Chapter 48: The Engagement Banquet

Three days.

Chen Anping woke up from his dream with a start.

He dreamed that circles of rot caused by cancer appeared on his skin, and even his cheeks and limbs became much more swollen.

At that moment, his breathing became extremely difficult. Each breath seemed to exhaust all his strength, and waves of uncontrollable pain surged from his chest.

Chen Anping opened his terrified eyes and immediately scanned his arms, thighs, and abs.

“Phew! So it was just a dream!”

Chen Anping exhaled a turbid breath.

The turmoil on his face disappeared, his gaze still clear and firm, and there was even a faint smile on his lips.

“First, I’ll order two cups of Snow King milk tea to calm my nerves!”

…

“No… no… Old Zhao, you can’t die!”

In her dream, the scene before Xu Lingqing’s eyes was like a twisted, terrifying painting. She stood alone in a cold prison, looking at a person lying in a pool of blood on the ground.

She quickly walked up to check, and the splashing blood stained the pleats of her skirt, dyeing her long dress red.

Xu Lingqing carefully turned the person’s body over. Her pupils instantly shrank into a ball, and she pushed his body.

“Old Zhao, are you alright?”

At this moment, Xu Lingqing’s heart felt as if it were being tightly squeezed by an invisible hand, so painful that she couldn’t breathe.

“No…”

Xu Lingqing woke up early. After eating a Small Rejuvenation Pill, her complexion eased a little. After all, it was just a dream.

She changed into a pure white long dress, inserted a hairpin into her sideburns, and wiped the Eternal Love on her neck clean. A violet-gold light shone through the long dress, revealing a faint, cold majesty.

Yesterday, Xu Lingqing had asked Lin Jintian and Gong Yue in advance if they had time to accompany her to Jialan Academy today.

The former seemed a little nervous and said he had things to attend to and had no time to leave Anjin City for now.

The latter looked furious, his eyes glaring with anger, as if he wanted to pick a fight with Jialan Academy.

Xu Lingqing sighed. She was just going to visit Old Zhao, not to fight to the death.

“Violet Lightning, it’s just you and me going together!”

At dawn, she left Anjin City with the little beast Violet Lightning and those puppets, setting off for Jialan Academy.

…

Jialan Academy.

Starting from the academy’s main gate, the road was lined with bright red lanterns. Colorful silk ribbons hung from the eaves, and a red carpet was laid on the ground.

On the central square, a large stage had been set up. A curtain with patterns carved from exquisite cloth was pulled down. Flowers were placed all around, and several beautiful women were singing and dancing.

Joyful and happy songs echoed throughout Jialan Academy, as if celebrating the grand opening of the engagement banquet.

In a side room, Tang Anni had changed into a red dress. She sat alone at her dressing table, applying a light layer of makeup. She dabbed a bit of rouge on her vermilion lips and smiled faintly.

“Xu Lingqing, the good show is about to begin!”

In another room, Zou Yongzhi had his long black hair tied up with a crown, a greedy look on his lips.

“Tang Anni, you are finally mine!”

In the square, Tang Haiyang stood at the front with a jubilant air, holding his head high and watching every guest who came to Jialan Academy for the engagement banquet.

At eight in the morning, the moment the sun first rose.

Hun Tian, the Vice Hall Master of the Soul Tomb Hall, appeared out of nowhere, bypassed the guards at the gate, and rushed in.

He grinned, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

“Elder Tang, long time no see!”

Tang Haiyang nodded slightly, accepted the gift with deep meaning, and patted the back of Hun Tian’s hand.

“Hun Tian, how has Hall Master Hun Mie Sheng been lately?”

“Elder Tang can rest assured, the Hall Master is still alive and well!”

Tang Haiyang threw his head back and laughed. “In that case, I am relieved. Brother Hun Tian, please enter the banquet!”

A moment after Hun Tian arrived, a deafening sound of trampling came from outside the gate of Jialan Academy.

Tang Haiyang knew who had arrived just by the sound. He descended from the sky and shouted with a fawning smile.

“Brother Lei, since you’ve come to the banquet, why didn’t you inform me in advance? I would have gone far to welcome you!”

At the main gate, several giant beasts were parked. On their backs sat several burly men. It was the team from the Beast Taming Sect.

Among the few people was one riding a famous white tiger. It was the Sect Master of the Beast Taming Sect, Lei Mingde.

“Hmph! I say, Jialan Academy is holding an event and didn’t even notify us earlier. I rode through the night to get here. You’re not going to kick me out, are you?”

“Sect Master Lei, what are you saying? Jialan Academy is famous for its hospitality. Someone, arrange for the best food to entertain our guests!”

The Beast Taming Sect was most proud of the mounts they rode.

With Tang Haiyang’s words, Lei Mingde patted his sleeves in satisfaction and strode into Jialan Academy.

As they walked, Tang Haiyang asked, “Brother Lei, why didn’t you bring your son Zhentian with you?”

Lei Mingde was suspicious for a moment, then complained loudly.

“Elder Tang, you know that our Beast Taming Sect raises a group of ferocious beasts. What if there’s no one at home and those beasts raid our home?”

Tang Haiyang’s face was very ugly. He gritted his teeth and forced a smile. “That’s true. Home is more important.”

In the next hour, countless large and small sects, families, and academies arrived one after another. However, these people were not qualified for Tang Haiyang to personally welcome them. They were all received by the Third Elder, Wan Hongkuo, and other elders.

Wan Hongkuo had just sent the sect master of a small sect to the banquet. His eyes were filled with venom and hatred, locked firmly on the front.

Tang Haiyang frowned slightly, not paying any attention to the weak Wan Hongkuo.

Suddenly, a fragrant wave of wind shot up into the sky. It was as if a level-eight gale was blowing in Jialan Academy.

The terrifying wind swept over, causing everyone present to involuntarily look serious and turn their eyes to the sky.

Dozens of immortal cranes flapped their wings and flew high, instantly turning into a stream of light that passed over everyone’s heads.

Tang Haiyang looked at the immortal cranes, his eyes filled with apprehension, and he muttered.

“What is that old witch doing here? I hope you don’t ruin my son’s good fortune!”

A few breaths later, the immortal cranes swooped down, stopping abruptly nearly a hundred meters from the ground. Several fairies in green clothes descended from the sky.

A green luan light shone, and the four corners of the sky seemed to be brushed by a long rainbow, leaving behind a captivating fragrance.

Tang Haiyang hurriedly went forward to greet them, a respectful yet graceful smile on his face.

“Sect Master Hui’s grand arrival truly brings splendor to Jialan Academy.”

Hui Liyi’s beautiful eyes shifted, a faint coldness flashing through them. “Elder Tang is too kind. We have only come to witness what this ‘heaven-shaking great gift’ you speak of is!”

Tang Haiyang laughed heartily and clapped his hands a few times.

“Naturally, there is a great gift for everyone to witness. However, please wait a moment, Sect Master Hui. The main character has not yet arrived!”

At the same time, Xu Lingqing, wearing the full set of Profound-grade equipment gifted by Chen Anping, a pair of violet-gold wings on her back flapping up and down, landed at the main gate of Jialan Academy as if treading on the heavens.

Immediately, she lowered her beautiful eyes, as if looking down from a great height, revealing a faint pride and coldness, almost ignoring everything in front of her as she floated past.

“Jialan Academy, I, Xu Lingqing, have returned!”

[End of Chapter]