“Your Majesty, my father has already prepared the banquet and is waiting for you, our distinguished guest, to take your seat.”
Gu Wenxing stood up, bowing slightly as he led the way for Qian Er.
“Very well, let me see the hospitality of the Silver Star Gu family.”
Qian Er followed with a smile, but his words sent a jolt through Gu Wenxing’s heart.
Silver Star Gu was the name of the Gu family before it was destroyed, renowned for its ancestral beast-controlling Silver Star Ferrets.
So many years have passed, and with the Yan Empire’s official suppression of these former aristocratic families, many people today have never heard of the Silver Star Gu, not even most professors at the Imperial Academy.
But Qian Er revealed it with a single sentence, unsettling Gu Wenxing.
“Please, this way, this way.”
Gu Wenxing showed his fear, walking a few steps faster to hide his expression from Qian Er.
His heart was pounding. He had already been shaken by the murderous aura Qian Er exuded, having slaughtered tens of millions of zombies, and now Qian Er had exposed his origins. He was completely lost and could only return to let his father deal with him.
Familiar scenery passed by, calming his previously chaotic mind.
“As expected of a prodigy who contends with the myriad races outside. I heard he single-handedly orchestrated the downfall of the Sky Canopy Bull Clan.”
With a sigh, he led Qian Er to the entrance of an antique mansion, with the characters ‘Gu Residence’ hanging above.
Behind him, Qian Er’s eyes glazed over slightly. In the real world, Qian Er lay atop a broken skyscraper, examining the piece of paper in his hand.
It was given to him by Professor Huo, containing information about the aristocratic families destroyed by the eight rebel kings.
Outside, hearty laughter echoed from within the courtyard.
“Haha, the arrival of the Town Heaven King is a great honor. This humble one has failed to greet you properly.”
A robust old man, similarly dressed in luxurious clothing and bearing a seventy percent resemblance to Gu Wenxing, stepped out.
“Your Majesty’s presence here brings glory to my humble dwelling, adding a touch of royal aura.”
The old man’s attitude was very low, bowing to Qian Er with a face full of smiles.
“Your Majesty, this is my father, Gu Shangyun, the head of the Gu family.”
Gu Wenxing introduced Qian Er.
“So, it’s Patriarch Gu. Patriarch Gu, you’ve gone to such great lengths to invite me here. I’m afraid this is no friendly banquet.”
Qian Er chuckled. The Frostmourn Lord behind him exhaled a breath of cold air, and an invisible pressure enveloped everyone present.
Gu Shangyun’s pupils constricted, feeling a deadly pressure.
But that was impossible. Although the Gu family had declined, he, as the head of the Gu family, possessed the strength of a peak Quasi-King.
Even so, he felt a fatal crisis from Qian Er. Was this right?
Didn’t they say his strength had just broken through to the Quasi-King realm? How could it be like this??
Thoughts flashed through his mind like shooting stars, making Gu Shangyun’s smile even more sincere.
“Your Majesty is joking. It is indeed a good banquet, the best banquet in the world. Please, Your Majesty.”
With that, Gu Shangyun stepped aside, his face full of sincere smiles.
Qian Er didn’t decline and followed him inside.
The Gu Residence’s scale could definitely be described as presumptuous, far exceeding Yu Feiyi’s Bright King Manor.
Along the way, carved beams and painted rafters, pavilions, and waterside buildings filled every corner.
It only lacked a bit of yang energy, being a residence built within a cave.
The Gu family father and son led Qian Er inwards, passing through several courtyards, finally arriving at their destination.
“We pay our respects to Your Majesty!”
As soon as the door was opened, a unified voice rang out. Qian Er saw a group of people in luxurious clothes standing up, patting their bodies, and kneeling before him.
Turning to look at the Gu family father and son, he found that they were doing the same, kneeling before him.
Qian Er took a deep breath, not saying a word, and stepped into the courtyard. The scene was silent, no one communicated, no one got up, all maintaining the kneeling posture.
Qian Er couldn’t help but smile.
No wonder so many people pursued power. Who could resist this feeling of conquest?
“Rise, you may be excused.”
After a long while, Qian Er’s voice finally rang out. During this time, these people had maintained this posture.
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Only then did those people rise and take their seats.
At this time, Gu Wenxing also very discerningly presented the list of these people.
“Silver Star Gu, Blood Demon Zhang, Xie Zhi Qi, Magma Chen, tsk tsk tsk, you’ve actually kept four. Have you been hiding here all these years, accumulating strength?”
Qian Er clicked his tongue in wonder.
The Xie Zhi Qi of these four families was the Qi family of Qi Kunshan, but not his branch. It should be a small collateral branch. After all, when killing the Qi family, Qi Kunshan killed the most. He knew the main branch, so they shouldn't have escaped.
“In response to Your Majesty, yes.”
Gu Shangyun nodded, admitting it.
“Now that we’ve met, let’s eat. I haven’t eaten today.”
Seeing these people’s posture, Qian Er wasn’t in a hurry. They all looked like they needed something from him. What was the rush?
“Ah, yes, yes, it was our oversight. Quickly, serve the banquet.”
Gu Shangyun quickly clapped his hands, and maids poured in like a stream, placing various dishes in front of everyone.
Qian Er sat in the main seat, with the Gu family father and son on his left and right.
Soon, the dishes were served, and those people began toasting Qian Er one after another. Qian Er didn’t refuse anyone. Anyway, it was a flesh and blood clone, so he didn’t need to worry about poison.
After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food, Gu Shangyun suddenly put down his chopsticks and sighed dramatically.
Qian Er laughed inwardly, knowing that the main event was coming. He propped up his chin, circulated his blood energy, making his face flush red, as if he were drunk.
“Patriarch Gu, why are you suddenly sighing? How disappointing?”
“Your Majesty, this humble subject is sighing for you. You have lived a heroic life, pacifying internal troubles for the emperor, destroying external enemies, and even annihilating the Sky Canopy Bull Clan, one of the twelve victorious races. With such great merit, you will inevitably be liquidated by the emperor in the future.”
“Yes, yes, the Yan Emperor is the most fickle. Back then, our ancestors were the same as Your Majesty, but what happened later? That Yan Emperor supported eight evil creatures to destroy us one by one, destroying hundreds of thousands of clansmen and centuries of family business!”
Gu Shangyun opened the topic, and the others immediately followed, acting like innocent victims.
“Your Majesty, I heard that you have some grudges with the families of those eight evil creatures. This moment is just like that moment, you must guard against it.”
Gu Shangyun stood up, beating his chest and stomping his feet, looking like he was thinking for Qian Er’s sake.
“Your Majesty must know, if there is one, there will be two, and there will be three!”
These people didn’t mention trying to win over Qian Er, but the implication in their words was that although we aren’t much, we have a common enemy with you.
