Urgent footsteps rang out rapidly through the interconnected buildings along the corridors.
A fat man who looked like a merchant, yet wore a short blade at his waist, swiftly leaped over one building after another and headed straight for the main hall ahead.
The entrance to the main hall was already crowded with people from the residence. The steward and Hukou City's deputy city lord were both waiting there nervously. When they saw the fat man arrive, they all breathed sighs of relief. The deputy city lord hurried forward in two quick strides, grabbed the fat man, and was just about to speak.
Yet the fat man was even more anxious. "That lord is inside?"
The deputy city lord only managed to say, "That's right. The city lord is receiving him, I—"
Before he could finish, the fat man had already shaken free and rushed up the steps into the hall. The deputy city lord cursed under his breath and hurried after him. Inside, Hukou City Lord She Yun and all the city's dignitaries were present, seated according to rank. Even Lingyun Pavilion's elder stationed in Hukou, who usually disliked going out to socialize, had come.
At that moment, a fierce-looking man with a rugged face and extraordinary bearing sat leisurely in the seat of honor. Even dressed in a slightly oversized, luxurious purple robe, he could not conceal the bulging, powerful muscles beneath his clothes. Sitting there, he seemed taller than those standing around him. His overwhelming presence dominated the entire hall, forcing the many high-ranking city officials present to echo polite pleasantries.
The guest's status was far more exalted than the host's, so he had effectively become the master of the occasion. The guest occupied the principal seat while the host served as an accompaniment.
He Mao had