Even though the danger of this grand ceremony was known long in advance, Old Shen had no choice but to force Meng Jingwei to attend.
After all, she would be competing for the position of Hidden Master in the future. If she couldn't win first place in this ceremony, it would be difficult to gain the support of the others.
His expression was solemn as he sat in his chair and sighed, "You must win this event!"
His gaze was firm, his tone commanding.
Meng Jingwei's brows furrowed slightly, "What if I can't win?"
Bang—!
Old Shen angrily slammed the table, his face suddenly darkening. "Even if you can't win, you must win!"
The sudden bang of the table startled Meng Jingwei.
She wrote 'unhappy' directly on her face and said nothing more.
Old Shen reminded her of some precautions before they departed.
Daisy Tini and Hexiao Mingjin also got into the car with them.
Hexiao Mingjin drove, Daisy Tini sat in the passenger seat, and the three of them sat in the back, driving towards the venue of the grand ceremony.
It was very quiet on the way.
Hexiao Mingjin was still sulking with them because of Qing Muye and refused to speak to them.
Daisy Tini and Old Shen were also silent.
Perhaps it was because the hunting ceremony would involve many dangers, and both were overly worried and preoccupied, naturally having no mood to talk.
Meng Jingwei sat leaning against Qing Muye. They held hands openly, occasionally turning their heads to meet each other's eyes, but without saying much.
Three hours later, they arrived at the venue of the hunting ceremony.
The parking lot at the ceremony site was filled with dense off-road vehicles, hundreds of cars of various colors, comparable to a car show.
Of course, a large number of people also arrived on horseback.
There was also a larger stable not far away, which sprayed the numbers of their horses to distinguish whose horse it was.
As the group got out of the car and walked out of the parking lot, they saw Hexiao Lanya, Li Zirui, and Hexiao Lüyu.
Meng Jingwei had seen Li Zirui and this woman named Hexiao Lüyu when she visited Hexiao Lanya's home that day, but she hadn't seen them since.
She had almost forgotten about her.
"Hmph!"
As soon as Li Zirui saw Meng Jingwei, he glared at her fiercely and ran away.
Hexiao Lüyu immediately called out, "Zirui, don't go. The terrain here is complex and very dangerous."
Hexiao Lanya immediately instructed her, "Lüyu, you stay with Zirui today and be sure not to let him get lost."
"Okay, Aunt."
Hexiao Lüyu nodded, greeted Meng Jingwei and her group, and then trotted off to catch up with Li Zirui.
"Jingwei, this outfit suits you very well."
Hexiao Lanya examined Meng Jingwei's Hidden Clan ceremonial dress, as well as the silver hat she wore. Silver tassels hung around the hat, and a carved silver necklace adorned her neck, presenting the appearance of a Hidden Clan woman.
Not only was it not out of place, but it also gave the impression of being custom-made for her, so beautiful that one couldn't look away.
"Mm."
Meng Jingwei responded with a perfunctory "Mm" and was too lazy to say more.
"I'm going up the mountain first," Hexiao Mingjin said and left directly.
As the ceremony would last for several days, their luggage was also brought with the car, and dedicated personnel would deliver the luggage to the tents on the mountain.
People were constantly coming and going on the mountain and at the foot of the mountain.
Qing Muye, having resumed his identity as 'Iron Pillar,' naturally maintained a certain distance from Meng Jingwei.
Meng Jingwei and Qing Muye walked in front, Daisy Tini in the middle, while Old Shen and Hexiao Lanya walked behind.
Finally, there were bodyguards protecting Hexiao Lanya.
Sensing that the Qing Muye couple had walked far away, Hexiao Lanya then asked Old Shen, "How are the arrangements going?"
Their voices were kept very low, audible only to them.