76: Do you need a spot?

That evening, Lu Yuan was again invited to the Yao Family dinner.

Compared to the last welcome banquet, this occasion was clearly more grand.

It was mainly to welcome Yao Tianbi, who had traveled a long distance.

After all, he was from the main branch, so the proper etiquette had to be observed.

The manor, from the alloy gate onwards, was covered with a red carpet.

Even the air was filled with the rich fragrance of flowers.

Yao Tianxiao had truly spared no expense.

Lu Yuan got out of the car and entered the main hall.

Nickname greeted him.

Beside the head seat, in addition to Yao Tianxiao and Mother Yao, there was an additional middle-aged man with a refined demeanor.

It was Yao Tianbi.

"Lu Yuan, come sit down quickly," Mother Yao called out warmly, her smile much more genuine than last time.

Her gaze towards Lu Yuan held a hint of the satisfaction a mother-in-law feels looking at her son-in-law.

Lu Yuan thanked her and took a seat, right next to Nickname.

"Young Friend Lu, today you truly brought great honor to our Jiangcheng!" Yao Tianxiao raised his glass, his face glowing with health.

"So young, yet you've overcome all challenges, your future is limitless, limitless!"

"Uncle Yao, you flatter me, it was just good luck," Lu Yuan responded modestly.

Yao Tianbi also raised his wine glass, gesturing to Lu Yuan.

"The value of a champion is not something that can be explained by luck."

"That Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon is incredibly fast, and its control is exquisite."

"Among the younger generation in Jiangcheng, no one can surpass it."

The atmosphere of the dinner was even more lively and harmonious than last time.

The Tianxiao and Tianbi brothers chatted animatedly, discussing interesting anecdotes from the provincial capital and the latest developments in the Card Master world.

Mother Yao, from time to time, would dish food for Lu Yuan and Nickname, showing her care.

"Oh, right, Mom!" Nickname suddenly remembered something and put down her chopsticks.

"Lu Yuan said he wants to buy a house in Yujing Garden so it's convenient for Uncle and Auntie to come and stay."

"Is that so?" Mother Yao's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she looked at Lu Yuan.

Yujing Garden is Jiangcheng's most exclusive gated community, and the Yao Family also has properties there.

She put down her soup spoon and elegantly wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin.

"Why buy one? I happen to have a spare one."

"It's by the lake, a three-story villa with a garden, and the security is top-notch."

"It's a waste to leave it empty, so why don't I just give it to you?"

Her tone was casual, as if she wasn't giving away a top-tier luxury home worth tens of millions of star coins, but rather an insignificant small gift.

"This..." Lu Yuan said in surprise.

"Auntie, this is too valuable."

Mother Yao waved her hand, her smile gentle.

"Oh, don't talk about value."

"You've helped our Yao Family so much, and this time you brought honor to Jiangcheng, it's us who should be thanking you."

"Besides, you and Nickname are classmates, and you'll both be developing in the provincial capital in the future. If Uncle and Auntie come over, living closer will make it easier to look after each other."

"Just consider it... Auntie's gift for your championship win."

With things said to this extent, further refusal would seem affected.

Lu Yuan understood that this was the Yao Family's further gesture of goodwill, drawing him deeper under the Yao Family's wing.

A villa in Yujing Garden not only solved his worries but also sent a clear signal to the outside world.

He stood up and bowed slightly.

"Since that is the case, this junior will not be so presumptuous as to refuse."

"Thank you for your kindness, Auntie."

"That's more like it!" Yao Tianxiao laughed heartily, "We're family, no need for formalities!"

Nickname also clapped her hands happily: "That's great! It'll be easier for me to visit you now!"

Yao Tianbi watched this scene, the smile in his eyes deepening, and he raised his wine glass.

"It seems my visit to Jiangcheng this time has brought about a wonderful thing."

"Young Friend Lu, come visit us often in the future."

The atmosphere was peaceful and harmonious.

Towards the end of the dinner, the conversation naturally shifted to the upcoming itinerary.

"Lu Yuan, Nickname," Yao Tianxiao began.

"In three days, you two will return to Canglan Province with Third Uncle."

"There are more experts in the Prodigy Competition in the provincial capital, so it's good to go and see for yourselves."

"And while you're there, also go and pay respects to your grandfather."

At the mention of grandfather, Nickname's expression subtly changed, and she nodded.

Yao Tianbi also smiled: "Yes, the old man hasn't seen Nickname in a long time, and he's been thinking of her."

"Young Friend Lu's talent is outstanding; the old man will surely like him when he sees him."

The matter was thus settled... The dinner ended, and night had fallen deeply.

Lu Yuan took the Yao Family's private car back home.

In the villa's study, only the Tianxiao and Tianbi brothers remained.

They were both smoking.

Yao Tianbi sat on the sofa, looking at the deep night outside the window, exhaling a medium-sized smoke ring.

"Second Brother, it's been so many years."

"Have you really never thought about... coming back?"

Yao Tianxiao's hand, holding the wine glass, paused slightly, then he gave a self-deprecating smile and shook his head.

"Go back?"

"Go back where?"

He walked to the window, looking at the scattered lights within the manor, his gaze somewhat dim.

"Big Brother and Fourth Brother are fighting to the death, and the family is in chaos."

"What would I, this awkward second brother, go back for?"

"To add to the family's troubles? Or... to add to your troubles?"

He turned around and looked at his third brother.

When he chose to leave the provincial capital and come to Jiangcheng, this "remote" place, it was ostensibly to open a branch, but in reality, it was also a form of retreat from the world.

Yao Tianbi sighed softly, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes, but it seemed to be within his expectations.

The family's waters were too deep; he understood his second brother's choice, but he didn't entirely agree with it.

He put down the teacup, no longer dwelling on the topic, and instead asked.

"Then... this time's quota for the new realm exploration."

"Still the old rule, exchange it for star coins?"

According to custom, whenever the family obtained such a rare secret realm exploration quota, it would be allocated according to contribution and strength.

Yao Tianxiao's branch, being far from the center of power, had limited contributions, and usually received the fewest quotas, which he would typically choose to cash out directly.

After all, cultivating Card Masters and expanding the market all required money.

"Of course..." Yao Tianxiao subconsciously replied, but the words stopped at his lips.

He frowned, seemingly weighing his options.

The online mall business had been exceptionally booming recently, with ample cash flow, so there was no shortage of star coins for now.

Nickname had also obtained a gold card, the Nine-Tailed Illusion Heart Fox, ensuring her future was secure, so there was no immediate need to spend huge sums to bid for that orange card in the provincial capital.

This quota... He looked at Yao Tianbi, blowing smoke in his face.

"This time... which secret realm is it?"

Yao Tianbi waved his hand and introduced.

"The Lost Water Realm."

"A newly captured medium-sized shattered world core, with unstable energy."

"The province took the lead, uniting several major families, and spent over 700 million star coins to acquire it."

"Our Yao Family invested 200 million and received ten quotas."

He paused, then continued.

"According to the old rules, Big Brother gets three, Fourth Brother gets three, I get three."

"You get... one."

"If exchanged for star coins, the market price is probably around 20 million."

He picked up his teacup and gently blew on the hot liquid.

"The assessed danger level isn't high, it's a medium-level secret realm, and the returns... are probably just average."

"After all, it's a new realm; no one can say for sure what the situation inside is like."

He wasn't lying, but he deliberately concealed the potential value that the Lost Water Realm might hold.

Anyway, Second Brother had always been uninterested in these secret realm explorations involving fighting and killing; he only cared about how much money he could get.

Yao Tianxiao pondered.

20 million star coins.

It was a considerable amount.

But... he suddenly thought of Lu Yuan.

He thought of the Prodigy Competition.

Perhaps... a thought, like a stone dropped into a calm lake, stirred up ripples.

Yao Tianbi looked at his second brother's hesitant expression, feeling somewhat strange.

Usually, at times like this, Second Brother would have already decided to exchange it for money.

Why today... Just as he thought Yao Tianxiao would choose star coins as usual.

Yao Tianxiao looked up, his gaze burning.

"This quota."

"I'll take it!"

"Huh?" Yao Tianbi's hand, holding the teacup, suddenly froze, almost spilling the tea.

He looked up, surprised, at his second brother.

"Second Brother, you... what did you say?"

"You want... the quota?"