Why join this excitement? Arriving uninvited? Wei Ji hesitated, “Gang Leader, is this appropriate?”
There was a sentence he did not say out loud. The host was the second in command who had rebelled against the Mountain and Sea Gang. If you arrive uninvited, can you keep your dignity?
“Appropriate?” Gu Renshan let out a questioning retort, then walked to the window, staring outside and speaking slowly, “Do you think that Scorpion Gang has the strength and qualification to compete with us big gangs for Bronze Sparrow Lake?”
Wei Ji: “Naturally they do not. They have neither the strength nor the qualification.”
Gu Renshan: “Then why is he still signing up? Does he have too much money to spend? Is ten million taels not money? Does he like the feeling of watching money splash into the water?”
Wei Ji fell silent, looking thoughtful.
Gu Renshan sighed, “It is obvious. The original number of people in the Scorpion Gang did not even meet the participation standard. Now they are completely piecing together a temporary group just to meet the registration requirement. With such a sloppy team, he still dares to throw money into this game. Where does his confidence come from? Or rather, who in this Stone Heart Residence can give him this confidence?”
Wei Ji’s eyes flashed, and the name flashing in his mind blurted out, “Lian Yu!”
Gu Renshan nodded, “Ten million is not a small sum. Daring to throw it out like this, I wonder if it has something to do with that big guy gaining Lian Yu’s favour. Did Lian Yu make some promise, or has Lian Yu already obtained the exam questions for them?”
Wei Ji showed a look of realisation, finally understanding why the gang leader wanted to join the excitement. If the Scorpion Gang really had the exam questions in hand, how could they sit by and watch other gangs harbour ill intentions?
Turning around, Gu Renshan paced while muttering to himself with his head down, “Strange. Logically, since Nie Rifu can control Kuailei City in such a complex place, he would not fail to notice the obvious situation with his own woman. Lian Yu is flirting with that big guy, yet Nie Rifu has not reacted at all. He really knows how to keep his composure.”
Wei Ji also found this matter strange.
On the terrace lounge chair, Lian Yu lay barefoot, reading a book.
In this Kuailei City, to dispel emptiness and loneliness, there is no better way than reading, which keeps the mind from wandering aimlessly.
Of course, the premise is having the conditions for it. Being able to read a book in peace within the Tianji Mountain territory is actually quite a luxury.
Huniu walked into the room, half knelt beside the lounge chair, and half leaned on the armrest, “Landlady, Zhang Sui refused to have dinner with you.”
Lian Yu tilted her head and raised an eyebrow.
Inviting that big guy to dinner was naturally not because she liked him that much, but to use him as a shield. She could imagine that Liang Ban would definitely invite her to dinner again. She was extremely annoyed and could not keep declining. Now having a shield would be much better, but who knew this shield would not give her face.
Seeing her show a dissatisfied expression, Huniu hurriedly explained, “It is not that he is disrespecting you. It is because he was beaten to it by Leader Wei of the Mountain Guarding Gang. He agreed to attend Leader Wei’s banquet tonight and cannot break his promise.”
Lian Yu immediately showed a puzzled expression, “What face does he have for Wei Yue to host a banquet for him?”
Huniu: “It is unclear. However, strangely enough, not long after the Mountain Guarding Gang booked a table at the Cloud Gathering Terrace, the Mountain and Sea Gang, the Heavenly Rainbow Gang, the Golden Cicada Gang, and the Star Moon Gang also successively booked a table at the Cloud Gathering Terrace, all for tonight.”
There are several banquet venues in the Stone Heart Residence, and the Cloud Gathering Terrace is one of them. It is very abnormal for these top gangs of Tianji Mountain to suddenly book tables at the same time and place, obviously hinting at something fishy.
Lian Yu lost the mood to read. She closed the book and placed it on her chest, muttering suspiciously to herself, “What are these people up to?”
Huniu: “It is unclear. It is puzzling.”
Lian Yu frowned, “Could they be planning something here?”
Huniu smiled, “That is unlikely. They probably do not have that much courage yet.”
Lian Yu pondered for a while, then suddenly turned her head to look at Huniu and smiled, “Shall we also go and join the excitement tonight?”
Huniu’s big eyes blinked rapidly.
Sunrise and sunset, the sky darkened again.
Although they did not know why Wei Yue wanted to invite them, Yu Qing and Mu Aotie still arrived on time. When they reached the Cloud Gathering Terrace, Wei Yue, whose smile seemed permanently fixed on his face, was already waiting there.
The host and guests politely took their seats, and Wei Yue’s subordinates immediately waved to serve the dishes.
There were only three tables on site. Wei Yue sat at the head, while Yu Qing and Mu Aotie sat on the left and right.
The two brothers looked at this situation and could not help but exchange glances. It turned out they were the only two guests, and no one else was invited.
While they were pondering and the waiter was serving the food and wine, a woman’s voice suddenly came from the entrance, “Oh my, I was wondering why the voice sounded familiar. It is you.”
Several people present turned to look and saw an old woman with grey hair at her temples walking in. It was none other than Gu Yang, the leader of the Star Moon Gang.
The two brothers stood up politely.
Wei Yue remained seated, merely cupping his hands in a gesture of greeting.
“Am I disturbing you?” Gu Yang also spoke politely.
“No, no.” Wei Yue was hypocritical in his words. In reality, he did not want her to stay, so he pointed at the scene to indicate, “I did not expect to meet Leader Gu here. As you can see, there is no preparation, so it is truly inadequate…”
Before he could finish, the underlying meaning was simple. There was no preparation to entertain you, so I will not keep you. Anyone sensible would know what to do.
Who knew Gu Yang would wave her hand cheerfully and say, “It does not matter, no preparation is needed. I am also dining here and was just feeling bored alone. I did not expect to find company here.” She turned around and shouted, “Xie’er, bring my table of food and wine in.”
A woman’s voice sounded from outside, “Yes.”
Soon, two waiters carried a table in, followed by an ordinary looking woman, who was exactly Gu Yang’s trusted subordinate, Xie’er.
Under Xie’er’s direction, the waiters placed the table next to Mu Aotie’s table and then invited Gu Yang to be seated.
Wei Yue watched this entire scene, his face showing a half smile that looked like he could not smile at all. He wanted to speak several times but stopped himself, blocked by his previous words. Now it actually gave him a chance to show his respect.
Yu Qing and Mu Aotie looked at each other speechlessly, wondering if it was an illusion, but they felt this leader of the Star Moon Gang had a bit of an uninvited guest vibe.
The waiters who moved the table retreated. Gu Yang pointed at her food and wine and smiled at Wei Yue, “Not disturbing, am I?”
Wei Yue really wanted to ask her, since you have shamelessly sat down, would you leave if I said you were disturbing? He immediately snorted and smiled, “It is fine. Consider it as inviting one more person. This table of food and wine is on me.”
Gu Yang immediately cupped her hands, “Then thank you.”
Who knew that just as her words fell, another voice sounded from the entrance, “Eh, you are also here? What a coincidence. I am bored alone, so we can刚好 share a table. Go, bring my table over.”
Several people looked over at the sound and saw Shen Wukong, the leader of the Heavenly Rainbow Gang, swaggering in. His table of food and wine soon followed.
The previous Gu Yang at least knew to ask if the host agreed and knew some tact. This Leader Shen, however, was direct enough.
The newly moved table had not even been placed steadily when another voice came from outside, “Oh, it is you. Count me in. Go, move the seats and bring it over.”
It was Gu Renshan, the leader of the Mountain and Sea Gang, walking in.
Wei Yue, who usually wore a smile, really could not smile anymore. He watched his own banquet venue become a thoroughfare in silence. Ultimately, Shen Jinchan, the leader of the Golden Cicada Gang, did not disappoint him either, having his men carry in a table full of food and wine.
How could Wei Yue not understand now? He was not the only smart one. Everyone’s eyes were bright. Now he wanted to chase them away but could not open his mouth. Could one Mountain Guarding Gang directly fall out with these four major gangs at the same time?
The most frustrating thing was that since he said he invited Gu Yang, it would be inappropriate to only charge Gu Yang when settling the bill later, which would lose the prestige of his newly established Mountain Guarding Gang.
Sensing the wrong atmosphere, Yu Qing and Mu Aotie exchanged glances from time to time. Everyone else in the room knew what was going on, except for the two of them, who were confused and did not even dare to speak randomly, fearing that a fire at the city gate would bring disaster to the pond fish.
At the door of the landlady’s room in the Stone Heart Residence, there was also a constant flow of people. Waiters occasionally came to report the latest situation at the Cloud Gathering Terrace.
Not knowing what act these people were putting on, Lian Yu found it funny. After finishing her dressing, she went out, heading directly to the Cloud Gathering Terrace with Huniu to join the excitement.
Just after they left, the figure of Liang Ban appeared at the stairwell and quickly followed.
As Lian Yu expected, Liang Ban had indeed invited her to dinner again earlier. She directly declined, saying she had important matters tonight and could not keep him company.
While secretly angry, Liang Ban hid in the dark to observe, wanting to see what important matters she could have, and wanting to see if she was going to meet that big guy in private again. If so, he did not want to wait for Nie Rifu to act. He was ready to bring out the Liang family to slap their faces.
Just like that, he followed all the way to the Cloud Gathering Terrace.
“Oh my, I heard all the great gang leaders have gathered here. Sure enough.”
The people at the table, who were pouring wine into their cups, heard the familiar woman’s voice, looked over accordingly, and found it was Lian Yu who had arrived. Immediately, there was a flurry of greetings, and they successively stood up.
Lian Yu walked up to everyone and smiled, asking, “Are you plotting some major event? If it is inconvenient for a bystander to listen, this little woman will take her leave.”
Most people chuckled and successively looked at Wei Yue. After all, he was the host in this room.
Wei Yue was furious at first sight. He knew these people had no good intentions. He could not be the villain, so he could only laugh and cup his hands, saying, “Not at all. If the landlady can sit and drink with us, it is our honour. Go, bring another table of food and wine.”
“No need, no need, do not trouble yourself.” Lian Yu raised her hand to stop the waiter’s action, while telling everyone not to stand on ceremony and to sit down and talk. She walked half a circle and sat down next to Mu Aotie, actually squeezing brazenly onto the same seat as Mu Aotie.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Mu Aotie had thin skin and immediately wanted to stand up to avoid suspicion.
Lian Yu seemed to have anticipated this. She reached out in advance, grabbed one of Mu Aotie’s wrists under the table, and forcefully held him back, preventing his bottom from leaving the stool.
Lian Yu waved lightly to the waiter, “A set of bowl and chopsticks will be enough.”
The waiter naturally obeyed.
After a slight struggle, Mu Aotie had to accept reality. It was also at this moment that he discovered this woman actually had the cultivation of the Upper Profound realm. He could not break free from her control, nor could he publicly speak rudely and cause Lian Yu to lose face. For now, he could only resign himself to his fate, though his cheeks felt a bit hot.
The other gang leaders stared at this scene as if their eyes had grown nails, finding that this woman Lian Yu was truly something. Was she publicly adding glory to Nie Rifu?
Yu Qing suddenly felt a bit out of place. He was the first in the whole room to pick up his wine cup, drank a cup silently by himself, and pretended to see nothing.
Just at this moment, an uninvited guest appeared at the entrance. Dressed in snow white, waving a folding fan, was a handsome and elegant young gentleman.
Liang Ban, who barged straight in, glanced at the scene. The folding fan in his hand stiffened. He found that it was just those people from the last dinner party.
He did not know if everyone was having a gathering or if someone was treating, but the point was he was left out. No one invited him. This scene alone made his chest heave rapidly, his face flushed red, and he almost exploded with anger, feeling looked down upon.
What made it worse was that Lian Yu and Mu Aotie were sitting together like a couple, which was extremely an eyesore.