"Will you eat with ?"
The calm voice betrayed little emotion, yet it sent a jolt through Beichen Tianshuang.
Ever since Hong Yu had used the Profound Distant Flying Needle Technique to remove the poison from her blood, she had regained the ability to move normally, but her cultivation was completely gone.
It wasn't crippled; rather, Hong Yu had sealed her cultivation within her bone marrow to suppress the growth of the deadly poison in her body.
Now, Beichen Tianshuang appeared even more frail.
Her delicate face was even paler. She usually never left her quarters, but half a month ago, she heard that Hong Yu had entered seclusion and ordered the servants not to disturb him.
Beichen Tianshuang sat by the window, lost in thought for a whole afternoon. Her mind was filled with the ripples from that day in her chambers. She would inadvertently touch her left breast, recalling the feeling of that hand—not large, but exceptionally warm—pressed against her heart, bringing imnse comfort and peace.
It was filled with a sense of contentnt and security.
The combination of these two feelings intoxicated her.
As if guided by so unseen force, Beichen Tianshuang began to cook personally, preparing and bringing over sumptuous als ti and ti again.
Even though ten days passed and the young man she longed for never appeared, Beichen Tianshuang still persisted.
She didn't even know why she was doing it.
Until this very mont...
Hearing the familiar voice behind her, Beichen Tianshuang finally understood the reason for her actions. It was a very simple, foolish, and naive reason—she just wanted to see him again!
"Is that not okay?"
Hong Yu asked, a smile playing on his lips.
Beichen Tianshuang turned around. Looking at the face that haunted her dreams, she shook her head forcefully. "It's not that I'm unwilling!"
"Then what are you standing there for? Co and eat. I can already sll how fragrant the food is!"
Hong Yu smiled as he watched the sowhat reserved girl slowly sit down across from him, and said softly.
For the past half-month, he had been cultivating in his room.
He spent the first five days cultivating the Primordial Gang Fighting Technique with the help of Elental Ores. However, the Primordial Gang Fighting Technique required an enormous amount of Elental Ores. After five days, Hong Yu had completely used up all the Elental Ores he had collected from the Luo Family Treasure Vault.
As for his cultivation, he finally broke through to the Mid-stage Celestial Soul Realm with the help of the Primordial Gang Fighting Technique.
His strength had increased considerably.
Of course, the reason he was able to improve his strength so quickly was not only because the Primordial Gang Fighting Technique did indeed boost cultivation speed, but more importantly, because of the solid foundation laid by the Nine Refinents of the Primordial Spirit.
After breaking through to the Mid-stage Celestial Soul Realm, he had no more Elental Ores and couldn't continue cultivating the Primordial Gang Fighting Technique. Hong Yu's focus naturally shifted to the Heaven-Swallowing Divine Technique.
After spending half a day refining a Spirit Communication Pill, Hong Yu began to cultivate the Heaven-Swallowing Divine Technique.
Only today did he finally complete the introductory cultivation for the First Layer of the Heaven-Swallowing Divine Technique.
Unfortunately…
The introductory level of the Heaven-Swallowing Divine Technique rely established a bridge for his Spiritual Power; the increase to his Spiritual Power was minuscule.
Even so, after breaking through to the Mid-stage Celestial Soul Realm, Hong Yu's strength had still improved further.
Although he had been imrsed in frenzied cultivation for half a month, the events taking place in the courtyard just a door away naturally couldn't escape his Perception.
From the first day Beichen Tianshuang arrived to every little detail up to just a mont ago, the mories of each day were all within his Perception.
At first, Hong Yu thought Beichen Tianshuang was just stopping by to check on him.
As ti went on, Hong Yu gradually found that when he faced Beichen Tianshuang, it had beco difficult for him to maintain his cold and calm state of mind.
When a woman was willing to wait for him on ti every morning, noon, and night, without fail, co rain or shine…
Even the iron heart of a cold-blooded hero would likely lt into tender affection!
What's more, Hong Yu was not a cold-blooded person to begin with.
"Mmm, this fish is delicious!"
Hong Yu ate in big bites, narrowing his eyes and giving Beichen Tianshuang a thumbs-up.
The young woman rested her chin in her hands, quietly watching the young man before her savor the dishes she had made herself. Her bright eyes curved slightly, like crescent moons, as she observed him, shimring with a contented light.
"You've got… a little sothing here!"
Beichen Tianshuang reached out with a long, jade-like finger and gently wiped the grease from the corner of Hong Yu's mouth.
Hong Yu froze.
Both of them stiffened, holding their positions.
The atmosphere grew heavy.
Just then, a guard broke the deadlock. "Miss Tianshuang, Heroic and Brave Marquis… there's a chariot outside. They claim to be from the Tie Family of the Iron Soldier Pavilion, here to escort the Heroic and Brave Marquis to the Tie Mansion for a banquet!"
"Ah? I understand!"
Beichen Tianshuang's pretty face flushed red. She snatched her hand back like a bolt of lightning and answered with her back to the guard.
Hong Yu rubbed his nose awkwardly. After thinking for a long mont, he said, "Well… I'll be going then!"
"Mm, okay. Go on, and co back soon."
The mont the words left her mouth, she realized sothing was off.
'Isn't that sothing an old married couple would say to each other?'
The shy Beichen Tianshuang covered her burning face with her hands.
Hong Yu, being thick-skinned and hardly a delicate man, bit the bullet and strode away. By the ti he reached the gates of the Beichen Family, a luxurious chariot was already waiting.
The chariot was quite grand.
Its entire body was a Primordial Weapon. Although it was only a Mortal Level Lower Grade Primordial Weapon, the materials and effort required to forge such a massive Primordial Weapon were by no ans small.
"You must be the Heroic and Brave Marquis, Hong Yu?" a well-dressed young man asked respectfully.
Hong Yu nodded. "I am."
The young man chose his words carefully. "My Young Master asked to inform you, Marquis, that he is busy at ho with preparations for the banquet and was unable to co and greet you personally. He asks for your understanding, Marquis!"
Hong Yu frowned. "Has sothing happened to Brother Tie?"
The young man thought for a mont, then shook his head. "You will understand once you arrive at the mansion. It is not my place as a servant to say more."
Though filled with doubt, Hong Yu did not make things difficult for the young attendant. He boarded the chariot and departed.
About half an hour later, the chariot slowly ca to a stop. "Marquis Hong, we've arrived!"
"Mm."
Hong Yu exited the chariot.
This was the outskirts of Qin Royal City. On the flat suburban land, a magnificent complex of buildings covering over 50,000 square ters rose from the ground. It was comparable to the Royal Palace and was quite a spectacular sight.
At this mont, the outside of the Tie Family Mansion was already bustling with carriages and horses, adorned with lanterns and colorful decorations.
Everyone coming and going carried impressive gifts.
Just as Hong Yu alighted from the chariot, he imdiately drew the attention of many powerful experts. "Huh? Isn't that the Heroic and Brave Marquis, Hong Yu?"
"The Tie Family truly has friends all over the world. To think they're even acquainted with our Qin Kingdom's newest number one genius!"
"This young man's talent is astonishing. His future accomplishnts will be limitless!"
Hearing the crowd's enthusiastic greetings, Hong Yu remained unfazed by praise or scorn, simply offering a smile in acknowledgnt.
'Right now, I have enough strength, talent, and potential to make them respect . But if my strength were to vanish one day, most of these sycophants would turn to the most bitter ridicule and sarcasm.'
'Dragons do not gather with snakes, and tigers do not dwell with insects. It's the sa principle.'
'People are divided by their groups. The level of friends you associate with largely determines the level you yourself will remain at!'
"Marquis Hong, please follow ," the young attendant said.
Hong Yu followed him into the Tie Family's grand courtyard.
Once inside, Hong Yu was led to a side hall to rest. The birthday banquet had not yet begun, so guests were naturally not allowed into the main hall.
He sat in the side hall sipping fragrant tea for a full half-hour before Tie Tongtian finally arrived, fashionably late.
Today, Eldest Young Master Tie lacked his usual flair. Two large, dark circles under his eyes highlighted his exhaustion. He sat down next to Hong Yu with a pained expression, gulped down several mouthfuls of tea, and then wolfed down a few pastries before he could even catch his breath.
Hong Yu was dumbfounded. "Brother Tie, what happened to you?"
"Sigh, don't ask. It's just a string of bad luck…"
Tie Tongtian explained gloomily.
Hong Yu stared at Tie Tongtian, dumbfounded. After a long pause, he managed to choke out, "Damn, you're really one of a kind!"
It turned out that…
After parting with Hong Yu that day, Tie Tongtian had gone alone to the largest brothel in Qin Royal City, requested the top courtesan, and after a night of passion, beca infatuated with the woman.
He ended up indulging in a life of debauchery for three whole days, completely forgetting to go ho and report the matter of the invitation.
This enraged Old Sir Tie, who had his n tie Tie Tongtian up and drag him back from the brothel. He was then locked in his room for over ten days and was only just released to entertain Hong Yu!
Tie Tongtian waved his hand gloomily. Just as he was about to eat another pastry to stave off his hunger, a grating voice ca from outside the door. "Well, well, if it isn't the recently famous number one genius of the Qin Kingdom, the Heroic and Brave Marquis, Hong Yu? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Look at him, so special. Even his title as a Marquis is so unique!"
"Senior Brother Huo, what's so different about his title?" one of his lackeys chid in.
The owner of the grating voice grinned. "Heroic and Brave Marquis? Sounds like he's just a 'Parroting Monkey'! Heh heh…"
"A 'Parroting Monkey'? Hahaha, Senior Brother Huo, that's a damn good one!"
"Maybe he really was born from a parrot and a monkey!"
"A country bumpkin from so backwater corner of the Fengyue Kingdom dares to claim he's surpassed Senior Brother Zheng Tian? PTOOEY…"
Huo Yan spat, speaking with disdain.
Hong Yu, who had been sitting calmly, slowly turned his head and glanced at Huo Yan and his group.
The weakest of these five or six people had Mid-Stage Earth Soul Realm Cultivation. They were likely the Core Disciples of the Guiyuan Sect.
The one among them who had been mocking him the most was none other than his forrly vanquished opponent, the First True Disciple, Huo Yan.
Under Hong Yu's cold, sharp gaze, Huo Yan subconsciously took a step back.
He then noticed that many of the surrounding guests were looking at him with amusent, which was unbearable for Huo Yan. He felt he had lost a great deal of face.
His eyes widened as he glared at Hong Yu. "What are you looking at? I'm talking about you, you son of a bitch! Don't think that just because you've latched onto the Royal Family, my Guiyuan Sect can't do anything to you…"
Listening to Huo Yan's incessant taunts, Hong Yu turned to Tie Tongtian and asked seriously, "Brother Tie, can I beat him up?"
Tie Tongtian paused, glanced at Hong Yu, then at Huo Yan. His eyes darted about, revealing an excited expression, as if he feared there wouldn't be enough chaos.
He nodded repeatedly. "Younger Brother Hong, what are you even saying? My ho is your ho. Do as you please. Be my guest!"
"Then I won't be polite!"
Hong Yu grinned. In a flash, he was standing in front of Huo Yan.
Huo Yan shuddered and subconsciously retreated, his grave expression tinged with disbelief as he stared at Hong Yu. "Y-y-you, when did you get here? Don't co any closer… W-what do you want? I'm warning you, if you dare to lay a single finger on , I'll make you pay tenfold!"
"Let tell you, I…"
Before Huo Yan could finish, a slap flew toward him. A sharp "SLAP!" left half his face completely numb.
"I'll fight you to the death!"
Humiliated and enraged, Huo Yan threw a furious punch.
A cold glint flashed in Hong Yu's eyes. He kicked out, sending Huo Yan toppling to the ground with a "THUD!"
He slapped him again and again, like a fan, a series of crisp "SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!" sounds ringing out like a clear, rhythmic symphony.
Just as he was about to land the ninety-ninth slap, a furious roar ca from outside the door…
"How dare you harm a disciple of my Guiyuan Sect! Are you looking for death?"
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