CHAPTER 393: CHAPTER 255: A FORMIDABLE FOE AT THE DOOR

Suddenly, a voice was heard: "A gift has arrived, Wuji Commerce presents a thousand-year-old Mysterious Snow Ginseng."

Wuji Commerce?

Yun Bahe could not remember when he had established a connection with Wuji Commerce.

But an abundance of gifts wasn’t something one would complain about, might as well accept it first.

Yun Bahe, watching the increasingly sour expression of Elder Chen beside him, felt a pleasure greater than if he had drunk ten jugs of fine wine.

"A guest has arrived, Magic Temple’s Xia Siming brings a congratulatory gift."

Xia Wenxu entered the bustling General Mansion, looked around, and felt a bit disappointed that Yun Sheng was not present.

The guests and gifts arrived in waves. At the entrance hall, there was a steady stream of visitors, but Yun Bahe hadn’t seen the person he most desired to.

By the end, he grew increasingly irritable. His elderly eyes glared at each new guest entering, as if they bore a grudge against him akin to having murdered his son and stolen his wife.

The frightened guests each took their seats with pale faces and shivers running down their spines.

As the birthday banquet was about to begin, the number of guests outside the Yun Residence dwindled.

Yun Bahe couldn’t help feeling disheartened and was about to take his seat when suddenly he heard the doorman call out.

"The Vice Hall Director of the Wuxuan Wuji Hall, leading a group of disciples, has come to celebrate the birthday!"

Zhan Li strode in, followed by several disciples from the Martial Arts Hall. As soon as Yun Bahe saw them, his old eyes brightened instantly.

A joy arose in Yun Bahe’s heart, and he was about to welcome the guests.

The previous disappointment dissolved immediately.

Following behind Zhan Li were his prized students, the Wuji Three Talents—Ye Beiming, Bu Jiuxiao, Cheng Bai—along with Yun Sheng and several female disciples.

Yun Canglang saw his niece and was very joyful, while Yun Cangxue’s face remained gloomy.

"Old General, Zhan Li has arrived late, please forgive me," Zhan Li offered his congratulatory gift.

"As long as you’re here, why bring a gift? We’re all family here, family!" Yun Bahe’s old face bloomed into a smile like a chrysanthemum, his iron palms heavily patting on Zhan Li’s shoulders, his eyes incessantly gazing at his own granddaughter.

Zhan Li was patted until he was almost seeing stars, the expression on his face a woeful one.

Yun Sheng pretended not to notice. She had struggled with herself today, and ultimately, persuaded by Zhan Li with some reluctance, she had agreed to come.

Yun Sheng was always concerned about Yun Bahe’s health, yet seeing him vigorous and radiant upon seeing his granddaughter, he didn’t look like someone in danger at all.

Yun Sheng felt puzzled, her beautiful eyes scanning around, intending to ask Xia Wenxu for the truth, just as she met Xia Wenxu’s kindly smile.

Who would have known that Ye Beiming would inadvertently block her path and completely shield Xia Wenxu’s gaze.

Zhan Li and his favorite disciples took their seats one by one.

Today’s birthday banquet at the Yun Residence had been meticulously prepared, even inviting the most renowned troupe in the city to set up a stage in the courtyard.

The guests seated and drinks served, Yun Bahe was just about to announce the start of the banquet.

"A guest has arrived—," another long announcement.

By now, the Yun Residence was filled with guests, and almost everyone on the guest list had arrived. Who could be arriving at this moment?

But the doorman hurried over and whispered into Uncle Yun’s ear.

After listening, Uncle Yun’s face, originally full of joy, couldn’t help but turn grave.

He hesitated for a moment, then walked up to Yun Bahe and murmured a few words.

Yun Sheng noticed that the expression on Yun Bahe’s face turned gloomy in an instant.

"What are the Prince of Hou Qin and Tian Quezi doing here?" Yun Bahe lowered his voice, but those seated close by still heard him loud and clear.

Seated at a lower table, Yun Canglang and the martial artists holding their cups, too, came to a halt.

"The Prince of Hou Qin has arrived," suddenly, a shout rang out.

All through the Yun Residence, there was first an uproar, followed by a deadly stillness.

Since when did the Yun Residence have dealings with Hou Qin? Elder Chen, whose demeanor had been sour earlier, suddenly perked up, waiting to see the show Yun Bahe would put on.

A few guards of the Yun Residence lined up in a row, and three men walked in with dazzling presence.

The three men, ranging from oldest to youngest, were unmistakably among the top figures of the Wuji Continent.

The one leading the trio was the youngest, but no one dared to underestimate him.

Dressed in a magnificent black brocade robe with a qilin pattern, the man stood tall like a sword ready to be unsheathed. With a dragon’s stride and a tiger’s steps, his dark eyes shone brightly, even in the night, emitting a wild beast-like glow, and his red hair was as wild as fire. He was none other than the Dark Crown Prince of Hou Qin.

The man in the middle wore an elegant blue scholar’s robe, marred only by a pair of downturned triangular eyes, through which a sinister light always seemed to shine.

Xuan Wuji!

Yun Canglang clenched his fists tightly, making a cracking sound, his gaze fixed on the man in the center.

The last to enter was a robust man in his forties, with a bald head and broad forehead, and muscles that were smooth and well-defined. With each step he took, the floor tiles beneath his feet sank several inches.

Though he was the last to enter, his arrival sparked the loudest discussions.

Especially among the martial artists and military generals present, they buzzed with excitement at the sight of this man.

Honoring the martial spirit in Great Zhou, such commotion among its martial artists indicated that the newcomer must be an exceptional martial artist himself.

"Tian Quezi, oh my, am I seeing this right? It’s the Martial Saint of Hou Qin, Tian Quezi!"

To see two Martial Saints in one day was an unforgettable event for many martial artists present this evening.

Tian Quezi?

Wasn’t he the Martial Saint of Hou Qin who fought to a draw with Yun Bahe years ago, causing the three nations to sign a ceasefire and the schemes in Hong City to fail?

Upon seeing these three men, Yun Sheng’s heart skipped a beat.

Could it be that the event Xia Wenxu spoke of that would transpire at the Yun Residence was this very occurrence?

On the sixtieth birthday of Yun Bahe, both the Crown Prince and Martial Saint of Hou Qin, along with Li Lai and the ill-matching Xuan Wuji, had unexpectedly shown up together—this matter was surely no trivial one.

"Old General Yun, long time no see, in good health I trust! How could you not tell Tian Quezi about your sixtieth birthday? I would have liked to come and partake in a drink," the burly man greeted Yun Bahe with a hearty laugh, as if seeing an old friend after a long separation.

"Brother Tian has quite the sense of humor. The drinks at Yun Residence are just ordinary brews, how could I dare to trouble you to come all this way to ask for a drink," Yun Bahe also knew the visitors bore ill intentions, for the good would not come.

He rose slowly to his feet, speaking with a smile, yet his eyes were as sharp as a fierce tiger’s.

As Yun Bahe and Tian Quezi engaged in a verbal duel, the Dark Crown Prince’s thoughts were on finding someone.

He had long learned that the girl named Yanyun, the Summoner, was in fact the granddaughter of the Yun Residence.

The former Sky Mage, the only daughter of Yun Canghai.

Today, on Yun Bahe’s grand birthday, he was sure that Yun Sheng would also be present.

Among the countless people in the hall, the Dark Crown Prince’s gaze was fixed firmly on Yun Sheng.

It’s her!