Chapter 158: Hua Dalang's Betrothal Banquet (Part Two)

"So this is the Hua family?"

"This courtyard is far too small; how can it possibly serve as a place to receive guests? There isn't even room to set foot. This is the first time I've ever seen such a shabby betrothal banquet."

"How could Sister Yuntang become betrothed to such a family? The Hua residence isn't even as large as the courtyard where our servants live."

These words of disdain reached Hua Changxi's ears; she set down the cleaver in her hand, walked to the kitchen doorway, and looked out, seeing her father and eldest brother leading in more than ten people.

The newcomers were indeed members of the Sheng family, led by Sheng Yuntang's third uncle, Sheng Xuan, while the others were the younger generation of the Sheng clan.

After entering the Hua family courtyard, Sheng Xuan remained composed, chatting and laughing with Hua Minghe, but the young Sheng descendants, upon seeing the cramped Hua courtyard, could barely conceal their disgust.

Hua Dalang heard the remarks of the Sheng youth, his expression turning somewhat awkward; fortunately, his future second brother-in-law, Sheng Pengye, was decent enough to smile and defuse the situation for him, warning the rest of the Sheng family with a glance.

"Sixth Brother, why are you standing squarely in front of me?"

Just as Hua Changxi was observing the Sheng family, Hua Liulang arrived and blocked her view.

Hua Liulang's complexion was poor: "Did you hear those words the Sheng family spoke?"

Hua Changxi hummed an affirmative "Mm."

Hua Liulang said angrily, "It makes me furious! Our families are now bound by marriage; how can their people speak of us this way?" Then, looking at Hua Changxi, he added, "Ninth Sister, you must be furious too, right?"

Hua Changxi replied, "...I'm fine."

Hua Liulang looked utterly unconvinced: "Ninth Sister, there's no need to hide it in front of me. I'm already livid; with your temper, how could you possibly endure it? Otherwise, Father wouldn't have sent me to watch over you, fearing that if you lost control and clashed with the Sheng family, it would put Dalang in a very difficult position."

Hua Changxi rolled her eyes: "I'm not the one being despised by the Sheng family, nor am I the one who will have to deal with them in the future. Why should I waste my energy getting angry over nothing?"

Hearing this, Hua Liulang stared at Hua Changxi in stunned bewilderment, his expression confused.

Seeing his look, Hua Changxi asked perplexedly, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Hua Liulang said, "Ninth Sister, that's Eldest Brother! How can you act as if this has nothing to do with you?"

Hua Changxi replied, "This matter truly has little to do with me. It was Eldest Brother himself who sought a marriage alliance with a family far above our station; the disdain of the Sheng family is simply the price he must pay for climbing above his reach."

"What we heard today are merely idle gossip and chatter; once the marriage is consummated, Eldest Brother will be compared comprehensively with the young generation of the Sheng family. That is when he will truly have headaches."

Hearing this, Hua Liulang looked toward Hua Dalang, who was currently introducing the Hua cultivators to the Sheng family, his face filled with worry: "If that's the case, we must help Eldest Brother properly."

Hua Changxi glanced at him: "Sixth Brother, I already said that being despised by the Sheng family is the price Eldest Brother must pay for his ambitious match. If you help him, you are shifting the burden he should bear onto yourself. Are you sure you want to live carrying another person's responsibilities?"

Hua Liulang scratched his head: "But... that's Eldest Brother."

Hua Changxi fell silent for a moment and did not respond.

Hua Liulang also didn't know what else to say; just then, he saw Hua Sanlang needing assistance nearby, so he quickly walked over.

Hua Changxi continued watching the Sheng family; aside from Third Uncle Sheng, whom Hua Minghe had led into the main hall, all the young Sheng descendants remained in the courtyard.

Logically, since the Sheng family had come to the Hua home, they should have been earnestly getting to know the Hua family members, yet at this moment, the Sheng family was chatting enthusiastically with Hua Hongqi, Hua Shuran, and others, leaving the actual Hua family members somewhat sidelined.

Hua Changxi shook her head; if the Sheng family's conduct and family values were truly as displayed today, she could imagine that if her eldest brother failed to have a brilliant future, he would definitely suffer disdain in his wife's family.

Too lazy to watch any longer, Hua Changxi turned and entered the kitchen, sitting behind the stove to tend the fire.

A quarter of an hour later, noises of uproar and screams erupted from the courtyard.

Hearing this, Hua Changxi immediately stretched her neck to look outside; upon seeing the scene, her complexion instantly 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 faced each other, they immediately began fighting.

"Go, Silver Wolf! If you win against the Golden Eagle, I'll add extra meals for you when we get back!"

"Go, Golden Eagle! If you defeat that wolf, I'll refine pills for you to eat when we return!"

Once the two beasts began their fight, the Hua family courtyard instantly descended into chaos, with tables and chairs overturned and scattered everywhere.

Yet at this very moment, some Hua cultivators and Sheng family members were still cheering and waving flags for the two beasts.

Upon hearing the commotion, Old Master Hua and others in the main hall all came out one after another; seeing the courtyard in such a state of chicken-flying-dog-jumping chaos, Old Master Hua's face turned iron-green.

"Whoosh~"

"Whoosh~"

Two streaks of flame shot out, striking straight into the hearts of the silver wolf and the golden eagle; in an instant, the two beasts that had been fighting fiercely moments before collapsed heavily to the ground, motionless.

"Silver Wolf!"

"Golden Eagle!"

From among the Hua cultivators and the Sheng family, one person each dashed out, lunging violently toward the fallen beasts.

Just as the two touched the beasts' bodies, the two demonic beasts suddenly ignited themselves, frightening the pair into hastily retreating.

A few breaths later, only two piles of ash remained on the ground.

Immediately afterward, a wave of spiritual energy spread throughout the Hua family courtyard; the tables and chairs that had been overturned everywhere were righted and returned to their original places, and within moments, the messy courtyard became neat and clean once again.

Hua Changxi walked out from the kitchen and headed straight toward the two cultivators who had released the beasts: "The two of you, get out!"

These two were Hua Hongguang, the legitimate eldest grandson of the Hua clan's Second Elder branch, and Sheng Pengfei, the only legitimate son of Third Uncle Sheng.

Not wanting matters to become too strained, Hua Dalang couldn't help but speak up: "Ninth..."

The moment he spoke, Hua Changxi cast a cold glance at Hua Dalang; her chilling gaze directly caused him to swallow the words on his lips.

Hua Changxi withdrew her gaze and looked again at Hua Hongguang and Sheng Pengfei: "You two should be grateful that today is my eldest brother's happy day; otherwise, just for the two of you releasing demonic beasts in my home, I would have thrown you into a demonic beast pit."

"Get out! From now on, neither of you is ever to set foot in my Hua family again."

Receiving a glance of instruction from Hua Hongqi, Hua Hongguang looked at his beast pet, now reduced to a puddle of ash, swallowed his anger, and lowered his head without speaking.

Sheng Pengfei, however, had no such scruples; pointing angrily at Hua Changxi, he shouted, "It's you! You killed my Golden Eagle?"

Hua Changxi looked at the arm he was using to point at her, and her spiritual pressure suddenly crashed down upon him.

The instant the spiritual pressure struck, Sheng Pengfei felt as though a massive mountain had been placed upon his shoulders, pressing so hard that his legs trembled, making him unable to resist the urge to kneel.

And the young lady who had killed his Golden Eagle stood right before him; for him to kneel would be equivalent to kneeling before her.

How could Sheng Pengfei allow himself to kneel before a young lady? His face flushed red, veins bulging, yet he gritted his teeth and stubbornly endured.

Seeing his son forced to his knees, Third Uncle Sheng grew extremely anxious: "Dalang, Pengfei didn't mean it; I apologize on his behalf to all of you."

Hua Dalang hurriedly grabbed Hua Changxi: "Ninth Sister, that's enough."

Hua Changxi glanced at the anxious Hua Dalang, withdrew her spiritual pressure, and looked at Sheng Pengfei: "You are merely a cultivator who has just stepped into the Qi Sea realm; it would be wise not to be so arrogant out there."

Sheng Pengfei felt like spitting blood; he looked at Hua Changxi with mockery: "Me arrogant? Compared to you, ten of me couldn't catch up."

Hua Changxi sneered: "Indeed, you cannot catch up." With a wave of her hand, she flung Hong Guang and Sheng Pengfei out of the Hua family courtyard.

Seeing this, Hua Dalang seemed hesitant to speak.

Hua Changxi looked over at him: "Big Brother, are you certain you want to break your backbone over a marriage alliance?"

Seeing Hua Dalang's expression change and noticing Hong Qi's displeasure, Third Uncle Sheng quickly said: "It was Pengfei who overstepped." With that, he bowed to Old Master Hua.

"Old Master, I failed to discipline my son properly; I apologize to everyone on his behalf."

Under normal circumstances, Old Master Hua would have swiftly brushed this matter aside, but this time, unprecedentedly, he looked toward Hua Changxi, as if waiting for her decision.

Hua Minghe stepped forward to help Third Uncle Sheng up, smiling: "Brother Xuan speaks too seriously; our Ninth Sister simply has this temper—she loves to nitpick everything. Once you interact with her more, you will understand."