The “meager banquet” that Hong Qisheng spoke of, when finally laid out, left Feng Sanchu and the others astounded. He had, after all, accumulated a family fortune in Ji City, making him wealthier than the poor disciples of the True Spirit Sect by an unknown amount.
The fruits and vegetables, the meat and delicacies, were all imbued with a bit of Spiritual Qi. After eating, everyone felt their cultivation base increase ever so slightly. Feng Sanchu knew they were basking in Meng Han's glory and said with a smile, “The food is fresh and delicious.
It’s clear that Daoist Friend Hong prepared this with great care. What do you think, Senior Brother?” Meng Han downed a mouthful of strong liquor, feeling quite comfortable himself, and followed his lead, “He is indeed a thoughtful person.”
“Making the guests feel at ease is precisely the duty of the host.”
Hong Qisheng stood up, raised his cup, and said, “This Hong toasts everyone. Thank you for coming to assist with my young daughter’s son-in-law selection. I am endlessly grateful!”
Zhao Chun and Liao Xiaoyi did not drink alcohol, so they substituted with tea and drained their cups in one go. Hong Qian was also present, sitting beside her mother and feigning a quiet and reserved demeanor, but her eyes kept glancing towards Zhao Chun.
“I have long heard of the True Spirit Sect’s esteemed reputation. It is truly a pity that this Hong, due to my lowly status, has never had the chance to enter the Hidden Valley for a look.”
Hong Qisheng sat back down, sighing incessantly.
“In a flash, twenty years have passed since I entered the Dao, and my daughter has reached the age of marriage. Yet receiving the elixir pill from the Immortal feels like it was only yesterday.”
Another round of pleasantries went around the table. A moment later, he raised his hand and gestured. A servant came forward to present redwood lacquer boxes to Zhao Chun and the others.
Feng Sanchu and Meng Han’s expressions were as calm as ever as they nonchalantly placed the lacquer boxes beneath their seats. The Liao siblings could not hide their delight and followed suit. This was the first time Zhao Chun had received such a generous gift in public.
She weighed it in her hands for a moment before placing it beside her.
“A small token of my appreciation, I hope you will all accept it.”
This token was truly not small. Zhao Chun estimated there had to be several hundred Essence Stones in the box. This trip was turning out to be quite worthwhile.
However, by right, accepting someone’s money meant you had to do something for them. But when the sky falls, the tall ones are there to hold it up. With Meng Han and Feng Sanchu at the forefront, even if Hong Qisheng had a request, it wouldn't fall to a disciple at the second level of Qi Refinement like her.
Seeing that everyone had accepted the gifts, even Meng Han, Hong Qisheng’s heart settled back into his chest. He opened his mouth to speak, “To welcome you all today, I have also specially prepared—” A roaring sound suddenly exploded in the room, and thick smoke billowed out. Meng Han was heard to let out a “Tch!”
The smoke instantly dispersed, leaving only a mess on the banquet tables. The few who had cultivation bases remained seated where they were, covering their faces with their sleeves. As for the mortals, they were already in utter chaos, screaming and scattering in all directions.
In the stampede, they knocked over tables, sending soup and water spilling all over the floor.
“What is this racket!”
Hong Qisheng was furious.
“All of you, get out!”
The servants scattered in a rush. Madam Hong also took her terrified daughter and retreated to the inner chamber, leaving only the six seated guests in the main hall.
“Regarding today’s matter, this Hong will definitely give you all an explanation!”
Feng Sanchu’s gaze shifted. He rose from his seat, strode quickly to the center of the banquet, and picked something up. He said with a grim expression, “Daoist Friend Hong, look!”
He stepped forward and opened his palm. In it lay half of a small copper ball, which was faintly emitting gray smoke and a strange odor of something having been burned. Hong Qisheng was puzzled and asked, “What… what is this?”
“A Flame Detonation Pellet from the Everglow Sect.”
Meng Han rose from his seat, his brows knitted tightly.
“Using the method of a Fire-element Talisman, Talisman Script is carved onto a copper pellet. Its power is five times that of a talisman.”
“But this one…”
He took the half-sphere from Feng Sanchu’s hand and sneered, “I was wondering what it could be. So it’s just an imitation. No wonder its power is so weak.”
“However, the Everglow Sect is quite far from here. Most of its disciples focus their minds on Talisman Script and rarely cause trouble outside.”
Meng Han asked doubtfully, “Have you offended anyone recently?” Hong Qisheng smiled bitterly, “Because of the Daoist Arts passed down by the Immortal, the number of people in Ji City who have their eyes on this junior is incalculable. I really don’t know who it could be…”
Meng Han let out a “tsk,” crushing the small ball to dust in his hand. He said coldly, “The challenge has been laid right before you, yet you remain completely clueless.”
“Senior’s lesson is right!”
Hong Qisheng could only nod.
“Daring only to use such a trinket to probe, they are nothing but cowardly rats who dare not show their faces.”
Feng Sanchu consoled him, “Daoist Friend Hong, there is no need to worry. With Senior Brother here, those petty scoundrels will certainly not dare to cause trouble. We just need to handle whatever comes our way!”
“Exactly! Exactly!”
Hong Qisheng raised a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, but a shadow of gloom still lingered in his heart, one that could not be so easily dispelled. After this incident, no one had the desire to continue, and they returned to their rooms with dampened spirits.
Zhao Chun had hoped this trip would pass without any trouble, but now it seemed that would not be the case. Meng Han was naturally unafraid, but among the five of them, Zhao Chun’s cultivation base was the lowest. She was afraid of being an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.
When deities fight, a little ghost like her shouldn't be the one to suffer. The desire to increase her strength grew even more intense. Zhao Chun told herself not to be hasty, but a slight sense of anxiety still arose.
She decided to open the lacquer box and count its contents, hoping the unexpected windfall would calm her down. The box was full of emerald green pebbles, a truly refreshing and delightful sight. Under all the heavens, who could not love wealth?
Zhao Chun dipped her fingers into the box and stirred them. The Essence Stones were cool and smooth, rolling against her skin. She counted them carefully.
Exactly three hundred! This didn’t even include the reward for the mission itself. If that was added, it would be four hundred and fifty Essence Stones.
That was enough for a copy of the “Tiger Strength Technique”! She was just basking in the glory of others. If Zhao Chun had to rely on her own abilities, she might not even have gotten a fraction of this.
“There’s no need to feel discouraged by this. I’ve been in cultivation for less than a year. When my cultivation base is higher in the future, I can just repay the favor!”
Zhao Chun reminded herself that the foundation that allows a cultivator to continuously advance is a tenacious and clear Dao Heart. Several days passed without any unusual movements. The atmosphere in the Hong Family Compound, far from lightening up, grew even heavier.
Hong Qisheng had a gut feeling that this person was after his Daoist Arts. He lived in fear every day, terrified that something would happen to his wife and daughter. The day of the son-in-law selection arrived amidst this silence.
Everyone was on high alert. After settling his wife and daughter, Hong Qisheng, accompanied by the five from True Spirit, went out to greet the guests. To make the content more logical, the size of the Essence Stones has been changed from “half a fist” in previous text to “thumb-sized.”
The earlier text has also been modified!
(End of this chapter)