CHAPTER 389: CHAPTER 251: BIRTHDAY BANQUET

"Master," Uncle Yun grimaced, his mind racing with thoughts on how to avoid this competition, "this old servant has no time to spar with you. Look, your grand birthday is approaching, and I, as the steward of Yun Residence, have so much to prepare. Inside and outside the house, everything waits for my arrangement. And the birthday invitations, they must each be delivered."

Uncle Yun pulled out a list from his person, with a long string of names written on it.

Even the Emperor of Great Zhou was a guest of honor on the list, along with guests from other nations residing in Yujing, such as Si Ming from the Magic Temple, who were also targets of the birthday feast invitation.

Yun Bahe clearly showed no interest in this list.

Being a Martial Artist, he was historically inept at handling such tedious formalities, thus he entrusted all these matters to Yun Cangxue and Uncle Yun.

However, today Yun Bahe, contrary to his usual demeanor, scrutinized the list very carefully.

From beginning to end, the more he looked, the more he felt there was a name missing.

"Hmm, Yun Song, is this the complete list of all the guests invited?" Yun Bahe pondered in his mind, wondering why that little girl’s name wasn’t on it.

It turns out that Yun Bahe’s willingness to hold a birthday banquet this time was indeed with another calculation in mind.

According to the customs of Great Zhou, elder family members celebrating their birthdays required the younger generation to bow and offer congratulations.

He was secretly hoping that Yun Sheng, that little girl, would come to convey her blessings at this banquet. By then, it would be only natural for him to have her bow her head a few times and acknowledge her ancestry.

After all, under his knees, there were only Yun Sheng and Tang Yu as his grandchildren.

Tang Yu was a failure who had been exiled and naturally wouldn’t be back to bow to him, so that left only Yun Sheng.

Seeing his master’s face showing a mixture of desire to ask and reluctance to do so, Uncle Yun muttered to himself: "Master, you’re playing a clever game, but the problem is that the little Miss doesn’t agree."

Yun Bahe held back for a long time, but finally couldn’t help himself, "I’m saying, Yun Song, aren’t there a few people missing from this list? I’m looking at it, something’s not right."

"Master, I understand what you mean. People like the second young master and the little Miss are our own family, so naturally, they wouldn’t be on the list. I’ve already personally delivered birthday invitations to both sides. The second young master is on a mission outside these days and should be back in about two or three days. As for the little Miss..."

"What did she say?" Yun Bahe pressed on.

"She didn’t say much," Uncle Yun spread his hands.

"How can she have nothing to say? I am her grandfather, the blood of Yun Family flows in her veins, does she intend to deny this?" Yun Bahe looked infuriated, stomping around the courtyard, with steam almost blowing from his nostrils, as if Yun Sheng’s failure to come would signify disloyalty and unfilial behavior, an enormity of guilt.

"There’s no need to persuade her. Is it that without her, I can’t enjoy my grand birthday," Yun Bahe was stubbornly defiant.

"Master, this old servant should go and attend to the banquet preparations now," said Uncle Yun, wiping the sweat from his forehead, thinking to himself that his master really was getting more childlike with age, with such a cantankerous temper.

Yun Bahe wanted to say more, but then the Yun Residence guard came to report: "Master, Si Ming from the Magic Temple requests to see you."

At that, Yun Bahe’s expression eased.

Only then did Uncle Yun breathe a sigh of relief and took the opportunity to slip away.

Yun Bahe straightened his robe and went out to greet the guest.

With Xia Wenxu’s visit to Great Zhou, saving the Crown Prince’s life, the Great Zhou Imperial Family treated him with great respect. Additionally, being a prodigious talent whose reputation has spread across the continent for many years despite his youth.

Even someone like Yun Bahe, who was not fond of dealing with Mages, couldn’t help but treat him with high regard.

"Si Ming, with such an honorable guest visiting, I apologize for not greeting you from afar. Please forgive me," Yun Bahe stepped out and saw Xia Wenxu waiting by the door, accompanied by two children.

Though he had long heard of Xia Wenxu’s name, this was their first face-to-face meeting.

Rumors had it that Xia Wenxu was like a fragrant orchid, with an unparalleled poise.

Upon seeing him today, he stood tall and straight, his figure cloaked in a mage’s robe, and his silver hair, white as snow, further accentuated his handsome features.

Even a coarse person like Yun Bahe couldn’t help but inwardly praise, this man truly is a favorite of the heavens.

"Old General, I hope you have been well. It’s only right for Wenxu to visit the Great Zhou upon arrival, but due to being entangled in trivial matters, I have not made my visit until now. Please forgive my tardiness," Xia Wenxu also discreetly took measure of the strongest warrior in Great Zhou, the Martial Saint General.

Having welcomed Xia Wenxu into the mansion, Yun Bahe walked and talked with him; the two seemed to get along quite well.

This was Xia Wenxu’s first visit to the General Mansion. Though he claimed to be here to respond to Yun Bahe’s birthday celebration, his true intention was to ascertain the cause of Yun Bahe’s recent brush with death.

Logically speaking, Yun Bahe is only sixty this year, an age that for martial artists of the Wuji Continent is not predetermined by fate, but rather the peak of one’s martial power and fighting spirit.

Xia Wenxu was skilled at reading facial expressions. From the moment Yun Bahe approached, he had been observing the other’s complexion, gait, and the aura that surrounded him.

With this observation, Xia Wenxu noticed something unusual.

At first glance, Yun Bahe appeared robust, walking with the vigor of a dragon or tiger; his speech was loud and powerful, hardly the image of someone afflicted with illness.

But upon closer inspection, something seemed amiss.

This feeling puzzled Xia Wenxu greatly.

If it’s neither illness nor poisoning, what could have caused Yun Bahe’s recent dreadful omen of bloodshed?

Yun Bahe, however, was unaware of what Xia Wenxu was speculating at the moment.

He led his guest into the main hall and had barely sat down before ordering servants to serve tea.

After exchanging some pleasantries, Yun Cangxue entered, accompanied by a maid carrying a bowl of soup.

The soup, clearly freshly made, was still steaming.

"Father, it’s time for your soup," Yun Cangxue remarked upon entering and noticing Xia Wenxu.

Yun Cangxue couldn’t help but take a few extra looks at Xia Wenxu, whose extraordinary appearance even captured the attention of a married woman like herself.

"Xuexue, I’ll drink the soup later. We have a guest here. Let me introduce you, this is Si Ming Xia, the genius of the Magic Temple. You must have heard of his esteemed name," Yun Bahe chuckled as he introduced Yun Cangxue and Xia Wenxu to each other.

Xia Wenxu, the Magic Temple’s top talent and in recent years, the most outstanding magic pharmacist in the field of magic potions.

Yun Cangxue’s expression tightened as she subconsciously glanced at the soup in the maid’s hands.

Her unnatural demeanor went unnoticed by Yun Bahe.

However, Xia Wenxu caught Yun Cangxue’s unusual reaction and glanced subtly at the bowl of soup the maid had brought.

The maid looked composed, not revealing any abnormality.

On the other hand, Yun Cangxue’s smile appeared rather forced.

"Si Ming Xia, greetings. Father, Si Ming Xia is not a stranger; you should drink the soup while it’s still hot. I spent several days preparing these ingredients," Yun Cangxue nervously clenched her hands.

The people from Blood Hand Ditch had already told her that this potion was a new kind of medicine that even a Great National Doctor would not be able to detect any issues with.

Moreover, since the medicine wasn’t a magic potion, there was no need to fear Xia Wenxu recognizing it. Nevertheless, Yun Cangxue was somewhat nervous and urged Yun Bahe to drink the soup quickly to avoid any potential complications.

"You child," Yun Bahe saw Yun Cangxue’s anxiety simply as concern and didn’t decline any further, lifting the soup bowl and downing it all in a few gulps.