Chapter 157: Hua Da Lang’s Engagement Banquet
On the twenty-third of October, early in the morning, before dawn, the Hua Family Courtyard was already bustling. By the time the first ray of dawn appeared, guests had arrived.
The visitors were members of the Hua clan.
After Old Master Hua became a Clan Elder, his interactions with the clan members became more frequent. As he was the provider of the Body Refining Technique, and given that everyone in the Hua family were cultivators, many Hua clan members eagerly sought to align themselves with him.
The first to arrive were those who usually surrounded Old Master Hua.
Not long after, the Great Clan Elder and several other clan elders arrived, followed by their respective descendants.
Seeing the Great Clan Elder personally arrive, Old Master Hua did not dare to delay and quickly brought his son and grandson out to greet them.
Many Hua clan members had arrived, and the Hua Family’s Front Courtyard was already a bit crowded with tables and chairs set up. Their arrival made the courtyard even more cramped.
Old Master Hua led the clan elders into the Main Hall, accompanied by Hua Minghe and his two brothers, along with three sons-in-law. The younger generation from the clan remained in the courtyard, hosted by Hua Da Lang and his siblings.
“Jiu Niang, you haven’t met these brothers and sisters from the clan yet, have you? Let me introduce you.”
Hua Changxi was brought by Hua Da Lang and introduced to the young clan members one by one.
After meeting these clan members, more guests arrived.
Hua Hongqi, the eldest son of the Earl’s Mansion’s Heir, arrived with young cultivators from the Hua clan.
Upon seeing them, Hua Da Lang quickly pulled Hua Changxi along and, with his other siblings, went to greet them with smiles.
“Da Lang, congratulations!”
“Young Master Qi, your presence at our humble abode is an honor. We regret not welcoming you sooner.”
Hua Hongqi feigned displeasure as he looked at Hua Da Lang: “Da Lang, we are brothers of the same clan. Stop with the ‘Young Master’ talk. I am a bit older than you, so from now on, let’s address each other as brothers.”
Hua Da Lang heard this and did not stand on ceremony, smiling as he called out, “Brother Qi.”
Hua Hongqi immediately responded with a smile and called Hua Da Lang ‘Brother Yi’, then shifted his gaze to Hua Changxi beside him.
Seeing this, Hua Da Lang smiled and introduced her: “Brother Qi, you haven’t met my Jiu Niang yet, have you? Jiu Niang, this is Brother Qi from the Heir’s family.”
Hua Changxi nodded towards Hua Hongqi: “Brother Qi.”
Hua Hongqi looked at Hua Changxi with a gentle gaze, his tone carrying a hint of admiration: “Jiu Niang, I’ve heard Shu Ran mention you many times. It’s good to finally meet you today.”
Hua Shuran, standing beside him, interjected with a smile, her tone carrying a hint of familiarity and teasing: “Jiu Niang, although we are both in the Medical Affairs Department, we haven’t seen each other much.”
“Ever since you stopped lecturing at Qihuang Hall, Wanyue and I haven’t been able to find you when we wanted to ask about Alchemy and Medical Skills. We must interact more in the future.”
Hua Changxi looked at these two direct children of the Heir’s family. As the saying goes, one should not refuse a smiling face. Since they showed friendliness, she couldn’t be too distant. She smiled and said, “I am now in charge of Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall. If you need to find me in the future, you can go to Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall.”
Hua Shuran heard this and immediately agreed with a smile.
Hua Wanyue, standing next to her, chimed in with a smile: “Jiu Niang, I heard that each Qihuang Hall is assigned eight Medicine Children. Have you decided on yours yet?”
Hua Changxi looked at her: “I’m not very clear about the Medicine Children. Perhaps the Medical Affairs Department arranges them directly.”
Hua Wanyue glanced at Hua Hongqi and Hua Shuran, then smiled: “You are the Hall Master now, you can directly appoint Medicine Children. Jiu Niang, we are all sisters of the clan. Would you consider letting Wanyue and I be Medicine Children at Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall?”
Taking over Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall was already troublesome enough with the Royal Family watching her. If the Hua clan members got involved, she feared she wouldn’t even want to step foot in the Qihuang Hall.
“Medicine Children are just errand runners. It would be a waste of your talents, yours and Shu Ran’s, to be Medicine Children.”
Prince Shou and the Department Head were extremely interested in Qihuang Hall. Furthermore, the Body Refining Technique that Old Master Hua had gifted to the clan also contained the word “Qi Huang.” The Earl’s Mansion had already guessed that the Qi Huang Body Refining Technique the Hua family had obtained was likely from Qihuang Hall.
Qihuang Hall was undoubtedly of paramount importance to the Dan Sheng Hall.
Prince Shou had allocated Qihuang Hall. When the Earl’s Mansion learned that Hua Changxi had taken charge of Number Thirteen Qihuang Hall, they wanted to place their people inside. They had been acting discreetly all these days, intending to bring this matter up on the day of Hua Da Lang’s engagement.
Hua Wanyue sensed the rejection in Hua Changxi’s words and was very displeased with her lack of tact. Although she was the one speaking, any discerning person could see she was speaking on behalf of the Earl’s Mansion. Refusing her was refusing the Earl’s Mansion.
“Jiu Niang…”
Hua Wanyue was about to say more when Hua Hongqi interrupted her: “Wanyue, Jiu Niang is also considering your interests. Don’t misunderstand her good intentions.”
Just then, more guests arrived. They were friends Hua Da Lang had made in the Demon Suppressing Army.
Hua Hongqi seized the opportunity to change the subject, looking at Hua Da Lang: “Brother Yi, we should go pay our respects to Grandpa Bin. You go entertain the guests.”
Hua Da Lang had Hua San Lang lead Hua Hongqi and his group to the Main Hall, while he took Hua Changxi towards the Demon Suppressing Army.
Hua Changxi looked at him in confusion: “Eldest Brother, I understand you bringing me to meet Hua clan members, but why are you bringing me to meet your colleagues?”
Hua Da Lang: “I think you’re too involved in our family’s affairs, which is why you’re not as attentive to the family. From now on, you’ll have to attend to family matters with me.”
Hua Changxi wanted to retort, but they had already arrived at the entrance. Hua Da Lang was already introducing her to the arriving Demon Suppressing Army members. Seeing this, she could only smile and greet them.
Seeing that the courtyard was filled with Hua clan members, Hua Da Lang led the arriving Demon Suppressing Army members to his room to entertain them. Knowing that Hua Changxi might not be able to keep up, he instructed: “Jiu Niang, when Shu Ran and the others come out from the Main Hall, you go entertain them.”
Hua Changxi smiled and watched them enter the room, but she did not follow Hua Da Lang’s instructions. Instead, she went to the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Madam Yao, along with Second Aunt Hua, Fourth Aunt Hua, and some neighbors who had come to help, were busy working.
Seeing that many dishes still needed washing and chopping, Hua Changxi directly used her Spiritual Power to wash and chop the vegetables, then helped with other chores.
“Uncle, someone from Six Doors has arrived.”
Hua Changxi heard the shout from outside the courtyard and peeked out. She saw her father quickly emerge from the Main Hall and soon lead several constables from Six Doors into the courtyard.
“Jiu Niang.”
A while later, as Hua Changxi was helping to plate dishes, Hua Shierniang entered.
“What is it?”
“Several clan elders wish to see you. Grandfather sent me to call you.”
Hua Changxi’s expression faltered. She looked towards the Main Hall, remained silent for a moment, put down the dish she was holding, and walked out of the kitchen towards the Main Hall.
Inside the Main Hall, there were only men. Old Master Hua and the clan members were chatting and laughing, the atmosphere very harmonious.
As Hua Changxi stepped into the Main Hall, everyone inside fell silent and turned to look at her.
The Hua family elders sat on both sides, their expressions solemn and their gazes sharp. Although they wore smiles, the smiles did not reach their eyes, instead exuding a cold authority.
Behind them stood their descendants.
The only young person seated in the room was Hua Hongqi from the Heir’s family.
In an instant, gazes of appraisal, scrutiny, and pickiness, all carrying various unspoken meanings, fell upon Hua Changxi simultaneously, causing her to frown.
Hua Changxi stood in the middle of the Main Hall, looking at Old Master Hua and the clan elders who had adopted the posture of a triple interrogation. She felt like a sinner awaiting judgment.
Anger instantly ignited within her.
This wasn’t just a little anger. Hua Changxi could feel a slight stinging on the back of her right hand, where black fish patterns were beginning to appear.
“Boom~”
Hua Changxi did not suppress her anger. Regardless of what Old Master Hua and the Hua clan members intended, she couldn’t be bothered to think too much at that moment. She only wanted to vent her anger and directly unleashed her Spiritual Pressure.
In an instant, a mountain-like gravity pressed down on everyone in the room. Within a few breaths, sweat began to bead on their foreheads.
Old Master Hua wanted to speak, but he discovered with horror that he couldn’t. Especially after meeting Hua Changxi’s utterly cold gaze, his mind became even more chaotic.
He regretted it. He shouldn’t have been provoked by the Great Clan Elder and actually called Jiu Niang in, nor should he have tried to pressure her along with the other elders to correct her disobedient nature and to restrain and discipline her.
“Jiu Niang.”
The eldest person in the room was the Great Clan Elder. He was still a mortal. Just as he felt he could no longer endure, Hua Minghe and Hua Da Lang rushed into the room.
The moment they entered, the Spiritual Pressure was withdrawn by Hua Changxi.
Seeing everyone sweating profusely and looking pale, Hua Da Lang walked to Hua Changxi’s side: “Weren’t you entertaining guests? Why did you come into the room?”
Hua Changxi smiled: “I didn’t intend to disturb the elders. Grandfather called me in, saying the clan elders wanted to see me.” She then smiled and looked around at the people in the room, “May I ask what instructions the elders have?”
Hua Changxi’s unleashed Spiritual Pressure had truly intimidated everyone in the room. They hadn’t expected Hua Changxi to actually dare to act against them.
The elders remained silent. Finally, Hua Hongqi spoke: “The elders have no particular instructions. They merely wished to see a junior of the clan. Jiu Niang, there is nothing else here. You may go attend to your duties.”
Hua Changxi glanced at Hua Hongqi and smiled: “Father, Eldest Brother, I’ll go help in the kitchen then.” With that, she turned and left the room.
After his daughter left, Hua Minghe looked at Old Master Hua with disappointment.
Hua Da Lang also felt a headache and helplessness.
Although father and son were weary, they still had to force smiles to liven up the atmosphere in the room again.
Fortunately, Hua Hongqi was there. As the eldest son of the Heir, his status was high. With his cooperation, others had to show respect to Hua Minghe and his son.
Once the room was filled with laughter and conversation again, Hua Hongqi subtly lowered his head to look at the Jade Pendant on his waist.
A thin, long crack appeared on the smooth, round Jade Pendant.
This was a protective Jade Pendant from his grandfather, capable of blocking attacks from Core Formation Cultivators. Yet, just now, Hua Changxi’s mere release of Spiritual Pressure had caused the Jade Pendant to crack. What did this signify?
Hua Hongqi took a breath, looked at Hua Minghe and Hua Da Lang, put on a smiling face again, and joined the conversation.
