Chapter 264: Yun Mansion: The Banquet Turns Sour

Returning to Meilong Town under cover of night, nothing unusual occurred, and the next day arrived without incident.

Chu Danqing, who had read all night, stepped out on time and saw the chubby Sun Dashou clumsily sweeping the ground with a broom.

“Your injuries haven’t healed yet—why are you working?” Chu Danqing asked.

Sun Dashou chuckled. “After taking the medicine yesterday, I feel much better.”

“I owe Master Li so much—I’ll pay it off faster if I start working sooner.”

Chu Danqing replied, “If you don’t mind, I can treat you—there might be a chance for recovery.”

Since the man was conscious and had no prior connection to him, Chu Danqing knew he must confirm the man’s willingness before treating him.

“No need,” Sun Dashou refused. “I know my own condition. You can’t cure me.”

“Just try—it won’t cost you anything,” Chu Danqing urged again. Saving a life is better than building seven tiers of pagodas.

He didn’t know who Sun Dashou had been before, but his current demeanor was steady and diligent.

“Thank you, but no trouble needed—I understand my situation well,” Sun Dashou said now, feeling unusually at ease within the Dragon and Phoenix Inn.

Even reduced to sweeping and menial labor, he was far happier than before.

The people around him weren’t pretending respect—they genuinely cared.

“Alright,” Chu Danqing said. He’d offered twice; if the man refused, he wouldn’t press further.

He respected the man’s choice.

He exchanged a few more words with Sun Dashou, but the serving boy turned pale upon seeing him sweep.

He knew Sun Dashou’s true condition, so he sprinted over and snatched the broom away.

“Your wounds aren’t healed yet—why are you on your feet?” the serving boy fumed. “If Master Li sees you like this, he’ll scold you again.”

His anger stemmed from Sun Dashou’s recklessness—what if he collapsed and died in the main hall?

After a long lecture, he escorted Sun Dashou back to the rear quarters to rest.

“Boy, take this letter to Yun Mansion on the next street,” Chu Danqing said, writing out a formal invitation.

“Rest assured, I’ll deliver it,” the serving boy replied. He’d never done this before, but he knew where Yun Mansion was.

“Don’t rush off—I haven’t paid you yet,” Chu Danqing grabbed him and handed over a tip.

The sum was small, but generous for a serving boy.

You can’t expect a horse to run hard without feeding it.

The boy was delighted—his whole demeanor changed.

He returned shortly, panting heavily.

“Master, I delivered the letter,” he said. Having been paid, he’d specifically warned the gatekeeper that Chu Danqing and Yang Qianyuan were no ordinary men and must be treated with utmost respect.

“Thank you,” Chu Danqing replied politely.

Around nine in the morning, Chu Danqing received Yun Mansion’s reply.

They would host a banquet for him that evening.

The formalities had been properly observed, and the invitation’s appearance was clearly beyond ordinary means—hence Yun Mansion’s attention.

Chu Danqing adjusted his conduct differently depending on the person’s status.

He couldn’t rigidly copy one approach, especially since he needed their help.

Proper etiquette could not be neglected.

By afternoon, he informed Li Wanwu they were visiting Yun Mansion and asked if she wished to come.

Yun Mansion was a wealthy household—the food would surely be exceptional; a free meal wasn’t worth passing up.

Li Wanwu was astonished—she hadn’t expected Chu Danqing to become a guest of Yun Mansion after only one day.

But she knew her own position and declined outright.

Chu Danqing and Yang Qianyuan had business with Yun Mansion—her presence might ruin it.

Since Li Wanwu refused, Chu Danqing didn’t insist.

He selected a small gift from his storage space—something that looked precious but was in fact a modern industrial artwork—and set off to pay his visit.

Yun Shan, head of Yun Mansion, personally received them. After introductions and pleasantries, they took their seats.

As the conversation flowed, Chu Danqing prepared to ask about purchasing the Tongxin Lotus seed.

Then a Yun Mansion servant rushed in, whispering urgently into Yun Shan’s ear.

Yun Shan’s face darkened instantly.

“Forgive me, gentlemen—I must attend to something,” Yun Shan said, rising and leaving the table.

Chu Danqing had no time to ask if help was needed—the man was already gone.

“What’s going on?” Chu Danqing asked Yang Qianyuan beside him.

“I just used Celestial Divination to glimpse a minor calamity—Yun Mansion can handle it,” Yang Qianyuan said.

Outside, chaos erupted.

And the commotion grew louder, escalating rapidly.

“Let’s go see,” Chu Danqing rose decisively and headed toward the noise with Yang Qianyuan.

They moved swiftly and arrived at the scene quickly.

The first sight was scattered retainers and Yun Shan lying wounded on the ground.

A clean-shaven middle-aged man fought a retainer dressed in servant’s garb.

“Blood Palm and Sky-White Python,” Yang Qianyuan recognized the spirit beasts.

The middle-aged man’s spirit beast was unusual—dual-affinity, both Armament and Blood.

Thus, his hands were sheathed in grotesque armored gauntlets, and blood aura swirled around him.

The retainer, aided by a pure white serpent, was still outmatched, steadily pushed back.

“Are you alright, Master Yun?” Chu Danqing helped Yun Shan up and had Bai Long heal him.

Bai Long stared fixedly at the Sky-White Python—after all, it was a white snake, resembling his own kind.

The middle-aged man struck down the retainer and sneered.

“Tang Ziwei, His Royal Highness Prince Ning summoned you—you feign madness to hide here as a servant? Hmph.”

He clearly recognized the retainer.

“Black Ink Demon, you strut freely through the streets even after Prince Ning’s summons—I’d rather be a servant than his advisor,” Tang Ziwei retreated several steps to steady himself.

At that moment, Chu Danqing realized he’d activated a side quest.

【Side Quest: Kill Black Ink Demon within 1 hour】

【Trial Difficulty: B-Rank (Brave）】

【Reward: Paradise Points ×5000, Attribute Points +3】

【Failure Penalty: Paradise Points -10000】

Difficulty was low—B-Rank. Da Bao could handle it easily.

Even A-Rank wouldn’t require Guo Ming or Xiong Mou to act now.

As the host, Yun Shan’s face showed shock.

He wasn’t shocked by Black Ink Demon—but by Tang Ziwei.

“Yun Shan, I repeat: Prince Ning inviting your daughter to the Qunfang Pu is an honor for the Yun clan.”

“I give you one day to decide—or else… Hmph. Prince Ning is benevolent. I, Black Ink, won’t hold back.” The man spat and turned to leave.

But Chu Danqing had accepted the quest—how could he just let him walk away? Where would his ten thousand Paradise Points go?

“Since you’ve come, stay awhile,” Chu Danqing said. Da Bao activated Tearing Claws, becoming a crimson blur as he lunged at Black Ink Demon.

Black Ink Demon’s strength was comparable to the Blood Demon Nightlord’s.

But since he had no Nightlord soldiers or generals assisting him, and was alone, the quest difficulty remained B-Rank.

Had they only faced Non-Monk and the Blood Demon Nightlord, it wouldn’t have reached A-Rank.

“A mere—” Black Ink Demon sensed Da Bao’s attack and spun to meet it.

His Blood Palm gauntlets clashed with Da Bao’s claws.

In the next instant, the claws sank into the gauntlets—if he hadn’t reacted instantly and activated Blood Palm’s defense, the claws would have pierced his skin and buried into his flesh.

Even so, deep claw marks remained on his skin.

“You—” Black Ink Demon opened his mouth to speak, but Da Bao didn’t tolerate him.

Though Da Bao’s five claws were trapped in the Blood Palm gauntlets, he still had his feet.

His feet bore claws too—though he rarely used them.

He mimicked a kangaroo and delivered a powerful kick.

Black Ink Demon’s scalp prickled—he immediately released the Blood Palm defense and retreated.

But he was too slow—Da Bao’s foot-claws ripped ten gaping holes through his chest garment.

Yet Black Ink Demon had no time to care—he turned and fled.

Had he retreated slower, the foot-claws would have split his torso open on the spot.

This Da Bao was no longer the one from the rear mountain of Xuan Yuan Temple.

With 30 attribute points, skill levels, and 3% bloodline concentration, his power wasn’t just improved—it was incomparable to before.

Before Black Ink Demon could take two steps, Da Bao caught up and drove his claws straight through his body.

The Blood Palm gauntlets were seized and crushed into a ball by Da Bao.

A Fine-quality treasure chest floated from the corpse.

Chu Danqing sighed—why did it always end so quickly?

It would be wonderful if one could accumulate it all.

As for the quest, it has been completed simultaneously.

【Quest completed. You have received: Paradise Points ×5000, Attribute Points +3】

Combat-class B-rank quests no longer posed much difficulty for him—he didn’t even need his allies to lend a hand.

The battle ended so quickly that Yunshan and Tang Ziwei were filled with shock.

After all, one had been directly wounded, the other pushed back—they were no match for the Black Seal Old Monster.

But before Chu Danqing, the Black Seal Old Monster had not the slightest chance to fight back.

Yet Chu Danqing felt Tang Ziwei’s shock seemed feigned.

His demeanor and behavior seemed odd—could he be hiding his true strength?

After all, from the Black Seal Old Monster’s own words, he learned that Tang Ziwei had feigned madness and stupidity to conceal his identity and serve as a servant, all to refuse Prince Ning’s summons.

Someone summoned by a powerful vassal prince could hardly be an ordinary person.

(End of Chapter)