"Good thing? Why does it feel like the visitors are not friendly?" Zhang Dabiao picked up the bank card Xu Yi had placed on the table and looked at Xu Yi, who had already walked out of the yard, muttering to himself.
I chuckled and patted Zhang Dabiao's shoulder, "Brother Zhang, we are the visitors, don't get it wrong."
Zhang Dabiao was stunned for a moment, then gave a strange chuckle.
"If you hadn't reminded me, I would have forgotten. We are indeed the visitors..."
Night soon descended, and walking on the street gave me a different feeling than usual.
In the past, Molu Village was always gloomy and oppressive, making it feel like one couldn't breathe, as if a heavy rain might pour down at any moment. The sky was always overcast.
But now, it was different. Under the night sky, I could see the stars, giving a sense of a clear, starry sky and alleviating the oppressive feeling.
Perhaps it was because Li Zuoquan was gone, or perhaps for other reasons, but in any case, I felt much more at ease.
Before we even reached the Fang residence, we saw that the entrance was decorated with lanterns and colorful banners. A red carpet was laid out for a considerable distance, and welcoming hostesses stood on both sides, seemingly waiting for some important figure. Su Dan Novel Network.
"Brother Zhang, isn't this to welcome the two of us?"
Zhang Dabiao scoffed and said, "Do you think you're the President of the United States, with two rows of hostesses welcoming you? Stop daydreaming."
As we got closer, I realized that these hostesses were not only beautiful, but they were also wearing cheongsams with slits that went almost to their waists. A slight breeze would reveal what was underneath.
I subconsciously swallowed, telling myself, "See no evil, hear no evil," but the sight of those long, bare legs kept drawing my attention. Even though I knew it was wrong, I couldn't help but want to steal a glance.
*Slap—*
I felt a sharp pain on the back of my neck as Zhang Dabiao gave me a hefty flick.
"Seeing you look so pathetic, it's just women, isn't it? Haven't you seen them before? Have some backbone, will you?"
Facing Zhang Dabiao's disdain, I punched him back, "Don't you laugh at me. If you weren't drooling, I'd believe you. Hurry up and wipe your mouth, you're embarrassing yourself."
Zhang Dabiao quickly wiped the corner of his mouth, looked at his dry palm, and then realized I had tricked him. We looked at each other and then burst into laughter.
Just then, a figure quickly emerged from the doorway. His voice reached us before he did.
"I told you two, honored sirs, didn't I say the banquet starts at six? It's almost 6:30, why are you only arriving now!"
Facing Xu Yi's complaint, Zhang Dabiao turned his gaze to me.
"Little brother, did he mention the time when he left?"
I cooperated by shaking my head and said, "He didn't mention the time, just told us to come up for a meal. He didn't say what time."
"That's right! When you left, you only told us to eat, but you didn't specify the time! Should we just leave?" Zhang Dabiao looked at Xu Yi with a strange smile.
"I think that's a good idea. Perhaps they aren't inviting us. We should leave," I continued, picking up on Zhang Dabiao's words.
"Oh, honored sirs, can you stop playing with me? I was wrong, okay? It's not your fault, it's my fault for not making myself clear. Let's go in quickly! The banquet is waiting for you two to start."
I frowned and said nothing.
Was this still the Xu Yi I had met not long ago? He seemed like a completely different person. His usual aloofness was gone, as was his mystery. He had become listless, like the bowing and scraping "Chief Eunuch" portrayed on television.
"Brother Xu, we went through life and death together. Tell me the truth, what's going on? If you don't explain clearly, we'll turn around and leave."
Why did I always feel like Xiang Yu was inviting Liu Bang with ill intentions?
Was this a Hongmen Banquet for us?
If it were just Xu Yi greeting us at the door, I wouldn't have felt anything was wrong. Even if Fang Huixin came out to welcome us, it would have been normal, as I had risked my life to save them once.
But the hostesses at the door seemed quite unusual.
Not to mention the long legs that filled my vision, the red carpet alone was over ten meters long. This was clearly not a reception for us. This was the kind of treatment only seen on television when receiving important leaders. I knew my own worth. Even as a savior, I wouldn't receive such treatment.
Hearing that we were leaving, Xu Yi looked troubled. He glanced around with his small eyes and said, "An important figure has arrived and wants to know the details of entering Qingfeng Mountain. Sister Fang can't handle it, so we had no choice but to trouble you two to help us make a good impression."
"From the capital?"
"An important figure?"
Zhang Dabiao and I exchanged glances, and at the same time, a feeling of "what we feared has come to pass" arose in our hearts.
"No wonder the Li family disappeared without a trace in just a few days. So this is the reason."
Although the power of Longhu Mountain was strong, it was only in terms of Feng Shui and Taoist arts. Even if they were given more courage, they wouldn't dare to do anything to ordinary people. If they truly harmed ordinary people, the divine punishment alone would be enough for them.
No wonder Xu Yi said the Li family had fallen apart. It was likely that the true culprit behind the Li family's disintegration was not Longhu Mountain, but the important figure from the capital.
"Little brother, what do you think?"
"Since we are here, let's accept it. We haven't done anything wicked. Can it eat us?"
"Heh heh... you're right."
Walking on the legendary red carpet, I didn't feel anything special. Instead, I felt somewhat uncomfortable because no matter where I went, the beautiful women on both sides would bow and say, "Ten thousand blessings of peace," giving me the feeling of the Empress Dowager making a royal progress.
I waved to Xu Yi, and he quickly hurried over and came up to me.
"I say, Eunuch Xu, your master has arranged quite a grand reception. Aren't you afraid that we two brothers will mess up and directly tear down your master's signboard?"
Xu Yi, who had been acting as the "Chief Eunuch," first blushed, then his face turned dark.
"Song Qingyun, you've gone too far. Do you really think I'm the Chief Eunuch? If you want to turn hostile, go ahead. It would be even better if you flipped the table. What does it have to do with me?"
After saying that, he strode past us and walked ahead, leaving me feeling rather awkward and unable to back down.
Zhang Dabiao, however, didn't seem to notice anything.
"Heh heh... it seems this guy is also unhappy with the important figure from the capital!"
I nodded without speaking, but my heart had already become wary of this important figure from the capital.
I hadn't spent much time with Xu Yi, but I had gotten to know him somewhat. Initially, he gave off an impression of aloofness and reticence. However, after going through a life-and-death situation together, I had gained some understanding of him. To summarize him in four words: "outwardly cold, inwardly passionate," or in simpler terms, a typical reserved man who was passionate on the inside.
While I was recovering, I had asked him about his relationship with Fang Huixin. He didn't hide it from me, telling me that his master owed the Fang family a favor and that he was here to repay it.
With caution in my heart, I naturally had to be careful in my words and actions to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Before we reached the main hall, I saw Fang Huixin standing at the entrance. Upon seeing the two of us, she quickly hurried forward.
"I say, you two, do you really think you're the masters? Didn't we agree to be here at six, so why are you only arriving now!" Her voice carried a hint of complaint, but her face showed a trace of gratitude.
"We were caught in traffic on the way! So we're a little late. Please don't be offended, Boss Fang!"
I said this sentence with a louder voice, intending for those inside to hear it clearly.
Fang Huixin rolled her eyes at me, with a hint of complaint. How could there be traffic in Molu Village? However, she had to go along with it.
"Oh, the road from the county town to here is indeed bad, and accidents happen frequently, so traffic jams are normal..."
Before she could finish speaking, a clear voice came from inside the hall.
"Aren't they just two insignificant nobodies? And they're putting on such airs. Hurry up and kick them in..."