The host’s place was a square table, with a wall behind it. On the wall hung a frad ink painting, with a calligraphy piece on either side of it.
Mountains unfold in layers of purple and green, filling the room with clear serenity.
The ink painting was elegant, the calligraphy graceful, and the aning profound, fully showcasing the Yun Family’s refined taste.
Nurous guests were already seated on either side of the hall, all maintaining their composure, so simulating drinking tea, others chatting and laughing with others. The first row on both sides, of course, was reserved for the main guests.
Behind the first row, there was another row of seats, occupied by young people, presumably the apprentices of the elder masters in front. Even the Yun Family arranged seats for the apprentices, evidently showing great respect to these renowned doctors.
However, Lin Tian noticed that the first position on the left was still vacant. In ancient tis, the left was considered the most honorable position, which ant that the left head position was the best spot. It was unclear whether these people dared not to sit, or were too embarrassed to do so.
The arrangent of these seats was exactly like the last Tianxue Jewelry Auction, where upstairs sat the big shots from all sides, and downstairs were ordinary businessn, clearly demarcating the levels.
One could say that this was a form of ancient ritual, which could not be abolished. The bigger the family, the more they cared about these things. Yet from the perspective of a modern person, such ancient rituals reflect the ideology of social hierarchy within them. Therefore, Lin Tian did not like these rituals and did not care about where he sat.
Lin Tian, accompanied by An Xiaoru, found a spot in the least conspicuous corner of the second row, but no matter what, An Xiaoru wouldn’t take a seat. Lin Tian understood her intent; the young lady feared that her sitting down would badly impact the Yun Family’s reputation. In the eyes of these "great doctors", a servant being on par with them in seating was utterly inappropriate.
As the young lady insisted on standing, a few more people ca in from outside. Lin Tian didn’t force An Xiaoru, but turned his head towards the door, and saw three people arriving — Mo Mingda and Liu Weiyuan the master and apprentice.
Dr. Liao walked in with his head held high, like a proud peacock, and people on both sides stood up to greet him, suggesting that his reputation was significant.
"Master Liao Ping, a long ti admirer, a long ti admirer."
"Master Liao, long ti no see. You’re still as energetic as ever."
Whether they knew him or not, t him or not, they all began with such flattery upon eting, which made Lin Tian shake his head at the sheer hypocrisy.
Mo Mingda and Liu Weiyuan scanned around, seemingly searching for sothing. When they saw Lin Tian, their eyes narrowed noticeably, and they both revealed a malicious smirk.
Liu Weiyuan despised Lin Tian, mainly because he had been publicly slapped because of Lin Tian. The so-called unwritten code was not to strike soone’s face, and hence, he harbored a deep grudge against Lin Tian.
As for Mo Mingda, being a distinguished Young Master of the Yun Family, he had consecutively lost to Lin Tian, a re Jianghu doctor, which he found intolerable — even his beloved Ferrari was lost to him.
Soon after, the two seed to recall sothing. They exchanged a glance, their eyes turning from malicious to sinister smiles, then followed Dr. Liao to their seat.
Liao Ping took the second position on the left. When he sat down, so cast envious and jealous glances at him. Taking the second position on the left was no easy feat, as it ant this person was only second to the left head position — an honor to them.
Liu Weiyuan glanced smugly at Lin Tian sitting in the corner, expressing a look of satisfaction as, in his eyes, a Jianghu doctor belonged only in the least noticeable corner.
Being soone from the Yun Family, Mo Mingda naturally wouldn’t sit among the guests. After bringing Liu Weiyuan and his master to their seats, he headed to the back hall.
"Miss Xiao Ru, what’s the background of that Liao Ping? He seems to put on quite the airs," Lin Tian asked casually, looking at Liao Ping with a commanding presence.
An Xiaoru shook her head slightly and softly replied, "I don’t know either. I just heard that Mo Mingda invited him, and it took quite the effort, even visiting him three tis at his residence."
"Heh, Miss Xiaoru got it wrong. Look at how well-dressed this master and apprentice are — they must be people living in mansions and riding luxury cars. Hence, it should be ’three court visits to a mansion’ instead. And as for why three visits, it’s nothing more than Liao Ping trying to elevate his own stature," Lin Tian laughed.
An Xiaoru couldn’t help but chuckle and nodded in agreent, "Mr. Lin hits the nail on the head."
"Now, there are still three most important positions: the left head, right head, and the second from the right — I wonder who will occupy them?" Lin Tian observed the situation in the hall, smiling slightly.
"The left and right head are said to be occupied by two highly esteed physicians. As for who they are, the Yun Family hasn’t disclosed. That second position is probably soone similar to Dr. Liao Ping," An Xiaoru whispered.
Just as her words fell, a middle-aged man walked in from outside. This middle-aged man was very tall, at least six feet, with a very robust body and limbs, looking like soone who engaged in manual labor often.
His eyes glared as he scanned around the hall. With his rugged face and expression, one who didn’t know better might think he was there to pick a fight.
"What a rugged fellow. Is he a doctor too?" Lin Tian smiled slightly in appreciation. Among the many proper doctors here, he instead took a liking to this rugged middle-aged man.
"Probably. Not just anyone can simply walk into the Yun Family’s venue," An Xiaoru remarked.
The doctors in the hall showed peculiar expressions upon seeing the rugged man enter, yet many greeted him with respect, seemingly on par with Liao Ping.
Looking at Liao Ping, his face was somber upon seeing the rugged man, and he made no attempt to greet him. However, those present seed unsurprised by this.
"This rugged man seems to have so feud with Liao Ping?" Lin Tian remarked with a smile.
Sure enough, upon seeing Liao Ping, the rugged man walked straight over, clasped his hands, and said loudly, "Liao Ping, I knew you’d co."
Liao Ping actually turned his head to the side, ignoring the rugged man.
The rugged man instantly beca enraged, booming, "Liao Ping, for the sake of our shared profession, I greeted you. Though we’ve had so past disputes, aren’t we both figures of so repute? However, you don’t even care. Your Liao Family, established in dicine for generations, is well-known; my Du Family is no less than yours. Our trade calls my family ’dicine King’ — what gives you the right to show such disrespect?"
Hearing this, Lin Tian imdiately knew the rugged man was straightforward, saying what he thought without concealnt. And, from the sound of it, was this rugged man from a dicine King family?
This remark seed to provoke Liao Ping, who turned to the rugged man with disdain, saying, "dicine King? Your Du Family rely engages in generations of herb planting, nothing more. Our trade calls you the Du Family dicine King because they rely on your herbs. But I, Liao Ping, certainly don’t need to seek you out; flaunting your dicine King title in front of is rely laughable."
His words were quite harsh. The rugged man instantly clenched his fist, his knuckles crackling loudly, while the others donned expressions of spectators enjoying a show.
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