Chapter 264: The Second Floor of Gaoque Tower: All Here Are Men of Distinction!

【Yuezhou is far away; you've traveled for a day!】

【Now the sun is setting.】

【You gaze ahead—Chongyuan City stands imposing, a key stronghold of Yuezhou, truly impregnable, one man holding the pass, ten thousand cannot breach it!】

【At this moment!】

【The city gate stands wide open; dozens of soldiers stand solemnly on either side, four figures waiting quietly in the center.】

【Tuoba Shuyi, Gu Yi, and Tuoba Yuan, this imperial uncle.】

【Suddenly!】

【Tuoba Hongyan, seeing the familiar faces at the city gate, could not suppress tears in his eyes—this long, arduous journey to Chaoling had lasted years, and now, in crisis, he had been entrusted with this mission!】

【He had not disappointed his father's expectations.】

【Lu Yu watched from the side, his brow slightly furrowed, silently muttering to himself: Why is Tuoba Hongyan suddenly weeping like this?】

【Since ancient times, a true man does not shed tears lightly!】

【You smiled.】

【Tuoba Hongyan noticed your and Lu Yu's unusual gazes; his dark face flushed as he said, "Forgive me, Prince Yan and Young Marshal, for my unseemly display!"】

【You raised your whip; the fiery red steed flicked its tail as the three horses drew closer.】

【The three parties slowly converged.】

【Your arrival drew countless eyes.】

【The Empress Dowager, Tuoba Shuyi, and other sovereigns of the realm are all towering figures of this age; some have met you before.】

【Only you, vanished for fifteen years, none have seen.】

【Only Tuoba Shuyi knows you intimately; his gaze fixed on you, as if transported back to the moment you faced each other by the Yellow River.】

【Though hidden in shadow beneath the ghost mask, your autumn-water eyes betrayed a flicker of curiosity toward you.】

【Her gaze swept past Lu Yu, adding another layer of astonishment.】

【Lu Yu whispered to you: This Empress Dowager of Qianyuan has reached a realm beyond Grand Master, surpassing even the Foolish Monk and the Demon Master—something he has never seen in his life, stirring in him a desire to challenge her.】

【Your gaze fixed on the woman in the ghost mask among the three from the west, despite the mask.】

【You sensed her faint smile toward you; you nodded in return.】

【Empress Dowager Qianyuan, a woman who secured the throne, will surely be remembered through the ages.】

【On the other side, the nobleman Yuwen Yan studied you with keen interest.】

【Beside Yuwen Yan stood a white-robed monk, outwardly unremarkable, yet without Lu Yu's prompting, you sensed his cultivation was equally unfathomable—he must be a force beyond Grand Master.】

【A sovereign arrives alone; he must have elite protectors.】

【Gongsun Zhongshu's gaze, sharp as a hawk's, finally settled on his cousin Gongsun Pingxi, his expression complex, heavy with unspoken gloom.】

【Beside Gongsun Zhongshu stood a middle-aged Confucian, tall and sturdy, his features resembling Gongsun Zhongshu's—this was his son, Gongsun Dunran, also a great Confucian of Chu, his cultivation already at Master level.】

【The Gongsun clan produces countless strong ones; Gongsun Zhongshu himself has reached beyond Grand Master, his cultivation unfathomable.】

【The three parties gathered here are none other than the true sovereigns of their nations, holding the reins of their countries' destinies.】

【The northern lands, once regarded as frontier regions, have now risen, earning the right to stand equal to the four nations.】

【Daqing has been expelled from the five nations.】

【In this atmosphere, Tuoba Hongyan could not help but feel tense!】

【Gao Wenxiao scanned everyone, his gaze finally landing on you; his lips tightened slightly as he shook his head silently.】

【Tuoba Shuyi's voice broke the silence: "Shao Bao, it has been many years—how have you been?"】

【You turned to Tuoba Shuyi, the elderly man past sixty.】

【He regards you as his lifelong rival.】

【You have never seen him that way.】

【"You, too, have been well," you replied.】

【Tuoba Yuan, this northern uncle, had never imagined meeting Lu Chen in such a manner; he sighed inwardly.】

【At this moment!】

【Gu Yi's voice timely broke the delicate tension: "Gentlemen, the banquet is prepared—please take your seats."】

【The three parties, without a word, shared an unspoken understanding.】

【All followed Gu Yi's steps into Gaoque Tower.】

【Outside, heavy troops guarded the perimeter, armor gleaming coldly, adding solemnity and gravity to the tavern.】

【Gu Yi bowed at the door: "Ladies and gentlemen, please enter."】

【Though heavy troops in armor stood outside, all remained composed, as if nothing were amiss, stepping calmly into the tower and ascending the stairs first.】

【Inside the second-floor chamber, lanterns blazed bright as daylight.】

【The banquet table held an array of delicacies, each dish crafted by master chefs summoned from across the land, embodying the culinary essence of the four nations.】

【Gao Wenxiao and Tuoba Hongyan remained steadfast on the first floor, fulfilling their duties.】

【Gao Wenxiao's gaze occasionally pierced through the crowd toward the brilliantly lit upper floor, his eyes gleaming with resolve—he thought: Give me five years, and I will ascend to this second floor!】

【This banquet on the second floor!】

【Concerns the fate of countless commoners, the very direction of the world.】

【Today will surely be written into history!】

【Tuoba Hongyan now seemed much more at ease; he watched Lu Chen and Lu Yu enter the second floor, the heavy stone in his heart finally lifting.】

【He found a comfortable corner, sat down, picked up the teapot beside him, and drank deeply.】

【On the first floor, besides the guarding soldiers, a group of monks from Great Snow Mountain gathered—some stood in contemplation, others sat in meditation.】

【Among them, one monk stood out—this was the current abbot of Great Snow Mountain, his cassock fluttering gently in the wind.】

【Gao Wenxiao's gaze could not help but linger on this venerable monk; he knew well that within this tavern lurked dragons and tigers—beyond these Great Snow Mountain monks, a martial Grand Master also hid.】

【After completing all arrangements, Gu Yi straightened his robes and slowly entered the chamber, gently closing the door.】

【Below, heavy troops stand guard!】

【Night had fallen, the darkness deep.】

【All lanterns in the chamber were lit, illuminating it brightly!】

【All took their seats, each embodying the bearing and dignity of their respective realms.】

【From Yan: Lu Chen sat calmly; Lu Yu stood behind him, observing the others.】

【From Qianyuan: Empress Wu Ying sat beside Gongsun Pingxi; Wu Ying still wore her ghost mask, appearing eerie in the lantern light. Gongsun Pingxi, unusually solemn, sat upright. The Grand Eunuch stood respectfully beside him.】

【From Han: Yuwen Yan sat with elegant poise, idly turning a jade pendant at his waist; behind him, the white-robed monk remained silent, his fingers gently tracing blue jade prayer beads.】

【From Chu: Gongsun Zhongshu took his seat with solemn demeanor; Gongsun Dunran stood behind him.】

【The seat of honor remained unoccupied.】

【The principle of equality among the five nations!】

【From Beifeng: Tuoba Shuyi took his seat; Tuoba Yuan stood behind him, hand resting on the hilt of his long sword.】

【Gu Yi also sat down among them.】

【His gaze swept over all present.】

【Chongyuan City, second floor of Gaoque Tower.】

【Those seated here are figures renowned across the world.】

【All here are men of distinction!】

(End of Chapter)