"Whose banquet am I attending?" Su Chen asked. ’Why does everyone in Ying Feng seem to know who I am?’
The man standing in the center’s voice rose, filled with pride. "My master—Chu Yunze."
"Uh..." Seeing the proud looks on their faces, as if it were their own honor, Su Chen shook his head and said, "I just arrived in Ying Feng. That na is unfamiliar to ."
"Besides, I don’t know your master."
The three n’s expressions soured. The man on the left said in a low voice, "Our master will also be entering the Judicial Court this year. He also possesses a Red Gold Talent. He heard of your reputation, which is why he sent us specifically to invite you."
’So that’s how it is,’ Su Chen understood. ’They’re probably trying to form so kind of clique.’
He wasn’t very interested and waved his hand in refusal. "Sorry, but I have other things to do today. I won’t be going."
"Sir..." Seeing that he was about to leave, the three n hurried forward and stood in a line to block him.
"Are you trying to force to go?" Su Chen found it sowhat amusing.
"A misunderstanding, sir, please listen to ..." the leader explained, glancing around furtively like a thief. Many guests entering and leaving had already noticed them and were casting frequent glances their way.
"Actually, this banquet is being held by my master on behalf of a certain lord," he said in a low, suggestive voice. "That lord is also entering the Judicial Court this year."
’A certain lord?’ Su Chen picked up on the hint in their words.
’Soone entering the Judicial Court this year, with a status even higher than their master...’ Su Chen had a faint suspicion but still feigned ignorance. "What do you an?"
The n exchanged glances, a bit frustrated. ’He really is from so backwater place.’
"You must have heard that a lord with an Ink Jade Level Talent is entering the Judicial Court this year," he hinted further.
"I’ve heard. What about it?" Su Chen looked at him.
The man’s eye twitched. He decided to just be blunt. "Today’s banquet is being held by that very lord with the Ink Jade Level Talent, Zhu Xuan—Lord Chu. My master is rely inviting guests on his behalf."
’So it’s him.’ Finally having so information about the one with the Ink Jade Level Talent, Su Chen nodded in realization. "What does that have to do with ?"
"Sigh, why don’t you understand?" The n were getting anxious. As low-level figures, they were always nervous when speaking of the secrets of their superiors.
His voice was nearly inaudible. "The Judicial Court isn’t exactly peaceful. It’s full of factions, generally united around the four Core Seeds. In the past, new mbers either had to join one of them or be ostracized by everyone."
"Lord Chu intends to unite everyone for mutual support."
’He’s already started recruiting this year’s promising candidates before even getting in. What a calculating mind.’
Su Chen couldn’t help but reflect that once they were inside the Judicial Court, the recruits would likely be snatched up by the other factions. The best opportunity was before they entered.
"I understand, but I still have things to do." Having extracted the information he wanted, Su Chen prepared to push past the three n.
"I heard you’re looking for a Fog Nightmare Pearl?"
But he was still not planning to go, so the three anxious n had no choice but to reveal their trump card.
"Oh?" Su Chen stopped. He had only told the people from Southwind about this, as well as Bu Siqi.
’It’s unlikely the leak ca from Bu Siqi, so it was probably soone from Southwind.’
He wasn’t particularly bothered, as it wasn’t much of a secret anyway. He just inwardly marveled at how thorough their intelligence work was, to have even found out about this.
"What do you an by that? Are you threatening ?" Su Chen’s expression hardened.
"No, no..." The man waved his hands and explained, "My master has already prepared one. As long as you are willing to attend, it will be presented to you."
"Tsk..." Su Chen was genuinely surprised. He thought for a mont and said, "Since your master is being so gracious, it would be rude of to refuse. I’ll make the trip."
"This way, please..." The three n finally breathed a sigh of relief. ’This guy is impossible,’ they thought with resignation. ’He wouldn’t budge until we offered him sothing.’
Although a Fog Nightmare Pearl wasn’t exceptionally precious in Ying Feng, it was still quite rare. Their master had instructed them before they left that if they could get him to co using his na alone, they weren’t to ntion this matter.
’Unfortunately, we couldn’t hold out.’
It was getting late, so Su Chen boarded the hovercar they had prepared and headed for the banquet.
...
Ying Feng’s nightlife was far more vibrant than Southwind’s. The artificial sun gradually transford into a moon, and the skyscrapers seed to shine even brighter.
And the most famous money pit in all of Ying Feng was, naturally, the Purple Gold Flower Capital.
Located near the center of Ying Feng, it occupied a massive area. A ten-story section in the central part had been hollowed out and was now almost completely filled with hovercars of various designs.
In a private room on the top floor, Chu Yunze stood before a floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the Ying Feng nightscape. Dressed in a custom-made, wine-red outfit, he stood with his arms crossed, his posture relaxed and nonchalant.
"Who would have thought? Four people with the Red Gold Talent among this year’s candidates. It’s a huge boom."
There were quite a few people in the room, all young, chatting amongst themselves. The topic sparked so emotional discussion. "Yeah, in the past, even one or two would cause a huge stir."
"It’s been twenty years since the invention of the ’Do Light.’ Since then, cities have sprung up everywhere, life has beco more stable, and the population has grown. If you think about it, this should only be the beginning. More and more talented people will appear in the future."
"That’s right, and it’s all thanks to Ying Feng..." soone chid in.
"Brother Pang, you’ll have to look after us after you enter the Judicial Court."
There were many people in the room, but upon closer inspection, they seed to be split into two groups.
Each group was faintly clustered around a young man. One of them was nervous and uneasy; when people toasted him, he would avert his gaze and respond awkwardly.
The other, however, had an arrogant expression. He raised his glass and called out, "Brother Chu, aren’t we starting yet?"
"Don’t be impatient, Younger Brother Pang. Su Chen hasn’t arrived yet." Chu Yunze turned around, his expression gentle.
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