped into a still lake, the news sent ripples surging through the crowd.

Though the result was no surprise to anyone present, all eyes instinctively turned toward Shen Muyun and Shen Ningshuang.

Shen Muyun’s expression remained calm, while Shen Ningshuang bowed her head in silence.

“We should cheer a bit; otherwise, it might seem disrespectful to Father,” Shen Muyun said with a slight smile, clapping his hands faintly across from her. The applause, faint amidst the clamor, felt somewhat hollow.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he resumed peeling the lychees in his hand at a leisurely pace.

Seeing this, Shen Ningshuang couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

“Ningyuan Kingdom’s Wind and Cloud Rankings, Number Two: Master Ming Kong.”

Shen Ningshuang furrowed her brows, a trace of disdain flashing in her eyes as she silently muttered, “That stinking monk.”

“Ningyuan Kingdom’s Wind and Cloud Rankings, Number Three: Qing Ming, the Medical Sage.”

Shen Ningshuang spat the lychee pit with a louder click. “That stinking quack.”

“Ningyuan Kingdom’s Wind and Cloud Rankings, Number Four: Prince Dinghuan, Leng Yichen.”

As soon as these words appeared, the entire loft seemed to explode in noise, the uproar even greater than before.

“Last year the prince was tenth, and now he’s fourth?” someone whispered in astonishment.

“Isn’t that even ahead of the emperor’s rank?” another said, voice trembling with fear.

“Silence! Do you want to lose your lives?” someone nearby scolded hurriedly, eyes full of panic.

Meanwhile, the man in question appeared utterly indifferent, deaf to the surrounding uproar.

His deep eyes didn’t even flicker—a cold, towering iceberg radiating an awe-inspiring majesty.

Since childhood, he had trained in martial arts and endured the harsh life of a soldier. By twelve, he donned armor and stepped onto the brutal battlefield.

In his first campaign, he led only five thousand elite troops, yet like a pack of wolves, they crushed twenty thousand enemies with overwhelming force, earning him fame overnight.

That he now held such a high position on the Wind and Cloud Rankings was hardly surprising.

Noticing Shen Ningshuang’s gaze lingering on him, Shen Muyun asked with some curiosity, “What are you trying to do? With his temperament, even if you stared holes into him, he wouldn’t notice.”

“I know. I just want to get a good look at the most handsome man in Ningyuan Kingdom,” she replied.

Shen Muyun teased, “Oh? So you’re captivated by that handsome face, huh?”

Shen Ningshuang smiled softly. “Ah, he’s the dream lover of every woman in Ningyuan. Who could easily ignore that?”

Shen Muyun’s expression turned serious, his voice firm. “I don’t care what others think, but you mustn’t entertain such thoughts.”

She chuckled quietly. “Why not? Am I not worthy of him?”

“Not exactly. Look at him now—at the pinnacle of power in court. But court politics are ever-changing and treacherous. Such dazzling prominence isn’t always a blessing. Besides, his heart is as cold as ice; no warmth can thaw it. A man like that isn’t a suitable match for you. If you plan to bind him through marriage, give up now.”

Still, Shen Ningshuang’s gaze remained fixed. Shen Muyun sighed, picking up a peach blossom pastry and forcing it into her mouth, feigning anger. “Eat your food and stop staring.”

Chewing the pastry, Shen Ningshuang mumbled, “You said you came here just to watch the rankings. Now they’ve announced the top ten, but you don’t seem interested at all.”

Shen Muyun patted her head gently. “I mainly brought you out to relax. Besides, I was hoping Master Ming Kong might cast a divination for you.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Ningshuang’s face filled with surprise.

“Brother, you actually believe that old monk?”

“What old monk? Master Ming Kong is the living embodiment of Buddha in Ningyuan. His prophecies never fail; even the royal family respects him.”

Shen Ningshuang scoffed. “You mean he’ll actually come here today?”

“Exactly. He promised to find a destined person to divine for on the day of the announcement. That’s why so many people have gathered for the spectacle.”

As he spoke, Master Ming Kong slowly appeared amid the crowd’s eager gaze.

For a moment, the world seemed to fall silent, then the crowd erupted in cheers.

Master Ming Kong looked remarkably young—not at all the “old monk” Chen Xingwan described.

His kind, benevolent face was shrouded in an aura of cold detachment, making him seem distant despite his proximity.

He pressed his palms together in a solemn Buddhist salute, then extended his hand toward Leng Yichen.

The crowd could only shake their heads helplessly.

Indeed, wherever this great master appeared, he was always the center of attention.

Master Ming Kong studied Leng Yichen’s palm with deep concentration. After a moment, he whispered a few words to him.

A flicker of shock crossed Leng Yichen’s usually impassive eyes, a rare trace of surprise.

The master offered no further explanation, smiling faintly as he turned to leave.

Yet, his gaze halted abruptly upon meeting Shen Ningshuang’s.

Instinctively alert, she wondered what the monk intended.

Master Ming Kong stepped closer, lowering his voice to whisper beside her ear: “Since we are old acquaintances, why such cold distance?”

His words struck like thunder from a clear sky, shaking Shen Ningshuang to her core.

She felt as if her very soul had been torn from her body, momentarily lost and disoriented.

The facade of innocence she wore shattered, replaced by a sharp, piercing coldness in her eyes.

Shen Muyun, closest to her, was visibly taken aback by this sudden shift in her aura, frozen in place.

But when he looked again, Shen Ningshuang’s face had returned to calm, as if the moment of abnormality had been nothing but an illusion.