Mid-Autumn Gathering

The first rumor was that the Tang Family was not the weakest of the four great families at all, but had been hiding its light and biding its time, concealing much of its strength.

The second was that the Tang Family had no worthy successors. No matter how powerful it was, once Old Master Tang died, the family would surely be finished. It would not dare attend this Mid-Autumn Gathering either, and even if it did, it could only come in last.

Both rumors sounded highly credible. Everyone therefore wanted to see just how the Tang Family would perform at this Mid-Autumn Gathering.

As time passed, the Qin Family, Wu Family, and Liu Family arrived in turn, yet the Tang Family remained nowhere to be seen.

"I'd say the Tang Family probably won't compete again."

"What could they do but come in last? Better not to come than to show up and embarrass themselves. I wouldn't come either."

"If the Tang Family stays away again this time, I reckon the rumors must be true. Once Old Master Tang dies, the family will fall apart."

"..."

The surrounding crowd buzzed with discussion. Most had little faith in the Tang Family.

"The Tang Family has arrived!" Just as everyone was discussing them, a clear, resonant voice rang out, and a party approached from the east.

Everyone turned to look at once. The imposing old man at their head was in high spirits, striding like a dragon with the vigor of a tiger. It was none other than Old Master Tang!

Behind Old Master Tang, a lovely figure drew everyone's gaze.

Her bearing was graceful and regal, like a heavenly immortal!

The moment they saw Zi Yun, every man present stared, transfixed.

Beside this beauty stood a handsome young man.

Dressed in white, he wore a broad smile. Holding a folding fan, he looked this way and that, occasionally winking at pretty girls, with a distinctly devil-may-care air. Who else could it have been but Young Master Tang?

Behind them came the rest of the Tang Family. They settled into the foremost spot on the eastern lakeshore. For the first time in three years, all four great families of Cloud City had gathered at the Mid-Autumn Gathering.

"The Wonderful Elixir Workshop has arrived!" Another voice rang out. Everyone perked up and looked toward its source. Leading the procession was Wu Xuan, the Wonderful Elixir Workshop's chief alchemist.

Wu Xuan wore a fitted martial outfit and looked strikingly valiant. The two full curves straining against her clothes made countless men swallow involuntarily.

Walking beside Wu Xuan was Ge Ming, the Wonderful Elixir Workshop's grand elder.

As the Wonderful Elixir Workshop's party appeared, everyone around them offered greetings. After all, the vast majority of Cloud City's pills came from the workshop. No one dared disrespect such a towering tree.

Wu Xuan greeted everyone with a smile, her every expression utterly captivating. The distinctive aura of authority she carried, coupled with her commanding, mature charm, set countless men's hearts pounding.

Yet beautiful as Wu Xuan was, no one was foolish enough to flirt with her.

Young Master Tang, of course, was the exception.

While everyone was respectfully greeting Wu Xuan and her companions, Tang Yan stood and waved vigorously at her. "Miss Wu Xuan, Master Ge, come sit over here!"

"Tch, a wastrel will always be a wastrel. Doesn't he realize what standing the Wonderful Elixir Workshop has? Who would sit with your Tang Family?" Hearing Tang Yan call out, members of families unaffiliated with the Tang Family immediately scoffed in disdain.

"Miss Wu Xuan, the Liu Family has prepared tea. Why not sit with us? We can chat over tea and admire the bright Mid-Autumn moon together." A rich, magnetic voice sounded. A slender young man rose from the Liu Family's seating area and extended a courteous invitation.

"Wow, Young Master Liu is so handsome!" At the sight of Liu Zhi standing, some of the girls' eyes immediately blossomed with lovestruck admiration.

When the others saw that it was Liu Zhi who had stood, they too became certain that the Wonderful Elixir Workshop would spend some time sitting with the Liu Family.

Wu Xuan naturally heard both Tang Yan and Liu Zhi. She turned and took a few steps toward the Liu Family, but just as everyone thought she really was going over, she stopped. Her voice as sweet as an oriole's, she said, "Thank you for your kind invitation, Young Master Liu, but I previously promised Young Master Tang that we would discuss poetry when the opportunity arose. I hope you will forgive me."

With that, she nodded toward the Liu Family and walked gracefully toward the Tang Family.

Tang Yan had also done Ge Ming a favor, to some extent, and Ge Ming wanted to exchange a few words with him. He followed Wu Xuan toward the Tang Family's seats.

With both senior figures of the Wonderful Elixir Workshop heading toward the Tang Family, the rest naturally followed close behind.

At that moment, the way everyone looked at the Tang Family changed dramatically.

Wu Xuan's few casual words seemed to give the Liu Family every courtesy, yet everyone knew they amounted to an indirect slap in the face.

By choosing the Tang Family over the Liu Family, wasn't she plainly showing that the Tang Family held a more important place in her heart?

With the Wonderful Elixir Workshop supporting the Tang Family so openly, what exactly was the relationship between them?

Everyone grew increasingly curious about the Tang Family. How had this family, always ranked last among the four great families, suddenly become the source of one utterly shocking development after another?

After Wu Xuan reached the Tang Family and greeted Old Master Tang, her eyes fell on Zi Yun beside Tang Yan.

Wu Xuan frequently dealt with great families, and the sight of Zi Yun made her heart give an involuntary jolt.

This woman wore no makeup, yet her beauty defied description. Though she appeared quiet and unassuming, her innate nobility neither weighed oppressively on others nor allowed them to approach too freely.

A woman like this had to come from a great family.

Yet Cloud City had only a handful of great families, and Wu Xuan had never seen anyone like her. Could she have come from elsewhere?

"Oh? This young lady looks unfamiliar. May I ask your name?" Wu Xuan asked with a smile.

Seeing a woman whose looks and bearing were every bit her equal, Zi Yun felt a little surprised. She likewise smiled and replied graciously, "Just call me Zi Yun. You're truly beautiful, Miss Wu Xuan."

Wu Xuan was about to offer a polite reply when her heart suddenly tightened. Something occurred to her, and she hurriedly asked, "Are you from Tingxiang's foremost Zi family?"

"Not only are you a natural beauty, Sister, your insight is extraordinary as well." Zi Yun was somewhat surprised by Wu Xuan's discernment, but acknowledged it graciously.

Wu Xuan glanced at Tang Yan in shock. Zi Yun was actually sitting so close to Young Master Tang?

Why had Zi Yun appeared at the Tang Family in Cloud City?

Tang Yan had surely played a part in all this.

Seeing two peerless beauties seated on either side of Tang Yan, the men present could not help burning with jealousy.

Some of the young men from the other families secretly resolved to give Tang Yan a vicious beating in the martial competition and humiliate him before the beauties.

Not long after the Wonderful Elixir Workshop arrived, the people from the Heavenly Treasure Auction House came as well. At last, all of Cloud City's leading powers were present.

"The City Lord has arrived!"

Hearing that the people from the City Lord's Residence had arrived, everyone's eyes flashed with anticipation. By custom, their arrival meant the Mid-Autumn Gathering was about to begin.

After City Lord Lin Xiao appeared, he greeted everyone with a smile, offered a few conventional words of blessing, and went straight to the point. "On this fine evening, amid such lovely scenery, I won't keep you from your enjoyment. Zhou Ying of the City Lord's Residence will now explain the rules of the Mid-Autumn Gathering."

Under everyone's gaze, a lean old man stepped onto the raised platform.

Everyone knew Zhou Ying. He was a renowned man of letters in Cloud City, with an elegant literary style and many verses that circulated throughout the city.

After bowing to everyone with his hands clasped, Zhou Ying spoke in a scholarly manner. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Mid-Autumn Festival is upon us once more. With this fine evening, lovely scenery, and radiant moonlight, and all of us gathered together, surely none should leave sober.

"As in previous years, the Mid-Autumn Gathering has two events: a literary competition and a martial contest.

"Any resident of Cloud City aged thirty-five or under may participate. We will begin with the literary competition. Its judges will be City Lord Lin, Ge Ming of the Wonderful Elixir Workshop, Qin Changdao of the City Lord's Residence, and myself."

"The literary competition consists of three rounds. Would all talented gentlemen and ladies participating please come up to the literary platform!"

The instant Zhou Ying finished speaking, the aspiring scholars surged toward the platform, brimming with ambition.