Entertaining a Guest
Ten days later, He Dezong ascended Little Ring Mountain and was welcomed by the Chongming Sect and his entourage.
After exchanging only a few polite words, Kang Dabao very warmly pulled He Dezong along for a tour of the Chongmingzong Palace, which was undergoing Chongming Sect.
After listening to Kang Dabao's description of the Chongming Sect's future development plan, the latter felt that this small sect, which had once fallen so low that it needed to rely on its own great-grandfather for protection, was now showing signs of prosperity.
While feeling regretful, he realized that bringing Jiang Qing over had become even more difficult! This was not a good thing for his plan to poach her.
"How many Spirit Stones did Jiang Qing collect from Hei Wu and the others' Storage Bag?" He Dezong speculated for a moment before being welcomed into the still somewhat shabby Chongming Sect by Kang Dabao.
"Brother, please!" Kang Dabao greeted He Dezong warmly and invited him to sit down. Yuan Jin and the other two also came out to sit with him.
Han Yundao, the second-generation senior disciple, offered him spiritual tea, He Dezong kowtowed in gratitude.
The atmosphere here was quite different from when Kang Dabao and Niu Gui'er, those Rogue Cultivators, were together. The two families were old friends, so there was no reason for them to doubt each other.
He Dezong picked up the tea and took a small sip. The taste of this spiritual tea was surprisingly good. Had Kang Dabao, that miser, changed his ways after all these years?
"Brother Degong left in a hurry last time and didn't even have time to take the caravan's goods with him. I asked Jiang Qing to pack them up. I plan to find some free time to go to Hong County to visit my brother and relatives."
"I didn't expect you to arrive first, Brother. That's perfect. Please check them out later and take them back with you. It will save me the trouble of making a trip," Kang Dabao said with a smile.
Although his words were sincere and his straightforward narration contained no hint of sarcasm, they still made He Dezong blush with embarrassment.
Judging by his own experience, that batch of goods was worth at least a thousand Spirit Stone, and He Dezong never thought he could get them back.
Unexpectedly, Kang Dabao, that miser, actually had a touch of honesty and kindness in his actions. In this way, the gossip from the other households could be contained to some extent, saving me some trouble.
"My Second is truly a disgrace!" He Dezong cursed his younger brother inwardly, then bowed and thanked Kang Dabao, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, brother."
"Brother, you flatter me. It's just what I should do," Kang Dabao said dismissively, waving his hand.
"It's rare for us brothers to get together, so we must have a good drink. Second, take a few kids and go to Linghe Market. Order a table of noodles from Ruiben House. We're not leaving until we're completely drunk tonight."
"There's no need for such extravagance." He Dezong said politely, but Yuan Jin had already taken his leave and rushed out of his seat.
Kang Dabao chuckled, stopping He Dezong from calling Yuan Jin back, and said with a smile, "Don't worry, brother, I've made a few good deals lately, I won't go broke."
He Dezong was pleased to hear this, so he stopped refusing and thanked him with clasped hands.
As the group was chatting happily, Duan Anle walked in again. He first paid his respects to his uncle, He Dezong, before informing Kang Dabao that the head of the Ye Household, Pinglin, was requesting an audience.
"Didn't you tell him that I and your uncles were having tea with your He Household? Don't see him, tell him to go back." Kang Dabao sounded a little strange and his tone was displeased.
"My disciple spoke with the head of the Ye Household, and he still asked me to report to my master that he wishes to see him." Duan Anle looked troubled; he was an honest and kind-hearted boy. A few words of coaxing from Ye Pinglin were enough to make him bite the bullet and come to report.
"Please come in." Kang Dabao shook his head helplessly and apologized to He Dezong, who smiled and shook his head slightly, indicating that it was alright.
"Ye Pinglin greets Sect Leader Kang." The young patriarch, with bright eyes, strode confidently into the main hall.
"Ye Household 're too kind, Master Ye. Please speak frankly. I haven't seen my elder brother for many years, and I'm too busy today," Kang Dabao said calmly.
"I came to pay my respects because I heard that Sect Leader Kang had a distinguished guest." Ye Pinglin then greeted He Dezong again.
He continued, "The Ye Household recently suffered a devastating blow, and it was only thanks to the righteous help of Sect Leader Kang that the Lineage was spared. We have no way to repay this debt of gratitude, but fortunately, the family still has ten Heavenly Heart Fruit left, which we offer to Sect Leader Kang to entertain our guests as a token of our appreciation."
"Heavenly Heart Fruit?" Kang Dabao was taken aback. He wasn't surprised that the Heng Mountain Ye Household had been thoroughly searched, could still find spiritual fruits. It would be strange if no one hid something good in a place that no one would expect.
He was just a little surprised, thinking to himself that this kid was quite generous. The Heavenly Star Fruit, a First-Tier Middle-Grade spiritual fruit, was not expensive, selling for no more than seven or eight Spirit Stone outside, but its advantage lay in its rarity.
After consuming this fruit, cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm have a certain chance of slightly increasing their Divine Sense strength, but the effect is only noticeable on the first consumption.
The chances of improvement after taking it are not high, probably only one in a hundred, so it is not particularly sought after by cultivators.
Although rare, it's not considered precious. If you see it at a stall, you can buy it to try something new. Even if you don't see it, you generally won't go out of your way to look for it.
But the fact that Ye Pinglin delivered the Heavenly Star Fruit at this moment actually brightened Kang Dabao's mood considerably.
"Sensible," He Dezong and Pei Yi thought to themselves. If the same ten Heavenly Heart Fruits had been delivered yesterday, their effects would have been greatly diminished.
"You're too kind, Ye Household. I'll make sure to visit Heng Mountain sometime in the future," Kang Dabao said gently, gesturing for Duan Anle to take the fruit platter from Ye Pinglin.
"The Ye Household will certainly keep the left side vacant in anticipation of your arrival. I have some mundane matters to attend to at home, so I will not disturb Sect Leader Kang's banquet today. Farewell." Ye Pinglin's face showed a genuine smile.
He was quite sensible; after giving the gifts, he didn't stay any longer and took his leave, allowing Pei Que to see him off.
My uncle once taught us brothers that "a family that accumulates good deeds will surely have abundant blessings."
"Having met you today, you far surpass me in the matters of poetry and etiquette." He Dezong's commercial flattery truly made Kang Dabao feel extremely comfortable.
It turns out that even He Dezong, who has always been arrogant since childhood, has moments when he speaks flattering words to this sect leader!
Sect Leader Kang Da could hardly contain his joy; he really wanted to knock on the old man's coffin lid, wake him up, and see what was happening.
The atmosphere was very pleasant, and the two drank some fresh tea and talked about matters of spiritual practice, both of them quite interested.
"Sect Leader, the feast has been prepared." Yuan Jin led in several Martial Grandmasters carrying loads of Martial Ancestor. On the loads were stoves fueled by spirit charcoal, with several fragrant Spirit Cuisine placed on the small flames.
"Brother, please. Let's take our seats and have some wine." Kang Dabao warmly embraced He Dezong and led him to his seat.
Several tables and chairs had been set up in the courtyard by several Martial Ancestor. Kang Dabao first invited He Dezong to sit on the left, and then took the main seat himself. Yuan Jin, Pei Yi, and Jiang Qing took their seats in turn.
With Kang Dabao's permission, the three juniors, Han Yundao, Duan Anle, and Pei Que, were also allowed to take their seats. Jin Shilun, who was teaching Mo'er how to braise pork knuckle in the kitchen, glanced longingly at the table in the courtyard. From that moment on, his belief in entering the Daoist path as soon as possible became unwavering.
He Dezong enjoyed the wine immensely, never expecting that Chongming Sect and the others would be so understanding. Even Jiang Qing, the person involved, didn't utter a single word of complaint, and the awkward scene he had anticipated never occurred.
The atmosphere became even better as they drank. Kang Dabao and Yuan Jin chatted on and on, and Jiang Qing Pei Yi toasted each other cup of wine.
During the banquet, the Dong Sisters also brought out two exquisitely beautiful children to toast their uncle, a sign of their close family ties, which shows He Dezong's status in the eyes of his fellow disciples in the Chongming Sect.
By the end of the drinking session, He Dezong found the food delicious and the wine sweet. His habitually generous nature was on full display, especially since he had gone out alone and there was no one around to persuade him.
So when the drinking at the banquet got lively, he took out a few mid-grade magic Law Artifact and Ruyi distributed them to the younger generation, even including the Changsheng.
Kang Dabao half-jokingly declined on behalf of the children, which angered He Dezong. He then smiled and told the children to bow and accept the money.
They drank until midnight, much to the dismay of Martial Ancestor, who had come carrying a load of wine. They didn't know how late it would be before they packed up and went home.
The next day, when He Dezong was about to leave, Yuan Jin stopped him, saying, "Brother, you ate at the sect leader's feast yesterday, but you haven't eaten at my feast yet. Please stay another day."
When He Dezong tried to speak again, Yuan Jin pretended to be angry. He Dezong couldn't refuse any longer, so he agreed to stay another day, and they ate until midnight again. Pei Yi wanted to stay, so they stayed another day, and Jiang Qing wanted to stay even more, so they stayed another day.
After everyone had finished eating, the three Kang Dabao brothers jointly hosted another banquet, relying on the face of their aunt and cousins to stay another day.
After the meal, Pei Yi came to invite him separately, saying that his master and He Household were cousins, and that he wanted to eat together for another day.
After that meal, the four brothers, in the name of the Chongming Sect, invited another day's feast before finally finishing it.
"Since you've come to my brother's place, I've drunk all the wine I've had for the whole year." He Dezong said this as he counted the goods, his tone becoming much warmer.
How can relatives become close if they don't visit each other? In just a few days, his relationship with the Chongming Sect and the others had become much closer.
"Brother, you haven't come often enough, and you're always in such a hurry to leave. We've had our fill of wine," Kang Dabao said, trying to persuade him to stay.
"I've eaten my fill, I'll come again next time I have time," He Dezong hurriedly replied, as he really had to go back.
After counting and storing the goods, he turned and pointed to the items he had prepared before coming up into the open space, pulling Kang Dabao aside and saying, "Brother, you must be drunk. These aren't He Household's things, how did you manage to stuff them in?"
Kang Dabao didn't even glance at it, only smiled and nodded, saying, "Brother, you have such a generous heart; I am ashamed to admit my inferiority."
After speaking, he and the other three escorted He Dezong for five miles before reluctantly parting ways.
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