Gathering

Everyone was chatting and laughing.

Suddenly, a clamor erupted from outside, followed by the sharp sounds of fists and feet cutting through the air, and then two muffled groans of pain.

Qian Fu's face changed drastically upon hearing the familiar sounds, and she stood up abruptly.

Wang Yuan shouted, "Old Han, hurry in, we're just waiting for you!"

Bang!

Bang!

Two dull thuds echoed as heavy objects hit the ground.

Then, heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs, each step making the floorboards tremble slightly.

A curtain was lifted, and a burly figure squeezed in, looking like a black bear barging into a cave, immediately filling more than half the doorway.

Upon seeing the newcomer, it was a stout young man with an extremely aggressive gaze. The muscles on his thick neck and knotted arms bulged, as if covered in a layer of flesh armor. Just standing there exuded an invisible pressure.

"Brother Wang, it's lively today."

"Come, let me introduce you..." Wang Yuan stood up and smiled, "This is from the Black Bear Martial Hall..."

He paused, then said, "The peerless genius... Han Yan."

He slightly emphasized the words "peerless."

Immediately after, he introduced everyone present, one by one.

Han Yan's large, bell-like eyes darted left and right as he was introduced. When he looked at people, there was always a fierce glint in his eyes, as if he wanted to devour them whole.

After the introductions, Han Yan strode to Wang Yuan's side.

Wang Yuan glanced at Hong Chun on his left and said with a smile, "Chun'er, why don't you... move over a bit."

Hong Chun quickly got up to make space.

Han Yan plopped down, twisted his thick neck, clenched his fist, and pointed his thumb at himself, saying, "Brother Wang, I just ran into two effeminate martial artists outside. You know, I can't stand that kind of thing..."

"Those were my people," Qian Fu interrupted coldly, her goose-yellow brocade jacket making her expression even more displeased.

Han Yan's eyes widened. "Oh?"

He grinned, revealing a row of sharp white teeth. "What does that little lady want? Want to spar?"

Qian Fu chuckled lightly. "I heard you're a peerless genius?"

Han Yan replied, "That's right."

Qian Fu asked, "Then how long did it take you to reach Ninth Rank, and how long to reach Eighth Rank?"

Han Yan said, "I started practicing martial arts in early winter this year. I reached Ninth Rank in four days and broke through to Eighth Rank in forty-four days."

Qian Fu giggled, holding a piece of candied fruit between her delicate fingers and bringing it to her lips. She said with a smile, "I thought it was something amazing."

Han Yan slammed the table, enraged. "What did you say?!"

Qian Fu slowly replied, "My Chu Xiao reached Ninth Rank in three days and Eighth Rank in forty days. He also started practicing in early winter. You can go ask around if you don't believe me."

After speaking, she let out a "heh" laugh and said no more, merely crunching on the candied fruit.

The air suddenly froze for a moment.

The next instant, Wang Yuan's booming laughter broke the silence.

He waved his hands as he laughed, "Why should the two brothers be angry over such a trivial matter? Those two scoundrels outside who gambled until they were red-eyed, they lost their shoes and socks, what are they? Worthy of making my two brothers angry?"

He looked at Qian Fu and said, "Don't worry, I'll pick two better ones for you later."

He then patted Han Yan's shoulder and said, "At my Golden Hook Quarter's black arena, Brother Han, whenever you come, you'll always have the best seats. If you see any opponent you like and want to fight, just tell me, and I'll arrange it."

Seeing their expressions soften slightly, Wang Yuan seized the opportunity. "Besides, in martial arts cultivation, blindly pursuing speed can actually be detrimental... Being a few days faster or slower can't explain anything."

Qi Yu laughed heartily. "The two of you geniuses, one breaking through Ninth Rank in three days, the other in four days, are both beyond my reach. Don't laugh at me, it took me nearly a month to break through Ninth Rank."

Only then did Han Yan seriously glance at the host of today's gathering. Seeing his hearty demeanor and composed presence, he felt a good impression. He smiled, "Brother Qi and Brother Wang are both from prominent families, so you naturally don't need to risk your lives for a future like us martial artists. Being slow or fast... is actually harmful. I think Brother Qi looks like he's trained well."

Qi Yu took a deep look at the "24~47" floating above Han Yan's head.

If he really started practicing in early winter, then... calling him a genius was truly accurate.

He clapped his hands. "Since everyone is here, let's begin the feast."

The dancers waiting behind the screen heard the host's summons and entered, swaying their hips.

The delicate sound of jade pendants tinkled, and their flowing sleeves unfurled like mist and rosy clouds.

Servants bowed as they brought in the dishes, their lacquered food boxes opened one after another, revealing various delicacies.

Qi Yu gave an instruction to a servant.

Soon, the manager of the building hurried in and approached to whisper in his ear.

Qi Yu lowered his gaze and gave a few instructions, and the manager bowed and retreated.

In less than half the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, he returned with a purple sandalwood tray, on which were several items.

These were gifts he had prepared for today's guests.

The Qi Family's core industry is "medicine." Centered around this, they've not only developed the "Hundred Flowers Brew," a fine wine that promotes blood health, but also many "flower teas," "flower dews," and even "rouge and powders"...

Qian Fu declined, "Brother Qi, I've eaten and drunk your fill today. How can I possibly take your things?"

Qi Yu didn't say much more. He directly opened the portion meant for Qian Fu, taking out an exquisite jade bottle as clear as ice. The word "Tian Xia" was inscribed on the bottle in ancient seal script.

"Flower dew?"

Qian Fu was no stranger to this item. She took it, opened it, and took a sniff. A wisp of cold fragrance suddenly emerged, like early spring snow falling on crabapple blossoms.

Her eyes immediately widened in amazement.

What a treasure.

Qi Yu was confident in his own family's products.

What he had prepared for Qian Fu was "Tian Xia Flower Dew." "Flower dew" is essentially "perfume," and "Hong Xia Flower Dew" had a secret spiritual flower from a Qi Family restricted area added to it. It was crisp at first sniff, then lingered delicately, elegant rather than strong, and exceptionally pleasant to smell. Just a single drop would significantly enhance a woman's charm.

As for Han Yan, he had prepared "Spirit Flower Tea." This tea's main benefit was "calming the mind and pacifying the spirit," which was very helpful for Eighth Rank martial artists after the explosive surge of their blood.

Products like these, involving the Qi Family's restricted areas, were priceless and highly sought after outside.

As the young master of the Third Branch, he couldn't get his hands on the core Medicine Harvesting Pavilion, but he did have a share of these products under his control.

Qian Fu confirmed that this was a good item that money couldn't buy and accepted it directly. She then smiled, "Brother Qi, you truly are as interesting as Brother Wang. No wonder your junior disciples praise you so highly. They say you're a martial arts prodigy with extensive connections, and that you've even guided him before."

A martial arts prodigy with extensive connections, and you've even guided him?

Qi Yu asked, "Who said that?"

"Chu Xiao," Qian Fu chuckled. "The genius from your Spirit Serpent Martial Hall. He admires you so much. Meeting you today, you truly are extraordinary."

Qi Yu was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.

Originally, when he gave Han Yan the "Spirit Flower Tea," he had intended to help his junior disciple Chu resolve that inexplicable rift between them. But now... he suddenly decided against it.

He saw how difficult things were for Uncle Song, who had finally found a talented disciple.

It was a pity...

He wasn't stupid.

He could tell whether someone was good or bad to him.

Chu Xiao, knowing Qian Fu's situation and her special relationship with Song Xue, had deliberately used two inaccurate praises to laud him. His intentions were clear.

If Wang Yuan hadn't invited Qian Fu today and diffused the situation, then even if Madam Liu had investigated Qian Fu's character and refused, some minor resentment would inevitably have formed.

The banquet dispersed, and the guests departed, leaving only two people on the fifth floor.

Qi Yu and Wang Yuan.

"Yuanzi, you've changed a lot," Qi Yu suddenly said.

Wang Yuan, his eyes hazy with drink, leaned against the doorframe and window, gazing out at Wei Mountain shrouded in sunset clouds to the north. "Brother Qi, haven't you?"

He then let out a self-deprecating chuckle. "I'm a son of a concubine, and you're the third young master. We appear glorious outside, but at home... we can't even sit at the main table.

It's fine now, but what about the future?

I... I thought I was the only one who had awakened. I didn't expect you to have too, Brother Qi. That's good."

Qi Yu asked, "You mentioned Qi Feng, wanting me to fight him and instigate infighting within my Qi Family? So your Wang Family could watch from the sidelines and profit from the chaos?"

Wang Yuan laughed. "Do you think you wouldn't fight even if I didn't instigate?

Brother Qi, don't be naive.

On the other hand, you only mentioned breaking through to Ninth Rank in a month, but why didn't you mention spending another month to break through to Eighth Rank, and then defeating your family's veteran Eighth Rank guard with a single punch?"

He then waved his hands. "I didn't plant any spies. It was just that the envoy I sent yesterday to deliver the invitation had sharp ears and overheard it by chance."

Qi Yu was silent for a moment, then said, "Thank you for today."

Wang Yuan waved his hand. "No, those two male companions were arranged by me. I just happened to see them and thought I'd have this young lady meet them directly, to avoid some inexplicable resentment. That way, my Brother Qi wouldn't be tricked without knowing.

Man has no intention to harm the tiger, but the tiger has the will to harm man..."

The air was quiet.

Wang Yuan suddenly said again, "Brother Qi, what I'm going to do next might conflict with you a little.

But we're both grown now, and many things are beyond our control.

However, no matter what, I still hope... we are brothers, and always will be."