In a certain manor, birds sang amid fragrant flowers, and the temperature was pleasant, with none of the winter chill outside.
Clearly, some sort of formation or Novel World had been set up.
In the manor's garden, several young people in flowing robes were admiring the scenery and chatting.
"Brother Kong, your mastery of this Novel World has grown ever more exquisite."
A short man smiled at the man beside him. "You've transformed this manor into something that could truly be called 'Resting in Supreme Goodness'!"
"I, Yu Kong, have my own rules for how I do things." The man answering smiled faintly. "Unfortunately, there's still something of a gap between me and that concubine-born Lin Ke."
"Him?" A tall woman holding a feather fan smiled disdainfully. "With us people of the Sage Domain staying out of the world, a monkey has crowned himself king."
Just then, someone holding a Bronze Mirror offered a cautious warning. "Don't be too arrogant. Lin Ke defeated Qi Ye, the minister's son, and has repeatedly written works that brought forth manifestations. Even I can't see his fortunes clearly."
As he spoke, faint hexagram patterns revolved in his eyes. "If we make an enemy of him... we'll suffer terribly!"
"Heh, the Sage Domain's holy son of the Eastern Family, descended from Great Sage Dongfang Shuo, is actually this timid?" someone snapped coldly.
"Our ancestor warned us to seek good fortune and avoid calamity. A noble gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall." The Eastern Family's holy son shook his head and waved the Bronze Mirror in his hand. "I belong to the divination branch. I'm not skilled at fighting others."
No sooner had he finished than someone suggested, "As it happens, I heard Lin Ke's steward is Zhuge Li, the outcast of the Zhuge