As the discussion in the restaurant hall grew more intehe young cultivators begaing with eveer fervor about the rumors surrounding Feng Lian's birthday and his potential search for a parthe atmosphere turned nearly chaotitil a rugged-looking cultivator, with narrow eyes and an expression visibly marked by jealousy, decided to shatter the romantic illusions of the others.

  — "If Lord Feng Zhan pns to choose a partner for his son, it's almost certain to be Miss Shang Hua-Ren," she decred, her firm voice cutting through the murmur. —"Think about it: both are disciples of a prestigious sect, they both have inparable beauty, and they're sidered geniuses in cultivation. A match made in heaven, wouldn't you agree?"

  The other cultivators, who had been arguiedly, ched their teeth upon hearing this statement. Though none dared to directly oppose her, for fear of saying something wrong and attrag trouble, their expressions revealed they thought quite differently. Internally, many muttered distastefully to themselves.

  A momentary silence was broken by a new voice, soft yet brimming with curiosity. — "Speaking of which, the Four Families petition will take pce just one day before the young lord's birthday. Who do you think will win this year? I two petitions, the Tang and Shang families dominated and cimed the prizes."

  This opic seemed much safer for discussion, and soon the hall buzzed once again with specutions. — "It's obvious Shang Hua-Yen will be there and probably win. She's uable! A true prodigy," one young woman said, her eyes shining with admiration. — "Yes, and if she wins again, the Shang Family will gain aronger position in the distribution of profits from the spiritual bck iron mine," anreed, nodding.

  The ang Xi emerged as they began discussi rumors. — "Could it be that Tang Xi ed the Amber Natal Milk and finally started cultivating?"

  — "Do you think she'll join the petition?" —a younger girl asked with genuine curiosity.

  — "Impossible,"— another scoffed, waving her hand dismissively.

  —"Even if she started cultivating, she couldn't have advanced beyond the first level. There's no way she could pete with Shang Hua-Yen or any other talent of this geion."

  The topic then shifted to the Tang Family and the mysterious cultivator who frequently appeared alongside Patriarch Tang. Some specuted he owerful secret ally; others believed he might be a mentor specially assigo Tang Xi.

  As the hall buzzed with these theories, no oiced Xing Yue quietly rising from her table and heading to a private room upstairs. Her exit was so smooth that even those nearby failed to observe it.

  Shortly afterward, Xi and Ah Tao's dishes arrived. The two begaing in silence, indifferent to the chatter still stirring the ground floor. The aroma of the food leasant, and the warmth of the meal offered a brief moment of fort amidst so much specution about the future.

  When they finished, one of Xing Yue's attendants approached respectfully, her posture impeccable. — "My dy, Xing Yue, requests your presen her private room,"— she said, bowing slightly to Tang Xi.

  Xi raised her eyebrows in surprise but quickly regained her posure and nodded. She called the waiter and paid for the meal before following the attendant. Intrigued by Xing Yue's summons, she rose, with Ah Tao closely following, as the attendant guided them down the corridor leading upstairs.

  Upon reag the private room, Xi noticed the presence of guards and maids stationed outside. Their rigid posture and the silen the area gave an exclusive air to the space. The attendant knocked lightly on the door, and after hearing permission from within, turo Xi and respectfully said: — "Please, enter, Miss Tang."

  Ah Tao remained outside, patiently waiting alongside the maids. Xi opehe door and stepped into the well-lit room. Xing Yue sat fortably on an ornate wooden chair, a rexed smile framing her fabsp;— "I see the rumors are more than true!" — Xing Yue began, her voice pyful as she looked Xi up and down. —"Not only have you started cultivating, but you've already reached the third level. I'm holy envious. If I had known Amber Natal Milk was this powerful, I'd have bought it for myself!"

  Xing Yue struck a theatrical pose of admiration, pletely abandoning the noble demeanor she typically dispyed in publibsp;

  Xi sighed and replied with a tone of exasperation: — "Alright, if the cultivators outside saw you now, they'd be utterly shocked."

  The two locked eyes for a moment before bursting into ughter. The room's atmosphere quickly turned rexed as the friends exged ents about ret events. Xing Yue, with her usual frankness, began updating Xi oest rumors and developments iy.

  — "By the way,"— Xing Yue said, her tone suddenly more serious. —"You should be cautious of Shang Hua-Yen. I've received word that she's returning to the city, apanied by other disciples from the Valley of Spiritual Herbs. I wouldn't be surprised if she used this opportunity to try and harm you."

  Xi frowned. She didn't have a good impression of Shang Hua-Yen, and Xing Yue's words only reinforced her . Despite Hua-Yen's seemingly gentle and always smiling demeanor, something about her felt insi was hard to ighe sehat her iions were never as i as they appeared.

  — "her of us trusts her,"— Xi admitted, leaning slightly against the table.— "I always felt hostility from her when she looked at me."

  Xing Yue chuckled sarcastically. — "Exactly. A 'green tea b*tch' like her never fools me. But the thing is, she's an excellent actress. pared to her, I'd rather deal with her sister, since her iions are written all over her face."

  Xi sighed but smiled faintly. Despite the worries associated with Shang Hua-Yen's name, she appreciated Xing Yue's hoy and support. Their versation was a remihat, even in a world filled with intrigue and rivalry, there were still people she could call friends—the kind of e she had never experienced in her inal world.

  — "But let me guess, you're pnning to join the petition, aren't you? Admit it—now that you , you will!"— Xing Yue decred, her tone fident. After all, since meeting Tang Xi, she had known that Xi wouldn't let herself be limited by talent—and she hadn't. Over time, she had witnessed Xi train her body in ways no woman iy dared, for fear of ruining their appearahat unyieldiermination had made Xing Yue admire her deeply.

  Xing Yue seemed to hesitate about something…

  *(Note: "Green tea bitch" is an ironic expression to refer to someone ears i and kind, but has hidden or maniputive iions.)

  Aug_N7052