Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 351 - 88: Nothing Much, If You Don’t Know Then Don’t Ask
February 24, 2018
Shen City Inner City, Vice City Lord’s Mansion.
The usually serene courtyard was now bustling with activity, servants hurried about like marching ants, methodically filling every corner of the Vice City Lord’s Mansion. Some were busy adding vibrant festive decorations to the elegant courtyard, while others were in the kitchen, helping elite chefs prepare the evening’s feast.
Chefs from almost all of Shen City’s top restaurants like Divine Sword Tower, Xuanyuan Tower, and Kaishan Tower were present, demonstrating their divine techniques in the somewhat cramped kitchen. Top-tier ingredients from across the land flowed in like water: spices from Golden Jade City and Heaven-Reaching City, deep-sea products from the Nether Sea, beast meat from Feiyan Mountain, and even Tianlan fruits from Celestial Craft City—a dazzling array of treasures that, once skillfully prepared, transformed into rare culinary delights.
The elegant courtyard, transformed by the bustling servants, quickly shed its modest appearance, donning a vibrant array of colors, radiantly beautiful and enticing, so much so that even in the harsh winter, it warmed the hearts of those who beheld it.
The scene within the Vice City Lord’s Mansion was chaotic yet orderly, with each servant working diligently at their posts, maintaining the efficient operation of the entire system.
In preparation for Lord City Lord’s centennial birthday banquet, Shen Jinghai had begun training a highly capable squad of servants a year ago. With only a few days left until the banquet, the squad’s strength was now on full display. Within just half a day, they had effortlessly set up a small banquet venue, their efficiency and quality so high that even the shopkeepers of top restaurants were left feeling inadequate.
By evening, the venue was fully arranged, and the servants stood in an orderly line at the door, awaiting the arrival of esteemed guests. Shen Jinghai, in a black robe and with jet-black hair, stood at the forefront, appearing especially elegant yet unapproachable against the backdrop of night lights.
For the past twenty years, Shen Jinghai had mostly presented this image, but those close to him knew that as he stood at the door welcoming guests, his nerves were stretched tight, ready for battle. To him, this small banquet at the Vice City Lord’s Mansion seemed as significant as the City Lord’s centennial birthday celebration.
The first guests to arrive were the Shen Family, with Shen Feihong, the chosen successor designated by the City Lord, leading the procession. His large frame obscured the group behind him, but glimpses of Shen Qing, Shen Wuyong, and other elite members of the Outer Courtyard could still be seen.
In stark contrast to the celebratory scene with smiles on the servants’ faces at the front of the Vice City Lord’s Mansion, the demeanor of the Outer Courtyard group was like that of soldiers prepared for a last stand, each bearing an expression of resolve and bravery, as if they moved with their own background music.
Seeing this scene, Shen Jinghai’s eyebrows involuntarily twitched, and the veins near his temples began to swell.
These young brats, always so dramatic in their thoughts.
Of course, from their perspective, this small banquet personally ordered by the Vice City Lord did indeed seem suspicious. On the surface, it claimed to be a gathering for the Shen, Zhao, and Li families, but hadn’t the young members of the Shen and Li families had enough exchange over the past month? After several gatherings, especially after the speed competition, the elite of the Shen Family Outer Courtyard had become like a defeated army. Now they’re including the Zhao Family in this gathering, perhaps to push them to their limits and unleash power beyond limits?
Shen Jinghai really wanted to tell them, "You’re overthinking it! Tonight’s main event isn’t about you! The banquet is held in the name of the Shen Family, yet only involves alliances with the Li and Zhao families. It does indeed seem odd, so we included you to make up the numbers and bolster the occasion. Once the banquet starts, you should just eat and drink well, and don’t stir up any unnecessary troubles!"
Unfortunately, he couldn’t speak these words out loud, so Shen Jinghai could only cast his usual indifferent glance at them, hoping to convey through an air of nonchalance that their roles tonight were merely supporting at best.
Shen Feihong and the others naturally noticed Shen Jinghai’s look, and though the contempt hidden behind his glasses was subtle, it was also unmistakably clear.
In an instant, a storm raged in the young members’ hearts, filling the secret communication channel with a flurry of voices.
"What’s the Vice City Lord implying? Does he look down on us?"
"That’s obvious, isn’t it? In the Outer Courtyard race, four out of the top five were from the Li Family, and the remaining spot was obviously a setup where they let the fatty have it... With such results, how could they think highly of us?"
"The race was clearly a deceit by the Li Family; how can it count!?"
"No one stopped us from cheating either. Even with the exam questions in advance, why didn’t we think of the Spirit Stone self-destruction method? Our creativity was lacking, so we were a step behind. Besides, if the race doesn’t count, then surely the real combats between Li Wanqing and Brother Feihong, Brother Shen Qing must count? Our performance has indeed not lived up to the family’s expectations, so it’s no wonder the Vice City Lord looks at us with disdain..."
"Damn it, so what should we do? Are we really going to be mere spectators at our own main venue?"
"Of course not. Remember what Lord City Lord said: Shen Family members can lose, and can afford to lose, but mustn’t linger in defeat; only then are they truly Shen Family members! Though we lost two rounds before and may lose a third today, as long as we continue to move forward, unwavering, and unburdened by empty reputation, we won’t truly let down the family’s expectations."
"Well said, so what if we lose? What if our skills fall short? Shen Family members stand tall and fearless. At tonight’s banquet, I will challenge the Li and Zhao families, to test their methods!"
"Good! I will challenge them too. Even if defeated, we should fall standing, never to disgrace the Shen Family’s honor!"
Listening to the fiery speech in the secret channel, Shen Jinghai’s mouth started twitching.
You bunch of brats, just get back in line now!
——
Of course, the Shen Family couldn’t just retreat. With three families gathered, but not a single member from the host present, in others’ eyes, this would seem like a standard Hongmen Banquet. So despite Shen Jinghai’s inner frustration, he allowed the elite from the Outer Courtyard to enter the venue.
Next to arrive were the Zhao Family.
The group was quite small, led by Zhao Jincheng, consisting of only four young people, plus two bodyguards who doubled as guiding dogs. Among this group, the only one who could be considered a main character was Zhao Jincheng. The other three young people, the oldest being 18 and the youngest only 12, were not core members of the Zhao Family of Golden Jade City and had very shallow Immortal Dao cultivation. They were merely family members accompanying the delegation to Shen City for sightseeing and were temporarily pulled in to make up numbers.
In fact, most teams representing family forces attending Shen Ruoshi’s birthday banquet were led by older members holding key positions to show respect. Only the always arrogant and unruly Golden Jade City would allow someone as young as Zhao Jincheng to lead a team—though, to be fair, as the younger brother of the City Lord of Golden Jade, who interacts as an equal with the City Lord of Shen City, Golden Jade people found it acceptable.
After welcoming the Zhao Family’s delegation, Shen Jinghai anxiously glanced toward the entrance, just in time to see Guiding Dog A desperately pulling Zhao Jincheng, who was heading straight toward the toilets, back.
Shen Jinghai felt a bit uneasy, suspecting that tonight’s banquet might not go as smoothly as expected.
——
It wasn’t until half an hour later that Shen Jinghai had to reluctantly admit that things might be going worse than anticipated.
By this time, the banquet had officially started for over ten minutes, yet there was no sign of the Li Family! From what Shen Jinghai knew about them, despite their despicable and treacherous nature, the Li Family at least understood the basic etiquette of Xiangzhou’s noble families, which did not include being late to a banquet.
Something unexpected must have happened.
As a professional event management team, the servants at the Deputy City Lord’s Mansion had already headed to the Divine Sword Tower to check the situation, returning shortly with news.
One piece of good news and one bad news.
The good news was that Wang Jiu, the sharp-faced ugly man despised by the City Lord, wouldn’t be attending tonight’s banquet; he needed to stay at the inn to care for a patient.
The bad news was that the patient was Shen Qingming.
"What did you say!? Shen Qingming suddenly fell ill and is bedridden!?"
Standing in front of the Deputy City Lord’s Mansion, Shen Jinghai felt as if his whole world was spinning upon hearing the report from his subordinate.
Nonetheless, as the right-hand man of the City Lord, Shen Jinghai bit the bullet, withstood the dizziness, and continued to think.
The current situation, though dire, might be turned to their advantage. For instance... persuading Zhao Jincheng to visit the Divine Sword Tower to see the patient, offering care and winning the favor of the beauty when she is at her weakest?
Just as he was considering this, Shen Jinghai suddenly saw a group of people rushing over.
The leading woman was graceful and slender, her luxurious dress glimmering like stars in the night.
It was none other than Li Wanqing, one of the culprits who transformed Shen Family Outer Courtyard’s elite into mourning soldiers. Behind her, dressed just as elegantly, Li Chaolu followed, slightly bashful.
To think that when they spoke, the Li Family had already arrived!? Furthermore, judging by their elaborate attire, Shen Qingming’s sudden illness seemed to have no impact on their desire to enjoy themselves!
Shen Jinghai couldn’t help but admire such sisterly ties and asked, "Isn’t Shen Qingming..."
"Oh, she’s in her room being tenderly cared for, happier than when she’s healthy, so we didn’t want to disturb her. We just came here to eat and drink happily."
Hearing phrases like ’tenderly cared for,’ ’happier than when healthy,’ Shen Jinghai’s thoughts immediately turned to several scenes from the books Cai’Er kept.
An unaccompanied man and woman, a sick-room alone, sparks ready to ignite, a baby’s cry...
As these imaginations unfolded, Shen Jinghai broke into a cold sweat and asked, "Should we go visit her?"
Li Wanqing immediately gave Shen Jinghai a look as if he were an idiot, and retorted, "Visit for what? To ask if they need sesame oil?"
"What’s with the sesame oil?" Inadequately familiar with books, Shen Jinghai was puzzled.
"In any case, those two don’t need outsiders disturbing them right now, so let’s not get in the way. By the way, how long are we going to stand here at the entrance? I can already smell the delicious food; are we supposed to stand here smelling it all night?"
As Shen Jinghai stepped aside to allow Li Wanqing and Li Chaolu into the hall, he remained somewhat puzzled.
What was it about the sesame oil?
