Wherever Mei Ying looked, there were long red tapestries hanging from the wooden balconies above, encircling the large, bustling dining space. Dozens of tall and brightly lit lanterns also dangled gracefully overhead, among the high lavish ceiling. From the ground level, one could see the master-crafted paintings that decorated the roof, filled with heroes, Gods, and demons.

Grunting, Nian Zu elbowed his junior forward. Li Qin, along with Mei Ying, was starting to hold up the path as they followed Xia Qi.

“Enough with the gaping.” said the solemn shixiong, who stood last in line. “We need to eat, find an inn, and leave by tomorrow morning.”

Li Qin sighed, “Yes, Shixiong.”

“Yes, Nian Zu.” Mei Ying nodded, obediently.

Once the hunters had cleared the cave of fifty-five ghosts, the wealthy and aggrieved client paid them generous lump of spirit stones. It was then split evenly among the four friends. To celebrate another success, the group decided to spend a bit more on extravagant food and entertainment before the morning. Three moons of traveling together was a rare occasion. It was even rarer for different sect disciples to do so willingly.

Basically, most sects do not work together. It is common for disciples from these different sects to not form such intimate bonds outside of martial tournaments, large-scaled hunting competitions, or cultivation sect meetings.

Resources are not abundant in the Mortal realm. It is far safer for powerful people to keep a certain distance from one another.

Quickly, Mei Ying and her male friends hurried behind the elder huntress more closely—and their short, meek servant. Being nervous, the small person tried to move past the other servants and their two large trays of steaming food. It was all in vain though because they kept getting stopped at every other second.

“D-Do not worry, Miss Xia Qi!” stammered the sweating guide. “Please follow this lowly one as he tries to find an empty table for you and your friends.”

“We appreciate your efforts.” Xia Qi smiled sweetly. “Thank you for your services.”

“A-Anything for you!”

Mei Ying blinked, noticing how flushed the servant’s face was. Ah…

Turning to her female friend, the naïve maiden studied Xia Qi’s overall appearance.

The older huntress wore a soft green outer robe, which resembled a summer forest, brimming with towering trees, flower buds, and high grass. Though her back was straight like a jasper bamboo stalk, her shoulders were small, and her skin was flawless and smooth like ocean pearls. Xia Qi also had long, night-black hair that came down to her curved hips. With her chin pointed up, the young woman easily exuded the air of elegance and utmost confidence. Her red lips curved into a smug look.

There was no question about it. The green-robed cultivator knew how attractive she was to the many prying eyes of men.

Curious, Mei Ying’s eyes swept around.

What Shifu said about the places outside of Cheng Xiu Village was true… Everything was indeed more colorful, immaculate, and bizarre than her simple and reclusive home. Traveling had opened her eyes to new places, people, and food that the young woman would not have thought was possible until now.

At the top-center of the ceiling, there was a sizeable dragon sculpture suspended in the air, made of clear blue ice. Several bands of wintry wind circulated around the figure, which kept the restaurant’s interior at a steady cool temperature from all the warm cooking in the kitchen. The ice sculpture, however, did not repress the intermixing aromas of food that wove in and out of the halls, all carried by many servants. The meals were not cold at all from the dragon’s icy magic.

With wide sparkling eyes, Mei Ying thought the beast was truly incredible… The ice and wind elements were even utilized in a prettier way than what most of the Song cultivators normally do with both combined. Who is the genius behind this?

From up ahead, there were smaller silk lanterns that lined along the extensive hallways, spanning past and rotated around the centered room at the floor level. It was filled with jade and marble tables and chairs, occupied by other guests. Large golden cages were perched at every other wooden beam, each holding a person who is playing harmonious stringed instruments. All the entertainers were draped in glittering gold, silver, or sometimes, bright coral silks.

Loud bursts of laughter rang throughout the large-scaled restaurant. People from various cultivation sects, small and major ones, mingled on the broad dining floor. There was hardly any room for Mei Ying and her friends, given that there were no more available seats.

“L-let this servant take you all outside in the back where you will be given a nice, wide view of the stars and feel the nice, cool air!” The trembling servant insisted. “This way, please, Miss Xia Qi!”

“Thank you.” said the green-robed cultivator, smiling.

From the balconies overhead, in one corner, Mei Ying spotted the proud Jin Sword sect disciples in their almost blindingly gold outer robes, drinking wine together. While there were only three, the young men seemed to be in a paradise of their own, accompanied by beautiful, pearl-white women and large golden platters of food.

Ah, Shifu had warned the huntress of the Jin Sword disciples practicing quite a bit of dual-something…with other women. It was best for Mei Ying to keep her distance from them.

In a different corner, upstairs, was another group of major sect disciples, who were dressed in black. The top half of their faces were covered by steel-gray eye masks. They glanced down at the small servant ushering Mei Ying and the group through the expansive establishment. All five young men nodded. In response, Nian Zu and Li Qi nodded back in acknowledgement with equal respect.

“Little Ying.” Standing closest to the nervous servant, Xia Qi tilted her head to whisper, “That is the Feng Bao sect of the North, one of the ten major seats. Remember their uniforms and emblem well. Do not forget for if you run into trouble, they may consider in aiding you since they are good allies of my Shujing Jian sect.” The grip around her green jade badge tightened, its emblem design shining quite proudly.

Not waiting for the veiled maiden to respond, the older huntress raised her eyes and smiled at the black-robed men. One of the Feng Bao sect disciples flashed a small friendly smile in return.

“They are so quiet.” murmured Mei Ying, shuffling behind her female friend. Unlike the loud, energetic Jin sect men—the other group was still and calm. Yet they were also rather intimidating, and even those at the tables closest to them did not dare to disturb the fragile atmosphere. “The Song clan is quiet too, but this is different.”

“They are known for their superior stealth abilities, spying, and assassin-like tactics.” answered Nian Zu, with arms folded. “Feng Bao sect is also gifted in the art of hallucinations and illusion magic. No one should mess with them if they want to live. After forging a friendship with the Shujing Jian sect, it is no wonder that Xia Qi is so good at blending into the forestry setting and creating formation traps for her opponents.”

Hearing this, the green-robed beauty smirked. She then lowered her gaze to appear humbler, allowing her gold flower hairpin to shimmer in the eyes from those around the high balconies.

But the act was not convincing for Mei Ying, who watched the older huntress so keenly.

“In other words, yes, they are quiet…” said Li Qin, wrapping his arm around his shixiong. The wide silver sleeve flapped back, stirred by the ice dragon’s wind. “…but are insanely powerful and scary. They must be here for the annual conference.”

Glowering, Nian Zu pushed his shidi’s arm away. They were not here to play in front of so many eyes. As proud Shan Qing sect disciples, the two need to be on their best behavior.

In the meantime, the meek servant stopped before two lofty double doors, each side guarded by a tall, brawny man of mid-tier cultivation rank. They bowed to the small person and exchanged a few murmurs. Gradually, the men opened the wide entrance for the servant and the line of hunters.

The skies overhead had stretched endlessly with indigo blue silk and a sea of diamond-white stars, each glistening upon their new visitors. A wisp of chilliness brushed over Mei Ying’s long, dark hair back as the veil that kept her face half-hidden almost twirled.

What greeted the group was a dazzling banquet scene that was probably fit for a king, queen, and his entire court of innumerous subjects.

There were various long wooden tables, filled with white marble, green jade, or gold dishes of glimmering meats, fruits covered with white dew, and hot rice. Small bowls of light translucent soups and clay pots of sweet, intoxicating wine were set by every cultivator there. The air was cool and refreshing. It was also teeming of savory fragrance from many freshly cooked meals.

Even here in the back courtyard of the restaurant, scores of voices buzzed and shouted over one another, followed by laughter. Many cultivators gathered around the different sections of the outdoor dining area. Most of them were men, enjoying another night before the start of the annual event.

“Where is this conference held at?” asked Mei Ying, pouting. She turned to the young men by her side, waiting for the servant to move forward. “I want to see the other major sects too…”

A draft blew against the huntress’ long hair. The tall double doors slowly closed behind the hobbling group.

While there was abrupt yelling, infused with quick slams on wooden platforms, the veiled maiden paid no mind. She felt the firm tug on her broad white cuff and looked down to see the bright green sleeve drift over her own small hand. Huh?

“Ah, didn’t our sect master invite the Song clan’s Chieftain along?” Li Qin inquired, raising an eyebrow. “This fall, the Tian Shan Feng event is being hosted by the flashy Jin Sword sect.”

“Shidi!” Nian Zu hissed.

“If you go, wouldn’t that ice-cold bastard drag you back home? After your shifu went missing, you ran away from the floating village to hunt that—” The younger one’s bright smile went rigid.

When Li Qin blinked, a long heavy table had already been launched toward the entire group.

While the furniture seemed to have emanated from nowhere, time was moving a bit slow. The young man caught his breath. His dark taupe eyes widened from the surprise.

From the corner of Li Qin’s peripheral, Xia Qi had already pivoted her foot, shifting away from the wooden furnishing. Her long green sleeves were wrapped around the white-robed huntress. They were out of harm’s way whereas the poor servant had ducked the table just in time, their cotton cap falling to the ground.

What was more is that Nian Zu had moved his head aside, barely missing the end of the table.

There was one tap made on the smooth wooden tabletop, with a single fingertip. A gold spark ignited, flaring up for a millisecond. It went out.

Although he was a bit dazed by a flying piece of wood, Li Qin did not think. He was unable to dodge the table. It was all he could do for himself. Whoever threw it at the group would be met by a force ten times over!

Immediately, the long table bounced back, flipping in the air, and smacked right back into two purple-robed men. Like flies, they both flew, spewing blood and fell on top of another long table of hot food. Their bottoms were wet from boiling soup broth and toppled jars of wine!

Turning to her friend, Mei Ying’s jaw dropped. Li Qin, are you trying to kill people?!

While the perpetuators were guilty by throwing furniture across a dining space, the fact that they both now lie in between two long tables seem incredibly unjust when Li Qin was left, unscathed.

“LI QIN!” hissed both Xia Qi and Nian Zu, their faces paling over with dread.

Is the stupid hunter trying to make them lose all their hard-earned spirit stones?!

“The Shan Qing and Shujing Jian sect disciples are by no fault of this!” shouted a man, getting up from his seat. “Do you all agree?!”

Then, as if to assure the group, everyone on all sides of the vast dining floor nodded and voiced their agreement, gesturing for the group to sit down.

Aiya… Mei Ying did not know whether she should laugh or cry. Isn’t there a Song cultivator here too?

Lowering her eyes, the young woman took a good, long look at her snow-white outer robe that seemingly glowed in the night and the silver bracelet around her left wrist. It was not as though the cultivation world initiated much contact with the Song clan after her birth… While some mumbled about inviting the clan to other events, the majority only wanted to see how the Red Omen Prophecy’s Mei Ying will make a name for herself. They did not even know what that child even looked like, ah…

Oh well. There were shattered plates and bowls everywhere. Where can they even sit?

“Maybe we should find a different place.” suggested Nian Zu, scratching his head. “What does Shidi think?”

Narrowing his brows together, Li Qin murmured, “How the f*ck am I supposed to know…”

The shidi did not regret doing what he did at all. He had literally saved his own face.

Shifting their eyes to the brooding shidi and then, to the quiet Xia Qi, the nervous servant swallowed. They did not know what to do and felt incredibly awkward. A mustered smile forced its way into their lips. Is this group of righteous cultivators just going to walk away after what just happened?

“Alright, alright! Let’s move out of the way and think.” Xia Qi waved for all four hunters to scoot aside.

Craning their neck, the servant went silent.

Rather unexpectedly, before the people could walk over to the side, the towering double doors behind them opened. Little by little, the colossal entry groaned.

All at once, Mei Ying noticed that the hundred people who were either eating, drinking, or rolling off the table of food…stopped. The high doors had been opened by the guards. All eyes were fixated at whoever was behind her. The veiled huntress tilted her head, wondering who may have caught their attention.

A clear, sonorous ring resonated in the air, followed by the saunter of a stranger.

Sensing the almighty but dark presence, Mei Ying turned around.

Crimson maple leaves drifted past over the cultivators’ heads and into the building of radiating gold light and flooding talks and laughter. There were clinking of dishes, cheers for drinking, long speeches over feasts, and buzzing murmurs from one ear to the next. However, despite the various noises, chattering, and near-ear deafening volume, the young woman could not help but tune everything out.

The huntress caught only a glimpse of the long, billowing crimson cloak that the stranger wore, with a heavy hood over his head. From the covering, long silk locks of his jet-black hair had peeked out, flowing freely with the crisp breeze. Around his right wrist was a familiar-looking silver bracelet.

At every step, there was a bounce to it as though the cloaked person was on a leisurely stroll in a place filled of amusements and benign faces. It was as though nothing that he could do or say could touch him, despite the many major sect disciples hovering at every inch of the all-glowing establishment. Their auras did not deter him at the slightest.

The sight caused the veiled maiden to step forward. Her heart trembled faintly. She stopped, creasing her brows together. Was that just my imagination?