Chapter Twenty(Banquet)

Gaining relations with other sects was also a way to improve your worth and enhance your prestige. The large banquet hall was filled with cheer and laughter of both winners and losers who swallowed their defeats easily acting humble or wearing smiles that came close to becoming grimaces as the night went on. Elders supervised the inner disciples from the sidelines while sect masters, patriarchs, and matriarchs made merry at the highest place of honor. And outer disciples? They had all already long gone off to run and play as they didn't need to be as strict in their manners as the inner disciples who had to at least restrain themselves to a certain degree under the watch of the adults.

After all, who would allow their disciples to be bullied by others? Especially with the whole Azure sect issues when they first arrived. Who knew if their disciples would be the next to be wronged because they were inattentive? Although none of the sects said this out loud. The stern and wandering eyes of the elders said everything if their beloved disciple so much as sneezed. Zhang Wei ignored this obvious change continuing to chat with the other leaders in an easygoing manner as did most of the golden cloud elders with their strained smiles. Since some sect leaders were also missing like the Azure sect. Minglan sat among a calmer crowd of his own, appearing unconcerned with the quickly growing friendships around him.

Although he was originally given a seat near Zhang Wei. The handsome man merely smiled with ridicule at the patriarch before finding the farthest table possible in the section where the elders sat occupying it without permission. However, who would dare argue with the nascent core cultivator? Those who originally wanted to occupy the same table warily made their way elsewhere while avoiding the darkening gaze of Zhang Wei after his kindness had been snubbed once more. "Patriarch Wu surely isn't thinking of holding a grudge against Azure sect because of your student's voluntary loss this morning. Are you?" A purple-robed man smiled genially at the other holding a wine cup in his hand leisurely.

His brown eyes held hints of amusement and something else, strange. Zhang Wei was eyed warily by the others, as depending on how he acted his image could be tainted if he answered wrongly here. He could be pinned as a petty and grudge-holding person, unfair and selfish when it came to his people. A tyrant who didn't care for fairness and wasn't able to swallow a loss. A complete contrast to the noble and equal Golden Cloud sect everyone saw them as on the outside. So, in answer to the purple man's tricky taunt, Zhang Wei took a wine glass while chuckling lightly seemingly to take his words as a joke.

"King Feng knows how to jest. If I had such intentions wouldn't the Azure sect have long ago been alienated by our Golden Cloud sect since Patriarch Ling's ascension? Everyone knows Patriarch Ling has been the shining star of the cultivation world since he first stepped down from their mountains. As his younger brother, it's naturally not a surprise that my disciple couldn't win easily." The other leaders only settled down a bit more comfortably after Zhang Wei said as such. It was indeed true that Ling Li Shi was an elusive legend, comparable to his bad-tempered sect master in prestige if not more.

It was no surprise that even Zhang Wei's disciple lost to someone related to him. However, even if he said so Zhang Wei's mind grew heavier with each gulp of wine he swallowed as if burdened by something others couldn't see. "Patriarch Wu is as generous as people say he is. It was unfortunate that your disciple was matched up with someone like Sect Master Minglan's disciple otherwise Chu BiaoLing would most definitely have won! There's always next season and there are so many other realms that are bound to open up again, it's not like An Xing is the only worthy one." They soothed quickly, to which the golden-robed man merely smiled politely.

The purple-robed individual eyes the courteous Zhang Wei in silence, not speaking a word. Neither joining in the comforting nor antagonizing him further. "Heh." His sect master pulled his sleeve, and the man called King Feng hid the sneer that almost appeared on his friendly face with this reminder. How pretentious. "Feng Shuchang." The delicate woman mutters his full name firmly. Her dewy eyes filled with many emotions but the most prominent one was fear as he looked down at her.

Swallowing the anger that had continued burning year after year since the last An Xing realm. Feng Shuchang gave the woman a comforting grin to reassure her he wouldn't do anything too attention-grabbing anymore. 'I know older sister, I won't be reckless anymore.' Feng Mei Xing, after confirming her younger brother wouldn't speak anymore also lowers her head like some others to eat and drink. Their Zenith Star sect wasn't comparable to the big sects who gathered around Zhang Wei as they were even smaller back when the demon war happened and didn't partake much. So like some smaller and newer sects, they only needed to sit in their seats minding their own business.

It wasn't too far-fetched to say that they were in the same position as the Azure sect without the prestige so they were able to be overlooked easily. Golden Cloud, Dark Tiger, Steel Horse, Vermillion, Swaying Lotus. The big five, though the Azure sect wasn't among the top they would definitely be close as they made sure to enforce peace among the uneasy populace during the war single-handedly earning their reputation as unwavering celestials. It was also why, although their numbers were dwindling not many dared to pick a fight with this sect that had the power to not only sway the minds of the common people but the hearts of the powerful. Ling Li Shi was a good example of this practice. Although aloof he was still on first-name bases with many powerful cultivators who ascended past the mortal realm and had long gone into seclusion after the great war terrifying those who once eyed him for his face.

An Xing was a domain from the upper realm, which was why many fought to enter its plains to plunder the riches it held that their middle realm didn't have. The order that the Golden Cloud sect kept over the portal entrance although enviable. No one dared to claim they could take up the mantle of protecting it as firmly as the Golden Cloud sect did. For them to open their city gates and befriend other sects was also a way of protecting themselves from being plotted against. Not to mention, many lives were lost to the cruelty of An Xing's deadly inhabitants. Even if they managed to secure this portal, would they be able to enter without the help of other sects unscathed? Absolutely not.

The Golden Cloud had strong relations with the other four greats who guarded domains or spiritually heavy areas of their own splitting the land in their own strange but fair way. Only a fool would provoke this surface peace. Who knows what might happen if the balance was messed with? Minglan sat with his back to this all, staring at the large bamboo backyard of the sect with a somewhat bored expression. At his side, was Shao Lin who volunteered among the elders to accompany the sect master in tranquil silence. Knowing that if no one else raised their hand Elder Shang would be forced to come and fight with their sect master instead of himself the man could only follow Minglan with a wary smile.

Shao Lin rose his head from the porcelain bowl in his hands and followed Minglan's seemingly thoughtless gaze toward the bamboo woods. "Worrying for your daughter?" He almost snorted at the older man, his eyes focusing after being addressed by Shao Lin who wore a kind smile. "Worry for what? Biyu is more talented than anyone I've ever known. At her age she's already able to master this king's sword style, she's more than capable of handling herself."

Shao Lin laughed because of the indignant but proud way Minglan spoke when mentioning Wang Lan Biyu. He attempts to prod the other man's mind a bit more. "If you are not worried about her, then surely you aren't worried about young Da Chuanli?" After asking this, indeed Minglan's brows furrow a bit before smoothening out. He scoffs flicking out his fan despite the cool night announcing bitterly "That brat? After pulling a malicious stunt like that in front of hundreds of cultivators isn't he just telling others that he has a terrible temper and perverted habits? Really, he couldn't have at least pretended to be a real gentleman like senior brother in front of outsiders?"

Minglan expressed his sincere feelings of helplessness after saying this, making the reserved Shao Lin laugh once more. So he's worrying about Da Chuanli's future, he's as dishonest with his feelings as always. Shao Lin lightly taps the table and thinks carefully before speaking again his eyes carrying fondness as well as much humor towards the troubled Minglan. "I remember back then when I was still just an inner disciple under my old master. Didn't you also do the same causing trouble for your master and patriarch Ling back then?" The good-looking man narrows his eyes at the practically grinning Shao Lin "You say this is retribution?"

"I dare not. I merely mentioned the past to reminisce with an old friend." Shao Lin's answer came as fast as it was relaxed irking the set master who was just made fun of. Raising his cup to hide his grin Shao Lin's eyes twinkled with amusement. It was just like Minglan to complain about his disciple who resembled the past him more than he liked to admit. They say those with similar temperaments were naturally opposed to one another. Wasn't this a good example?

"Keep laughing. Wait till we return and I'll tell senior brother to help clean you up good, just wait Shao Lin." Shao Lin's boisterous laugh startled many sitting near them into glancing over curiously before looking away quickly after spotting Minglan's scowl. "Speaking of your good disciple, where did young Da Chuanli run off to?" Grumbling to himself for only a moment Minglan's answer was a bit dismissive as if he didn't care where the teen was, knowing he could take care of himself. "Who knows, since it's against the rules to use qi here without permission I haven't scoured for him at all." Shao Lin hums softly this time genuinely curious "And your Wang Lan Biyu?"

Minglan's fan continues to lazily wave back and forth, his irritated expression easing back into a neutral state as he turns toward the bamboo forest once more. "Biyu dislikes the presence of other humans." The soft-tempered older man too raised his gaze back to the bamboo trees Minglan seemed to hold mild interest in. "....I see."