Gifts and Gifts

"Huh? Who?"

Ruo Jin didn't react for a moment, but seeing her friend's expression instantly brighten, even becoming somewhat flustered, she immediately realized that the uniquely charismatic young man in blue was probably the mysterious "friend" Hong Hanran had mentioned earlier who could handle any situation.

"Quick, come with me to greet them!"

Hong Hanran didn't have time to explain further. She pulled the still somewhat bewildered Ruo Jin along and quickly walked towards Lin Yi, who had just reached the entrance and was about to follow the crowd into the manor.

Ruo Jin subconsciously took two steps after him, her mind racing as she tried to guess the young man's identity, which had caused Hong Hanran to lose her composure so much.

Just then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a figure appearing without warning at the entrance to the corridor leading to the main hall inside the manor.

The figure was not tall, dressed in a simple dark gray robe, and his face seemed ordinary, but the moment he appeared, the somewhat noisy air around him seemed to freeze instantly.

An invisible aura of majesty spread silently like mercury, causing everyone who sensed it to involuntarily hold their breath.

Ruo Jin was immediately startled.

It was actually the Lord of Hong Yan Realm!

He actually came out in person; shouldn't he be in the main hall receiving the most distinguished guests?

How did it end up in the area near the manor entrance?

Ruo Jin saw that the Lord of Hong Yan Realm had a calm gaze. He first nodded slightly to the guests around him who had noticed him and were bowing to him, as if to say hello.

Then, without pausing, Lord Hong Yan walked straight in one direction.

At that moment, all eyes at the doorway involuntarily focused on that direction.

Whether it was the guests entering, the Hong Family members responsible for welcoming them, or the bystanders chatting and watching the commotion nearby, everyone was stunned.

The Lord of Hong Yan Realm was actually after that young man in blue?

Under countless gazes, Lord Hong Yan walked up to Lin Yi, a gentle smile on his face, and said, "Commander Lin Yi, I didn't expect you to attend Han Ran's birthday banquet. You are very welcome."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire entrance area, as if it were ringing in everyone's ears.

"Lin Yi, Commander?"

Which Commander Lin Yi?

"Could the Star Core level be... Lin Yi from the East Peak Mercenary Group?"

"The number one Star Core level expert?"

"It was him!"

"Indeed, given his status, it's not surprising that the Lord of Hong Yan Realm came out to greet him."

After a brief silence, a tidal wave of hushed exclamations and whispers arose.

Lin Yi looked at the powerful expert from the Derivation Realm before him, feeling somewhat speechless.

Didn't you call me here? What are you pretending for?

However, Lin Yi thought again that he had accepted the generous gift of "Eternal Abyss Water" after all. He was paying people money and had to do their bidding. He should still have basic professional ethics.

So, since they're here to "put on a show," they have to put on a good performance.

Therefore, Lin Yi smiled and replied, "Lord Hong Yan, you are too kind. Han Ran and I are good friends. Now that I know about her thousandth birthday, I should naturally come to offer my congratulations. I didn't expect you to come and greet me personally."

His words not only clarified that he had come as a "friend of Hong Hanran," thus saving face for the host, but also maintained the etiquette of a junior, neither humble nor arrogant. A hint of appreciation flashed in the eyes of the Hong Yan Realm Master.

Just then, Hong Hanran pulled Ruo Jin closer.

She first bowed respectfully to Lord Hong Yan, then looked at Lin Yi, her face showing genuine joy and a hint of barely perceptible shyness, and said softly, "Mr. Lin Yi, I am truly delighted that you could come."

Lin Yi smiled slightly, turned his gaze to Hong Hanran, and said in a much gentler tone, "Miss Hanran, congratulations on your 1000th birthday."

As he spoke, he flipped his hand, and a simple yet exquisitely crafted jade box appeared in his palm.

"This is a local specialty from my hometown, a small token of my appreciation. I hope you won't find it offensive."

As he spoke, Lin Yi handed over the jade box.

Lin Yi had naturally considered the gift. Giving something too expensive would be wasteful, while something too cheap would seem stingy. Therefore, Lin Yi chose a local specialty from his hometown, which would show his thoughtfulness without breaking the bank.

Hong Hanran quickly accepted the gift with both hands. She knew that although this gift was not as precious as the "Eternal Abyss Water," it was a gift from a friend, and therefore had a different meaning.

She bowed again. "Thank you, Mr. Lin Yi, I really like this gift."

Lord Hong Yan watched the two exchange with a smile, not interrupting until now, when he spoke again, "Commander Lin Yi, please come inside with me for a detailed discussion. This is not the place to talk."

"Lord Hong Yan, please."

Lin Yi nodded slightly, adopting a humble posture, and followed Hong Yan Hong Yan Master by half a step, walking together towards the most magnificent and luxurious main hall deep within the manor.

As the birthday celebrant for the day, Hong Hanran needed to greet the remaining guests at the entrance, so she naturally didn't go inside.

She watched their figures disappear at the end of the corridor, and her tense heart finally relaxed completely, feeling that even her breathing became much easier.

Ruo Jin, standing beside her, looked completely bewildered, her mind seemingly filled with a multitude of questions swirling and exploding within her.

???

Did I hear that right?

Lin Yi?

Is it that Lin Yi?

Ruo Jin stared wide-eyed at her friend, then at the direction Lin Yi had disappeared in. She opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a sound.

If the timing and circumstances weren't so inappropriate, she would have loved to immediately log into the virtual universe network and pull up Lin Yi's publicly available video footage to compare and confirm!

But who else could it be but the legendary Lin Yi, the young man whom the Lord of Hong Yan Realm would personally greet with such politeness and even a hint of equality?

"Oh My God."

Ruo Jin finally found her voice. She grabbed Hong Hanran's arm and exclaimed excitedly, "Hanran! You... you actually managed to get Lin Yi! You kept this from me for so long! I've been worrying about you for nothing! If you had told me he would come, I wouldn't have been afraid of Ling Xuan at all!"

Seeing her best friend almost jumping for joy, Hong Hanran quickly explained, "Jin'er, don't get excited. Actually, I wasn't sure myself. Mr. Lin Yi didn't give me a definite answer as to whether he would really come, only saying he would do his best. That's why I didn't dare tell you in advance, afraid that if he didn't come, the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment."

Ruo Jin didn't care about any of that. She chuckled, her face clearly saying, "I see right through you."

"I don't care! You were wrong to keep it from me. As punishment, you stay here by yourself for now. I'm going in to see what's going on! I'm super, super curious about the expressions on Ling Xuan and his buddies' faces when they see Chief Lin Yi at the banquet."

"Just thinking about it makes me excited."

After Ruo Jin said that, Hong Hanran's curiosity and anticipation were completely piqued.

How could she not want to see that scene with her own eyes?

Hong Hanran quickly glanced at the remaining guests at the door; there didn't seem to be any particularly familiar faces left.

She quickly whispered to her father, who was standing slightly inside and in charge of receiving more important guests, asking him to temporarily look after the ordinary guests at the door as well.

After receiving her father's permission, she immediately said to Ruo Jin, "Wait, I'll go in with you!"

The two young women exchanged a smile, disregarding any semblance of welcoming etiquette. Lifting their skirts, they walked briskly and somewhat eagerly into the manor.

Meanwhile, inside the manor, there was a lush, open-air courtyard area.

Ling Xuan and his group were leisurely enjoying their wine in a relatively quiet corner.

As well-known uninvited guests, they arrived with a provocative air, so naturally no one would be so oblivious as to approach them for a chat.

Ling Xuan and his companions, however, were quite content with their leisure time, chatting quietly among themselves.

"Brother Xuan, I just took a quick look around."

Beside Ling Xuan, the woman in the dark green dress who had previously cast a provocative glance at Hong Hanran said with a hint of disdain, "Apart from us, all the Star Core level in this manor are scoundrels, not a single decent one, let alone our old rivals with whom we have some grudges; we haven't seen a single one."

"It seems the Hong Family truly has no one left to rely on. Today, Hong Hanran is definitely going to lose face."

Ling Xuan swirled the wine in his glass, his gaze somewhat indifferent. Upon hearing this, he merely gave a faint "hmm" and said nothing more.

To be honest, he wasn't really interested in this kind of pointless activity of bullying a little girl.

Given his pride, he would much rather clash with true powerhouses than flaunt his strength in such a setting.

But since the family had given him a mission, and he was here, he would do his best.

Another companion chuckled, "It seems even the Lord of Hong Yan Realm knows his juniors are too disappointing, failing to even bring in any decent outside help. I reckon during the sparring session later, they'll either concede defeat outright or just send someone up to make a show of it and then slink away in disgrace."

Just then, another companion, who had been casually looking around, suddenly let out a soft "Huh?" and fixed his gaze on the entrance to the corridor leading to the main hall, a look of surprise on his face.

"Look over there, Lord Hong Yan! He actually personally accompanied a young man in? Who is that young man? He looks unfamiliar. Is he a junior of some noble lord? That Lord Hong Yan would personally accompany him?"

His words drew the attention of others.

The young man who could be personally escorted into the banquet by a powerhouse at the World Derivation level must have an extremely extraordinary identity.

Ling Xuan also subconsciously turned his head to look in the direction his companion was pointing.

His gaze swept across the crowd, first landing on Lord Hong Yan, and then on Hong Yan calm and composed young man beside him.

Then, the nonchalant look on Ling Xuan's face froze instantly.

With a "whoosh," Ling Xuan almost reflexively stood up from his seat.

The movement was so forceful that it even knocked over a wine glass on the table beside him. The crystal glass shattered on the soft carpet with a dull thud, and the wine spilled out.

His sudden and violent reaction startled his companions, who all looked at him in astonishment.

"Brother Xuan?"

"Ling Xuan, what's wrong?"

Ling Xuan seemed not to hear his companion's question; his gaze was fixed on the young man in blue.

"It was him?"

The woman in the dark green dress beside Ling Xuan finally got a good look at the newcomer's face. She covered her mouth, her eyes also filled with horror.

"Who is it? What's with the riddle? Who is it? Why does it look so familiar?" Another companion hurriedly got up, trying hard to remember.

After a brief moment of shock, Ling Xuan, almost without hesitation, immediately straightened his robes, which were slightly disheveled from standing up abruptly, took a deep breath, and quickly went to meet him.

Seeing this, his companions behind him, though still somewhat confused, realized that someone important had probably arrived. Not daring to be negligent, they quickly suppressed their surprise and followed.

One of them walked quickly, his eyes fixed on Lin Yi's face, his mind racing. Suddenly, as if remembering something, his eyes widened, and he exclaimed in a low voice, "I... I remember now, he's Lin Yi!"

"What?"

It's him!

They never expected that the Hong Family could actually persuade this powerful figure to come!

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, some open and some hidden, Ling Xuan quickly walked to a spot about three steps away from Lin Yi and Lord Hong Yan, and stopped.

He forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart and bowed to the Lord of Hong Yan Realm first. "Ling Xuan greets the Lord of Hong Yan Realm."

Lord Hong Yan remained calm, merely nodding slightly without uttering a word.

Ling Xuan then turned to Lin Yi, adopting an extremely humble posture.

He didn't bow, but instead clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "Ling Xuan greets Chief Lin Yi!"

Ling Xuan's address of "Chief" instantly stirred up even greater waves in the banquet hall, which was already turbulent due to Lin Yi's appearance.

All eyes were focused on the young man in blue, whose expression remained calm and composed.

Lin Yi looked at Ling Xuan, who was standing respectfully in front of him, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He certainly recognized Ling Xuan.

As one of the few geniuses among the Human Race's Star Core level who could enter the Star Core Training Camp, Ling Xuan was rated at the fifth level, which was vastly different from his own treatment back then. However, they were still of the same race, and they had met several times in the common areas of the training camp or in some group missions.

Since becoming the "Chief", although he has a heavy workload of his own cultivation, he has never hesitated to help any Human Race trainees who take the initiative to ask for his guidance or request assistance during group missions.

And it seems that Ling Xuan was also listening in when he was explaining the application of the Gold Domain.

At this moment, combined with the previous hints from the Lord of Hong Yan Realm, and the complex gazes of the surrounding guests that were either looking forward to a good show or suddenly realizing something, Lin Yi immediately understood.

This Ling Xuan is probably the "Star Core level Prodigy" that Senior Brother Cang Ming mentioned, who was sent by the opposing force to "join in the fun" and embarrass the Hong Family.

With a quick change of thought, Lin Yi had already made up his mind.

His main purpose in coming here today is to "oversee" the event, ensuring that Hong Hanran's banquet proceeds smoothly and that the reputation of the Hong Yan lineage is preserved.

Directly confronting Ling Xuan, or even showing him a cold shoulder, might instantly establish his authority, but it would be a poor choice, making Lin Yi appear petty and abusive.

Moreover, Ling Xuan is, after all, Human Race and a member of the training camp, so in a way he is "one of us." Unless absolutely necessary, he doesn't want to strain the relationship.

The best approach is to turn hostility into friendship, eliminating potential conflict before it even arises, while simultaneously demonstrating one's superior status and influence.

Therefore, after Ling Xuan's respectful address of "Chief", Lin Yi's face showed no displeasure, but instead a gentle smile appeared.

He spoke in a relaxed tone, with just the right amount of familiarity:

"Oh, it's you, Ling Xuan."

He nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Ling Xuan and his slightly nervous companion behind him. "I didn't expect to run into you here, what a coincidence. You're also here for Han Ran's birthday party? It seems Han Ran is quite popular and has many friends."

His words were spoken in a calm and natural tone, as if he were completely unaware of Ling Xuan's true purpose for coming, and directly regarded the other party as a "friend" of Hong Hanran, just like himself, and a guest who had come to celebrate her birthday in good faith.

This casual remark instantly washed away most of the awkwardness of Ling Xuan and his group being "uninvited guests," while also giving Ling Xuan an incredibly smooth way out.

What a shrewd person Ling Xuan was!

The moment Lin Yi recognized him and spoke up, pointing out that he was also "Han Ran's friend," the huge weight that had been hanging over him seemed to fall to the ground with a thud, and the fine layer of cold sweat that had broken out on his back seemed to evaporate instantly.

He immediately understood that Chief Lin Yi did not intend to pursue the matter, and even deliberately wanted to let it pass.

A wave of immense relief washed over me.

What kind of family quest?

What old grudges?

Fuck it.

First of all, with Lin Yi in charge, Ling Xuan wouldn't be able to cause any trouble today. Even if he showed the slightest disrespect, he could be banned from the Star Core level Training Camp in the future, and might even bring unnecessary trouble to his family.

Mission failure is inevitable, but this failure is not only not a fault, but may even be a "merit".

Because he "wisely" avoided a conflict with Lin Yi.

Secondly, given his status and position within the family, failing such a task wouldn't be a big deal.

To offend Chief Lin Yi for a provocative mission that is destined to fail and has little meaning?

He's not out of his mind!

Even if you get a few scoldings when you get back, it's still a million times better than forcing yourself to go and getting easily crushed by the chief, becoming a laughing stock.

Lastly, and most importantly.

Ling Xuan had always despised such petty acts of bullying children and causing trouble for others.

His pride lies in challenging the strong and climbing to the top, not in showing off his power.

He couldn't have been happier to have such a perfect excuse to get rid of this tedious task.

In the blink of an eye, Ling Xuan had made his decision.

His respectful expression remained unchanged, but it was replaced by an expression of slight shame and sudden realization. He then naturally followed Lin Yi's words.

"Yes, Chief, what a coincidence! It's a pleasant surprise to meet you here."

His tone was filled with genuine joy, then, as if suddenly remembering something, he gently patted his forehead and looked apologetically at Hong Hanran, who was approaching beside him accompanied by Ruo Jin, and said:

"Look at me, I was so happy to see the Chief Executive that I almost forgot the important matter. Happy 1000th birthday, Miss Hong Hanran!"

As he spoke, he turned to his female companion behind him, who was dressed in a dark green dress and whose face was still a little pale, and said, "Mo Lin, could you please go to my Flying Shuttle and retrieve the Flameheart Coral? It's a birthday gift I specially prepared for Miss Hong Hanran. I was in such a hurry that I forgot to bring it."

The woman named Mo Lin was taken aback at first, then quickly realized what she meant and replied, "Ah? Oh! Okay, I'll go right away."

After saying that, he turned around almost as if fleeing and quickly walked towards the direction where the Flying Shuttle was parked outside the manor.

This conversation and these actions flowed smoothly and naturally.

The tense, volatile atmosphere strangely transformed into a harmonious one thanks to Lin Yi's few words and Ling Xuan's opportunistic actions.

It was as if Ling Xuan and his group were simply ordinary guests who had forgotten to bring gifts and had unexpectedly encountered the chief, and were quite excited.

The guests around, who were waiting to see the battle of the prodigies, couldn't help but look at each other in bewilderment.

"That's it?"

"Ling Xuan actually gave in? And even offered to send a replacement gift?"

"Nonsense! That's the number one person of the new generation. Anyone with a normal brain knows what to do. I actually think highly of Ling Xuan. He's tactful and knows when to advance and when to retreat. My granddaughter is about the same age as him."

"Tsk tsk, Lin Yi just made a greeting, and the matter was resolved. That's the deterrent power that comes with absolute strength and status."

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Chief Lin Yi's handling of the situation, seemingly simple, directly defused a crisis and satisfied all aspects. Impressive!"

Standing beside Lin Yi, Lord Hong Yan took in everything and his opinion of Lin Yi rose even higher.

This young man not only possesses terrifying talent and strength, but his interpersonal skills also far surpass those of his peers; he is frighteningly composed.

He increasingly felt that it was absolutely worth it to offer the "Eternal Abyss Water" to persuade the other party.

As for Hong Hanran and Ruo Jin, they were so excited that they clenched their hands tightly.

The conflict they had anticipated never happened. Lin Yi simply stood there and said a few words calmly, which made Ling Xuan, who had been aggressive, change her attitude on the spot and even give him a gift on the spot.

This ability to silently and effortlessly control the situation deeply impressed them.

Lin Yi, on the other hand, gave Ling Xuan a deep look.

Clearly, no one who can gain a foothold in the Star Core Training Camp is truly stupid.

However, Lin Yi also knew that Ling Xuan could have simply given up and left, but he still gave him a gift, which was a way of giving him face.

Therefore, a smile appeared on his lips, he nodded, and said:

"Flameheart Coral? Ling Xuan, you've certainly put your heart into this."

Upon hearing this, Ling Xuan was overjoyed, knowing that his sincerity had been accepted.

He laughed too, "You flatter me, Chief. It's just a small token of my appreciation."

Seeing this, Lord Hong Yan secretly marveled at how remarkable these young people were. He then smiled and said, "Alright, we're all young people. Since we're friends, there's no need for such formalities. Commander Lin Yi, please come inside and let these young people chat among themselves. Ling Xuan, please make yourself at home as well. Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality."

"Lord Hong Yan, you're too kind," Ling Xuan quickly replied.

Lin Yi nodded slightly to Lord Hong Yan and took another step.

As he passed Hong Hanran, he gave her a reassuring and encouraging look, and then walked towards the main hall together with Lord Hong Yan.

Ling Xuan stood there, watching Lin Yi and Lord Hong Yan leave.

He only truly relaxed after their figures disappeared from sight, feeling as if he had fought a great battle and was somewhat exhausted.

He glanced back at his companion, who was equally shaken, and shook his head with a wry smile.

"Brother Xuan, we..." one of his companions said in a low voice, his tone complicated.

"What do you mean, 'we'?"

Ling Xuan interrupted him, "We're here to celebrate Miss Hong Hanran's birthday, and we've already given her the gift, haven't we? Come on, let's find a place to sit down and try some of Myriad Bloom Star's fine wine. Meeting the Chief today is truly a pleasant surprise."

At this moment, he felt no more entanglement in his heart; on the contrary, he felt somewhat fortunate.

This stupid mission failed, and that's that.

Making a good impression on Chief Lin Yi through this opportunity is obviously much more valuable than completing that boring family task.