Immortal Martial Emperor

Hong Yu looked at Zhangg Kang with a strange expression.

He had just used his Spiritual Power to eavesdrop and had clearly heard what Zhangg Kang said to Zhangg Lang: "Uncle, these people are all carrying great Treasures. Besides, they made your nephew lose a lot of face before. Let's settle them in the inn first, then find a chance to teach them a harsh lesson. It would be best if we could get our hands on their Treasures too!"

It was because he heard Zhangg Kang's words that Zhangg Lang changed his mind.

His initial hesitation turned into a cheerful agreement, and he even eagerly ran off to arrange for their rooms.

'Interesting. This uncle-nephew duo is really something else.'

Hong Yu narrowed his eyes. A mocking glint shone within them, but hidden underneath was a trace of cold light.

He had originally planned to settle in first and look for Feng Xue Xin and the others later.

But now...

'Heh, I'm actually a little curious to see what kind of tricks they can pull.'

Eyes narrowed to slits, he leaned back quietly in his chair.

Zhangg Lang returned quickly.

He arranged rooms for Hong Yu and his group at the Aolai Inn. The uncle and nephew exchanged shifty glances, but Hong Yu pretended not to see them.

The rooms they were given were actually quite nice.

The group checked in.

Zhangg Kang said with a smile, "Brother Hong Yu, you all rest here for now. My uncle is hosting a banquet at the inn tonight. You must all be sure to attend on time!"

Hong Yu smiled and nodded. "Alright, we'll be there."

"Haha, as long as you come, that's what matters! You absolutely can't be absent!"

Zhangg Kang said enthusiastically.

His eyes gleamed with the joy of a successful scheme.

After Zhangg Kang left, Xu Wudi said, "Doesn't he seem a bit odd?"

Lin Fei was silent for a moment. He had now been completely ostracized by Zhangg Kang and his group.

He said in a low voice, "Brother Hong, from what I know of Zhangg Kang, he is definitely not the type to give up on revenge so easily. The more enthusiastic he acts now, the more I feel something is wrong. You need to be careful."

Hong Yu smiled. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

The group waited.

The time for the banquet soon arrived.

Zhangg Kang sent Wang Lidin to inform Hong Yu and the others. They followed Wang Lidin to the main hall, where many tables had already been set up.

Every table was laden with all sorts of dishes.

The food was exquisite, a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate. There were also jugs of fine wine. It certainly looked like a grand reception.

"Aiyo, Brother Hong Yu, you're finally here!"

Zhangg Kang came over enthusiastically, a grin on his face. "My sincerest apologies. My uncle just informed me that we might not have enough tables, and he's sending someone to the backyard to get more. Why don't you all wait here for a moment!"

Although his words sounded like an apology, everyone could clearly see the sly, triumphant look in his eyes that spoke of a successful scheme.

Xu Wudi frowned and was about to lose her temper, but Hong Yu shot her a look, telling her to be patient.

Then he smiled. "It's no problem. You go ahead and handle your business. It's all the same if we take our seats after the table arrives."

"Alright then!"

Zhangg Kang then walked away.

He immediately reverted to his arrogant demeanor, head held high and chest puffed out, walking with a Dragon Walk and Tiger Stride like a victorious rooster.

"Hong Yu, is Zhangg Kang doing this to deliberately humiliate us?" Landy asked with a frown.

Born into a Royal Family, how could he not understand such schemes and plots?

Young Master Yeban raised his eyebrows nonchalantly. "Relax, relax. Have you ever seen this guy come out on the losing end? If Zhangg Kang dares to do this, he'll definitely be crying later!"

"I hope so," Landy hesitated for a moment before speaking faintly.

'The dignified Crown Prince of the Ice Kingdom is being treated this way, without even a place to sit at a banquet. How humiliating would it be if word of this got out?'

As time passed, more and more guests arrived.

Zhangg Kang and his uncle, Zhangg Lang, were enthusiastically welcoming one distinguished guest after another, their faces blooming with smiles as brilliant as chrysanthemums.

Just after welcoming in a VIP, Zhangg Lang caught sight of Hong Yu's group standing in the corner. He tugged on Zhangg Kang's sleeve and whispered, "Little Kang, your methods are truly insidious! Hehe, to just leave them hanging like that... Look, all these guests coming in are giving them the strangest looks!"

"Hmph! Those guys dared to make me lose face before. Today, I'll make them lose all of theirs!"

Zhangg Kang said viciously, then suddenly hesitated. "Uncle, Hong Yu is an Unparalleled True Dragon on par with Zhang Weilong. Are you sure we can afford to disregard that connection?"

"Zhang Weilong? An Unparalleled True Dragon?"

A trace of disdain appeared on Zhangg Lang's face as he spoke arrogantly, "What do they amount to? Your uncle has been operating in the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom for many years and knows quite a few big shots. I've even recently established a connection with a member of the Imperial Family. That lord will be here later. He's an existence even stronger than Zhang Weilong, a badass figure ranked in the top thirty among the Unparalleled True Dragons!"

"Do you think I, your uncle, need to be afraid of a mere Hong Yu?"

Zhangg Lang looked utterly conceited.

Zhangg Kang's face lit up with excitement as he immediately started sucking up. "No wonder Father always said your abilities surpass his! To think you're even on good terms with someone from the Imperial Family, that's just too awesome!"

"Hahaha..."

The uncle and nephew duo laughed with even more abandon.

"I really want to punch them," Xu Wudi said, clenching her fists.

Landy nodded as well.

Although the hall was noisy and the uncle and nephew had deliberately lowered their voices, they couldn't escape the sharp ears of Hong Yu and his companions.

Being left hanging here, subjected to the strange gazes of the passing guests, had already filled everyone with anger.

Now, hearing this conversation between Zhangg Kang and his uncle, how could they endure it? How could they not be furious?

Young Master Yeban narrowed his eyes. "This Aolai Kingdom must be one of those nouveau riche kingdoms! For him to have a connection to the Imperial Family, who knows what price he had to pay. An Imperial Family expert ranked in the top thirty of the Unparalleled True Dragons... I wonder which one it is."

"Knowing an expert from the Imperial Family? Is that supposed to be impressive?" Hong Yu said nonchalantly.

The group stared at him, speechless. 'The Imperial Family! This is the Imperial Family of the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom we're talking about!'

Someone who knows a member of the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom's Imperial Family, while not able to run rampant throughout the Ancient Kingdom, is at least not someone an ordinary person would dare to provoke lightly!

Facing their strange looks, Hong Yu just chuckled and said nothing.

But in his mind, the image of a young man appeared.

'That young man with the extraordinary aura... within the Imperial Family, there probably aren't many who can compare to him, right?'

So Hong Yu thought.

"A respectful welcome to Lord Xiahuang Dun of the Imperial Family!" Zhangg Lang's voice was exceptionally loud.

A young man walked in through the entrance. He wore an exquisite embroidered robe, had a fair complexion, and a pair of alluring eyes that held a lustful gleam.

This was Xiahuang Dun, an expert from a branch of the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom's Imperial Family, ranked in the top thirty Unparalleled True Dragons.

Xiahuang Dun's reputation in the Outer City was known to all.

Many of the guests in the hall rose to their feet to welcome Xiahuang Dun.

"Haha, Boss Zhangg, you're too kind!" Xiahuang Dun said with a laugh.

Zhangg Lang let loose a string of flattery, which was music to Xiahuang Dun's ears, and the smile on his face widened.

Zhangg Lang seized the opportunity to bring Zhangg Kang forward. "Young Master Xiahuang Dun, this is the Crown Prince of my Aolai Kingdom, Zhangg Kang. He has long admired your great name and has always wanted to meet you!"

"Oh?"

Xiahuang Dun looked at Zhangg Kang.

Zhangg Kang hurriedly bowed, bending over a full one hundred and eighty degrees, his head nearly touching the tips of his toes.

With a fawning expression, Zhangg Kang said respectfully, "Young Master Xiahuang Dun, I had heard of your great name even back in the Aolai Kingdom, and my uncle has always been singing the praises of your genius. I have admired you for so long, and today my wish to meet you has finally been fulfilled!"

As he spoke, Zhangg Kang's eyes practically welled up with tears.

The man's acting skills and shamelessness had reached a level that could startle the heavens and move the ghost-gods.

Xiahuang Dun felt extremely pleased. He inwardly praised Zhangg Kang's cleverness and said with a chuckle, "Well said, well said. In the future, if you have any trouble in the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom, just mention my name, Xiahuang Dun!"

One had to admire this Zhangg Kang.

In the span of just a few sentences, he was already acting like sworn brothers with Xiahuang Dun, with his arm slung over his shoulder.

As Xiahuang Dun walked toward the main seat, he saw Hong Yu and his group standing off to the side and frowned slightly. "Who are these people? Why are they just standing here?"

"Oh, they're also here for the True Dragon War. I wanted to get them seated, but we don't have enough tables, so they can only stand for now," Zhangg Kang said nonchalantly.

His eyes suddenly lit up, and he whispered, "Brother Xiahuang, take a look at that feisty little beauty. Isn't she interesting?" He was pointing at Xu Wudi.

Xiahuang Dun glanced at Xu Wudi.

A delicate and curvaceous figure, exquisite features, and a suit of red leather armor that accentuated her full and fiery body—she was an absolute stunner.

Xiahuang Dun's mouth went dry. He licked his lips and nodded. "Have her come over and accompany me."

"Right away!"

Zhangg Kang nodded eagerly.

He walked up to Hong Yu's group, no longer bowing and scraping. He looked at Xu Wudi with a smug smile. "Miss Xu, Young Master Xiahuang Dun has invited you over to the main seat to sit with him."

Wang Lidin chimed in from the side, "Miss Xu, that's Xiahuang Dun, an expert from the Imperial Family! For him to allow you to dine with him is a blessing you've earned over several lifetimes. If I were you, I'd crawl over there!"

Xu Wudi shot him a glance and said in an icy tone, "Then why don't you crawl over there?"

"I..."

Wang Lidin looked embarrassed.

Zhangg Kang frowned. "Miss Xu, Young Master Xiahuang Dun is giving you face by asking you to come over. It's your blessing. I think you'd better go. Otherwise, if you anger Young Master Xiahuang Dun, you'll be offending the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom's Imperial Family, and that won't do you or your family any good!"

Xu Wudi said calmly, "Zhangg Kang, I've suddenly realized just how thick your skin is. Has it been so long that you've already forgotten what you said on the Celestial Dragon Warship that day?"

"I..."

Zhangg Kang's expression darkened, his face clouded over.

Recalling the scene of being forced to kneel and beg for mercy before Hong Yu, he snorted coldly. "Fine, don't go. I offered you face, but you refused it." Then, Zhangg Kang ordered his subordinate, "Get them a table!"

A short while later, a dilapidated table was brought over, one that could only seat three or four people at most.

But Hong Yu's group had seven or eight people. How could they possibly fit?

Zhangg Kang said arrogantly, "Sorry, this is the only table we have. Take it or leave it."

"You..."

Xu Wudi flew into a rage and was about to attack.

Hong Yu held her back and said with a grin, "It's fine. Let's just sit for a bit. There might be a good show to watch later. We wouldn't want to miss it."

"Hm?"

The group looked at Hong Yu in confusion.

Zhangg Kang was completely baffled, but he couldn't be bothered to say more to Hong Yu. He just snorted coldly and returned to Xiahuang Dun's side. "Brother Xiahuang, your little brother was incompetent. I couldn't get her to come over."

"Oh?"

Xiahuang Dun narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint within them, but he simply smiled faintly. "No matter. If she won't come, she won't come. It's getting late, let's start the banquet."

Three rounds of drinks and five courses of food later...

Xiahuang Dun glanced at Zhangg Lang beside him. Zhangg Lang revealed a smile like that of an old fox and slowly stood up.

In the corner, Hong Yu, who had been sitting with his eyes half-closed, suddenly opened them. The corners of his lips curved up in an amused smile as he murmured to himself, "Is this Feast at Hong Gate finally about to begin?"