The Night Guards rolled their eyes. A dignified Fifth-Grade Official was acting so obsequiously.
Li Qingxian had intended to ignore him, but when his treasure automatically moved to protect its master, he reached out and accepted the gift. "You’re too kind, Lord Wei," he said. "I presume Brother Ye Han also just happened to run into Tang Enxuan?"
"Of course, of course. See? I was just about to sit down for the feast," Ye Han said.
"In that case, Brother Ye, make sure to register your gift on the list. With so many people coming and going, mistakes can happen. It wouldn’t do for people to think you came empty-handed," Li Qingxian said before walking out the main gate.
Ye Han’s eyes widened. ’Didn’t I already give him the Jiao Dragon Transformation Pill as a congratulatory gift?’ But...
"Yes, yes, of course..." Ye Han slowly ambled toward the gift registration table, deep in thought as he walked.
He couldn’t possibly give away the only two Treasures he had left, but he had only come to watch the drama unfold and hadn’t brought anything else.
After racking his brain, Ye Han sighed, took the brocade pouch for silver coins from his waist, and placed it on the table. He then borrowed a brush and paper and began to write slowly.
Li Qingxian stood outside the gate, welcoming his guests.
The guests happily took their seats.
Li Qingxian looked around, even taking a stroll next door, but he didn’t see Jiang Youfei.
’Perhaps she had to leave for something urgent.’
Not dwelling on it, Li Qingxian gave the order for the feast to begin.
Hot dishes were brought out in a steady stream, and soon the tables were laden with food.
Li Qingxian’s sixteenth birthday banquet had officially begun.
Li Qingxian first sat at the main table, eating and drinking with Zhou Chunfeng, Song Yunjing, Zhou Henn, and the others. Afterward, he stood up and called for Chen Xiang. With Chen Xiang carrying the wine, Li Qingxian went from table to table, offering toasts.
Sitting at the second table, Luo Jing of the Ministry of Revenue watched Li Qingxian’s busy figure as he ate and drank, letting out a soft sigh.
Reflecting on the establishment of the distillery, he faintly understood that Li Qingxian had used the potent liquor as a setup from the very beginning. Even if Tang Enxuan hadn’t fallen for it, other enemies would have.
’A true dragon among men, even surpassing his father,’ Luo Jing concluded in his heart.
When Li Qingxian reached Ye Han’s table and finished the toast, Ye Han reluctantly stuffed a piece of paper into his hand and whispered, "On there is my interpretation of the Treasure Map. It took me three years, and I’m only missing the final step. This should save you several years of work. That last step requires some knowledge of Astrology. I was originally planning to ask around or look for books, but now I don’t have to. The Beast Bridge opens on the last night of every month. I heard there’s a Life Play this month. You might be able to win a prize. Farewell."
Ye Han cupped his hands in a salute and turned to leave.
Li Qingxian said to Han Anbo, who was beside him, "See? I told you Ye Han would definitely come bearing a gift."
"Captain Li’s foresight is truly divine," Han Anbo said with a slight smile.
Ye Han’s pace quickened.
Li Qingxian mulled over the Beast Bridge and the Life Play for a moment, a faint sense of anticipation growing in his heart.
Life Plays were all-encompassing, integrating Cultivation, entertainment, social interaction, and combat. The highest level of a Life Play was to establish a Great Trend Formation.
Even without a prize, just participating in a Life Play was highly beneficial.
’If I get the chance, I’ll try to buy a Fate Box.’
After a moment of thought, Li Qingxian walked to the next table and toasted everyone there.
Yu Ping was stuffing his face with food, while Zheng Hui looked listless, forcing a smile.
Li Qingxian called Zheng Hui and Yu Ping aside for a private conversation to ask them exactly what had happened.
During the feast, a few loud bangs echoed from somewhere in the Inner City before stopping. The guests, knowing it was a clash between experts, were used to it and continued eating and drinking as before.
A night breeze picked up, and the guests gradually began to depart.
Before leaving, many people stopped Li Qingxian to chat, leaving behind their wooden name cards.
Zheng Hui was older and injured, so Li Qingxian arranged for a chariot and horse to send him home first.
Having eaten and drunk his fill, Yu Ping stayed behind to help Li Qingxian clean up.
Those with closer relationships, like Song Yunjing, Zhou Chunfeng, and Zhou Henn, remained in the courtyard.
Li Qingxian went next door and saw the family and their neighbors busily cleaning up.
The four children were asleep, slumped over a table.
Li Qingxian pulled his sister into the west room, slipped the Phoenix Pattern Bracelet onto Chen Xiang’s wrist, and watched as she activated it with a drop of her blood.
Chen Xiang was unable to refuse, her heart filled with emotion.
Because the matter with Tang Enxuan needed to be resolved, Li Qingxian canceled the neighborhood birthday celebration planned for the next day. His aunt, having seen so many high-ranking officials today, understood that Li Qingxian was different now and nodded in agreement.
Night had fallen. The Li Residence was large enough, so everyone stayed over.
Before bed, Li Qingxian took the White Porcelain Bottle of Loquat Paste and went to Song Yunjing and Zhou Chunfeng’s room.
"Qingxian, it’s so late. Is something the matter?" Zhou Chunfeng asked.
Li Qingxian nodded.
"If this is about Tang Enxuan, you needn’t worry. That move of yours... a brilliant scheme. It will surely seal his doom," said Zhou Chunfeng.
"What brilliant scheme? I don’t know what you’re talking about," Li Qingxian said with a bewildered look.
Zhou Chunfeng and Song Yunjing exchanged a knowing smile.
"Hiding your brilliance by feigning ignorance. That temperament of yours surpasses even Gangfeng," Song Yunjing sighed softly.
"This loquat paste is for you. A friend of mine runs an apothecary, and his loquat paste is second to none. He only reserves the best for close friends and family," Li Qingxian said, handing it over.
"How thoughtful of you." Zhou Chunfeng accepted it with a smile and examined it closely.
Li Qingxian said casually, "I actually came tonight to ask about the Beast Bridge."
Zhou Chunfeng’s brow suddenly furrowed. "I said before that I would take you to the Astronomical Bureau to look through the Celestial Fate Sect’s collection of books, but I forgot. How odd."
Li Qingxian’s heart skipped a beat.
He had occasionally reflected on past events and noticed many peculiarities.
Reading Yu Ping’s Fate Grid was easy, but every time he tried to read Han Anbo’s, he would always get distracted for one reason or another. It was a clear sign that he was being influenced by Han Anbo’s Fate Grid.
This time, for Zhou Chunfeng to forget something so important, there were two likely possibilities.
’One is that some power is preventing me from going to the Astronomical Bureau. The other is that Zhou Chunfeng’s own Fate Grid detected danger and caused him to avoid it.’
Either way, going to the Astronomical Bureau seemed risky.
Li Qingxian said, "There’s no rush, then. I just happened to get a Life Book from Wang Buku, so I can study that for now."
"Wang Buku..." Zhou Chunfeng and Song Yunjing exchanged a look.
Li Qingxian continued, "I heard that the Beast Bridge will open at the end of the month, and there might be a Life Play. But I’ve never entered the Beast Bridge before, and a first-timer needs an experienced guide. Could you see if you know any familiar Fate Masters who could help lead me into the Beast Bridge?"
Song Yunjing said, "I’ve heard a little about the Beast Bridge. They say that inside, Fate Masters transform to have the heads of beasts to avoid mishaps. For your first time, you definitely need to find someone trustworthy, or your identity will certainly be exposed."
"Guo Xiang is a good candidate. I’ll think about some others. It’s still a while until the end of the month. I’ll give you an answer in three days," said Zhou Chunfeng.
"Alright. I’ll be heading to bed then. Uncle Zhou, Uncle Songg, please rest early as well." Li Qingxian bowed and returned to his own bedroom.
Li Qingxian hadn’t slept well during the day, so the moment his head hit the pillow, he was fast asleep.
「The night flowed on like water.」
Tang Enxuan left in his carriage. He sat in a daze by the banks of the Grand Canal for a long time, looking haggard and worn, not returning home until late into the night.
When he arrived at the main gate of Prince Yuann’s Mansion, the faint smell of blood washed over him. Servants were bustling about, cleaning everywhere.
Tang Enxuan’s expression changed drastically. He quickened his pace and rushed into the main hall’s courtyard.
An even thicker stench of blood filled the air. The courtyard walls had collapsed, the rockeries were shattered, the pond was dry, and dead fish littered the ground.
Inside the main hall, the experts of Prince Yuann’s Mansion were covered in bandages. They were strewn about haphazardly, their faces pale and bloodless, their gazes toward Tang Enxuan filled with fury.
His two younger brothers were also there.
"Eldest Brother, Father said he is waiting for you in your study."
Tang Enxuan glanced at his two younger brothers.
He had always felt a distance in his brothers’ eyes, but now, he suddenly felt as if they no longer considered him one of their own.
"Who injured them?"
"Fairy Qingcheng, Jiang Youfei. On the pretext of a friendly spar, she crippled seventeen of our Prince Yuann’s Mansion’s Middle Grade experts, including five at the Fourth Grade and that Third-Grade Tributor. Before she left, she said it was a return gift."
Tang Enxuan hadn’t expected Li Qingxian and Jiang Youfei’s relationship to be so close. Suppressing the rage on his face, he turned and walked toward his study.