Interstellar Beast World: All My Husbands Are Powerful and Rich!

Chapter 345: The Island Master

Xarion looked at Lian, and for once, the usual languid indifference was absent from his expression.

When he spoke, his voice was calm and measured.

"Young Master Lian’s attire is truly remarkable."

Polly completely missed the underlying meaning. Convinced that Rory’s mate was sincerely praising her brother, she nodded eagerly in agreement.

"Exactly! My brother looks the best in white!"

Rory’s mates were every bit as kind as Rory herself.

So courteous. So considerate.

Who would have thought a fox spirit like Lian had such an innocent little sister?

How fascinating.

A faint smile tugged at Xarion’s lips.

Then he continued.

"Especially around a bonfire like this. Everyone else inevitably picks up traces of smoke and warmth from the flames, yet Young Master Lian remains immaculate. Not a speck of ash on those white robes. He looks almost luminous." His gaze drifted lazily over Lian’s pristine clothing. "One might even think he spent extra time preparing, worried that someone important might fail to notice him. That level of dedication is certainly... uncommon."

On the surface, every word sounded complimentary.

He praised Lian’s appearance.

He praised his clothing.

He even praised the effort he had put into presenting himself.

Yet anyone with a shred of perception could hear the venom hidden beneath the polished words.

Xarion was calling him a peacock. A peacock flaunting dazzling feathers in the hope of catching a female’s eye.

His tongue was as sharp as ever.

Beside the fire, Vincent and Vangar lowered their heads and focused intently on turning skewers over the flames, both fighting desperately to keep straight faces.

Rory pressed her fingers to her temple.

So much for being polite.

Was this what they meant when they promised not to make things difficult for him?

"Thank you for the compliment, Young Master Xarion."

Lian seemed entirely unaware of the barb concealed beneath the praise.

He glanced down at the flowing hem of his robes as though thoughtfully examining them, then lifted his head. Those beautiful eyes shimmered beneath the firelight as a gentle smile curved his lips.

"After all, I’ve come here to meet someone important. Naturally, I wanted to look my best."

As he spoke, his gaze swept leisurely across the gathering.

Then it settled on Rory.

Xarion did not believe for a second that the fox had failed to understand the insult.

Lian was far too clever for that.

Not only had he sidestepped the attack without the slightest trace of irritation, but he had effortlessly turned Xarion’s own words into an opportunity to declare his intentions.

The maneuver was so smooth it felt almost shameless.

And far more dangerous than Yuel and all of his painstaking calculations.

Across the fire, Vangar and Vincent exchanged a silent look.

Were they witnessing Xarion mock Lian?

Or help him?

Neither of them could tell anymore.

With a resigned sigh, Vangar grabbed a bundle of marinated skewers and shoved them into Xarion’s hands.

"Here. Since you’re so talkative, make yourself useful."

Then he turned toward Lian.

"Speaking of which..." A thoughtful look crossed his face. "I just remembered something."

A smile appeared on Vangar’s face.

"I heard Starlight Island has a rule. The Young Island Master must choose a mate from within their own people. Is that true?"

Lian nodded calmly. "There is such a rule."

Only then did Polly remember.

Moments ago, she had been too busy celebrating the fact that her brother finally liked someone.

She had completely forgotten about that restriction.

But the rule only applied to the Young Island Master.

Back then, Lian had accepted the position solely for the sake of protecting their family.

Now she and the others had grown up and found powerful mates of their own.

Her brother had long since lost any desire to remain in that role.

If he truly had a chance to be with Rory, Polly was certain he would gladly hand the position over to someone else.

Afraid Rory might misunderstand, she was just about to explain when Lian spoke first.

"The rule Marshal Vangar mentioned applies only to the Young Island Master."

His smile remained calm and unhurried.

"As of last month, I am no longer the Young Island Master of Starlight Island."

"You’re no longer the Young Island Master?"

Vangar stared at him in genuine surprise.

He was not the only one shocked.

Even Polly looked completely stunned.

She turned to her brother. "Lian, when did that happen?"

Her eyes widened. "How come I never heard about it?"

"Just yesterday," Lian answered in the same calm, unhurried tone.

Vangar, Xarion, and Vincent all turned to look at him at the same time.

This fox had clearly come prepared.

Before Vincent could speak, Vangar beat him to it.

"Lian, if I remember correctly, you worked extremely hard to obtain the position of Young Island Master."

He studied him carefully.

"And as the Young Island Master of Starlight Island, you were free to enter Beast God Mountain whenever you wished. With benefits like that, you’re really willing to give it all up?"

Starlight Island was the closest territory to Beast God Mountain.

As the Young Island Master, Lian not only possessed the ability to communicate with the Beast God, but was also permitted to visit Beast God Mountain every year to receive the Beast God’s blessing.

That was where Vangar had first met him.

Back then, Vangar had shamelessly lingered around Beast God Mountain for five whole years, yet he still had not received as many benefits as Lian had obtained in a single year.

The Beast God Fruits were practically his snacks.

Beast God Mountain seemed more like Lian’s second home than anyone else’s.

On the surface, Lian displayed the strength of a Rank Ten peak ability user.

But Vangar had never believed that was the full extent of his power.

After consuming so many treasures from Beast God Mountain, there was no way he possessed only Rank Ten strength.

Facing the stunned, scrutinizing, and probing gazes directed at him, Lian merely smiled.

Then he looked toward Rory.

Those enchanting fox eyes seemed to hold entire galaxies within them, gentle yet unwavering.

"Some people and some things are simply more important than all of that."

Truthfully, he had originally intended to remain Young Island Master for another two years.

After all, Rory already had so many mates surrounding her. She clearly had no intention of taking another one anytime soon.

He was not in a hurry either.

Two more years in that position would have allowed him to accumulate a respectable dowry for himself and gather even more treasures for Rory.

Unfortunately, the Beast God had other ideas.

The old deity complained that Lian ate too much and ordered him to get lost.

He wanted a more obedient successor to take over.

The old man had even threatened him.

If he continued delaying and failed to pursue Rory, the Beast God would simply match her with several more powerful mates.

By then, Lian might not even qualify as one of her followers.

The most infuriating part was that the Beast God was still angry about all the treasures Lian had taken from Beast God Mountain over the years.

As punishment, he refused to arrange a match for him.

Instead, he had ordered Lian to figure out a way to become Rory’s mate on his own.

Life was truly difficult for a fox.

Listening to Lian’s answer, Vincent rubbed his brow with growing frustration.

Were Xarion and Vangar undercover agents sent by Lian?

Every sentence they spoke seemed to help him.

"Vincent, what’s wrong?"

Noticing him massaging his temple, Rory immediately looked at him with concern.

"Rory."

The moment he heard her voice, Vincent seized the opportunity and leaned against her shoulder.

In an exhausted voice, he said softly, "My head hurts a little. I think I should go back and rest."

His dark eyes lifted to hers.

"Would it be alright if Vangar and Xarion stayed here to keep you company?"

Although his words sounded generous, the arm wrapped around Rory’s waist tightened possessively with every second.

Rory rolled her eyes internally.

Then she answered in a gentle voice.

"I’m full anyway. Seeing you like this makes me worried."

She lightly touched his arm.

"I’d rather go back with you."

After speaking, she turned apologetically toward Polly.

"Polly, my mate isn’t feeling well, so I’m going to take him back first. Let’s meet again another day."

"Of course, Rory."

Polly was far too innocent to catch any of the hidden tensions beneath the conversation.

She genuinely believed Rory’s mate was unwell.

Looking at her, Rory could not help envying that simple sincerity.

With a smile, she nodded before turning to Lian.

"Young Master Lian, goodbye."

Then she added politely,

"I hope you find a female you truly love very soon."

Although Lian was no longer the Young Island Master, Rory had no idea what else to call him, so she continued using the title she had always used.

Her final sentence carried a deeper meaning.

It was her way of telling Lian that she had no intention of forming a mate bond with him.

She did not want him wasting his time on her.

At the same time, it was a message for Vincent, Vangar, and Xarion as well.

She truly had no plans to take Lian as a mate.