Chapter 337: Action

Night falls, and the palace is brilliantly illuminated; golden chandeliers cast a soft and dazzling glow upon the high vaulted ceiling.

Inside the banquet hall, the long table is covered with a red velvet tablecloth embroidered with exquisite patterns, set with silver candelabras and crystal-clear goblets; the flickering candlelight reflects a scene of magnificent splendor.

A band in the corner plays classical court music, the melody beautiful and the rhythm light, adding a joyful atmosphere to the banquet. Attendants in neat uniforms weave between the guests, pouring wine and serving dishes with skilled and respectful movements.

The dining table is laden with a variety of delicacies, from golden-roasted suckling pig to delicate desserts; every dish is like a work of art, colorful and fragrant. The guests savor the fine wine and food, enjoying this rare festive time.

This banquet is proceeding very smoothly, and the level of liveliness is truly comparable to the Spring Festival, making Chen Che and Xie Wanning, who are in a foreign land, feel a touch of familiarity.

Of course, as foreign guests, socializing is unavoidable.

From time to time, officials from Ansili come over to strike up a conversation and offer a toast; Xie Wanning handles this with ease, but Chen Che cannot cope, so he chooses to ignore them directly.

This action of his makes many dignitaries feel very awkward and dissatisfied.

However, Chen Che cannot be bothered to care about their emotions; his attention has been on the Cult Leader the entire time.

And there is one thing Chen Che guessed right: after taking his seat, the Cult Leader has not moved from his position, like an old monk in meditation, keeping his head lowered to flip through that scripture.

A Follower stands guard by his side, helping him serve his food; occasionally, the Cult Leader looks up to take a bite, then continues to flip through the scripture.

Those sitting next to or near the Cult Leader seem to have long been accustomed to this appearance of his, and throughout the entire event, they do not speak to him.

Of course, even if they did, they would be rejected by the Follower, and the Cult Leader would not even lift his head.

Chen Che had thought about taking the opportunity to chat with the Cult Leader when he went to the restroom, but now it seems he might have to intercept him when the banquet ends.

Just as Chen Che is observing the Cult Leader, the Princess is also paying attention to him.

The Princess's little face is flushed, and it is unclear whether it is because she cannot hold her liquor or something else; she seems to be daydreaming, completely out of it.

At this moment, a Follower brings over a cup of hot milk; the Princess looks surprised, as this is her favorite camel milk, which also has a certain sobering effect.

The Princess picks up the cup, sniffs it first, then takes a small sip with a sweet expression, feeling so happy she could fly.

She tilts her face to look at Yuri; besides the King and the Queen, only Yuri and Uncle Hogan know that she likes to drink camel milk.

Especially on such occasions, she cannot avoid drinking a little alcohol after coming of age; although it is never much each time, she still has to drink a little.

And every time, regardless of whether the Princess is drunk or not, Yuri will have the camel milk ready.

Laila shakes the cup at Yuri, and Yuri smiles at the Princess.

The Princess holds the cup and drinks the hot milk in one gulp, feeling the whole person refreshed.

Hogan watches this scene, the corner of his left eye twitching slightly, and he glances at the Cult Leader without changing his expression.

After Laila finishes the hot milk, she continues to look at Chen Che; she had thought the effect of the alcohol would weaken, but instead, she feels even more drunk.

Her eyes are covered in a mist, hazy and blurred, as if everything has become unreal.

The Princess shakes her head, attempting to make herself clearer, yet her head grows heavier and heavier, and her face, unknowingly, becomes increasingly hot.

"Mother, I am not feeling well; I am going back to rest first."

Princess Laila says this to the Queen and gets up to leave; the Queen says something, but the Princess can no longer hear it clearly.

The Princess walks with unsteady steps, swaying as she leaves the banquet hall.

Yuri notices that the Princess's state is wrong and instinctively wants to follow, but is called out by Hogan:

"Yuri, the banquet is not over yet; we still have to stand guard here."

Yuri glances at the Princess staggering up the stairs and says worriedly, "But Laila seems drunk."

"This is the palace; it does not matter even if the Princess is drunk. Our mission today is to protect the safety of the King and Queen and ensure the banquet is completed smoothly."

Hogan says in an unquestionable tone.

Yuri looks at the Princess worriedly again; Princess Laila has already walked upstairs. She hesitates for a moment, but ultimately does not follow, returning to her post.

Hogan glances in the direction the Princess left, calculating the time in his heart, then returns to the banquet hall and looks toward the Cult Leader.

The Follower Leiji notices Hogan's gaze and leans over to say something in the Cult Leader's ear.

The Cult Leader, who has been as steady as a rock the whole time, finally lifts his head, and a trace of imperceptible evil charm appears on his calm face.

Chen Che's eyes widen; he has finally waited for this Cult Leader to take action.

He sees the Cult Leader stand up with the support of the Follower, first bowing to the officials and others seated nearby, then leaving the banquet hall accompanied by the Follower.

Chen Che immediately says something in Xie Wanning's ear, then also gets up to follow.

Chen Che chases to the restroom but sees no sign of the Cult Leader or the Follower; he scratches his head and has no choice but to walk back.

When he returns to the banquet hall, the Cult Leader and the Follower have not returned either.

"Could it be they didn't go to the restroom? Did they leave...? That shouldn't be... the banquet isn't over yet..."

Chen Che mutters to himself, but suddenly his body jolts; he turns around and finds Yuri staring at him with cold eyes and a vigilant expression.

Chen Che smiles at Yuri, remembers something, walks over, and asks, "Commander Yuri, have you seen where the Cult Leader went?"

Yuri stares at Chen Che and asks in return, "What business do you have with the Cult Leader?"

Chen Che thinks for a moment and makes up a lie: "I have long heard of the great name of the Du'e Cult Leader and was hoping to be guided by him a little today."

"You believe in the Due Sect too?" Yuri expresses doubt.

"Everyone has the right to freedom of belief; as long as it is not an evil cult, I can believe in it too."

"Presumptuous!"

Yuri is furious, "If you were a citizen of Ansili, slandering the Due Sect as an evil cult would result in you being hanged!"

Chen Che shrugs: "Then can you tell me where the Cult Leader went? It just so happens that the Cult Leader can enlighten my distorted thinking and make me his follower."

Yuri squints at Chen Che and says, "The Cult Leader just said he was not feeling well and went upstairs to rest. I advise you not to go and disturb him..."

Yuri is stunned!

Before she can finish her sentence, Chen Che has already run out of sight.

Watching Chen Che's disappearing back, Yuri is filled with anger and grips her sword hilt tightly.

This lecher who harassed the Princess will not be enlightened even if he sees the Cult Leader, because he is just a hopeless...

No!

Yuri's expression froze as he remembered that Chen Che was from Xia.

Before this, he didn't even know what the Due Sect was, so it was impossible for him to believe in the Due Sect.

Then what he said just now about going to find the Cult Leader certainly wasn't true; so what was he going to do?

Everyone was in the banquet hall, and upstairs there was no one else besides the Cult Leader and the Follower, and judging by his appearance, he didn't look like he was going to rest...

Yuri's body shuddered, and with a *swish*, he drew the blade from his waist and rushed upstairs.

She remembered that upstairs, there wasn't just the Cult Leader and the Follower, but also the drunken... Princess!

………