Free Web NovelChapter 441: Chapter 168: You’ll Accommodate Me With a Drink?
"So, will Lord Shen come?" someone asked.
Another official from Nanxing Prefecture said, "Lord Shen is ruthless towards his enemies, but he’s still our Nanxing Prefecture’s Prefecture Chief. He should come to a gathering like this."
Everyone nodded in agreement with the official’s words.
Just then, a dissenting voice rang out.
"I don’t think so."
Hearing this, everyone subconsciously turned to look at the person who had spoken.
The man was dressed in purple robes and held a wine jar in his hand. He took a swig, a hint of drunkenness in his eyes.
"Sinful Ghost, what do you mean by that?" the white-haired elder who had spoken first asked, stroking his beard.
The middle-aged man’s purple robes were stained with wine. He gave a cold chuckle. "Word in the Jianghu is that Shen Bai has had a smooth and easy career. He must be an arrogant man who looks down on everyone. For him to come to Nanxing Prefecture, he must have an incredibly powerful background. Otherwise, how could a mere Meridian Realm cultivator become a Prefecture Chief?"
"If you ask me, he’s just some young man here to pad his resume. What does he know of shrewdness or social graces? He’ll probably even think he’s doing us a favor by letting us invite him."
After saying this, the middle-aged man sneered again, his tone dripping with contempt.
"Your Drunken Sword Sect may have connections in the Capital Cities, but you’d best not be so brazen here in Nanxing Prefecture."
The white-haired elder said, "Lord Shen is a young talent, ranked one hundred thirty-ninth on the Liangyu List. He is the hope of our Great Zhou Country’s younger generation. It would be better for you to show some restraint."
"Zui Wujiang, don’t blame me for not warning you. If you displease Lord Shen, don’t blame anyone when things get difficult for you."
Zui Wujiang chuckled coldly. "He arrested the entire Gao Family the moment he arrived. Tell me, is a man who would do such a thing without any evidence a rational person?"
Hearing this, the white-haired elder said, "I know what you mean. The Gao Family often paid tribute to your Drunken Sword Sect, so naturally, you feel you’ve lost face. But sometimes, face isn’t that important."
Zui Wujiang didn’t answer. He set the wine jar aside, a complex look in his eyes. It was impossible to know what he was thinking.
Zui Wujiang’s words cast a chill over the conversation. Fortunately, everyone present was socially adept and quickly changed the subject, starting to chat idly again.
Time gradually passed. After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, a middle-aged man in official robes appeared at the banquet.
The man exuded the power of the peak Void Realm, yet he had the scholarly air of a common student.
But whenever his gaze shifted in any direction, everyone who met his eyes showed a trace of reverence.
This was Dongfang Li, the current Prefect of Nanxing Prefecture, a man of high status and great power.
He had risen all the way from a minor County Magistrate to his current position.
Every city under his administration had become prosperous and peaceful.
And this time, he was the one hosting the banquet.
When Dongfang Li walked out, the chatter among the crowd died down considerably.
Dongfang Li clasped his hands behind his back and walked to the head seat to sit down.
Everyone seated here was an extremely important official of Nanxing Prefecture, each wielding immense power.
"Will Lord Shen still be coming?"
Beside him, a constable holding a tray of wine heard Dongfang Li’s question and quickly lowered his head.
"If Lord Shen agreed to come, he should be arriving soon. Calculating the time, it doesn’t take long to get from the Observatory to the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office."
Dongfang Li nodded. He then looked at the crowd and said slowly, "The purpose of this banquet is to welcome Lord Shen. I hope that if any of you have grievances, you will keep them to yourselves and not show them. After all, Lord Shen’s arrival is for the recovery of order in the Observatory of Nanxing Prefecture. If the Demonic Forces are deterred by this, then it will benefit not only us, but all of you as well."
After Dongfang Li finished speaking, everyone nodded in unison, indicating that they would certainly comply.
Only Zui Wujiang showed a faint trace of disdain on his face after hearing Dongfang Li’s words.
He was different from these people, and he was not like the Gao Family either.
The Gao Family only had a distant relative in a Capital City, but his relative was his own older sister.
It was said that his sister had married into a major power in a Capital City. You could say she could get whatever she wanted there; her life couldn’t be more comfortable.
Because of this, even though Zui Wujiang’s Drunken Sword Sect was not particularly powerful in Nanxing Prefecture, even the major powers had to show him some respect.
The moment Shen Bai arrived, he had arrested the entire Gao Family without a second thought. Moreover, his methods were extremely bloody and cruel. It was as if he didn’t give a damn about the Drunken Sword Sect.
A young man shows up and should at least pay his respects to the local powers first, but instead, he does something like this. Zui Wujiang had no intention of letting him have an easy time.
Just as he was thinking this, the sound of footsteps came from outside the gate.
Everyone turned their gaze to the entrance and saw Shen Bai arrive in the courtyard of the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office with Amber.
Portraits of Shen Bai were already well-known to everyone, so they recognized him at a single glance.
As the host of the banquet, Dongfang Li naturally had to act the part. He stood up without a second thought, walked over to Shen Bai, and cupped his hands in a salute. "Dongfang Li, Prefect of Nanxing Prefecture. It is an honor to meet you, Lord Shen."
Shen Bai also sized up Dongfang Li from top to bottom.
Seeing his scholarly air and the righteous aura between his brows, Shen Bai didn’t find him disagreeable. He then returned the cupped-hand salute.
