Chapter 284: The Reunion Banquet

Hearing the knock, Tang Ya opened the door, and her expression brightened instantly.

"Wulin, Yutong, you two are here? I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Standing outside the door were Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong.

When they partied last night, Tang Wulin heard from Wang Dong that the members of the Tang Sect were preparing a long‑awaited gathering to celebrate his return.

So after leaving Haishen Dao, he and Huo Yutong went to the Tang Sect's base in Shi Lai Ke City.

As Wang Dong said, the Tang Sect has grown even stronger over the past two years, and the business orders for Huo Yutong's Zhuge Divine Crossbow were not only delivered to the Heaven Soul Empire but also to Star Net and the Dou Ling Empire, making a huge profit.

On top of learning that her enemy was killed, Tang Ya has lately been waking up from dreams laughing.

All of this was brought by Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong, so she naturally feels very fond of the two.

Without showing any emotion, she glanced at Huo Yutong's slightly reddened lips, gave a knowing smile, and pointed inside at Tang Wulin.

"Wulin, Bei Bei and the others are waiting for you inside; go in first. Huo Yutong and I have some girl‑talk to catch up on."

"Um, okay."

Tang Wulin released Huo Yutong's hand and said, "You stay here and chat with Teacher Tang Ya; I'll go in first."

"Mm."

Huo Yutong clearly was reluctant to let him go, but she gently nodded.

She knows that a girl who clings too tightly becomes annoying, so she must consider the other's feelings.

Tang Wulin turned and walked into the room; behind him, Tang Ya held onto Huo Yutong, whispering something. Though the exact words were unclear, Huo Yutong's increasingly red face gave away most of it.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Tang Wulin pushed the door open, something burst out in front of his face.

Instinctively, Tang Wulin leapt back, dodging the exploding object, then realized it was just fireworks.

Inside, Xu San Shi pursed his lips in annoyance.

"Tsk, didn't it explode?"

Bei Bei reclined half‑way on the sofa and said lazily:

"If you gamble, you must accept loss; you may not back out."

"Of course, third brother, I keep my word."

"I'm older than you; if I must say, you're still my third junior brother."

"Don't nitpick right now, okay!"

Watching the bickering pair, Tang Wulin couldn't help feeling a bit baffled.

Leaning on a chair, Wang Dong yawned and explained, "Senior Brother and Third Brother made a bet to see if you could dodge the recent attack; whoever loses will foot the bill for this banquet."

"I see."

Tang Wulin was at a loss, half laughing, half crying.

He said to Xu San Shi, "Third Brother, you don't need to pay for the meal; I'll cover it."

After all, during the nine months before going to Dragon Valley, he earned a sizable savings by completing missions for the Shi Lai Ke Surveillance Team, and he hasn't spent a cent in the past two years in Dragon Valley, so using it now is perfect.

Bei Bei was about to say something when Xu San Shi waved his hand away, grumbling,

"Wulin, what are you saying? How can the guest be made to pay? I know you worry your big appetite will break my bank, but what's our relationship? I told you, third brother, I keep my word; stop meddling."

Tang Wulin was about to speak when Huo Yutong's voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

"Wulin, let Third Brother pay; he needs to vent right now."

"... Understood."

Tang Wulin hadn't noticed before, but after her reminder he realized the hint of pain hidden in Xu San Shi's eyes.

Unlike Tang Wulin, he had just suffered a breakup a couple of days ago—after years of chasing Jiang Nannan, his confession failed again the day before yesterday, leaving Xu San Shi clearly traumatized, with a scar in his heart.

As Huo Yutong said, it's better to let it out than to block it; he now needs to vent.

By the way, how did Huo Yutong know about this place? Tang Wulin glanced back and saw Tang Ya still talking with Huo Yutong.

So even while conversing with Tang Ya, she wouldn't shift her attention away from him at all?

For some reason, Tang Wulin felt a chill rise behind him.

At that moment, Wang Dong's words interrupted his thoughts.

"Wulin, have you investigated Di Yun'er's situation?" Upon hearing the question, Bei Bei and Xu San Shi cast curious glances.

They had just heard from Wang Dong about Di Yun'er, a girl who looks exactly like Tang Wulin, which piqued their curiosity about her identity.

Tang Wulin shook his head and said calmly, "It's still unclear, but one day I'll get to the bottom of it."

Bei Bei smiled, "It's good to have that confidence."

He felt very reassured about his junior brother; after all, making the impossible possible at Tang Wulin's side was not a first.

Wang Dong said nothing, merely appraising Tang Wulin from head to toe, his gaze growing increasingly strange.

Tang Wulin, for a different reason this time, felt a chill in his body; he shielded himself and stepped back two paces, asking:

"What are you looking at?"

Wang Dong stroked his chin thoughtfully and said:

"Nothing, I'm just curious—what would you look like if you also dressed as a girl?"

Tang Wulin was momentarily taken aback by Wang Dong's implication; when he caught on, goosebumps rose all over his body.

"W‑what are you thinking!"

Wang Dong gave a chilling smile.

"Don't say that; Di Yun'er looks just like you, she can wear women's clothes no problem, and you could too."

Tang Wulin shouted angrily:

"There's an obvious difference in our physiques! Besides, this is about appearance suitability, not… I'm a man!"

"Don't say that; trust me, you'll look great in women's clothes."

Seeing his reaction so intense, the smile in Wang Dong's eyes grew even stronger.

These past two days she's been really angry at Tang Wulin and needs to find a chance to get revenge on him.

But she can't go too far with revenge, or else Huo Yutong will really be hurt.

This is just right; she believes Huo Yutong won't mind her borrowing her boyfriend for a bit.

Wang Dong raised his eyebrows at Bei Bei and Xu San Shi.

"You think I'm right, right? Eldest senior brother, third senior brother?"

Bei Bei and Xu San Shi exchanged a glance, also revealing a sinister smile.

"Yeah, I think so too."

"Not dressing Wulin up as a girl is really a waste."

Saying that, they all stood up.

Tang Wulin's heart suddenly filled with an ominous premonition.

"What... what do you guys want to do?"

Wang Dong chuckled:

"Of course it's to help you awaken your inner female!"

Saying that, she lunged straight at Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin quickly tipped his toes, ready to dash out the door.

However, a black light flashed, and he found himself beside Bei Bei.

"Damn..."

Profound Darkness Displacement—he hadn't seen it in years, and he'd actually forgotten his third senior brother had this trick.

Xu San Shi shut the door, and seeing the malicious smiles of the few, Tang Wulin shuddered.

"Yutong, save me!"

Side note: I'm taking tomorrow off—though strictly speaking it's not a break, since I'm just moving the update from tomorrow morning to tomorrow evening.

As for why I'm taking a day off, I just need to wrap up the old book.

Exhausted to the point of coughing up blood (crying).

(End of chapter)