Only I Cultivate
Chapter 45: The Ball

Chapter 45: The Ball

Wearing the suit Luo Li had chosen, a sleek black ensemble with a pristine white dress shirt and black buttons, Feng Fan admired himself in the mirror. The fabric hugged his defined muscles perfectly, giving him a refined yet powerful presence.

A confident smile tugged at his lips as he checked himself from different angles.

"Not bad, not bad. What a handsome guy you are!" he praised his reflection with a cocky grin.

Satisfied, he strode over to Luo Li and did a slow turn, giving her a full view. "How do I look?"

Luo Li blinked twice, her usual cold demeanor wavering. "It’s... good."

"Alright then, we’ll take this one," Feng Fan announced to Lei Ai, who nodded with a professional smile.

After completing the purchase, Feng Fan walked out of the store with Luo Li, the suit neatly folded inside a branded paper bag. As they stepped onto the busy street, Feng Fan glanced at her.

"Let me give you a ride home," he offered.

Luo Li gave a brief nod, and they made their way to SIF’s car. After dropping her off, Feng Fan headed to a dry cleaner to prepare the suit for tomorrow’s event.

Behind the counter stood an elderly clerk, his glasses perched on his nose.

"Good morning, sir. Can you have this suit cleaned by tomorrow?" Feng Fan asked, placing the paper bag on the counter.

The clerk took the suit out and unfolded it carefully, his eyes widening as he recognized the brand. "Oh, a Cloud Veil! Not every day I see one of these. Rest assured, young man, I’ll have it ready by tomorrow."

Feng Fan nodded with a satisfied smile. "Thanks, old man. I’ll be back first thing in the morning."

The clerk gave a polite nod, already setting the suit aside with the utmost care. As Feng Fan walked out, he couldn’t help but chuckle. The whole day had been unexpectedly chaotic, but at least he’d scored a suit without spending a dime.

’Well, not that it would’ve been my money anyway, but getting things for free always feels good,’ Feng Fan mused with a smirk.

With no more tasks assigned by Director Mao, they were free until the ball, and Feng Fan wasn’t about to waste a single second. Seizing the opportunity, he dedicated himself entirely to cultivation.

The next day, he briefly left home to pick up the freshly cleaned suit before returning to his routine. Time passed, and soon enough, the long-awaited evening of the ball finally approached.

👻👻👻👻👻

The grand event was set to take place at the Celestial Estate, a sprawling mansion owned by the SIF president responsible for overseeing the Dragon Country.

In each country, the SIF president was typically the strongest Hunter or at least one of the top ten—figures of immense power and respect. Naturally, the presence of the Dragon Country’s strongest Hunter made the ball an unmissable event.

Families of renowned Hunters from the capital flocked to the humble Green Vine City, eager to showcase their strength, display their wealth, and forge new connections.

However, one question loomed over everyone’s minds: Why had the president, who rarely attended social gatherings, suddenly decided to host such a grand ball?

One limousine after another pulled up to the gates of the Celestial Estate. Elegantly dressed guests stepped out, the men in refined suits and the women in enchanting gowns.

No one dared to dress casually for such an event.

Onlookers gathered around, whispering in awe and excitement.

"Look, it’s Zeng Jiang, the head of the Zheng family, with his wife. I can’t believe that old monster left seclusion just to attend the president’s ball," one of the spectators muttered.

"Check out the next one, the Long family twins. I heard they reached A-rank before the age of thirty. That’s almost unheard of!"

"Heh, you think that’s impressive? Wait until you see the Luo family’s daughter. She has the potential to surpass them... if it weren’t for that curse of hers. Such a shame... It ruined her chances at forming any kind of relationship."

"Why hasn’t the president arrived yet? I heard he has four arms and two heads, a true monster among Hunters!"

Even those who hadn’t been invited gathered nearby to witness the legendary figures that had descended upon their small city. No one had expected so many powerful Hunters to make an appearance in such a humble city.

Even many journalists were drawn to such an event. These Hunters weren’t only famous in the Hunter community, but also outside. After all, these families were owners of many business empires across the country.

With so many godly figures gathered, how could sneak journalists not try to write about such an event? Of course, they couldn’t even get near it. The security that prohibited normal people from getting close was no joke.

Even taking a glimpse at the limousines was hard.

Inside a limousine carrying one of those powerful families, a seemingly warm and harmonious family of four sat together—a father, a mother, a son, and a daughter. At first glance, they looked like the picture of familial bliss.

But there were many things but warmth between them.

The father, a stern and imposing figure with short silver hair, broke the silence with a commanding tone.

"Luo Li," he said, his gaze stoic. "I’ve arranged your marriage with the Jia family. Their son will be attending tonight, and you will take this opportunity to get to know him."

Sitting beside him, Luo Li trembled.

She wore a stunning, long red dress that hugged her figure elegantly, the rich fabric shimmering faintly under the interior lights. A delicate red silk mask adorned her face, enhancing the beauty of her silver eyes.

"Father, I—" Luo Li wanted to protest, but she was interrupted.

"This is not up for discussion. It is your obligation to the family. Your brother also had his marriage arranged, didn’t it work out well in the end?" said Luo Ru, her father.

Luo Li glanced at her brother, Luo Qi, who sat beside their father with an indifferent expression. A mocking smile tugged at her lips under the red mask.

"Worked well? It’s been four years since they married, and the number of times husband and wife have seen each other is fewer than the fingers on one hand... How can that be called working well?"

Hearing her speak about him, Luo Qi glanced at her, his expression cold. He was indeed the son of his father, almost a perfect clone of him.

"You better watch your words, Luo Li."

Luo Li showed no fear as her brows furrowed. "Did I lie? Su Wen is nothing more than a breeding vessel for you. What good can come of this relationship? You didn’t even bring her here today."

In a burst of anger, Luo Li inadvertently spoke of Luo Qi’s wife, Su Wen, and immediately regretted it. In this family, Su Wen was the one person Luo Li truly cared for.

She was the only one who had ever shown her any semblance of familial warmth.

"Silence!" Luo Ru’s voice cut through the air, his words laced with authority. "I won’t tolerate such disgraceful behavior."