Chapter Two: The Night Banquet in Yuzhou, Fengyue Continent

Just then, the sound of galloping hooves echoed from outside the forest, and Zuo Daojin's powerful voice rang out.

"My lord, are you here?"

The black light barrier had vanished, and the forest slowly returned to its original state.

Ye Tianlong shouted, "Surround this area! Search it thoroughly!"

With the order, the Fast cavalry quickly formed an encirclement outside the forest.

"Now, can you tell me the origin of this matter?" Ye Tianlong walked up to the one-armed demon ninja who appeared to be the leader. "You're their leader, aren't you?"

"Hahaha!"

The demon ninja suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, looking extremely strange.

This inevitably made the man standing before him wonder, "Has this guy gone mad from being unable to bear defeat?"

"Don't expect to get anything from me. You'll die for meddling today!"

The one-armed demon ninja uttered a vicious curse, more like a prayer to some unseen force.

Despite being his defeated foe, this dared to threaten him; Ye Tianlong's anger flared.

But his anger quickly found no outlet. The man before him, who had been laughing, suddenly collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

"My lord, are you alright?" Zuo Daojin strode into the forest, asking anxiously.

When he saw the black-clad men scattered on the ground, his expression changed drastically. "Demon Ninjas!"

Ye Tianlong was startled to see that all the fallen Demon Ninjas had died silently, and some were even disappearing.

"You know their origins?"

"Yes!" Zuo Daojin sighed softly, saying, "My lord, let's leave! The Demon Ninjas won't leave anything behind."

Yu Zhu suddenly leaped to the side of the man lying under the tree. He too had turned into a puddle of water, leaving only a glittering jade pendant.

"It's all because of him that we ended up fighting for no reason. Let's keep this as a souvenir!"

Yu Zhu took the jade pendant in her hand and examined it.

"Let's go!"

Ye Tianlong and Yu Zhu took the reins of the two horses that Zuo Daojin and his men had brought and ordered the troops to retreat to camp.

Behind them in the forest, all the men in black had vanished, leaving only their weapons gleaming in the moonlight.

On the way, Ye Tianlong couldn't help but ask Zuo Daojin,

"What are they? The Ghost Ninja Clan, that sounds so eerie!"

Yu Zhu, also curious, spurred her horse closer, her bright eyes fixed on the giant who was making his horse wobble. At this moment, she resembled a delicate young girl, completely different from the woman who had displayed such power in the forest just moments before.

"They are ninjas from East Japan. The blue flame symbol indicates that they are the current ruling Oni Ninjas. They also have a type of ninja called Tennin, whose symbol is a blue crescent moon."

Zuo Daojin carefully explained what he knew to the two, then said, "They rarely appear on the mainland. I wonder what they're up to this time? There are many experts among them; their strength should not be underestimated. Sir, you should be careful!"

Ye Tianlong nodded, then turned to Yuzhu and said, "I'll leave things to you from now on. This is your specialty, so do a good job protecting them!"

"Leave it to me!" Yuzhu readily agreed, then smiled and said, "Young Master, how well are you mastering the Crimson Flame? You've made great progress today!"

"Of course, I improve every day, but I can't fully grasp it yet."

"Then keep working hard when you get back. Qin-jie and I will do our best to help you!" Yuzhu encouraged him.

"No, no, let's have some fun first when we get back! The exercise just now seems to have made me a little irritated, I feel a bit uncomfortable!"

Zuo Daojin, who was falling behind, looked at the two people getting further away with a rather strange gaze, their conversation reaching his ears without missing a word.

"What a strange man, but also quite interesting!" Zuo Daojin murmured, "Are you right or wrong?"

"Hey, hurry up!" a certain energetic man called out, turning his head.

Shaking his head, he also whipped his whip, catching up with the two ahead.

※ ※ ※

Traveling day and night, they finally arrived at Yuzhou, formerly the westernmost fortress city of Fast, at dusk. This was their destination; they would meet the marriage delegation from Wu'an Kingdom here.

Since Fast now possessed the Great Lakes region, Yuzhou was no longer a direct outpost facing other countries, and the military atmosphere was not as intense. However, the aftereffects of years of military buildup were still quite obvious; the entire city was rather deserted, and as dusk fell, there were already very few pedestrians on the road.

Lord Qiu Xin of Yuzhou City treated the wedding party with great respect, personally going out of the city to greet them. He was especially courteous to Ye Tianlong, the level of hospitality making Ye Tianlong feel overwhelmed. However, while enjoying the treatment, he couldn't help but be suspicious of this handsome man. Did this fellow want something from him? But then he thought, in terms of status, he was even lower than this city lord who had already been granted the title of Imperial Viscount. What could he possibly do for him?

After the group entered the city, they stayed at the largest inn in the city. After settling their soldiers, dusk had fallen. Qiu Xin sent a retainer to invite them to a banquet at the city lord's mansion. The city

lord's mansion in Yuzhou was actually a city within a city, located on a hill in the east of Yuzhou City. The entire building was built along the mountainside, surrounded by high and thick walls, making it extremely sturdy. Even if Yuzhou City fell, retreating to the city lord's mansion could hold out for a period of time.

Led by the retainer named Qiu Wei, Ye Tianlong and his group headed towards the city lord's mansion along the main avenue of the city.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, they saw a flagstone path paved with ancient cypress trees on both sides. However, the trees abruptly stopped about twenty feet from the mansion gate, leaving an open, flat area with no cover – quite strange. The gate was brightly lit, with large lanterns hanging on the high walls, illuminating the surrounding area as if it were daytime.

Noticing the doubt in Ye Tianlong's eyes, Qiu Wei smiled and said, "My lord, you may not know this, but the trees are removed here for defensive purposes. This way, anyone trying to sneak into the mansion loses their hiding place."

Ye Tianlong nodded. Indeed, under these circumstances, flying twenty feet without alerting the guards would be virtually impossible. He was quite surprised by Qiu Wei's ability to read people's expressions. He hadn't expected this man to be so shrewd and quick-witted. Judging from his subordinates, he knew his master well; it seemed that Qiu Xin, the city lord of Yuzhou City, was quite a capable fellow.

When they arrived at the gate, it was wide open. Having received the report, Qiu Xin personally led Ye Tianlong inside. Among the retainers who came out to greet him, one man caught Ye Tianlong's attention. His demeanor and bearing gave the impression of someone resourceful and intelligent. Through Qiu Xin's introduction, he learned that this man was named Li Qi; clearly, Li Qi was Qiu Xin's strategist.

When Qiu Xin heard that Liu Qin'er was unable to attend due to illness, a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes, but he quickly became very friendly and began chatting with Ye Tianlong.

Once they were seated in the hall, beautiful maids served them fine wine and delicacies in a continuous stream.

After several rounds of drinks, Qiu Xin asked with concern, "How is Captain Liu? Perhaps I should send one of my best doctors to take a look?"

Ye Tianlong smiled and said, "It's just a minor ailment, General, there's no need to worry." Actually, Liu Qin'er's discomfort was merely an excuse; her real reason was that she disliked attending such banquets.

Qiu Xin happily said, "That's good. It's just a pity my men didn't have the opportunity to witness the renowned Captain Liu of the Golden Phoenix Guard; it's truly regrettable!"

At this moment, Li Qi raised his cup to toast Ye Tianlong, saying, "I have long admired Captain Liu; please convey my regards with this cup!" He then drank it all in one gulp. It seemed Li Qi was Qiu Xin's leader; his actions were quickly imitated by the others. In no time, Ye Tianlong had already downed several cups and was beginning to feel tipsy.

As the drinking reached its peak, Qiu Xin clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention, before saying, "I am delighted that Tianlong has come to Yuzhou. I have specially prepared some wonderful songs and dances for this banquet to entertain you."

A pretty maid behind him immediately gave the order, and the sound of silk music floated up from below the hall. Everyone watched intently.

With the sudden sound of drums, eight women emerged from the two side doors on either side of the hall. Each of them wore colorful skirts, wielding colorful ribbons, and danced barefoot to the rhythm of the drums, immediately drawing applause from the crowd.

Ye Tianlong was particularly impressed. It turned out that each of them held a short sword tied to both ends of a colorful ribbon. As their jade hands danced, the short swords flew, creating a perfect combination of strength and grace with the flowing silk ribbons. And as their colorful skirts opened and closed, their snow-white feet were faintly visible, inspiring all the imagination.

The person who designed this dance was no ordinary person. It was a ribbon sword dance that subtly incorporated martial arts techniques. Ye Tianlong had only heard of it before, but had never witnessed this unique skill passed down from the Gongsun family and performed only among the upper nobility. To be able to perform such a dance was no easy feat; without years of hard work and agile movements, a single mistake could injure a companion.

At this moment, with the increasingly rousing drum music, the dancers' speed increased. The colorful skirts swirling in the air, the ribbons flying, and the flashes of light from the short swords at the ends of the ribbons created a dazzling spectacle.

Everyone felt breathless, holding their breath as they watched the women in the arena. The women, seemingly determined to further entice the crowd, twirled and danced past the audience, their alluring fragrance mingling with the cold glint of their short swords, causing everyone to stare wide-eyed.

Ye Tianlong took a deep breath of the alluring fragrance emanating from the woman who had just danced before him. This scent, a blend of orchid and musk, was rich yet not overpowering, leaving one feeling somewhat intoxicated.

Suddenly

, a thunderous drumbeat resounded from below, startling everyone.

The women in the arena simultaneously stamped their feet lightly, their rapidly moving figures abruptly halting, the transition from motion to stillness breathtaking. Then, they let out a delicate cry, sending a jolt through the crowd. Amidst the clear, melodious voices, colorful ribbons billowed upwards, the short swords at their ends converging in mid-air, scattering like butterflies fluttering among flowers, before returning to the women's hands along a predetermined path, creating a continuous tinkling sound.

Knowing this signified the end of the dance, the crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause.

Just then, a short sword, after colliding with the blade, suddenly shot out, deviating from its intended path back to its original owner. Instead, it hurtled towards Ye Tianlong's brow with lightning speed. The dancers gasped in alarm, and everyone in the audience paled. Suo Chong even stood up, his right hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to rush out to save him, but it was too late.

The sword was about to strike his brow, yet the unfortunate victim remained seated, perhaps stunned, staring blankly at the flying sword.

The tip of the sword was only a finger's width from Ye Tianlong's brow; even the chill emanating from it was palpable, and the hairs on his brows stood on end. Suddenly, it stopped abruptly, the short blade trembling violently before him—the ribbon had taut.

Amidst the gasps of the crowd, the short sword was returned to the woman's hand. The dancers gracefully bowed, paid their respects, and withdrew.

Amidst laughter, Qiu Xin raised his glass to Ye Tianlong in respect, saying, "Tianlong truly is a hero, calm and composed in the face of adversity, displaying the demeanor of a master, truly admirable! Come, let's all toast Tianlong!"

Everyone raised their glasses. Although Ye Tianlong accepted the toast with a smile, he had already mentally labeled Qiu Xin a bastard, cursing inwardly, "This bastard actually wanted to see me make a fool of myself! Luckily, I won this bet, truly fortunate."

It turned out that when he saw the short sword flying towards him, he was startled. His first reaction was naturally to get up and dodge, but firstly, the turn of events happened too quickly, and by the time he reacted, he was already a beat too late; secondly, being drunk, his agility was certainly not as good as usual, so if he tried to dodge, he would inevitably make a fool of himself. More importantly, he noticed that the woman wielding the sword didn't seem to show the panic he would have when he missed, which made him guess that it might be intentional, so he bet that it was just a joke.

Now that everything was indeed alright, he still felt a lingering fear. Although he couldn't figure out why Qiu Xin wanted to kill him, if there was any murderous intent, this was both a good opportunity and a good excuse. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

Suo Chong, who had sat down again, grunted and couldn't help but say, "The program arranged by the City Lord was indeed wonderful, but unfortunately, there was a slight impropriety in the etiquette!"

Qiu Xin smiled slightly and didn't answer, while his subordinates and retainers showed slight displeasure on their faces.

Li Qi answered on his behalf, "My City Lord respects Lord Ye as a hero, which is why he arranged such a program. How could a mediocre person be worthy of appreciating such a wonderful performance!"

This man was indeed a strategist, with excellent eloquence. By saying this, it seemed as if he was being treated with respect, and if he pursued the matter further, it would make him seem less like a hero. Ye Tianlong smiled wryly to himself, but still smiled and said loudly, "Thank you for thinking so highly of me, City Lord. To be honest, I was so frightened I couldn't move. I certainly didn't have any heroic spirit."

Everyone laughed, admiring his magnanimity. The slight disharmony that had arisen from Suo Chong's words vanished instantly, and the atmosphere became lively again with toasts and laughter.

Afterwards, Li Qi fully displayed his eloquence, being witty and humorous, making the atmosphere even more harmonious, and both host and guests parted in high spirits.

As they were taking their leave, Qiu Xin took Ye Tianlong's hand and whispered in his ear, "I originally had some excellent women in my residence that I wanted to send to you, but Tianlong already has the best woman by his side, so I apologize for that. If you don't mind, Tianlong, stay at my residence tonight. I'll have someone make all the arrangements, and I guarantee you'll be so happy you won't want to leave!"

If it weren't for the close call earlier, Ye Tianlong might have actually stayed to see what was going on, but now that he had listed Qiu Xin as a dangerous individual, he naturally had to be careful. He quickly expressed his gratitude and bowed, saying, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, sir, and I will definitely come to accept your offer another day!"

Riding his horse along the deserted streets late at night, Zuo Daojin, who had rarely spoken, suddenly approached Ye Tianlong and whispered in his ear, "Qiu Xin harbors treacherous intentions towards you, sir!"

Ye Tianlong was startled and turned to look at Zuo Daojin, a questioning look in his eyes.

Zuo Dao continued, "I noticed that when you weren't looking at him, a hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes! This man seems honest and kind, but he is actually suspicious and fickle. I hope you will be careful!"

Ye Tianlong felt a headache coming on. How could he have gotten into this mess? He had no past grudges or recent conflicts with Qiu Xin, so why did Qiu Xin have murderous intent towards him?

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Chapter Two: The Night Banquet in Yuzhou, Fengyue Continent

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