Chapter 236

After three rounds of wine.

The banquet was well underway.

At the banquet in the City Lord's mansion of Han Shan Cheng, no one harbored any scheming or deceit.

Thus, everyone present could be said to have enjoyed themselves as host and guest.

Liao Lun had drunk an unknown amount of spirit wine, but perhaps because he was already accustomed to its taste, his face showed little change.

He chuckled as he looked at Gu Chen and Gu Han, the two brothers, down below.

"From today onward, I will jointly write a memorial with the City Lord of Wu Shan Cheng and submit it to the sovereign."

"Ben Lang Guo has produced sword cultivators and spear cultivators; I'm sure the sovereign will certainly value them!"

This is not Liao Lun overstepping his bounds and stealing Zheng Yingde's credit.

Rather, Zheng Yingde sought Liao Lun's help to resolve the possible danger that Gu Han and Gu Chen might encounter in Han Shan Cheng.

And it was also Zheng Yingde's decision to improve relations with the group of city lords represented by Liao Lun.

The Family Heads of the five great families of Han Shan Cheng each looked as if they had seen a ghost.

Although they were the local tyrants of Han Shan Cheng, even calling them petty emperors would not be an exaggeration.

After all, as long as they handed over their share of the City Lord's mansion, the City Lord would not inquire into whatever they did.

But every time they saw the City Lord, he wore a stern, unsmiling demeanor that sent a chill through them.

When had they ever seen the City Lord with a face about to burst into laughter like today?

However, the five of them were seasoned veterans; a formulaic smile came easily to them, and outsiders could detect no hint.

Gu Xiao Dao, as the Family Head of the Gu Family, upon learning that his family was about to soar to great heights, felt little joy but only worry, and he asked:

"May I ask, City Lord, will this bring disaster upon my Gu Family?"

As the saying goes, "The tree that stands out in the forest will be felled by the wind."

The sovereign, knowing that Gu Chen and Gu Han are sword and spear cultivators, will certainly value them.

He will even let them receive vast resources from the capital.

But opportunity also represents danger.

Usually in Wu Shan Cheng, the Gu Family could still protect them.

Even in Han Shan Cheng, where strongers are as numerous as trees, if the brothers encounter danger,

Gu Xiao Dao would risk his life and lead the elders to firmly protect the two brothers!

But if they were to go to the capital…

Even if they were still willing to give their all, in the eyes of the capital's powers, the Gu Family would be no different from a slightly larger grasshopper…

The Gu Family might not only be unable to help the two, but could even become a burden that drags them down.

This is not because Gu Xiao Dao is unwilling to let the two leave.

Rather, as the Family Head, he must bear responsibility for both the two and the Gu Family!

"To become strong, hardship is indispensable."

Liao Lun naturally understood Gu Xiao Dao's thoughts, but he could not possibly guarantee anything to Gu Xiao Dao,

"However, the sovereign and the head of Ben Lang Guo Academy have always valued talent and would never allow anyone to secretly scheme against the two little geniuses of the Gu family."

Upon hearing this, Gu Xiao Dao's heart also eased a little.

As long as the enemy does not use covert means, nor bully the weak with strength.

He believes that Gu Chen and Gu Han, the two brothers, can cope with any enemy!

"Moreover, there is no impenetrable wall in this world."

Liao Lun chuckled and said,

"No matter how one tries to conceal it, the sword and spear cultivator identities of the two little geniuses will surely be revealed sooner or later."

"Rather than inviting speculation and hostility from various forces, it is better to make this identity public, which may even earn the sovereign's favor."

Next, the heads of the five great families of Han Shan Cheng came forward one after another to toast Gu Han!

If this were placed outside, a venerable Martial Sovereign proactively toasting the younger generation would surely cause quite an uproar.

But at this banquet in the City Lord's mansion of Han Shan Cheng, all of this seemed perfectly normal!

"I have already heard about the rash actions our clansmen took on their own; here I apologize to the young Gu brothers for their reckless behavior."

The five Family Heads almost all said the same thing.

Rather, it was because his and Gu Chen's strength deserved their respect, which is why they came to apologize.

If they were not sword cultivators, or if their strength was insufficient to threaten a Martial Sovereign,

then they would certainly not harbor much goodwill toward him!

People always show due respect, openly, to anyone or anything that can threaten their lives.

"Please, Family Heads, don't stand on ceremony."

Gu Han lightly lifted his own cup and returned the toast to those few.

Although he did not like their behavior, he refrained from striking a smiling face.

He also had no need to deliberately make enemies for himself.

Inside the City Lord's mansion, host and guest enjoyed themselves fully.

And at the banquet in the great courtyard of the City Lord's mansion, there were also many guests.

The Deputy General and Bijang of the City Lord's mansion were happily chatting with Di Ying, Dai Jing, and the Gu Family elders.

Besides them, the attendees also included the members of the Iron Blood Mercenary Group.

They make their living by selling their lives for money.

What they do is work that sells their lives for money.

Even in a dream, I wouldn't dare imagine being a guest of the City Lord, attending a banquet at Chengzhu Fu!

"The wine at Han Shan Cheng Chengzhu Fu is far better than that in the taverns!"

"Just a few sips make me feel much more relaxed all over, as if the barriers of my realm have loosened a bit!"

"These spirit fruits are also great; biting into one is far better than those Quenching Blood Pills or Beast Blood Pills!"

The members of the Iron Blood Mercenary Group, no matter how you put it, are always moving through dangerous places in and out of the various cities of Jiannan Prefecture.

Originally, they were considered people who had seen the world.

But now, they look like a bunch of country bumpkins who have never seen the world.

Seeing every dish on the banquet, they all think it's good stuff!

All the meat is flesh taken from Four Star or even Five Star demon beasts.

Then it is stewed with various precious ingredients into the soup.

Even the meat broth is a great tonic for them!

Not to mention a month, even the resources exchanged for their usual one or two years of income in the mercenary group.

None of those effects can compare to this meal!

……

And Gu Pan, far away in Wu Shan Cheng.

He had already returned to his own courtyard.

Gu Pan, although he had groomed himself early to avoid worrying his mother, only then returned to the courtyard.

But a mother knows her child best.

Xu Xin Zhu, seeing only Gu Pan return, already had some doubts in her heart.

Gu Pan, not being good at lying, was quickly seen through by Xu Xin Zhu.

But Xu Xin Zhu, in order not to let Gu Pan worry, did not say it outright, instead silently worrying in her heart.

Both mother and daughter were worried in their hearts, yet they chatted intermittently, changing the subject.

One has to admit, both of them went to great lengths.

Wang Keyan, after all not being family, stayed in the Gu Family's guest hall to rest, waiting for news together with Gu Ren.

Gu Ren had already secretly summoned all the captains of the Gu Family's guard teams.

If they receive bad news from Han Shan Cheng, they must evacuate everyone from the Gu Family at the fastest speed!

Everyone!

Although the main and branch lines of the Gu Family differ in closeness, they have never abandoned the plan to protect the family.