Chapter 97 Life Is Like the Morning Dew
This grand banquet, in essence, was the Xuanwu Kingdom's special reception for the sects arriving from the Central Continent.
There were always some sect disciples who enjoyed spectacle and prestige. After all, having traveled all this way, it was only natural to show a bit of discernment.
If something major happened in the future, others would then be willing to come.
Ordinarily, this event should have had nothing to do with Chu Xingchen.
Most likely, Xie Lingyu had learned of his newly established sect and conveniently opened a backdoor for him.
After all, with Tianyan Sect taking the lead in recognition, her sect would now have a foothold in the Xuanwu Kingdom. If anything happened in the future, it would make things much easier.
The invitation was a luxurious piece of dark-gold parchment, bearing the seal of the Xuanwu Kingdom's guardian divine beast—a mighty black tortoise.
It even carried the national seal.
Just the invitation alone exuded grandeur.
Naturally, to maintain that sense of prestige, those invited would not have to wait in line to enter the city.
Moreover, the invitation had a distinctive way of being used.
Li Xingtian stepped down from the carriage, holding the invitation between his fingers and infusing it with spiritual power.
The invitation flared with brilliant light and transformed into a stream of radiance that shot straight into the sky.
The city gate guards reacted instantly, quickly clearing a wide passage and rolling out a crimson carpet with practiced efficiency.
Two figures then flew out from within the city.
A man and a woman, both wearing pale-red official robes of the Xuanwu Kingdom, appeared to be in their middle years.
They swiftly landed in front of the carriage and cupped their hands respectfully.
The male official spoke first. "We've been expecting you, honored guests. May I ask if you are…"
But he immediately froze.
Each invitation's light signature differed, identifying who the recipient was.
Since all the invitees were distinguished figures, mistaking one could prove disastrous.
The male official quickly realized something—this invitation, though he remembered distributing them all, was the only one without a sect name.
It simply read: "Guest from Yuzhou City Sect."
Thinking fast, he spoke again, "You must be our esteemed guests from Yuzhou City, yes?"
Li Xingtian's gaze swept coldly over the two of them. "Are you planning to let us keep standing here like circus monkeys?"
The male official snapped back to attention, quickly stepping forward to personally take the reins of the spirit beast drawing the carriage.
"My apologies for the lack of courtesy. Please, honored guests, this way."
The female official followed naturally behind.
Li Xingtian glanced at the two—both were at the Golden Core Realm. It seemed the Xuanwu Kingdom took flattery to its absolute extreme.
He said nothing further, allowing the official to lead the carriage into the inner city.
"During your stay in the capital, my colleague Qiuling and I will personally attend to your needs," Wen Qing said humbly. "Should any of you require anything, simply tell us. Whatever can be done, we will do our utmost."
"Is that so?"
A calm voice came from within the carriage.
Li Xingtian immediately composed himself, turning respectfully toward the interior.
Wen Qing quickly took note—Li Xingtian's aura was steady and powerful, clearly at the Golden Core Realm, and his earlier tone had been haughty and brash.
Yet, with only a single sentence from within the carriage, he had instantly become reverent.
Then Wen Qing recalled the additional note on that invitation—Specially invited by Tianyan Sect.
His tone grew even more deferential, almost sycophantic. "Of course, honored guest."
"Where are we staying this time?"
"To the left of the imperial city, in the most luxurious pavilion—the Destiny Hall. A grand courtyard has been fully prepared for all of you there."
A faintly disdainful chuckle came from within the carriage.
"Destiny Hall? What a vulgar name."
Both Wen Qing and Qiuling instantly fell silent, not daring to respond.
After all, that residence was already occupied.
If such words were to spread…
They couldn't afford to offend this guest—but neither could they afford to offend the other "lords."
Fortunately, Chu Xingchen did not make things difficult any further. Instead, he said calmly,
"Attending the banquet is merely incidental. I only came today to bring my disciple home for a visit. We're heading to the Li Marquis Residence."
Li Marquis Residence?
Wen Qing was momentarily stunned. The capital was vast, filled with countless nobles and royal families—an ordinary marquis's estate wasn't anything particularly noteworthy.
He valued his memory, and minor details like this weren't worth remembering.
Li Xingtian spoke up to clarify, "The Li Marquis Residence on Guiyi Street."
Wen Qing's face lit with realization. He immediately led the carriage toward Guiyi Street without hesitation.
When a guest of such status gave instructions, there was no room for debate.
Even if they arrived and tore the whole marquis's mansion down, Wen Qing would probably just stand aside applauding, praising how well it was done.
Inside the carriage, Li Yingling noticed the change in direction.
But she didn't have the courage to lift the curtain and look out at the familiar streets.
Still, the sounds outside—the voices, the movement—reached her ears all the same.
When she glanced up, she found her master looking at her quietly. For reasons she couldn't explain, the unease in her heart immediately eased by half.
The carriage came to a stop, and Wen Qing's voice sounded outside.
"Honored guests, we've arrived."
Chu Xingchen said softly, "Go on. Everyone's right behind you."
Chen Baiqing gently patted her senior sister's hand in encouragement.
"Mm, Senior Sister—go for it."
Taking a deep breath, Li Yingling rose and lifted the curtain.
The familiar vermilion gate filled her sight, and the guards on both sides stared at her in shock.
The female official, Qiuling, stepped forward and barked sharply,
"Go at once and report—Lady Li has returned to the residence!"
The guards looked at her in disbelief. The girl who had once fled an arranged marriage and was said to have been tricked away by a poor Daoist was now being called Lady Li?
But one glance at the massive, fierce beast-drawn carriage and the two Xuanwu officials—both clearly high in rank—made them turn pale.
Without hesitation, they spun around and slipped through a side door to report.
Chu Xingchen's calm voice sounded again. "Report? That's far too formal."
Li Xingtian had followed his master long enough to understand his ways. Without hesitation, he raised a hand, and a burst of immense spiritual power exploded forward, blasting the vermilion gate into a rain of splinters.
Wen Qing and Qiuling were both stunned.
Was he seriously here to tear the place down?!
Li Xingtian clasped his hands and said respectfully, "Senior Sister, after you."
Li Yingling nodded lightly and leapt gracefully down from the carriage.
For the first time, she stepped through the gates of the Li Marquis Residence.
Li Xingtian followed closely behind her.
Chu Xingchen reached down to take Chen Baiqing's small hand.
"When the time comes, remember to cheer for your senior sister."
Chen Baiqing nodded firmly.
Satisfied, Chu Xingchen smiled, then descended with her, walking forward unhurriedly.
Wen Qing and Qiuling exchanged a glance, astonished by the youthfulness of Chu Xingchen's face, before quickly following behind.
Before either of them could say a word or ask about the situation, a furious bellow erupted from ahead.
"You filthy wretch! You dare bring people here to cause trouble?!"
"And you two useless dogs who couldn't even guard the gate—why are you holding me back?!"
Wen Qing and Qiuling hesitated but then quickly flew forward, unwilling to lag behind.
What they saw next made their expressions change instantly.
Li Xingtian stood before a group of servants, his Golden Core pressure fully unleashed, forcing every one of them to their knees.
In front of him, a middle-aged man clutched his mouth, trembling. Blood poured between his fingers.
A severed tongue rolled on the dusty ground.
"Keep your head steady. When my senior sister comes to take it, it'd better still be there. The tongue was just a rehearsal."
Li Xingtian's eyes swept across the courtyard like blades.
"Anyone else who wants to lose their tongue—go ahead and speak now."
The place fell into dead silence.
Li Yingling looked at the Li family's steward—the same man who once strutted arrogantly before her, cursing her mother as a whore and calling her a bastard every single day.
Now, he trembled on the ground like an old, beaten dog—too terrified even to scream.
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