Chapter Forty-Four: The Banquet

  Bai Cangdong didn't go with Ma Fei and the others to celebrate because he had a date with Yan Mengyun that night.

  Yan Mengyun wore a black lace long dress, her hairstyle and makeup were also very suitable, apparently she had dressed up carefully.

  "You look very beautiful today." Bai Cangdong smiled and walked in front of Yan Mengyun.

  Yan Mengyun's face turned slightly red, and she pouted: "Wasn't I pretty before?"

  "My eyes were blind before, but now they're fine." Bai Cangdong pulled up Yan Mengyun's hand and walked into the Tian Shang Pavilion.

  Because Bai Cangdong didn't have Ma Fei's privilege and hadn't booked a room, he could only find a relatively quiet spot in the hall to sit down.

  "What would you like to drink?" Bai Cangdong himself rarely drank wine. In fact, it wasn't that he couldn't drink, but rather that there had never been an opportunity for him to do so.

  "Rome Bar."

  Bai Cang Dong just wanted to call the waiter over to order wine when he suddenly saw two people walking towards them.

  "Meng Yun, it's really you! I thought I was seeing things!" A seductively dressed woman exclaimed with a look of surprise upon seeing Yan Meng Yun.

  "Lin Ya, weren't you in Fenghuacheng? How did you end up here?" Yan Mengyun also looked surprised, standing up and embracing the woman.

  "I'm here to accompany Zhi Jian to Da Lun City to visit his parents." Lin Ya pointed to the man beside her and introduced him to Yan Meng Yun, "This is my fiancé Chen Zhi Jian, with the title of Divine Finger Viscount. And this is Yan Meng Yun, my best friend since childhood."

  After introducing the two of them, Lin Ya looked at Bai Cangdong in surprise and asked: "Who is this?"

  "He is Bai Cangdong, a fellow martial artist of the Knife and Broadsword Society, and a friend of mine."

  "Is it your boyfriend?" Lin Ya teased.

  Yan Mengyun's face turned slightly red, but she didn't deny it either.

  "Really? He's your boyfriend?" Lin Ya looked at Bai Cangdong in surprise and said, "Then you must introduce him to us properly. My family's Meng Yun's man must be an extraordinary person!"

  "What's wrong with you, what are you talking about?" Yan Mengyun said with a pout.

  "No need for introductions, I'm familiar with Baron Fist. I saw his impressive skills at the martial arts tournament held on Miss Shangfei's coming-of-age ceremony." Viscount Divine Finger revealed a hint of disdain on his face.

  "Baron!" Lin Ya looked at Yan Mengyun in confusion.

  "Don't say that anymore, have you eaten? Let's sit down and eat something together." Yan Mengyun said to Lin Ya.

  "We have booked a room upstairs, why don't Miss Yan and you come with us?" said Viscount Shen.

  "That's not necessary, we've already ordered." Yan Mengyun refused.

  "It's okay, we sisters haven't seen each other for so long, we must have a good chat, let's go." Lin Ya pulled Yan Mengyun and wouldn't let go.

  Yan Mengyun looked at Bai Cangdong helplessly: "Cangdong, let's go upstairs and sit for a while?"

  Bai Cangdong smiled and nodded: "You sisters haven't seen each other for so long, you should really have a good chat."

  Four people entered the VIP room on the second floor, where Bai Cangdong and Yan Mengyun discovered that there were not only four of them in the room, but also several viscounts, all friends of God's Finger Viscount.

  At the banquet, Lord Shen and other nobles were chatting and laughing, frequently toasting Lin Ya and Yan Mengyun with smiles, while only Bai Cangdong was left out in the cold.

  Bai Cangdong didn't mind either, and continued to savor the delicious food and fine wine on the table.

  "Baron Fist, I heard your palm technique is quite good. At Miss Xiangfei's coming-of-age ceremony, you outshone many barons with your impressive skills." A viscount said to Bai Cangdong with a smile.

  "It's just luck," Bai Cangdong replied.

  "It's not just luck that you can defeat so many barons, unfortunately we are viscounts and cannot learn from your skills, what a pity." The viscount shook his head and sighed, but his face was full of ridicule.

  The other barons also smiled and looked at Bai Cangdong with great interest.

  Yan Mengyun's face didn't look good, she stopped chatting with Lin Ya and leaned towards Bai Cangdong: "Cangdong, I'm a bit tired, let's head back?"

  "Good." Bai Cangdong nodded slightly.

  "Miss Yan, why are you in such a hurry to leave? You and Lin Ya haven't seen each other for so long, Lin Ya misses you terribly. Moreover, there is another esteemed guest arriving later, and if you can build a good relationship with this noble while you're in Kaoru City, it will be very beneficial for your future." said the Viscount.

  Yan Mengyun was just about to refuse when the door to the VIP room didn't open, and a stunningly beautiful woman walked in.

  "Who is speaking ill of me behind my back, as if I am the only one who can cover the sky with one hand in the city of Knife Rest?" Lady Honglian said with a smile as she walked in.

  "Madam, please take a seat." The gods pointed to Viscount and others who quickly stood up and respectfully invited Lady Honglian to sit in the first place.

  Honglian lady didn't move, seeing Bai Cangdong's surprised face, she quickly walked over to his side and sat down: "Bai Wu Shi, I didn't know you were here. I've invited you to dinner three or four times, but you always refused me. It really hurts my feelings."

  Bai Cang looked at Hong Lian with a mixture of laughter and tears, unsure what she wanted to do next. He could only cough dryly and say, "Lately, I've been too busy, I'm afraid I owe you an apology, madam."

  "That's right, you're about to take over as the president of the Knife and Dragon Society, I'm sure you're very busy. Today, who has such a big face, actually took precedence over me, and invited you out." Lady Honglian's gaze swept across everyone's faces, finally stopping on Yan Mengyun's: "It must be this beautiful little girl."

  Everyone including Viscount Godhand was shocked in their hearts and looked at Bai Canghai and Lady Honglian with faces that dared not believe, not daring to believe what Lady Honglian had just said.

  The position of president of the Knife and Rune Society has always been held by a viscount, and not just any ordinary viscount. At least the Viscounts of God's Finger do not have the qualifications to take on the role of president, and the power of the president is extremely great, with an intricate relationship with the Earl of Knife and Rune himself. It can be said that they are one of the most powerful figures in the city of Knife and Rune.

  Now suddenly heard that Honglian said that Bai Cangdong, this baron, is about to succeed as the president of Dalun Society, and all the viscounts are not believing it at all.

  But these words came from the mouth of Honglian Furen, who was the younger sister of Dao Lun Bo, and except for Dao Lun Bo, the most powerful person in Dao Lun City. It's hard to believe, yet it can't be denied.

  "Madam, are you joking?" Lord Godric asked in a low, uncertain tone.

  "Not so, not so, madam must be joking. Chairman Ximen is still in his prime years, with a long life ahead of him, how could he possibly step down as chairman so soon?" The other viscounts chimed in.

  "What's with the joke? Don't you know yet? The President of the Ximen Clan has already resigned, and will be leaving Dalun City in a few days. And tomorrow, Bai Wu Shi should take over as the new president of the Dalun Clan." Lady Honglian said, ignoring Godfinger Viscount and the others, only chatting and laughing with Bai Cangdong.

  The next time, Shen Zijun and others looked at Bai Cangdong with some discomfort, not knowing what to do, and had a meal that was as uncomfortable as sitting on pins and needles.

  Madam Honglian insisted on sending Bai Cangdong and Yan Mengyun back, so the three of them left Tian Shang Ge first.

  Madam Honglian first sent Yan Mengyun back to her residence, and there were only two people left in the carriage, she and Bai Cangdong.

  "How about it, my little man? I helped you vent your anger. How will you thank me?" Red Lotus Madam smiled slyly at Bai Cangdong.

  "Is what Madam just said true or false?" But Bai Cangdong was concerned about the position of the Knife Lun Society.

  "You're really heartless, all you men are like this." Madame Honglian glared at him: "Of course it's true, do you think I would casually make something up? Chairman Ximen has already resigned from his position, and tomorrow you should receive the order from my brother to take over as chairman."

  "I have a question for you, madam," said Bai Cangdong. "After I become the president, will everything in Dalun City be decided by me?"

  "Generally speaking, except for some special matters that need to be reported to the Earl, all affairs of the Kiren Society are decided by the President's word. Lady Kuren smiled: "Do you want to deal with Ryūseki?"

  "Madam is wise." Bai Cangdong flattered.

  "If I were you, I would just give him a slight reprimand, but wouldn't really remove his position as deputy president," said Madame Honglian.

  "Why?" Bai Cangdong was somewhat perplexed.

  "Ryūseki has no background or power to speak of, so he's desperate to cultivate his own influence within Korinsha. You could say he's nothing but a loyal dog to Korinsha; without it, he'd be left with nothing. He'll never give up on everything he has in Korinsha. However, if you were to strip Ryūseki of his position as vice-president, the new vice-president would likely be someone with status and influence. At that time, controlling Korin City might become a huge problem for you."

  "Thank you, madam, for your guidance. I know what to do now." Bai Cangdong's heartfelt thanks were sincere, without Hong Lian's guidance, he might have made many mistakes and taken many detours.

  "If you really want to thank me, then quickly leave Yan Mengyun alone. She's not suitable for you." Madam Honglian suddenly said a sentence that made Bai Cangdong very surprised.

  "Madam, why do you say this?" asked Bai Cangdong with a frown.

  "I don't want you to get involved in the muddy waters of Fenghuacheng, it's likely to lead to your downfall. Yan Mengyun's background and power are not as good as those of her four companions, which has already sealed her tragic fate."

  "Even if we can't seize the position of city master, can't we just withdraw directly?" asked Bai Cangdong.

  "You're too naive, since the Lord of Feng Hua City has chosen those five, how could he possibly let them exit easily? He must make them go through a cruel and bloody struggle to the death, and finally produce the strongest one to take over Feng Hua City and support its unbroken foundation." Red Lotus Madam didn't know if she said this because she really wanted to keep Bai Cangdong out of the whirlpool of Feng Hua City, or because when she saw Bai Cangdong and Yan Mengyun together, a strange emotion rose in her heart.

  "I understand." Bai Cangdong said lightly and got off the horse carriage back to his own home.