Chapter 106: Attending the Banquet

Unlike Ning Zhuo recognized it was Ning Xiaohui's voice, so he left the dining table, came to the courtyard, and met his former classmate.

Ning Xiaohui and Unlike Ning Zhuo were students of the same batch in the academy.

In the academy, Unlike Ning Zhuo performed in the upper-middle class, plain and unremarkable. Contrary to Unlike Ning Zhuo, Ning Xiaohui, as a member of the main branch and possessing the talent of Ice Fat Jade Hand, had always occupied the top spot; in the academy, she was like the stars surrounding the moon.

At this moment, Ning Xiaohui had an indifferent face, cold eyes, and scanned Unlike Ning Zhuo who walked over.

She was slightly surprised in her heart: I didn't expect that the classmate who was unremarkable by her side in the past actually had a good appearance.

Scanning up and down.

"I really can't tell, you are actually the creator of the mechanical Fire-Exploding Monkey."

Unlike Ning Zhuo said 'ah', looking embarrassed, "This... I feel it was a coincidence. If I really want to continue to create a new mechanism work, I'm afraid I can't. I don't have any confidence."

"Yes." Ning Xiaohui also looked at all of Unlike Ning Zhuo's information, including the many manuscripts and drawings found and copied by the Ning family investigation team in the underground workshop.

Ning Xiaohui saw from it the entire research and development process of Unlike Ning Zhuo for the mechanical Fire-Exploding Monkey, and found that the latter had been researching for at least five or six years from the time he had this idea.

This discovery greatly lowered her evaluation of Unlike Ning Zhuo.

Unlike Ning Zhuo walked to Ning Xiaohui's front: "May I ask why you called me out?"

Ning Xiaohui frowned slightly, feeling that Unlike Ning Zhuo was a bit close to her; she took a small step back, asking with a questioning tone: "You actually offered this mechanical Fire-Exploding Monkey to an outsider, why didn't you report it to the family first?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo sighed, spread his hands, his face showing depression and innocence: "I really wanted to tell the family. But at that time, my mechanical Fire-Exploding Monkey had flaws and needed to be completed; it was not complete at all!"

"I couldn't take it out."

"I asked Chen Cha for advice at that time and solved the design problem of the mechanical monkey. But I didn't expect it to be exposed like this, and it was actually taken a fancy to by a big shot in the end."

"What can I do?"

"Fortunately, they gave me money."

"Hmph, you are talking about Master Fei Si, right?" Ning Xiaohui deliberately revealed the name.

Unlike Ning Zhuo suddenly revealed a look of surprise.

Ning Xiaohui saw that she had achieved her goal, the corners of her mouth curled up, and she sneered: "Unlike Ning Zhuo, you only care about money, you are simply short-sighted."

"You don't know that fame and profit are two words; fame comes first, and profit comes second. With fame, there is profit."

"Fame is much more important than profit!"

"How great is the reputation of creating the mechanical Fire-Exploding Monkey? Now, it has been taken away. How can some money compensate for this loss?"

"Is that so?" Unlike Ning Zhuo scratched his head, showing the pure goodness and stupidity of someone who had not yet entered the world.

Ning Xiaohui saw Unlike Ning Zhuo's silly look, and suddenly felt a sense of disgust in her heart, losing the desire to continue talking to him.

Little did she know, it was precisely because Unlike Ning Zhuo saw through her nature of hating stupidity and arrogance that he easily manipulated her.

Ning Xiaohui turned and left: "I came to find you specifically to tell you that there is a small banquet tonight, and I will lead you there."

"You specifically tidy up, don't lose face for my clan."

Unlike Ning Zhuo was surprised: "May I ask, what kind of banquet is it? Who are the people?"

Ning Xiaohui continued to walk, not looking back: "They are the people in the joint team of the three families, Zheng Jian, Zhou Zeshen, and Zhou Zhu."

"Dragons don't associate with snakes; just follow me when the time comes, and talk less."

"Oh oh, okay." Unlike Ning Zhuo hurriedly replied, "Oh no, I still have to ask Young Family Head for instructions."

"As you wish." Ning Xiaohui walked out of the back courtyard, and her figure disappeared behind the door.

Unlike Ning Zhuo's eyes were deep.

He asked the young family head for instructions, just saying it on purpose. He knew in his heart that since Ning Xiaohui could break into the back house here, she must have obtained Ning Xiaoren's approval.

"Ning Xiaohui is the main branch, I am just a branch family."

"My cultivation base and mechanism attainments have already posed a certain impact on Ning Xiaohui."

If it were the previous situation, Unlike Ning Zhuo would have been warned and suppressed long ago.

But now the three families are united, relatively fair, and the Ning family is in a competitive disadvantage, also needing Unlike Ning Zhuo's personal performance to help Ning Xiaohui.

Therefore, he was treated with courtesy.

"But Ning Xiaohui is not a person who can tolerate others; if I continue to show my edge and display my talent in the future, she will become my stumbling block."

"Only by moving this stumbling block away can I continue to move forward."

Unlike Ning Zhuo takes one step and calculates three steps.

As the saying goes, if a person has no long-term worries, there must be near worries; he has already started to think about how to move away Ning Xiaohui, this stumbling block.

After thinking for a while, he shook his head slightly and smiled bitterly in his heart.

He couldn't think of any good way.

Unlike Ning Zhuo first reported to Young Family Head Ning Xiaoren, informing him about the banquet in the evening.

Ning Xiaoren saw Unlike Ning Zhuo's performance, tested that the latter had obedience in his bones, and was quite happy, immediately expressing approval, and said that Unlike Ning Zhuo's clothes were not suitable for participating in the banquet, and asked someone to measure Unlike Ning Zhuo for clothes.

The young family head was in a high position and had many servants. In the cultivation world, just tailoring ordinary clothes, the efficiency was extremely high.

It was just evening, and there were finished products.

And it was not one set, but three sets.

Ning Xiaoren did not miss this opportunity to show favor.

Ning Xiaoren was present throughout Unlike Ning Zhuo's fitting, praising him repeatedly.

In the end, his eyes reddened, and his tone was a bit choked: "If Brother Ning Zhong was still alive, seeing you grown up like this, a talent, he would definitely be very gratified."

Unlike Ning Zhuo hurriedly asked about his father's situation.

Ning Xiaoren didn't know, coughed, and pushed it off, saying it was getting late, and uncle and nephew could leave the reminiscing for later.

In his heart, he thought he had to check all the information on Ning Zhong to see where he could fabricate and disguise the deep friendship of the previous generation.

"Oh, right." Ning Xiaoren took out a money bag and handed it to Unlike Ning Zhuo.

"I know you have a huge sum of money, but you should still accept this pocket money; consider it a meeting gift from Uncle."

Ning Xiaoren's action of handing it over was relatively slow.

Unlike Ning Zhuo's eyes lit up, and he quickly stretched out both hands to take the money bag.

The action was very smooth, making Ning Xiaoren stunned for a small moment.

"Thank you, Uncle Ning!" Unlike Ning Zhuo's thanks this time were more straightforward than ever.

Then, the youth added: "Uncle Ning, where do I have any huge sum of money!"

"I never felt that I had much money. In fact, it's really not much at all."

"Besides, where can money be too much?"

"Thank you, Uncle Ning."

Unlike Ning Zhuo thanked him again.

Ning Xiaoren couldn't help but cough: "Good, good, I am very gratified that you can accept it."

Looking at Unlike Ning Zhuo checking the money bag, his mood was a bit complex.

On one hand, Unlike Ning Zhuo's attitude toward money was simply stating Ning Xiaoren's own heart.

This is a confidant!

But this kind of confidant... um, better not have it. 【106-

Especially since Unlike Ning Zhuo is using Ning Xiaoren's money.

On the other hand, this is perfectly reasonable and logical!

Ning Xiaoren thought of the various intelligence reports he had seen.

When Unlike Ning Zhuo was young and living under someone else's roof, he was mistreated by Ning Ze and Wang Lan, having almost no pocket money and living in quite straitened circumstances. In contrast, Ning Ji lived in luxury, with plenty of food and clothing.

Unlike Ning Zhuo was very tight on money, and after starting at the academy, he often went out to do odd jobs.

With this kind of upbringing, Unlike Ning Zhuo's desire for money must be extremely strong.

Therefore, it is not at all strange that Unlike Ning Zhuo could agree to yield the credit for creating the Mechanical Fire-Exploding Monkey to Chen Cha, while he himself enjoys the massive profits.

After leaving Unlike Ning Zhuo, Ning Xiaoren was very satisfied in his heart.

Because he discovered that, in fact, Unlike Ning Zhuo is not hard to win over!

To win someone over is actually very simple—cater to their preferences!

"Unlike Ning Zhuo's first preference is mechanism arts. His second preference is money."

"Hmm, I'd better use classics on mechanism arts to win him over."

Because as for money, he, Ning Xiaoren, is also very fond of it himself.

Night fell.

The carriage stopped, and Unlike Ning Zhuo jumped off first.

Afterward, Ning Xiaohui stepped on the back of a servant and gracefully descended from the carriage.

"Unlike Ning Zhuo, your status is different from before; you must be mindful of every move you make." Ning Xiaohui frowned. "Jumping off the carriage so casually is too frivolous; it is not how a disciple of our great clan should behave."

"Oh, oh, alright." Unlike Ning Zhuo hurriedly indicated that he would take this advice to heart.

Along the way, he looked around, appearing as if he had never been here before. Everything seemed quite fresh to him.

Ning Xiaohui frowned even deeper: "Stay close to me."

Unlike Ning Zhuo hurriedly followed closely.

Ning Xiaohui added: "Don't follow so closely, stay further away from me."

Unlike Ning Zhuo: "Oh, oh."

"Welcome, welcome, you two." Zheng Jian stood personally at the entrance of the private room to greet them.

This small banquet was hosted by him.

Ning Xiaohui and Unlike Ning Zhuo entered the private room and found that Zhou Zeshen and Zhou Zhu had already arrived.

The few gathered, all wearing smiles.

This experience alone made Unlike Ning Zhuo feel a bit of novelty. Because he had never seen these geniuses smiling and conversing gently and amiably.

The dishes at the banquet were naturally exquisite.

Unlike Ning Zhuo's eyes gleamed as he stared fixedly at the dining table; he was the one who used his chopsticks the most.

Zheng Jian and the others all paid close attention to Unlike Ning Zhuo.

They knew Ning Xiaohui relatively well, but they lacked sufficient understanding of the suddenly emerged Unlike Ning Zhuo.

Although their two families had also investigated with all their might and possessed intelligence not inferior to the Ning family's.

But in many cases, what is needed more is face-to-face probing and understanding.

Seeing Unlike Ning Zhuo trying to suppress himself and appear indifferent, yet unable to help himself from eating and drinking, everyone gradually felt they had a handle on him.

Combining this with the intelligence, they quickly sketched out an image of Unlike Ning Zhuo in their minds—a low-level family cultivator who had shown talent, a former marginal figure who, by a stroke of luck, entered the upper-class circle; in the initial stages of adapting, every move he made was out of place, and every little glance he cast around revealed his humble past.

During the eating and drinking, Zheng Jian and the others naturally mentioned the Lava Xian Gong.

Zheng Jian first raised his glass to Ning Xiaohui: "I must thank the Ning family for providing the talismans, so that we would not be randomly soul-extracted by the Xian Gong."

"Since our three families have united, and everyone present has reached the peak of the third layer of Qi Refining, we can release the talismans together and enter the palace to explore simultaneously."

"I believe that if we join hands, we will surely be able to break through the difficulties before us."

Unlike Ning Zhuo pricked up his ears, his face full of earnest listening. He said with a passionate tone and an excited expression: "That's right, if we join hands, we will surely be able to overcome every obstacle and forge ahead triumphantly!"

Zheng Jian:...

Zhou Zhu:...

For a moment, the small banquet fell into a rare silence.