The eighth day of April.
After a night of fermentation, the news that the Xue Family set up a trap, with Xue Ren as bait and Ning Yue as the blade, to eradicate the He Family's tumor, had spread throughout Gu City like a whirlwind.
The common people, unaware of the truth, clapped their hands in delight, while the various minor aristocratic families and newly emerging families in Gu City gnashed their teeth, secretly cursing the cunning of the old aristocratic families.
This, however, did not prevent them from tirelessly seeking to attach themselves to power.
Today, not only was the threshold of the Xue Family trodden flat, but even the office of the Xue Family father and son was a sea of people, an endless stream.
The two then claimed illness and did not come out.
Only the family heads of the Xie, Mo, and Han Families remained silent, their attitudes ambiguous, with no news of any movement from them.
Ning Yue also had a rare day off today.
He lay in the barracks for half a day, the sun baking his backside, still unwilling to get up.
It wasn't until Xie Qing arrived and pulled him out of bed.
After a series of complaints that were actually congratulations, Ning Yue helplessly followed Xie Qing out for a drink.
Ning Yue hadn't wanted to go, but Xie Qing said he was treating.
So they went...
The two walked and browsed, the spring in Gu City was warm, and the bustling pedestrians and merchants came and went like shuttles.
Entering the inner city, after only a few steps, the two stood before a restaurant, its dark plaque inscribed with three large, gold-painted characters — Gaoyang Restaurant.
This place, compared to the Lucky Restaurant where Han Qianhu hosted banquets, was naturally far inferior, being an asset of the Xie Family.
Of course, better assets would naturally not fall to Xie Qing, a concubine's son, to manage.
Stepping into the hall, there weren't many scattered customers inside, only a dozen or so tables.
Xie Qing led the way, greeting familiar customers while introducing Ning Yue, saying, “I don’t have time to manage this place, so my younger sister mostly takes care of the business. It’s managed quite well, making a small profit without loss.”
“Later, I’ll have her come over to toast us with a drink, and then you’ll be acquainted. You must come often in the future.”
Ning Yue nodded while surveying his surroundings.
It was evident that among the dozen or so tables, more than half of the customers were from the military, and many of them were likely brought by Xie Qing.
But as someone else was treating, he naturally wouldn't say much, and the two made their way to a private room on the second floor.
Although there were only two of them, Xie Qing ordered a full dozen dishes and two pots of excellent wine.
Ning Yue tried to dissuade him twice, but seeing Xie Qing's insistence, he said no more.
While waiting for the dishes, a Xiaoqi served tea. Ning Yue took a sip, finding it bitter and astringent, and drank no more.
Xie Qing then noticed the saber on Ning Yue’s person and asked in confusion, “Huh? You’re not wearing the saber Han Qianhu awarded you, why are you carrying this piece of rotten wood?”
Ning Yue’s lips curled up, and his eyebrows slightly arched, glancing at the other party with a hint of pride.
He then took off the saber, offered no explanation, and handed it over, “You take a look first.”
Seeing Ning Yue’s expression, Xie Qing grew interested. He took it in his hand, and his chubby hand suddenly dropped, nearly smashing it on the table.
Ning Yue smiled slightly.
Thus, Xie Qing's expression grew increasingly solemn. He glanced at his younger brother, who was feigning profundity.
Then, holding the saber with both hands, he gently opened it a crack, and thousands of rays of light instantly shone forth, illuminating the entire private room in a flash!
An annoying whisper immediately followed, buzzing and screeching, grinding at one’s sanity.
“Crack!” Xie Qing quickly sheathed the precious saber, sweat already beading on his forehead, and his voice trembled a bit as he spoke, “This saber… is extraordinary!”
“Hahahahaha…” Ning Yue burst into laughter.
Xie Qing sighed with emotion, “Old Xue treats you no differently than his own flesh and blood.”
Amidst their laughter and conversation, dishes flowed in, and soon the table was full.
The two ate and chatted, and Ning Yue began to recount the events of the past few days, which left Xie Qing stunned, unable to help but admire his younger brother’s courage in his heart.
If it were him, he probably wouldn't have even passed the test of Xu Mu and Feng Hai, and would have long since passed out drunk on the spot...
Martial artists are accustomed to eating well and eating a lot. Among the dozen or so dishes, there were no rare delicacies or exotic beasts. Ning Yue tasted each one. The flavor was decent, and the appearance, aroma, and taste were all excellent, but it was difficult to compare with a grand restaurant.
However, the joy of a banquet is not always available, and at this moment, with a good friend by his side and fine wine accompanying them, both were quite content.
After three rounds of wine and five courses, Xie Qing’s face looked a bit grim.
His younger sister had not appeared at all.
It was already past noon, and the restaurant’s business wasn’t too busy.
Logically, she should have arrived by now, right?!
Xie Qing was puzzled, but more than that, he was angry.
His own brother, Ning Yue, had acted as the Xue Family’s blade, accomplishing such a great feat. By his estimation, it was impossible for the Xue Family to not show appreciation.
If nothing unexpected happened, his younger brother would likely advance even faster than him, becoming a Zongqi.
Xiaoqi officers in Gu City might not be everywhere, but they were not considered high-ranking officials. They had no rank or grade, only slightly better than ordinary minor officials.
But the position of Zongqi was entirely different. Not only did it command hundreds of soldiers and grant a ninth-rank official title, but it also allowed one to obtain a directly administered jurisdiction. The difference in status, position, and future prospects and wealth was like heaven and earth.
The position of Zongqi, even within aristocratic families, could be considered a pillar.
Just look at his older brother in the Xie Family, who had strived for thirty years, yet only held this position.
Moreover, Ning Yue was sensible and discerning, and with the Xue Family as his powerful backing, his future prospects were boundless.
If his younger sister could get close to him, the benefits would naturally be numerous.
As a concubine's son of the Xie Family, Xie Qing already had limited resources and not much ability. Now that he finally had an easy opportunity, his own younger sister had dropped the ball at a crucial moment.
How could Xie Qing not be angry?!
However, in front of his good brother, he couldn't flare up and could only suppress his anger.
Ning Yue could more or less discern a few things about this; his brother from the Xie Family probably wanted to arrange a marriage for him.
He didn't expose it, only secretly chuckled.
Xie Qing didn't know where his younger sister from the Xie Family was, but Ning Yue, after advancing to the Yi Jin Realm, had keen senses and had already heard clues.
Xie Mu Han was most likely hiding in the private room directly opposite theirs.
And faintly, Ning Yue could still hear two people whispering inside the room.
“You say, why does my brother always bring people here to eat and drink for free? Our restaurant isn’t even a big business, so how can we make any money doing this?”
“If he could attract high-ranking officials like Baihu or Qianhu, that would be one thing, but look at those sitting in the hall, not even one wearing a silver robe? It’s an unnecessary disturbance.”
Xie Mu Han’s face was cold, and the maid remained silent.
Meanwhile, in the private room, the wine pot was empty.
Ning Yue, understanding the situation, stood up and took his leave, saying, “Since younger sister is inconvenienced, we can meet another day. There’s no harm in that.”
Xie Qing, usually good-tempered, now had a dark face. He first appeased Ning Yue, then called a Xiaoqi and sent him to summon her.
However, after waiting a while longer, there was still no response, and even the Xiaoqi disappeared.
The atmosphere was a bit awkward, the air seemed to solidify, and Ning Yue and Xie Qing finally couldn't sit still anymore.
So Ning Yue stood up again and said, “Brother Xie, a forced melon isn’t sweet. You stay here. I have something to do this afternoon. Let’s get together again later. I’ll treat you next time, definitely next time!”
After speaking, Ning Yue quickly got up and left, and Xie Qing finally couldn’t bring himself to say anything to make him stay.
As soon as Ning Yue stepped out of the restaurant, Xie Mu Han pushed open the door of the private room.
Xie Qing’s face was drawn long, and he angrily shouted, “You… where did you run off to?”
Xie Mu Han quickly stepped forward two paces, grabbed her brother’s sleeve, and softly said, “Brother, don’t be angry, I really had something to do just now and couldn’t leave.”
“Don’t you even have time for a single word? We have a head chef for cooking, waiters for serving and clearing, and I’ve even hired a specialized manager for organizing accounts and settling money?”
“You tell me, when has our Gaoyang Restaurant ever been this busy? And you’re still trying to fob me off with such excuses!” Xie Qing shouted, utterly enraged.
Today, not only did he fail to get the two to meet, but his younger sister's mischievous nature and refusal to follow his arrangements also caused him, Xie Qing, to lose face.
Xie Mu Han had never seen her brother so angry. Since she couldn't make any more excuses, she could only tell the truth, “Brother—, you say, how many military brothers have you made me meet this past year?”
“But you didn’t take a liking to a single one of them, did you?” Xie Qing said, squinting.
“But they were all either burly and big-headed, or widowers who had just lost their wives. And when there were finally two who looked decent, they were commoners, and their martial arts were mediocre. How could I ever like them?”
Xie Qing looked at his younger sister, whom he had raised since childhood.
Her face was like a goose egg, her eyebrows like a new moon, and her appearance was dignified and beautiful. Although she couldn't be called a young lady from a prominent family, she possessed the gentle charm of a modest young woman.
So his anger gradually subsided, but he still said unwillingly, “Today’s is different. Ning Yue, he—”
Xie Mu Han finally became exasperated and interrupted, “Oh, what’s so different? Anyway, I won’t marry anyone in the Gu City military except a Baihu or a Qianhu.”
“If I marry, I’ll marry a peerless hero!” Xie Mu Han said confidently.