Upon hearing his words, the City Lord imdiately burst into hearty laughter. His voice echoed throughout the massive dining hall. He was exceptionally animated, clutching his substantial belly with a heavy hand, causing it to quake like a tremor.
"A few years ago, there was news of a student associated with the Saints, whose master had obtained extraordinary powers. They said that this power allowed him to impart the Saints’ abilities to others, sothing utterly unprecedented." The City Lord spoke after finally ceasing his laughter. "I rember that the young man was described as a pale-skinned youth with striking white hair. Unfortunately, shortly after the news broke, he vanished without a trace. Despite every kingdom actively searching for him, no one uncovered anything. I suspected that person might be you?"
Yan Xiaobao pondered for a while but found no reason to conceal the truth. "That was indeed . I had no interest in the trouble this revelation brought, so I decided to continue adventuring." He admitted, causing the sound of other guests putting down their items or gasping audibly to fill the room.
The City Lord, however, seed quite pleased with his response. He gestured for Yan Xiaobao to sit by his side. "I welco you to my city!" he said in a genuinely friendly tone, "I am deeply honored to have such an unparalleled expert within my city." He then turned his gaze toward Cai Jie, who was seated nearby, his curiosity evident. Everyone present had heard of Yan Xiaobao, yet the mysterious man accompanying him was another story entirely. They knew nothing about this man, which made them particularly wary.
"Perhaps you could introduce yourself?" the City Lord asked politely, though his curiosity was unmistakable. It was impossible to discern what the Lord concealed behind his composed deanor. Having served as the City Lord for many years, he understood the importance of caution—even when soone appeared vulnerable. A courteous person outlives the arrogant. Everyone, including Yan Xiaobao, closely watched Cai Jie with intrigue. Yan Xiaobao was a well-known figure, but this young man was a complete enigma. Considering his striking appearance and his companionship with Yan Xiaobao, one would assu he was renowned or at least had soone refer to him. Yet, it seed no one paid attention to the golden-haired young adventurer traveling alongside Yan Xiaobao in Divine Domain.
After a mont of contemplation, with his fingers tapping against a wine glass, it was evident Cai Jie deliberated on how to present himself. Eventually, he stood up slowly, demonstrating no urgency. Even with the curious gazes upon him, he remained unhurried by their anticipation.
"My na is Cai Jie," he began his introduction in a manner understood by both Yan Xiaobao and the City Lord. "I am an adventurer. I have traveled to places you have never imagined and witnessed things you would deem unbelievable. My past isn’t important, nor are the reasons behind my journeys. As for why I follow this young man, the answer is quite simple. He and I share the sa goals in life. While I have traveled alone for years, I am pleased to have found soone who shares my purpose. As a result, I now have a companion to walk this path with."
As Cai Jie finished speaking, the City Lord opened his mouth, seemingly prepared to respond. However, Yan Xiaobao shook his head with an apologetic smile before the City Lord could say anything. "Even if you ask, I fear I cannot disclose my ultimate life goal to anyone," he said with an incredibly polite tone and a gentle voice. His words caused the City Lord to frown montarily but, seeing the sincerity in Yan Xiaobao’s eyes, he nodded instead of pressing further.
Rather than continuing the conversation, the robust Lord rose again and clapped his hands. From the hall’s many doors, a group of servants erged. Each guest had their own servant, each carrying a bottle of wine. The servants approached the guests quietly and poured a single glass of wine for each of them before retreating to the walls. With one servant per guest, it beca apparent that these attendants always served the sa individuals whose nas they knew. Yan Xiaobao and Cai Jie both nodded appreciatively to their respective attendants before observing the food-laden table, unsure whether half of the feast would even be consud.
After the servants retreated, the City Lord bead at all the guests and proclaid, "Please dig in. Enjoy the food we have gathered for you, and eat your fill." Having finished his statent, the City Lord imdiately sat down and reached for the first tray of food in front of him. Taking the tray into his hands, he piled the food onto his plate. As his eyes glead with excitent, he licked his lips in anticipation. It was clear the food delighted him imnsely. Witnessing the City Lord indulge, many guests followed his example, piling their plates and reaching for every dish they could find. Yan Xiaobao and Cai Jie, both unfamiliar with such a banquet, mimicked the guests, intrigued by the array of food.
Initially, the atmosphere was tense, the guests hesitant and uneasy while watching Yan Xiaobao and Cai Jie. Yet, it wasn’t long before casual chit-chat began. The apprehensive ambiance steadily lted into the convivial air one would expect from such a grand gathering.
"So, young man, how did you end up in Divine Domain?" the City Lord abruptly asked, his face partially stuffed with a roasted animal leg. It resembled a chicken leg but, upon closer inspection, Yan Xiaobao ruled out chicken as the at was dark and more akin to turkey in size. Yan Xiaobao deliberated about whether to answer truthfully but instead chose to keep his explanation vague. Having ascended to Great Marshall of the Divine Domain Army, he still wasn’t certain what position he held under the sun’s gaze. Although other experts conversed amongst themselves, creating an audible hum in the room, the mont Yan Xiaobao spoke, everyone fell silent, eager to hear his words. Clearly, the guests were intensely curious about the two newcors. The City Lord quickly understood that while Yan Xiaobao confird his status as Great Marshall, he had no interest in divulging specifics about his role or actions. Recognizing this, the City Lord offered a knowing smile. Despite Yan Xiaobao’s youth, he grasped the valuable nature of knowledge. Yan Xiaobao had been forthright in the past. He confided elents of his origin to his close friend Wan Qiao and openly discussed his world with Xu Biao during their first eting. Through trial and error, Yan Xiaobao had learned moderation.
"Very well, since you can’t delve into specifics, perhaps you could describe the Imperial regions that are inaccessible to most. What is Divine Origin truly like?" he asked with intrigue. Yan Xiaobao reasoned a general depiction of the sprawling forest wasn’t problematic.
"Divine Domain is an imnse forest," he began. "The forest is divided into nurous territories, governed by Saints known as Forest Kings. These Saints are the most formidable beings within Divine Domain. Anyone may challenge them, and the victor becos the new Lord."
Although Yan Xiaobao paused to take a sip of wine, the City Lord posed another question: "How many Lords are there within Divine Origin?" While the query seed innocuous, Yan Xiaobao, having served as Great Marshall of the Beast Army, knew better. Shaking his head, he offered another apologetic smile. "I cannot tell you, my Lord," he replied. "What I will say is that I’ve never heard of any kingdom or empire boasting more Saints than Divine Domain. As for how many Lords exist, I cannot say, as even I don’t know the total number."
Yan Xiaobao anticipated the City Lord might be displeased with such an unsatisfactory answer, but the Lord simply nodded. He seed content with the knowledge he had acquired. The remainder of the evening involved the City Lord questioning Yan Xiaobao and Cai Jie about wars and beasts, t only with vague responses and nurous apologies. Even so, the City Lord appeared quite satisfied with what he had learned, constantly smiling throughout. As expected by Yan Xiaobao, more than half the food remained uneaten on the table. Just as the experts began to rise, the City Lord noticed Yan Xiaobao’s frown and chuckled. "Do not worry—the leftovers will be sent to several orphanages across the city. While I love food, I hate waste. Poor children will enjoy this feast." Clearing his throat, the Lord cordially ushered all the guests into another room—a library. The space was filled with comfortable chairs scattered across the floor. At the back stood a table where the City Lord invited the guests to sit while offering light refreshnts, snacks, and various drinks. Tea, lemonade, wine, and water were all available.
...
User Comments
0 comments from readers