https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-163-The-Secret-of-Xinling-Wei-Zihao-s-Terrifying-Intuition/13688331/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-165-Apprenticeship-and-Assassination-/13688336/
Chapter 164: The Banquet Feast
In the morning, the Wei Family Residence was filled with joy and festivity. The courtyard and gates were hung with lanterns, glowing with a radiant cheer. Even the servants and maidservants wore smiles on their faces.
Today was a great day—Young Master An’s initiation ceremony to formally become a disciple. Everyone knew that when the Lady of the Wei Family and the household elders were pleased, generous rewards would surely follow. In fact, the servants had already received a portion of their bonus that very morning. How could they not be happy?
The guests had not yet arrived, but Ma Gu stood in the Youzhu Xiao Yuan, dressed in fine robes, perfectly groomed and poised.
“Ma Ye, relax,” Lu Qing said, noticing Ma Gu’s restless fidgeting. “Today is your day—your first official disciple. You should be overjoyed.”
“It’s true,” Ma Gu replied with a bitter chuckle. “But still… I can’t help but feel nervous.”
“Think about it,” Lu Qing smiled. “No one here would dare cause trouble in the Wei Family Residence. Young Master An is truly eager to learn under your guidance. So just take it step by step. You’ve survived far more dangerous trials than this initiation. What’s a little ceremony compared to that?”
His words eased Ma Gu’s mind, if only slightly.
Originally, the Wei Family had suggested holding the ceremony at Ma’s own home, with Wei Xinghe personally bringing Wei Zian to pay respects. But when the Ma family heard the plan, they immediately panicked and refused.
What kind of insult would it be to ask the Head of the Wei Family to bow so low? The Ma family was merely a minor clan in the county town—how could they possibly maintain order when so many powerful factions came to celebrate?
After consulting with the Grand Manager, they agreed: the ceremony would be held at the Wei Family Residence after all. At least there, no one would dare to make trouble.
“Master Ma, Master Lu Xiao Langjun, the Grand Manager says the auspicious hour is nearly upon us. I’ve come to fetch you.”
A servant approached respectfully, bowing slightly.
“Lu Qing, let’s go,” Ma Gu said.
“Right,” Lu Qing nodded, then called out into the room. “Xiao Yan, Xiao Li, it’s time to go.”
“Brother, can we finally go see the fun?”
The two little girls burst out from the room, their eyes wide with excitement. They had heard the commotion all morning and couldn’t wait to see what was happening.
“Yep, we’re going to eat a big feast outside!” Lu Qing scooped Xiao Yan up and walked toward the gate, with Xiao Li scrambling onto his shoulder, gazing eagerly at the world beyond.
Old Doctor would not attend the ceremony—neither would Wei Shanhai. As a Xian Tian Jing cultivator, their presence would make the entire banquet feel suffocating. Anyone who met their gaze would likely feel like sitting on needles.
Halfway there, Ma Gu was led by a servant to the main hall to prepare. Lu Qing, meanwhile, took the girls toward the front courtyard.
The scene was already bustling. Many guests had arrived. Using his abilities, Lu Qing scanned the crowd and found that most were the heads of prominent families and influential factions in the county—clearly, the Wei Family had been shown great respect.
Xiao Yan and Xiao Li stared around in wonder, their eyes wide with curiosity at every new sight.
But when Lu Qing entered, the atmosphere shifted instantly.
The moment the heads of various factions spotted him, their conversations halted mid-sentence. They froze, staring at him in stunned silence.
“Li Jia Zhu, why’ve you gone quiet?” a warrior at the same table chuckled, following Li Jia Zhu’s gaze—then his own words caught in his throat.
Others turned. The courtyard, once filled with chatter, slowly fell silent. Every guest looked at Lu Qing with a mix of awe and reverence, no longer daring to speak loudly.
This scene did not go unnoticed by a few Qingyun Jian Ge disciples nearby.
“Lu Xiao Langjun, Lu Xiao Niangzi,” said the Wei Da Zong Guan, who had been greeting guests, “the Master has instructed that you sit here.” He led them to the most honored table.
A few people were already seated. Among them, a pair of humble-looking elders sat stiffly, their expressions nervous.
“Thank you, Grand Manager,” Lu Qing said, taking a seat with Xiao Yan beside him. He nodded politely to the others.
“Let me introduce you,” the Grand Manager said. “This is Ma Jia Zhu. These two are Ma Gu’s parents.”
Lu Qing blinked in realization. He had been puzzled earlier—why would such unremarkable people be seated at the head table? Now he understood.
“Good day, Uncle and Aunt,” Lu Qing smiled. “I’m Lu Qing. I’m a friend of Ma Ye. You can call me A Qing.”
“Ah—no, no, please don’t say that!” Ma Jia Zhu stammered. “To be called such by a figure like Lu Xiao Langjun—it would humble us to death!”
He wasn’t joking. He had personally witnessed Lu Qing’s battle against the Wu Dao Zong Shi. To face such a supreme cultivator—how could he possibly treat him casually?
Ma Gu’s parents grew even more tense. Though simple, they were not foolish. The way Lu Qing had entered—how the Grand Manager had personally escorted him, how even the heads of powerful clans had fallen silent…
They knew now. This young man was no ordinary person. He was someone extraordinary.
But how had their son—Ma Gu—come to know such a figure?
Even now, they still couldn’t believe it. Though they were proud of their son—after all, as a branch family member, he had reached Jin Gu Jing and become a pillar of the clan—this moment was beyond imagination.
The idea that Ma Gu would become the master of the Wei Family’s Young Master An… it was almost too incredible to accept.
Even after days of hearing the news, and now sitting in the heart of the Wei Family Residence, they still felt dizzy with disbelief.
Seeing Ma Jia Zhu so deferential toward Lu Qing, the other guests didn’t sneer—they envied.
Who wouldn’t want to be close to a cultivator like Lu Qing, especially one with a mysterious, even more powerful Xian Tian Jing master behind him?
The Ma family truly had struck gold. Not only was Ma Gu to become the master of the Wei Family’s heir, but now he was also connected to Lu Qing. It was clear—this family was on the rise.
But despite their envy, no one dared show it. The presence of Lu Qing made even the most boisterous guests whisper. The once-lively courtyard now felt hushed and solemn.
This only deepened the curiosity of the Qingyun Jian Ge disciples.
“Brother Li,” one of them asked a young man at the same table, “who is that young man? He carries such authority—everyone here seems afraid of him.”
The young man looked up, visibly confused. “I don’t know. He’s a stranger to me. I’ve never seen him before.”
(End of Chapter)
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