Family Banquet

The setting sun sank, and night fell.

Xie Jinghan, having stabilized his Innate Stage One cultivation, slowly opened his eyes and withdrew the sword intent around him, like a sword sheathed and hidden away.

Ordinary martial artists of the same rank would never be able to discern the depth of his cultivation. This was a method of concealing the sword within himself that he had comprehended from the Sword-Drawing Technique.

After entering the Innate Realm, all five of his senses and six perceptions had surged dramatically, far surpassing what they had been in the Acquired Realm.

Through the wooden gate of the small courtyard, he clearly sensed a light pair of footsteps approaching. The aura undoubtedly belonged to Lai Fu, a servant of the residence.

Sure enough, moments later, the courtyard gate was gently pushed open. Lai Fu entered with a bow, intending to respectfully deliver his message, but the instant his gaze fell upon Xie Jinghan, he froze in astonishment.

He stared blankly at Xie Jinghan, feeling that the man before him had undergone an indescribable change. Though he remained as gentle and humble as before, he now possessed an unworldly clarity. His posture was straight, his bearing ethereal, as though he had been reborn, inspiring reverence at a single glance.

"Second Young Master, today is the Household banquet. The Old Master sent this servant to invite you to the dining hall."

After speaking, Lai Fu's nose twitched. He could not help frowning in confusion. "Something's wrong... Second Young Master, why do you smell so bad?"

Xie Jinghan was slightly taken aback. He lowered his gaze and looked himself over.

A thin layer of gray-black grime had somehow coated the surface of his clothes. It was sticky and foul-smelling—the accumulated impurities his body had expelled after breaking through to the Innate Realm and cleansing his marrow and veins.

Back in the Acquired Realm, countless foul vapors and stagnant toxins had lain buried deep within his flesh, sinews, and bones, unnoticed in daily life. Only after breaking through to the Innate Realm today, when true qi washed through his entire body, had they all been forced out, hence the unbearable stench.

"It does smell awful," Xie Jinghan murmured, faintly furrowing his brow.

He immediately rose and calmly instructed Lai Fu, "Wait here for a moment. I'll wash up."

With that, he turned and strode into the secluded bedroom, closing the door behind him.

Water and towels had already been prepared inside. Xie Jinghan removed his grime-stained outer robe, washed his hands and face, then rinsed his entire body with clean water, quickly cleaning himself up.

Once he was clean and dressed in fresh clothes, a thought stirred in his mind, and he silently circulated his pure, gentle Innate true qi.

Strands of true qi flowed through his skin and flesh, curling around his robes. The remaining tiny droplets instantly turned into a hazy white mist, rising and vanishing in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, he was clean and dry, without a single trace of moisture on him, his bearing growing even more ethereal.

Having finished tidying himself, Xie Jinghan stepped out of the bedroom and headed beyond the courtyard with an otherworldly air.

"Let's go."

Xie Jinghan spoke calmly and, with Lai Fu in tow, walked unhurriedly toward the dining hall of the Xie Residence.

They passed through winding corridors and bluestone paths, with pavilions and flowering trees scattered along the way. The servants of the residence attended to their respective duties, walking quietly and not daring to make a fuss.

Before long, the two arrived at the Xie Household dining hall.

Lamplight filled the hall. All the core members of the Xie Household had already arrived and taken their seats according to rank and seniority.

At the central seat of honor sat Xie Xuanyuan in silence. Dressed in a plain robe, he appeared calm and composed. Though a trace of gloom lingered between his brows after the turmoil at his birthday banquet, his dignified presence still firmly held the entire hall in check.

At the seats on the left side of the banquet, the Household head, Xie Huaijin, sat upright. His posture was steady, and there was less grief in his eyes now, replaced by a measure of hope.

At the seats on the right, Madam Shen, the mistress of the Xie Household, sat in silence. She was the mother of the eldest brother, Xie Jinlin, and the third brother, Xie Jingming. Having managed the inner residence of the Xie Residence for many years, she was dignified and graceful, yet an inescapable worry clouded her eyes.

At the next seat on the right sat Xie Jinghan's birth mother, Madam Yang. Gentle by nature, she too had been deeply troubled by the recent upheavals in the residence, her expression melancholy.

At the lower seats arranged on both sides, the third brother, Xie Jingming, sat on one side. Still young and somewhat boyish, his brows and eyes were sharp as he regarded everyone in the hall with curiosity. On the other side, the youngest sister of the Xie Household, Xie Zhiwei, sat quietly at her place. She was still young and pretty, her two large eyes wide open.

All the direct descendants of the Xie Household had gathered, save only Xie Jinlin. His seat stood empty in a conspicuous place among them, silently adding to the heavy atmosphere in the hall.

Besides the direct members of the Xie Household, the heads of collateral branches who managed the Lineage's restaurants, inns, medicine halls, escort agencies, and other businesses were also seated at the banquet.

Xie Jinghan walked in at an unhurried pace and was led by a servant to the seat below Xie Jinlin's.

He sat upright, his bearing clear and unworldly, his entire aura utterly unlike before. Yet no one in the hall had taken a close enough look to notice.

Once Xie Jinghan had taken his seat, all the core members of the Household were present, with no one else absent.

Xie Xuanyuan slowly raised his eyes and swept his gaze across the gathered clan members. His steady voice rang through the hall. He deliberately softened his tone, his expression gentle. "This is a private family banquet, attended only by our closest kin. Set aside the recent turmoil for now. There is no need to dwell on it. Put your worries down and enjoy the meal."

As soon as the Old Master finished speaking, the servants of the residence stepped forward in orderly fashion, carrying steaming delicacies and arranging them across the long table. Meat and vegetables were all present, along with fragrant soups, every dish carefully prepared by the kitchens of the Xie Residence and full of comforting homely warmth.

Everyone picked up their chopsticks and began eating, while the soft clinking of bowls and chopsticks gradually filled the hall.

Xie Zhiwei, the youngest of them all, had a pure and innocent heart and was easily contented.

After tasting a soft, sweet honeyed lotus seed, her eyes curved into crescent moons at once. A bright, radiant smile spread across her little face, and with her cheeks puffed out, she ate with great relish, looking adorably guileless.

Seeing her innocent, carefree appearance, everyone's tightly wound nerves relaxed somewhat. They gently shook their heads, faint smiles touching their lips.

The atmosphere at the banquet grew increasingly gentle and relaxed.

After several rounds of dishes, the laughter and conversation gradually faded. A great weight still hung over everyone's hearts, making it impossible to truly set their minds at ease.

Xie Xuanyuan slowly set down his bowl and chopsticks. His expression turned grave, his brows heavy with solemnity as he spoke in a deep voice, getting to the point. "I summoned you all to this family banquet because there is another important matter—one concerning Lin'er's whereabouts."

At these words, the hall instantly fell silent. Everyone put down their bowls and chopsticks and listened intently.

Xie Xuanyuan spoke slowly and carefully, weighing every word. "On the day of the birthday banquet, Wu Hen delivered only one of Lin'er's severed arms. He did not present his head. After pondering the matter repeatedly these past days, I have reached a conclusion. Wu Hen bears the hatred of his annihilated Household, and his resentment runs sky-high. If Lin'er had truly been killed, he would certainly have brought back his head and publicly humiliated the Xie Household to vent his personal hatred. But he delivered only an arm, which is enough to prove that Lin'er may still be alive."

He paused briefly before continuing in a grave voice, "I had already written a letter and sent it to the Azure City Sword Sect, asking Elder He Zhaoming about the truth. Their reply frankly stated that they had never received an invitation to the Xie Household's birthday banquet, nor had they ever seen Lin'er visit them."