Chapter Twelve: The Invitation

This was a flaw—and a fatal one at that, one even he did not know how to fix.

Having already cultivated the Seven Lineage Demonic Seed, giving up was out of the question. He could only take it one step at a time, hoping that once he completed its cultivation, this flaw would be fully rectified.

Sitting quietly, Yu Qi began to circulate his internal energy and train.

The birth of the evil energy remained slow; after a night passed, only a few strands of evil energy had emerged outside his body.

Letting out a long breath, Yu Qi finally jumped down from the rooftop amidst Aunt Li’s calls.

After breakfast, he took Xiao Lian to the riverbank once again.

“Today’s training goal is the same as yesterday. Let’s begin,” Yu Qi ordered.

Prepared, Xiao Lian dashed off again, and Yu Qi followed at a steady pace behind her.

Under the scorching sun, Xiao Lian’s clothes were soaked through with sweat, her forehead glistening with beads of perspiration. As on the previous evening, by the time she reached the eight hundred meter mark, fatigue had already set in.

“Take a break,” Yu Qi said, handing her a water pouch he had gotten from Aunt Li that morning.

Xiao Lian took it eagerly and drank deeply.

The two continued their training like this, Xiao Lian running ahead, Yu Qi following behind, repeating this circuit over and over.

In the blink of an eye, seven days passed. Xiao Lian was now able to run a full kilometer without stopping. Yu Qi trailed behind her and said, “Xiao Lian, you’ve improved very quickly. Soon, you should be able to run two thousand meters in one go.”

“Brother Yu, I will definitely work hard to achieve that,” Xiao Lian panted in reply as she ran.

Soon, the blazing sun sank toward the west, painting the horizon a deep red.

“All right, let’s stop here for today. Time to go back and have dinner,” Yu Qi announced as evening approached.

Back at home, just as Yu Qi sat down, Aunt Li handed him a red invitation. “This was brought by Uncle Song who delivered the meat today. He said Huang Kui sent it to you.”

Uncle Song was the beef vendor. After finishing the beef he had bought previously, Yu Qi had been buying from him again over the past few days. After several trips back and forth, feeling it was troublesome, he had paid Uncle Song extra silver to deliver to his place every evening.

Yu Qi took the invitation with curiosity, wondering why Huang Kui would send it to him.

The invitation contained just a few simple lines, roughly stating that Huang Kui was celebrating his birthday tomorrow and wished to invite Yu Qi to attend.

“Brother Yu, is something wrong?” Xiao Lian asked.

Yu Qi smiled. “Nothing, let’s eat.”

At that moment, Li Changchu cautioned, “Xiao Yu, you offended his son before. Now Huang Kui sends you an invitation—do you think there might be some scheme?”

Yu Qi had lived with Li Changchu and his wife for a long time. To them, he was like family, even without blood ties. They didn’t want anything bad to happen to him, especially since Huang Kui was an absolute strongman in their eyes. Given Yu Qi had previously crossed his son, if he went and was targeted, the outcome would likely be grim.

Hearing their concern warmed Yu Qi’s heart. He smiled softly. “Don’t worry, Uncle Li. I know my limits.”

“All right, just be careful,” Li Changchu said, seeing Yu Qi’s confidence and recalling how he had leapt onto the rooftop in a single bound. His worries eased considerably.

That night, Yu Qi sat cross-legged on the rooftop. After a week of cultivation, his evil energy had grown by twenty strands. Though it seemed significant, the strength it granted was barely noticeable.

After cultivating until dawn, Yu Qi came down for breakfast and instructed Xiao Lian, “Brother Yu has to go to town today. You must complete your training on your own—no slacking off.”

Xiao Lian nodded with a smile. “Don’t worry, Brother Yu. I won’t slack off. You must come back early.”

Yu Qi chuckled, ruffling her hair, then bid farewell to Li Changchu and his wife before heading toward the town.

Along the way, Yu Qi found it strange that a road normally seldom traveled was now frequently crossed by horse-drawn carriages heading toward the town.

“Strange, why are there so many people today? Could something big be happening in town?” Yu Qi wondered and quickened his pace toward the town.

Upon arrival, he didn’t inquire about the carriages’ destination. Instead, he went to a clothing shop and bought a set of black robes. Since he was attending Huang Kui’s grand birthday banquet, it seemed only proper to dress suitably.

Walking through the bustling streets, Yu Qi suddenly asked an elderly man nearby, “Sir, may I ask—why are there suddenly so many carriages in town today? Where are they all headed?”

The old man glanced at Yu Qi’s face, unfamiliar to him, then said, “Young man, you don’t look like you’re from around here. You probably don’t know, but today is the birthday of Master Huang, the richest man in our town. The people in those carriages are all well-known figures in our region.”

The old man seemed experienced, having witnessed many of Huang Kui’s grand birthday celebrations.

Hearing this, Yu Qi thought to himself, “I didn’t expect Huang Kui to know so many people. He really has good connections.”

“Hey, young man, do you want to attend Master Huang’s birthday banquet too?” the old man asked.

Yu Qi quickly waved his hand. “No, no, thank you.”

After learning the reason, Yu Qi bade farewell to the old man. Since it wasn’t yet time for the banquet, and feeling bored, he decided to enter a tea house.

No sooner had he stepped inside than someone called out to him, “Young brother!”

Yu Qi turned to see an elderly man approaching—someone he recognized.

“Shopkeeper, long time no see,” Yu Qi greeted him. The man was the proprietor of the Unceasing Pawnshop.

“My surname is Zhou. If you don’t mind, young hero, you can just call me Shopkeeper Zhou,” Zhou Changshan said with a smile.

Usually, as the pawnshop owner, Zhou held a prestigious status in town. Few were treated with such courtesy, and Yu Qi, still a youth, was addressed with such respect—drawing curious glances from passersby.

Inside the tea house, some noticed Yu Qi’s face and began whispering.

“Who do you think this young man is? Even Shopkeeper Zhou treats him so respectfully.”

“Don’t you remember I said Huang Huai was beaten up a few days ago? It was this young man who did it. His martial skills are formidable—rumor has it even Huang Kui can’t handle him.”

“No wonder. Looks like Shopkeeper Zhou admires this young man.”

The onlookers gazed at Yu Qi with envy. So young, yet so skilled in martial arts—how could ordinary people not feel admiration?