Not long after, Zhang Jingqing and Zuo Ruotong entered the main gate side by side.
The moment he stepped in, Zhang Jingqing greeted loudly with a broad smile:
"Lord Lu! It's been far too long!"
Right behind him, Lu Jin's master, Zuo Ruotong, added coolly:
"Lord Lu, I trust I haven't arrived too late?"
Having such esteemed guests arrive with such courtesy left Lord Lu beaming with joy.
He was filled with emotion. These two—one, the Celestial Master of the Heavenly Master House, and the other, the sect leader of the Trinity Gate—were towering figures in the world of the gifted. For both of them to come together to celebrate his birthday was the highest of honors for the Lu family.
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Lord Lu cupped his fists and bowed in return:
"Celestial Master, Trinity Gate Sect Leader—your presence here brings glory to our humble household. It's more than we could have hoped for!"
After speaking, he stepped aside and gestured with his right hand in a welcoming motion, inviting them both to take their seats inside.
Floating above the scene, Uchiha Hikaru finally spoke:
"The main guests have arrived. Let's go down—save him from worrying."
With that, he teleported down in an instant, bringing Chinatsu and Kaguya with him.
Their sudden appearance left everyone below stunned.
To see several living people appear out of thin air in broad daylight—even the most experienced gifted among them were baffled.
Zuo Ruotong and Zhang Jingqing, both veterans among the elders, widened their eyes in shock, staring at Hikaru's group.
They had not seen how these people arrived at all—and a ripple of vigilance stirred in their hearts.
But after a moment of surprise, Zhang Jingqing furrowed his brow thoughtfully.
He seemed to be recalling something… or perhaps piecing together Hikaru's intentions.
Lord Lu noticed this and misunderstood, assuming that someone had come to crash the event.
Though cautious, as the host he had no choice but to step forward.
Before he could speak, however, Zhang Zhiwei came rushing over and whispered into his master's ear:
"Master, these are the ones I told you about."
Zhang Jingqing's expression immediately cleared up, and the smile returned to his face, now warm and genial.
"Oh? You must be the young man who rescued those children?"
While speaking, Zhang Jingqing was subtly observing Hikaru's group.
To his surprise, Hikaru looked completely ordinary—just like any other young man.
In contrast, Kaguya gave off an unfathomable presence that made even Zhang Jingqing feel cautious.
Hikaru didn't seem to care about their scrutiny, but Kaguya did.
She let out a cold snort, and a wave of terrifying pressure burst from her body.
Everyone present instantly felt as if Death itself had set its sights on them. They quickly averted their gazes, not daring to meet hers again.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Zhang Jingqing quickly stepped in to smooth things over:
"Everyone, don't be fooled by how young our guest looks. My own disciple couldn't last even a single move against him."
He then briefly recounted the incident where Hikaru saved the children.
This helped settle the nerves of those in attendance. When they looked at Hikaru again, their eyes carried more respect than suspicion.
No matter what, anyone who risked themselves to save that many children deserved to be called a righteous man.
Lord Lu, as the host of the banquet, finally understood the situation as well.
He stepped forward, cupped his fists, and said with sincere respect:
"So it was you who rescued those children! I apologize for not recognizing true heroes. Please, come in—this way!"
He personally led Hikaru and his group into the banquet hall.
Hikaru nodded with a smile in return.
Kaguya still wore her frosty expression but didn't cause further disturbance.
Surrounded by the crowd, they made their way into the main hall.
Though some were secretly dissatisfied—wondering why someone so young was being seated alongside elder masters—none dared voice it.
Kaguya's earlier display had silenced all dissent.
Once seated, Lord Lu personally poured wine for Hikaru and his companions, expressing his gratitude.
The birthday celebration continued with loud festivities—music, dancing, and endless rounds of toasts.
Throughout the banquet, Zhang Jingqing tried several times to subtly probe into Hikaru's background.
Yet each time Hikaru answered honestly, Zhang Jingqing's face betrayed disbelief—as if he couldn't accept what he was hearing.
Hikaru found this both amusing and a little frustrating.
People can only comprehend what falls within their understanding, he thought. Once you go beyond that, they simply refuse to accept it.
So he stopped explaining and simply smiled and enjoyed the banquet.
Seeing even Zhang Jingqing falter before Hikaru, the others chose to remain silent.
Only Zuo Ruotong, head of the Trinity Gate, continued to eye Hikaru with a thoughtful, unreadable gaze—clearly deep in contemplation.
About halfway through the banquet, Old Lord Lu, weary from age, politely excused himself and left to rest.
His departure caused the mood to relax slightly.
But then, Wang Ai's father, emboldened by wine, called out loudly to Lu Xuan:
"Look at these young folks—such a lively bunch! How about we let them put on a little show for us?"
Lu Xuan furrowed his brow slightly. The alcohol-induced haze was beginning to fade.
He understood Wang's real intent—he wanted the younger generation to compete.
But this was Lord Lu's birthday banquet—wasn't that kind of proposal a bit out of place?
Feigning ignorance, he asked:
"A show? What do you mean, Brother Wang?"
Unfortunately, Wang Ai's father didn't catch the hint. Grinning, he said cheerfully:
"It's not every day so many elite families gather in one place. Why not let the young ones spar a bit tomorrow?"
Lu Xuan looked troubled.
He didn't want any contests during the celebration, but he also couldn't outright reject the idea.
Just then, Wang Ai's father continued,
"Come on, everyone knows the Lu family produces exceptional talents—especially your boy Lu Jin. With all these people here, it's the perfect chance to let him shine, don't you think, old Lü?"
Lü Ci's father nodded in agreement:
"Old Lu, let my two worthless boys learn a thing or two from Young Master Lu. Maybe it'll knock some sense into them—keep them from thinking they're invincible."
Lu Xuan hesitated.
He turned to glance at Zuo Ruotong, hoping for some guidance.
Zuo took a sip of wine, then spoke calmly:
"I don't see any harm in it. A little sparring among the youth could be fun. Consider it a chance for them to grow."
Lu Xuan seemed swayed but remained cautious.
There was still one opinion he needed: that of Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing.
But before he could ask, Zhang Jingqing had already chuckled and voiced his approval:
"Heh, now that's an interesting suggestion."