A Celebratory Feast (1)
Seeing that everyone understood, Qin Ming didn't say anything more. Finally, he instructed, "The formal attire has been delivered to your respective residences. Prepare yourselves well this afternoon and be on time this evening."
"Yes," the seven replied.
As dusk fell, twilight descended.
The banquet hall of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy was brightly lit tonight.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the dome, refracting golden light throughout the room. A long table was covered with a snow-white cashmere tablecloth, and gilded tableware was neatly arranged. Ice-sculpted cold dishes and century-old aged fruit wines were interspersed among the other dishes, and the air was filled with the sweet aroma of champagne and the delicate fragrance of tuberose.
In the corner, a musician played soothing court music, and amidst the elegant attire and graceful figures, were high-ranking members of the academy and senior instructors.
All seven members of the Imperial Fighting Team changed into formal attire. The young men were dashing and upright, while the young women were bright and lively. They stood in the center of the banquet hall, receiving envious glances from all around.
Having broken through the Bronze Soul Fighter in half a month and having the entire team exceptionally awarded the Gold Soul Fighting —this achievement is enough to make them the focus of the entire academy and even the younger generation of Heaven Dou City.
Dugu Yan wore a deep purple dress, which accentuated her cold and elegant temperament. Ye Lingling remained quiet; her light blue dress was understated yet possessed a Qing Ya, like an orchid quietly blooming in a corner.
Yu Tianheng was surrounded by several instructors, politely and tactfully answering questions about the team. The Shi Mo Shi Mo brothers stood to the side, dressed in formal attire, still resembling two silent hills, occasionally clinking glasses with others, but saying little.
Xiao Wu wore a pale yellow short dress, which made her look bright and lively, like a flickering candle flame. She stood next to Lin Chen, but her eyes kept glancing at the pastries on the long table.
"Brother Lin Chen, look at that—" she whispered, secretly pointing to the cream tart carved into a phoenix on the table, "It's so exquisite, I almost don't want to eat it."
Lin Chen glanced at it sideways and said in a low voice, "If you can't bear to eat it, then just look at it."
"Hmph, I'm going to eat it anyway." Xiao Wu pouted, then smiled again. "But we'll go later, I'll stand with you for a while first."
Lin Chen's gaze softened slightly. He leaned forward a little and spoke in a voice so low that only the two of them could hear, "After you've met the Prince, I'll get you whatever you'd like to eat."
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. "That's a good deal!"
"Yes, it's settled."
Just then, a loud announcement came from the direction of the banquet hall entrance, like a stone thrown into a still lake, silencing all the hushed conversations in the hall.
"His Highness the Prince has arrived!"
The noise in the banquet hall subsided instantly, and all eyes turned to the entrance. The music lowered, its lingering notes trembling in the air; the soft clatter of glasses being placed back on the table blended together, followed by a moment of silence.
Prince Xue Xing walked in slowly, dressed in a dark purple prince's casual robe with silver Swan embroidered on the shoulders. He had a handsome face and exuded the dignified air of someone who had long held a high position.
A young couple followed behind him.
The young man on the left was about twenty years old, dressed in fine clothes with a jade belt around his waist. He walked with a somewhat casual demeanor, as if he was too lazy to put in the effort, and a nonchalant smile played on his lips. This was none other than the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng.
His gaze swept across the entire room, his eyes carrying the flippancy and scrutiny characteristic of scions of noble families, as if everything present was nothing more than a play that he could comment on at will.
The girl on the right was completely different. At fourteen or fifteen years old, she wore a moon-white gauze dress, with a pearl hairpin in her hair. Her eyebrows and eyes were quiet and sweet, like a white plum blossom in bud, quietly standing out in the crowd. She was Xue Ke, the little princess of the Heaven Dou Empire.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Everyone bowed in respect.
"No need, no need." Prince Xue Xing waved his hand, his gaze passing directly through the crowd to land on Lin Chen, and laughed heartily, "I just came to see our little genius from Heaven Dou, why are you all so reserved?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall relaxed considerably.
The main table is located at the very head of the banquet hall, offering an excellent view that overlooks the entire hall.
Once Prince Xue Xing was seated, he beckoned Lin Chen to sit beside him, his tone as casual as if he were addressing a junior. "Come, sit here."
At the main table, Prince Xue Xing sat in the center, with Dugu Bo to his left and Lin Chen to his right. The three education committee members took their seats in turn, with Xue Beng and Xue Ke on either side.
When Lin Chen sat down, Xiao Wu naturally followed and sat down beside him, sitting upright with her hands neatly placed on her knees, like an alert little rabbit.
"Good lad, four months of training and you've made such a commotion for me." Prince Xue Xing raised his crystal wine glass to Lin Chen, the wine shimmering with an amber light under the lamp.
"The entire team Gold Soul Fighting, achieving a 19-game winning streak and sweeping through the Bronze Arena! Well done! You are the pride of our Heaven Dou Empire, the fresh blood of the Soul Master World. Keep up the good work, the Heaven Dou Empire will not let its talents go unrewarded."
The words sounded like praise, but they contained a hint of criticism.
By explicitly stating the words "Heaven Dou Empire," he was implying that he had firmly established his stance—from now on, if Lin Chen stands on the side of Heaven Dou, Heaven Dou will support him; if he stands on the opposite side, then that's another story.
Lin Chen raised his glass in return, neither servile nor arrogant. "Your Highness is too kind. I was merely doing my duty."
The wine glasses clinked lightly, producing a crisp, soft sound.
Dugu Bo sat to the side, slowly taking a sip of his wine without saying a word.
He and Prince Xue Xing were old acquaintances, and they knew each other well. Whether he interrupted or not made no difference. He knew his disciple's character very well. He was humble when he needed to be humble, and sharp when he needed to be sharp. His inner scales were more stable than anyone else's.
Prince Xue Xing's gaze casually swept across the room, then suddenly paused—falling on Lin Chen's left hand and the small hand that he held securely in his palm.
From the moment he took his seat until now, that hand has never let go. Just now, when returning the toast, Lin Chen only held the glass with his right hand, while his left hand still firmly held Xiao Wu's.
This seemingly insignificant detail caught the prince's eye.
A knowing smile appeared in Prince Xue Xing's eyes. He didn't speak immediately, but waved his hand towards Xiao Wu: "Miss Xiao Wu, right? Tonight is a celebration for your victory, so make yourself at home. What's there to be shy about?"
Xiao Wu was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously glanced at Lin Chen.
Prince Xue Xing chuckled at her expression and personally placed a piece of food in her bowl, "I don't eat people. Look at your brother Lin Chen, sitting here so comfortably. You should treat this place like the academy cafeteria, eat as much as you want, you'll have the energy to compete when you're full."
Xiao Wu looked down at the food in her bowl, then secretly glanced at Prince Xue Xing. Seeing that he indeed had a kind smile on his face and was not at all pretentious, she slowly relaxed and began to eat earnestly, taking small bites.
Prince Xue Xing looked at Xiao Wu's obedient appearance, then turned to glance at Lin Chen, a playful smile appearing on his lips, "You little rascal, you're quite lucky."