109: Hidden Dragon Banquet 3

Dusk fell, and the small courtyard in Yuqian Lane was enveloped in tranquility.

Chen Linsheng had just finished a round of practice with the Crane Ape Illusory Wind Steps. His blood and Qi gradually settled, and as he was about to return to his room to adjust his breathing, he suddenly heard a set of intentionally lightened footsteps outside the gate.

Following that were a few hesitant knocks.

“Is Senior Brother Chen there?”

It was Zhao Feier's voice. Unlike her usual lively and charming tone, it now carried a rare hint of solemnity.

Chen Linsheng was slightly surprised and went to open the door.

Outside the door, Zhao Feier stood alone.

She had changed out of her eye-catching red clothes from the day and was wearing a simple and elegant lotus-root-colored dress. Her hair was also tied simply, and she held a palm-sized brocade box in her hands. Under the moonlight, the usual nimbleness and craftiness on her face were replaced by a touch of seriousness and even a faint trace of worry.

“Miss Feier? Please come in.” Chen Linsheng stepped aside to let her in.

Zhao Feier walked into the small courtyard, her gaze sweeping across the simple yet tidy yard before finally landing on Chen Linsheng. She took a deep breath and handed over the brocade box with both hands.

“Senior Brother Chen, thank you for stepping in to resolve the matter at the Exotic Beast Market today.” She spoke clearly, word by word. “This ‘Warm Sun Jade’ was originally meant to be my gift of gratitude, but I know you wouldn't accept it. So... this is the ‘ice heart spirit-calming pendant’ taken from my father's private storehouse. It is carved from North Sea cold jade. Wearing it year-round can keep the heart steady and the mind calm, resisting the intrusion of external evils. It also has miraculous effects in resisting fire toxin and neutralizing parched heat.”

She opened the brocade box, revealing an ice-blue pendant shaped like a dewdrop lying quietly on deep purple velvet. Even from several feet away, one could feel a cool and gentle aura wafting toward them. It was completely different from the warmth of the Warm Sun Jade, yet equally calming to the spirit.

“My father said,” Zhao Feier looked up, gazing directly at Chen Linsheng, the worry in her eyes no longer hidden, “that Yan Chen is narrow-minded and vengeful. His cultivation has now stabilized at the Flood Dragon Tendon Realm, Initial Stage, and the Blazing Sun Art of the Blazing Sun Martial Arts Hall is extremely overbearing. The ‘Blazing Sun True Energy’ he has cultivated is not only peerlessly fierce but can also invade the opponent's Meridians. Like a maggot in the bone, it continuously burns one's blood and Qi, making it extremely difficult to deal with. You... must be very careful.”

She paused and added, “Although this pendant cannot completely counter the Blazing Sun True Energy, it can at least protect your mind and reduce the intrusion of fire toxin. Tomorrow at the Hidden Dragon Banquet, when experts clash, things change in an instant. Having one more layer of protection is always good. Please, Senior Brother, you must accept it.”

Chen Linsheng looked at the sincere gratitude and concern in Zhao Feier's eyes, then at the clearly valuable ice heart spirit-calming pendant. After a brief hesitation, he did not refuse and took the brocade box with both hands.

“Thank you, Miss Feier. Please also thank Hall Master Zhao on my behalf.” He said solemnly, “I will wear this. As for tomorrow's battle, I will naturally be cautious.”

Seeing Chen Linsheng accept it, Zhao Feier breathed a sigh of relief. A hint of her former liveliness reappeared on her face, but she quickly suppressed it and said in a low voice, “Then I won't disturb your preparations, Senior Brother. Tomorrow... the Senior and junior brothers of the martial arts hall will all go to the Lanyue Tower to cheer for you. Senior Brother Chen, you must win!”

After saying that, she didn't stay any longer, turned around, and quickly left the small courtyard. Her figure soon disappeared into the night at the entrance of the lane.

Chen Linsheng closed the courtyard gate, returned to the house, and placed the brocade box on the table. The ice-blue pendant shimmered with a soft luster under the light of the oil lamp. As his fingertips touched the pendant, a cool sensation spread along his arm, reaching his mind and making his thoughts a bit clearer.

“Flood Dragon Tendon Realm, Initial Stage, Blazing Sun True Energy...” he repeated in a low voice. There was no fear in his eyes, only calm analysis and a surging Battle Intent.

“Creak—”

The door was gently pushed open, and Su Wan walked in carrying a tray. On it were a few dishes of light side items and a bowl of fragrant, golden-yellow rice porridge.

“A Sheng, eat something first.” She placed the tray on the table, her gaze naturally falling on the ice heart spirit-calming pendant, and she was slightly taken aback.

Chen Linsheng briefly explained Zhao Feier's visit.

After hearing it, Su Wan nodded silently without asking more. She simply picked up the pendant, walked behind Chen Linsheng, and carefully put it around his neck. The coolness against his skin refreshed his spirit.

“Wan'er,” Chen Linsheng held her hand, feeling that her fingertips were slightly cold, “Tomorrow...”

“I know,” Su Wan interrupted him, her voice soft yet firm.

She turned and took out a set of neatly folded, brand-new martial arts attire from the cabinet. The fabric was a flexible and wear-resistant ink-blue color, with simple cloud patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs with silk thread of the same color. It maintained the efficiency of a Martial Artist while possessing a more restrained aura than ordinary martial arts hall uniforms.

“I made this over the past few days. It's made from the ‘Ink Cloud Silk’ we bought from Wanbao Tower last time, mixed with a bit of ice silkworm silk. It's breathable and durable, and can also slightly resist the intrusion of internal energy.” Su Wan unfolded the clothes and took out a small leather waist pouch. “Inside are ‘Heart-Clearing Pills’ I refined using the Green Water Algae you brought back and several supplementary medicines. There are six pills in total. If you feel your blood and Qi are parched or your Meridians are burning with pain, you can take one to temporarily alleviate the fire toxin. There are also three patches of golden sore ointment and two bottles of Ginseng Essence Liquid to replenish blood and Qi.”

As she spoke, she laid out the items one by one. Her movements were meticulous, her eyes downcast, and her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under the lamplight.

Seeing her silently prepare all this for him, a surge of warmth welled up in Chen Linsheng's heart. A thousand words were stuck in his throat, finally turning into a single sentence: “Wan'er, thank you for your hard work.”

Su Wan looked up and gave him a sweet smile. Her eyes shimmered with moisture, but there was no trace of sorrow, only complete trust and support: “It's not hard. I only know that my A Sheng never fights a battle he isn't sure of. At tomorrow's Hidden Dragon Banquet, just go and strive, go and fight. No matter the result, I will be here waiting for you to return.”

She reached out, gently smoothing an non-existent wrinkle on his lapel, and said softly: “I believe in you.”

Their eyes met; no more words were needed.

After the two of them finished a simple dinner, just as Chen Linsheng was about to adjust his breathing, a slight sound of something breaking through the air came from outside the courtyard, as if something had been thrown in.

Chen Linsheng's eyes narrowed, and his figure flashed, arriving in the courtyard. On the bluestone ground lay an unremarkable gray pebble, with a neatly folded slip of paper pressed under it.

He picked up the slip of paper, unfolded it, and looked at it by the light coming from the room.

There were only four small characters on the paper, written with such force that they seemed to penetrate the back, sharp and vigorous:

“Uphold the orthodox while using surprises; beware of strange fragrances.”

There was no name at the signature, only a simple sketch of a spear tip.

“Envoy Ling Feng.”

Chen Linsheng immediately recognized the handwriting and the mark.

“Uphold the orthodox while using surprises” was a reminder to stabilize his Foundation when dealing with Yan Chen, while also using clever moves and not being rigid.

And “beware of strange fragrances”... Chen Linsheng's gaze suddenly became sharp.

White Lotus Sect!

He instantly recalled the foul black Qi of that Evil Daoist at Black Water Ravine, the faint and eerie sweet fragrance on Wei Jingtong, and the strange smell of blood mixed with sandalwood emitted when Zhang Yuchen cultivated his evil technique.

Ling Feng was warning him that tomorrow at the Hidden Dragon Banquet, with many people and mixed backgrounds, the forces of the White Lotus Sect might not have completely withdrawn from Jiuqu Prefecture and might even have sneaked into the banquet with some plot! And that “strange fragrance” might be some kind of identification or poisoning method?

He rubbed the paper in his palm, turning it into powder that scattered with the wind.

Returning to the room, Su Wan saw his solemn expression and cast an inquiring look.

“It's nothing, just a reminder from a Senior.” Chen Linsheng didn't want her to worry too much and brushed it off simply. Then he sat cross-legged on the bed. “Wan'er, I need to quietly adjust my breathing to be in my best state tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Su Wan nodded, blew out most of the lamps, leaving only a small lamp in the corner emitting a dim and soft yellow light. She picked up her needle and thread, sat under the lamp, and quietly began mending an old garment, staying by his side.

Chen Linsheng closed his eyes, and the Hunyuan True Body Mind-Cultivation Technique slowly began to operate. His blood and Qi were like a silent river, flowing orderly within his body, nourishing every inch of his tendons, bones, and muscles. The bone marrow vitality brought by his Minor Achievement in the Jade Marrow Guiding Technique was quietly released, causing his spirit, energy, and essence to rise to the Peak at a slow and steady pace.

The ice heart spirit-calming pendant around his neck emitted wisps of coolness, protecting his mind and keeping his state of mind clear and empty.

Time passed in silence.

As the night deepened, the prefectural city did not completely fall asleep. From the direction of Lanyue Tower, the faint sounds of silk and bamboo instruments and clamor could be heard; those were the servants making final preparations for tomorrow's grand feast. In the distant streets and alleys, there were occasional echoes of horse hooves and the night watchman's clapper.

Chen Linsheng's spiritual perception, along with his calm state of mind, was amplified to the extreme.

Although his eyes were closed, he seemed to be able to “see” every bluestone slab in Yuqian Lane outside the courtyard, and “hear” the lowered discussions of the Disciples who had not yet rested in the guest courtyard of the martial arts hall.

However, in this seemingly ordinary night, he keenly captured several unusual “gazes.”

They weren't actual gazes, but a subtle spiritual fluctuation with an investigative intent, like invisible tentacles, sweeping over the area where the Yang Wei Martial Arts Hall Branch was located from different directions, especially his small courtyard in Yuqian Lane.

One was fiery and overbearing, like a torch in the dark night, making no attempt to hide its presence. It came from the direction of the Blazing Sun Martial Arts Hall in the east—was it Yan Chen, or a Senior from his Sect?

One was sharp and ethereal, like drifting clouds in the wind, hard to pin down. It came from somewhere in the north of the city—Tingtao Academy? That Xu Wangshu mentioned by White Feather? Or some other sword expert?

One was deep and obscure, as if hidden in the Nine Netherworlds, carrying a faint, uncomfortable coldness. Its position was uncertain, appearing and disappearing—was it a probe from the White Lotus Sect? Or some other evil cultivator?

And there was one... gentle and peaceful, yet like the vast starry sky, broad and difficult to measure, faintly carrying a scholarly aura. It came from the direction of Tingyu Pavilion? Was it the mysterious White Feather?

Among these “gazes,” some were merely simple curiosity and scrutiny, while others carried obvious hostility and Battle Intent, and still others... were deeply hidden, their good or evil intent hard to discern.

Chen Linsheng's mind remained unmoved, and the circulation of blood and Qi in his body remained stable, as if he were completely unaware of all this.

But he knew that tomorrow's Hidden Dragon Banquet at Lanyue Tower would definitely not just be a gathering for young talents to compete and fight for a spot in the Cleansing Pool.

The open hostility of the Blazing Sun Martial Arts Hall, the possible secret spying of the White Lotus Sect, the attention of the Prefectural Governor's Mansion and the Army Breaker Manor, the screening by various major Sects and aristocratic families, and the observation of mysterious figures like White Feather... various forces and all sorts of intentions would converge in that brilliantly lit building.

And he, Chen Linsheng, the youth from Qinghe County, had already been pushed to the center of this gathering of winds and clouds by a turn of Destiny.

After an unknown amount of time, the clamor at the distant Lanyue Tower gradually subsided, and the city's drums marked the third watch.

Those few subtle “gazes” were also withdrawn one after another, and the night returned to its surface tranquility.

Chen Linsheng slowly exhaled a long breath. The breath condensed into a straight white line in the cold air, lasting for several breaths before dissipating.

He opened his eyes, the divine light within them restrained and deep as a pool. All distracting thoughts and external interferences had been excluded. His state of mind was as clear as a mirror, and his Battle Intent was as tempered as steel.

Tomorrow is the Hidden Dragon Banquet.

Su Wan had put down her needle and thread at some point and fallen into a light sleep by the table, still holding the unfinished fabric in her hand.

Chen Linsheng rose gently, took an outer robe, and carefully draped it over her shoulders.

He walked to the window, pushed it open a crack, and looked toward the towering building whose outline was faintly visible deep in the night.

The night wind brushed against his face, carrying the slight coolness of early autumn.

The night of the prefectural city had undercurrents hidden beneath its prosperity. And tomorrow, the Hidden Dragon will emerge from the abyss, and the winds and clouds will rise.