Chapter 620: Chapter 116: Dinner (Part 1)

February 23rd.

The Chief of the Zhi Ge Department, Chi Chengyu, hosted a banquet, and the venue for the celebration was at the Red Sleeve Restaurant.

Tonight, the entire restaurant was booked exclusively for the event.

Luxurious carriages lined up outside the restaurant as dignitaries from Gan Province entered one after another.

Since Chi Chengyu himself organized the banquet, almost all of Gan Province’s elite felt compelled to attend.

What’s more, rumors were abound that the recently sought-after Marquis Jing’an had been invited, elevating anticipation even further.

The highest sixth floor of the Red Sleeve Restaurant was designated as the main banqueting hall, where maids in gauzy gowns and flowing skirts, beautifully shaped and lovely-faced, fluttered across the venue serving tea and water to the guests, like butterflies.

Chi Chengyu, a courtier and a member of the Red Dust Pavilion, meant that half the attendees to today’s banquet were from the official circles, and the other half were from the martial World.

Groups were formed, each engaged in hushed conversations.

Su Yifei, with a wine glass in his hand, was conversing with his companions, but his heart seemed far away.

He clearly appeared to be in a sour mood.

“Chi Zirui is here.”

Suddenly, one of his companions blurted out.

Everyone turned to look as they saw a young man dressed to the nines, with a sword hanging from his waist, smiling as he entered the main venue from the staircase, warmly greeted by those around him.

Chi Zirui, Chi Chengyu’s younger son, was also a disciple of the Red Dust Pavilion.

Upon seeing the other party, Su Yifei couldn’t hide the disgust on his face and turned his head away.

Chi Zirui scanned the room, spotted Su Yifei and his group, and brightened, immediately walking over.

“Young Master Su, I thought you wouldn’t be coming tonight.”

Chi Zirui approached, and the crowd parted, leaving Su Yifei to face him directly.

Su Yifei coldly stared at Chi Zirui, “What, I can’t come?”

“You certainly can. It’s just that I thought watching your goddess compete with another man would leave you with a sour taste.”

Chi Zirui remarked sarcastically.

His words bluntly pointed out a fact—Su Yifei was pursuing Shen Tuyue!

In fact, any high-enough standing scion was likely aware of this.

The proprietress of the Red Sleeve Restaurant was a good friend of Shen Tuyue, hence why Young Master Su often graced the Red Sleeve Restaurant with his presence.

“Chi Zirui!”

Rage crept over Su Yifei’s face as he stepped forward, confronting him.

“I’m here.”

Chi Zirui’s face remained smiling, giving Su Yifei a playful look.

Others feared this Young Master Su, but he certainly didn’t.

Although his father Chi Chengyu’s rank was one below Su Xuesong’s, in terms of actual status, it wasn’t a whit inferior!

Chi Zirui enjoyed seeing Su Yifei driven to irate embarrassment.

He too had once pursued Shen Tuyue, back when they both practiced martial arts within the Red Dust Pavilion.

But in the end, he was bluntly rejected by her.

Had it been any other woman, perhaps Chi Zirui would have had numerous ways to achieve his intentions,

But facing the Closed-door Disciple of Martial Saint Shen Tuyue, who was even likely to become the future Pavilion Master of the Red Dust Pavilion, Chi Zirui knew he would never stand a chance.

It was precisely because he had once beseechingly pursued her and been flatly rejected that he now wished to see others face the same fate.

Fortunately for him, Su Yifei’s ‘Rank’ matched his, and he was quite happy to see this Young Master Su suffer a setback.

Yet Su Yifei was evidently more patient in the pursuit of the girl and had not rushed to make the final move, keeping his interactions with Shen Tuyue at a fitting distance.

This left Su Yifei with a glimmer of opportunity.

As long as he hadn’t confessed, the outcome remained uncertain.

This made Chi Zirui even more irked.

He approached Su Yifei deliberately to provoke him:

Your cherished goddess, whom you’ve tried every way to get close to, is now actively interacting with another man. How does that make you feel?

Su Yifei had successfully been angered…

“Junior Sister, are you all set?”

In a room, a middle-aged man in black Martial Arts Clothes asked Shen Tuyue.

Still wearing a veil, her true face concealed, Shen Tuyue sat quietly, looking at the man:

“What do I need to prepare for?”

The middle-aged man was taken aback, puzzled:

“Aren’t you supposed to compete with Li Fei tonight?”

Shen Tuyue smiled, “Elder Brother Huang, I never said I’d compete with Li Fei.”

“What? Isn’t tonight’s banquet organized by Uncle Chi at your behest?”

The man was more confused.

With a sigh, Shen Tuyue replied, “I only mentioned it in passing to Uncle Chi. I didn’t expect that he would take it seriously.”

During a previous conversation with Chi Chengyu, he asked what she thought of Li Fei, and she casually replied that it wouldn’t be bad to have a friendly match.

To her surprise, Chi Chengyu took it upon himself to arrange an entire banquet to facilitate this.

Upon hearing this, the man laughed, “Uncle Chi has always doted on you. It’s quite normal.”

Shen Tuyue smiled and said nothing.

“So, you’re not planning to compete with Li Fei?”

“That depends on Marquis Jing’an. If he wishes to compete, I will naturally oblige.”

“Uncle Chi will probably bring up this matter on his own, and that would naturally lead to your match.”

“I’ve actually asked Uncle Chi not to bring up the matter of competing.”

“Ah, why is that?”

“If someone truly doesn’t wish to compete, why force them?”

Shen Tuyue said, batting her veiled eyes.

Even through her veil, one could sense the smile on her face,

Undoubtedly breathtakingly beautiful.

The man looked at his Junior Sister with a complex expression, suddenly speaking up,

“If tonight my junior sister doesn’t end up competing with Li Fei, I would like to take the opportunity to challenge Marquis Jing’an myself.”

“Ah?”

Shen Tuyue was taken aback.

Her Elder Brother Huang was no ordinary person; he was a Direct Disciple of the Pavilion Master of the Red Dust Pavilion!

Huang Jin, 34 years old this year, at the Tao Foundation Stage Peak, made it onto the list of candidates for the Fengyun Leaderboard.

“How so, do you think your senior brother is humiliating himself?”

Huang Jin asked with a smile.

Shen Tuyue shook her head: “Master once said that senior brother is Thick Accumulation and Thin Emission—if you’re not in a hurry to Breakthrough, within two years you will surely rise up on the Fengyun Leaderboard. Since senior brother now wishes to challenge Li Fei, it seems there has been a recent breakthrough, congratulations to senior brother.”

Huang Jin looked down at the sword in his hand and said in a deep voice:

“Indeed, I can’t let junior sister outstrip me by too far.”

…

The banquet was scheduled to start promptly at 7 p.m. By 6:50 p.m., nearly all the guests had arrived.

Only tonight’s main guest—Marquis Jing’an—had yet to appear.

On the sixth floor of Red Sleeves Restaurant, two significant figures, Chi Chengyu and Su Xuesong, entered the venue together.

Everyone present paid their respects to the two men.

Su Xuesong was recognized as the most prominent figure in Gan Province, while Chi Chengyu was the province’s true leading figure.

The relationship between these two was naturally not as cordial as it appeared on the surface.

“It’s still Brother Chi who has the greater prestige, being able to invite Marquis Jing’an.”

Su Xuesong said to Chi Chengyu.

“Haha, I think it’s Little Yue who has more prestige; I’m just basking in her light.”

Chi Chengyu laughed.

Tonight’s banquet, which he ostensibly held specially for Shen Tuyue, was, in fact, a boost to his reputation by managing to invite Li Fei.

After all, since Li Fei had come to Gan Province, he had declined all other invitations except for this one.

“Since ancient times, heroes have loved beauties.”

Chi Chengyu seemed to be in a very good mood.

Hearing this, Su Xuesong’s expression shifted.

The power of the Red Dust Pavilion was already strong, and if it added a Marquis Jing’an…

Su Xuesong glanced at his son in the crowd; he supported Su Yifei in pursuing Shen Tuyue.

If he truly won her over, the entire situation in Gan Province would change!

The future of the Su Family would be entirely different.

Unfortunately, no matter how much confidence he had in his son, Su Xuesong couldn’t believe that he could compare with Li Fei…

Given Li Fei’s demonstrated capabilities and current status, it would be normal if Shen Tuyue took a fancy to him.

“If only I had a daughter…”

Su Xuesong could only think with regret.

Bang!

Suddenly, the crowd stirred, and the banquet was thrown into chaos.

Su Xuesong was stunned; he just saw his son punch someone.

Chi Chengyu frowned and looked over, wondering who would dare to cause trouble at his event?

Then he saw his son being struck…

It’s unclear what Chi Zirui said to Su Yifei, but it enraged the young Master Su so much that he lashed out and started a fight right on the spot!

Many masters present today quickly subdued the two of them.

“Damned fool! What the hell are you causing a ruckus for?”

Su Xuesong scolded his son first thing.

“Don’t be angry, Lord Su, it’s normal for young people to fight and skirmish,” Chi Chengyu said, trying to pacify the situation.

Su Xuesong looked at Su Yifei with disappointed eyes.

Although he and Chi Chengyu were constantly locked in both open and covert battles, the key in officialdom was to keep company amiably even if they were to fight to the death the next moment.

If even the façade of harmony couldn’t be maintained, it only showed inadequate cultivation in the bureaucracy.

And now, at a banquet hosted by Chi Chengyu, his son had publicly struck the other’s son…

This would only serve as a laughing stock for those present, making them think he, Su Xuesong, had failed in his upbringing.

“Go back and reflect on your behavior behind closed doors!”

Su Xuesong angrily ordered.

Filled with unwillingness, Su Yifei looked at his father’s stern gaze, knowing that any resistance would only embarrass his father further.

So, with flushed face and clenched teeth, he bowed his head, paid his respects, and left.

Chi Zirui watched Su Yifei’s retreating figure and revealed a sinister smile.

“My apologies, Lord Chi, for my poor discipline; I’ve made you the butt of the joke.”

“Eh, children will quarrel, Lord Su, why take it to heart.”

“…”

A minor commotion thus subsided, and the banquet returned to normal.

At least superficially, everyone appeared to enjoy themselves in harmony.

Su Yifei walked briskly out of Red Sleeves Restaurant with a somewhat ferocious look on his face.

Just as he stepped out of the door, a luxury car stopped at the entrance.

A figure clad in dark gold emerged from the car.

Upon seeing the person, Su Yifei stopped in his tracks.

His loss of composure, his embarrassment, and his eventual expulsion from the venue—all of it was ultimately because of this man!

“Excuse me, young master, please step aside.”

Lv Wenxing arrived in front of Su Yifei, indicating for him not to block the entrance.

Su Yifei instinctively stepped aside.

Lv Wenxing, standing in front of him, gestured with an extended hand to the figure from the car:

“Marquis, please.”

As the person crossed the threshold and headed into the restaurant, Su Yifei came to his senses, a surge of anger welling up inside him.

With gritted teeth and clenched fists.

But looking at the not-so-tall figure, he eventually deflated and let go of his fists.

After standing there for a while, he lowered his head and turned to leave the restaurant.

Under the night sky, stars were strewn like jewels.

Lights from inside Red Sleeves Restaurant were enchanting, and a loud voice announced from within:

“Marquis Jing’an has arrived—”

…