Chapter 31: Flattery

With a single remark, it was as if everyone present had been roused from a dream; all the prominent figures' expressions changed, and soon after, they began to echo the sentiment.

“Old Zhang, you’re as sharp as ever. The higher Xu Yang sets himself, the clearer it is that he holds a special status, with powerful backing behind him.”

“Exactly. I invited him to the banquet just now with the utmost sincerity, but he didn’t even spare me a glance. Clearly, in his eyes…”

Liu Jin, that rascal, was even more audacious—he simply waved a hundred-yuan bill, and a young man dressed as a laborer eagerly trotted over.

The hotel staff had been dozing off; after two days of bustle, the place was about to return to its usual deserted state. So when this distinguished guest suddenly appeared, they were startled out of their wits.

Everyone began to persuade, and the Korean officials even demanded that the organizers immediately declare the match over.

“Boasting so wildly! I fear you don’t have the ability.” Zhang Huaming snorted coldly, taking a single step forward. Instantly, his entire demeanor changed, his overwhelming presence at the peak of the Dao Sovereign realm surging forth, clashing against the aura of the White Tiger Divine Beast.

Xin Yi’s body tensed up; after all, she still wasn’t used to such embraces. Her mind spun for a while before she realized—he was asking why she hadn’t called him, wasn’t he?

For the first time, Luo Yichen felt that his father, too, was subject to many helpless circumstances. Perhaps, after years of remorse, he had come to some realization. Regardless, his father was now the first to consider his feelings. This fact made Luo Yichen’s opinion of him begin to change.

“Whoa!” This time, it was the middle-aged father who exclaimed, and all eyes, his included, were fixed on the wallet.

“Hmph!” At this moment, a clear, crisp voice rang out, instantly silencing any further discussion.

A nation has its laws, a trade its rules. If the flow of energy were likened to traffic regulations, then pedestrian paths have pedestrian rules, and motorways have their own. Each remains undisturbed by the other, like water from separate wells, yet they are mutually dependent, together forming a complete system of movement.

The Xu family, the Qi family, and now the Wang family—if both the Xu and Qi families are powerless against this man, what makes the Wang family think they can prevail? Overestimating themselves.

Gu Xining smiled indifferently. Perhaps she shared some hidden affinity with Noble Consort Zhou, for at first glance, she had already caught the consort’s eye.

His sturdy frame granted him immense force; when he ran, the plump man resembled a human-shaped tank.

Zhao Kuiyan’s cheeks flushed as she tried to loosen her collar; Xian’er hurriedly intervened, pleading with Gu Xining to look after Zhao Kuiyan.

“The situation is dire!” Chu Xiyue watched the continuously flickering beams of visible light with suspicion. Any visible radiation was, after all, a major waste of energy; sustaining such output would exhaust a great deal of stamina, yet for this giant beast, it seemed a mere trifle.

His figure twisted, and a shadow surged silently from his body, swiftly appearing before the Candy Monster and forming a vague humanoid shape.

“It’s not that you can’t ask,” the shopkeeper said tactfully, “it’s just that we have our rules here. If you want this ginseng, you’ll have to buy it from me. You can’t go around me, can you?”

Yang Mo stood dumbfounded; he’d thought boasting twenty thousand in printed treasure notes would be enough to show off, but now, who knew how many bills were inside that wallet—all cold, hard cash.

The door to the rear hall had been frozen solid, nearly impossible to push open, and the surrounding temperature had dipped below zero, causing Su Xiao to shiver involuntarily.

Candy Monsters, these magical creatures, were quite rare and grew in highly unpredictable patterns. Though they inhabited this forest, they could appear anywhere at any time.

Lian Jin spoke as she tapped Lian Min on the head with her chopsticks, a mild punishment for his behavior.