Everyone had a casual lunch, and Old Wang's chance to show off was mercilessly snatched away by Jack Ma.
The real celebration was in the evening, when the dishes became much more abundant. Over a dozen people gathered around a table, and Jack Ma cooked more than twenty dishes.
Liu Jingru had a very happy festival. In previous years, she would either spend the Mid-Autumn Festival alone or go home to be with her parents.
This year, although she didn't go home to be with her parents, she gained much more.
She had inexplicably connected with a group of influential figures, and more importantly, these influential figures treated her with great courtesy.
She felt the affection extended to her through association.
Everyone was being nice to her out of consideration for Xia Lin, and Liu Jingru understood this perfectly. Therefore, she remained very polite and respectful to everyone.
After dinner that evening, everyone was watching the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala in the living room when Liu Jingru received a message on her phone.
It was a notification from the company regarding a personnel transfer.
She had been promoted and moved to the Public Information Department.
This department was exclusively responsible for collecting consumer information, had a two-day weekend, and did not require daily attendance.
As for her salary, it had increased from an annual salary of 300,000 to 700,000, and she would also participate in year-end profit sharing.
This kind of position was usually held by long-serving employees or those with connections, due to its relaxed nature and high compensation.
In the past, Liu Jingru would have been completely baffled. Now, knowing the reason, she found it unsurprising.
It must have been Mr. Ma who made the arrangements; otherwise, how could such a good position have fallen to her?
Did this mean she could work wherever she wanted from now on?
And she wouldn't have to socialize with others tomorrow?
It was simply too wonderful. She had been thinking about selling the miracle drug during the day, and by evening she was promoted. She wouldn't have to worry about money anymore.
She knew exactly who had brought all this about.
"Lin'er, thank you," Liu Jingru suddenly said, linking her arm with Xia Lin's.
This "thank you" came from the bottom of her heart. The sisters rarely expressed thanks to each other, but Liu Jingru felt she had to say it this time.
"What might be a big deal for you was just a matter of a single word for them. You don't need to thank me, because we are good sisters." Xia Lin, guessing what Liu Jingru wanted to thank her for, comforted her.
"Yes, we are good sisters." Liu Jingru nodded gently.
Indeed, they were good sisters, but Liu Jingru wished even more to be Xia Lin's sister-in-law, so they could be together forever.
...
Mount Lao Sect.
On the night of the full moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Old Ancestor of the Mount Lao Sect returned.
Accompanying him was a thin old man, appearing gaunt and somewhat unsettling.
"Greetings, Old Ancestor. You have returned." Gu Zhe looked at the Old Ancestor's arrival with utmost respect.
"This is Uncle Murong." The Old Ancestor of the Mount Lao Sect, Hong Ben Zong, introduced the person beside him.
"Uncle Murong, you are welcome to visit the Mount Lao Sect." Gu Zhe then bowed deeply to Murong Tian Gu.
Anyone who could be with the Old Ancestor was naturally no ordinary person, and Gu Zhe had this foresight.
Murong Tian Gu merely nodded casually, remaining silent.
"Where are the First and Third Elders?" Hong Ben Zong, not seeing the Great Elder and Third Elder, asked Gu Zhe.
"Old Ancestor, you must seek justice for the Mount Lao Sect! The Great Elder and Third Elder were captured by the Dragon Group, their cultivation crippled, and their current whereabouts are unknown."
Upon hearing the Old Ancestor's question, Gu Zhe immediately began to recount their grievances.
Hong Ben Zong frowned upon hearing this and asked, "Why would the Dragon Group come to our Mount Lao Sect to apprehend people for no reason?"
"Old Ancestor, please allow me to explain in detail."
Gu Zhe then proceeded to explain the entire sequence of events clearly and without any omission.
He truthfully recounted everything, starting from how the Great Elder's grandson went out to steal affections, how they went to demand his release, and how they were crippled in one move.
"Brother Murong, what do you think of this person?"
After listening, Hong Ben Zong looked at Murong Tian Gu beside him and asked.
He was naturally referring to Xia Feng, as others were not worthy of their attention.
"Earthly Immortal," Murong Tian Gu replied without hesitation.
Someone who could cripple two Grandmaster-level cultivators in one move had reached the level of an Earthly Immortal, on par with them.
However, when did the Dragon Group acquire an Earthly Immortal?
Although they were reclusive and rarely appeared in the world, it did not mean their information was blocked. They might not care about national affairs, but they would pay attention to the Dragon Group, which had an impact on them.
"Hmm, it should be correct. I didn't expect there to be another Earthly Immortal-level individual after the death of the previous Dragon Group leader," Hong Ben Zong sighed.
"Regardless of which group it is, or any cultivator's convention, the people who captured them are not to be tolerated."
"Any convention, any law, are restraints prepared for the weak. People at their Earthly Immortal level are bound by nothing but strength."
"Moreover, the cultivator convention has been established for over a hundred years. It's unknown if the earliest founders of the convention are still alive. Even if they violated it, other sects would not risk a deadly confrontation."
Perhaps everyone shared the same thought: what would be the consequence of breaching the convention?
They simply lacked a leader to initiate it.
Those below the Earthly Immortal level were not qualified to challenge the cultivator convention.
"Old Hong, want to enter the world for some fun?" Murong Tian Gu asked with great interest.
He was a rogue cultivator who had left his sect in his early years, always wandering freely. During his travels, he met Hong Ben Zong, and they hit it off, joining forces.
As for what they were doing during their travels, no one knew.
"My sect members were treated this way, so naturally, I must go out and seek an explanation." Hong Ben Zong's attitude was extremely resolute, and only people like them dared to speak such words.
"Where were they captured?" Hong Ben Zong then asked Gu Zhe.
"Old Ancestor, if you wish to go, I will personally lead the way." Gu Zhe said respectfully.
"Then it shall be tomorrow. Tonight is the night of the full moon; bring me some good wine, and I shall drink heartily with Uncle Murong." Hong Ben Zong commanded.
"Yes, Old Ancestor." After speaking, Gu Zhe immediately ordered his men to prepare fine wine and dishes.
After arranging matters here, Gu Zhe summoned Pu Zaiye.
"Tomorrow, you will take me to the Magic City," Gu Zhe instructed Pu Zaiye.
"Sect Master, going out again?" Pu Zaiye was terrified.
This was the third time. Why were these people never learning from their mistakes?
"The Old Ancestor has returned. You only need to lead the way; do not inquire about anything else." Gu Zhe frowned, displeased. Did Pu Zaiye also have the right to question his words?
"Yes, Sect Master." Seeing Gu Zhe's unhappy expression, Pu Zaiye quickly complied.
After leaving, Pu Zaiye looked back at the hall where Gu Zhe was, curled his lips, and thought to himself:
"Don't tell me we'll go out, show off, and then get beaten like dogs again."