Chapter 605: Speak Up Louder

Boom!

Snap!

The firecracker exploded once, spreading a thick scent of sulfur in all directions.

The garden was hung with lanterns and colorful banners, red silk fluttering in the breeze.

In the southwest corner.

The late-arriving Xu family youths brewed tea and debated heroes, peeling nuts with their fingers and gesturing at the landscape, arguing which branch's sons were more accomplished.

They happened to notice the dragon girl beside Liang Qu, their eyes brightening, and nudged a middle-aged youth at the table who was cracking sunflower seeds.

"Third Brother Xu, who's that kid over there? I've never seen him before."

Third Brother Xu glanced twice, then shook his head.

"No memory. I only arrived in Huangzhou the day before yesterday, but this kid's definitely no ordinary fellow."

The onlookers were puzzled.

"If you don't know him, how do you know he's impressive?"

"Look, notice the woman beside him? Isn't she beautiful?"

"Beautiful? She's a real fairy—just way too tall, half a head taller than me."

"You're just short."

"Looking for a beating?"

"Tall's good—long legs! Look at her, like milky jade! I'd love to touch her feet, it'd extend my lifespan!"

"Good taste!"

"Pfft, you want to smell the scent, but are you actually picking up the dish with chopsticks?" Third Brother Xu spat out a sunflower seed husk with disdain. "Go piss on a mirror—this beautiful woman's been here for twenty minutes, and not a single person dared approach her. Isn't that impressive?"

"Hss~"

A single remark woke the dreamers.

Idle chatter.

The sun rose higher, the crowd thickened.

Inside the longevity hall.

When sparse, the divisions weren't obvious; but now, with so many people, clusters formed like dense, overlapping bubbles, each circle sharply separated.

The core circle: the two Xu elders, Yang Yang Dongxiong and his wife, Xu Xu Rongguang and his wife, the Hu family, the Chi family's Grand Master, the Prefects of Huangzhou and Yunzhou.

Beyond this circle lay a "no-man's-land" more than a zhang wide.

Everyone passing by bowed slightly to give way.

If others had business or wished to greet, they had to call out from outside the circle before stepping in.

This wasn't a rule.

No one had ever established such an odd rule.

It was an instinctive, spontaneous act—like hyenas yielding the path to a lion pride.

Invisible things had become visible.

Outside the core, the next tier: the two prefectural deputies, the heads of three families, the eldest sons of each branch who held talent and status.

The tier below: heads of minor families, Great Martial Masters who hunted tigers…

The circles descended in rank, each tier's "no-man's-land" shrinking accordingly; from the fourth tier onward, people occasionally dared trespass, attempting to "cross circles."

The younger generation mostly gathered in the garden behind the hall.

Unlike the open, unobstructed longevity hall, people instinctively clustered to shield themselves from stronger presences.

The garden's uneven scenery and shrubs became natural barriers.

Besides, the young cared less about hierarchy and formalities.

Inside the garden, there were no such clear "bubble circles"; interaction was far more fluid.

Yet, lack of rank distinctions didn't mean absence of "faction" divisions.

Liang Qu swirled his tea.

Thanks to his master's wife, they all wore pure Jiaoxiao and dragon silk, embroidered with gold thread along belts and sleeves—white paired with gold, dazzling under the bright sun, as if they'd hung a sign saying "We're together—keep away."

"It's the Xu family's banquet, yet outsiders are stealing the spotlight."

The boy sneered.

Boom!

A large hand slammed the table.

Those nearby jumped in shock.

"What are you talking about?" Xu Xu Lijie hissed. "Yang Jiang Zongshi is the son-in-law of Master Xu Xu Siqing—his direct disciple is one of us! Disregarding hierarchy, blurring kinship—slap his mouth!"

Others hurried to intervene.

"Brother Jie, don't be angry! Xiao Wei is just young and doesn't know better."

"Yes, yes."

"Xiao Wei, apologize quickly!"

"Apologize! Did you hear me?"

Few knew of this little incident; only the table slam drew attention.

Liang Qu glanced briefly, assumed it was a family disciplining a child, and looked away.

Two new trays of fruit and nuts replaced the old ones; shells piled into small mounds.

Tss~

The incense string burned through, the iron ball dropped into the bronze tray.

Idle chatter fell silent.

Liang Qu's spirit stirred slightly.

It's coming!

Inside the longevity hall.

The steward, master of ceremonies, and scribe all wore red and colorful robes; Xu Xu Rongguang donned new attire, seated facing south with his back to the north, at the head of the hall.

Everything was ready.

Xu Xu Rongguang gave the order: "Pass through the hall."

The master of ceremonies announced it.

At this moment.

Cannon fire and music erupted!

The wind swept through the hall, robes fluttering; Xu Xu Hanping, the eldest son, walked along the hall's centerline, tilted a flame-stick, and lit the longevity candles.

The longevity candles were golden-flame torches—one lit for every ten years of age.

Fwoosh!

Nine in total—the hall blazed bright.

Everyone squinted.

The flames flickered; Xu Xu Hanping delivered his birthday tribute: nothing but profuse thanks for parental care, praising the elder's lifetime of virtue. When finished, he began the kowtow.

Kowtows were divided into group kowtows, family kowtows, and couple kowtows—blood relatives bowed their heads, others offered formal bows.

Descendants followed seniority and hierarchy, proceeding in order to the hall to present gifts.

The master of ceremonies stood at the hall entrance, announcing each name aloud.

This was called "calling the names."

Of course, one could opt out of being called—just give notice. But those wishing to present grand gifts never wanted to go unnoticed; there was clear competition.

At this stage, convention dictated that the eldest son and his wife should step forward first with wine. Yet everyone noticed—the one approaching with wine was not Xu Xu Hanping, but Xu Xu Rongguang's third daughter, Xu Wan!

Was this proper?

People whispered to each other.

Murmurs spread.

Those who knew understood the reason.

Those who didn't asked others—and were stunned.

Strange.

Grand Master's son-in-law!

Son-in-law is half a son.

Doesn't that mean the Xu family has three Grand Masters!?

Xu Xu Rongguang rose with the wine, stepped forward, toasted heaven outwardly, earth inwardly, then returned to his seat.

"Yang Yang Dongxiong and Xu Wan present one three-hundred-year-old longevity orchid-blood Water Lingzhi! Grains and millet—the farmer's joy—bestowing blessings, may your father live ten thousand years without end! May your father's fortune rival the Eastern Sea, his longevity match the Southern Mountains!"

Whoa.

A three-hundred-year-old longevity orchid-blood Water Lingzhi!

For anyone below Hunting Tiger rank, it would extend life by at least three years!

Worthy of a Grand Master.

Generous indeed!

By the time one reaches the Entering Zhen Xiang realm, there's no need to bow for birthdays—but Yang Yang Dongxiong is Xu Xu Rongguang's son-in-law, so it's expected.

Truly opened everyone's eyes.

After Xu Shi presented her wine, it was the eldest son Xu Xu Hanping's turn; with that, the wine-offering segment ended, and everyone proceeded directly to kowtowing.

Xu Xu Hanping's gift was conventional: a rare plant that extended life by half a year.

There was a gap, but not a large one.

The eldest son pales beside the youngest daughter; others would surely gossip, yet Yang Yang Dongxiong's status speaks for itself.

Can anyone ignore the sun and moon in the sky?

Here.

Xu Xu Rongguang bowed to each guest, handing out small gifts—mostly gold and silver rings and trinkets—and red envelopes to the grandchild generation.

The eldest brother, Yang Xu, as the maternal grandson and unmarried, led the group tribute and received a five-hundred-silver-tael banknote—more than even the legitimate grandsons!

"So complicated."

Long Yao slumped onto the table; Long Li rested her chin on her hand.

It was their first time attending a birthday banquet; they came just for the spectacle, only to find the entire ceremony overwhelming.

Order mattered—there were distinctions between those married and those unmarried.

Boring.

Liang Qu smiled: "You don't need to kowtow. When the banquet begins, just eat."

"Sit properly!"

Long Long Eying lightly tapped their backs.

The blood relatives had finished their tributes.

The birthday ceremony grew lighter; those who stepped forward next were no longer ordered by generational rank, but by status.

Those of higher rank went first; those lower had to fall back in line.

The governor of Huangzhou, Xu Xu Wanxing, and his wife, presented a pair of blue-jade bangles! They wished Elder Xu, the birthday honoree...

"The governor of Yunzhou..."

The heads of major families and county magistrates had all been announced.

Yang Xu returned and reminded: "Younger brother, younger sister, it's our turn."

"Don't rush, Elder Brother," Xu Xu Yue chuckled. "In storybooks, the most formidable always appear last. If I go too early, those left behind might feel embarrassed to be announced. What if they brought lavish gifts but aren't called? That'd offend people."

"You're worrying over nothing," Yang Xu waved dismissively. "No one will compare your gift, no one will be offended. Hurry up."

"Alright, alright."

Xu Xu Yue's dream of a grand finale shattered.

Aside from the eldest brother, the eight disciples of their sect slipped around behind a screen—immediately drawing all eyes.

At the entrance to the birthday hall.

The master of ceremonies instructed the scribe to record names, then bowed respectfully:

"Shall I announce your names, honored lords?"

"No, no, no," Xu Xu Yue waved frantically, gesturing from the second brother to the eighth. "All seven of us—don't announce us. Only announce my youngest brother—and make it loud!"

With that said,

Xu Xu Yue pulled out half a small silver ingot and handed it to the master of ceremonies, palm up.

The scribe was intrigued.

What kind of precious gift warranted such grandeur?

The birthday gift was presented.

The wooden box was wide and uniquely crafted.

The master of ceremonies recognized fine craftsmanship at a glance—the box was made of purple sandalwood. He opened it and saw a semi-translucent... tortoise shell fragment?

The instant the shell fragment was revealed, several masters in the hall turned their gazes toward it, expressions tightening slightly.

Xu Xu Rongguang recalled last night's conversation and leaned forward.

A few senior martial artists observed the scene, staring at the shell fragment—until they caught sight of a faint green mountain, freezing in place.

Liang Qu whispered a few words.

The master of ceremonies' hands trembled slightly.

"Are you certain, young master?"

Xu Xu Yue urged.

"What's real or fake? Whatever my youngest brother says, just announce it! Are you a pawnshop owner, checking authenticity?"

Realizing his lapse, the master of ceremonies studied it again and again, sank his qi into his dantian, summoned every ounce of his life's strength, and raised his voice in a thunderous cry:

"From the Grand Master of the Long Sect, champion of the Great Hunt, Lord Liang Qu of Liang, presents a single juvenile shell fragment from the former general of the Peng Ze demon horde! May Elder Xu's life be blessed with spring's warmth, the orioles singing, joy arriving, and eternal fortune!"

Whoa!

The birthday hall erupted in uproar.