152: Birthday invitations

Mo Yuhan naturally felt Mo Linglin's resentful gaze, but he didn't care.

His objective had been achieved.

He looked at Mo Lan indifferently, his tone softening slightly but still retaining a sense of distance: "Enough. I came here seeking peace, not wanting to cause trouble. Since the Mo Residence's steward says so, let's drop the matter."

Mo Lan breathed a huge sigh of relief and quickly said, "Thank you for your generosity, young master. May I know your esteemed name? Where do you come from? The Mo Residence will surely compensate for today's incident..."

"A name is merely a code, not worth mentioning."

Mo Yuhan interrupted Mo Lan's probing, his tone indifferent, "I heard that Elder Mo Cheng's birthday banquet is approaching, and heroes from Salt City are gathering. I am just a traveler who happened to pass by and would like to witness it."

He changed the subject, speaking seemingly casually.

Mo Lan's heart stirred.

Traveling? Witnessing? This person is powerful and of unknown origin, but his words, at least on the surface, seem to bear no great hostility towards the Mo Residence; instead, he is interested in the birthday banquet...

If he could be recruited... or at least stabilized so he doesn't become an enemy, then this conflict today might actually be a turning point.

"It is the Mo Residence's great fortune that the young master has such an interest!"

Mo Lan immediately put on an enthusiastic smile, took out a hot-stamped invitation card with a faint scent of sandalwood from hisin arms, and respectfully presented it with both hands, "This is the invitation to the Mo Residence's Elder's birthday banquet. At that time, many prominent figures from Salt City and even the eastern part of the Empire will be present. With this invitation, the young master can enter the inner hall's VIP section unhindered to observe the ceremony!"

Mo Yuhan glanced at the exquisitely made invitation, but did not take it immediately. Instead, his gaze swept over Mo Linglin, who was still biting her lip with a complex expression, and his tone carried a hint of playfulness: "Your esteemed residence's Second Miss doesn't seem to welcome me much."

Mo Lan's heart tightened, and he immediately turned to Mo Linglin and said in a deep voice, "Second Miss! Why aren't you apologizing to this young master!"

His tone carried an undeniable command.

Although he was only a steward, he was also an old member of the Mo Residence, and he had watched the young masters and misses grow up, so a scolding was perfectly normal.

Mo Linglin's delicate body trembled.

When had she ever suffered such humiliation?

Her whip was snatched and destroyed in the street, her guards were beaten to an unknown fate, and now she had to apologize to the perpetrator?

Intense shame and indignation almost made her explode.

But encountering Mo Lan's stern and warning gaze, thinking of that seemingly light but terrifying kick just now, and the opponent's unfathomable strength... she ultimately didn't dare to flare up.

She bit her lower lip so hard it almost bled, took a few deep breaths, and barely managed to suppress her churning emotions. Facing Mo Yuhan, she mumbled in an extremely stiff, mosquito-like voice: "...I...I'm sorry..."

After speaking, as if all her strength had been drained, she suddenly turned around and rushed into the inn without looking back, her back appearing disheveled and full of anger.

Mo Yuhan watched the fiery red figure disappear into the inn's doorway, his eyes showing no ripple of emotion.

Only then did he reach out and take the invitation from Mo Lan's hand.

"Thank you, Mo Residence steward," he said indifferently, casually putting away the invitation, no longer paying attention to the crowd, turning and walking away, his figure quickly disappearing around the street corner.

Mo Lan watched the direction Mo Yuhan disappeared in, the respectful smile on his face slowly receding, his eyes becoming deep and solemn.

He waved to a trusted guard and whispered, "Go investigate immediately! Use all connections to find out the background of this young man! I want to know his name, where he came from, and who is behind him! Remember, do it in secret, don't alert him!"

"Yes!" The guard acknowledged the order and quickly departed.

Mo Lan glanced again at the lingering bloodstains on the ground and the snapped whip tip, his brows tightly furrowed.

A mysterious and unfathomable young powerhouse appearing in this manner right before the birthday banquet... Is it a blessing? Or a curse?

A faint sense of unease inexplicably rose in his heart.

On the second floor of the inn, behind a half-open window.

Mo Linglin clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms. She looked at Mo Lan's solemn profile downstairs, then at the street corner where Mo Yuhan had disappeared, her eyes burning with raging anger and humiliation.

"Bastard... you just wait! On the Mo Residence's territory, I, Mo Linglin, will never let you off!"

She cursed in a low voice, her voice trembling slightly with rage.

However, deep within her anger, the young man's cold eyes when he calmly snapped her long whip, and his terrifying strength that effortlessly defeated the Great Dou Shi guard captain, were branded onto her heart like a mark, bringing an indescribable tremor and... a hint of a strange shiver of being conquered by powerful strength, which she herself was unwilling to admit.

The Mo Residence was adorned with lanterns and streamers, and guests were as numerous as clouds.

The massive mansion gate was wide open, with guards dressed in uniform black attire standing on either side, their aura sharp and their eyes keen, scanning every guest entering and exiting with scrutinizing gazes.

Carriages bustled in front of the gate; luxurious carriages stopped, and well-dressed, distinguished guests, led by servants, entered this most powerful mansion in Salt City with smiles, whether sincere or feigned.

The air was filled with the rich scent of spices, the aroma of wine and food, and the hustle and bustle of a major power.

Mo Yuhan had changed into a dark green long gown of decent quality, concealing all his sharp edges, leaving only a unique, slightly aloof and cool demeanor characteristic of a young man.

Holding the hot-stamped invitation, he walked unhurriedly towards the mansion gate with the flow of people.

"Please show your invitation."

The head of the guards at the entrance, a Five-star Great Dou Shi with a steady aura and eagle-like eyes, looked sharply at Mo Yuhan's excessively young face and his ordinary attire, extending his hand in a businesslike manner.

Mo Yuhan calmly handed over the invitation.

The guard leader took it and examined it carefully.

When he saw the special Mo Residence inner hall mark on the invitation, a subtle hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Such invitations were usually only given to guests of extremely noble status or unfathomable strength.

This young man before him...

He scrutinized Mo Yuhan again, but did not detect any powerful Dou Qi fluctuations, deepening his suspicion.

But the invitation was correct, and he dared not be negligent. He turned slightly, his tone a few shades more polite: "A distinguished guest, indeed. The invitation is correct. Young master, please follow me to the inner hall's VIP section."

He personally led the way, his attitude respectful.

This scene, falling into the eyes of some entering and exiting guests, immediately caused a low murmur of discussion and sidelong glances.

A young man who could make the Mo Residence's guard commander so polite and personally lead the way must have an extraordinary identity.

Many curious and scrutinizing gazes fell upon Mo Yuhan.

Mo Yuhan appeared self-composed, as if he didn't feel those gazes, and followed the guard commander through the bustling front garden.

Rockeries, flowing water, exotic flowers, and rare plants all showcased the Mo Residence's extravagance. The faint, almost imperceptible scent of medicine and blood in the air, greatly diluted by the festive atmosphere, still couldn't escape Mo Yuhan's keen senses.

After passing through several corridors, they arrived in front of an even grander hall. The guards here were even more stringent, and the guests entering and exiting were clearly a notch higher in attire and demeanor, obviously all true prominent figures from Salt City and even the eastern part of the Empire.

This was the inner hall.

"Young master, please wait here. The birthday banquet is about to begin, and a dedicated person will guide you to your seat."

The guard commander led Mo Yuhan to a relatively secluded corner in front of the hall and said respectfully.

His task was only to lead the way; the seating arrangement in the inner hall was handled by a higher-ranking steward.

"Thank you." Mo Yuhan nodded slightly.