Chapter 157: Hua Dalang's Betrothal Banquet

Early on the morning of the twenty-third day of the tenth month, before dawn had broken, the Hua family courtyard was already bustling with activity. By the time the first rays of morning light appeared, guests had already begun to arrive.

The visitors were members of the Hua clan.

Ever since Old Master Hua became a clan elder, his interactions with his clansmen had grown frequent. As the provider of the Body Refining Technique, and with every member of the Hua household being a cultivator, those clansmen who recognized the Hua family's rise had eagerly pledged their loyalty and drawn close to the old master.

The first to arrive were the clansmen who usually clustered around Old Master Hua.

Not long after, the Eldest Clan Elder and several other clan elders arrived, followed by their respective descendants.

Seeing that the Eldest Clan Elder had personally come to their door, Old Master Hua did not stand on ceremony; he quickly led his sons and grandsons out to welcome them.

So many Hua clansmen had come that the front courtyard, already somewhat cramped from the tables and chairs set up, became even more crowded with their arrival.

Old Master Hua guided the several clan elders into the main hall, accompanied by Hua Minghe and his two brothers along with their three sons-in-law, while the young people from the clan remained in the courtyard, hosted by Hua Dalang and his younger siblings.

"Ninth Sister, you surely don't know these brothers and sisters from the clan yet; let me introduce them..."

Hua Dalang kept Hua Changxi by his side, introducing each of the clan's young people to her one by one.

Just after these introductions were finished, more guests arrived.

Hua Hongqi, the legitimate eldest son of the Marquis heir, arrived leading a group of young cultivators from the Hua clan.

Upon seeing them, Hua Dalang immediately pulled Hua Changxi along and, together with their other younger siblings, went forward with smiles to greet them.

"Congratulations, Dalang!"

"Young Master Qi has honored our humble home; we failed to welcome you from afar."

Hua Hongqi feigned dissatisfaction as he looked at Hua Dalang: "Dalang, we are both brothers of the same clan; no more of this 'Young Master' business. I am slightly older than you, so from now on, let us address each other as brothers."

Hearing this, Hua Dalang did not stand on ceremony and smiled as he called out, "Brother Qi."

Hua Hongqi immediately responded with a laugh, addressing Hua Dalang as "Brother Yi," before shifting his gaze to Hua Changxi standing at his side.

Seeing this, Hua Dalang smiled and introduced her: "Brother Qi, you haven't met my Ninth Sister yet, have you? Ninth Sister, this is Eldest Brother Qi from the heir's household."

Hua Changxi nodded toward Hua Hongqi: "Eldest Brother Qi."

Hua Hongqi looked at Hua Changxi with a gentle gaze, his tone carrying a hint of appreciation: "Ninth Sister, I have long heard Shuran mention you; today I finally get to meet you."

Hua Shuran, standing at his side, interjected with a beaming smile, her tone intimate and teasing: "Ninth Sister, although we both serve in the Medical Bureau, we have rarely met."

"Ever since you stopped teaching at the Qihuang Hall, Wan Yue and I wanted to ask you questions about pill refining and medical arts but could never find you. In the future, we must interact more often."

Looking at these two legitimate children of the heir, Hua Changxi reflected that one does not strike a smiling face; since they had shown friendliness, it would be improper for her to keep them at too great a distance, so she smiled and said, "I am now in charge of Qihuang Hall Number Thirteen; if you need to find me in the future, you can go there."

Hearing this, Hua Shuran immediately agreed with a laugh.

Hua Wan Yue, standing next to her, took up the conversation: "Ninth Sister, I heard that every Qihuang Hall is assigned eight medicine apprentices; have yours been decided yet?"

Hua Changxi looked at her: "I am not quite clear on the matter of the medicine apprentices; perhaps the Medical Bureau will arrange them directly."

Hua Wan Yue glanced at Hua Hongqi and Hua Shuran, then smiled: "Now that you are the Hall Master, you have the authority to appoint the medicine apprentices directly. Ninth Sister, we are all sisters of the same clan; do you think Wan Yue and Shuran could serve as medicine apprentices in your Qihuang Hall?"

Taking over Qihuang Hall Number Thirteen and being watched by the imperial family was already enough to annoy Hua Changxi; if clansmen were to get involved as well, she feared she would not even want to step through the hall's gates.

"Medicine apprentices are merely runners; for you and Shuran to serve as such would be a terrible waste of talent."

Both Prince Shou and the Bureau Director were paying close attention to the Qihuang Halls; furthermore, since the Body Refining Technique Old Master Hua presented to the clan bore the name "Qihuang," the Marquis's household had already guessed that the Qihuang Body Refining Technique obtained by the Hua family likely originated from the Qihuang Halls.

To the Pill Saint Hall, the Qihuang Halls undoubtedly held a position of paramount importance.

When Prince Shou distributed the Qihuang Halls, the Marquis's household, upon learning that Hua Changxi had taken over Qihuang Hall Number Thirteen, had immediately wanted to plant someone inside.

Hua Wan Yue detected the refusal in Hua Changxi's words, but she did not wish to give up so easily; firstly, this was a task assigned to her by the Marquis's household, and secondly, following Hua Changxi would truly allow her to learn something.

"Ninth Sister..."

Hua Wan Yue wished to say more, but Hua Hongqi interrupted her: "Wan Yue, Ninth Sister is only considering your best interests; do not disappoint her kindness."

Just then, more guests arrived; these were some friends Hua Dalang had made in the Demon-Suppressing Army.

Hua Hongqi适时 shifted the topic, looking at Hua Dalang: "Brother Yi, we should go pay our respects to Grandfather Bin; you go attend to the guests."

Hua Dalang asked Hua Sanlang to lead Hua Hongqi and his party to the main hall, while he himself took Hua Changxi toward the Demon-Suppressing Army contingent.

Hua Changxi looked at him perplexed: "Eldest Brother, I can understand you bringing me to meet the Hua clansmen, but why are you taking me to meet your colleagues?"

Hua Dalang replied: "I feel you have participated too little in our family affairs, which is why you are so indifferent to the household; from now on, whenever there are family matters, you must accompany me in socializing."

Hua Changxi wanted to retort, but they had already reached the entrance, and Hua Dalang was already introducing her to the arriving members of the Demon-Suppressing Army; seeing this, she could only smile and offer greetings.

Seeing that the courtyard was full of Hua clansmen, Hua Dalang took the few members of the Demon-Suppressing Army into his own room to host them; knowing Hua Changxi would find it difficult to follow, he could only instruct: "Ninth Sister, after Shuran and the others come out of the main hall, you go attend to them."

Hua Changxi watched them enter the room but did not follow Hua Dalang's instructions; instead, she went to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Lady Yao, along with Second Aunt Hua, Fourth Aunt Hua, and several neighbors who had come to help, were working in a frenzy.

Seeing that many vegetables still needed washing and cutting, Hua Changxi directly unleashed her spiritual energy to wash and chop them clean, then proceeded to help with various other miscellaneous tasks.

"Eldest Uncle, someone from the Six Doors has arrived."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi stretched her neck to look into the courtyard and saw her father coming out of the main hall to receive the people from the Six Doors.

"Ninth Sister."

Hua Changxi was busy plating dishes when Hua Twelfth Sister entered.

"What is it?"

"Several clan elders wish to see you; Grandfather sent me to fetch you."

Hua Changxi paused, looked in the direction of the main hall, fell silent for a moment, then put down the vegetables in her hands, stepped out of the kitchen, and walked toward the main hall.

Inside the main hall, it was filled entirely with men; Old Master Hua and the clansmen were talking and laughing, the atmosphere very harmonious.

The moment Hua Changxi stepped into the main hall, everyone in the room simultaneously fell silent and turned their gazes toward her in unison.

The several Hua clan elders sat solemnly on either side, their expressions grave and their gazes sharp. Though they wore smiles, the笑意 did not reach their eyes; instead, they exuded a cold, imposing authority.

Behind them stood several young male cultivators.

In an instant, stares filled with various ambiguous meanings fell upon Hua Changxi simultaneously, causing her to frown immediately.

Standing in the middle of the main hall, Hua Changxi looked at Old Master Hua and the clan elders arranging themselves as if for a triple tribunal, feeling at that moment like a criminal awaiting judgment.

Rage was instantly ignited.

The back of Hua Changxi's right hand began to sting as a black fish pattern emerged.

"Boom~"

Hua Changxi made no effort to suppress the rage in her heart; regardless of what Old Master Hua and the Hua clansmen intended, she couldn't be bothered to care and directly released her spiritual pressure.

In an instant, mountain-like gravity pressed down on everyone in the room, and within moments, they all began breaking out in cold sweats.

Old Master Hua wanted to speak, but to his horror, he found himself unable to open his mouth; especially upon meeting Hua Changxi's utterly cold gaze, his mind became even more troubled and chaotic.

He regretted it; he should not have been provoked by a few words from the Eldest Elder and actually summoned Ninth Lady inside, hoping the clan elders could restrain and discipline her.

"Ninth Lady."

The eldest person in the room was the Eldest Elder, who was still merely a mortal; just as he felt he could barely hold on, Hua Minghe and He Dalang rushed into the room.

The moment the two entered, Hua Changxi withdrew her spiritual pressure.

Seeing everyone drenched in sweat with grim expressions, He Dalang walked over to Hua Changxi: "Weren't you hosting guests? Why did you come inside?"

Hua Changxi smiled and said: "I had no intention of disturbing our elders; Grandfather called me in, saying the clan elders wished to see me." Speaking thus, she smiled while glancing around the room at everyone, "I wonder what instructions you elders have for me?"

Hua Changxi's earlier release of spiritual pressure had truly intimidated everyone in the room; they had never expected that Hua Changxi would actually make a move against them.

Several clan elders remained silent until finally Hua Hongqi spoke: "What instructions could the clan elders possibly have? We merely wished to see a junior of the clan. Ninth Lady, there is nothing more here; go attend to your affairs."

Hua Changxi glanced at Hua Hongqi, smiled, and said: "Father, Big Brother, I will go help in the kitchen." With that, she turned and left the room.

After their daughter departed, Hua Minghe cast a disappointed glance at Old Master Hua.

He Dalang also felt somewhat headache-inducing and helpless.

Although both father and son felt exhausted in their hearts, they still had to force smiles to liven up the atmosphere in the room once more.

Fortunately, Hua Hongqi was present; as the legitimate eldest son of the heir apparent, his status was high, and with him cooperating with Hua Minghe and his son, others had to show respect.

Only when laughter and conversation filled the room again did Hua Hongqi subtly lower his head to glance at the jade pendant at his waist.

A long, thin crack had appeared on the smooth, round jade pendant.

Grandfather had said this jade pendant could block attacks from Core Formation cultivators.

Hua Changxi had merely released a bit of spiritual pressure, yet it caused the jade pendant to crack; what did this signify?

Hua Hongqi took a deep breath, looked toward Hua Minghe and He Dalang, raised a smiling face once more, and joined back in the cheerful conversation.