The air in the Great Azure Plaza transformed from the heavy pressure of the duel into a shimmering haze of celebration. Lanterns shaped like glowing lotus flowers floated into the night sky, their light reflecting off the azure stone. On the central stage, dancers from the Southern Isles moved with a fluid, ethereal grace, their silks fluttering like the wings of spirit butterflies.
Hanyuan stayed in the shadows of a stone alcove, leaning against his spear. He had a plate piled high with Honey Glazed Fire-Bear and a side of Seven Treasure Spirit Rice. Every bite was a revelation; the meat was tender, infused with high heat fire Qi that warmed his stomach and sent ripples of vitality through his meridians. The "Blue Dew Orange" juice he sipped was tart and refreshing, far superior to anything sold in the outer city markets.
To think the Qin Clan serves food like this to ten thousand people, Hanyuan mused, his obsidian eyes scanning the crowd. The cost alone must be staggering.
"Save some of that bearskin for me," a tired voice groaned beside him.
Qin Yu slumped onto the bench, his ceremonial sash undone and his eyes glazed with social fatigue. He looked like he had just fought ten rounds in the arena instead of simply speaking a few sentences of praise.
"Brother Yu, you look like a ghost," Hanyuan chuckled, sliding the plate toward him.
"I've had to smile and bow so much my face feels like it's made of dried clay," Qin Yu sighed, taking a large gulp of fruit juice. He gestured with his chin toward the main table on the elevated dais.
In the center, the new successor, Qin Ruo, was surrounded by dignitaries and city lords. To his far left, the eldest brother, Qin Feng, sat in silence. His scholarly robes were stained with wine, and his face was flushed a dark, angry red. He didn't look at his brothers; he simply stared at the bottom of his jade cup, refilling it as soon as it was empty.
"My Eldest Brother..." Qin Yu whispered, his voice tinged with a hint of pity and caution. "He truly believed that his seniority and his management of the clan's treasury would override the laws of strength. Seeing Father pass the ring to Ruo has shattered him. If you encounter him, Hanyuan, stay away. A man with no future and a belly full of wine is more dangerous than a wild boar."
Hanyuan glanced at the brooding man.
Hanyuan's gaze then drifted to the right, where Qin Meili was in the center.She was darting from table to table, her laughter ringing out across the plaza. She patted warriors on the shoulder, debated with merchants, and seemed to be the most energetic in the entire banquet.
"I really hope she dont see us," Qin Yu muttered, shrinking further into the shadows. "If she finds out I'm hiding in the back row, she'll make a scene."
As if the heavens were playing a cruel joke, Meili's sharp blue eyes suddenly locked onto their corner. A bright grin spread across her face.
"HELLOOOO!" she shouted, her voice easily rising above the music. "Enjoying the banquet, Little Yu? Hiding like a mouse?"
Qin Yu's face went a shade of red. "Keep it down! Behave like a daughter of the Qin Clan!"
Meili ignored him entirely, her gaze fixed on Hanyuan. She strode through the crowd, parting the high born guests like a ship through water, and grabbed Hanyuan's wrist with that familiar, unbreakable grip.
"You've been in this corner too long, Little Hanyuan!" she chirped. "A guest of the Mystic Sky can't just lurk in the dark. Come on! I'm going to introduce you to the 'Silver Guard' and a few of the city's weapon smiths."
Hanyuan looked at Qin Yu for help, but the youth simply offered a helpless, 'you're on your own' shrug before burying his face back in his juice.
"Wait, I'm just eat.." Hanyuan started.
"Hush! You're cute and you have a nice weapon," Meili said, pulling him into the throng of nobles and masters. "That makes you interesting enough for Blue Dew City."
As she dragged him away, Hanyuan looked back at his half eaten plate.
The distant music and the muffled cheers of ten thousand guests became a hum in the background as Hanyuan slipped away from the dazzling lights of the banquet. His social battery was completely drained, his head ringing from the names of a dozen merchants and secondary elders he would likely never remember.
He reached the Azure Martial Plaza. It was deserted, the moon hanging high above like a silver coin, illuminating the basalt floor.
Hanyuan exhaled, the vapor freezing into mist. He drew the Cold Cloud Spear. The moment his fingers closed around the iron shaft, the mental exhaustion was replaced by a familiar, sharp clarity.
"Think of the spear as a needle, not a hammer," Qin Rong's voice echoed in his mind.
Thwack!
Hanyuan lunged. He focused on the micro movements of his wrist, loosening his grip at the final moment of impact. The blue runes on the spear glowed with a soft, pulsing light. Instead of a violent explosion of ice, the strike sent a thin, concentrated needle of Qi deep into the training post.
He stopped, closing his eyes to analyze the vibration. Better. The waste of Qi is down to fifteen percent.
Thwack! Thwack!
A heavy, grounding pressure entered the clearing. Hanyuan didn't need to look. Qin Rong had appeared ten paces away, his own silver spear reflecting the moonlight. He didn't speak; he simply offered a nod and began his own regimen. His movements were terrifyingly heavy,every swing of his spear seemed to displace the very air in the plaza, the marks of a Mortal Core expert.
They trained in a shared, respectful silence for a long time.
The silence was shattered by a high pitched, mischievous giggle.
"I should have known!" Qin Meili sauntered into the plaza, her azure ceremonial robes fluttering behind her. "The banquet is at its peak, the wine is flowing, the finest dancers are performing... and the two of you are here sweating in the dark. Honestly, it's like a sickness."
Hanyuan's shoulders slumped. He felt a phantom shiver of being grabbed. "W-Why are you not at the banquet, Big Sister Meili?" he asked, taking a defensive half step back.
Qin Rong also stopped his spear mid sweep, a frown forming on his face. "Meili, some of us find more joy in our progress than in a cup of wine. Let us train in peace."
Meili ignored her brother, her blue eyes fixed on Hanyuan. "Little Hanyuan was getting bored, I could tell! I have at least five more young misses who want to meet a 'hero' of the Mystic Sky Sect." She reached out, her hand darting forward like a snake.
Sou!
Qin Rong was faster. He stepped between them, his silver spear planting firmly in the ground, creating a subtle barrier of Mortal Core pressure that made the air thick.
"That's enough for one day," Qin Rong said with a heavy sigh. "You've played enough, Meili. The boy is exhausted. Go find your entertainment elsewhere."
Meili puffed out her cheeks, looking like an annoyed child. She glared at the musclehead blocking her way. "Tsk! Fine! You're both as boring as a stone wall. If you won't play, then I'll just go find Little Yu. At least he's easy to catch!"
With a swirl of her robes, she dashed back toward the plaza, her laughter trailing behind her.
Hanyuan let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He looked at Qin Rong and bowed deeply. "Thank you for saving my life, Senior Rong."
Qin Rong waved his hand dismissively, though a small smile touched his lips. "She's like a summer storm,impossible to stop, you just have to wait for her to pass. Now, we can finally train in peace."
Back at the banquet, Qin Yu was finally feeling relaxed. He was sitting in the darkest corner of the dais, his plate piled with Spirit Honey Glazed Pork. He had even managed to find a quiet flagon of elderberry juice.
Suddenly, a cold, icy shiver ran down his spine. His hair stood on end, and he looked around frantically.
"I have a very bad feeling," Qin Yu whispered. "Something terrible is about to happen to me."
"Oh, my sweet little brother!" A melodic voice exploded from right behind his ear. "Why are you trembling all over? Is the pork too spicy, or are you just excited to see me?"
Qin Yu let out a squeak of pure terror. He felt a pair of hands lock onto his shoulders with the grip of a predatory bird.
"No... no, sister, wait! I'm still eating! I haven't.."
"Eat while we walk!" Meili laughed, hauling him out of his seat with one arm.
Despite his desperate cries for mercy, Qin Yu was dragged back into the light of the banquet, doomed to be his sister's social shield for the rest of the night. His final thought, as he caught a glimpse of the peaceful training ground in the distance, was: Hanyuan, you traitor!