Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 612 - 612 611 The Grand Banquet

612: Chapter 611: The Grand Banquet 612: Chapter 611: The Grand Banquet When Hou Niao arrived at the Langzhong Tower as agreed, the place was already crowded to the brim.

The various sectors of Zhongqing City gave quite the face, deliberately digging a small pit for the newly arrived Capital Commandant to showcase his power, and then everyone bowed in submission together…

It was a setup, a grand scheme of human relations; it gave him face, but in reality, it hardly damaged the local forces, and in the end, everyone was pleased.

It was truly a clever calculation; when the local group of cultivator bigwigs joined hands to fool one person, they took care of every detail, big and small, making everything comfortable and fitting, and you couldn’t muster the mood to feel troubled.

He entered the trap with no surprise, and then, as if it were the most natural thing, everyone heeded the Capital Commandant’s Mansion’s orders.

Now the whole city was singing praises of the new Capital Commandant: how he empathized with the common folk, how he dared to take on responsibility, how he rectified chaos, how young and promising he was, how boundless his future was…

They lifted him up like the stars holding the moon.

Then, how could you possibly turn your face?

Worldly wisdom is also a path, and he truly received a lesson in it this time.

The building had three floors, the Venerables on top.

Hou Niao was seated in the VIP area on the third floor, surrounded by esteemed Upper Cultivators from the three Mansions, all from the Tongxuan Realm; the second floor was occupied by the wealthy and the noble, cultivators and big merchants from Zhongqing City; the ground floor was for the local small and medium entrepreneurs, including Old Zhou from the Yi Qu Pavilion.

Three people held the main seats, besides Hou Niao there were two others, respectively Mu Shuai Lan Zaitian and Li Laixiang from the central army, together they formed the three giants who dominated Zhongqing City and controlled Pingliang State.

Of course, due to the special nature of Pingliang State, only Hou Niao could be considered a true representative of the Shan Sect; although the other two held Shan Sect positions, neither had prospects of advancement nor opportunities for external appointment—the Shan Sect wouldn’t, and they wouldn’t want it, either.

They were more aptly described as two local emperors.

Mu Shuai Lan Zaitian, of the Natural Realm, came from the Daoist lineage of Langzhong and was an outstanding representative of the local Cultivation World; the Langzhong Sect has gradually declined over hundreds of years, suffering a gap in the levels of cultivator realms.

The Nascent Transformation ancestor who once guarded the place had ascended, and now a few old Golden Cores were struggling to support the sect, giving off an aura of the setting sun’s dwindling light.

Li Laixiang, who was also the chairman of the Zhongqing City Merchants’ Association, had been flourishing over the past few decades, growing increasingly powerful in Pingliang State.

The two exchanged glances, Lan Zaitian stood up, cup in hand, and surveyed the room, “Ladies and gentlemen, the new Capital Commandant is like a dragon rising with momentum, governing this region.

Pingliang State has gained a great support, like a pillar holding up the sky, sure to ensure peace throughout the lands.

Come, let us drink this cup to the success of the Capital Commandant.”

All the guests in the full hall raised their cups in unison, “To the success of the Capital Commandant!”

Hou Niao, proud and content, drained his cup in one go.

In the eyes of some, it was a relief.

Many people secretly disapproved, thinking that the two Mansions made too much of a fuss; over a hundred years, countless Capital Commandants had been replaced in Zhongqing City, and who had achieved anything remarkable?

Standing with his hands behind his back, cup in reflection, he recited in a fluid spray, “…The wind sweeps brisk and chill, a thousand paths through Langzhong still.

Fore mountains’ grandeur breaks our view, waters’ return shapes anew.

Earth suspends within the jar, dragons roam beyond the spar.

Take this verse when you steer through the day, to picture those mountains and streams far away.

Arriving in this honored land, where nature’s marvels grandly stand, treasures spread ‘neath heaven’s dome; as the saying goes, pure breeze and bright moon bespread Qian Kun, bird songs and floral scents intoxicate the rainbow.

Mountains pristine and waters clear to weather’s tune, spirited lands hide heroes, with greatness enshrined in their boon.”

“To be able to report on my duties here is my good fortune, to make the acquaintance of all the distinguished individuals here is my luck…

Come, come, come, let’s drink this cup to the prosperity of Pingliang and the harmony of Zhongqing!”

The crowd responded with a thunderous accord, and the whole room was filled with joy.

But amid the laughter and cheers, everyone had their own thoughts, countless gazes were fixed on the young elite from the Shan Sect Sikong Mansion, who was not yet a hundred years old but had already been honored with the Natural Realm.

For him, with a lifespan of two to three hundred years, this was filled with endless possibilities.

This was the difference, like the previous Su Lingyun, who had been stationed all over Shan Country, was nearly two hundred years old.

Someone of the Natural Realm like him was not on the same level as this Capital Commandant Hou Niao, thus they naturally received different treatment, which in the Cultivation World was the most stark reality.

Su Lingyun certainly understood this, and as he watched his spirited superior, he could not figure out what this man was thinking.

To say he was incompetent, this person had grasped his Achilles’ heel as soon as he entered the Commandant’s office, so he wasn’t without shrewdness.

To say he was exceptionally capable, he fell into a trap set by the two mansions of Zhongqing as soon as he took office.

They had dug a soft pit for him, even carpeted it on the inside, prepared with fine wine and delicacies, and now it seemed to be quite successful?

…

Old Zhou also covertly watched him, remembering clearly that it was this man who had walked into his shop and then gave him a ‘You’re too late.’ He never expected this person to be the newly appointed Capital Commandant of a mansion.

He was aware of his own situation, and it wasn’t just him, but also those merchants in the same plight, who could subtly sense that this Commandant was a bit different.

However, before everything became clear, they would not act rashly.

…

The two Mansion Masters were also silently observing him.

Even though the Commandant’s office had been nothing more than a figurehead over the years, they would not be so careless as to forget that this was the most ruthless supervisory body of the Shan Sect Quanzhen, with several bloody purges having originated from this department.

“Somewhat fond of great achievements?

Likes being flattered?

Is this real, or just an illusion?” Li Laixiang asked through Divine Sense.

Lan Zaitian smiled slightly, “We won’t underestimate him, but don’t overestimate him either; be confident, Old Li, even a hundred-year Cultivator would fall for your self-deprecating trap-digging methods, let alone a young man in his forties.

Young and successful, carefree and frivolous, everyone goes through this phase.

There’s no need to think of people as too complicated.

They’re sword Cultivators of the Shan Sect, not Daoist Sect practitioners.

After the banquet, prepare some generous gifts and pick out a few exceptional dancers.

I’ve noticed the Commandant’s eyes always glancing in that direction…”

Li Laixiang sneered, “Reciting poems to feign elegance, yet indulging in pleasure and the pursuit of enjoyment, such a person…”

They were not Cultivators of the Shan Sect, they lacked understanding about the internal affairs of the Quanzhen Sect, especially the Sikong Mansion; within the Sikong System, there might be rumors reaching insiders like Su Lingyun, but to outsiders, Hou Niao was a completely unfamiliar figure.

They had already been very cautious out of prudence, and there was no need to scare themselves.

The banquet was in full swing, because everyone felt that this Commandant was no different from the previous ones; life would remain stable, the sky was still the same, and nothing would change.

But, there was never such a thing as a solid bloc, injustice existed everywhere, and Zhongqing City was no exception.

Just as the guests were in high spirits, someone at a riverside banquet asked loudly,

“I hear the Commandant’s office is in charge of supervision.

I wonder whether it can address the issue of bullying and market dominance in the Zhongqing City business circle?”