Chapter 158: A Flutter of Anxiety; Bustling About
Jiang Bai gazed at the refined, middle-aged man standing before him, feeling a momentary flicker of surprise.
Ning Fengzhi? What brings him over here? His expression remained impassive—he even wore a hint of perfectly measured bewilderment: "And you are...?"
Ning Fengzhi’s movements froze for a split second.
But only for a split second.
He quickly recovered, his face still plastered with that same professional, artificial smile: "Your Excellency Jiang Bai, I am the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—Ning Fengzhi!"
He paused, his tone growing even more cordial: "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Excellency!"
Jiang Bai looked at him, then suddenly smiled, asking in a completely harmless manner: "Is it? Just how pleased are you?"
Ning Fengzhi: "..."
The smile on his face froze solid.
Standing nearby, Qian Renxue was holding a wine glass, taking an elegant sip.
Upon hearing Jiang Bai’s remark, she nearly choked; she hurriedly raised her glass to shield her face, though her shoulders couldn’t help but tremble slightly with suppressed laughter.
Just how pleased?
What... what kind of question is that?
In all his years of life, this was the very first time Ning Fengzhi had encountered something like this... something so utterly...
He took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent emotions rising within him, though the smile on his face remained somewhat stiff: "Your Excellency truly... hasn’t lost his childlike innocence."
Jiang Bai nodded, accepting the compliment with perfect composure: "Thank you for the praise."
He paused, then added: "I feel the same way."
Ning Fengzhi: "..."
Qian Renxue’s shoulders began to shake even more violently.
She simply turned her back to them, pretending to admire the delicacies laid out on the dining table, leaving the two men to face her back.
Ning Fengzhi’s eyelid twitched.
He suddenly felt that this young man standing before him might be far more troublesome to deal with than he appeared.
Sigh. Enough with the beating around the bush.
Ning Fengzhi took another deep breath, deciding to cut to the chase: "Your Excellency, might I beg a moment of your time—just a step aside—to speak privately?"
Jiang Bai cast a glance at him.
Then, he took a single step forward.
Just one step.
After that single step, he stopped and looked at Ning Fengzhi: "Go ahead, Sect Master Ning."
Ning Fengzhi: "..."
His eyelid twitched once again.
Wait... did you really just take exactly one step aside?
He felt as though he had been insulted—though he had absolutely no concrete proof.
Standing to the side, Qian Renxue was now barely managing to stifle her laughter.
She simply pretended she hadn’t seen a thing; ignoring everyone else, she walked straight toward the dining table, picked up a small plate, and began selecting her food.
Ning Fengzhi watched her retreating figure, then glanced at the utterly innocent-looking Jiang Bai standing before him. He took a deep breath—then another.
Calm down. Calm down!!
Business comes first.
He once again put on that professional, artificial smile: "May I be so bold as to ask, Your Eminence—have you only recently joined the Spirit Hall? I have never heard of you before now."
Jiang Bai nodded. "Not exactly."
He let out a sigh, his tone carrying a hint of... complaint?
"Oh, I’ve been running around doing this Pope’s bidding every single day—working myself to the bone, going through all sorts of ups and downs—and for all that, the best I could get was the position of ’Adjudication Elder.’"
Ning Fengzhi was slightly taken aback.
"Running around doing his bidding"... "working himself to the bone"... these things he could understand.
But what did "going through all sorts of ups and downs" mean?
A flicker of confusion crossed his mind, but it was quickly overshadowed by another thought: judging by Jiang Bai’s words, it sounded as if he were complaining that the Spirit Hall hadn’t rewarded him generously enough?
A surge of delight rose in Ning Fengzhi’s heart.
There’s a chance!
The smile on his face instantly became a few shades more sincere. "Is that so..."
He paused, his tone tinged with a hint of regret. "Your Eminence, my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has always accorded the highest level of treatment to talents such as yourself. If only I had met you first!"
He sighed.
"That way, my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would have gained another Supreme Elder."
Jiang Bai smiled.
"Really? That truly is a pity."
Ning Fengzhi nodded.
"Indeed—a great pity!"
He took a half-step forward and lowered his voice.
"If you ever find yourself with some free time, Your Eminence, you are welcome to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan as our guest. We would certainly spare no effort in treating a distinguished guest like you with the utmost hospitality."
Having said his piece, he did not wait for Jiang Bai’s response; instead, he gave a slight bow, turned, and walked away.
His stride was neither hurried nor slow—perfectly composed and unhurried.
It was as if the awkwardness that had just transpired had never happened at all. Jiang Bai watched his retreating figure, the corners of his lips curling upward slightly.
Interesting. Is he... trying to poach me?
Qian Renxue returned, carrying a small plate.
On the plate sat a slice of freshly baked mushroom pizza; the cheese was still stretching in molten strands, and it was steaming hot.
She handed the small plate to Jiang Bai.
"Here, have a taste."
Jiang Bai took it and devoured more than half the slice in a single bite.
Qian Renxue set the plate down on a nearby table and asked softly, "What did Ning Fengzhi say?"
Chewing, Jiang Bai gave a muffled reply: "He wants me to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Qian Renxue paused for a moment, then chuckled softly. "He wants to poach my talent?"
Jiang Bai swallowed the pizza and nodded.
Qian Renxue looked at him, a flicker of complex emotion passing through her eyes.
"I recall... isn’t your father—or wasn’t he—affiliated with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Jiang Bai nodded again, his tone flat.
"But that’s none of my business anymore. I never ate their rice; I have no ties to them."
Qian Renxue fell silent for a moment, then gave a soft, "Mm."
Suddenly, Jiang Bai reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist.
The gesture was completely natural, as if he had done it a thousand times before.
Jiang Bai leaned close to her ear, lowering his voice.
"But speaking of which, Your Holiness... someone is trying to poach your talent right under your very nose."
"I’m afraid I might not be able to resist their temptations..."
He paused, tightening his grip slightly.
"Don’t you think you ought to help me build up my resistance to temptation?"
Qian Renxue turned her head to look at him, a hint of amusement dancing in her beautiful eyes.
"And how exactly do you propose we do that?"
Jiang Bai leaned in even closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear.
"Tonight... why don’t you wear that Papal regalia of yours..."
He didn’t finish the sentence, but his meaning was abundantly clear.
Qian Renxue’s lovely face instantly flushed crimson.
She shot him a playful, chiding glare, her voice tinged with a mix of shyness and indignation.
"How can you be so... naughty?"
Yet, she did not refuse him.
She simply leaned her head gently against his shoulder and said nothing more.
Outside the window, the moonlight flowed like water. Inside, wine cups clinked and laughter rang out.
Yet, deep within every heart, private thoughts and agendas lay hidden.
Ning Fengzhi returned to Chen Xin’s side, murmuring something in a low voice while his gaze occasionally drifted toward Jiang Bai.
Xue Luochuan moved through the crowd, engaging in conversation with representatives from various factions, a polite smile never leaving his face.
Representatives from the Four Lower Sects huddled together, speaking in hushed tones as they discussed the newly emerged "Adjudication Elder" who had burst onto the scene so suddenly.
Meanwhile, the members of the Spirit Hall observed every guest’s reaction with an air of quiet detachment.
It was a grand banquet.
But it was also a game rife with hidden undercurrents.
...
At the edge of the crowd, near the dessert table:
Jiang Li’er held a plate of mint jelly, eating it with evident relish.
Today, she wore a simple yet elegant long gown of white and gold—an outfit that accentuated her radiant beauty and captivating charm.
Tian Yue stood beside her, munching loudly on a skewer of crispy shrimp-and-potato cups.
"Hey," Tian Yue nudged Jiang Li’er’s arm, "what was your man just saying to Ning Fengzhi?"
Jiang Li’er didn’t even lift her head: "I don’t know."
Tian Yue raised an eyebrow: "Aren’t you going to go check?"
Jiang Li’er finally looked up and cast a brief glance at her: "What is there to see? He’s not going anywhere."
Tian Yue was momentarily stumped; she pursed her lips and muttered, "Fine, have it your way. You certainly don’t let things get to you."
Jiang Li’er went right back to eating her jelly.