Hearing the Crown Prince's words, Lin Mu knew his initial guess was right.
He had already felt the strangeness in the Crown Prince when he had translated the information on the Stele. Lin Mu wasn't as naive as to think that Crown Prince Feng Shun's interest in him had died that easily. If anything, it seemed like the man was just waiting for something.
'Is his wait over now?' Lin Mu wondered. 'Though… if he is interested in me, why would he call the others too? For something private it doesn't make sense.' He further thought, feeling a bit confused.
"What task might that be Crown Prince Feng Shun?" Lin Mu asked with a neutral expression, ensuring that he showed no bias so that the Crown Prince might catch on to it.
If Lin Mu showed fake interest, the man might change his attitude, and if he showed distaste, the prince might take it as an offense.
Of course, all this was just guesswork on Lin Mu's part, but he couldn't assume what one would act like after just one meeting. The best Lin Mu could do was to assume the worst and act accordingly.
No one knew about the hundred thoughts that sped through Lin Mu's mind in seconds, as he thought of all possible scenarios. Lin Mu was also relieved that he had taken a look at the Little Glory Palace's arrays before entering.
'If push comes to shove and I need to escape, I can always trigger a forceful teleportation.' Lin Mu reckoned.
But what Crown Prince Feng Shun spoke was not in any of his predictions.
"I want you to fight someone in the Tournament of the Four Guardian Beasts." Crown Prince Feng Shun stated.
"Huh?" Lin Mu's composure broke, as he showed true confusion on his face.
He wasn't the only one either, as the others seemed to be confused too. After all, what Crown Prince Feng Shun had asked seemed to be a little redundant. Lin Mu was going to participate in the Tournament, this was open knowledge and thus wasn't something the man was implying.
"Fight someone?" Lin Mu asked in doubt.
"Someone specific to be exact." Crown Prince Feng Shun replied. "Third Prince Feng Baxing." He stated, making Lin Mu narrow his eyes.
Lin Mu didn't respond right away toughs, even if the Crown Prince's request had several problems with it. The most obvious one being the fact that there was no way for Lin Mu to control the flow of the battle.
There was no guarantee he would meet Feng Baxing in a fight after all.
"Why do you want that?" Lin Mu asked carefully while others listened on. 'Since he's stating it openly like this, it shouldn't be a bad reason.' He hoped.
"Well… The short answer is that he's made a mistake and needs to pay for it." Crown Prince Feng Shun replied. "And what better way to do so by making him lose?" he chuckled.
"I see…" Lin Mu could think of an N number of reasons as to why Crown Prince Feng Shun wanted his brother to lose.
The most obvious one seemed to be sibling rivalry or just internal royal conflict. While Lin Mu didn't know if the two princes had the same mother or not, it was clear that they were not close at all.
After all, in a royal family, fights between the heirs were very normal. In fact, what Crown Prince Feng Shun was asking of Lin Mu seemed to be almost mild. It wasn't breaking any rules either.
"You won't ask why I am asking this of you?" Crown Prince Feng Shun chuckled and questioned.
"I can think of a few reasons, but… I'd still like the Crown Prince to tell me himself." Lin Mu replied. "Asking me this doesn't really seem that good. After all, if you wish for the third prince to be defeated you can ask other top contestants for it. The ones' that are stronger than me." He added after a pause.
"You are absolutely correct!" Crown Prince Feng Shun said with a clap.
Lu Xu and others watched on anxiously, wondering if they were about to be embroiled in a political plot.
"But then again… What's the fun in that?" Crown Prince Feng Shun said with a mocking frown as if he were a child.
"I don't understand." Lin Mu plainly said.
"Well… Wouldn't you say that you managed to cultivate the Tyrant Bull Marrow Secrets due to me?" Crown Prince Feng Shun asked a question instead.
"Yes." Lin Mu said with a straight face.
"Then that means, you obtained my assistance, even if it were a payment, right?" The prince seemed to be in the mood for a little word play.
"Yes." Lin Mu nodded this time.
"So it would mean… if you defeat third prince Feng Baxing, it would ultimately be due to my actions." Crown Prince Feng Shun finally said. "That's just what I want."
At this moment, a single thought went through everyone's mind.
'The Crown Prince is truly Eccentric!'
"But why go through all this? If you really wish for his defeat to be due to your actions, you can do the same using any other contestants? I'm sure the other top 5 contestants would be pleased to have your assistance." Lin Mu decided to take a few steps forward and question the Crown Prince instead.
~tsk~ tsk~
"Now, now… That won't be fun." The Crown Prince clicked his tongue. "I want there to be drama! Some conflict! I want an underdog to win!" he raised his hands and exclaimed dramatically.
~huu~
Lin Mu let out a breath and felt a slight headache.
'He had to be one of the eccentrics…' Lin Mu now understood Crown Prince Feng Shun hadn't called him here for any profound reason.
The man was simply bored and called him here on a whim!
'Is this what the high nobility and experts do when they're bored? Involve others in their games?' Lin Mu couldn't help but question himself.
