Chapter 99. The banquet. [1]
One week quietly slipped by.
Throughout Azure Willow City, preparations for the Lin Family’s promotion banquet were in full swing.
Caravans entered the city one after another, bringing decorations, delicacies, fine wine, and every kind of material needed for the celebration.
The streets were noticeably livelier than usual.
Every inn had begun accepting reservations, while merchants eagerly discussed the arrival of guests from every direction.
Within the Lin Estate, disciples hurried from one courtyard to another as the entire clan threw themselves into the preparations.
"Father!"
Lin Zhaoyue hurried into Lin Xuan’s courtyard, unable to hide the excitement on her face.
"The Su Family has sent word! They’re coming to the banquet!"
Lin Xuan smiled faintly.
"That’s good news."
Instead of continuing the conversation, he reached into his storage ring before taking out a small jade bottle.
From within, he poured a single pill into his palm.
The instant it appeared, faint wisps of golden mist slowly drifted around its surface, forming delicate cloud-like patterns.
Lin Xuan held it out toward his daughter.
"Do you know what this is?"
Lin Zhaoyue’s attention was immediately drawn to the pill.
She leaned closer, her eyes widening.
"...A pill cloud?"
She looked back at her father in astonishment.
"Is that... a Pill Cloud?"
Lin Xuan’s smile broadened.
"You’re right, It is."
He looked at the pill with unconcealed satisfaction.
"And it’s a Golden Core Pill."
A trace of pride crept into his voice.
"My very first Pill Cloud."
Lin Zhaoyue stared blankly at the pill.
For several moments, she was completely speechless.
Eventually, she looked up at her father with an expression of pure disbelief.
"...Father..."
She genuinely didn’t know what to say.
Another month passed and the long-awaited day of the banquet finally arrived.
From the early hours of the morning, the entire Lin Estate buzzed with activity.
Guests would soon begin arriving from every corner of the kingdom.
Every lantern had to be perfectly aligned, every table carefully arranged.
Every pathway thoroughly cleaned.
At the center of it all was Lin Zhaoyue.
She hurried from one side of the estate to the other, personally inspecting every detail.
Watching the petite eleven-year-old dart left and right through the estate was almost an amusing sight.
She looked like an energetic child eagerly preparing for a festival.
Many of the younger disciples couldn’t help but smile at how adorable she appeared as she busied herself with every tiny detail.
Of course...
That impression vanished the moment she stopped in front of them and asks them to redo the decoration again.
As the first rays of sunlight illuminated Azure Willow City, the gates of the Lin Estate were thrown wide open.
Rows of Lin Family disciples stood neatly on either side of the entrance, welcoming the arriving guests.
Inside the estate, dozens of servants moved about with trays of tea and refreshments, while musicians softly played welcoming melodies that drifted throughout the courtyard.
Before long, the first carriage rolled to a stop outside the estate.
A disciple stationed at the entrance immediately stepped forward and announced in a loud voice,
"The Zhao Family has arrived!"
The bustling courtyard quieted slightly as many guests turned toward the entrance.
"Patriarch Zhao Luhao and his wife Liu Wanqing!"
Zhao Luhao stepped down from the carriage with his usual dignified bearing before offering a cupped-fist salute toward the welcoming disciples.
Beside him, his wife, Liu Wanqing, wore an elegant smile as she followed.
Although the Zhao Family had experienced an awkward period with the Lin Family not long ago, their recent reconciliation had restored much of their relationship.
Their arrival today was also a clear signal to everyone present.
The Zhao Family intended to maintain its alliance with the newly promoted Rank Eight Lin Family.
The welcoming disciples quickly led the couple toward the guest seating area.
Not long afterward, another announcement echoed throughout the estate.
"The Huang Family has arrived!"
The lively atmosphere became noticeably quieter.
Unlike the Zhao Family, only a single elder walked through the entrance.
His expression remained courteous, but few failed to notice the awkwardness surrounding his arrival.
After all, everyone in Azure Willow City already knew that relations between the Huang and Lin Families had deteriorated dramatically.
In recent weeks, the Huang Family had openly interfered with Lin Family businesses.
They had attempted to undercut prices, poach merchants, disrupt trade agreements, and make life difficult for anyone associated with the Lin Family.
What had once been subtle competition had become open hostility.
Yet despite all of that, they had still sent an elder to attend today’s banquet.
Whether it was out of courtesy, obligation, or a desire to gauge the Lin Family’s current strength, no one could say.
The elder offered a polite smile as he presented the Huang Family’s gift.
"Congratulations to the Lin Family on advancing to Rank Eight."
His words were courteous.
But beneath the surface,everyone could sense the tension that lingered between the two families.
Despite the subtle tension in the air, the Lin Family disciples showed no trace of hostility.
One of the welcoming disciples stepped forward with a respectful bow.
"Elder, this way please."
The Huang Family elder was momentarily surprised before giving a slight nod.
"Thank you."
He quietly followed the disciple toward the seating area.
The watching guests couldn’t help but exchange glances.
The Lin Family was treating even a hostile guest with proper etiquette.
Naturally, this wasn’t without reason.
It had been Lin Zhaoyue’s decision.
According to her: "All guests are potential money bags."
She had specifically instructed every disciple not to show favoritism.
Today’s banquet wasn’t merely a celebration of the Lin Family’s promotion to a Rank Eight clan.
At the conclusion of the banquet, the Lin Family would publicly also auction batches of Pure Quality pills.
Just the news of it had already attracted countless influential figures from the surrounding regions.
Whether friend or foe, wealthy or poor, ranked or unranked...
As long as they had enough spirit stones, they were welcome to compete.
From Lin Zhaoyue’s perspective, every additional bidder meant higher prices.
And higher prices meant more resources for the Lin Family.
So even the Huang Family elder was simply another potential money bag.
Before long, more carriages began arriving one after another.
Family heads, elders, and representatives from ranked and unranked families alike steadily filled the estate.
Some had come to congratulate the Lin Family.
Others wished to establish new business ties.
Many, however, had only one purpose, the Pure Quality pills.
Soon seats were gradually being filled as conversations echoed throughout the venue, the anticipation in the air growing heavier with each new arrival.