5. The Sword Alliance Leaders
Nightfall usually meant the end of the day. Although the night market was still bustling, the day’s labor was over, and the capital was enveloped in a sense of tranquility.
But this was no ordinary night.
The moment the sun set, fireworks erupted, painting the sky with a dazzling display of crimson flowers, a beautiful yet grand and imposing scene.
Everyone who saw it was stunned.
Such a spectacle was fitting for an emperor’s birthday.
Gong Yiling thought so too.
However… she glanced at the person in the carriage behind her, chuckled softly, and continued to drive the carriage through the capital’s gates.
Such fireworks were a fitting prelude to the chaos that was about to unfold.
“Yiling.”
As they passed through the gates, the person inside suddenly spoke. “Are we there yet?”
Through a gap in the curtain, she could see that the person inside was wearing a black dress, a stark contrast to her own red attire.
“Yes, after this gate, it’s about another mile.”
“Alright.”
“Are you ready?” Gong Yiling asked casually, without turning around.
“If I said I wasn’t, you wouldn’t take me back, would you?” The person inside chuckled.
“Emmmm… that’s true.” Gong Yiling shrugged. “But to be fully prepared in half a day is a bit much. Don’t worry.”
“I’m here. No one will harm you.”
“That sentence…” The person inside seemed to pause, then asked, “Can I take that as a promise?”
“Of course.”
“Just for tonight?”
“It’s up to you.”
“Heh…” The woman inside chuckled softly. “Then I’ll be counting on you, Master.”
—
—
Baili Yue’s birthday banquet, although not a grand decennial celebration, was just as extravagant.
The reason, of course, was that he planned to do something he had never done before.
The banquet was held in the Baiyang Palace, the main hall of the court.
The central area, usually for officials to discuss matters, had been transformed into a performance area, and the four square tables on either side were laden with exquisite delicacies, and even rare pills for nourishing true essence or enhancing beauty.
Further towards the door was a large square table reserved for the ministers.
As for the four tables, those worthy of sitting there were, of course—”Young Palace Master Gong!” As Gong Yiling entered with a woman in a black cloak, Baili Yue’s feigned surprise echoed through the hall.
“Hahahaha!” He even stood up from his throne, as if to walk towards her.
“Someone from the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace attending my birthday celebration, this is a first in the thousand-year history of the Four Kingdoms. Does this not bring honor to my humble abode? Hahaha.”
The woman with Gong Yiling just chuckled softly. “Your Majesty’s words make my Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace seem rather unfriendly.”
“Eh.” Baili Yue waved his hand. “Not at all. Everyone knows the status of the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace, on par with the top five sects of the Hundred Paths Mountain. To have you grace my small kingdom with your presence, I am not so ignorant as to be unaware of the honor.”
Just as he finished speaking, someone behind Gong Yiling said, “I beg to differ, Your Majesty.”
It was Jiang Chenmo, Tian Zhenyin, and three other disciples from Tianyin Daoist Mountain.
Tian Zhenyin glanced at the brown-haired, cloaked woman beside Gong Yiling, then continued, “At least at Your Majesty’s coronation, the Hundred Paths Mountain still sent me and my senior brother to offer our congratulations. How can you say the Hundred Paths Mountain looks down on you?”
“As for the Five Demonic Abysses, hehe…”
A simple “hehe,” yet the mockery was palpable.
But unfortunately, Miss Gong had no interest in arguing with her now.
After they were seated, Miss Gong diligently served the person beside her, pouring tea and even peeling an apple for her while they waited.
Although they both usually ate apples with the skin on, they had to maintain a certain image, to show their difference in status.
Clearly, Miss Gong, with her diligent and busy demeanor, was just an ordinary maid. So, more and more people’s attention shifted to the veiled woman beside her.
—Although they were both veiled, their status could be distinguished by their aura.
This was like a slap on a cotton ball, completely ineffective. So, Tian Zhenyin lost interest and quickly went to her seat, which was opposite Gong Yiling’s, planning to cause some trouble later.
The next to arrive were the cultivators from the Returning Heaven Sect.
They were much colder and more aloof, completely ignoring Baili Yue’s greeting and taking their seats.
With that, all the guests from the Hundred Paths Mountain and the Five Demonic Abysses had arrived.
As for the remaining table, it wasn’t for other sects or royal relatives. Even someone of Young Master Mo’s status was only invited to sit with the ministers.
So, why was this table specially arranged?
Initially, Gong Yiling just kept this question to herself.
She didn’t speak, didn’t pay much attention, until the banquet began, and she suddenly noticed the guests at the fourth table.
Four old men, their faces cold and expressionless.
And these people gave Gong Yiling a strong sense of danger.
—Who were they? Why did they appear here so silently? And what was their strength?
These questions all pointed to the same answer.
The identities of these four…
The woman beside her also noticed them, but she had seen one of them before and immediately said to Gong Yiling, “Yiling, I’ve seen the one on the far left.”
“He is…?”
“The Grand Master of the Mo family, the most powerful person in the entire Mo family.”
If that was the case… Gong Yiling looked at the other three.
Then these three must be the leaders of the other three families of the Eight Desolations Sword Alliance.
Heh, as she expected. This Baili Yue was quite good at summoning people. He had even managed to get the real leaders of the Sword Alliance to come.
