Chapter 158: Hua Da Lang’s Engagement Banquet
“Is this the Hua Family?”
“This courtyard is too small. How can this be a place to entertain guests? There’s barely any room to stand. This is the first time I’ve seen such a shabby engagement banquet.”
“Why would Sister Yuntang be engaged to a family like this? This Hua Family courtyard isn’t even as big as the servants’ quarters in our home.”
The words of disdain reached her ears. Hua Changxi put down the cleaver in her hand and walked to the kitchen entrance. Looking out, she saw her father and eldest brother ushering in over ten people.
The arrivals were indeed members of the Sheng Family. Leading them was Sheng Yuntang’s third uncle, Sheng Xuan, and the rest were younger generation disciples of the Sheng Family.
After entering the Hua Family courtyard, Sheng Xuan was fine, chatting and laughing with Hua Minghe. However, the younger disciples of the Sheng Family couldn’t hide their disdain upon seeing the crowded Hua Family courtyard.
Hua Da Lang heard the discussions of the Sheng Family’s younger generation and felt a bit awkward. Fortunately, his future second brother-in-law, Sheng Pengye, was decent and smiled, helping him out of the situation and warning the other Sheng Family members with his eyes.
“Sixth Brother, why are you standing in front of me?”
Hua Changxi was watching the Sheng Family members when Hua Liulang approached and blocked her view.
Hua Liulang’s expression was not good. “Did you hear what the Sheng Family members were saying?”
Hua Changxi let out a ‘hmm’.
Hua Liulang said indignantly, “It makes me so angry! Our family and the Sheng Family are already related by marriage, how can their family members say such things about us?” He then looked at Hua Changxi, “Jiu Niang, you must be furious too, right?”
Hua Changxi: “I’m alright.”
Hua Liulang looked unconvinced. “Jiu Niang, you don’t need to hide it from me. I’m already furious. How could your fiery temper possibly tolerate this? Otherwise, Father wouldn’t have sent me to watch you, fearing you might lose control and cause trouble with the Sheng Family. That would make things very difficult for Eldest Brother.”
Hua Changxi rolled her eyes at his words. “I’m not the one being looked down upon by the Sheng Family, nor am I the one who will have to deal with the Sheng Family in the future. Why would I waste my energy getting angry over nothing?”
Hearing this, Hua Liulang stared at Hua Changxi in astonishment, his expression somewhat confused.
Seeing his reaction, Hua Changxi asked, puzzled, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Hua Liulang: “Jiu Niang, that’s Eldest Brother! Why do you have such an indifferent attitude?”
Hua Changxi: “This matter really has nothing to do with me. Eldest Brother himself sought a marriage with a family of vastly different social standing. The Sheng Family’s disdain is simply the price he has to pay for reaching too high.”
“What we’ve heard today is just idle gossip. After the marriage, Eldest Brother will be compared to the Sheng Family’s younger generation in all aspects. That will be the time he truly has to worry.”
Hua Liulang listened, then looked at Hua Da Lang, who was introducing the Hua Family cultivators to the Sheng Family members, a worried expression on his face. “If that’s the case, we must help Eldest Brother well.”
Hua Changxi glanced at him. “Sixth Brother, I told you, being looked down upon by the Sheng Family is the price Eldest Brother has to pay for reaching too high. If you help him, you’re transferring the price he has to bear onto yourself. Are you sure you want to live carrying someone else’s responsibility?”
Hua Liulang scratched his head. “But that’s Eldest Brother.”
Hua Changxi paused, not responding.
Hua Liulang didn’t know what else to say for a moment. He happened to see Hua San Lang needing help and quickly walked over.
Hua Changxi was still observing the Sheng Family members. Apart from Sheng Family’s Third Uncle, who was led into the main hall by Hua Minghe, the Sheng Family juniors were all in the courtyard.
By rights, the Sheng Family should have been getting to know the Hua Family well upon their arrival. However, at this moment, the Sheng Family members were chatting animatedly with Hua Hongqi, Hua Shuran, and others, while the Hua Family members were somewhat left out.
Hua Changxi shook her head. If the Sheng Family’s conduct today was any indication, she could imagine that if her eldest brother couldn’t achieve great success in the future, he would surely be looked down upon by his in-laws.
Losing interest in watching, Hua Changxi turned and entered the kitchen. She sat behind the stove and started a fire.
A quarter of an hour later, a commotion and screams erupted from the courtyard.
Hua Changxi heard it and quickly stretched her neck to look outside. Her expression instantly changed drastically.
In the Hua Family courtyard, two Demonic Beasts had suddenly appeared: a majestic silver wolf and a fierce, swift fire eagle.
As soon as the two Demonic Beasts met, they immediately began to fight.
“Go, Silver Wolf! If you win, you’ll get extra food when we get back.”
“Go, Fire Eagle! If you win against that wolf, you’ll get to eat it in Alchemy.”
Once the two Demonic Beasts started fighting, the Hua Family courtyard descended into chaos, with tables and chairs overturned everywhere. What’s more, some Hua Family cultivators and Sheng Family members were cheering for the two Demonic Beasts.
Old Master Hua and the others in the main hall heard the commotion and came out. Seeing the chaotic courtyard, Old Master Hua’s face turned ashen.
“Whoosh~”
“Whoosh~”
Two streams of fire shot out, directly striking the hearts of the silver wolf and the fire eagle. In an instant, the two Demonic Beasts, which had been fighting fiercely moments before, collapsed to the ground, motionless.
“Silver Wolf!”
“Fire Eagle!”
One person from the Hua Family cultivators and one from the Sheng Family rushed out and lunged towards the fallen Demonic Beasts.
The moment the two touched the bodies of the Demonic Beasts, the beasts suddenly burst into flames. The two people, startled, quickly retreated.
A few breaths later, only two piles of ashes remained on the ground.
Then, a wave of Spiritual Power spread through the Hua Family courtyard. The tables and chairs that had been overturned were righted and put back in place. In a moment, the messy courtyard became neat and clean again.
Hua Changxi walked out of the kitchen and walked straight towards the two cultivators who had released the Demonic Beasts. “You two, get out!”
These two were the eldest grandson of the Hua Family’s second Clan Elder, Hua Hongguang, and the only legitimate son of the Sheng Family’s Third Uncle, Sheng Pengfei.
Hua Da Lang, not wanting things to escalate, couldn’t help but speak, “Jiu—”
As soon as he spoke, Hua Changxi shot him a cold glance. Her piercing gaze directly caused Hua Da Lang to swallow the words in his mouth.
Hua Changxi withdrew her gaze and looked at Hua Hongguang and Sheng Pengfei again. “You should be grateful that today is my eldest brother’s joyous occasion. Otherwise, just for releasing Demonic Beasts in my home, I would have thrown you into the Demonic Beast Den.”
“Scram. From now on, neither of you is allowed to set foot in my Hua Family again.”
Hua Hongguang received a look from Hua Hongqi and, seeing the remains of his pet that were now just ashes, swallowed his anger and remained silent.
Sheng Pengfei, however, had fewer reservations. He angrily pointed at Hua Changxi. “It was you! You killed my fire eagle?”
Hua Changxi looked at the arm he was pointing at her and her Spiritual Pressure suddenly pressed down.
The moment the Spiritual Pressure struck, Sheng Pengfei felt as if a Giant Mountain had been placed on his shoulders, making his legs tremble and him want to kneel.
The Young Woman who killed his fire eagle stood before him. To kneel would be to kneel to her.
How could Sheng Pengfei allow himself to kneel to a Young Woman? His face turned red, veins bulging, and he gritted his teeth, stubbornly resisting.
Sheng’s Third Uncle, seeing his son being forced to his knees, became anxious. He grabbed Hua Da Lang. “Da Lang, Pengfei didn’t mean it. I apologize to you on his behalf.”
Hua Da Lang quickly grabbed Hua Changxi. “Jiu Niang, that’s enough.”
Hua Changxi glanced at the anxious Hua Da Lang, hesitated for a moment, and withdrew her Spiritual Pressure. However, she said coldly to Sheng Pengfei, “You are merely a Cultivator who has just entered the Qi Sea Realm. It’s best not to be so arrogant outside.”
Sheng Pengfei felt like spitting blood and looked at Hua Changxi mockingly. “I’m arrogant? Compared to you, ten of me wouldn’t even catch up.”
Hua Changxi sneered. “You indeed can’t catch up.” With a wave of her hand, Hua Hongguang and Sheng Pengfei were thrown out of the Hua Family courtyard.
Hua Da Lang saw this and seemed to want to say something.
Hua Changxi looked at him. “Eldest Brother, are you sure you want to break your backbone for a marriage?”
Although Sheng’s Third Uncle was angry that Hua Changxi had shown no respect to the Sheng Family, he saw Hua Da Lang’s expression change and Hua Hongqi looking displeased. He quickly said, “Pengfei was out of line.” He then bowed to Old Master Hua.
“Old Master, I failed to discipline my son. I apologize to everyone on his behalf.”
Normally, Old Master Hua would have quickly dismissed the matter. But this time, he looked at Hua Changxi, which was unprecedented, as if waiting for her to make the decision.
Seeing that the Old Master remained silent, Hua Minghe stepped forward, helped Sheng’s Third Uncle up, and smiled. “Brother Xuan, you are too kind. My Jiu Niang is just like this; she’s always serious about things. You’ll get to know her better with more contact.”
“Alright, it’s nothing. Everyone, go back to what you were doing.”
