After washing up, Lin Hao ate some breakfast and watched Lin He, who was pacing around like a headless fly, shaking his head slightly.
"Brother Hao, do you have any good ideas... When I go to the appointment, will Young Master Bai attack me..." Lin He was flustered, his words jumbled.
"Who asked you to go to places like the Proud Person Pavilion when you have nothing to do? You're young, be careful not to let wine and women drain your body, or you'll regret it for the rest of your life," Lin Hao said.
"Ah... We are men, going to such places is just for show, what's the problem... Besides, I rarely go there. But now it's too late, you should still help me think of a way." Lin He had no mood to discuss whether he would be drained by wine and women; he just wanted to resolve his conflict with Young Master Bai, even if it meant getting beaten to vent his anger.
Lin He rambled on until noon, and only then did the two set off for the Immortal Food Tower.
The 'Immortal Food Tower' was the best restaurant in Liuyun City and one of the Bai family's commercial properties, located in the most bustling area of the city.
Young Master Bai inviting Lin He to his own territory made Lin He even more uneasy.
However, from Lin Hao's perspective, it was unnecessary. The Bai family was a major force, and the higher-ups would not send people to suppress a minor squabble among a few disciples, as it would be against the rules. Moreover, Young Master Bai was not injured; Lin He had only given him a symbolic punch.
Standing outside the 'Immortal Food Tower,' Lin He was extremely anxious, always fearing that Young Master Bai had already set up an ambush.
Lin Hao had already inquired about Young Master Bai the day before and had some understanding, so he was not worried.
Worry leads to confusion, and that was Lin He's current state.
"Brother Hao, why don't you go back? Young Master Bai invited me, not you. If you come with me, I'm afraid you'll be implicated," Lin He said, regretting his decision and not wanting Lin Hao to follow him anymore.
"Come and be at ease, besides, I'm hungry." Lin Hao shook his head and turned to enter the 'Immortal Food Tower.'
Since Young Master Bai was known for being pampered and mischievous, enjoying small tricks, Lin Hao had some ideas. Lin He and he were good friends, and Lin Hao could not let him be humiliated.
The 'Immortal Food Tower' was packed with people, mostly martial artists. As soon as they entered, a staff member approached them.
"Are you Lin He from the Lin family?" the staff member looked at Lin He and asked.
"Yes," Lin He did not deny it and said straightforwardly.
After confirming Lin He's identity, the staff member looked at Lin Hao and frowned, "The young master said to only invite you, who is he?"
"I heard that Young Master Bai likes magic tricks, and I have some expertise in that area. I am here to apologize to Young Master Bai," Lin Hao explained before Lin He could speak.
"Wait here, I'll inform him." The staff member turned and went upstairs, returning after a moment, "Please follow me."
Hearing this, Lin Hao and Lin He followed the staff member to a private room.
At this moment, many martial artists were whispering, the topic being that Young Master Bai was about to show his power, and the Lin family disciples dared to provoke Young Master Bai, so they were in for a rough time.
"White Zhanchen is notorious for being a playboy, doing nothing all day, often bullying men and women in Liuyun City. These two Lin family disciples are in for a rough time today."
"Ah... It's said that White Zhanchen was very talented in his youth and stood out among the direct descendants of the Bai family. How did he end up like this? It's really hard to understand."
Several diners and martial artists shook their heads.
...
Inside the private room.
A man in brocade clothing sat at the head of the table, with a male and a female guard standing behind him.
"Young master, the people have arrived," the staff member's voice came from outside the room.
"Let that damn scoundrel crawl in," White Zhanchen said coldly.
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Hao and Lin He entered the private room.
"What, do you think my words are just hot air? I told you to crawl in, not walk in!" White Zhanchen glanced at Lin He and Lin Hao and sneered.
"You..." Lin He was instantly furious. A man could be killed but not humiliated, making him crawl in was even harder to accept than a beating.
Before he could finish, Lin Hao patted Lin He's shoulder and looked at White Zhanchen, "Young Master Bai, I am Lin Hao. Lin He is my good friend. Knowing he offended you, I am here to apologize on his behalf."
"Oh?" White Zhanchen was taken aback, looking Lin Hao up and down, "That kid hit me for no reason at the Proud Person Pavilion the other day. If I don't take revenge, I'm not Young Master Bai. But if you say you're here to apologize, I can consider it. How will you apologize?"
"How could it be for no reason? You were the one who made a move on a woman first, and I acted..." Lin He quickly said.
This time, even Lin Hao was a bit helpless, not knowing if Lin He was here to apologize or to start trouble.
"You're lying!" White Zhanchen shouted, "I, Young Master Bai, am handsome and charming. How many women stick to me like膏药 (plaster)? Would I go and make a move on someone else? Besides, even if I did, it would be on someone else, not you!"
Hearing this, the male guard behind White Zhanchen almost burst out laughing.
Seeing Lin He about to speak again, Lin Hao patted his shoulder and said, "I heard that Young Master Bai likes small tricks. Today, Lin He asked me to come to show you something."
"Magic tricks... hehe, let me tell you, a while ago, a street magician tried to trick me, but I saw through it on the spot... Do you know what happened next? The street magician was severely punished by me." White Zhanchen put on an exaggeratedly fierce expression.
Lin Hao walked to the table and picked up a dish, "Young Master Bai, please look, what is this?"
White Zhanchen stood up and looked, "Of course, it's the dish I ordered."
"But I say it's a live small beast," Lin Hao said.
A live small beast?
Not only White Zhanchen, but even Lin He had no idea what Lin Hao was up to.
"Joke, this is clearly..." White Zhanchen's words were cut off as he suddenly widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief, and the guards behind him had the same expression.
Suddenly, the dish in Lin Hao's hand turned into a six-legged spirit beast, which instantly flew up and out of the private room.
"Look at this!" Lin Hao slapped his right palm, and a continuous 'yin' sound filled the room. A golden dragon, about ten feet long, appeared, coiling in the air, exuding boundless divine power.
The private room was bathed in golden light, as if they had entered an unknown immortal realm. In a daze, they saw the dragon stirring the sea and splitting the sky, soaring to the ninth heaven.
This scene left White Zhanchen and Lin He, among others, stunned, and they all let out a scream, staggering and almost hiding under the table.
"Where did the dragon come from... Where did the fierce dragon come from!"
"What's happening, what's going on..."
They were terrified, seeing a real dragon, capable of controlling the weather, only recorded in history books.
After a moment, Lin Hao lightly raised his right arm, and the golden dragon disappeared, and all the strange phenomena vanished.
Both White Zhanchen and Lin He were dumbfounded, unable to comprehend.
"Where did the dragon go?" White Zhanchen asked instinctively.
"Just a trick," Lin Hao said calmly.
There was no six-legged spirit beast, no divine dragon, just an illusion, or rather, a magic trick.
Lin Hao, in his previous life as the Nine Heavens Emperor, had some expertise in magic tricks. The previous illusion was just a low-level trick.
Yesterday, he bought several packets of medicinal powder from the Alchemy Pavilion and mixed them to create a packet of illusion powder. When entering the private room, he secretly sprinkled the prepared illusion powder inside.
So what Lin He and White Zhanchen saw was just the effect of the illusion powder, all fake.
"What kind of trick is this?! How did you do it!" White Zhanchen grabbed Lin Hao, his expression excited.
"Right, right, how did you do it? What about the divine beings and spirit beasts earlier? Were they all fake?!" Lin He also asked urgently.
"Get lost, what's it to you!" White Zhanchen pushed Lin He away and kept pestering Lin Hao.
Lin Hao did not answer, instead asking White Zhanchen, "Is Young Master Bai satisfied?"
White Zhanchen immediately nodded, "Satisfied, very satisfied! Come, sit down, let's eat and talk!"
Lin Hao and Lin He did not refuse. After a hearty meal, White Zhanchen was still fixated on Lin Hao's tricks, wanting to know more.
However, Lin Hao did not answer, saying that tricks were just tricks, and explaining them would make them meaningless.
"Brother Hao, why don't I become your magic apprentice and learn all your skills?" White Zhanchen did not give up but did not use his status to force it.
"Maybe in the future," Lin Hao said evasively.
The formula for the illusion powder was extremely rare and one of the external magic techniques of the Nine Heavens Emperor in his previous life, so he could not teach it casually.
...
Half an hour later, White Zhanchen led Lin Hao and Lin He out of the 'Immortal Food Tower' and said, "Brother Lin Hao, why don't you come to my residence as a guest, and we can discuss these tricks..."
Before he finished, White Zhanchen's expression changed, and he glanced at the distance.
Not only White Zhanchen, but Lin Hao also raised his eyebrows, his eyes sharp, scanning the surroundings.
"Brother Hao, what's wrong?" Lin He, seeing Lin Hao's unusual expression, asked quietly.
"Someone is watching us, there are six of them, all with considerable strength, and their aura has locked onto us," Lin Hao frowned.
Lin He was startled. Who would be watching them in Liuyun City?!
This place was still some distance from the Lin family's main residence. If what Lin Hao said was true, it was not good.
"Could it be..." Lin He seemed to remember something and said, "The Chief Steward!"
Lin Hao shook his head, "He's not that stupid. If the Chief Steward really wanted to deal with me, he could wait until I enter the inner gate and use his authority. He wouldn't be foolish enough to send people to act in Liuyun City."
Hearing Lin Hao's explanation, Lin He nodded repeatedly. If he were the Chief Steward, he would not do such a foolish thing either, unless he had no brains.