607: Chapter 607 Sima Gongzheng

[Ten days passed in the blink of an eye,]

[In front of the Nanyang Immortal Estate, a flash of spiritual light appeared, and over a hundred figures manifested out of thin air.]

[The leader stood with his hands behind his back; it was none other than Patriarch Sima Gongzhi.]

[Half a step behind him, Sima Jing stood with her hands down, her eyes lowered and submissive, looking like a different person.]

[Further back, over a hundred guards were lined up in a row, each clad in armor with a steady aura.]

[The most eye-catching thing wasn't the people, but the boxes they were carrying—over a hundred sandalwood boxes, stacked neatly.]

[These boxes were filled with Spirit Stones and Heaven And Earth Treasures.]

[Actually, these supplies could have been stored in a qiankun ring, but this kind of formalism appeared grand and also provided Face.]

[Manager Zhou personally came out to the estate gates, his Face beaming with smiles: "Elder Sima's arrival brings light to our humble abode. Lord Star Master is already waiting in the main hall."]

[Patriarch Sima Gongzhi nodded and strode into the estate gates.]

[Inside the main hall, you sat in the seat of honor, holding a teacup in your hand, not rising.]

[Patriarch Sima Gongzhi walked to the center of the hall and cupped his fists with a laugh: "Star Master Qin, I have long looked forward to meeting you, hahaha."]

[You looked at him, then at those boxes, and smiled: "Elder Sima, what is the meaning of this?"]

["A small gift, nothing to speak of." Patriarch Sima Gongzhi straightened up, his smile perfectly measured, "A Disciple of my clan was blind to your greatness and offended you at the Yaochi Pavilion that day. I have come specifically to apologize."]

["Apologize?" You set down your teacup, "Why don't you tell me, how exactly did you offend me?"]

[Patriarch Sima Gongzhi's smile remained unchanged: "This worthless Junior of mine didn't know any better and collided with you, Lord Star Master. I have already punished her severely upon her return. I brought her here today to let her apologize to you in person."]

[Sima Jing took a step forward and fell to her knees with a thud, her forehead knocking against the jade floor: "Lord Star Master, this Junior was blind. I beg for your forgiveness."]

["Get up." You waved your hand, your tone casual, "I said before, I won't hold this matter against you."]

[Sima Jing looked up, her eyes slightly red. She stole a glance at you, then quickly lowered her head and retreated to the side.]

["Manager Zhou." You turned your head to give an order, "Go prepare a banquet. It's rare for Elder Sima to visit; we cannot be negligent."]

["Yes." Manager Zhou responded and withdrew.]

[The smile on Patriarch Sima Gongzhi's Face deepened a bit more.]

[The private banquet was set in the Moon-Watching Pavilion in the backyard of the Immortal Estate.]

[The pavilion was open on all four sides, and a cold breeze blew through, causing the gauze curtains to flutter gently.]

[Thirty-six dishes were laid out on the table, featuring spiritual birds, Spirit Beasts, and delicacies from land and sea; each dish was as exquisite as a work of art.]

[Qin Han squatted on your shoulder, his two eyes darting around, staring fixedly at the plate of Red-Scaled Fish.]

[You ignored him.]

[Patriarch Sima Gongzhi sat in the guest seat, raised his wine cup, and toasted you: "Star Master Qin has just arrived, and I haven't been able to visit until now. It was truly impolite. This cup of wine is to make up for my oversight."]

["Elder Sima is too polite." You raised your wine cup and clinked it against his, "We will be colleagues from now on; there's no need to be so formal."]

[Patriarch Sima Gongzhi set down his wine cup and sighed: "Star Master Qin might not know, but during these years in the Heavenly Palace, I have been walking on thin ice, trembling with fear. To be able to get to know someone like you today is truly the fortune of three lifetimes."]

["Elder Sima is too modest." You smiled, "You are one of the twenty-eight Elders of the Heavenly Palace, a powerhouse at the Late Stage of Body Integration. Who would dare make you walk on thin ice?"]

[Patriarch Sima Gongzhi gave a bitter smile and shook his head without replying. He just raised his wine cup again: "A toast to Star Master Qin. I hope you will look after me more in this Heavenly Palace in the future."]

["That can be arranged." You drained the cup in one go, "From now on, you, Patriarch Sima Gongzhi, are my, Qin Tian's, brother. Your interests in the Heavenly Palace are my interests. Whoever dares to touch you touches me."]

[Patriarch Sima Gongzhi's eyes lit up, his hand holding the cup paused slightly, and then he burst into laughter: "Hahaha... With those words from Brother Qin, I can rest easy!"]

[He toasted another cup, his eyes slightly red: "Brother Qin, you don't know, all these years..."]

[He seemed to be speaking from the heart, telling you a great deal, as if regretting that you hadn't met sooner.]

[Qin Han took the opportunity while you were talking to jump down from your shoulder, squat on the edge of the table, and quietly stretch his little paw toward that plate of Red-Scaled Fish.]

[You glanced at him; he retracted his paw and winked at you.]

[After three rounds of wine and five courses of food.]

[Patriarch Sima Gongzhi became increasingly talkative, speaking about everything from the local customs of Nanyang Star to the power structure of the Heavenly Palace, and from the temperaments of the various Elders to the preferences and taboos of the Flame Emperor.]

[You listened, occasionally nodding or interjecting a sentence.]

[Some of what he said you already knew, while some you didn't.]

[You silently noted down the things you didn't know.]

["Brother Qin." Patriarch Sima Gongzhi suddenly lowered his voice, "I have something to say, though I don't know if I should."]

["Speak."]

["Does Brother Qin know why the Flame Emperor personally recruited you into the Heavenly Palace?"]

[You held your wine cup and didn't move.]

[Seeing that you didn't speak, Patriarch Sima Gongzhi thought you didn't understand. He leaned in closer, his voice even lower: "In recent years, the Heavenly Palace has faced internal troubles and external threats. It looks glorious on the surface, but in reality... some things have already rotted. The Flame Emperor needs a blade."]

[He made a gesture across his neck with his hand.]

["A sharp blade. Clean and efficient, untainted by Karma."]

[You smiled: "Does Brother Sima mean that I am that blade?"]

[Patriarch Sima Gongzhi was stunned for a moment, then gave an embarrassed smile: "Brother Qin is wise. I was just... speaking casually."]

[You didn't respond, but raised your wine cup and took a slow sip.]

[Patriarch Sima Gongzhi looked at your expression and quickly raised his wine cup: "I misspoke. I'll penalize myself with a drink."]

[He drained it in one go.]

[You set down your wine cup and looked at him: "Brother Sima, you say the Flame Emperor needs a blade. Then let me ask you, what happens when the blade has been used?"]

[Patriarch Sima Gongzhi's smile froze on his Face.]

[After a few breaths, he gave a forced laugh: "Brother Qin must be joking. With your strength, how could you be willing to be someone else's blade?"]

[You smiled and didn't continue the topic.]

[The banquet lasted for another half hour before Patriarch Sima Gongzhi rose to take his leave.]

[As he walked out of the Moon-Watching Pavilion, his steps were a bit unsteady. It was unclear whether he had truly drunk too much or was just pretending.]

[Sima Jing followed behind him. After walking a few steps, she suddenly turned back and glanced at you.]

[That glance was very brief, so brief it could almost be ignored.]

[But you saw it.]

[In her eyes, there was reluctance, expectation, and some other indefinable things.]

[You stood where you were and didn't move.]

[Manager Zhou saw them out, all the way to the exterior of the Immortal Estate.]

[A moment later, Manager Zhou returned to report. Standing behind you, he asked cautiously: "Lord Star Master, those boxes..."]

[You patted Qin Han on your shoulder: "They're all yours."]

[Manager Zhou tactfully withdrew.]

[Qin Han's eyes widened, and he let out a burp: "Wow... but I'm so full today."]

["I didn't tell you to finish them all in one day. Eat them slowly."]

[Qin Han's eyes lit up: "Then can I eat those in the storehouse?"]

["Not for now."]

[Qin Han pouted, then suddenly changed the subject: "Daddy, that old man drank so much, why doesn't he seem drunk?"]

["He's afraid of death!"]

["Afraid of death?"]

[Qin Han looked puzzled, unable to figure it out. His eyes half-closed, and then he fell asleep.]