A Toast

Luo Jiuxiao appeared at the doorway with his daughter, Luo Hongyan, and the two walked in together. Both father and daughter carried themselves with extraordinary bearing, clearly outstanding among their peers. Luo Jiuxiao wore a faint smile, while Luo Hongyan's expression remained calm and undisturbed, possessing a serene, tranquil beauty.

The many retainers in the room rose one after another and saluted the city lord and his daughter.

"Greetings, City Lord!"

"Greetings, City Lord!"

The booming voices of the crowd made the banquet hall hum with echoes.

Luo Jiuxiao's little mustache twitched as he laughed heartily. "Sorry to have kept everyone waiting. We're all our own people, so there's no need to stand on ceremony. Sit down and keep eating and drinking. Come to think of it, it's been a long time since we last gathered for a meal. Let's have a proper reunion today and not leave until we're drunk!"

As he spoke, Luo Jiuxiao swept his gaze around the room, taking in everything at a glance. He noticed Fan Lang sitting in the first seat among the retainers, and his expression shifted slightly.

He really is a bold kid. He just became a retainer, yet he has already pushed Jin Duanshan down. The City Lord's Mansion has found itself a treasure this time, gaining a fierce general. I just wonder whether I can win his loyalty.

Many thoughts flashed through Luo Jiuxiao's mind, but he made no comment on the change in seating.

In truth, Luo Jiuxiao was not particularly surprised by this. He was well-informed and had already heard various reports about Fan Lang. He knew Fan Lang was no ordinary man.

Luo Jiuxiao led his daughter to the seat of honor, and the two sat down. The many retainers followed suit, and only then did the Retainer Banquet officially begin.

"Thanks to everyone's wholehearted assistance, Wind Cloud City has remained peaceful and safe. As its city lord, I offer you all a toast. I will have to continue relying on you in the future." Luo Jiuxiao raised a Large Golden Goblet and toasted everyone around him before draining it in one gulp.

The retainers raised their cups in response and drank freely. In an instant, the fragrance of wine filled the air.

Even Luo Hongyan raised her cup and took a small sip.

Luo Hongyan did not actually like attending occasions like this. Her father had dragged her here for the sake of winning people over, so that the retainers would be loyal to the Luo family rather than Luo Jiuxiao alone.

Luo Hongyan had little interest in the banquet. She kept her head lowered as she ate slowly, never even sparing the retainers below a proper glance. Naturally, she had not noticed Fan Lang either.

But Fan Lang could not ignore Luo Hongyan.

The two were actually seated quite close together, only about two meters apart. Seen up close, Luo Hongyan's features were truly exquisite. She was beautiful enough to bring ruin to kingdoms.

Fan Lang felt the urge to flirt. He filled his cup with wine, rose with it in hand, and walked over to stand before Luo Hongyan under everyone's watchful eyes.

"I am Fan Lang. I offer Miss Luo a toast and wish that Miss Luo grows ever more beautiful." Fan Lang raised his cup.

Hearing this, Luo Hongyan lifted her head and looked at Fan Lang across from her. He was unfamiliar to her, and she was briefly at a loss. Everyone knew she did not like drinking, and any tactful retainer should not have come to toast her.

"My tolerance for alcohol is low. I cannot drink much." Luo Hongyan's expression turned cold as she flatly refused.

"Hongyan." Luo Jiuxiao spoke from beside her. "He is kindly offering you a toast. How can you waste his goodwill? That would be far too rude. Listen to your father. Pick up your cup and drink with him."

Luo Hongyan was greatly surprised. She had not expected her father to force her to drink this cup of wine. She turned to look at him, her eyes full of confusion.

"Be good." Luo Jiuxiao smiled.

Those simple two words carried a weight that could not be refused.

Left with no choice, Luo Hongyan reluctantly raised her cup. She lifted her wide sleeve to cover her face, tilted her head back slightly, and her jade-like neck moved as she returned Fan Lang's toast.

This cup of wine proved that their statuses could now stand on equal footing, no longer as vastly different as before!

Fan Lang understood perfectly well that this cup was Luo Jiuxiao giving him face and showing him goodwill.

The truth was that only strength could earn respect.

After drinking the wine, a faint flush appeared on Luo Hongyan's cheeks, adding several degrees to her beauty.

"Please enjoy, Miss Luo." Fan Lang smiled slightly and returned to his seat with his empty cup. He had only sampled the wine this time. He could not keep pestering Luo Hongyan in front of everyone.

The banquet continued.

Other than Fan Lang, no one else went to toast Luo Hongyan afterward. No one wanted to make a fool of themselves.

The feast lasted a long time and did not end until the afternoon. Everyone left one after another.

Luo Hongyan walked side by side with her father into an empty corridor. She finally spoke her mind, pouting as she complained, "Father, why did you force me to drink just now? He is only a retainer. Was there really any need for me to lower myself and drink with him?"

"Even if Jin Duanshan had toasted you, I would not have forced you to drink. But Fan Lang is different. You had to drink that cup. I think highly of him and must win him over so that he can be of use to me." Luo Jiuxiao said seriously.

"Is he really that important?"

"He is a one-in-ten-thousand genius. He learned the four-star combat skill Heaven and Earth Seal in a single day, and he even defeated two Mystic Spirits while at the Mystic General realm. He is simply a monster!"

"If he is really such a monster, why had I never heard his name before?"

"You truly have no impression of him? I heard that he once stopped you and confessed his feelings to you, but you did not even acknowledge him."

"I really do not remember him... Now that you mention it, I do recall something. Some time ago, someone said some very annoying things to me. It seems that person was him."

Luo Hongyan had never paid Fan Lang any attention before. Only after her father reminded her did some memories surface.

Before flowers and beneath the moon, there had been a youth who knew neither the height of the heavens nor the depth of the earth.

She simply had not expected that this youth had now reached the point where even the city lord of Wind Cloud City viewed him in a different light.

People often said that thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, yet Fan Lang had undergone such a heaven-shaking transformation without even needing thirty years.

"Daughter, you could disregard him before, but from now on, keep him in mind. Remember, his name is Fan Lang. If he confesses his feelings to you again, remember to handle it more tactfully. Do not chill his heart," Luo Jiuxiao instructed.

"Fan Lang..." Luo Hongyan repeated the name, as if carving it into her heart.

From this moment on, she could no longer ignore that name.

Meanwhile, several retainers caught up with Jin Duanshan and began asking him questions.

"Brother Jin, that brat Fan Lang took your seat. Why didn't you deal with him just now?"

"Exactly! What gives him the right to sit there?"

Jin Duanshan grew impatient from their pestering and waved his hand. "Get the fuck out of here, all of you. If you're not convinced, go deal with him yourselves. Why come here and nag me? Forget Fan Lang—even the woman beside him could kill the lot of you!"

Those busybodies were thoroughly cursed out, and every one of them wilted.

They had the nerve to egg Jin Duanshan on, but not the nerve to trouble Fan Lang themselves. They could tell that Jin Duanshan seemed somewhat wary of Fan Lang.

That wariness could not have come from nowhere.

As soon as the Retainer Banquet ended, Fan Lang took Butcher Girl, his follower, to the Underground Arena. Half a day was enough for him to gain two levels!