Chapter 48 – Recipe for Disaster!

  Jun De sipped his wine slowly, letting the warmth spread through his chest. The more he drank, the more he enjoyed it. It was excellent, rich and smooth while retaining the tingle of spiritual energy. The taste of plums lingered on his tongue while he felt his Qi stir slightly in response to each cup he drank.

  He let his gaze drift over the gathering, past the drifting lanterns that floated through the air and the embroidered banners with the symbol of the Ren Clan prominently displayed.

  There were so many people, and Jun De still wasn’t used to being around crowds. Especially ones that were often staring directly at him. He hadn’t been to any parties in his past life, and being at the forefront of this one wasn’t something he could get used to in a short amount of time.

  The people staring at him weren’t being malicious; they were just curious about him. But still, it was a lot for him to handle.

  Jun De shifted slightly in his seat to get more comfortable while doing his best to ignore the stares.

  He had spotted a few women in the crowd who caught his eye, beautiful and graceful while dressed in fine silk robes. One of them smiled at him when their eyes met, but the moment passed, and Jun De looked away.

  It was far too awkward to meet anyone here, especially with Ren Qiu next to him, bragging about his family.

  Ren Qiu lounged beside him, completely comfortable with being in the limelight, and he hadn’t stopped extolling the virtues of his clan or explaining to Jun De who certain prominent individuals were.

  Jun De didn’t mind it; speaking with Ren Qiu was easy. The young man carried on a conversation without effort, and Jun De only had to nod or make a small statement to keep him going.

  The best thing about being next to Ren Qiu is that people were hesitant to approach them, at least until the Patriarch arrived and the celebration officially began.

  There were no awkward introductions or lengthy conversations with strangers; there was just good wine and a friend who didn’t expect anything from him aside from his companionship.

  As the sun dipped lower and the courtyard filled with even more guests, another presence stirred the crowd.

  Jun De noticed the shift in mood just before Ren Qiu stood up smoothly and brushed a non-existent crease from his robes.

  “My mother.” Ren Qiu said under his breath, warning Jun De.

  Jun De stood as well, offering a polite and respectful bow as Ren Qiu’s mother approached them, flanked by several members of the Ren Clan.

  She was a striking woman, her features sharp but expressionless. Her long, dark hair was styled into an elaborate bun that was held up with gold hairpins, and she wore silver robes that differentiated her from other members of the Clan.

  Jun De sensed that she was in the late stage of Qi Condensation, likely the 7th or 8th, but her progress wasn’t remarkable as she was clearly in her mid-thirties to early forties.

  She acknowledged Ren Qiu with a nod and a small smile that softened her face before her eyes turned to Jun De.

  Jun De bowed once again while greeting her.

  “This Junior greets Senior.”

  She gave the slightest incline of her head before moving past them and joining her husband and the other honoured guests near the Patriarch’s seat.

  Ren Qiu sat back down and poured himself more wine.

  “You made a good impression with her, but I suspect she will try to offer someone from our Clan as a marriage partner for you. My Mother will be reluctant to let this opportunity pass.” Ren Qiu said, his tone light and Jun De wondered if he was joking or not.

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  “Thank you for the warning.” Jun De replied.

  It was only a few minutes later when the spiritual energy of the courtyard shifted again, this time with significantly more pressure.

  The Ren Clan patriarch, Ren Tianyou, appeared from the inner section of the Estate, and conversations abruptly halted. Cups were lowered, and people stood to give their respects. Even the most arrogant amongst them bowed their heads in acknowledgement.

  The Tranquil Mountain Sect had many experts in their ranks, but outside the Sect, a Foundation Establishment cultivator was considered high ranking.

  The Patriarch wore red and black robes that trailed behind him like flowing fire. He was tall and lean; his every step was measured and in control. He wore his grey hair long, and the colour matched his beard that was immaculately groomed.

  The pressure of his cultivation spread across the gathering like a rising tide; a late-stage cultivator was at the pinnacle and could only be matched by his equal or someone in the Core Formation Stage.

  Jun De, standing next to Ren Qiu, shifted uncomfortably as the spiritual pressure washed over him. There was something odd about it, especially when he compared it to the Elders of the Sect.

  It became even more evident when the Patriarch passed close by him. Something tugged at the edge of Jun De’s senses.

  The Patriarch’s Qi, while strong and even impressive, wasn’t entirely stable.

  There was a subtle fluctuation, like a faint flicker of a flame trying too hard to remain stable. It likely wouldn’t be noticeable to anyone else unless they possessed greater cultivation than the Patriarch, but oddly, Jun De could feel it.

  ‘Was it age or something else?’ Jun De wondered as his eyes followed the Patriarch. He bowed along with everyone else and joined Ren Qiu in giving his greeting.

  The Patriarch, while elderly, still seemed to be in fine health.

  ‘So, unless he is covering his infirmity, it must be from another cause. Forced advancement from pills?’ Jun De thought. Elder Shen had clarified some of the questions Jun De had regarding pills and why Elder Hua had prevented him from purchasing many.

  The downsides of forced advancement through pills often made it not worth pursuing unless you were desperate. He hadn’t known that it could cut your cultivation path short, giving you a brief boost but limiting future breakthroughs.

  It would explain the slight imbalance Jun De felt, although he wasn’t sure if he was correct.

  Jun De didn’t let his concerns show on his face; he merely remained bowed with his eyes lowered.

  ‘It’s not my business.’ Jun De judged, but he resolved to keep a distance from the Ren Clan in the future. He knew that in any of the stories he had read about cultivators, a single sign of weakness or a small crack in the fa?ade could lead to trouble.

  ‘And I’ve had more than enough trouble to last a lifetime.’

  “Impressive, isn’t he? He broke through to the late Stage of Foundation Establishment a few years ago, and I believe he will challenge Core Formation in a short time.” Ren Qiu leaned in and whispered.

  “Yes, he is very impressive.” Jun De replied, careful to keep his tone neutral.

  ‘No way in hell am I getting involved in this. An old man at the end of his lifespan, taking pills to break through, and no doubt seeking ways to reach Core Formation before he dies. That’s a recipe for disaster!’ Jun De screamed internally, although his face remained expressionless.

  With the arrival of the Patriarch, a low chime rang out, marking the official beginning of the celebration.

  Servants moved with synchronized elegance to lay out platters of rare delicacies and to refill wine cups with precious vintages. The central area beneath the raised dais where the Patriarch, high-ranking guests, and members of the Ren Clan sat was converted into a ceremonial stage.

  Guests began to step forward one by one to present their gifts and exchange greetings with the Patriarch.

  The gifts were varied, and Jun De hadn’t heard of any of them before or the places where the guests were coming from.

  A cultivator from the Cloudveil Sect offered a bottle of Hundred-Year Soul Cleansing Elixir. A representative of the Zhao Clan, who Ren Qiu had informed him were allies of the Ren clan, presented a sculpture carved of jade that emitted spiritual energy and was said to aid in cultivation.

  Even small merchant families offered rare herbs or materials in the hope of being noticed and favoured by the powerful Ren Clan.

  Jun De sipped his wine and watched with a growing sense of unease. His eyes flicked sideways toward Ren Qiu, and he was trying to judge whether he would be expected to stand and present something.

  Unfortunately, Jun De didn’t have much with him.

  Sure, he had a lot of Sect contribution points, but he hadn’t exchanged them for anything yet.

  ‘I don’t suppose the Patriarch likes tea?’ Jun De wondered as that was one of the few things he carried in his storage bag, aside from the Warflag of Dominion and a handful of spirit stones.

  Ren Qiu sat next to him, completely at ease. When he saw Jun De glancing at him out of the corner of his eye, he tilted his head slightly and gave a subtle shake. No words were needed, and Jun De let out an internal sigh of relief.

  Apparently, his invitation from Ren Qiu meant he didn’t need to bring a gift.

  The formality lasted a short time more as the gifts were laid out, and the Patriarch stood up and gave a short, impassive word of thanks to the guests. Once that was out of the way, the mood of the gathering began to shift.

  Conversations returned, wine flowed more feely, and the guests began to become more competitive. Jun De caught the shift instantly, and even Ren Qiu was infected by it. His friend grinned as he downed his drink.

  “Gifts are for the face, sparring is for the heart. Now the fun begins!” Ren Qiu said, and Jun De felt a shiver go through his body.