Chapter Thirteen: The Banquet

“Shopkeeper Zhou, you’re too kind. My surname is Yu; you may simply call me Yu Qi.” Yu Qi did not have a bad impression of Shopkeeper Zhou. Compared to Huang Kui, he preferred interacting with Zhou.

“Brother Yu, did you come to this town for Huang Kui’s banquet as well?” Shopkeeper Zhou inquired.

Yu Qi nodded, knowing well that Zhou was surely on the invitation list too.

“Brother Yu, I still have some matters to attend to at the pawnshop, so I won’t keep you. We shall speak further tonight at the Huang residence.” After bidding farewell, Zhou headed off.

Once Zhou was out of sight, Yu Qi entered the teahouse.

He found a secluded room, instructed the waiter not to disturb him, then sat cross-legged to begin cultivating.

Dark energy once again radiated from his body, swirling continuously around him. The entire teahouse became enveloped in an invisible aura of malevolence, though the ordinary patrons inside remained unaware.

Evening soon approached. Seeing the time, Yu Qi paid and left the teahouse.

He did not know the exact location of the Huang estate, but it was not hard to find—after all, Huang Kui was the wealthiest man in town. Asking a few passersby sufficed.

After learning the way, Yu Qi made his way toward the Huang family mansion. The closer he got, the more crowded the street became. Soon, a vast estate appeared before him.

At the gate, many were showing their invitations to enter. Yu Qi hurried over.

“Brother Yu,” a voice called nearby.

Turning toward the sound, he saw Shopkeeper Zhou already inside the gate, accompanied by a woman who looked two or three years older than Yu Qi.

The woman wore a pink garment, her figure shapely, lips rosy, features delicate. Her bright eyes studied Yu Qi intently.

Yu Qi smiled at Zhou and handed over his invitation, then entered.

Shopkeeper Zhou looked at Yu Qi and said, “Brother Yu, this is my daughter, Xiao Yuan.”

Yu Qi was unsure how to greet her, merely offering a soft “Hello.”

Xiao Yuan smiled gently, revealing pearly white teeth. “Father has spoken of you often, Young Hero Yu. Meeting you today, you truly possess an extraordinary aura.”

“You flatter me,” Yu Qi replied with a smile, feeling pleased by the compliment.

At that moment, Huang Kui approached. “Shopkeeper Zhou, Young Hero Yu, I apologize for any shortcomings in my hospitality. Please, this way.”

He led them inside the mansion.

“Master Huang, we are both old now. There is no need to have the young ones follow us. Let them sit together,” Zhou said, already scheming. Yu Qi was young but had martial skills surpassing his own. If she could get her daughter to like Yu Qi, it would be perfect.

Huang Kui inwardly cursed Zhou as an old fox but smiled outwardly. Pointing to another table, he said, “Shopkeeper Zhou is right. Young Hero Yu, your niece Xiao Yuan, please sit at that table.”

Following his gesture, Zhou looked in that direction and cursed silently. Three young people were already seated there. Huang Kui must have guessed Zhou’s intentions and deliberately placed them apart, preventing Yu Qi and Xiao Yuan from being too close.

Unaware of their schemes, Yu Qi saw Huang’s direction and headed toward that table. Xiao Yuan followed.

At the table sat three young people: two men and one woman. One man was about twenty, hair standing upright, thick brows and large eyes, muscular, wearing a long robe. A large axe hung on his back, giving the impression of a formidable warrior.

The other man wore a white robe and carried a long sword on his back. He glanced briefly at Yu Qi and Xiao Yuan before returning his gaze to the dishes on the table.

The sole woman wore a red dress, her hair pinned up with a jade-green hairpin. Her eyes frequently flicked toward the newcomers.

Upon Xiao Yuan’s arrival, all three greeted her, indicating familiarity.

Once seated, the woman asked Xiao Yuan, “Who is this young hero? Why no introductions?”

“He is Yu Qi. Though young, he is very formidable. Huang Kui was confined by Master Huang because of him,” Xiao Yuan whispered, her eyes glinting strangely at Yu Qi.

Hearing this, the others turned their attention. Though Huang Kui’s skills were inferior to theirs, he had trained for years. For a youth younger than them to defeat him aroused their strong curiosity about Yu Qi.

“By the way, Yu Qi, let me introduce you. The woman beside me is Wu Zhirou, daughter of the Wanli Bank’s owner. The man in white is Mo Feng. The man beside you is Shi Wansan, son of the Ironstone Mountain Estate’s master,” Xiao Yuan said.

Yu Qi smiled lightly. “Yu Qi greets you all.”

Wu Zhirou and Mo Feng nodded in response, but Shi Wansan snorted coldly, clearly displeased. He took some food and said, “Hmph, so what if you beat Huang Kui? What’s there to be proud of? Which one of us here hasn’t beaten him?”

Shi Wansan’s hostility stemmed from his secret affection for Xiao Yuan. Seeing her admiration for Yu Qi provoked his resentment, prompting his rude remarks.

Xiao Yuan quickly said, “Yu Qi, he always has a bad temper. Don’t mind him.”

“No trouble at all. Everyone has their own nature. How could I blame Brother Shi?” Yu Qi smiled and resumed eating.

Seeing this, Shi Wansan’s displeasure deepened, anger rising in his eyes. He took a sip of wine and glanced sideways at Yu Qi. “Everyone here is famous within this ten-mile radius. You’re just some spoiled kid who beat Huang Kui, yet you dare sit at the same table with us?”

Yu Qi did not know why Shi Wansan suddenly targeted him. Though annoyed, he wished to avoid conflict. “True enough, I have no reputation. If anyone looks down on me, I shall leave.”

With that, Yu Qi rose and headed for the exit.

Xiao Yuan’s face showed a flicker of anger. She looked at Shi Wansan. “Shi Wansan, are you ill? He hasn’t offended you. Why pick on him so?”

She hurried after Yu Qi.