Chapter 1474: Toasting
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Chapter 1472: Toasting
In this world, many seemingly warm interpersonal relationships are often just self-delusion, nothing more than one’s own wishful thinking.
In the eyes of others, perhaps they are merely somewhat familiar strangers, nothing more.
This is the cold reality.
Zhū Mùchén couldn’t help but recall the Sword Debate Grand Tournament victory celebration at the Great Void Sect, where his dazzling Little Senior Brother sat high in a place of admiration, with a group of Little Junior Brothers taking turns to toast him.
As for himself, with his meager contributions, he was only at the very end of the line.
By the time it was his turn to offer a toast, Little Senior Brother was already too drunk, his eyes bleary. He probably didn’t even recognize who he was or what he looked like.
It was just his own self-delusion, thinking that Little Senior Brother should have recognized him.
But the reality was not like that at all.
Not at all, as he had imagined.
The more Zhū Mùchén thought about it, the dimmer his gaze became, the more pain he felt in his heart, and his eyes gradually turned cold.
Seeing this, the Dark-Robed Elder nodded slightly before offering words of comfort: “Hearts grow distant, and the world is ever-changing. Young Master, there is no need to dwell on these past people and events. It is best to face them with detachment.”
Zhū Mùchén nodded.
The Dark-Robed Elder said, “It is getting late, Young Master. You should rest early. Tomorrow, you still have to visit some seniors.”
Zhū Mùchén remained silent, clearly lost in his own emotions, and said nothing.
The Dark-Robed Elder cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and took his leave.
After leaving the study, the Dark-Robed Elder walked along the pavilion, passed through the hall, and arrived at an inner chamber.
Inside the inner chamber, the red walls were opulent, and from the mouths of golden beasts, the fragrance of sandalwood incense wafted from boxes.
The Dark-Robed Elder cupped his hands toward a handsome, middle-aged cultivator with a long beard in the center of the inner chamber and said, “Clan Head.”
This middle-aged cultivator was none other than the head of the Zhū Clan, one of the four great families of Kun Province, and also a True-Person of the Feathered Ascension Realm.
The Zhū Clan Head slightly raised his eyes and glanced at the Dark-Robed Elder before asking, “How did it go?”
The Dark-Robed Elder replied, “We have met quite a few of the necessary people. The head of the Dao Court Division did not give a clear answer, saying that the recent situation is uncertain, and the winds at the upper levels of the Dao Court are difficult to discern. He also found it inconvenient to interfere too much in the internal affairs of the noble families.”
“As for the leaders of the other pavilions and various industries, although they think highly of Young Master Chén, they may not truly dare to oppose the Earth Sect’s intentions.”
“On the contrary, the Chief Manager of Fortune Pavilion greatly admires Young Master Chén, saying that he carries the seeds of good karma.”
The Zhū Clan Head frowned slightly. “Of all people, it had to be Fortune Pavilion?”
The Dark-Robed Elder said, “Fortune Pavilion is also a good choice, and behind Fortune Pavilion, there is also significant backing.”
The Zhū Clan Head shook his head slightly. “Fortune Pavilion is not that simple.”
The Dark-Robed Elder thought it best not to say more and instead continued, “Then, should we proceed to visit the other clan heads or the leaders of other industries?”
“Yes,” the Zhū Clan Head said. “First, make a round of visits, move around, and see how things stand.”
The Dark-Robed Elder replied, “Understood.”
“Make haste,” the Zhū Clan Head said, his gaze sharpening. “The day of the Earth Sect’s marriage alliance is approaching. Before that, try to settle Chén’er’s marriage as soon as possible.”
The Dark-Robed Elder looked puzzled. “Isn’t an alliance with the Earth Sect a great opportunity? With the Earth Sect’s formidable power, Young Master Chén would have strong support.”
The Zhū Clan Head hesitated, as if wanting to say something but holding back, and shook his head. “You don’t understand. Just do as instructed.”
A moment later, he suddenly remembered something else and added, “A few days ago, Young Master Chén saw that… Young Master Mo at Fortune Pavilion.”
“Young Master Mo…” The Zhū Clan Head’s thoughts stirred slightly. “That prodigy from the Great Void Sect?”
“Yes,” the Dark-Robed Elder replied.
“How is their relationship?” the Zhū Clan Head inquired.
The Dark-Robed Elder said, “Ordinary. Young Master Chén might still remember his Little Senior Brother, but this Young Master Mo seems… rather indifferent toward Young Master Chén.”
“I offered a few words of advice, and Young Master Chén came to understand, developing a rift in his heart.”
The Zhū Clan Head pondered for a moment before nodding: “You did right… As a scion of a noble clan, the family must always come first.”
“As for those few years of camaraderie in the sect, they were after all from youth, too shallow, too fragile. In the face of true interests, even brothers cannot be trusted, let alone fellow disciples?”
The Zhū Clan Head sighed. “Chén’er is my son, the young master of our Zhū Clan. Sooner or later, he must understand this.”
“Relationships between people are fundamentally about mutual exploitation. Only with a cold and hardened heart can one survive in the Cultivation World.”
“Indeed,” the Dark-Robed Elder mused for a moment before saying, “However, in this old one’s view, although this Young Master Mo possesses remarkable bearing, his aptitude is truly mediocre, and his Golden Core is only of inferior grade. Is he truly worth such concern?”
The Zhū Clan Head wore a thoughtful expression and shook his head. “You don’t understand. Back at the Earth Sect assembly, I saw this Young Master Mo. Though young, he is a person of deep schemes and cunning.”
“To emerge unscathed from a place like the Earth Sect and have ties to the Bai Clan, how could he be any ordinary character?”
“When Chén’er returned from the Great Void Sect, his heart and mind were fixated on this Little Senior Brother of his. Such a mindset is most easily deceived and exploited.”
“This matter cannot be left unguarded. How can the young master of our esteemed Zhū Clan be controlled by others? Especially by an outsider.”
“The Clan Head speaks wisely,” the Dark-Robed Elder said.
The Zhū Clan Head pondered for a moment longer before addressing the Dark-Robed Elder again: “In the coming days, properly teach Chén’er some principles. Tell him about the fickleness of the world and the treachery of human hearts.”
“In three days, send an invitation to that Young Master Mo, inviting him to be our guest at the Zhū Clan.”
The Dark-Robed Elder was taken aback. “Invite him?”
The Zhū Clan Head nodded. “Among the upper echelons of Kun Province, it is widely known that this Young Master Mo harbors many secrets. It’s just that no one dares act rashly.”
The Dark-Robed Elder frowned. “Does our Zhū Clan intend to take action against him?”
The Zhū Clan Head shook his head. “We will merely make contact to see if we can… gain something. It is not yet the time to act.”
The Dark-Robed Elder then asked, “Then shall I… invite him in the name of the Zhū Clan?”
The Zhū Clan Head considered briefly before shaking his head. “No, invite him in Chén’er’s name.”
“In Young Master Chén’s name?” the Dark-Robed Elder inquired.
The Zhū Clan Head nodded. “Inviting him in the name of the Zhū Clan would seem somewhat calculated without cause, and Young Master Mo might not agree.”
“But inviting him in Chén’er’s name—a junior brother inviting his senior brother to a banquet—is perfectly natural. He should not refuse.”
“This also serves as an opportunity to help Chén’er recognize reality,” the Zhū Clan Head said, his gaze sharpening.
The Dark-Robed Elder nodded. “This old one understands.”
Thus, three days later, Mo Hua received an invitation.
The invitation was sent by the Zhū Clan, inviting him to a banquet in the southern city. The final signature read: “Zhū Mùchén.”
Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then calculated with his fingers and realized this was no ordinary banquet, someone was definitely scheming against him.
Under normal circumstances, he would simply decline.
But the invitation had been delivered by his Little Junior Brother, making it difficult for Mo Hua to refuse. After a moment of thought, he agreed.
Mo Hua told his Little Senior Sister about the Zhū Clan’s banquet invitation.
Before Bai Zixi could say anything, Xiao Ju, standing nearby, looked suspicious. “Why are so many people inviting you to eat?”
Mo Hua sighed. “What can I do? It’s hard to turn down such earnest hospitality.”
Bai Zixi’s eyes flickered slightly as she looked at Mo Hua. “Is it really just a meal?”
Mo Hua replied earnestly, “Really, nothing else.”
Bai Zixi gave a soft “Mm” and only said, “Come back early.”
Mo Hua nodded. “Yes, Senior Sister.”
…
Three days later, the Zhū Clan’s carriage arrived punctually at the entrance of the Little Luan Mountain Blessed Land. The carriage was comfortable and luxurious, with maidservants fanning and brewing tea inside, a clear display of the Zhū Clan’s sincerity.
Mo Hua rode in the carriage and arrived at the Zhū Clan’s main gate with hardly any jostling along the way.
Red jade walls, towering jade towers, vermilion lacquer everywhere, and Spiritual Qi misting the air.
As one of the four great clans of Kun Province, the Zhū Clan’s estate, though different in style from the Lu Clan’s, was equally extravagant and immensely wealthy.
As soon as Mo Hua entered, a Zhū Clan elder dressed in black robes came forward to greet him, accompanied by the clan’s youngest young master, Zhū Mùchén.
Zhū Mùchén was as before—dressed in vermilion robes and a jade crown, his eyes dark as ink, with a somewhat boyish face and handsome features. Seeing Mo Hua, he cupped his hands in greeting and addressed him as “Little Senior Brother.”
This address was respectful and refined, but lacked the warmth of before.
Zhū Mùchén’s gaze was also somewhat cold and distant.
Mo Hua nodded gently but sighed inwardly.
Zhū Mùchén escorted Mo Hua through the Zhū Clan’s main gate, past a vast expanse of jade towers and pavilions, to a lavish reception hall.
The Zhū Clan Head, handsome with a long beard, also came forward, exchanged pleasantries, and seated Mo Hua in the place of honor.
Then followed a series of banquet rituals typical of aristocratic clans, largely similar to others.
Mo Hua was no stranger to such extravagance, but even so, the Zhū Clan had put exceptional effort into this banquet.
Even the dishes served were almost all his favorites.
Mo Hua had no idea where the Zhū Clan Head had gathered such information.
Of course, it was also possible that he was hardly picky, so he liked most dishes.
After eating for a while, the Zhū Clan Head personally toasted Mo Hua.
Other Zhū Clan elders and guests also raised their glasses to him one after another, showering him with praise. They spoke of his past achievements, calling him a genius in Formations, the top scholar of Qianxue, with boundless prospects and great promise in the Immortal Dao.
An ordinary person might have been swept away by such flattery.
Mo Hua was somewhat affected too, but deep down, he remained clear-headed. This was no ordinary banquet, these people were praising him so lavishly because they surely had ulterior motives.
After a round of flattery, the Zhū Clan Head ordered dancers to perform.
These dancers seemed meticulously selected—all of the same height, each with graceful figures, slender waists, and exquisite looks. Dressed in gowns as thin as cicada wings, their every movement was captivating.
The guests watched with delight.
Afterward, other Zhū Clan prodigies came forward one by one to toast Mo Hua.
Among these prodigies, the majority were young and beautiful female disciples, most possessing superior spiritual roots. There were Foundation Establishment geniuses as young as sixteen, as well as elegant and dignified Golden Core female cultivators.
As these prodigies toasted the Zhū Clan Head, Mo Hua stood nearby, naturally getting a clear view of these women’s appearances.
After the toasts, the Zhū Clan Head glanced at Mo Hua’s expression, finding it rather peculiar.
Afterward, he intentionally or unintentionally chatted with Mo Hua about some past matters.
For instance, Mo Hua’s parents, his master’s lineage, the situation at the Great Void Sect, and the events of the sword discussions back then… and so on.
After a long round of conversation, the Zhū Clan Head was quite astonished.
This Young Master Mo appeared refined and scholarly, but he was more slippery than a greased pig.
He ate the food, drank the wine, watched the dances, engaged in conversation, and accepted the flattery.
But whether it was eating and drinking, receiving sycophantic praise, or watching beautiful women dance and sing, he showed not the slightest fluctuation in mood.
After talking for a long time, he kept circling around the topics. It seemed like he was speaking from the heart, saying a great deal, but upon careful reflection, all those words amounted to nothing.
What he said was already known to others. When it came to things unknown, this Young Master Mo would skillfully steer the conversation away until it vanished. Looking back, one couldn’t even tell what he had ultimately said.
He could be called a ‘master of empty talk.’
For a moment, the Zhū Clan Head felt a sense of awe.
No wonder the Earth Sect had questioned him for so long back then but couldn’t pry a single secret from Young Master Mo’s mouth.
Even someone as deep and scheming as Lu Chonglou, head of the Lu Clan, when inviting this Young Master Mo to a meal, truly only invited him to eat.
Without actually facing this Young Master Mo in person, one truly couldn’t appreciate how troublesome this youngster was.
The vast majority of prodigies in the world, no matter how high their talent or how strong their cultivation, still had to prove themselves in spell duels and life-and-death battles.
They were inexperienced in the ways of the world, their temperaments full of flaws. Wine, women, wealth, fame, profit, and beauty—they always had weaknesses.
But this Young Master Mo, his spiritual roots were unremarkable, and he might not be particularly strong in spell duels and battles, yet this temperament of his was truly invincible.
“Could he have sprung from a rock? Does he truly have no preferences at all?”
The Zhū Clan Head frowned.
Just then, he slightly turned his head to look at his youngest son, Zhū Mùchén.
Zhū Mùchén was currently sitting to Mo Hua’s right, his attitude respectful, his gaze silent.
Throughout the banquet, Mo Hua was constantly surrounded by stars, with people continuously toasting him and offering flattering words.
Beautiful women also performed dances one after another, incredibly gorgeous.
Mo Hua was solely focused on receiving and seeing off guests, not once throughout the entire event speaking a word to or having the slightest interaction with his Little Junior Brother.
And at this moment, in Zhū Mùchén’s eyes, this “Little Senior Brother” Mo Hua also seemed somewhat unfamiliar.
He no longer seemed to be that refreshingly free-spirited Little Senior Brother from their sect days.
Instead, he was that unfamiliar Young Master Mo, thriving amidst clinking cups, sycophantic praise, crowds of beauties, and all sorts of ‘social arenas of fame and profit.’
His father and the elders were right… people always change.
A sect’s experiences occupy only a tiny part of a cultivator’s life, fleeting and soon past, nothing to linger over.
One must always accept the cold reality.
The Little Senior Brother in his memory might never have existed from the very beginning.
Zhu Muchen silently drank his wine, his heart growing increasingly distant, as if enveloped by an aura of indifference.
This was a sign of him discarding the past and gradually maturing.
The Zhu Clan Head gave a slight nod.
At the very least, one objective had been achieved.
As for this Young Master Mo…
The Zhu Clan Head turned his head, looked at Mo Hua, and slightly furrowed his brows. Just as he was pondering what Young Master Mo’s weakness might be, an elder suddenly approached and whispered something in his ear.
The Zhu Clan Head was taken aback. “Is that true?”
The elder nodded.
After a moment of contemplation, the Zhu Clan Head turned to Mo Hua and said: “Young Master Mo, my apologies, but someone has arrived unexpectedly to discuss urgent matters. I may have to excuse myself for a short while.”
Mo Hua cupped his hands respectfully. “Clan Head, you are too courteous. Please attend to your matters first; I am fine here.”
The Zhu Clan Head said, “I must excuse myself for a moment. Please make yourself at home, Young Master.”
Mo Hua nodded. “Important matters come first. Take your time, Clan Head.”
The Zhu Clan Head glanced at Mo Hua once more before being led away by the elder, temporarily leaving the gathering.
With the Clan Head’s departure, several other elders respectfully rose and followed him.
Mo Hua’s surroundings instantly became much emptier.
In the hall, the singing and dancing continued, but with the Clan Head absent, no one offered toasts, and Mo Hua found himself at leisure.
He glanced around, then picked up his wine cup, moved slightly to the right, and sat down beside Zhu Muchen.
Zhu Muchen, who was in his indifferent state, was taken aback when he saw Mo Hua sitting next to him.
Mo Hua said, “Zhu Muchen?”
Zhu Muchen pursed his lips and nodded.
Mo Hua sighed and said sincerely, “I truly didn’t recognize you earlier, so I didn’t realize you were my Little Junior Brother. I’m sorry.”
Mo Hua’s straightforwardness left Zhu Muchen momentarily at a loss for words.
Mo Hua raised his wine cup, his gaze clear as he looked at Zhu Muchen and sighed: “Not recognizing you was my fault as your Little Senior Brother. Let me offer you a toast as an apology.”
Zhu Muchen was stunned, unable to regain his composure for a long time.
He glanced at Mo Hua, then at the wine cup in Mo Hua’s hand, feeling as if he were in a dream.
Little Senior Brother… is apologizing to me?
Little Senior Brother… is toasting me?
The one who used to be last in line to toast Little Senior Brother was now being toasted by him?
“A toast from Little Senior Brother.”
“Little Senior Brother is toasting me.”
Zhu Muchen felt a bit dizzy. Subconsciously, he picked up his wine cup, clinked it with Mo Hua’s, and downed the wine in one gulp.
He couldn’t taste the flavor of the wine, only feeling a surge of warmth in his heart and a flush spreading across his cheeks.