Wu dong Qian Kun: I, Lin Langtian, Refuse to be a Supporting Character

Chapter 17: A Special Gift

The change in Ling Qingzhu's expression immediately caught the attention of everyone in the hall. Following her gaze toward the figure in the corner, many were taken aback.

Lin Langtian?

Of course, someone with Lin Langtian's status wouldn't normally end up seated in a corner of the hall. But since Ling Qingzhu arrived, everyone had flocked to surround her, creating this arrangement. What stunned the crowd most was that Ling Qingzhu, almost goddess-like in their eyes, had displayed a different reaction toward Lin Langtian.

For everyone present, this was hard to believe.

Even though Lin Langtian was the top talent of the Lin family and was respected throughout the Great Flame Empire, there were plenty of others in the room whose talent rivaled his, if not surpassed it. As for looks, he was certainly handsome, but Qin Shi from the Qin family and Mo Ling from the royal family could certainly give him competition.

Seeing that the esteemed Ling Qingzhu had directed her attention toward him left many of the talents puzzled. Was Lin Langtian's cool, distant demeanor what won her interest? They glanced at her and, thinking perhaps they'd tried too hard to impress her, quickly dialed down their enthusiasm and directed their heated stares toward her with a touch more reserve.

Next to Ling Qingzhu, her silver-haired companion, Huangpu Jing, also noticed the subtle shift in the atmosphere. Her beautiful eyes filled with slight confusion as she gazed at Lin Langtian. As a member of the esteemed Huangpu family, she was no stranger to Lin Langtian's name and even acknowledged his impressive abilities. Currently, only Wang Zhong of the Wang family could potentially stand on equal ground with him among the Four Great Families.

Still, despite Lin Langtian's talent, Huangpu Jing couldn't understand what Ling Qingzhu might have found noteworthy. In her view, Ling Qingzhu was like a phoenix soaring in the heavens, and no matter how outstanding the talents in the Great Flame Empire might be, they were still no more than toads in a pond, dreaming of catching a celestial swan.

"Sister Qingzhu, what's wrong?" Huangpu Jing furrowed her brows slightly, gently tightening her grip on Ling Qingzhu's arm.

The small gesture seemed to snap Ling Qingzhu out of her daze, and she returned her gaze to Lin Langtian as if nothing had happened. A faint crease formed between her brows.

That eerie black flame she had sensed earlier was unlike anything she'd ever encountered, not even among her elders in the Nine Heavens Taiching Palace. Yet here, from a young man in this remote corner of the Eastern Xuan Region, she had felt its power.

Had she imagined it?

But as the Palace's heir, Ling Qingzhu quickly brushed aside her doubts, smiling warmly at those around her.

"Ah, forgive my reaction," she said with a gentle laugh. "This young man's resemblance to an old friend from my sect surprised me for a moment."

Her explanation, though somewhat vague, was met with nods and polite murmurs. The crowd tactfully refrained from asking more.

"Oh, such a coincidence!" Emperor Mo Jingtian said, his piercing gaze lingering briefly on Lin Langtian before he chuckled. "Miss Qingzhu, this young man here is Lin Langtian, the top talent of the Lin family, one of our Empire's Four Great Families. You're both young—make sure to get to know each other well."

"Lin Langtian, at your service, Miss Ling Qingzhu," Lin Langtian greeted her with a composed expression, acknowledging the glances directed his way.

Lin Langtian understood that her reaction wasn't an indication of any particular interest in him personally. Ling Qingzhu was a prodigy among prodigies, a dream for countless young men on the Tianxuan Continent. Her focus on him likely had little to do with attraction and more to do with something she might have detected from his bloodline link with Ling Yi. Given her role as the next heir to the Palace, perhaps she had noticed something unusual about him.

Aware of this possibility, Lin Langtian grew slightly cautious. Though Ling Qingzhu was known for her upright character, she was still the heir of a powerful sect. If she saw his unique power as something to claim, things could turn ugly.

But he might have been overthinking things. After all, Ling Qingzhu was someone who had witnessed all manner of extraordinary things. Though her surprise at the dark flame had been genuine, she quickly pushed it aside and smiled at him graciously.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lin Langtian. It's clear the Great Flame Empire's finest talent lives up to his reputation," she said with a faint smile.

"You're too kind, Miss Ling Qingzhu. You're the real role model for us all," he replied.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Ling Qingzhu seemed as calm as ever. At Mo Jingtian's request, she made her way around the hall, meeting the top talents one by one.

Watching her go, Lin Langtian frowned slightly. He wasn't sure if she'd noticed anything unusual. Ling Yi's presence was his most closely guarded secret, after all. He gave his head a slight shake, hoping that as a Nine-Yin Fire Phoenix, Ling Yi's nature was hidden well enough to remain undetected.

A few moments later, after Mo Jingtian had formally introduced Ling Qingzhu to everyone present, he pulled a small token from his robe with a warm smile.

"Qingzhu, as an honored guest of our Empire, I don't have much to offer you, but I would like to present you with something small. There's a villa on the western edge of the capital, fully furnished and staffed. Consider it a gift from your uncle."

As he handed her the imperial token, a murmur of admiration ran through the crowd. This villa, exclusive to the imperial family, wasn't just an ordinary gift. Everyone present noted Mo Jingtian's tactful choice.

Ling Qingzhu accepted it with a graceful smile.

Next, Qin Shi stepped forward and took out a jade-green hairpin, carved with the delicate craftsmanship of pure jade. It wasn't just an accessory—it was also a fine-grade spiritual treasure that could store up to three strikes of power, making it useful in critical moments.

"Miss Ling Qingzhu, this is the Jade Flow Hairpin, a cherished treasure of my Qin family. It's both beautiful and powerful, a rare Earth-level spiritual treasure. Please accept it as a token from us."

The hall echoed with gasps of awe. An Earth-level spiritual treasure was valuable even to a family as prominent as the Qin family, and they had spared no expense to win her favor.

Ling Qingzhu accepted the gift with a soft word of thanks, though her expression didn't show much reaction. Qin Shi's face fell; he had hoped to make an impression on her, but she seemed as distant as ever, unmoved by such earthly treasures.

The exchange of gifts continued, with each person offering something unique—a potion for everlasting beauty, rare spiritual pets, beautifully crafted artwork. Every single item was worth a small fortune.

Yet despite the effort put into these gifts, Ling Qingzhu's demeanor remained unchanged, disappointing those who had hoped to make a connection with her and perhaps gain a path to join the legendary sect.

Just as the gift-giving seemed to be concluding, a young man dressed in black looked over at the corner, a glint of concealed resentment flashing in his eyes.

"Brother Langtian, where's your gift?"

All eyes turned toward Lin Langtian in the corner. Many had been preoccupied with their own offerings and hadn't noticed that he hadn't presented anything.

Lin Langtian paused, furrowing his brows slightly. He didn't actually have a gift prepared. The fifty thousand Pure Essence Pellets given to him by Patriarch Lin Fan were meant to be a way to gain favor, but he'd intended to keep those for his own use. Staying quiet in the back had been his way to avoid the gift-giving ritual. But it seemed someone had noticed.

Turning his gaze toward the young man in black, Lin Langtian recognized him immediately. Huangpu Ying, the most gifted of the younger generation in the Huangpu family, and, as far as Lin Langtian knew, someone he'd never crossed before.

Then he noticed Huangpu Ying's fervent gaze toward Ling Qingzhu, brimming with admiration.

"This guy's jealous?" Lin Langtian wondered to himself, faintly amused. In his previous life, once Lin Dong had caught Ling Qingzhu's eye, Huangpu Ying had quickly taken a dislike to him. Clearly, his admiration for her was deep.

But as he realized everyone was waiting for him to respond, including Ling Qingzhu, who looked at him with a hint of interest, Lin Langtian felt a twinge of unease. He doubted any offering he could give would truly appeal to her, but not presenting anything would be disrespectful.

"Brother Langtian, surely you prepared something?" Huangpu Ying asked, an insincere smile masking his spite.

Lin Langtian's companions, Lin Ke'er and Lin Chen, looked at him curiously. They knew the family head had given him a significant sum for this purpose.

Lin Langtian glanced around the room at the gathered elite. Though he felt indifferent toward the formality, he knew that if he didn't make an effort, it could have repercussions with Patriarch Lin Fan later.

At that moment, Emperor Mo Jingtian intervened with a warm smile. "Langtian, if you're unprepared, I could lend you something to offer Miss Qingzhu," he suggested diplomatically, cleverly extending his goodwill to both sides.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, but I came prepared with something," Lin Langtian replied with a polite smile, not wanting to incur any obligations.

Ling Qingzhu's companion, Huangpu Jing, looked at him with a raised brow. "Oh? What is it that sets it apart?"

As the crowd turned its attention back to him, Lin Langtian mentally sighed. After a brief pause, he came up with an idea.

He couldn't afford to part with the Pure Essence Pellets, nor could he give away his prized Gold Spirit Mirror. These were too valuable to him, and besides, gifting spirit stones would be seen as tasteless.

Turning to Ling Qingzhu, he finally spoke with a bow. "Miss Ling Qingzhu, as a disciple of a renowned sect, I doubt the treasures of our empire would hold much appeal. So instead, I offer you my promise. If there ever comes a time when you need my help, as long as it's within my power and principles, I will aid you without question—even if it means facing fire or blade."