banquet
"Never existed...? You mean, this might be a fake sect?" Fu Buci pondered for a moment, then nodded. "That makes some sense. But in that case, wouldn't we still know nothing about him?! Even the name Xi Su might be fake!"
Ning Changkang coughed and said with a smile, "At least we've forced him to reveal part of his true colors. Cough cough cough cough, next we can lure him a little further and make him show more of his true colors."
"Oh? How do you seduce him?" Fu Buci became interested.
Ning Changkang narrowed his eyes, shook the secret letter in his hand, and smiled like a fox: "The Alliance Leader is wise. Isn't the effect of announcing the news a day later obvious? This person is very capable, but he is too modest and unwilling to show himself. The Alliance Leader cherishes talent, and with the great enemy of Yinghuo at hand, it is the right time to use people. Therefore, the Alliance Leader had no choice but to resort to this tactic to lure this person out. Next, we will lure him with a lot of money and status: if he is willing to join the Immortal Alliance, he will be directly granted the position of Elder and a hundred chests of spirit stones. By the way, there is also a vacancy in the Six Immortal Attendants."
Ning Changkang smiled meaningfully: "With such a generous reward, how long can he keep hiding?"
Fu Buci smiled, his eyes showing approval: "Let's do it this way! You'll be in charge of the details of the journey to Tibet."
You Zang frowned and remained silent for a moment.
"Travel to Tibet?" Fu Buci asked, displeased. "Do you have any other ideas?"
You Cang nodded and slowly said, "I still don't understand. This person has lived in seclusion for many years. Why did he choose to come out at this juncture? His purpose is unclear. Could he really be tempted by benefits and status?"
Fu Buci looked at Ning Changkang, who chuckled leisurely, "If he did all this just to raise his own value? Cough cough cough, otherwise who would know this person? An unknown person wanting to join the Immortal Alliance? No way! Cough cough cough—"
Youzang: "..."
After coughing, Ning Changkang continued, "Besides, regardless of whether he takes the bait or not, cough cough, doing this at least helps the Alliance Leader explain the matter of Heavenly Thunder and Sword Immortal, and also spreads the fame of our Alliance Leader for valuing talent."
Fu Buci nodded in satisfaction: "Youzang, do as Changkang said."
Yuzang: "...Yes."
"Then there's the matter of the demon envoy." Fu Buci snatched the demon envoy's invitation from Su Rourui's hand, slammed it on the table, and tapped it. "What do you all think?"
Ning Changkang replied without much hesitation, "The demon race has always coveted the cultivation world. As soon as our cultivation world shows the slightest sign of trouble, these bastards come running. We have to receive them properly this time and not show the slightest fear! Otherwise, things will get even more trouble later!"
You Cang nodded: "I agree. We need to show the demon envoy that the cultivation world is as stable as Mount Wenxuan. However, as for Xi Su... I hope he is interested in spirit stones and the position of elder of the Immortal Alliance. Otherwise, his purpose is truly worrying."
"He will. Rou Rui, you're in charge of arranging the banquet." Fu Buci instructed Su Rou Rui, "The time is set for early evening tonight. This banquet is very important, and there can be no mistakes."
Su Rourui bowed gently: "Yes, but Immortal Lord, half a day is a bit too much time to prepare for the banquet..."
"If you can't do it, then find someone else," Fu Buci said impatiently.
Ning Changkang stood to the side with his arms crossed, looking like he was watching a show.
You Cang sighed, "Transfer some people from my place to Su Xianshi, and I will also be in charge of the security arrangements for the banquet."
Su Rourui looked at You Zang gratefully: "Thank you, Vice Alliance Leader!"
Ning Changkang frowned, looking slightly dissatisfied.
"Alright, since time is tight, let's get to work." Fu Buci waved his hand, and the three of them left the study. There was still a distance between the study and the courtyard exit, so the three of them had to walk together.
On the way, Ning Changkang sneered, "Vice Alliance Leader You is such a kind and helpful person, cough cough cough."
You Cang said calmly, "As fellow attendants of the Six Immortals, we should help each other. This banquet is related to the future of immortals and demons, so we must do our best to make it a success."
Su Rourui rolled her eyes at Ning Changkang and said sarcastically in a soft voice, "Immortal Ning should take better care of his health and say less hurtful things. Maybe he can cough less and live a few more days. If he says too much, then it's hard to say."
"Oh?" Ning Changkang smiled and squinted as he looked at Su Rourui. "When did Su Xianshi's bones harden? Is the Soft Flower Fairy turning into a Hard Flower Fairy? With such hard bones, don't prick the Alliance Leader tonight."
They arrived at the courtyard gate. Su Rourui sneered, too lazy to pay him any more attention, and walked towards the Qinse Palace on the left.
Youzang walked to the right, which was the direction to leave Qingyun Immortal Palace.
Ning Changkang should have gone to the right, but instead he went straight ahead.
The three people went in three different directions.
...
Sword spirits have begun to return to the side hall of Qinse Palace.
Asakawa chatted with them about their experiences in the outside world that day, and casually checked whether they had been followed or located.
After a moment, Asakawa summarized, "Everything went smoothly, no problems at all. Thank you all for your hard work!"
The twelve swords transformed into spiritual energy and were collected into her sleeve.
Another observer, Chao Du, breathed a sigh of relief: "Now we'll see how Bu Ci handles this."
Suddenly someone knocked on the door of the side hall, and another person went to open it.
Hui Xin stood outside the door, and she said worriedly, "Madam, Su Xianshi has come again, saying she wants to see you!"
Another Asahi glanced at Asahi secretly, and seeing Asahi nod, she reluctantly said to Kaishin, "Let her come over, right here."
A moment later, Su Rourui entered the side hall, while the maids remained outside.
She looked around in surprise and said, "Madam Chao lives here now? How come there isn't even anyone to serve her?"
Another Asakawa couldn't help but sneer, "Not as delicate as you."
Su Rourui stopped and smiled at her: "Actually, I didn't come to see you."
Another Asawa: "Are you sick? Come here..."
"Xi Su is in this couple, right?" Su Rourui interrupted her with a smile.
“Xi Su? Oh! Xi Su!” Another Asahi turned to look at Asahi not far away. “She’s looking for you, so I’ll be going now.”
Chao Du appeared and said helplessly, "The guest is here, but the host has left. This is not normal and will arouse suspicion if others see it."
“…Fine.” Another Asakawa rolled her eyes and looked up at the ceiling. “Then I’ll chat with you guys.” She said the word “chat” through gritted teeth.
"But can I go to the other side to have some peace and quiet?" another person asked.
Asawari: "No problem."
Another one stormed off to the room at the far end of the other side.
Chao Du sighed softly, and Su Rourui smiled and said, "Madam Chao looks much better than she did a few days ago, and her steps are much more steady and powerful than before."
"You've certainly made progress." Asakawa smiled and shook his head. "It's just a pity that there are still unresolved issues. By the way, what brings you here?"
Su Rourui said, "This morning, Cen Ling left, and he even stopped serving as one of the Six Immortals."
Asakawa nodded: "That's good."
"You don't seem surprised." Su Rourui observed Chao Du's expression and asked tentatively, "Could it be that his leaving here is also related to you?"
Asakawa didn't bother to hide it: "He's also one of my good friends."
Su Rourui was surprised: "So that's how it is. I was wondering why it was so sudden... But they want you to be one of the Six Immortal Attendants."
"?" Chao Du was taken aback, then couldn't help but laugh. "Has Fu Buci lost his mind?"
Another Asakawa quietly approached from the room at the very end.
Su Rourui told Chaodu what had just happened in the study.
"Six Immortal Attendants, Immortal Alliance Elders, a hundred chests of spirit stones—do they think I care about these things?" Chao Du chuckled. "They're dreaming."
Su Rourui couldn't help but ask, "Then what do you care about? What exactly is your purpose?"
Chao Du looked at the other Chao Du hidden behind the screen in the next room: "I hope you, her, and my other friends are all doing well, and I also hope that the cultivation world is stable and peaceful."
Su Rourui was slightly taken aback. She tried to observe Chao Du's expression, but she could not see any hypocrisy. He was still as open and sincere as ever.
Chao Du added, "As for the banquet for the demon race, don't worry that I will cause trouble. On the contrary, I will help. If there are any problems that you cannot handle, I will step in."
“…Alright.” Su Rourui felt relieved. “By the way, there’s one more thing. Would Madam Chao like to attend tonight’s banquet?”
Su Rourui also looked at the screen in the next room: "If Madam Chao wants to participate, I can think of a way to persuade the Immortal Lord."
Another Asawata: "...!"
Chao Du smiled and said, "Come out, do you want to go tonight?"
Another woman, Chao Du, moved slowly out from behind the screen, her cheeks flushed, and nodded.
"Thank you for your help then," the other Asakawa said awkwardly.
Su Rourui: "It's okay. I think our original relationship... shouldn't have been one of life and death."
The other one, Chao Du, paused, then nodded: "Indeed."
Su Rourui smiled at her: "Then I'll go prepare the banquet first. There's a lot to prepare, and time is tight. Perhaps Madam Chao would be willing to help?"
Another Asawata: "!"
Seeing the other Asawatari's eyes light up, Asawatari smiled and encouraged him, "Go!"
Another person hesitated, "But I haven't held a banquet in a long time..."
Su Rourui said gently, "It's okay. You have a lot of experience, so it shouldn't be a big problem."
"Hmm..." the other nodded, her cheeks slightly flushed. "I'll do my best!"
Asaka was overjoyed, but then she remembered something: "If the two of you change so suddenly, others might notice something's off. Perhaps you could continue to act out a bit of a confrontational dynamic?"
Su Rourui and another Chaodu looked at each other and suddenly burst into laughter.
Another Asawata: "No problem, I'm very skilled at it."
Su Rourui also smiled and said, "This is even more interesting. Madam Chao, please?"
The two walked out of the side hall. After thinking for a moment, Chao Du, just in case, followed them invisibly.
The two spent the entire afternoon busy arranging the banquet in the main hall of Qingyun Immortal Palace, the "Hall of Immortal Fate".
When the others saw Madam Chao appear, they all showed expressions of surprise.
The two occasionally exchanged sarcastic remarks, and their acting was very convincing.
But Chao Du felt that they weren't just acting; at least three-tenths of their sarcastic remarks were genuine insults. But oh well, deep-seated problems don't disappear overnight, and this was already a huge improvement.
Despite their playful banter, their collaboration went smoothly, and preparations for the banquet progressed rapidly, until Fu Buci suddenly arrived—presumably someone had secretly told him that Chao Du was also there.
As soon as Fu Buci arrived, he angrily scolded Su Rourui: "This banquet is of utmost importance. Keep your little schemes to yourself! Chaodu, go back! Don't cause any more trouble!"
"..." The other Chao Du stood there helplessly, looking at Fu Buci without being able to say a word, desperately holding back her tears so that they wouldn't fall in public.
Su Rourui walked to her side and answered Fu Buci in a gentle yet firm tone: "I invited Madam Chao here precisely because of this crucial banquet. First, Madam Chao was the one who prepared the last peace negotiation banquet with the demon race. There were no mistakes in the process, and she was highly praised by the demon race. Madam Chao's experience can better ensure that this banquet will not go wrong. Second, as the wife of the alliance leader, Madam Chao should attend this banquet. If she does not attend, it will easily arouse discussion among the demon race envoys."
Another Chao Du looked at Su Rourui, his expression deeply shaken.
Fu Buci narrowed his eyes and called her by her full name: "Su Rourui, you seem a little different."
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