The group followed the guidance of a lovely host and entered the grand and luxurious banquet hall of the Jade Chamber.
Having visited this place once before, Xia Zhi vaguely recalled its original layout as a plain, open square. He was surprised to see how much it had been transford in just a few days. Clearly, Ningguang had poured an imnse amount of effort and money into this.
It must be said—having money often ans you can do whatever you want.
The venue was already bustling, filled with elegantly dressed figures.
The n carried themselves with poise and confidence, while the won exuded elegance and charm. They gathered in small groups, imrsed in animated conversations.
As soon as they entered Xia Zhi's detection range, he imdiately saw nurous progress bars hovering over them—all at [0%], completely blank.
Truly the cream of Liyue's upper class.
Most of the bars were of Black Iron Tier, with only a small handful in Silver Tier. Nevertheless, the potential gains today were significant enough.
A faint smile appeared on Xia Zhi's face.
Strengthening his relationship with Miss Ningguang had proven to be the right choice.
Now, he could rest assured that his employees' year-end bonuses were secured. And there would still be plenty of treasure chests left in his inventory.
"Honored guests, please take your seats."
"Thank you."
"You're too kind. I'll remain here should you need anything—don't hesitate to call on ."
"Alright."
Miss Ningguang had arranged seats for them in the very first row, closest to the stage.
This was undoubtedly the best position.
After all, in these tis without loudspeakers, sitting close was the only way to fully enjoy a theatrical performance.
Xia Zhi approached casually and took a seat at the table.
Shenhe sat naturally on his left, while the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata took the seat on his right with equal ease.
Zhu Zi's eyes flashed with a hint of regret—she seed remorseful about being too slow to grab a seat next to the boss.
Qiqi, as usual, remained quiet and unnoticed.
Miss Chi Yu, on the other hand, curiously observed her surroundings with wide eyes.
Ying'er glanced at Shenhe, her gaze carrying a trace of sothing… peculiar.
The rest of the group settled down at the table as well.
Soon, another elegant hostess arrived, bringing a freshly brewed pot of hot tea and pouring it for everyone.
The tea was clear, its aroma lingering delicately in the air.
Xia Zhi picked up his teacup, sipped a little, and nodded in approval.
The tea had a crisp and refreshing taste—perfect for neutralizing the spicy flavor of the spicy strips.
Just in ti.
The hostess stepped back, only to return monts later with a tray of exquisite pastries.
Xia Zhi tried one. It was decent, but honestly, after getting used to his own Master Chef-level cooking, it paled in comparison.
"Boss, there are so many people here."
"These are all the most prominent figures in Liyue."
"They're all dressed in formal attire."
"Don't mind them. Our purpose is different from theirs. They're here to network and negotiate deals, while we're just attending a friend's banquet."
"Oh!"
"Boss, I see Young Master Xingqiu over there!"
"Do you?"
"He's standing next to soone a little older than him. They look so alike!"
"Probably his big brother."
"And that's Chongyun sitting over there!"
"Xingqiu must've persuaded him to co along."
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata turned to Zhu Zi with a playful look. "Zhu Zi, do you want to make so money?"
"Huh?"
"Today, this place is filled with Liyue's elite. During their conversations, they're bound to let slip so important information. All you need to do is casually mingle among them—just overhear one or two key policies or deals, and you'll be able to act before anyone else. You could ride the coattails of those bigwigs and pocket a share of the profits."
"Wait, you can do that?!"
"Of course! Why else do you think these people love hosting banquets? So, what do you say? I just handed you a golden opportunity."
"I… I'm not smart enough to understand even if I listen…"
"In that case, never mind."
Xia Zhi quietly sipped his tea.
His cousin wasn't wrong—it really was a good money-making idea.
But Zhu Zi didn't have the capital to make massive profits anyway.
Placing his teacup down, Xia Zhi began observing the other guests more closely. Sure enough, he spotted several familiar faces among them.
For instance, Young Master Xingqiu.
And Chongyun.
Then there was the short Suru rchant who had recently visited his store to inquire about the juice recipe.
And two of his neighbors…
"Mr. Xia! You're here early."
"Hall Master Hu, Mr. Zhongli, you're here as well."
"Quite the lively occasion."
"Indeed."
"It's a sha Xiangling isn't here—she loves lively events."
"She's been away for over a month now. She should be returning soon."
"I kind of miss her cooking."
"Want to join us?"
"No need. The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has its own table!"
"Alright then, take these two packs of spicy strips to enjoy."
"Thank you, Mr. Xia."
Hu Tao and Zhongli took seats in the second row, not far from Xia Zhi and his group.
Xia Zhi "looked" in their direction, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.
This made it clear that while the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor wasn't hugely popular with ordinary people, it actually held significant status within Liyue's official circles.
A little later, Xia Zhi caught sight of Miss Ganyu."
Today, she wore a brand-new outfit that accentuated her graceful figure beautifully.
"Senior Sister Ganyu."
"Sister Shenhe. Mr. Xia. Everyone."
"Miss Ganyu, please take a seat."
"Okay."
"You're a bit late today, Miss Ganyu."
Blushing slightly, Ganyu stamred, "I… I apologize."
In truth, she'd woken up early but had spent far too long fretting over what to wear. After much indecision, she finally made her choice and rushed over.
"It's fine. Did you have breakfast?"
"I had… a little bit on the way."
"A little? That won't do. Try so of these pastries."
"Alright."
"And we also brought so spicy strips. Give them a try, Miss Ganyu."
"Okay."
After another while, Miss Yanfei arrived, accompanied by Granny Ping, Yaoyao, and the two Adepti, Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper.
They ca over to greet the group.
Xia Zhi warmly invited them to join the table.
Granny Ping, Miss Yanfei, and Yaoyao accepted.
The two Adepti, however, glanced at the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata—who was smiling faintly and mischievously—and quickly declined.
"No need; your table's nearly full. We'll sit with Mr. Zhongli instead."
"Alright."
The two Adepti left with two packs of spicy strips in hand.
Xia Zhi turned to his cousin with a skeptical look and asked in a low voice, "Why do I get the feeling they're afraid of you?"
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata frowned. "Big Cousin, how could you slander like this?"
"Did they recognize you?"
"I have no idea."
"…"
Xia Zhi shook his head in resignation.
As they laughed and chatted, more and more guests noticed the alluring aroma of spicy strips wafting over from their table. Curious, they couldn't help but glance in their direction—wondering who these people were to warrant front-row seats—while secretly swallowing their saliva.
Then, the sound of a gong echoed through the hall, signaling the start of the performance.
The previously lively crowd imdiately quieted down. Conversations ceased as everyone, interested or not, turned their attention to the stage.
The play [The Divine Damsel of Devastation] was about to begin.
Holding his teacup, Xia Zhi suddenly chuckled softly.
In this seat, the Divine Maiden sat to his left, and the Goddess to his right.
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