Chapter 48: The Awkwardness of the Dinner Gathering

The dinner was set in a private room of an upscale restaurant, where the lighting was soft and the long table was adorned with exquisite dishes and fine wine.

As soon as Jiang Yu arrived, she saw Cheng Xingyu already present in full splendor, shining like the leading lady of the evening, her face beaming with smiles as she greeted every guest at the door.

What left Jiang Yu even more speechless was the unexpected presence of Fu Boyun in the private room.

He was dressed in a black suit, seated at the head of the table, ...

Chen Yuanyuan hurriedly clung to Yan Song’s arm, her coquettish manner utterly charming. This famed beauty of Qinhuai, whose allure surpassed that of flowers themselves, could dispel all of Yan Song’s impatience, no matter how many times she made demands of him.

If Piccolo’s death drove Sun Wukong’s fury to the brink, then Krillin’s demise shattered that threshold entirely.

She vaguely remembered drinking at a bar last night—how had she ended up beside Bo Jianyan, and then brought to a hotel?

It’s also worth mentioning that among these four slots, there was Ma Xianglan, the last courtesan among the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai who had yet to be taken in by Yan Song.

After the Crown Prince took power, the first fierce clash between both sides ended in Yan Song’s camp prevailing through trickery, while the Crown Prince’s faction suffered a heavy loss due to their cunning schemes.

“Rotten wood cannot be carved! Let you uncivilized barbarians witness the power that hails from distant China! Soul-locking Vine!” In an instant, a green whip appeared in Long Chen’s hand.

Yan Song, however, remained calm and composed, as if he had already devised a countermeasure. When Emperor Jiajing requested auspicious reports, he complied entirely, passing them on immediately, without the slightest delay, ensuring the emperor’s delight.

As expected, a racket was thrust out first, separating Echizen from Horio and the others; then came a chilling, snake-like voice, sending Horio and his companions scurrying away in fear.

“Destructo Disk!” Reijel hurled the attack, which struck Xilu perfectly, slicing him in two. At the same time, No. 18 extended her hand and released a massive energy blast, obliterating both halves completely.

“Right, let me introduce you—this is Long Chen, and these are his friends!” Yin Mengxue said, introducing them to Mu Xueqin.

Although Jin Yan knew all of this was orchestrated by Lu Feng, he had to feign ignorance for the time being.

My heart felt as if gripped by an invisible hand, so tight I could hardly breathe. So this is a breakup fee? In his eyes, I am worth a million yuan. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time, not knowing what expression to wear.

“I should get going.” Chen Xiaoran managed a smile even more pitiful than tears toward Lin Xilu, then turned to leave.

“Nuo Yu, have you lost your mind? You call him ‘senior’—have you forgotten how he ravaged the Demon Realm and poisoned so many innocent lives over the years? How can you feel sympathy for a murderer with such blood on his hands?” Wan Di could hardly believe Nuo Yu’s compassion at this moment, directed toward someone so heinous.

The atmosphere was rather tense. Feng Ziyue fixed his eyes on me, a faint, chilly smile on his lips; his gaze was as sharp as a blade, making me feel utterly exposed. Even that smile seemed to carry a frosty edge. Then he turned to Zhou Yi, his look steady yet exuding a commanding presence.

What Qiao Ye felt for her could no longer be described as simply “goodwill.” Whether it was his appreciation for Lin Ziyun in the past or his affection for her now, it was enough to inspire genuine respect for this old man from the depths of one’s heart.

“And now, the final round: the lantern riddle contest will begin. Here are the rules…” The host wiped the sweat from his brow and began to announce the details.

Though Wu Hao reacted in time, in a contest between masters, even a moment’s distraction could prove dangerous.