Old Friend

While they were talking atop Yanggao Terrace, more and more people came up to offer congratulations. Almost every sect and clan affiliated with the Zhanglong Sect had arrived; only Wufu Village had sent no one. One of their stewards delivered the gifts and then left, explaining that Village Master Huang Hui was recovering from his injuries, Old Ancestor Huang Zhong was in seclusion, Huang Kan and his father of the third branch had gone to Taifu Golden Summit to cultivate, and the other branches all had matters to attend to and truly could not come, and so on.

The Xie clan was extremely understanding. They repeatedly comforted the steward, said it did not matter, and even sent back some spirit pills for healing. Nor were they alone in their understanding. Every family understood perfectly well. With Liu Xiaolou, the culprit, right here on Yanggao Terrace, even if no one from the Three Xuan Sect had come, the Wufu Village Huang clan would not be showing their faces at any public affairs for some time. They simply could not bear such humiliation.

Besides the sects of the Zhanglong Sect, the Xie clan had invited several familiar smaller sects from the Dongyang Sect. Among them was the Zhang clan of Jinping Mountain, whom Liu Xiaolou knew rather well. The person they sent was Village Master Zhang Xianhui.

Just as he had been at Jinting Mountain back then, Zhang Xianhui was immensely enthusiastic upon seeing Liu Xiaolou. He hurried over to pay his respects. "Greetings, Sect Master Liu! Bring wine!"

The Xie clan stewards waiting nearby looked at one another. Someone came forward and politely apologized, saying that the wine had not yet been prepared. In truth, it was a tactful way of telling him—could he perhaps wait until the birthday banquet began