CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: I HAVE MANY FLAWS (SECOND RELEASE)

Jin Yutang was enthusiastic, but it only made Xu Nian sneer inwardly.

If he hadn’t known about the Blood Demon Sect’s affairs, he might have actually been deceived by this old fox.

"Patriarch Jin, you jest," Xu Nian responded with a smile. "You sent an invitation from so far away. Even if I am ungracious, I must at least show you this courtesy."

Jin Yutang, however, didn’t seem to notice anything amiss and hurriedly invited Xu Nian and his party to sit down.

As the Sect Leader of the Profound Yellow Sect, Xu Nian was naturally assigned a seat at the main table.

The individuals seated at this table were no ordinary people.

Master Xuan Kong of the Merciful Temple.

Sun Tianhui from the Single Sword Sect.

Chief Zhao Tuozi from the Thirteen Strongholds.

Elder Eagle Eye from the Celestial Eagle Gang.

The Blood-Handed Boss of the Iron Fist Sect.

The sect leaders and gang chiefs from the five great Jianghu powers had almost all arrived.

Zhao Tuozi’s cold, dark eyes were fixed on Xu Nian. Their Thirteen Strongholds had suffered the heaviest losses recently. Three of their strongholds had been taken down by disciples of the Profound Yellow Sect. That was a grievance they couldn’t swallow anytime soon!

As for the others, they were, more or less, just curious about Xu Nian. After all, it was indeed somewhat surprising for such an apparently ordinary sect to rise so quickly. Especially upon seeing how young Xu Nian was, everyone was inwardly shocked. Even the youngest among them was already thirty. To them, Xu Nian was but a junior! Yet now, this junior was making it difficult for them to hold their heads high—a truly uncomfortable feeling.

Jin Yutang lifted his wine glass and laughed heartily. "It’s truly an honor for me that all of you could come today. This cup is my salute to everyone!"

With that, he raised his hand and downed the drink in one gulp.

The rest also lifted their glasses and began to exchange jovial pleasantries.

"Patriarch Jin is a man of integrity and often provides aid to the common people. We admire that."

"You personally wrote the invitation. It would indeed be quite ungracious of us not to come."

"We’re all on the same side here, Patriarch Jin. Please keep in touch more often."

"If you need anything, just let our Iron Fist Sect know, and I will personally handle it for Patriarch Jin."

"..."

The group immediately stood up, raised their glasses, and started drinking.

Xu Nian looked at them with a peculiar expression. To be honest, he still felt uncomfortable on such occasions and couldn’t quite blend in.

Too fake.

These people didn’t know Jin Yutang’s true situation. Their words were merely driven by their desire for his wealth.

Once they knew Jin Yutang’s true face, I wonder if they’d still be able to utter such words.

"Sect Leader Xu, why not have a cup?" Jin Yutang approached, wine glass in hand, his smile painfully artificial.

Xu Nian looked at the white porcelain wine cup before him and smiled. "Forgive me, Patriarch Jin, I’ve always abstained from alcohol."

"Oh? That was my oversight." Jin Yutang quickly said, "Someone, quickly bring tea for Sect Leader Xu—the finest tea!"

A servant hurriedly poured a cup of tea and respectfully placed it before Xu Nian.

Xu Nian glanced at the servant, his lips curling into a knowing smile. "Patriarch Jin truly has deep pockets, having a Third-Grade Martial Artist serve tea in his home. How enviable."

At these words, everyone’s expression turned peculiar.

Sun Tianhui frowned and looked towards the tea-serving servant.

A Third-Grade Martial Artist?

Although Jin Yutang was wealthy, he wasn’t influential enough to command a Third-Grade Martial Artist. After all, a Third-Grade Martial Artist could easily establish their own faction. Wouldn’t obtaining silver be a simple matter for them? Why would such a person serve as a mere servant in the Jin Family?

A hint of surprise flashed in Jin Yutang’s eyes, but he quickly responded with a smile, "Sect Leader Xu, you must be mistaken. I couldn’t afford to hire a Third-Grade Martial Artist; he’s just an ordinary servant."

"Oh? Is that so?" Xu Nian smiled as he picked up his teacup. "Perhaps I really did see wrong."

As Xu Nian blew on the floating tea leaves in his cup, Jin Yutang was about to raise his wine glass for another toast.

But Xu Nian set down his teacup again and asked, "With so many Jianghu people gathered here, why hasn’t the Government Office sent anyone to keep an eye on things? Aren’t they afraid something might happen?"

Hearing this, the same thought occurred to everyone else.

Right! This was no small gathering. Normally, the Government Office would send someone to watch over it. So why was there no one in sight today? And even the members of the Brocade Guard were absent?

Beside him, Jin Yutang explained with a smile, "Lord Liu, the Prefect, will arrive shortly. Everyone, please don’t worry. As for the officials from the Brocade Guard, they seem to have left early on some business, presumably to handle a case."

This explanation didn’t seem problematic, and the Jianghu people didn’t bother to think too much about it. After all, they didn’t get along with the Imperial Court. They were normally suppressed by the Brocade Guard. Now that the Brocade Guard wasn’t around, they could eat and drink more freely. With Zhou Yuntong not present to keep things in order, the Jianghu people could also let loose a bit more.

Jin Yutang lifted his wine cup and said, "Sect Leader Xu, I toast to you."

He seemed very eager for Xu Nian to drink the tea.

This made Xu Nian even more wary.

There was something wrong with the tea! Even the alcohol might have been drugged. Is the Blood Demon Sect trying to wipe out all the major sects in Fengxiang Prefecture in one fell swoop?

"There’s no rush. It’s too hot; let it cool a bit," Xu Nian said softly. "I’m a bit particular, Patriarch Jin, please forgive me."

Hearing this, a flicker of urgency and anger flashed deep in Jin Yutang’s eyes, but he concealed it well.

Beside him, Zhao Tuozi snorted coldly. "Young people sure are fussy! Old Patriarch Jin, I’ll drink with you!"

Saying so, he switched to a wine bowl to drink with Jin Yutang. The others also chimed in and joined him.

Master Xuan Kong, being a monk who abstained from alcohol, joined them with his teacup.

Just as everyone was toasting and making merry, a shout from the entrance once again silenced the room.

"Lord Liu, the Prefect, has arrived!"

The announcement sent a jolt through the hearts of the Jianghu people.

Immediately, Xu Nian and the others turned their heads to look towards the entrance of the Jin Mansion.

A middle-aged man in an official robe walked in, a smile that didn’t reach his eyes on his face, followed by a group of constables.

Third-Grade Martial Artists! Second-Grade Martial Artists!

These constables were also of high rank. However, they appeared to have trained in some martial art that concealed their true power, making it difficult to discern their actual realm.

Magistrate Liu appeared to be in his thirties or forties. He had a restrained aura and was at the First-Grade Realm!

His gaze swept over Xu Nian the moment he entered, and the chilling sensation made Xu Nian instantly heighten his guard.

It seemed Lu Dashan was right. The personnel of the Fengxiang Prefecture Government Office had indeed been replaced by the Blood Demon Sect. The original Magistrate Liu had likely already met a grim end. With the Brocade Guard transferred away, Fengxiang Prefecture had completely fallen under Blood Demon Sect control.

Unfortunately, these Jianghu people were still in the dark.

"Sit, sit, sit," Magistrate Liu said, waving his hand casually. "Today we’re just here to drink and eat meat. There’s no need to be so formal." He then very naturally sat in the seat of honor at the main table, making all the Jianghu people there quite uncomfortable.

"Official duties kept me. I apologize for my tardiness. This cup of wine, I, Liu, offer to everyone," Magistrate Liu said, raising his wine cup.

Everyone else followed suit.

Xu Nian glanced at the teacup in front of him, hesitated for half a moment, and finally lifted it to take a sip.

Seeing this, Jin Yutang and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.