200: Chapter 200 The Helian Family

In a massive room.

The top figures of Jiang Province were engaged in heated discussion.

Meanwhile, Zhao Feiyu sat in a corner, studying an ancient book on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

“Kid, stop pretending. The three Academicians won't fall for such cheap tricks!”

Just then, a discordant voice came from nearby.

“Cramming at the last minute might sharpen your blade a bit, but what the three Academicians value isn't your TCM theory or practice—it's your innate talent and physical constitution, understand? Putting on an act with that TCM book will only make the three Academicians dislike you even more!”

Zhao Feiyu looked over.

Not far away, amidst a group of young men and beautiful women, a young man spoke with disdain.

Zhao Feiyu only smiled slightly and didn't pay it any mind.

However, the young man was persistent.

He walked straight over.

Completely ignoring Zhao Feiyu, he began striking up a conversation with the Liu Yurou sisters.

“Beautiful ladies, are you twins?”

“Yes!” Liu Yurou nodded.

“Let me introduce myself. I am Lü Xiaobu of the Lyu family!”

The young man extended his hand, flashing what he thought was a charming smile.

Since one doesn't strike a smiling face, Liu Yurou simply nodded and spoke truthfully, “I'm sorry, but I'm here accompanying my brother to this banquet.”

“Your brother?” Lü Xiaobu couldn't help but look at Zhao Feiyu, who was still reading.

“You two...”

Lü Xiaobu asked suspiciously, drawing out his words.

“Are siblings?”

Actually, when he said this, Lü Xiaobu still held a glimmer of hope.

But when the twin sisters both leaned in and hugged Zhao Feiyu's shoulders from either side, he closed his eyes in despair.

This pair of sisters was the most beautiful he had ever seen.

Even individually, either one could outshine 99% of people.

Together, they were simply unrivaled under heaven.

And now, now they were actually...

“Sorry! My apologies for the intrusion!”

Lü Xiaobu said apologetically and left politely.

Seeing this, Zhao Feiyu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

The young masters of top-tier families Zhao Feiyu had met before were all self-important, arrogant, and looked down on everyone.

This fellow was actually decent; he knew when to advance and when to retreat.

“The Helian Family has arrived!”

Just then.

A shout suddenly came from outside the door.

Everyone looked over.

The massive rosewood doors were pushed open.

A middle-aged man with slicked-back hair, exuding the charm of a mature man, walked in slowly wearing a suit.

The man had broad shoulders and a narrow waist; his physique was excellent.

Though he was getting on in years, this mature charm was enough to captivate many young women and socialites.

Beside him followed a beautiful woman in her early twenties, wearing a white evening gown.

The woman had a superb figure, and the tight evening gown hugging her graceful curves immediately drew everyone's attention.

She walked in slowly, her hands hooked around the middle-aged man's arm.

In the banquet hall, all the top figures of Jiang Province stood up and gathered around.

“Welcome, Patriarch Helian!”

“Welcome, welcome!”

...

Everyone present clapped to welcome them.

The middle-aged man had a satisfied smile on his face, nodding slightly to acknowledge everyone.

“Apologies, I hope I'm not late!”

The middle-aged man looked around as if searching for someone.

“Have the three Academicians not arrived yet?”

“No, no, you've arrived just in time. The three Academicians haven't come yet!”

“This must be Patriarch Helian's daughter. She is truly graceful, valiant, and a person of great talent!”

“Miss Helian was specially recruited into Tianmen. With such talent, she will surely become a successor of the Ghost Doctor Sect!”

“If she is chosen by the Ghost Doctor Sect, the Helian Family will be like a tiger with wings!”

“Then we shall congratulate Patriarch Helian in advance!”

...

Facing the flattery of these people, Patriarch Helian only waved his hand slightly and didn't say much.

He had heard such words far too many times.

“Who are these people?” Zhao Feiyu couldn't help but ask from the corner.

However, before Liu Yurou could answer.

Lü Xiaobu, who had come over to chat earlier, immediately said, “You don't even know the Helian Family?”

Lü Xiaobu seemed very surprised.

“The Helian Family is the only hidden Ancient Martial Arts family in our Jiang Province.”

“That one there, the eldest miss of the Helian Family, Helian Qingxue, was specially recruited by a Tianmen elder ten years ago. She is now an inner disciple of Tianmen.”

“It's currently the Tianmen open visiting period, so Helian Qingxue has returned.”

“With Helian Qingxue participating in the Ghost Doctor Sect's disciple pre-selection, I'm afraid the rest of us have no chance!”

Zhao Feiyu couldn't help but chuckle. “Didn't you say earlier that the Ghost Doctor Sect selects disciples based on talent? Why is there no hope?”

“Helian Qingxue is an inner disciple of Tianmen. With her level of talent, how can we compare?” Lü Xiaobu shook his head.

“But from my understanding, the Ghost Doctor Sect belongs to TCM. TCM and Ancient Martial Arts don't have a very strong connection, do they?” Zhao Feiyu said.

“Who says they don't? The Ghost Doctor Sect's Thirteen Needles of the Ghost Gate are divided into Yin Needles, Yang Needles, and Ghost Needles. The Ghost Needle is primarily for assassination and is an assassination secret manual that all Ancient Martial Artists dream of. How can you say there's no connection?” Lü Xiaobu explained.

Zhao Feiyu nodded and didn't argue further.

He just took an extra look at Helian Qingxue before lowering his head to continue studying the ancient TCM book.

“The three Academicians of the Ghost Doctor Sect have arrived!”

At that moment, the doorman shouted again.

Everyone's expression turned solemn, and they immediately formed two rows, leaving a path in the middle to welcome the three Academicians.

The large red doors were opened once more.

Three elderly men walked in side-by-side.

In the center was Lin Jiuying, with a head of gray hair and wearing ordinary linen clothes.

To his left was Academician Xie Ge, who held even greater prestige in the secular world.

The president of the Kyoto National Medical Hospital, he wore a black traditional Zhongshan suit, looking solemn and dignified.

It could be said that if you pulled anyone off the street, they would likely recognize Academician Xie Ge.

To his right was the famous Song Zhaoying from the Ancient Martial Arts World.

Song Zhaoying served as the president of the Ancient Martial Artists Alliance.

In the Ancient Martial Arts World, he held the same level of prestige as Academician Xie Ge did in the secular world.

“Greetings to the three Academicians!”

Everyone greeted them in unison.

“Are these the Three-Generation Disciples of the Ghost Doctor Sect?”

Zhao Feiyu murmured as he watched the three men walk in.

The term 'Three-Generation Disciples' didn't mean they were the third generation of disciples.

Rather, it was a specific terminology of the Ghost Doctor Sect.

Because the inheritance rules of the Ghost Doctor Sect were unique.

One person passes to three, and three people pass to one.

Therefore, a single person is called a One-Generation Disciple, and a trio is called Three-Generation Disciples.

After a round of mutual flattery, everyone took their seats in order.

However, the seating arrangement was also very particular.

Only the representatives of the various powers in Jiangbei City were allowed at the table.

The recommended younger generation could only sit on chairs around the dining table.

But this condition only applied to ordinary dignitaries.

Helian Qingxue of the Helian Family sat at the table with her father.

After some introductions.

Lin Jiuying turned his head to look at the young people behind him. “Let's begin then, don't waste time!”

“Come, everyone stand before the three Academicians!”

As the top official of Jiang Province, Liu Qiangdong immediately began organizing the group.