In half a day, all twenty-four of Willow Forest City's notable families had sent representatives to Yangwu Pavilion in the Ye Family's rear courtyard. Besides the four top-tier families—Liu, Lin, Lei, and Ye—nearly twenty second-tier families had also arrived.
That evening, the Ye Family held a grand open-air banquet in Yangwu Pavilion to entertain the various families participating in the city meet.
"Today, I am delighted to see so many powerful families attending this year's city meet. We'll follow the usual rules: the city meet begins tomorrow and will last three days. During that time, any family confident in its strength may challenge another family to a match. We will continue with the principle of the grown-ups eating meat while the children drink broth. So long as you have the strength, the royal family will not shortchange you. The detailed competition rules are the same as in previous years and will be posted in the martial arena shortly..."
Speaking on behalf of the royal Ye Family, Ye Weihuo delivered an impassioned speech that drew constant cheers from the hundreds gathered there. This was a world that revered strength; power decided everything.
The families attending the city meet had all brought their core members, generally divided into three generations: old, middle-aged, and young. During the banquet, they seemed to share an unspoken understanding. The elders gathered with elders, while the younger generation raised cups together.
"Miss Fang, I never expected to see you again at the city meet after that year's Youth Marquis Tournament. I am the eldest young master of the Zhang Family of Back Wall Street. Do you still remember me?"
During the banquet, a white-robed young master with the air of a refined gentleman drifted over to Lei Fang's table and greeted her warmly.
"Oh, so it's Young