novelraw Chapter 7 sets out the competition, and the straightforward Zhang Lingyu
Chapter 7 sets out the competition, and the straightforward Zhang Lingyu
As one of the four great families in the world of supernatural beings, the Lu family enjoys an excellent reputation in the martial arts world. Therefore, the Lu family patriarch's 100th birthday banquet was a grand affair, attended by a great many people.
From prestigious families and Taoist/Buddhist sects to small households and craftspeople, whether they were leaders of sects or long-time acquaintances, the birthday banquet was a lively affair filled with the sounds of gongs and drums.
From morning until noon, countless guests entered the Lu family's gate.
The Lu family didn't care whether the visitors were famous or had invitations; as long as they revealed their identity as extraordinary individuals, they could enter the courtyard and share the joy with everyone.
The sun rises in the east and slowly moves to its zenith.
The midday sun shone brightly on the earth, warm but not scorching.
The sky was cloudless and clear, providing perfect weather for this grand event.
Standing at the door, the Lu family members looked at the deserted street, then at the rising sun, and turned back into the inner courtyard.
"Father, the time has come; it's time to begin the banquet."
Lu Qiong's bright red Tang suit shone brightly in the sunlight. He lifted the hem and strode into the inner hall, approaching Lu Jin and bowing down to speak.
"Alright! Let's begin the banquet; we need to let the guests eat their fill first."
Lu Jin, dressed in a bright red robe, sat in the main seat, chatting with old acquaintances around him, looking radiant. Hearing this, he looked at the sunlight streaming into the hall and nodded.
"Okay, I'll go and prepare right away."
Lu Qiong turned around and went down to make arrangements, and the voices of the officials soon echoed throughout the entire courtyard.
"Let the feast begin!"
The banquet was quickly set up, the food was served, and the atmosphere in the courtyard became even more lively.
The inner hall was headed by Lu Jin, with the elders and leaders seated there.
Inside the courtyard sat Lü Xiao and other middle-aged people who had accompanied him.
In a side courtyard sat Lü Qian and the other younger generation who had come to broaden their horizons.
……
内堂
After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,
At the banquet, Lu Jin received blessings from everyone, and there was another round of toasts and lively atmosphere.
Lu Ci sat down next to Guan Shihua with Wang Ai, a glass of wine in front of them.
He crossed his arms, coldly watching Lu Jin's cheeks gradually turn red, and then picked up his wine glass and took a swig.
As the liquor slid down his throat, Lü Ci coughed at Wang Ai as if he had been stung.
"Cough cough."
"Shihua, it's been a while since we last met, why be so formal?"
"No, we're really not that bad off."
"Ahem!"
Lu Ci glanced at Wang Ai, who was sitting to the side leaning against Guan Shihua, and coughed twice more while covering his mouth.
"How could it not be like that? Shihua, you're already this old, I don't have much left to worry about..."
"roll!"
Guan Shihua picked up her wine glass and smashed it at Wang Ai's outstretched fat hand, yelling angrily.
"Okay, okay, don't be angry, don't be angry."
Lu Ci listened to Wang Ai's lingering tone with a black line on his forehead and immediately gave up his plan to summon his teammates.
"clatter!"
He placed the wine glass on the table, the porcelain stem making a soft tapping sound that drew everyone's attention.
Lu Ci glanced at Lu Jin in the main seat. The scar on his face was almost invisible under the effect of his sincere smile, and his originally sinister face became kind under the influence of alcohol.
"Well, we've eaten enough now. Instead of reminiscing about the past, let's find something more interesting."
"We've all come from all over the country, and it's not easy for us to get together like this. Why don't we let these younger folks have some fun?"
After saying that, Lü Ci poured himself another glass of wine as if he were drunk, picked up the glass and poured it into his mouth, his face turning even more flushed.
"Yes, although things are much better these days, with so many prominent families gathered together, it would be better to let these younger generations give us a demonstration."
"By the way, Lao Lu, I remember that your junior practiced the 'Triple Rebirth' and received your true teachings, right?"
"Why don't we just see it for ourselves? These days, 'Triple Rebirth' is practically extinct in the martial arts world; the younger generation probably hasn't even heard of it."
While Lü Ci was drinking, Wang Ai patted the table in agreement.
""The Third Level of Reverse Life"..."
Lu Jin suddenly fell silent.
From the very beginning of the birthday banquet, Lü Ci's unusual behavior aroused Lu Jin's suspicion.
When did man-eating wolves start smiling at people?
His intuition told him that something was definitely wrong with Lü Ci, and he might be hiding something.
But he didn't have time to investigate at the time, and he didn't take it to heart. They were all old monsters who had been around for years, so who was afraid of whom?
The way Lü Ci and Wang Ai were acting in unison at the table made those who knew them well sense something was amiss.
Decades of experience together told Lu Jin that these two were definitely up to no good.
But Wang Ai's mention of "Triple Rebirth" stirred his emotions.
In his youth, he studied under the Sanyi School and received instruction in the Dharma of "Reversed Rebirth in Three Stages" from the Great Immortal Zuo Ruotong.
However, the sect had long since become history amidst the chaos stirred up by Wugensheng back then.
He originally aspired to support the Sanyi Sect and restore its former glory as a major Xuanmen sect.
Lu Jin once used the name of the Lu family head to gather eligible children from the world of supernatural beings, wanting to find suitable candidates for the Trinity Sect, take them as disciples, and teach them the "Triple Rebirth Technique".
In the end, only Lu Lin met the requirements and was willing to practice this extremely dangerous method.
But Lu Lin is his great-grandson and a member of the Lu family, which goes against the Lu family's ancestral precepts.
After much deliberation, Lu Jin still chose to defy ancestral teachings and continue the lineage of the San Yi Sect by accepting Lu Lin as his disciple and teaching him the "Triple Rebirth Technique".
Because this matter was truly disgraceful, and the Lu family was suspected of encroaching on the Xuanmen's inheritance, Lu Jin did not dare to let Lu Lin travel outside.
As a result, the once-famous "Rebirth Triple" is now only known to some of the older generation.
At the dinner table, Lu Jin's silence gradually turned into a profound stillness.
Gao Lian from the Gao family sat together with Xiao Zhan Mu You and Chen Jin Kui from the Shu Zi Men sect.
Seeing the few elders sitting silently on the table, they gradually fell silent as well.
Everyone in the main room stopped eating and looked at Lu Jin, whose face was gloomy.
"You want to have a competition, right? Well, I happen to have some things to do too."
Just as everyone remained silent, the old master wiped his mouth with a napkin and said.
"You old fox, thank you! I'm sorry everyone, it was my fault just now, I spoiled everyone's fun, I'll punish myself with a drink first."
Startled from the words of the old master, Lu Jin looked up abruptly, realizing that he had been too immersed in the sadness of the past. He quickly thanked the old master and then raised his wine cup to take a big gulp.
"What are you men so fussy about?"
Guan Shihua tapped her wine glass and looked at the awkward Lu Jin with a smile.
"Alright, my mistake. Anyway, Master, is there anything I can help you with? Just say the word, and if I can, I definitely will!"
"Alas, it's just bad luck. My disciple has been cultivating with me on Mount Longhu since he was a child, and his vision is rather shallow. I was thinking of taking this opportunity to give him a good talking-to. I wonder if any of you could lend this old man a hand?"
The old master stroked his beard, looked at the food and wine on the table, frowned, and looked troubled.