Qin Xuan's name spread like wildfire throughout the banquet after Yuan Zhicheng's grand announcement. Everyone, whether they had arrived earlier or later, now knew of the existence of a "disciple of the Three Gods" among them. This was no small matter. After all, Divine Supremes were the guardians of the Dragon Country. In terms of status, none of the families present could compare. And Qin Xuan was the joint disciple of all three Divine Supremes of the Dragon Country. No one would dare dispute that his status was the highest in the room.
Li Hongyu and Qin Hu, who had known Qin Xuan from the start, were somewhat bewildered. They had thought his achievement of becoming a Grandmaster in his twenties was the most shocking thing about him. They never imagined he had such an incredible background.
"Keep it low-key, keep it low-key. My Brother Xuan doesn't like a fuss!" Yuan Zhicheng waved his hand at the throng of young socialites, smugly blocking those who wanted to get acquainted with Qin Xuan. Meanwhile, Yuan Mengqi watched her brother's retreating back with a somber expression, perhaps regretting letting him off the hook earlier.
Time gradually ticked by as the gathering was about to officially commence. Members from various families began to arrive. The Li, Yuan, Xie, Wan, and Fan families were all present. Of the eight great families, only the Qin, Tang, and Su families had yet to make an appearance.
"Miss Nishang of the Su family has arrived!" a gasp went through the crowd as an elegant and heroic figure strode in from the periphery of the banquet. The "Five Golden Flowers of the Imperial Capital" were well-known, and Su Nishang, in particular, had long been famous. Not only had she achieved the might of a Grandmaster at a young age, but she had also become a General before the age of thirty through her own abilities. Such a resume was rare not only in the current world but also in history.
With a commanding stride, Su Nishang quickly made her way to the gathering spot of the eight great families. She nodded to everyone and then approached Qin Xuan, her face blooming into a smile. "I heard someone mentioning a Supreme's disciple earlier. I knew it had to be you when I saw you here!"
"I say, Qin Xuan, you've certainly made quite a name for yourself!"
Qin Xuan gave an awkward smile at Su Nishang's teasing. He hadn't expected that young Yuan Zhicheng's mouth would be so fast. In just a moment's lapse, his name had spread from street to alley. However, this was good; having a reputation made things easier. Once his aunt announced his identity as the legitimate eldest grandson of the Qin family, he would naturally need to network with members of other families. With the added prestige of being a Supreme's disciple, he wouldn't have to worry about awkward silences anymore.
After a brief chat with Su Nishang, another commotion arose from the crowd behind them. Qin Xuan turned to look and saw a small group slowly approaching from the rear. Leading them was a man with an almost demonic appearance. Qin Xuan had never seen him before, but after searching his memory, he couldn't recall anyone whose looks matched his. Behind the man followed an elder with a steady gait, his hair white and his face youthful. While he hadn't achieved the same level of rejuvenation as Ke Wudi, his aura was still profound. Based on Qin Xuan's analysis, the elder was at least an intermediate Grandmaster.
Further back, Qin Xuan recognized them. A short, thin, and sinister-looking man whose gaze towards Qin Xuan was as venomous as a snake's – it was Tang Huanfeng, whom Qin Xuan had kicked twice. Following him was Uncle Gong, who had previously tried to stand up for Tang Huanfeng. Four people, two masters and two servants, their positions clearly defined. It was evident that all four deferred to the demonic-looking man.
"Big Brother, he was the one bullying me outside just now!" As the four arrived before Qin Xuan, Tang Huanfeng could no longer contain his anger. The man in the lead glanced up, his sword-like eyebrows furrowing slightly. However, after a moment, his expression returned to its usual calm. He spoke softly, as if encountering an old friend from years past.
"Qin Feiyu, we meet again." The man's voice was gentle, like that of a noble jade. Yet, for some reason, Qin Xuan felt an inexplicable sense of irritation rising within him.
"Are you Tang Junlin?" Judging by his appearance, his voice was no exception. Qin Xuan felt exceptionally agitated, and the words that left his mouth were naturally cold and distant.
Hearing Qin Xuan's voice, Tang Junlin nodded lightly. He chose not to confront Qin Xuan further and, after nodding, slowly walked towards the end of the banquet hall. Tang Huanfeng was shocked by his elder brother's action and didn't know what to do. But seeing Tang Junlin casually take his seat, he could only let out a muffled grunt and quickly followed.
"Big Brother, why did you let him go?" Tang Huanfeng said hatefully, arriving beside Tang Junlin.
Tang Junlin, unhurried, picked up a nearby tea set and, with his bare hands, turned the warm water scalding hot. "Who said I was letting him go?" The fragrant tea slowly poured from the spout into the cup. Tang Junlin handed the prepared tea to Tang Huanfeng before leisurely pouring himself a cup. "Huanfeng, I've told you many times," he continued. "Don't always focus on immediate gains or losses. Our grievances with him will not end so easily. On the contrary, the real show has only just begun."
Leaving Tang Huanfeng with words he couldn't quite decipher, Tang Junlin fell silent and began to savor his tea. Tang Huanfeng knew the topic was closed and remained quiet, his eyes fixed on Qin Xuan's retreating back. "Big Brother is right, this isn't over!"
With this, the members of the eight great families of the Imperial Capital were almost all present, save for the Qin family's representative who had yet to make an appearance. The dinner time had arrived. After the representatives of the eight great families gave their speeches, the dining officially began. The families on the periphery were served buffet-style, with abundant food laid out throughout the banquet hall. For the eight great families, however, it was different. They had a menu system, and both the quality and style of dining were significantly higher than those outside.
Since they were all acquainted, the meal was quite pleasant. However, almost no one saw the Qin family's representative throughout the entire event, which led to murmurs among the other seven families. Qin Xuan also didn't know who from the Qin family was attending today. However, he surmised that it should be his aunt, Qin Anning. In terms of age, Qin Anning was similar to the others, a descendant of the family patriarch. In terms of authority, she was the youngest daughter of the Qin family's Old Master and could represent his wishes. More importantly, his aunt was here today to announce his true identity. If there were any other representatives from the Qin family besides her, it would likely cause chaos within the family first.
Burying his head in his meal, Qin Xuan found himself quite fond of these so-called high-society banquets. If nothing else, the taste and variety alone were enough to satisfy him completely.