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Chapter 116 - A Sudden Variable
There was no way Madam Cuiyun could forget the bloody incident that occurred in the Mountain and River Palace!
Ever since that day, the Nian and Yan families had relentlessly knocked on her door, demanding answers from the House of Prosperity.
Madam Cuiyun naturally wouldn’t give them Su Yi’s name.
Fortunately, when Zhou Zhili left, he made clear how they were to resolve this. She decisively pushed all the blame onto the governor of Harmony Prefecture, Mu Zhongting. Only then did she extricate herself from the aftermath of that incident.
But she never would have guessed that just a few days later, Su Yi planned to kill in her territory again!
Some time passed before she managed to calm herself, and her red lips pursed into a bitter grimace. “Young Lord Su, the House of Prosperity is a place for gatherings and fine dining. Just how did you come to see it as a venue for killing? This….”
“All I ask of the House of Prosperity is that you don’t get involved,” said Su Yi
“.......” What else could Madam Cuiyun say?
Fine. Even if I can’t afford to offend their families, that doesn’t mean I can’t hide from them. Madam Cuiyun inwardly clenched her teeth, but on the outside, she flashed an intoxicating smile. “Someone, please show these two young lords to the ninth floor’s Mountain and River Palace. Remember to give them our very best wines and delicacies. You mustn’t be the least bit negligent!”
It was only after she watched Su Yi and Huang Qianjun leave that she opened the paper Su Yi had given her and read the seven names.
After a single glance, her entire body went rigid, and her scalp went numb.
As the proprietor of the House of Prosperity, someone who interacted with guests year-round, the network and resources at her disposal were beyond a normal person’s imagination.
She’d long since committed the names of every inhabitant of the prefectural capital with even a smattering of authority to memory.
She was even familiar with the names of the various factions’ younger generation disciples.
As such, when she saw these seven names, their backgrounds instantly rose to the forefront of her mind.
Seven people, all of them disciples of Blueriver Sword Manor, all of them with prominent backgrounds, all of them incomparable with ordinary martial artists… If all of them die here in the House of Prosperity…. Just thinking about it, she couldn’t help but gasp.
If possible, I’d like to live and die without ever seeing that harbinger of disaster Su Yi again! Her beautiful face contorted, and her eyes filled with resentment.
“Young Lord Qian is here? Right this way, please!” The sound of servants respectfully greeting a guest emanated from the gateway.
Madam Cuiyun’s heart shook. When she looked over, she saw a young man in golden robes, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. His gait was leisurely, and he carried himself with pride.
Qian Yunjiu.
He was an inner sect disciple of Blueriver Sword Manor, as well as the son of the head of the top clan in Blue Parasol Tree City.
“Tonight, I’m here to attend a banquet. I’m not quite certain who invited me yet,” said Qian Yunjiu calmly. “But surely the House of Prosperity knows?”
The servant was stunned, but before he could respond, Madam Cuiyun walked over, graceful and with a faint smile on her face. “Young Lord Qian, are you here on your own?”
Qian Yunjiu was stunned, and he hurriedly said, “Greetings, Madam Cuiyun. Yes, I came here on my own.”
With his status, he was in no way worthy of Madam Cuiyun’s personal attention, yet she’d suddenly taken the initiative to greet him. It was inevitable that he’d be both stunned and flattered.
Madam Cuiyun smiled sweetly. “The host of tonight’s banquet has invited several other guests as well. How about we wait for the others? Then we can all head up together.”
Qian Yunjiu was stunned. He couldn’t help but ask, “Madam, might I inquire as to just who our host is?”
“You needn’t be in a hurry to find out. You’ll know once you see him,” said Madam Cuiyun softly.
Qian Yunqiu was a hot-blooded youth, and that mature, graceful beauty of hers sent waves of heat coursing through his heart. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, and his adam’s apple bobbed up and down in his throat.
On the inside, Madam Cuiyun was disdainful. You’re so young, yet you’re already this lustful? If you die tonight, I won’t feel at all sorry for you.
“Young Lord Huo, right this way please,” said another servant from beyond the entryway.
Immediately afterward, the servants led a tall, black-robed youth inside. He walked with a valiant stride.
“Junior Apprentice Brother Huo?” Qian Yunjiu was stunned, and he instinctively glanced at Madam Cuiyun.
“That’s right. Young Lord Huo is here to attend tonight’s banquet, just like you.” As she said this, she went up to greet him.
Huo Long.
A Blueriver Sword Manor inner sect disciple and the son of the head of the Huo Family, a second-tier clan within the prefectural capital.
When he saw that Madam Cuiyun was here to welcome him personally, he was incomparably surprised, and honored, too. He felt almost as if he were floating.
And when he saw Qian Yunjiu, he was stunned. “Senior Apprentice Brother Qian, you’re here to attend the banquet as well?”
“That’s right.” Qian Yunjiu nodded. “Junior Apprentice Brother Huo, do you perhaps know who it is that invited us?
Huo Long shook his head. “I don’t.”
“Once everyone is here, I’ll lead all of you to the ninth floor’s Mountain and River Palace. When the time comes, you’ll naturally learn the identity of your illustrious host,” said Madam Cuiyun with a charming smile.
The ninth floor!
The Mountain and River Palace!
Qian Yunjiu and Huo Long glanced at each other, their shock written all over their faces.
With their status, they were nowhere near qualified to sit in such a luxurious private dining room!
This only made them even more curious. Just who is the host of tonight’s banquet? Could it be some long-established elder of Blueriver Sword Manor?
“Speaking of the Mountain and River Palace, I heard that a few days ago, Nian Yunqiao and Yan Chengrong barged in and caused trouble. They disrupted His Excellency, Governor Mu Zhongting of Harmony Prefecture, mid-banquet, and he killed them on the spot,” said Qian Yunqiu, his expression a bit strange. “Apparently, after the Nian and Yan families heard about this, they didn’t even dare let out a fart in protest. They could only hold their noses, swallow their pride, and let it go.
“Haha, how brazen were Nian Yunqiao and Yan Chengrong? The likes of them were unworthy to act so outrageously around someone capable of dining on the ninth floor!”
Huo Long delighted in their misfortune. Qian Yunjiu found it rather funny too.
When Madam Cuiyun heard this, her eyes flashed with a hint of pity.
As time passed, more and more people showed up to attend the upcoming banquet. They were, in order, Zheng Xiaolin, Zhang Fengtu, Liu Ying, Yang Qi, and Chu Lianheng.
Without exception, all of them were Blueriver Sword Manor disciples. Liu Ying was the only woman.
When they arrived and learned that the banquet was to be held on the ninth floor, in the Mountain and River Palace, they couldn’t help but feel stunned. All of them tried to deduce just who the host of tonight’s event was, and their faces shone with excitement and anticipation.
However, although none of them noticed it, Madam Cuiyun’s eyes filled with pity whenever she looked at them, as well as helplessness.
Just as she was about to lead the group upstairs, she heard a clear, hearty voice.
“Junior Apprentice Brother Huo Long, what are you all doing here?”
When they turned to look, they saw three people step through the front doors. A tall, heroic-looking young man and a delicate beauty. They looked like the perfect couple.
These were none other than Ni Hao and Nan Ying!
A third person walked between them. He was lean, with bright eyes and grey hair. Whenever he opened his eyes, they seemed to crackle with electricity, making him seem utterly imposing.
The Bluepeak Sword Elder, Zhou Huaiqiu!
“Greetings, Elder Zhou!” Qian Yunjiu and company hurriedly went up to greet him.
At Blueriver Sword Manor, Zhou Huaiqiu was ranked forth among the sect’s elders. His position was lofty, and his authority was vast.
Madam Cuiyun was briefly stunned. She exclaimed, “Elder Zhou? I heard that you’d let a pair of inner sect disciples on a journey. When did you get back?”
Zhou Huaiqiu smiled. “We only just returned.”
As he spoke, his gaze swept across Qian Yunjiu and the others. “Do you plan to dine here tonight too? How about we eat together?”
Madam Cuiyun’s beautiful eyes were suddenly serious. She thought to herself, This is bad!
But then, Qian Yunjiu explained, “Elder Zhou, we’re here to attend a banquet.”
He then explained how all of them had received invitations from an as-of-yet unknown, mysterious host.
Zhou Huaiqiu couldn’t help but find it strange too. His gaze returned to Madam Cuiyun, and he asked, “Madam, might the host of tonight’s banquet be a member of our Blueriver Sword Manor?”
Madam Cuiyun’s expression went slightly rigid, but she forced a nod. “That’s right.”
Thinking about it, Su Yi really had once been a Blueriver Sword Manor disciple, so she wasn’t even wrong to say that.
But what made her inwardly cry out was that Zhou Huaiqiu just had to show up tonight of all nights. This was undoubtedly an unpredictable variable!
“Martial Uncle Zhou, how about we follow them to the ninth floor and have a look too?” said Nan Ying.
Her clothes were whiter than snow, outlining her slender, enticing figure. Her lips were red as flame, and her eyes were like limpid pools. She was a rare beauty, and she’d long since attracted the attention of quite a few of the men present.
When they heard her suggestion, Qian Yunjiu and the others all chimed in to invite Zhou Huaiqiu and company to join them.
“This…” Zhou Huaiqiu mulled it over briefly, then said, “Alright. There’s no harm in taking a look.”
Nan Ying instantly smiled. This was her first-ever opportunity to participate in a banquet on the ninth floor of the House of Prosperity. How could she miss it?
Even Ni Hao was extremely tempted.
First, because not just anyone could enter the ninth floor’s Mountain and River Palace.
Second, because he was curious to know who the host of tonight’s banquet was too.
Of those present, only Madam Cuiyun was upset by this outcome. For a moment, she didn’t quite know what to do. In the end, she could only take a deep breath and force a smile. “In that case, may all of you please follow me?”
Soon, the entire group proceeded to the ninth floor’s Mountain and River Palace.
Meanwhile, on the first floor of the House of Prosperity, in a private room with the door left ajar, Cheng Wuyong watched all of this play out. He couldn’t help but frown. “I’m afraid that Master Su will encounter thorny difficulties in tonight’s operation.”
Yuan Luoxi and Yuan Luoyu were in the private dining room too.
Two days ago, upon learning of Su Yi’s plans to host this banquet, Cheng Wuyong guessed that it was sure to be a bloodbath.
As such, he and the Yuan siblings rushed over. They’d been here for a while already, and they planned to watch in silence and see how much of a disturbance tonight’s incident would cause.
Who would have guessed that before the guests even entered the venue, a variable like Zhou Huaiqiu would show up?
“Zhou Huaiqiu is just like me. Both of us have lingered at the peak of the Qi Accumulation Realm for many years. The difference is, his attainments in the Dao of the Sword are incredible. Among his peers, he’s a peak-level figure, second only to a Grandmaster,” Cheng Wuyong sighed. “But of course, there’s no way he’ll be a match for Master Su.”
“But his status is still troublesome. He’s an elder of Blueriver Sword Manor. If conflict arises, it’s sure to provoke the enmity of all of Blueriver Sword Manor. I’m afraid it’ll be difficult to smooth things over then.”
Su Yi had originally only planned to deal with those seven guests. The power of the Yuan Family was enough to suppress any waves this incident might have otherwise caused. But with Zhou Huaiqiu in the mix, that was no longer possible!
“Now what do we do?” Yuan Luoxi couldn’t help but knit her brow.
But Yuan Luoyu wasn’t the least bit concerned. “What are you afraid of? Young Lord Su can slay even Grandmasters. With skills like those, even if he overturns the heavens in the prefectural capital, he can always just leave the city.”
“It’s not that simple,” said Cheng Wuyong gravely. “Don’t forget: now, even Qin Wenyuan, someone so ruthless he can eat a man alive without even pausing to spit out the bones, is plotting to avenge his son!”