Chapter 158: Hua Dalang's Engagement Feast (2)

“This is the Hua family?”

“This courtyard is way too small. How is this a place to receive guests? There’s no room to even stand. This is the first time I’ve seen such a shabby betrothal banquet.”

“How could Yuntang-jie be engaged to a family like this? This Hua family’s courtyard isn’t even as big as the servants’ quarters in my house.”

The disdainful words drifted into her ears. Hua Changxi put down the kitchen knife in her hand and walked to the kitchen door to look outside, only to see her father and eldest brother leading more than a dozen people inside.

The visitors were precisely the Sheng family. Leading them was Sheng Yuntang’s third uncle, Sheng Xuan, while the rest were the younger generation of the Sheng family.

After entering the Hua family courtyard, Sheng Xuan was still alright, chatting and laughing with Hua Minghe, but the younger members of the Sheng family found it hard to hide their disdain after seeing the cramped Hua courtyard.

Hua Dalang overheard the remarks from the younger Sheng generation and looked somewhat embarrassed. Fortunately, his future second brother-in-law, Sheng Pengye, was decent and smiled to help him out, warning the other Sheng family members with his eyes.

“Sixth Brother, why are you standing right in front of me?”

Hua Changxi was watching the Sheng family when Hua Liulang came over and blocked her view.

Hua Liulang’s expression was not good: “Did you hear what the Sheng family said?”

Hua Changxi hummed in acknowledgment.

Hua Liulang said angrily, “This really pisses me off. Our family and the Sheng family are already in-laws—how can their people talk about our family like this?” Then he looked at Hua Changxi, “Ninth Sister, you must be furious too, right?”

Hua Changxi: “…I’m fine.”

Hua Liulang’s face showed disbelief: “Ninth Sister, you don’t have to hide it in front of me. I’m already furious. With your hot temper, there’s no way you could take this. Otherwise, Father wouldn’t have told me to keep an eye on you, afraid you might lose your temper and start a fight with the Sheng family. If that happens, Dalang will be in a tough spot.”

Hua Changxi rolled her eyes at that: “It’s not me who’s being looked down on by the Sheng family, and it’s not me who’ll have to deal with them in the future. Why should I waste my energy getting angry over nothing?”

Hearing this, Hua Liulang stared blankly at Hua Changxi, looking a bit confused.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi asked puzzledly, “Why are you staring at me like that?”

Hua Liulang: “Ninth Sister, that’s Eldest Brother! Why do you sound so indifferent?”

Hua Changxi: “This really doesn’t have much to do with me. Eldest Brother was the one who chose a marriage alliance with a family of such different status. The Sheng family’s contempt is the price he has to pay for reaching above his station.”

“What we hear today is just idle gossip. Once they’re married, Eldest Brother will have to be compared with the younger generation of the Sheng family in every aspect—that’s when his real headache begins.”

Upon hearing this, Hua Liulang looked at Hua Dalang, who was introducing the family’s cultivators to the Sheng family, and said worriedly, “If that’s the case, we should really help Eldest Brother.”

Hua Changxi glanced at him: “Sixth Brother, I told you, being looked down on by the Sheng family is the price Eldest Brother pays for reaching above his station. If you help him, you’re shifting the burden he should bear onto yourself. Are you sure you want to live carrying someone else’s responsibility?”

Hua Liulang scratched his head: “But… he’s Eldest Brother.”

Hua Changxi was silent for a moment and didn’t reply.

Hua Liulang didn’t know what to say either. Just then, he saw that Hua Sanlang needed help, so he quickly walked over.

Hua Changxi was still watching the Sheng family. Apart from Sheng Sanxu, who had been led into the main hall by Hua Minghe, the younger Sheng family members were all in the courtyard.

The Sheng family had come to the Hua family; logically, they should be getting to know the Hua family properly. But at the moment, the Sheng family were chatting enthusiastically with Hua Hongqi, Hua Shuran, and others, while the Hua family members were somewhat left out.

Hua Changxi shook her head. If the Sheng family’s manner and conduct were truly as they displayed today, she could imagine that if her eldest brother didn’t have a brilliant future ahead of him, he would definitely be despised by his in-laws.

Too lazy to watch any longer, Hua Changxi turned and went into the kitchen, sat down behind the stove, and lit the fire.

A quarter of an hour later, a commotion and screams came from the courtyard.

Hearing this, Hua Changxi quickly craned her neck to look outside. The moment she saw, her expression suddenly changed drastically.

In the Hua family courtyard, two demonic beasts had suddenly appeared—a majestic silver wolf and a fierce, swift golden eagle.

The moment the two demonic beasts saw each other, they immediately started fighting.

“Go, Silver Wolf! If you win against the Golden Eagle, you’ll get extra food tonight.”

“Go, Golden Eagle! If you beat that wolf, I’ll refine a pill for you to eat when we get back.”

As the two beasts fought, the Hua family courtyard instantly fell into chaos, with tables and chairs strewn all over the ground.

And yet, some of the Hua family cultivators and the Sheng family members were still cheering for the two beasts.

When Old Master Hua and the others in the main hall heard the noise, they all came out. Seeing the courtyard in an uproar, Old Master Hua’s face turned ashen.

“Whoosh~”

“Whoosh~”

Two wisps of flame shot out, striking straight at the hearts of the Silver Wolf and Golden Eagle. In an instant, the two demon beasts, which had been locked in fierce combat moments before, crashed to the ground and lay still.

"Silver Wolf!"

"Golden Eagle!"

One person each from the Hua family cultivators and the Sheng family members rushed forward, lunging desperately toward the fallen demon beasts.

The moment the two touched the beasts, both demon beasts suddenly burst into flames, startling the pair into hastily retreating.

After a few breaths, nothing remained on the ground but two piles of ash.

Next, a surge of spiritual power spread through the Hua family courtyard. The chairs and tables that had been strewn everywhere were righted and returned to their original places. In moments, the chaotic yard became tidy and clean again.

Hua Changxi walked out of the kitchen and headed straight for the two cultivators who had released the demon beasts. "You two—get out!"

These two were Hua Hongguang, the eldest legitimate grandson from the second elder's branch of the Hua family, and Sheng Pengfei, the only legitimate son of Sheng Third Uncle.

Hua Dalang didn't want the situation to become too strained and couldn't help speaking up: "Ninth—"

The moment he opened his mouth, Hua Changxi shot him a cold glare. The icy look directly forced Hua Dalang to swallow the words in his throat.

Hua Changxi withdrew her gaze and looked once more at Hua Hongguang and Sheng Pengfei. "You should be grateful that today is my eldest brother's happy day. Otherwise, just for the two of you coming to my house to release demon beasts, I would have thrown you into the demon beast pit."

"Get lost. From now on, neither of you is allowed to set foot even half a step inside the Hua family compound."

Receiving a silent signal from Hua Hongqi, Hua Hongguang looked at the puddle of ash that had been his spirit pet, swallowed his anger, hung his head, and said nothing.

Sheng Pengfei, however, had far fewer scruples. He pointed angrily at Hua Changxi. "It was you—you killed my Golden Eagle!"

Hua Changxi looked at his arm pointing at her, and in an instant, her spiritual pressure slammed down on him.

The moment the spiritual pressure struck, Sheng Pengfei felt as if a giant mountain had been placed on his shoulders. It made his legs tremble and him unable to resist the urge to drop to his knees.

And the young mistress who had killed his Golden Eagle was standing right in front of him—if he knelt, it would be as if he were kneeling to her.

How could Sheng Pengfei allow himself to kneel to a young mistress? His face flushed red, veins bulging, and he gritted his teeth, stubbornly bearing the pressure.

Seeing his son forced to his knees, Sheng Third Uncle grew frantic. "Dalang, Pengfei didn't mean it. I'll apologize to you all on his behalf."

Hua Dalang quickly pulled at Hua Changxi. "Ninth Lady, that's enough."

Hua Changxi glanced at the anxious Hua Dalang, withdrew her spiritual pressure, and looked at Sheng Pengfei. "You're merely a cultivator who has just entered the Qi Sea realm. It's best not to be so arrogant out in the world."

Sheng Pengfei wanted to vomit blood. He sneered at Hua Changxi. "Arrogant? Compared to you, ten of me couldn't catch up."

Hua Changxi gave a cold laugh. "You really can't catch up." As she spoke, she waved her hand, and Hua Hongguang and Sheng Pengfei were flung out of the Hua family courtyard.

Seeing this, Hua Dalang seemed to want to say something but held back.

Hua Changxi looked at him. "Elder Brother, are you sure you want to break your backbone for the sake of a marriage alliance?"

Seeing Hua Dalang's expression change and noticing Hua Hongqi's look of displeasure, Sheng Third Uncle quickly said, "It was Pengfei who was out of line." He then made a deep bow to Old Master Hua.

"Old Master, I have failed to discipline my son properly. On his behalf, I apologize to everyone here."

On an ordinary day, Old Master Hua would have hurriedly glossed over the matter, but this time, he unexpectedly turned his gaze to Hua Changxi, as if waiting for her decision.

Hua Minghe stepped forward to help Sheng Third Uncle to his feet, smiling. "Brother Xuan, you're being too serious. Our Ninth Lady just has this temperament—she takes everything seriously. Once you interact with her more in the future, you'll understand."