Sikong Hongyue led Nie Li and the others along the stone-paved path through the front courtyard and pushed open the doors to the main hall.
A portly middle-aged man sat in the seat of honor, wearing a brocade robe embroidered with silver-wing patterns. He was Sikong Yi, head of the Silver Wing Family.
When he saw them enter, he plastered a smile across his face and slowly rose, bracing himself against the edge of the table. His manner was exceedingly warm.
"At last you're here, my dear nephew. I've waited years for this day. Come, sit down, all of you. The banquet is ready. Let's talk over dinner."
Nie Li wore a suitably warm smile as well. He stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting. "You're too kind, Uncle Sikong. As a guest in your residence, I should have come to pay my respects sooner."
The group took their seats one after another.
Only Nie Li and Sikong Yi sat at the main table, accompanied by several elders of the Silver Wing Family.
Shen Fei, Xiao Ning'er, Lu Piao, and the others sat at a secondary table to the side. It was laden with wine and dishes, an impressive spread, but no one reached for their chopsticks first.
Sikong Yi raised his wine cup toward both tables. "Today, we welcome my dear nephew, and we welcome a descendant of the Silver Radiance Family. After so many years, it gladdens my heart to meet a younger member of our shared lineage. Don't stand on ceremony. Eat to your hearts' content."
He tipped his head back and drained his cup. Nie Li drank a cup with him.
The others at the secondary table made a token toast as well. Lu Piao secretly curled his lip and muttered, just loudly enough for those beside him to hear, "He certainly puts on a convincing act. Who knows what schemes he's cooking up?"
Xiao Xue lightly nudged his arm beneath the table, warning him to watch his mouth. Lu Piao pursed his lips, lowered his head, and took a bite of food without another word.
Shen Fei sat at the head of the secondary table, surveying the hall.
Armored guards stood in the corners and by the doors, swords at their waists and backs ramrod straight. Their auras were all at Silver Rank or above.
Two more guards with steady, composed auras stood beside the main table. Judging by their cultivation, they were probably at Gold Rank.
The entire hall appeared relaxed, but vigilance lurked everywhere. Clearly, Sikong Yi had not entirely let down his guard around these outsiders.
Shen Fei withdrew his gaze and picked up his chopsticks, eating slowly as he considered how to handle what came next.
At the main table, Nie Li maneuvered through his conversation with Sikong Yi, discussing old stories of the Ulan Empire and the customs of the outside world. Half true and half false, his tales sounded lively but revealed little of substance.
Sikong Yi was much the same. His words were warm, yet every question probed Nie Li's background and their reason for coming.
About an hour into the meal, Sikong Hongyue came over from the main table carrying a wine jug. A faint smile rested on her face as she stopped beside the secondary table.
"You've all come from so far away. Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality. Let me offer you a toast as an apology on my father's behalf."
As she spoke, she picked up a wine cup. Her gaze swept across their faces before settling on Shen Fei. Apart from Nie Li, he was the most composed among them and looked like their leader.
"Young master, I don't believe we've met. May I ask your name?"
Shen Fei set down his chopsticks, picked up his wine cup, and rose. He answered calmly, "My name is Su Tian."
"Su Tian." Sikong Hongyue repeated the name, then asked with a smile, "Judging by your accents, did you all grow up with our dear nephew Lei Zhuo? How did you meet?"
Here it comes, Shen Fei thought. His expression remained unchanged as he followed her lead. "We're all companions from the same tribe. When the Ulan Empire fell, refugees from different places gathered together, gradually forming a tribe of tens of thousands. We grew up together, so naturally, we knew one another."
His account was half true and half false. The tribe was real, and a population of tens of thousands was plausible. As for growing up together, no one would find a flaw unless they dug deep.
Sikong Hongyue nodded and asked, "I see. Our dear nephew Lei Zhuo is exceptionally gifted, with such knowledge at so young an age. He must be one of the foremost figures in your tribe, then?"
She was probing Nie Li's background indirectly. Shen Fei knew he could neither praise Nie Li too highly nor sell him too short, lest he arouse suspicion.
He smiled, his tone matter-of-fact. "Lei Zhuo is indeed talented. He ranks among the best of our younger generation. After all, his family has an inheritance to guide him. He's far ahead of ordinary people like us."
"An inheritance?" Sikong Hongyue's eyes shifted slightly as she pressed on. "What kind of inheritance? Could it be something passed down by the Silver Radiance Family?"
Shen Fei's heart gave a jolt. A poor answer to this question could expose their deception.
He showed none of it, retaining his calm expression. "We don't know the details either. The clan elders handle all that. We only know that when the empire fell, the clan brought out quite a few texts and formulas. They've been passed down through the generations, so something still remains. Those of us from branch families have no access to the core inheritance. We've only learned a few basic cultivation methods alongside him."
He neatly distanced himself, saying only that Nie Li possessed an inheritance while the rest merely benefited from his association.
This explained both Nie Li's extensive knowledge and their own unremarkable cultivation.
Sikong Hongyue smiled and stopped pursuing the inheritance. Instead, she changed the subject to Sikong Yi's illness.
"Speaking of which, since you're descendants of the Silver Radiance Family, you must know about our Silver Wing Family's hereditary illness, right? Father has suffered terribly from it all these years. He's tried countless methods without success. Who would have thought our dear nephew Lei Zhuo could treat it? What an unexpected blessing."
She looked at Shen Fei as she spoke, seemingly waiting for his response.
It was a trap. If Shen Fei replied that he also knew how to treat the illness, he would reveal that they were no ordinary branch-family disciples.
Yet claiming complete ignorance would make his relationship with Nie Li seem implausibly distant.
Shen Fei turned it over in his mind before answering unhurriedly. "Lei Zhuo has mentioned it to us a few times. Our elders often say that Silver Wing and Silver Radiance share the same roots, with linked bloodlines and certain similarities in their ailments. The medical texts passed down to us do mention ways to manage the condition, but the medicinal ingredients are difficult to find. No one has actually prepared the medicine in all these years. Lei Zhuo studied under the Clan Physician from childhood, so he knows more than we do. We can't say for certain whether he can cure it."
He kept his answer ambiguous, acknowledging the inheritance while giving Nie Li all the credit and leaving himself entirely out of it.
Sikong Hongyue studied his face for several seconds but found no cracks in his expression. This young man named Su Tian did not look very old, yet his words were watertight. Every sentence stayed precisely within bounds, and he refused to offer a single word more.
She silently took note of that, but showed nothing as she raised her cup with a smile. "Whatever the case, some hope is better than none. A toast to you, Young Master Su. If you need anything during your stay, please don't hesitate to ask."
"You're too kind, Miss Sikong." Shen Fei clinked his cup against hers, then tipped his head back and drained it.
Sikong Hongyue then toasted Xiao Ning'er, Lu Piao, and the others in turn. After a few polite remarks, she returned to the main table.
Only once she was far away did Lu Piao breathe a sigh of relief. He lowered his voice. "That woman asks way too many questions, darting here and there. I almost couldn't answer her. She asked me what my cultivation technique was called, and I just made up a name. Luckily, she didn't ask for details."
Xiao Xue rolled her eyes at him. "I told you to memorize a few more things, but you wouldn't listen. You nearly gave us away. From now on, talk less and eat more. Nobody will mistake you for a mute."
Lu Piao scratched his head and did not argue.
Xiao Ning'er turned toward Shen Fei and said softly, "She was clearly sounding us out. Her questions were very detailed. Fortunately, your answers were steady, and nothing went wrong."
Shen Fei nodded and looked toward the main table. Nie Li was saying something to Sikong Yi, a smile on his face that revealed nothing.
"That's only natural. The Silver Wing Family has lived underground for so many years that they're extremely wary of outsiders. We suddenly appeared, flying the banner of a shared lineage. It would be strange if they didn't investigate us. There'll probably be all kinds of tests over the next few days. Everyone, be careful. Don't let the tail of our deception show."
Du Ze had been sitting beside them without speaking. Now he said, "There are six Gold Rank guards in the hall, all watching us from concealed positions. There are also two patrol squads in the courtyard outside, making a round every fifteen minutes. Our situation is no different from house arrest."
Shen Fei was not surprised. "As expected. Sikong Yi is suspicious by nature, and his severe illness makes him even more afraid that someone will seize the chance to harm him. It's natural for him to guard against us. As long as Nie Li can keep things steady on his end, we won't be in danger. What matters most now is getting the Scarlet Blood Crystal and locating the Teleportation Array. We can put up with everything else for the time being."
They all nodded, understanding the situation.
The banquet continued, with laughter drifting over from the main table from time to time.
Shen Fei picked up his wine cup and took a small sip, his gaze settling on a stone pillar in the corner of the hall.
He had noticed upon entering that a man was bound behind the pillar, his upper body bare and a pair of pure black wings on his back. His feathers were dull and lusterless, his body covered in overlapping scars, old and new. His head hung low, as though all life had drained from him.
Nie Li had suddenly asked for this man. Presumably, he had already set his sights on the man's Black Dragon Bloodline.
With that thought, Shen Fei withdrew his gaze. Nie Li had his own plans for Duan Jian. Shen Fei did not need to ask further; he only needed to cooperate.
The banquet continued for more than another two hours. Sikong Yi looked somewhat tired, his face paler than when they had first met.
He coughed twice and said something to Nie Li. Nie Li nodded, rose, and cupped his hands.
It looked as though the banquet was drawing to a close. Shen Fei set down his chopsticks, considering their next arrangements.
Tonight was their first night in the Guest Courtyard. The Silver Wing Family would certainly send people to watch them. They had to be ready.
Before you continue