Chapter 33: Family Banquet, Possessed

Not long after Zhang Jian left, a richly dressed lady resembling a noble young lady hurriedly appeared in the distance of the dam; she seemed to be wary of the dam's location, her gaze scanning around the dam, yet there was a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

Not long before, she had sensed the Dragon Pearl's aura at the Locking Dragon Dam, but had merely rushed over after that.

In the end, they still missed each other.

But her heart was not without excitement, indicating she was already very close to the Dragon Pearl.

She must hurry to retrieve the Dragon Pearl; her father is now too weak and also in great danger!

Such thoughts made her expression somewhat solemn.

Shortly after, she summoned some servants dressed as sturdy men to investigate all kinds of people who had appeared around, hoping to find any clues.

……

As night fell, the Qi household was just beginning to light its lamps.

Everywhere was a scene of extraordinary liveliness; this time, however, the Qi family held a banquet especially for the grandson who had come from afar.

The Phoenix Stream Zhang family could already be considered prosperous in offspring, but after seeing this scene, Zhang Jian felt that his family's patriarch's efforts were still insufficient……

And at this banquet, Zhang Jian also saw his maternal grandfather, who had always claimed to be recuperating from illness.

Qi Yi was tall and broad-shouldered, with a square face; though nearing sixty, he bore the air of a veteran warrior who had fought a hundred battles, stern and orderly—at a glance one could see he was extremely upright and valued propriety.

Beside him was his maternal grandmother, Qi Qian, who looked like a kind elderly lady, adorned in gold and silver, exuding nobility; upon seeing Zhang Jian, she eagerly pulled him close to show him off.

"Good looks, good looks! My grandson is truly worthy of the celestial Wenqu Star; with such character and appearance, he is destined to pass the imperial examinations and become the top scholar!"

"With the ancestors praising him like this, how could the grandson dare to accept? He is merely of ordinary stature!"

Zhang Jian's expression gave a slight smile.

He could see that this maternal grandmother truly doted on him, whereas his maternal grandfather Qi Yi was far more aloof, keeping a stern face throughout.

Besides that, the several aunts treated him fairly well.

However, this time only the fourth uncle, Qi Yuanjia, was present among the uncles to keep him company.

His maternal grandfather had five sons: Qi Yuanwu, Qi Yuansi, Qi Yuansheng, Qi Yuanjia, and Qi Yuanxing.

Among these five uncles, in terms of official rank, the highest was the eldest uncle, Qi Yuanwu, who had been granted the rank of Sixth-Rank Senior Martial Colonel by ancestral privilege; he now serves in the capital's imperial guards, bearing the heavy duty of protecting the palace, and is thus greatly esteemed by the court.

Next is Qi Yuansi, who also holds a military post as Provincial Patrol Commandant, commanding three thousand troops of the prefecture; although his rank is lower than that of a County Commandant and he is subject to the Commandant's orders, having once served in the frontier army and accumulated military merit, his future is promising.

The other three uncles, by comparison, are somewhat inferior to these two.

For example, his fourth uncle is nothing but a wealthy idler, a frequent visitor to the major pleasure quarters and moonlit brothels.

However, this fourth uncle apparently also looks down on him somewhat.

Moreover, the two girls who had secretly observed him earlier at the Locking Dragon Dam have already been investigated by him.

They are the two female cousins from the Second Branch of the Qi family.

Qi Yuhua, Qi Yuzhu.

His gaze swept silently over the two cousins; their personalities were starkly different—Qi Yuhua was evidently more introverted, keeping her head down and silent, merely nibbling at her food as if she had sworn off the dishes before her!

The other stared at him, who was talking with the elderly lady, with great enthusiasm, showing no avoidance.

Her eyes were full of curiosity.

The Zhang family would also return a smile.

His second uncle, Qi Yuansi, still maintains a decent relationship with the Zhang family.

Zhang Jian holds a deep impression of him.

This second uncle is cold-faced but warm-hearted.

He has visited several times in his memory and has brought him many gifts.

But he never imagined that, in this manner, he would first encounter these two cousins—the very individuals meant as his matchmaking partners.

Zhang Jian's gaze flickered; this time he had entered the prefectural city ahead of schedule, not only to celebrate his maternal grandfather's birthday, but also to seek further opportunities for the Zhang family.

Marriage alliance is an excellent means.

Although Zhang Jian is a cultivator treading the path of the Great Dao, he is not particularly resistant to this, for he follows an unorthodox path of longevity, preparing to engage with the world and then transcend it.

Moreover, in many official myths of the Great Qian dynasty, those true immortals are not entirely without families; indeed, many achieved cultivation in middle age before leaving home to practice.

Zhang Jian's composed demeanor, together with his otherworldly aura, left many young men and women at the banquet with a remarkable impression, thereby altering the initial impression held by many Qi daughters and several male cousins—that they came from humble origins.

This is also something Zhang Jian deliberately cultivated; since he seeks opportunities in the prefectural city, his influence on others cannot be mediocre, nor does he intend to fully reveal his sharp and capable side.

At the same time, Zhang Jian was also covertly sizing up his own maternal grandfather.

Outside rumors said that Qi Yi, the elderly patriarch of the Qi family, was in poor health and already intended to pass on the clan leadership.

At this moment, Zhang Jian looked over and saw that Qi Yi was vigorous and thriving, not at all resembling someone in poor health.

On the contrary, he was a martial general at the peak of his physical conditioning!

Furthermore, there was no need for a Daoist priest to exorcise evil.

The vigorous dragon-tiger aura emanating from him was exceptionally strong; even when Zhang Jian confronted him directly, he felt oppressed.

"Could it be someone else!!"

At this moment, the pink-clad girl standing beside the elderly lady suddenly parted her cherry lips and smiled sweetly.

"Younger brother of the Zhang family, you are this year's provincial examination top scorer; then, do you have confidence in the Ministry of Rites' metropolitan exam?"

She spoke on her own, and the other Qi maidens, as well as several more female cousins, all turned their gazes toward him, filled with curiosity and scrutiny.

Zhang Jian pondered slightly, then said:

"In the Ministry of Rites' metropolitan exam, the pillars of each prefecture gather; talents converge, similar to us top scorers—even the second and first place winners are a dime a dozen, like thousands of troops crossing a single-log bridge; to claim any great certainty would be false!"

"I, the younger brother, can only say that I will do my utmost and give it a try!"

Zhang Jian's answer was flawless.

Neither boastful nor timid, Qi Yuhua was not satisfied; she smiled and chatted, about to tease.

Just as the banquet's atmosphere was reaching a climax.

Suddenly, however, he saw outside the hall a green-clad old servant hurrying from the rear courtyard; he whispered a few words beside Qi Yi, causing Qi Yi's expression to darken instantly, and then he hurried away.

And Qi Yuxian suddenly seemed to think of something, letting out an "ah"; her face turned pale, she no longer bothered to tease Zhang Jian, and hurriedly followed him into the rear courtyard.

"It looks like the mad illness of the eldest aunt has flared up again?"

Zhang Jian's eyes flickered slightly; he saw one of his cousins murmuring softly, this cousin standing beside Fourth Uncle Qi Yuanjia, being the eldest son of Fourth Uncle Qi Yuanjia, Qi Tongguang.

He indeed takes after his fourth uncle, having married early, but essentially he is also a wealthy idler.

The pretty woman beside him, however, was meticulous and cautious, quickly pulling him aside.

But Zhang Jian still managed to catch the hint.

A strange look flickered in his eyes; the Qi family is an illustrious lineage bearing the court's dragon and tiger aura—how could anyone be possessed within the inner quarters?