Chapter 606: Sincere Heart

The longevity hall.

Xu Xu Rongguang sat facing south, centered against the wall, while masters from various schools sat on either side.

The crowd had originally clustered together here, thinning gradually toward the south.

The master of ceremonies called out loudly, causing people to unconsciously shift their steps toward the southern entrance, completely reversing the density.

Murmurs grew louder.

"General Yuan? Which General Yuan?"

"Demon chief! Demon chief! Does Peng Ze have two demon chiefs? Can one man have two heads?"

"Not a demonic beast?"

"Fool, if you're deaf, go get treated—should I recommend you a senior physician?"

"General Yuan has been whispered about in Peng Ze Lake for centuries—he's the Martial Saint Demon King! His juvenile scales? Unbelievable. The Xu family's longevity banquet today? They've won immense face…"

"Wait, did the overriver dragon really cross the river? This kid never came to Huangzhou before, never went to Peng Ze—how did he meet General Yuan in just a few days?"

"I heard Master Liang was once the tutor to the Crown Prince of Xu Yue."

"A high disciple of Master Yang? Naturally his background is extraordinary, his abilities boundless!"

"The three great families—Chi, Huo—share Yunzhou, yet only the Xu family holds Huangzhou alone. They truly have ability; now I see they're growing ever more prosperous…"

The master of ceremonies had sharp eyes—he saw none of the masters doubted, instantly realizing the gift was genuine. He summoned the scribe; the two took positions on either side, lifted the purple sandalwood box, and circled the longevity hall slowly, chanting as they went so everyone could see clearly and hear plainly.

A fine longevity gift.

Not only the giver gains face, but the recipient does too.

Many had come to offer blessings; to ensure timely meal service, the master of ceremonies should have continuously announced names, urging guests forward to pay respects. Now, he hit pause—turning it into Liang Qu's solo performance.

Everyone in the hall stretched their necks to stare.

This scene was like inspecting a giant "pizza."

Liang Qu felt utterly at ease.

He silently gave Xu Cao Shixiong a thumbs-up.

Good senior brother!

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

General Yuan's dragon head appears and vanishes—only a few lucky beauties have ever drawn him out; the world has only heard of him, never seen him.

Now not only have they seen him—those with thick skin can even reach out and touch his scales despite the side-eyes!

Long Yao and Long Li hugged Long Long Eying.

The Elder's glory—shared honor!

The previously dull longevity banquet instantly became lively and fascinating.

Xu's Second Ancestor leaned toward Yang Yang Dongxiong: "Such a longevity gift—why didn't you tell us last night?"

Yang Yang Dongxiong chuckled: "Second Ancestor, you misunderstand—I truly didn't know. After last night's banquet, I asked my disciples, and they were equally in the dark. This matter must be asked of Yang Xu."

The three masters turned to look.

Yang Xu, seated behind Yang Yang Dongxiong, stepped forward: "A few days after the Great Hunt, Young Master Liang traveled to Peng Ze. He returned on the twenty-ninth, and when he reappeared, he brought back this scale."

The masters understood.

He finished speaking.

The master of ceremonies circled the hall once, climbed the steps, allowed each master to examine it closely, then delivered it to Xu Xu Rongguang.

Xu Xu Rongguang reached out and lightly touched it, especially the blue longevity mountain patterns on the scale.

Turtle scales of demonic quality aren't hard to find—Peng Ze has plenty—but the aura of the demon chief Ningju on it cannot be faked in the slightest.

Gazing upon it, one sees lake tides, mountain peaks, auspicious clouds…

So vast.

Undeniably genuine.

Not accidentally stained, but deliberately condensed, branded onto it like a hot iron.

Receiving a scale of General Yuan at a longevity banquet.

The first time in Peng Ze's hundreds of years.

Just saying it out loud will make countless others envious!

Xu Xu Zishuai bowed, grinning: "General Yuan's juvenile scale—did Grandpa find it astonishing?"

Xu Xu Rongguang beamed: "If I say I'm not astonished, who would believe me? Yang Xu, come forward too."

Yang Xu stepped forward from behind Yang Yang Dongxiong.

Xu Xu Rongguang summoned the steward, who handed him a large red cloth sack.

He opened the sack—inside were nine smaller red boxes. After identifying the names on each, he handed them out one by one.

Liang Qu opened his red box—inside lay a longevity mountain stone seal, its base packed with red clay.

He lifted the seal slightly, revealing the engraved characters. The script was slender, firm, upright, elegant, with lines like hanging needles and dripping dew, flowing smoothly—purely the style of a master engraver.

It was indeed personally carved by Xu Xu Rongguang!

Xu Xu Rongguang stroked his beard: "I carved these longevity mountain stone seals a few days ago—each with your names. Young Master Yang's high disciple rarely visits Huangzhou; even if you hadn't astonished me today, I still would've given them to you."

Xu Xu Zishuai rubbed the engraved characters, delighted yet dissatisfied.

"Grandpa, this isn't right."

"Oh? What's wrong?"

"The seal was promised by you beforehand—it cannot be confused with today's red envelopes!"

"Hahaha, good lad!"

The entire hall burst into laughter.

Xu Xu Rongguang was especially delighted.

He grabbed a stack of red envelopes from the tray, a handful of gold rings—gave one envelope to each person, distributed the gold rings by loosening them from the little finger, giving several to each, then held back most of the remainder for Liang Qu—but paused, pretending to test him.

"Yesterday you promised not to spend a single coin. The scale? I'll let that pass as your miraculous ability—no expense. But this purple sandalwood longevity box? Surely cost you plenty?"

"Not so." Liang Qu bowed. "Since Grandpa asks, I'll say plainly—the purple sandalwood box was gifted by Wang the Shopkeeper of the Eastern City furniture shop. From start to finish, I didn't spend a single silver cash or copper coin. Every inch, inside and out, is pure sincerity!"

"Hahaha, good, good, good!"

Xu Xu Rongguang laughed without stopping, shoving all dozens of gold rings into Liang Qu's hands.

No.

From the moment Liang Qu began offering his blessing, Xu Xu Rongguang's smile never ceased.

The atmosphere inside was warm, overflowing with joy.

Master's son-in-law.

Demon chief's scale.

What longevity banquet has ever been this lively, this thrilling?

The steward waved his hand.

Servants on either side removed the longevity peaches from the tables, wiped away fingerprints, and arranged the box and General Yuan's scale atop them.

So that everyone entering the longevity hall would see the scale at first glance.

Thus far.

Liang Qu's gift-giving spectacle had finally subsided slightly.

The master of ceremonies and scribe returned to their positions at the hall entrance, urgently registering the next guest to offer blessings, restarting the paused ceremony.

The originally fixed order quietly changed—several minor lords who should have come later were suddenly summoned by the steward to move to the front…

Returned to their seats in the garden.

The young people's gazes "flowed incessantly"—even Long Long Eying in her gauze dress couldn't draw them away; all eyes fixed on Liang Qu.

They were all the same age.

With beautiful companions, how could he keep stealing the spotlight?

Just offering a longevity gift could shock the entire hall.

Damn thief!

Whoosh.

Boiling water poured over tea leaves, unfurling them.

The maid wiped the table clean, brewed fresh tea, then moved on.

"Cough, cough, younger brother—remember the well when you drink water."

Clack, clack.

Gold rings clinked with crisp sound.

Xu Xu Zishuai set down the red envelope, pulled out the fifty-tael silver note, shook the rings in his hand, and gave a meaningful glance.

"I'd never forget—today I owe it all to Senior Brother!"

Liang Qu returned to his seat and gave half the gold rings to Xu Xu Zishuai.

Dozens of gold rings sound like much, but they're not truly valuable—just for good fortune.

"Good younger brother! Not wasted my half-silver ingot!"

Xu Xu Zishuai was overjoyed.

Liang Qu also didn't forget the dragon maid at the seat—he gave the remaining half to the three of them, letting them pick any size or style they liked.

Swish!

In the "Eye Recognition Method," the hair-thin gazes turned to needle pricks.