Night fell. Dark clouds blanketed the sky, leaving it so pitch-black that not a trace of moonlight or starlight showed.
Amid the mountains, halfway up the slope, a blaze of lights shone through the darkness, illuminating the grand halls and pavilions in a soft glow.
Inside the main hall, the music was gentle and serene, almost lulling people to sleep. Yet beneath the bright lights, wine cups clinked and guests drank and chatted, filling the room with lively bustle.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was holding a celebratory banquet for the evolution of its martial soul into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Everyone present wore a smile, as if nothing had happened during the day and all was well.
Xu Lanqing stood in a relatively quiet corner of the hall. Before him was a long table draped in red cloth, laden with all kinds of delicious food. Beside the dishes stood a row of glass bottles filled with fragrant wine.
He picked up a lobster as big as his palm with his left hand, peeled it, and stuffed it into his mouth. With his right hand, he raised a glass half full of red wine and downed it in one gulp.
He had to admit, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's chefs were excellent—better even than the imperial chefs. He almost wanted to spirit one away to cook for him every day.
After getting used to delicacies, other food tasted like chewing wax.
He and Xiao Bai had grease shining on their lips and hands. They had none of the air of noble refinement, and looked completely out of place beside the guests elsewhere in the hall, who chatted while delicately clinking their glasses.
Yet nobody seemed to notice. No one came over to scold him for his