Chapter 632 - 613: Open Spears and Hidden Arrows

The guests hadn’t come to celebrate with the host; they had come to watch the spectacle.

Yang Qi’s early arrival was quite a surprise to everyone present. The Chairman of the Divine Artifact Pavilion was usually the last to show up, often arriving late. For him to be early this time—it was as if the sun had risen in the west.

Fatty Bai’s smile was as wide as a flower in bloom. No matter what thoughts or attitudes the people before him held, he could face them all with a grin. It was as if his chubby cheeks were made for smiling.

Zhan Yingluo’s complexion needed no embellishment. Simply by changing into a formal gown, she instantly became as magnificent as a princess. Her status in Wang City was truly special, and a circle of people constantly revolved around her. Meanwhile, Wang Meng and Fatty Bai had been reduced to mere greeters.

"Brother Yang, you’re here bright and early."

"As I should be," Yang Qi boomed with a laugh. "I heard you turned down that old coot Luo Shan. That was incredibly satisfying!"

Wang Meng smiled. Choosing the position of Guest Minister over a vice-chairmanship had certainly brought great honor to the Divine Artifact Pavilion. No wonder Yang Qi was so pleased.

For Wang Meng, the appeal was that Yang Qi didn’t care about his background; he valued his personal strength. Things on Luo Shan’s side were obviously more complicated, which was one reason he had chosen Yang Qi.

"Little Fatty, don’t you worry. The Bai Family will have its share in this Five Elements Divine Beast Festival. By the way, two more guests from Haojing will be here soon. You’ll want to be careful. I don’t think that kid named Mo Chengkong has good intentions, but I’ve already given him a warning."

Wang Meng smiled faintly. ’The Mo Family is close with the Meng Family. Frankly, it’s debatable whether a warning from the chairman of a local Divine Artifact Pavilion branch will be of any use.’

Wang Meng didn’t want to let Yang Qi get too deeply entangled in these matters.

As more bigwigs arrived, the Bai Family residence grew uncharacteristically lively. Before long, Luo Shan and the others were there as well.

Muhe Xiaoyu and Jiang Biyao arrived together. Muhe Xiaoyu greeted Wang Meng with a smile, but Jiang Biyao looked as if she couldn’t get away from him fast enough. If it weren’t an occasion the Jiang Family couldn’t afford to miss, she truly wouldn’t have come.

Zhe Wulei arrived almost on their heels, and soon he and Jiang Biyao were chatting away intimately.

Although it was the Bai Family’s party, the guests had completely stolen the show, making Fatty Bai look more like an attendant than the host.

Wang Meng only went to greet people when his friends arrived; the rest of the time, he was more of an observer.

Though no one paid any mind to Fatty Bai, the host, he was still bustling about joyfully. It didn’t matter if his guests were arrogant; as long as they showed up, it was a credit to his name.

Wang Meng watched Fatty Bai quietly, a touch of emotion welling up inside him. ’It’s truly not easy to maintain a family.’

’Family is a strange concept. Back in the Small Thousand Realms, Wang Meng had used every method at his disposal, yet he could never find his parents. With his prestige at its peak as the Master of the Star Alliance, he had scoured almost every Small Thousand Realm, but it was as if they had simply evaporated.’

’None of the three abilities Wang Meng possessed were powerful enough for precognition. If anyone could achieve such a feat, it would likely be the Saintess with her Ninefold Heaven. As for his Causal Order, he couldn’t claim to have truly mastered it. It was a combat-based causality—less a form of true order and more of a specific power.’

People-watching was also a fascinating pastime. The largest crowds had formed around Yang Qi and Luo Shan; everyone who arrived had to greet them first.

This was all rather strange to Zhan Yingluo, who was used to being the center of attention. ’If it weren’t for Wang Meng, those two would never have come. I don’t have that much influence.’ Their presence made her hesitant to carry out her plan. She wasn’t concerned about Yang Qi, but Luo Shan was the Chairman of the Wang City Spirit Control Association, and she was a member. Causing a scene in private was one thing, but making a ruckus in front of a senior figure would reflect poorly on her.

’How strange. The utterly detestable Wang Rencai from Haojing has somehow made quite a few friends here.’

’Someone like Fatty Bai is one thing, but for figures like Yang Qi and Luo Shan to be helping him is another matter entirely.’

Muhe Xiaoyu had approached Wang Meng at some point, a glass of wine in her hand. "Brother Wang, what has captured your attention so completely?"

"I’ve heard that Mulholland Drive is the top master in Wang City. I’ve been here for some time now, but I still haven’t seen him."

"My brother is away on business and hasn’t yet returned."

Wang Meng nodded, offering nothing more. Under normal circumstances, Muhe Xiaoyu would have taken her leave, but this time she didn’t. "Brother Wang, you’re quite skilled at dodging the question. You still haven’t answered me."

Wang Meng was taken aback for a moment. "Haha, I’m just people-watching. Looking at everyone here... don’t you find it interesting?"

"People-watching?"

’What’s so interesting about them? You aren’t even looking at the one who’s actually worth looking at.’

There’s a limit to any pretense. Muhe Xiaoyu could clearly sense that Wang Meng had no romantic interest in her. She, who was so confident in her own beauty and bearing, was being completely ignored.

If Wang Meng was interested in someone else, it could only be Zhan Yingluo. But his gaze wasn’t on her at all. Instead, he watched the guests mingling and toasting like a complete outsider.

If there was anyone he watched more than others... it was Fatty Bai.

"Brother Wang, do you plan on helping the Bai Family?"

"It’s not a question of helping. Someone took me in, so naturally, I must do my part. Regarding the Bai Family’s current situation, what is the Muhe Family’s stance?"

’It seems that with Mulholland Drive away, this Muhe Xiaoyu must have the authority to make decisions.’

"The Muhe Family has always been an advocate for stability. A peaceful Wang City is what’s most advantageous. The Bai Family has made contributions to Wang City, and despite their recent misfortunes, as long as they meet the required standard of strength, the Muhe Family has no objection."

"Then I’ll thank you on Fatty’s behalf," Wang Meng said, raising his glass in a small toast.

Muhe Xiaoyu returned the gesture naturally. Logically speaking, as the young miss of the great Muhe Family, her word was practically law in Wang City. Yet whenever she spoke with Wang Meng, she felt her own aura completely suppressed. How could this man possess such confidence and presence?

She had never met such an unfathomable person.

Kun Yaoyang arrived with Wu Yuan, their appearance together sending another clear signal. When Wu Yuan saw Zhe Wulei whispering into Jiang Biyao’s ear, a flash of murderous intent crossed his eyes.

"Hehe, Brother Wu," Kun Yaoyang said, "my Dharma Eye tells me that Jiang Biyao is still a virgin. If you act quickly, her Red Pill can still be yours."

It was a truly vicious move on Kun Yaoyang’s part. He needed someone to be his vanguard, to create a pretext for war. If the Kun Family acted directly, it would inevitably provoke a backlash from Wang City’s native powers. But if Wu Yuan were to start things, it would be an entirely different matter.

"You can tell that just by looking?"

"Hehe, your little brother may not have other talents, but I do have some experience in this area."

Sure enough, a flicker of excitement crossed Wu Yuan’s face. Kun Yaoyang was a true scoundrel and had a perfect grasp on the mentality of a hypocrite like Wu Yuan.

Who was Wu Yuan? He was a renowned man-about-town from Yanjing City, accustomed to getting whatever he wanted. Suffering a setback in a small place like Wang City was not in his nature. Once his gentlemanly facade cracked, his true self would be unleashed.

Wu Yuan grabbed a glass of wine and walked toward the happily chatting Zhe Wulei and Jiang Biyao.

"Brother Zhe, my deepest congratulations," Wu Yuan said, an elegant smile spreading across his face.

"Thank you, Brother Wu. It is my honor to have had an opponent such as yourself."

Zhe Wulei was in a win-win situation. The Jiang and Zhe Families were now allied, and by defeating Wu Yuan to win the beauty’s hand, he had greatly enhanced his own prestige.

But Wu Yuan simply shook his head. "Brother Zhe, you are mistaken. I was never your rival."

"Oh? And what do you mean by that?"

"Brother Zhe, your rival is Wang Rencai. Oh, that’s right, he goes by Wang Meng now. The ’Meng’ in ’ferocious.’ Sigh, how very ferocious. A pity, such a pity."

Zhe Wulei’s expression changed. He didn’t mind competing with Wu Yuan, but the episode between Wang Meng and Jiang Biyao was a taboo subject for him. He had heard, however, that nothing had actually happened.

"Let’s not beat around the bush. If you have something to say, say it plainly."

"Let’s not speak of it. Brother Zhe’s wedding is near; we shouldn’t say things that would ruin the atmosphere. Although, I imagine a man as magnanimous as Brother Zhe wouldn’t mind. I, on the other hand, am not so forgiving, which is why I must limit myself to offering congratulations."

Wu Yuan was killing two birds with one stone. Everyone nearby had their ears pricked, and Zhe Wulei’s face had turned livid.

The more evasive Wu Yuan was, the more he fueled people’s imaginations. Who was Wang Rencai?

A lecherous fiend, a man so starved he wasn’t picky. To entice him, the Jiang Family must have used a honey trap. With Wang Meng staying at the Jiang residence for so long, how could Jiang Biyao possibly have escaped his clutches?

When they later discovered Wang Meng was useless, they drove him out. But by then, they had likely lost the battle and their general’s wife—a total loss.

As for the extent of that loss, given Wang Meng’s past reputation, everyone could guess what that entailed.

Jiang Biyao’s face was pale as she glared at Wu Yuan, never imagining that the once gentle and refined suitor could now be so loathsome.

"Wu Yuan, don’t you spout such venomous slander! Nothing happened between him and me!" Jiang Biyao cried out.

Wu Yuan gave a helpless shrug. "Miss Biyao, I didn’t say anything. It’s all just idle gossip. Sigh, I did say it, didn’t I? How could an unwanted, cast-off pawn ever be worthy of the young miss of the Jiang Family?"

Meanwhile, Muhe Xiaoyu was still chatting with Wang Meng, trying to pry some information out of him. Her conclusion: he wasn’t just uneducated, he was monumentally ignorant. He couldn’t even distinguish between different places in the Great Zhou, and his grasp of basic common knowledge was hazy at best. She truly couldn’t tell if he was a genuine fool or just playing one.

Jiang Biyao’s furious cry caught their attention. For a young woman, her reputation was paramount.

"Wang Meng, I know nothing happened between you and Biyao. Perhaps you should..."

Wang Meng smiled faintly. "I’d better not get mixed up in it. No matter what I say, nobody will believe me anyway."

Muhe Xiaoyu glanced at Wang Meng and nodded. She couldn’t just leave Jiang Biyao in a bind.

"Brother Wu, Brother Kun, you both seem to be in high spirits," Muhe Xiaoyu said, stepping forward. "As you know, rumors die with the wise. Spreading malicious gossip is not the act of a gentleman."

Status determined one’s right to speak. In Wang City, the Muhe Family was paramount, so she had no need to give Wu Yuan or Kun Yaoyang any face.

"Hehe, Miss Muhe is right. I was merely expressing my admiration for Brother Zhe’s magnanimity," Wu Yuan retorted, his words dripping with sarcasm.

Zhe Wulei tried to endure it, but he had reached his limit.

"Wu Yuan, I will not allow you to insult my fiancée! I challenge you to a duel!"

His fists clenched, and True Essence Power began to radiate from him.

Wu Yuan smiled faintly. "A fight? I’ll be happy to oblige."

Both men were seething with pent-up rage; in a volatile situation like this, the smallest spark could set them off. In a flash, they both struck at nearly the same instant.

The crowd was stunned, not expecting the two to come to blows so suddenly. However, the chaos they anticipated did not erupt.