298: Chapter 298 The Banquet, Anomaly

Inside the cabin, light and shadows swayed.

Chen Ran had just entered the ship.

He saw a waiter wearing a cyan cloth short jacket standing at the end of the corridor. Seeing his arrival, the waiter hurried over.

"This Young Master, sorry to trouble your steps, this little one will lead you to your room."

The waiter respectfully cupped his fists in salute and turned to lead the way ahead.

Chen Ran nodded slightly, followed him through several corridors, and stopped in front of a cabin.

"Young Master, this is it."

The waiter pushed open the door and stepped aside to make way.

Chen Ran stepped inside and glanced at the cabin.

The furnishings were simple, but it was considered clean and elegant. A wooden couch was placed against the window, the bedding was neatly folded, and sandalwood tables and chairs, a bronze mirror, and a washbasin were all provided, which could be considered comprehensive.

"If the Young Master has any instructions, just send someone to the bow of the ship to find this little one."

The waiter said a few more polite words, then retreated and gently closed the door.

The cabin returned to silence.

Chen Ran sat down by the couch, his gaze falling outside the window.

Looking through the lattice window, the river surface was already shrouded in night, and only a few sparse lights remained on the distant bank, gradually fading into the distance.

The hull swayed slightly, and the sound of river water slapping against the boards came from beneath his feet, which had a somewhat hypnotic quality.

"This ship is quite interesting; just the strength of the waiters on board is no lower than the Fifth Grade."

"It seems this ship is not an ordinary passenger ship."

Chen Ran muttered to himself, his fingers tapping unconsciously in front of the window.

However, the purpose of this trip was simply to follow Ciyin Medical Valley. As long as these minor waves right now did not interfere with him, there was no need to take them to heart.

...

Time passed.

When the night completely deepened, the lanterns on the ship were all lit up.

Warm yellow lights were lit all over the hull, illuminating the entire ship like a lighthouse floating on the river.

Bow.

A waiter struck a copper gong, and the crisp sound of the gong spread through the night.

"Respected guests, the dinner has been prepared. Please move to the ship hall to dine."

Accompanied by the waiter's reminder, the doors of the cabins opened one after another, and figures walked out from them, heading towards the ship hall.

Chen Ran also walked out of his cabin, crossed several corridors, and quickly arrived at the entrance of the ship hall.

The ship hall was extremely spacious, measuring dozens of zhang in circumference, with carved beams and painted pillars, and several glazed lamps hanging, casting a soft and gorgeous light.

Several ink landscape paintings hung on the surrounding walls, with flowing brushwork and a distant Concept.

In the very center were placed a dozen sandalwood tables, covered with silk tablecloths. Cups, saucers, bowls, and dishes were neatly arranged, and a few pots of fresh flowers were placed as decoration.

Several people were already sitting by the tables.

Chen Ran's gaze swept across, finding an empty table in the corner, and walked over slowly.

After sitting down, he casually picked up the wine pot on the table, poured a cup of wine, and sipped it leisurely.

After a moment, the people in the ship hall gradually increased.

First, the group from Ciyin Medical Valley walked in. Elder Liu Qing led the way wearing a light cyan robe, followed by a dozen Disciples.

Bai Nianci followed behind her sect members, curiously looking around the ship hall, her clear eyes filled with a sense of novelty.

Liu Qing smiled and said, "We can rest here for a while. About three days later, we will be able to reach the valley."

"Yes, Senior Sister."

Bai Nianci nodded obediently and sat down with her sect members at a large table near the center.

Following closely, the second batch of people also filed in.

Several families looked like local minor nobles. Anyone who could board this ship did not have an especially low status.

As soon as they entered the hall, their gazes all fell on the table near the head of the room.

By that table, the Zhou family's group had already taken their seats.

Zhou Ruicheng was around forty years old, with a square face and a straight nose. Between his gestures, he naturally possessed a steady Aura.

His wife beside him had a dignified appearance, but her expression carried a hint of fatigue, showing that the journey along the way was not easy.

A youth sat upright to the side, his brows and eyes somewhat resembling Zhou Ruicheng.

Behind Zhou Ruicheng, two guards stood straight with stern expressions. With a sweep of their eyes, they had already scanned the entire hall.

Upon seeing this, a trace of eagerness flashed in the eyes of those minor noble families.

Who in half of the southern region did not know the reputation of the Zhou family of Linan Prefecture?

One person took the lead and walked towards that table, cupping his fists with an apologetic smile. The attendants behind him also forced smiles, putting their postures extremely low.

"Master Zhou, what a coincidence that we meet here. I wonder if we could share a table to chat..."

Before he finished speaking...

The guard beside Zhou Ruicheng sidestepped forward and blocked the person's path.

"Trouble this sir, but my master has had a tiring journey and only wishes to dine in peace today. Please forgive us."

The person's smile froze on his face.

Neither advancing nor retreating, he stood awkwardly for a moment before sullenly cupping his fists and retreating.

Seeing this, the remaining families reined in their thoughts, found their own seats, and sat down with a hint of sheepishness on their faces.

Zhou Ruicheng did not lift his eyes. He whispered a few words to his wife.

"Rest assured, this is a secret ship of Great Wei, and safety is guaranteed."

Hearing this, his wife let out a soft breath, and the tension between her brows relaxed slightly.

Just at this moment, the hall door was pushed open once more.

A middle-aged man strode in.

A bamboo hat on his head was pulled down quite low, revealing only a stubbled chin, with a grass stem dangling from the corner of his mouth as he swayed leisurely.

Looking like an ordinary Jianghu wanderer, he stepped into the hall without rushing to sit down, raising a hand to push his bamboo hat up, revealing a pair of narrow eyes.

His gaze slowly patrolled the hall, and finally, his line of sight fell on that table in the corner.

The grass stem dangling from the man's mouth moved slightly, and he strode over, plopping down onto the chair opposite Chen Ran.

"Brother, do you mind sharing a table?"

He asked casually, his tone lazy. Chen Ran raised his eyes and glanced at him.

"Please sit."

"Straightforward."

The man was not polite either, untying the wine gourd from his waist, pulling out the stopper, tilting his head back to gulp down a large mouthful, and letting out a long breath.

"No matter how good the wine on the ship is, it's not as satisfying as the one brought from home."

Chen Ran picked up his wine cup, took a light sip, and said indifferently, "Each has its own flavor."

Hearing this, the man glanced at him sideways, his mouth moving slightly, but he didn't say anything more and drank by himself.

The ship hall gradually became lively.

Waiters filed out carrying dishes: fish, shrimp, crabs, clams, chicken, duck, mutton, and delicacies were served one after another, and the aroma permeated the entire hall.

Cups crossed, whispers and laughter intertwined, and the banquet slowly unfolded.

Chen Ran raised his chopsticks to taste a few flavors, his gaze lazily sweeping across various parts of the hall, his expression calm.

Bai Nianci chatted and laughed with her sect members, occasionally looking around curiously, her expression light and cheerful.

The Zhou Ruicheng family were taciturn, just lowering their heads to dine. The wife occasionally whispered instructions to the youth beside her, while the guards always stood guard on the side without relaxing.

Those minor noble families gathered together, chatting idly, their laughter rising and falling.

The banquet proceeded quite smoothly.

Time slowly flowed amidst the lanterns and the aroma of wine.

Chen Ran drank half a pot of wine, his gaze falling on the cups and saucers on the table, and his thoughts stirred quietly.

Right at this moment.

The hull suddenly paused.

The cups in everyone's hands trembled slightly along with it.

Following closely, the vibration suddenly intensified.

The hull began to shake violently, as if being pressed down by the palm of a giant hand, twisting and pulling from side to side, making it difficult to stabilize.

"What's wrong?"

"What happened?"

Everyone in the hall stood up one after another, their expressions changing drastically.

The bowls and plates on the table rolled off with a clatter, smashing onto the ground with crisp shattering sounds echoing everywhere.

Zhou Ruicheng stood up abruptly and let out a low shout, "Guards."

The two guards instantly stepped forward, gathering the Zhou Ruicheng family behind them, their hands already pressing on the weapons at their waists.

Those minor noble families spoke all at once in great panic, and some had already stumbled towards the door.

Chen Ran still sat steadily in his original place, only raising his eyes to look towards the top.

[Tianwang] had already unfolded.

Mental Energy spread silently, crossing the ship's boards and masts, extending above the river surface.

Upon seeing that scene on the river surface, Chen Ran sighed leisurely:

"As expected, I knew it wouldn't be that simple."

The next moment.

A few muffled, heavy blows came from the roof of the ship.

Thump.

Thump thump.

Immediately after, a series of metallic sounds scraping against wood suddenly rang out.

Clang!

Hook teeth bit into the wooden planks one by one, embedding deeply and solidly, as if trying to nail this ship tightly in place.

The hall was silent for a moment, then exploded into chaos.

"Someone is attacking the ship!"

Before the words fell, the entire ship vibrated violently once more.

As if being violently dragged from the side by something, the hull tilted and shifted off course. Everyone fell to and fro, and all the cups and dishes were overturned.

The glazed lamps swayed violently overhead, light and shadow flickering brightly and dimly, as a cold voice was heard coming from a distance.

"Lord Zhou, you sure made us look all over for you..."

(PS: The 5th season of the motion comic is already online. Search for Lord of Changsheng Prison to see it. If you are interested, you can check it out.)