The ninth floor of the House of Prosperity.
The Vast Desert Palace.
Zhou Zhili stood near the window, watching this play out. He looked away, a strange expression on his face.
“See? There’s no need for you to intervene. Su Yi got in on his own,” said Qing Jin languidly.
When Su Yi’s group first arrived at the House of Prosperity, Qing Jin just happened to spot them through the window.
The sight then drew Zhou Zhili’s attention too. He witnessed everything that happened by the House of Prosperity’s entryway.
“That servant is, after all, a low-level figure. He couldn’t possibly tell how incredible Su Yi is. And here I thought I could seize this opportunity to invite Su Yi to join us. I wouldn’t have guessed this would happen. Martial Aunt, you sure hit the nail on the head. Someone like him doesn’t need us to back him up at all,” lamented Zhou Zhili.
The prefectural governor of the Harmony Prefecture, Mu Zhongting, was there too.
He suddenly said, “I have an impression of that blue-robed youth. That day you disembarked from the tower ship, he looked at me from a distance. It seemed he realized who I was.”
Zhou Zhili was stunned.
Qing Jin thought about it, then said, “I doubt he knew who you were. It’s more likely that he could discern your cultivation.”
Indeed, she was right on the mark.
Mu Zhongting couldn’t help but feel curious. “Who is that young man? Why is that you attach such importance to him?”
Qing Jin recalled everything that had happened between her and Su Yi during their time on the tower ship. An inexplicable thread of melancholy and despondency rose within her heart, and she said, “Your Lordship, you’d best ask His Sixth Highness.”
She stood alone before the latticed window, arms crossed, staring out at the sea of lantern-lit buildings. Her eyes were bright and sharp, but it was clear her thoughts were elsewhere.
“Your Lordship Mu, let’s sit and chat for a bit,” said Zhou Zhili with a laugh. Unlike his martial aunt, he was in high spirits.
The Mountain and River Palace.
The floors were carpeted in red, and candles hung from the walls, fully illuminating the private dining room’s interior.
There was a massive vase, almost half as tall as a person, with a vibrant, blooming bouquet, and the walls were adorned with a thirty-foot-wide scroll painting of mountains and rivers, which provided an additional layer of elegance.
The sandalwood table at the center of the room was massive; it could have easily accommodated twenty people. There were fresh, in-season melons and exquisitely prepared light refreshments laid out on its surface.
And there were already five young servant girls waiting on one side of the room.
When they entered the Mountain and River Palace, Feng Xiaoran and A-Fei were briefly dazed. A-Fei suddenly became a lot more reserved; he feared his shoes would dirty the red carpet.
Feng Xiaofeng, meanwhile, was dumbstruck. He’d grown up in poverty, and although he’d once cultivated in Blueriver Sword Manor’s outer sect, he rarely entered luxurious or expensive places, much less the ninth floor of the House of Prosperity famed throughout the city. This was a place that only famed, influential people were qualified to enter. .
Huang Qianjun looked around and commented, “Not bad, not bad at all. This is way better than Guangling City’s Immortal Gathering House.”
Then he mocked himself, “I’ve been to the House of Prosperity, but I’ve never had the chance to dine on the ninth floor.”
Madam Cuiyun smiled, the sight moving. “Our House of Prosperity’s hospitality was lacking. Young Lord, we welcome you to visit as often as you like going forward. Please, give us the chance to make up for our mistakes.”
Huang Quanjun couldn’t help but laugh. He naturally didn’t take her words seriously; he knew full well that the only reason he could enjoy such treatment now was that he was basking in Su Yi’s light.
Without Su Yi, Huang Qianjun feared that someone as well-connected and influential as Madam Cuiyun wouldn’t even notice him.
Su Yi was the calmest of all. It was as if he didn’t even see the luxuriously intricate decor. He just pushed Feng Xiaofeng’s wheelchair over to the banquet table, then called for Feng Xiaoran and A-Fei to join them.
Only then did he turn his gaze towards Madam Cuiyun. “This place is rather decent. Please have them bring our meal as soon as possible.”
Madam Cuiyun’s bright eyes surveyed the room, and she smiled radiantly. “As you wish, Young Lord. I shan’t disturb you any longer, but if you have any further needs, please feel free to command the servants.”
With that, she smiled, turned, and left.
After the door closed, Feng Xiaofeng and the others each exhaled. They were much more relaxed without her here.
They’d grown up in poverty, so they couldn’t adjust to a situation like this so suddenly. They couldn’t possibly be as relaxed and at ease as Huang Qianjun.
But Su Yi, meanwhile, didn’t care about any of this at all.
In his past life, he was the honored guest of Imperial Realm Emperors on numerous occasions. He had also hosted guests from all over the Wilds in his hidden realm, a place like an immortal paradise.
By comparison, nothing in the world of the mundane amounted to much.
Once Su Yi and Huang Qianjun were in their seats, the young servant girls poured tea and water. They were obedient and dextrous, and their service was meticulous.
They didn’t show the slightest negligence on account of Feng Xiaofeng and company’s coarse clothing.
Before long, one delicacy after another was laid out on the table, the dishes steaming hot and tantalizingly aromatic. Each contained rare, top-grade ingredients, prepared in a wide variety of styles. Just the sight was enough to make someone’s fingers twitch with anticipation.
Su Yi could also sense threads of spiritual energy drifting up from the dishes, and he realized that all of the ingredients were infused with spiritual medicines. That was what gave them their spiritual air.
At first, Feng Xiaofeng and the others were reserved, but before long, they began eating with great relish.
Feng Xiaoran sat next to Su Yi, and she didn’t forget to fill his plate. When she saw that Su Yi’s cup was empty, she refilled it before the servants got the chance.
“This wine’s quite good! It’s strong, too. No wonder Madam Cuiyun kept it in her personal stash.” Huang Qianjun was the least reserved. He drank and ate in big gulps.
There was nothing for it; this was his first time enjoying such treatment too, and he naturally ate with great enthusiasm.
“Big Brother Huang, is this meal going to cost a whole lot of silver?” A-Fei asked as he chewed on a piece of meat.
“Silver?” Huang Qianjun shook his head. “Do you remember what I said earlier? A problem you can resolve with money isn’t really a problem. And a meal like this isn’t something you can acquire with money alone.
A-Fei’s eyes widened. “Then how do you acquire it?”
“High status and authority. Either does the trick,” sighed Huang Qianjun.
A-Fei only half understood.
And Su Yi couldn’t help but admit to himself that in the world of the mundane, status and authority really could resolve certain problems with greater ease.
Xiao Tianque had said as much when he first gave him the medallion. When walking through the world of the mundane, it was hard to avoid trivial problems which weren’t worth using force to resolve.
Take tonight, for instance. Even if his cultivation were higher than it already was, what was he supposed to do? Use it against the mere servant who greeted them at the door?
It was at times like this that the command token Xiao Tianque gave him was useful.
…
The sixth floor of the House of Prosperity.
The Splendid Hall.
Yan Chengrong and his lady companion arrived, but with their status, they could only sit at the end of the table.
That was because this banquet’s host was a prominent figure of the Blueriver Sword Manor’s inner sect—
Chen Jinlong!
His father, Chen Dakong, was a prominent figure within the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital. The River Gang under his banner had members numbering in the thousands, and they controlled half of the prefectural capital’s water transportation industry.
Chen Dakong and the Cloudriver prefectural governor, Qin Wenyuan, were close. Rumor had it that they’d become sworn brothers in their youth.
With Qin Wenyuan as his backer, Chen Dakong’s River Gang naturally flourished, growing stronger with each passing day.
Chen Jinlong was Chen Dakong’s son. Even most scions of notable family clans could only look up to him, and they had to be polite.
Several men and women accompanied Chen Jinlong. Their statuses were all exceptional too.
Take Nian Yunqiao. He and Yan Chengrong were both outer sect disciples, but in terms of status, Yan Chengrong paled in comparison.
Or Li Moyun. He was from the Li Family, the strongest clan in all of Guangling City, and he was the man of the hour in Blueriver Sword Manor’s inner sect. In terms of cultivation, even Chen Jinlong was a bit inferior to him.
The banquet was lively, although Chen Jinlong did most of the talking. As he spouted boastful nonsense, the others smiled and echoed his words.
Even the girls. Their eyes frequently turned toward Chen Jinlong, their burning gazes carrying hints of awe.
It took a while, but Yan Chengrong finally found and seized an opportunity to speak up. He cleared his throat and laughed. “Everyone, can you guess who I bumped into just as I arrived?”
“The House of Prosperity welcomes distinguished guests and prominent figures every day. How could we possibly guess who you saw? Don’t keep us guessing. Quick, tell us!” said Nian Yunqiao.?His shirt was royal blue, and his cheeks were long and narrow, while his eyes were slightly dark and sunken. He looked a bit weak and sickly.
“That’s right! Hurry up and say it!” Yu Qian urged from her seat beside Nian Yunqiao.?She had fair skin and beautiful features, and when she batted her big eyes, she looked sweet and adorable.
When he sensed that he was now the center of attention, Yan Chengrong felt a rush of satisfaction. He didn’t keep them in suspense. “It was Su Yi and Feng Xiaofeng, those brothers in adversity.”
The banquet’s lively atmosphere came to a sudden standstill. Everyone’s expressions went strange, while Nian Yunqiao’s eyes flashed with cold light.
Yu Qian’s pretty face went rigid, and she suddenly felt uncomfortable.
Li Moyun’s heart clenched as if he’d been struck by lightning. His grip tightened around his cup.
Su Yi!
He’s actually come to the prefectural capital?
A few days ago, he received a secret letter from his father, Li Tianhan. In it, his father told him that Yuan Luoxi of the Yuan Family had honored Su Yi as a VIP guest and dined with him in the Immortal Gathering House.
The letter explained what had happened in detail.
The last portion of the letter used an extremely harsh tone to warn Li Moyun not to act against Su Yi, no matter what. Su Yi was no longer someone their Li Family could afford to offend!
By the time he finished reading the letter, Li Moyun felt so stifled, he almost coughed up blood.
About a week ago, on the second night of the second lunar month, he set up an ambush. He planned to kill Su Yi without anyone knowing about it.
Who would have guessed that Su Yi would actually take first place in the Dragon’s Gate Banquet, making a name for himself on both sides of the Great Azure overnight?
As a result, Li Moyun had no choice but to give up on his plans, and under his father’s orders, he was forced to leave Guangling City that very night!
Yet now, just a few days later, Su Yi?had?ascended even higher, becoming Yuan Luoxi’s distinguished guest!
This news practically drove Li Moyun insane.
Yuan Luoxi!
The pearl of the Yuan Family, one of the prefectural capital’s four peak-level factions! Her status was so lofty that even everyone in this room combined paled in comparison!
Today was the eighth day of the second lunar month, but Su Yi was already here in the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital…
Li Moyun’s chest felt tight and stuffy. He felt as if grey clouds had swallowed up the sun, casting his heart into endless darkness.
What, is this guy fated to be my arch-enemy??Li Moyun took a deep breath, then suppressed his sullen irritation.
But then, their host, Chen Jinlong, couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “A cripple and a waste who lost his entire cultivation were foolish enough to attempt to dine at the House of Prosperity? I’m afraid they won’t even make it through the door!”