https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-553-Lian-Chenbi-on-the-Moral-High-Ground/12536864/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-555-Shen-Bijun-by-the-Daming-Lake/12536866/
Chapter 554: A Grand Feast at the Shen Family Estate
Chapter 554: A Grand Feast at the Shen Family Estate
As they traveled north from Huai'an, peace reigned and no incidents occurred.
Though they encountered a few skirmishes amongst the jianghu, they had no part in them. Occasionally, a few petty thieves would harbor ill intentions, but Wan Chongshan would easily dispatch them.
The rest of the journey was a leisurely tour, taking in the famous sights, tasting local delicacies, and basking in their romantic bliss, much to the envy of onlookers.
The only one suffering was Wan Chongshan, who tagged along at their side. He couldn't decide whether to maintain a close or distant proximity, always feeling something was amiss.
However, there was one upside: meals and accommodations were free, and they enjoyed five-star treatment all the way.
Wan Chongshan thought about it and ultimately decided not to leave on his own.
...
Previously, Lian Chengbi had mentioned that they would arrive in ten days if they hurried, but it actually took them over twenty days.
"Grandmother!"
As the carriage came to a stop, Lian Chengbi lifted the curtain, and Shen Bijun saw Shen Laotaijun already waiting at the door.
Shen Bijun exclaimed in surprise and, with a display of light martial arts, leaped down from the carriage to her grandmother's side, supporting her arm. "Grandmother, why are you here?"
"Having you wait at the door would be too cruel," Shen Bijun said.
Shen Laotaijun laughed heartily, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she scrutinized Shen Bijun from head to toe, nodding in approval. "We are family; it's nothing. Now, let your grandmother have a good look at you. Hmm, you're so delicate and well-nourished!"
Shen Bijun's face turned crimson, and she couldn't help but twist her feet shyly. "Grandmother~~~"
"Hahaha!" Shen Laotaijun laughed aloud. As Lian Chengbi stepped forward to greet her and rise, she pulled him by the hand.
With Shen Bijun on her left and Lian Chengbi on her right, Shen Laotaijun turned around and instructed the surrounding maids and servants, "Quickly, prepare the feast! We must welcome my granddaughter and grandson-in-law properly!"
Then, everyone else rushed back into the Shen family estate, leaving only the Xiayang Swordsman, who had just dismounted, looking flustered in the wind.
Wan Chongshan: (︿_︿)
However, Shen Laotaijun hadn't forgotten about him. As she stepped onto the stairs, she turned back and said to him, "Hurry up and follow. If you're late, I won't save you a seat."
A smile immediately appeared on Wan Chongshan's face, and he hurriedly followed.
...
During the feast, Shen Laotaijun seated Shen Bijun by her side, constantly asking her questions in a low voice. Lian Chengbi, on the other hand, drank and chatted with Wan Chongshan while also attending to the few guests seated with them.
The recent head of the Shen family's branch: Shen Jingfei.
The Shen family branch's most renowned martial artist: Jin Zhendu Jie, Shen Wenyu.
The Shen family branch's foreign martial artist: Ludong Siyi, Shen Tiansong, Shen Tianzhu, Shen Tianbai, and Shen Tianju.
These people weren't specifically invited by Shen Laotaijun to accompany the guests, but they had come on their own accord upon hearing of Lian Chengbi and his wife's return.
Lian Chengbi surveyed the room, and his heart already knew.
Although the Shen family didn't have a three-hundred-year history like the Purity Mountain Villa, it was still a formidable clan with deep roots. Naturally, there would be many members with the Shen surname, but only Shen Jingfeng was from the main lineage.
After Shen Jingfeng's death, Shen Laotaijun took charge of all major and minor matters in the Shen family, firmly grasping the power and interest allocation. However, her energy was limited, so she brought in Shen Jingfei, the closest blood relative, to handle specific matters, similar to a chief steward.
This also reflected Shen Laotaijun's attitude.
When Shen Laotaijun passed away, it would be the day Shen Jingfei became the head of the Shen family—after all, Shen Bijun was a woman, and she had married far away to the south, so she naturally couldn't uphold the Shen family's reputation.
But before that day, Shen Laotaijun would never take the initiative to relinquish his power.
Aside from the amiable-faced Shen Jingfei, Shen Wenyu was the newly emerged Shen family martial artist in recent years. With exceptional light martial arts and a renowned skill in acupuncture, earning the nickname "Jin Zhendu Jie" [Golden Needle Crossing the Tribulation], he was the Shen family's martial arts powerhouse.
As for Ludong Siyi, they were naturally the Shen family's peripheral martial artists. With a distant yet not too distant blood relation and moderate yet not extreme martial arts skills, they were responsible for the Shen family's power and business in Ludong. However, they couldn't participate in the core interest allocation of the Shen family.
That was why two of them were bribed by the young master in the original novel, leading to their betrayal of the Shen family and their brothers.
But regardless of what these people thought, they didn't show it in front of Lian Chengbi. On the contrary, the meal was a joyous affair, with the host and guests equally delighted.
As they chatted and drank, they inevitably reminisced about the past, and so they once again brought up Shen Jingfeng and his wife, as well as Lian Qingyun and his wife.
"It's a pity that Big Brother isn't here; otherwise, we would definitely bring out the three big whites today!" Shen Jingfei sighed.
"It's lamentable that my martial arts were not yet accomplished back then, and I couldn't travel to the northwest with them or contribute my meager efforts at Jiayu Pass," Shen Wenyu also shook his head in regret.
Shen Laotaijun glanced at Shen Wenyu. "What's there to lament? Your martial arts now are not even half as good as Jingfeng's. If you had gone, you would've just died and been sent back in a coffin."
Shen Wenyu's face turned bright red, and he dared not refute.
The Shen family estate held a high position in the Shandong martial arts world, and Shen Laotaijun's status was even higher. Back when she and Shen Jingfeng's father had joined hands in the jianghu, dominating the martial arts world, the people present probably weren't even born yet.
So, in the orthodox martial arts world, which valued seniority, reputation, and rules, Shen Laotaijun's words carried significant weight.
But although Shen Wenyu was ashamed, he wasn't dissatisfied. On the contrary, being scolded by Shen Laotaijun wasn't something shameful because it showed that she didn't treat them as outsiders.
Shen Jingfei also sighed, "I really want to go to Jiayu Pass to see Big Brother's battleground. I can only imagine the grandeur of him and his wife fighting side by side with Lian Xiake and his wife."
Wan Chongshan shook his head and sighed, "It's a pity that only their ashes and clothes returned."
Shen Jingfeng and his wife, along with Lian Qingyun and his wife, had died together at Jiayu Pass, so it was impossible for their bodies to be sent back over thousands of miles.
They had already been cremated locally, and their ashes and remaining clothes were placed in a coffin, which was then sent back to Qi Lu by familiar Guanzhong martial artists. At the same time, their heroic names were widely spread.
Hearing everyone mention her parents, Shen Bijun's mood inevitably sank.
Shen Laotaijun slammed the table and said, "I'm the oldest one here, and I haven't even grieved over the fact that a white-haired person is sending off a black-haired person. Yet, all of you are already feeling sad and melancholy."
"What's there to be sad about?" Shen Laotaijun laughed. "Jingfeng's daughter has grown up tall and graceful, and the title of the First Beauty in the Martial Arts World is well-deserved. Lian Qingyun's son is even more outstanding, and the name 'Purity Young Master' resounds throughout the martial arts world."
"They have already succeeded, so Jingfeng and Qingyun can die without regrets. Even if they are underground, they should be proud of their children." Shen Laotaijun chuckled, "Now, the only regret is, when will you give birth to your own baby?"
"Grandmother~~~"
Shen Bijun lowered her head shyly, and everyone burst out laughing.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
