The moment Li Yu finished making his grand promise, the pavilion erupted in a fresh wave of excited chatter. Hu Jian was still a bit stunned and nervous, his mind reeling from the sheer scale of his friend’s generosity.

Hu Jian had no doubts that Li Yu would help, that was why he didn’t want to ask him. There was no way he wouldn’t help and when he knew that for a fact, he was even more hesitant to ask, thinking he was taking advantage of him.

Li Yu clapped him on the back again. “First things first,” he said with a grin, “let’s make it official.” He immediately took out his communication token and contacted Kui, laying out the grand plan.

“First,” Li Yu instructed via his communication token, “we are going to open a new branch of the Guild in Clearwater City. Second, and this is the most important part, we are going to make a grand celebration for the engagement. I want this to be the biggest event that the region has ever seen. I want a clear, unmistakable message sent to this Iron Peak Clan and everyone else: Hu Jian and now his soon to be family is under the protection of the Golden Shell Guild.”

Kui’s cheerful voice came back without a moment’s hesitation. “Consider it done, Wise Host! A brilliant plan!” Li Yu continued, adding a crucial detail. “Kui, I need you to get people that know the local customs and what to do for an engagement party. I only know the rough details, and I want to make sure everything is accounted for. This has to be perfect for my friend.”

He continued with the rest of his requests, stressing the need for trusted people, lavish gifts to be prepared for them, and a wide variety of food and drinks from the region. Since they were going to celebrate, he was going to let everyone celebrate, himself included. Events like this would be rare in this current close group of friends.

With everything set in motion Hu Jian informed his fiancée, Mei Fen, of the incredible plan. She was overwhelmed but agreed, her heart soaring with happiness and relief. The pressure that the clan exerted was not small. While they didn’t do anything yet, the ever present threat was there. The pressure that it was because of her that her family and their members would have to deal with it.

The next two weeks were a flurry of preparations.

In Clearwater City, Mei Fen’s family was the first to experience the Guild’s overwhelming efficiency. A day after her conversation with Hu Jian, a small, unassuming delegation from the Golden Shell Guild arrived at her family’s manor. They were led by a polite, middle-aged manager whose calm smile and impeccable manners immediately put everyone at ease.

Her family was of course surprised by it all. Mei Fen had told them people were going to come to help them with the engagement. That it was to show the Iron Peak Clan that they had support as well, that they won’t fall to pressure. They had expected Hu Jian to perhaps ask an elder from his sect for a letter of support, not to have a contingent from a merchant organization appear on their doorstep.

After the group from the guild came, Mei Fen asked Hu Jian about it again, fearing that they were owing too large a favor. Hu Jian told her about his close friendship with Li Yu and how Li Yu was connected to the guild master of the Golden Shell Guild, an incredibly kind and powerful figure.

The guild master had offered the full backing of his associates to ensure their happiness and safety. And so, with a mixture of awe and trepidation, they started making preparations along with the powerful backing of the Guild.

The first meeting to discuss the event was a shock for Mei Fen’s parents. The Guild’s lead coordinator, a woman named Sister Yue, unrolled a series of scrolls depicting venue designs, floral arrangements, and catering options that were beyond their wildest dreams.

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“We could construct the main pavilion from White Jade and scented Sandalwood,” she suggested casually, “and for the flowers, we can import ten thousand Silverwind Orchids from the northern plains. It all comes down to how you want it to look and feel, let me know and we will do our best to make it happen.”

Mei Fen’s father, a pragmatic 3rd stage Foundation Establishment expert, nearly choked on his tea. “That… that would cost too much, the event should be grand for my daughter but we need to consider the entire clan.” he stammered. “It is far too grand. A simple, elegant party is more than enough.”

This led to some disagreements over what was going to be there. The family felt it was too much, an ostentatious display that cost the clan too much for such an event. While they loved Mei Fen, they couldn’t use this kind of wealth on her like this.

But the Guild members were insistent, though always polite. “Venerable Elder,” Sister Yue said with a gentle smile, “our only instruction from our superiors is that we shouldn’t focus on the price, but purely on what the young couple wants. If these arrangements are not to your taste, that is perfectly fine, and we can present other options. But please understand, price should not be a factor in your decision.”

There was some more back and forth, but when Mei Fen’s mother suggested a much cheaper, local flower, Sister Yue’s smile became a little strained. “That is a lovely choice, madam. However, I must be frank. If the reason something is chosen is due to price, my team and I could get into serious trouble with our superiors. They wish for nothing but the absolute best for their esteemed friend.”

The message was clear and the family finally gave in and let themselves be more free in picking out the options they really liked. They looked at their daughter, who was staring at the scroll depicting the Silverwind Orchids with wide, dreaming eyes, and they relented. They allowed themselves to get what they actually wanted without being pragmatic about it, with their daughter excitedly picking everything out that she wanted to be there.

Back at the mountain sect, on Hu Jian's side, he was nervous about the whole thing. He spent days meticulously finalizing the guest list, having long conversations with his parents via communication token to make sure no important distant cousin or family friend was forgotten. The sheer scale of what Li Yu was doing for him was overwhelming, and he felt a sense of inadequacy.

That quickly went away when he saw how much Li Yu was enjoying helping out with everything, asking questions about this and that. Hu Jian could tell that Li Yu was genuinely excited for him and for the event. ‘He must have never been to one or haven’t been to too many of such events.’ Hu Jian thought.

But as the days passed and reports trickled in from Sister Yue about how happy Mei Fen was, how she was excitedly designing the venue of her dreams, and how her family was being treated with the utmost respect, he slowly became more and more confident. His anxiety began to transform into a deep, profound sense of pride and gratitude.

He was not just Hu Jian, one of the managers of the Deep Water Menagerie. He was Hu Jian, a man whose friendship was valued by Li Yu that the entire Golden Shell Guild would move mountains for him. This grand spectacle wasn’t an act of charity; it was a declaration. It was a statement that his love for Mei Fen was something worth protecting, something worth celebrating on the grandest possible scale. By the time the two weeks were up, his nervousness had vanished, replaced by a calm, steady confidence. He was ready.

The day finally arrived for them to depart. The Golden Voyage descended upon the sect with Kui leading the people on board. They had made modifications to the ship for today’s event, making it more luxurious and festive than usual. Li Yu, Hu Jian, brother Kai, and some additional friends of Hu Jian from the sect boarded, ready to begin the joyous procession. Uncle Wei was asked to come but he didn’t like being around such crowds so he sent his regards and a small gift he prepared for the couple. The ship was already staffed with the impeccable hosts, and the mood was festive.

Kael, Bai Yan, Jian, and the others were also present, looking forward to the celebration. They found the entire affair to be a refreshing change of pace from their usual lives of conflict and cultivation. This simple human event was a reminder of the peace they were all, in their own ways looking for.

The preparations were complete. The guests were about to be gathered. The grandest engagement party the town had ever seen was about to begin.