December 23, Wuding District, Hui Lake Mansion.
It was the eightieth birthday of Cheng Zhou, the former deputy director of the Handling Bureau and now its senior adviser. From early morning onward, a steady stream of visitors had come and gone through the mansion.
The Cheng Clan originally hailed from Yangzhi. Their ancestors had passed down martial arts since the Old Era. A hundred years earlier, a Cheng ancestor had led a group of disciples into the army campaigning to overthrow the Old Imperial Household. After suffering considerable losses, they had put down roots in Jibei Province Central City.
In his younger days, the Cheng Family's Old Master had taught both locally and at Central City's Wuyi Academy, and he also had a family Fighting Hall. His students were everywhere, with at least a hundred outstanding disciples among them. Those people now held important positions in the Central City Handling Bureau, the military, Wuyi Academy, and even the surrounding cities.
Central City had plenty of families that passed down martial arts. Some supported the Cheng Family as equals, while others gathered around them or relied on them. Together, they formed a force that could by no means be underestimated.
But the Cheng Family maintained strict standards and kept a low profile. Their disciples and students were all meticulous about following the rules, so their presence outside their own circles was not particularly conspicuous.
Since it was not a rest day, the birthday banquet was scheduled for the evening. After noon, however, many of the Cheng Family's younger relatives and disciples began returning from elsewhere to offer their birthday wishes.
Liu Yin followed his family elders into the mansion. As the most outstanding junior of his generation in the family, he was now entitled to enter the main hall alongside the