Chapter 129: 124 Birthday Banquet (Part 1)

"The first cup of wine, wishing Junior Sister Hua a happy birthday, may your youth remain forever, and may all your wishes come true!"

A group of young people gathered around the table, wine cups clinking, their young faces full of smiles.

Bright candles shone high, the wine was the color of amber, and a breeze stirred the table; the atmosphere of this birthday banquet was very lively. Although the table was set in the main classroom of Qingyan Valley and made of joined-together desks, and the banquet only had dried fruits and candied preserves, everyone was still very happy.

White Jade Disciples, Green Jade Disciples, and Moyu Disciples sat in a circle around the table, making no distinction between one another; this was a rare sight in the villa. It was only because there was someone at the head of the table who could unite everyone.

In the main seat was a young girl, dressed in red, looking joyous and festive; she was the little birthday star of the day.

At the wine table, a young girl quietly tugged at the clothes of the birthday star in the middle and said, "Xiaofu, didn't you say several True Jade senior brothers were coming? Why do I only see the Ninth Senior Brother?"

Already sixteen years old and having grown into a stunningly beautiful young woman, Hua Xifu smiled and said, "Because they haven't arrived yet. Ninth Senior Brother was afraid that with such distinguished guests arriving, we would be too busy entertaining all the senior brothers and sisters and end up feeling constrained ourselves, so he specifically notified them to come an hour later. For now, we should just chat and eat fruit. When the time comes, we'll clear the fruit away, serve the main banquet dishes, bring over an Eight Immortals table, and invite them to sit at the main table to drink."

The young girl realized and said, "Ninth Senior Brother is still the most thoughtful." She then whispered, "But with Ninth Senior Brother here, I still feel a little bit constrained."

A young boy beside them laughed and said, "What is there to be constrained about with Ninth Senior Brother? Ninth Senior Brother is the easiest to talk to and has no airs at all. Whether you want to study or play, you can go to him. And regardless of whether you are a White Jade, Green Jade, or Moyu Disciple, he treats everyone equally. It seems you aren't familiar with Ninth Senior Brother; just toast him a cup of wine and chat with him later, and you'll be familiar. In the future, if you have any questions, just ask him for advice."

The young girl said, "I know, but..."

He is just too excellent, too dazzling.

Ever since the Ninth Senior Brother came up the mountain, he had received great cultivation from the Master. At the time, many people were unconvinced, and knowing the Master was stern and harsh, they just waited to see him make a fool of himself. Later, in one year, this youth progressed rapidly; his martial arts and Rune Formulas were all stronger than others, worthy of his status as a True Jade Disciple. But at the time, some still grumbled—with this level of cultivation, even a fool could do it. If I received this kind of cultivation, I could be just as strong as him.

But later, the speed at which Tang Zhao advanced made everyone shut their mouths. He actually progressed faster year by year; he studied Primary Rune Formulas for a year, and Intermediate Rune Formulas actually took only a year as well. By the time he reached complex Rune Formula groups and Fu Formula Arrays, it didn't even take a year. Similarly, he studied Internal Energy for a year, cultivated Gang Qi in less than a year, and mastered Sword Art the moment he touched it, as if it were heaven-sent.

Is this even human?

It is a pity that the disciples didn't know the term "cheater," otherwise they would definitely think this word was coined for him.

Of course, in fact, he was.

Later, Tang Zhao established a Boutique Shop, benefiting all the disciples. Everyone received his favors and was convinced by his abilities, and no one said a bad word about him anymore. Although there were many wealthy Green Jade Disciples who didn't need to buy goods from the shop, they still loved to browse the shop and hunt for treasures they liked, which counted as a rare pastime.

Being powerful, friendly, and bringing tangible benefits to everyone, plus Xue Xianyun intentionally or unintentionally showing off this prized disciple, Tang Zhao was already the most shining star of Zhuoyu Villa. It was a pity that Zhuoyu Villa was too remote, and his reputation could not spread down the mountain.

The young girl added, "And Ninth Senior Brother's mood doesn't seem very good."

Hua Xifu looked carefully and indeed discovered that although Tang Zhao was forcing a smile while chatting with Senior Brother Zhen Can, his spirit was not as good as usual, as if he hadn't slept all night.

Hua Xifu felt strange in her heart. Although Tang Zhao was busy, his spirit had always been quite good and he had never been like this. Could it be that he encountered something last night and didn't rest well?

She had the heart to go and ask, but at this moment, everyone was taking turns coming up to give her gifts, so she had to accept them one by one and talk to everyone.

After a round of gifts, it was finally Tang Zhao's turn to give his. He carried a food box. Hua Xifu's eyes were full of anticipation. Tang Zhao nodded gently and said, "It's dumplings."

Hua Xifu immediately beamed with joy, her eyes full of happiness. She took them, thanked him repeatedly, and placed them aside with great care, not taking them out to share with everyone. Several young disciples at the table who were interested in Hua Xifu all thought: So Junior Sister Hua likes to eat dumplings; I must pay attention to this in the future.

Tang Zhao took out two more gifts. First was a square piece of calligraphy, and he said, "I wrote this for you. My calligraphy is not good, please bear with it."

Hua Xifu smiled and said, "If your calligraphy isn't good, then whose is?"

Tang Zhao smiled. His calligraphy was really not very good, especially in General Jin Script. It was only because he was the best among the mediocre on the mountain that it was passable; if he were down the mountain, it wouldn't even be as good as a Scholar's.

Hua Xifu looked down at the calligraphy and saw it was a short poem: "For a flower, one should be an orchid; for a tree, one should be a pine. The orchid's fragrance travels far in autumn; the pine does not change its appearance in the cold." She didn't understand poetry, but the poem was simple and easy to understand, and she immediately knew it was a blessing. Just as she was about to look up to thank him, she saw Tang Zhao take out a large book and say in a surprised voice, "There is one more gift, my specially made Exercise Collection—"

Hua Xifu's smile froze on her face. Tang Zhao laughed out loud and said, "Just kidding, it's a storybook that just came out in Jichun City. The kind of swordswoman story you like the most."

Hua Xifu finally laughed. She couldn't go down the mountain now and loved reading miscellaneous books. Every time Tang Zhao went down the mountain, he would find the latest storybooks for her, which was also a gift that suited her heart.

Tang Zhao said a few more words of blessing before sitting down. A young boy next to him leaned over and said, "Senior Brother, did you compile a new Exercise Collection again?"

Half the people at the table showed anticipation, while the other half had dazed eyes and were hiding.

The Exercise Collection was also Tang Zhao's invention, which Chen Zong had done when he taught him to study. A few years ago, when he first learned Rune Formulas, in order to strengthen the learning effect, he compiled some exercises himself to consolidate knowledge, and asked Xue Yeyu to help add questions. Finally, even Xue Xianyun added a portion, and then it was compiled into a book and circulated on the mountain.

There were indeed some slackers in the villa, but there were also disciples who were truly eager to learn. Even among the Green Jade Disciples who bought their way in, there were those willing to study. This Exercise Collection helped practice Rune Formulas, and the effect was good, especially in the primary learning stage, helping to consolidate the foundation and check for gaps, which was very popular among everyone.

Tang Zhao said, "This one is newly released. Several senior brothers and sisters participated, and it has twice as many questions as the last one. It's divided into primary and intermediate volumes. When it's printed, everyone will have a copy."

"Oh—"

Sighs of different tones. Some were happy and expectant, others were terrified.

After drinking a few more cups, the atmosphere became even better, and everyone chatted casually.

Hua Xifu also whispered to Tang Zhao, "Is she in good health?"

Tang Zhao nodded and said, "She is in good health, and looks even younger."

Hua Xifu hummed, "Good, no wonder you said you were more at peace after I left three times; so it was true, huh?"

Tang Zhao laughed, "Annoyed when seen, missed when not seen; that's what family is."

Hua Xifu raised her head slightly. Under the candlelight, there was a watery look in her eyes for a moment, but then she acted as if nothing had happened and asked Tang Zhao, "I see you are in a bad mood today; is studying too tiring?"

Tang Zhao hesitated to speak, then said, "It is a bit tiring." He wiped the dark circles under his eyes, clearly having not slept well last night, and said, "The human heart is like the ocean, difficult to fathom. Human power is probably also difficult to change. There is no banquet in the world that doesn't end, but it is a pity when any dish is removed from the table, and it is hard to part with anyone who leaves the seat."

These two sighs were aimless. Hua Xifu was young, where would she have any resonance? She was also strange; Tang Zhao was not a sentimental person, so why was he sighing like this for no reason?

However, she thought of her mother down the mountain and felt a bit melancholy, saying, "Yeah, thinking about it, time really flies. In the blink of an eye, it's been over three years since I came up the mountain. Sigh, do you know that Zheng Shou and Cui Qine have split up?"

Who?

It took Tang Zhao a moment to remember these two. It turned out to be that couple of wealthy losers who came up the mountain with them, also Green Jade Disciples. Tang Zhao hadn't been in contact with them since he came up the mountain, so he asked curiously, "They split up? Divorced?"

Hua Xifu said, "Not that. The mountain doesn't care about divorce; who would come to perform this procedure? They separated and found others. Zheng Shou changed to several Moyu girls, and Cui Qine latched onto the Sixth Senior Brother."

Although Tang Zhao was friendly with the young disciples, he really didn't know about these messy affairs. He frowned and said, "There wasn't any bullying of men or women, was there?"

Hua Xifu said, "Not that. Our mountain doesn't care about status down the mountain; they aren't qualified to bully men or women. But there were a few times they fought over jealousy. Zheng Shou and Senior Brother Tong Guang fought over one..."

Tang Zhao didn't want to listen and said, "What a mess. These people are not good things; don't associate with them. Learn the Thirty-Seven Sets of Basic Runes early, move over to be a White Jade Disciple; the environment there is much better."

Hua Xifu chuckled, "You are clearly younger than me, but you speak more and more like an old man. Even my mother doesn't urge me to study."

Tang Zhao sighed, thinking that the Fifth Senior Sister was truly harmful; the young disciples who followed her all became salted fish, not as good as following the Seventh Senior Brother to work hard. He said, "Fu... is also very worried about your studies. Didn't you always want to see the shop? After I return, if you can become a White Jade Disciple, I will give you a position in the shop. You are at the age to study; some things can wait until after you are eighteen."

Hua Xifu said, "I haven't considered it at all. Unless someone one-tenth as good as you appears, I won't even take a look. Hey, speaking of which, when will you consider it?"

Tang Zhao said indifferently, "I'll wait until I'm eighty."

After a lively period, it was getting late. Several True Jade Disciples arrived one after another, and the birthday banquet moved into the second half.

Just as Tang Zhao thought, although these older brothers and sisters were young, their aura was different, and it had already disturbed the atmosphere. Each of them said to let everyone be casual, but everyone quickly became constrained. Fortunately, the True Jade Disciples occupied a table by themselves, so Tang Zhao changed tables to accompany them. He quietly told Hua Xifu that whoever wanted to leave could leave on their own, and even she could leave first. However, it was rare for the young disciples to sit with these senior brothers and sisters, and although they were at a loss, no one wanted to leave the table.

At this point, the First Disciple Shi Chunqing, Fourth Disciple Xue Yeyu, Fifth Disciple Fu Qinghuan, Sixth Disciple Deng Chong, Seventh Disciple Qin Haizhou, Eighth Disciple Jiang Shenyi, and Ninth Disciple Tang Zhao were all present.

Except for the Second Disciple in the capital and the Third Disciple who never left the house, everyone was present.

Everyone had arrived, but the atmosphere had not been good from the very start.