The Banquet at Long Gate Garden

Zhang Xuezhou left Chang'an City alone, but returned with three people.

The imprint of Zhu Jiuyin's Great Wilderness Creation Scripture was still in his brain, so Zhang Xuezhou didn't cause any trouble to avoid being spied on by Zhu Jiuyin.

The fact that some information had been discovered was secondary; what worried him more was that the mark, which was currently deemed benign, might change its nature and be expelled by the Incantation Avoidance Formula. After all, although Zhu Jiuyin's realm was high, he was not weak either. If Zhu Jiuyin were to erode his body and cause harm, this mark might disappear.

He stayed away from the potentially high-risk area of Xieluosi River Holy Land, and did not put himself in danger. He did not recklessly fly to Huainan to find Jin Chang.

Even though there were still some things to do, Zhang Xuezhou didn't run around aimlessly.

He temporarily placed Zou Bugui in Zheng Wukong's house and chose to stay at home himself, waiting for the end of this time travel cycle.

He rarely had such ample free time. If it weren't for the fact that the national war was currently taking place and it wasn't a good time to be ostentatious, Zhang Xuezhou might have invited some people to enjoy free meals at the palace.

Even so, he joined the eating group, consuming more food than Kong Ning every day to replenish his long-term Grain Avoidance needs. He also wandered around Chang'an City from time to time, looking at A Qiao and Dongfang Jia, and searching for a suitable body for Ren Anran to take on.

"By the way, where did that Xi Shi I bought last time go?"

Zhang Xuezhou contacted many people, but he vaguely felt that he was missing a certain person to investigate. After thinking for a while, he remembered the courtesan he had exchanged for with White Deer Coins.

"It seems it was sold back to Si Lanfang, and then Guo Jie bought it!"

No one in the mansion responded. After a while, it was Wei Shao'er, who often sang in brothels, who told Sai Xi Shi where she was.

Who is Guo Jie?

"I've heard that Guo Jie is the nephew of Xu Fu, the Marquis of Mingci Pavilion, and a successor of the Physiognomy School!"

"People from the Physiognomy School?"

Zhang Xuezhou exclaimed in surprise.

The Hongku sect Physiognomy School more than just the Hongku branch. Even though the Yin-Yang School -Yang School only had two commanders left, it could still gather hundreds of Yin-Yang School branch cultivators in the Great Han Dynasty. Zhang Xuezhou was not surprised that there were still people from the Physiognomy School in the Great Han Dynasty, but he was somewhat surprised that this faction had become a marquis in the Great Han Dynasty.

This means that the Great Han Dynasty lifted its crackdown on the Physiognomy School a long time ago, and even once gave important positions to Physiognomy School cultivators. Subsequent crackdowns on various major sects did not target the Physiognomy School.

"If Master Hongku knew about this, he would probably be kicking himself!"

Hongku was a cultivator from the Physiognomy School who fled to the Northern Kuru Continent. If Hongku a good life, that would have been fine, but he suffered greatly over the past few decades, losing his family and friends.

If Hongku had known he didn't need to flee, he would probably have regretted making the decision to escape.

"Do you want to cause trouble for this Guo Jie?" Wei Shao'er asked excitedly, "I could kill him without any problem!"

No, no, no!

"The courtesan you bought was bought by Guo Jie, aren't you even a little bit angry?"

Why should I be angry!

Zhang Xuezhou made a comment.

His purpose in buying Sai Xi Shi was merely to unlock the Law Power sealed within her body. If Yi Shuo could unlock the Law Power without needing Sai Xi Shi, Zhang Xuezhou would not need these women who served as 'human medicine', nor would he care who bought Sai Xi Shi.

"You bought Sai Xi Shi back to your mansion; she was bought by someone else..."

"I heard Huo Zhongru got married and had children, but I didn't see you go and stab him to death!"

Seeing that Wei Shao'er still wanted to repay the favor of treating his illness, Zhang Xuezhou decided to put Wei Shao'er in her place.

His words made Wei Shao'er feel heartbroken. She cursed him as a "scumbag" several times, and then sullenly chose a wooden dummy to practice her sword.

"Cut!"

Zhang Xuezhou shrugged and clinked bowls of rice wine with the carefree Kong Ning.

"Lord Dongfang, His Majesty the Great summons you from Nagato Garden!"

Amidst the clinking of glasses, Zhang Xuezhou heard a messenger guard hurriedly enter the mansion's main gate with an order, reading it aloud from about ten meters away.

"Nagato Garden?"

Zhang Xuezhou's expression changed slightly.

Changmen Garden is very close to the East Sima Gate and also very close to his residence. Zhang Xuezhou can enter Changmen Garden by walking only a few hundred meters.

Changmen Garden was nothing special before, but later it was used to display the Demon-Revealing Mirror.

Zhang Xuezhou had the authority to go to Changmen Garden, but he rarely went there. After all, he possessed Demon Power and was quite wary of the Demon-Revealing Mirror, fearing it might cause trouble.

Zhang Xuezhou pondered the new emperor's invitation for a few seconds.

If I'm not mistaken, the new emperor is likely to take action against Dou Tai in order to seize power from Huang Lao Dao. After all, the new emperor was in an extremely awkward position when facing Dao Jun, as his protective talismans were not only depleted, but he had also almost lost his life.

Under these circumstances, it was impossible for the new emperor to continue entrusting the management of the Huang-Lao Daoist priests who made talismans to Princess Dou.

While the promotion and demotion of court officials can be adjusted based on merit and loss, adjustments within the royal family are not so easy. A new emperor who wants to seize power likely lacks a legitimate reason, which is why he would make such an invitation.

"His Majesty is inviting me to do something underhanded!"

The new emperor would only summon Zhang Xuezhou when faced with some troublesome and difficult problems; otherwise, he rarely asked Zhang Xuezhou to do anything.

After grumbling, Zhang Xuezhou had no choice but to get up and help. After all, he was in cahoots with the new emperor, and the other party owed him a bunch of talismans. He couldn't repay them without controlling Huang Laodao.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Changmen Garden was practically within reach. Zhang Xuezhou had only taken a few dozen steps in flight when he saw the new emperor and Princess Dou hosting a banquet in a side hall of Changmen Garden.

"Why are you so far away? Come over here quickly!"

Zhang Xuezhou stopped fifty meters from the side hall of Changmen Garden. His distant shouts conveying a message gave the new emperor a headache, and he immediately realized that Zhang Xuezhou wasn't confident he could help.

"I heard you've been drinking and eating meat at home every day. I've just hunted a few wild boars, so I've specially prepared this wild boar feast to invite my family and close advisors to share!"

The new emperor waved repeatedly, and Zhufu Yan's slightly troubled face peeked out from the palace, while he also waved to Zhang Xuezhou from time to time.

Even the notoriously cunning Zhufu Yan Fu Yan was having a headache; finding fault with Princess Dou would undoubtedly be very difficult.

"This wild boar is delicious! Lord Dongfang, come over quickly, I still have a seat here!"

Zhufu Yan chuckled in agreement, and then Zhang Xuezhou cautiously stepped forward.

"Dongfang Shuo is too cunning! Why is he so cautious? No wonder his promotions are so slow!"

Although he wore a smile, Zhufu Yan couldn't help but think that Zhang Xuezhou was cautiously advancing step by step, and that the other party looked exactly like someone attending a treacherous banquet.

The distance was only a hundred steps, but Zhang Xuezhou took a full ninety seconds to walk it. His leisurely pace surprised everyone at the banquet, and many eyes turned to Zhang Xuezhou.

Haha...

Zhang Xuezhou could only manage a series of dry laughs.

A few glances at this side hall will reveal a tall, round, ancient jade statue.

Like a wall, the Demon-Revealing Mirror stands in this side hall.

The closer Zhang Xuezhou got, the more he felt a thorn in his back, as if Demon-Revealing Mirror would unleash its power at any moment.

The Nine Cauldrons Technique, which shielded Kong Ning's aura, seemed to be useless. Zhang Xuezhou felt that at such close range, this technique, which was enough to protect Kong Ning, had lost its effect.

Zhang Xuezhou felt that he would have no problem at all if the new emperor simply changed the venue for the banquet.

The banquet was for wild boar, but Zhang Xuezhou felt that after entering the palace, he might become the new wild boar.