Chapter 1864 (Raw 1876): Hidden Sharpness
As a result of the slight delay, Xiao Chen arrived at the Marquis’s Residence’s main hall after about seven minutes.
Several people had already gathered in the main hall.
Aside from the Soaring Dragon Marquis’s children, there were also several of the extended family. After all, they were all part of the Long Clan.
It was clear that the Long Clan flourished and had many people.
This was normal. After all, the Soaring Dragon Marquis was conferred a marquis and ruled an area. It would be strange if his clan did not flourish.
Outside the main hall, Monarch Yu’s escort scattered to the side, standing together with the Marquis’s Residence’s guards.
These guards all showed serious expressions, no less cautious just because they were in the Marquis’s Residence.
Inside the main hall, the family banquet had yet to begin.
As Monarch Yu was the son of a duke, he possessed the bloodline of the royal clan and held a noble position.
However, Monarch Yu was easygoing in his interactions with people, polite to all. He was graceful and bold, inspiring admiration.
Monarch Yu was currently speaking to a youth who bore some resemblance to Lan Luo but older. This youth should be Lan Luo’s elder brother.
The disciples of the Long Clan surrounded the two, chatting merrily.
However, Monarch Yu held the limelight. Most people focused their gazes on him.
This was especially so for many of the women there. Most of them had sparkles in their eyes, not hiding their admiration at all.
“Young Master Xiao, we have arrived,” said the maidservant leading the way. Then, she performed a cute curtsey.
Before that maidservant left, she gave Monarch Yu an abashed look.
The little monk leaned over Xiao Chen’s shoulder, looking around curiously and appearing extremely cute.
One adult and one baby walked into the main hall.
The two immediately attracted countless gazes. Several people showed curious expressions on their faces.
This was the Long Clan’s family banquet. Why was there an outsider aside from Monarch Yu?
“You are?”
The youth who was speaking to Monarch Yu asked from a distance, not getting up.
[TL Note: Culturally, this is a very rude action. The polite way would be to get up, walk over, greet each other first. It is just like someone remaining seated while shaking hands with someone who is standing, perhaps worse, as there was not even a greeting.]
“Whoosh!”
Immediately, many gazes focused on Xiao Chen. The noisy hall fell silent.
“First Brother, he is Xiao Chen. He is the person that I told you about. Father specially invited him over.”
Before Xiao Chen replied, Lan Luo stood up and brought him over while introducing him.
“You! You actually dare to step into the Marquis’s Residence?! Long Clan guards! Take him down!”
A familiar figure appeared among the Long Clan disciples. This person shouted as he pointed at Xiao Chen, not hiding any of his murderous intent on his face.
Long Bo?
Xiao Chen thought for a while and recalled this person. This was the viscount that sent people to assassinate him in the Soaring Dragon Great Realm.
This person seemed to be Lan Luo’s seventh brother. Xiao Chen recalled that he had dealt him a killing blow.
However, Xiao Chen did not find it strange. At that time, he had left in a rush and had not finished him off.
With all the experts in the Cluster Lord’s Residence, it was not strange that they managed to rescue Long Bo.
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!” A group of guards appeared from outside and surrounded Xiao Chen without a word.
However, these guards did not attack. They only looked at the youth beside Monarch Yu.
Clearly, Lan Luo’s first brother held more authority here.
“You may withdraw. There’s nothing going on.”
Lan Luo’s first brother waved his hand and dismissed the guards. Then, he said indifferently, “Seventh Younger Brother, Young Master Xiao is an honored guest that Lord Father specially invited. Pay attention to your behavior. Otherwise, I don’t mind chasing you out.”
Long Bo appeared rather sullen. His enemy was right before him, but Xiao Chen was his father’s honored guest.
Despite being in his own home, he actually could not do anything to Xiao Chen to take him down.
“Don’t get arrogant yet. Sooner or later, I will deal with you.”
After that, Long Bo flung out his hand and left angrily.
Xiao Chen said indifferently, “I also do not mind killing you again.”
The moment Xiao Chen said that, there was an uproar. Xiao Chen’s words shocked all the Long Clan disciples. Aside from shock, all of them now looked at Xiao Chen with hostility. Despite being in the Marquis’s Residence, he actually said something like that before the Long Clan’s people. This was simply mocking them.
Even Lan Luo’s first brother appeared to feel somewhat awkward, stunned for a while.
“It looks like I am not welcomed here. Goodbye.”
Xiao Chen had always been a decisive person. Seeing the expressions of the others, he was no longer willing to remain.
Had Xiao Chen known that Long Bo would be here, he would have rejected the invitation from the start.
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However, there were some people unwilling to let Xiao Chen leave.
“Young Master Xiao, please wait. Since you have received the protection of the Marquis’s Residence, it will be too disrespectful to the Lord Marquis if you leave. The family banquet of the Marquis’s Residence rarely invites outsiders. Young Master Xiao, do reconsider,” Monarch Yu said slowly as he poured himself a cup of tea.
This immediately caused another uproar among the many Long Clan disciples. It turned out that the Marquis’s Residence was even protecting him. They felt that Xiao Chen was simply too condescending and unreasonable.
With these simple words, Monarch Yu instantly isolated Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen thought for a while. If he left the family banquet like that, it was indeed too disrespectful to the Marquis, whom he had yet to meet.
This would also put Lan Luo in a spot.
So, Xiao Chen turned around, found a corner, and sat down beside Lan Luo.
When Xiao Chen returned and took a seat, Lan Luo clearly released her bated breath.
Xiao Chen, sorry for putting you on the spot. Lan Luo sent a voice projection. She had done this out of kind intentions. Unexpectedly, things turned out like that.
It’s fine. I was the one who did not manage it properly.
There was indeed no need to get angry with someone like Long Bo. Xiao Chen already let it go.
“Haha! Everyone is here.”
Just at this moment, a middle-aged man with white hair at his temples and wearing armor walked in with enormous strides.
“Father.”
“Third Uncle!”
“Lord Marquis!”
Everyone at the table stood up and greeted the person who came. Needless to say, this person was the overlord of the Soaring Dragon Marquisate, the Soaring Dragon Marquis.
However, this person looked very ordinary. He only gave off the stern air of a large general.
There did not seem to be anything special about him, which felt rather strange.
“I have been busy with military affairs and rarely eat with everyone. Today, I have invited two honored guests to the family banquet. Come, let me offer the both of you a toast first.”
The Soaring Dragon Marquis was rather straightforward. He stood up to offer Xiao Chen and Monarch Yu a toast after he indicated for everyone to sit down.
Xiao Chen and Monarch Yu did not dare delay. They stood up at the same time and drank all the wine in their cups in one go.
“Many thanks for Lord Marquis’s hospitality.”
The two took their seats once more and put down the wine cups.
The family banquet formally started. It was not really a lavish meal, but there were many fine dishes served.
The Soaring Dragon Marquis also did not pay any particular attention to Xiao Chen or Monarch Yu.
When the Soaring Dragon Marquis spoke, it was mostly about family matters and other minor things.
“Your father does not seem arrogant at all,” Xiao Chen said to Lan Luo, who was beside him.
However, Lan Luo said helplessly, “As far as I know, this is how he has always been, neither hot nor cold about anything. No one can ever tell what he really thinks in his heart. Even I can’t tell.”
This was one such example. The Soaring Dragon Marquis had clearly called Xiao Chen over. However, he did not speak to Xiao Chen at all.
This made Lan Luo disappointed and slightly frustrated.
“I heard that Monarch Yu wants to ask you to join the Divine Sword Pavilion with him.”
Xiao Chen skipped past that topic and raised another.
A bright light flashed in Lan Luo’s eyes as she said, “Why? Are you interested? Let’s go together. The Divine Sword Pavilion is one of the few Rank 7 sects of the Yanwu Dynasty. Many of their disciples are powerful demonic geniuses that can rank among the top.”
Xiao Chen smiled and retorted, “I am a bladesman. How can I go to the Divine Sword Pavilion?”
“That’s true. I nearly forgot about that.” Lan Luo frowned, appearing vexed. Then, she said, “In that case, I’m not going, either.”
On the other side, when Monarch Yu saw Xiao Chen chatting intimately with Lan Luo, an indiscernible cold light flashed in his eyes.
Soon, someone suddenly stood up and offered Xiao Chen a toast. “Young Master Xiao, you have traveled a long way. I, Long Yun, offer you a toast.”
Since someone offered Xiao Chen a toast, he had to reciprocate.
After the cup of wine, Long Yun asked, “Young Master Xiao and Monarch Yu both received invitations from Third Uncle. I believe you must be from a famous sect, right?”
Xiao Chen countered indifferently, “I’m not. Just an ordinary independent cultivator. However, I am new to the Central Great Realm.”
These words caused another uproar. This was actually a sectless, factionless, independent cultivator.
Furthermore, this was someone new to the Central Great Realm. To the Long Clan members, such people were country bumpkins.
When the others thought about the fact that they ate together with someone of such status, they could not help showing strange expressions.
Monarch Yu revealed a surprised expression. “Unexpectedly, one of the Ghostly Shadow Fiend Duo, which shook up the entire city last night, is actually new to the Central Great Realm.”
Ghostly Shadow Fiend Duo!
Monarch Yu’s carefree words successfully caused these Long Clan disciples to change their expressions again.
This fellow did not say much. However, his words all had a hidden sharpness to them, trying to isolate Xiao Chen.
When Xiao Chen thought about it, he found it funny. This so-called monarch was someone petty. He was merely so-so.