First Immortal of the Sword

Someone soon shattered the tense, stifled atmosphere.

“Su Yi, what did you invite us to this banquet for? Was it just to strut your stuff?” Qian Yunjiu’s expression darkened, and he said coldly, “Are you trying to show off how well you’re doing as a way to humiliate us?”

Huo Long, Zheng Xiaolin, Zhang Fengtu, Liu Ying, Yang Qi, and Chu Lianheng all stared at Su Yi, their expressions unsightly.

Back in the day at Blueriver Sword Manor, they’d all come into conflict with Su Yi, and they’d all bullied him on numerous occasions.

Yet now, they saw the very person they’d once trampled again, but this time it was in a banquet on the ninth floor of the House of Prosperity. He’d gone out of his way to invite them specifically; anyone with half a brain would know that it wasn’t so they could enjoy a nice feast together!

“I’ve long since sensed that there was something strange about this invitation. It seems I was right!” Huo Long snorted coldly. “I just don’t get it. You’re a waste without a cultivation, and you’ve long since been booted from the sect. Why is it that you can sit here now?”

His words weren’t the least bit polite.

Zhou Huaiqiu frowned, and he coughed dryly. “You were all once sectmates. Mind your manners.”

Nan Ying smiled. “Everyone, you probably don’t know it yet, but Senior Apprentice Brother Su is no longer comparable to his past self.” She had already gotten her emotions under control. Her beautiful eyes darted around, and her words carried a hint of cheerful laughter.

“Oh? Might you explain?” asked the only other woman in the room, Liu Ying.

But Nan Ying instead glanced at Su Yi and said softly, “Senior Apprentice Brother Su, you don’t mind, do you?”

Su Yi was contentedly pouring himself a glass of wine. He said flatly, “If you have something to say, get it all out in the open now. After tonight, I’m afraid you won’t get such a perfect opportunity ever again.”

“Heh heh, well said! If I’d known you were the host of tonight’s banquet, I sure as hell wouldn’t have come,” laughed Huo Long.

The others felt much the same way. They thought Su Yi was here to rub his success in their faces; it was detestable!

Su Yi merely glanced at Huo Long, then looked away and poured yet another cup of wine.

“Everyone, Uncle Master Zhou was right earlier. We ought to mind our manners!” said Nan Ying in her clear voice. “About half a month ago, Senior Apprentice Brother Su took first place in the Dragon’s Gate Banquet, a contest between Guangling and Cloudfall Cities. In doing so, his name shook both sides of the Great Azure!”

Qian Yunjiu and the other six original invitees all looked stunned.

“You’re saying that waste recovered his cultivation?”

“How is that possible?”

Some of them found it hard to hide their inner shock. Every time they opened their mouths, they called Su Yi a waste. It was clear how they saw him in their hearts.

But in truth, if not for seeing him here today, they likely would have forgotten him before long.

A waste and a live-in son-in-law no longer even lived in the same world as them!

Yet now, Nan Ying was telling them he’d recovered? It was only natural they’d be flabbergasted!

“You’re saying Su Yi has already recovered his cultivation?” Qian Yunjiu looked astonished.

“He hasn’t just recovered; he’s a lot stronger than before, too.” Nan Ying’s eyes carried a thread of admiration and worship. “Senior Apprentice Brother Wen Jueyuan’s pretty tough, right? Well, Mo Tianling beat him in a single attack. But strong as he was, Mo Tianling wound up as Senior Apprentice Brother Su’s stepping stone in the end!”

“That….” Qian Yunjiu and the others’ expressions changed.

Wen Jueyuan was an elite within Blueriver Sword Manor’s inner sect, yet he’d lost to Mo Tianling.

And Mo Tianling lost to Su Yi!

Thinking of it that way, it was obvious to all of them how powerful Su Yi was now that he’d regained his cultivation!

“How is this possible?” Liu Ying couldn’t believe it. There was no way she could accept it.

The same went for the others.

Who would willingly admit someone they’d once disdained and trampled all over had now grown strong and risen to prominence?

“Why isn’t it possible? I saw it with myself. Don’t tell me my eyes were playing tricks on me?” Zhou Huaiqiu coldly berated Qian Yunjiu and company, “Is it that hard to admit that Su Yi has grown strong? Hurry up and toast him, enjoy your food and drink, then set aside past grudges. Let’s not bring them up any further.”

He’d long since sensed that something strange was going on here. When he saw how hostile and opposed Qian Yunjiu and company still were to Su Yi, he couldn’t help but panic.

Remember, Su Yi was sitting at the head of the table, and even Madam Cuiyun treated him as a top distinguished guest. He wasn’t at all comparable to his past self!

Su Yi glanced at Zhou Huaiqiu, but said nothing.

He naturally saw right through Zhou Huaiqiu’s concerns.

Alas, even though Zhou Huaiqiu was on the premises, there was nothing the elder could do to change what was going to happen tonight.

As he thought, Su Yi poured himself another cup of wine.

“Uncle Master Zhou, you want us to toast him?” Qian Yunjiu and company were instantly in uproar, and they could no longer remain seated. Their expressions were contorted with anger.

Zhou Huaiqiu’s heart sank.

Were these long-experienced experts, they likely would have picked up some clues about this banquet already.

Yet Qian Yunjiu and the others were all still young, and all of them came from privileged backgrounds. They’d been spoiled from a young age; there was no way they could just swallow their anger.

“Su Yi, this was your goal all along, wasn’t it?” Yang Qi shot indignantly to his feet. “You want to show off your prestige, then borrow the power of Uncle Master Zhou to force us to lower our hands. You sure let your imagination run wild!”

He’d always been a man of few words, but now, he could no longer take it.

“That’s right. So what if your cultivation has recovered? We haven’t sunk so low as to bend at the knee for you just because of some banquet!” Chu Lianheng, Zhang Fengtu and the others each expressed their pride and disdain in turn.

Su Yi still said nothing. He just went on pouring wine.

His calm, indifferent ease sent a chill through Zhou Huaiqiu’s heart, and his sense of foreboding intensified.

Bam!

Zhou Huaiqiu slammed his fist against the table and said sternly, “ You pack of buffoons! Don’t you know where this is? How dare you be so impudent here? Let me ask you all something: could the seniors of your clans organize a banquet here?”

His eyes flashed with cold light, startling Qian Yunjiu and company into silence.

When they asked themselves, they had to admit that although their backgrounds were extraordinary, it would still be rather difficult for their seniors to organize a banquet on the ninth floor of the House of Prosperity…

“Everyone, Uncle Master Zhou is saying that Senior Apprentice Brother Su’s ability to organize a banquet here is proof that his status is not what it used to be,” said Nan Ying. Her eyes were like limpid pools, and her voice was gentle. “If you keep treating him like you did in the past, I’m afraid you’ll invite disaster upon yourselves.”

Qian Yunjiu and the others looked uncertain, but they were obviously much clearer-headed than before.

“Junior Apprentice Sister Nan Ying, you keep speaking up on Junior Apprentice Brother Su’s behalf. Don’t tell it’s on account of lingering sentiments? Are you remembering your shared past?” Ni Hao made it sound like gentle ribbing, but in his heart, he was displeased.

From the moment they first entered the Mountain and River Palace, Nan Ying’s eyes had been glued to Su Yi, as if she were too preoccupied to think of anything else.

And every time she spoke, it was to talk up Su Yi’s accomplishments. Of course Ni Hao was jealous!

Nan Ying’s expression shifted, and she hurriedly explained, “Senior Apprentice Brother Ni, I’m just explaining the facts on Uncle Master Zhou’s behalf. I don’t want their relationships with Senior Apprentice Brother Su to get too tense. After all, it’d be bad if this led to any unpleasantness.”

“So what if it leads to unpleasantness?” Huo Long couldn’t help but say, “Who in Blueriver Sword Manor doesn’t know that we’re on poor terms with Su Yi? I admit that he’s risen to prominence. He’s even qualified to dine on the ninth floor of the House of Prosperity. But we nevertheless can’t possibly lower our heads and apologize to him of all people!”

Was my warning not clear enough? Zhou Huaiqiu frowned, only to watch as Qian Yunjiu, Liu Ying, Yang Qi and the others each voiced their agreement, each with an air of righteousness.

All the while, Su Yi said nothing. He poured another glass of wine.

There were now six cups of wine laid out in front of him.

From beginning to end, Huang Qianjun played the part of a silent bystander. However, when he glanced toward Qian Yunjiu and the others, his gaze was pitying.

He understood the spoiled young master type better than anyone. If you wanted to make them lower their heads, only one method was effective: a beating.

And if you really wanted to convince them of their loss, you had to beat up their elders, too.

Otherwise, they’d always be willing to gamble on their clans’ power. They’d think, “If I ask the family for help, they’ll win back my dignity for me!”

The more exceptional the young master’s status, the truer this was.

In other words, this was just the nature of the world. It was like this everywhere.

Alas, this time, they’d bumped into an exception, someone who didn’t play by the usual rules!

“A banquet like this is too disgusting to bear. Uncle Master Zhou, I’ll be on my way.” Qian Yunjiu rose. He couldn’t be bothered to spare Su Yi so much as another glance.

“That’s right. We’re leaving!” Huo Long and the others rose as well.

All of their expressions were rife with disdain.

But it was then that Su Yi poured the seventh glass of wine and said flatly, “Everyone, don’t be in such a rush. If we’re done talking, then I’ll personally send you on your way.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Qian Yunjiu whipped around. He seemed to find it rather funny. “Su Yi, don’t tell me you plan to keep us here?”

Huo Long and the others stopped too. All of them turned to glare coldly at Su Yi.

The atmosphere was instantly tense.

Zhou Huaiqiu’s expression shifted. “Su Yi, don’t do anything reckless. Give me face and let them leave.”

Su Yi rose, then said flatly, “Uncle Master Zhou, you know how they bullied me during my time in Blueriver Sword Manor, but vast as the sect was, not one member of its leadership stood up for me.

“Now that I want to resolve my grievances on my own, you’re trying to stop me? Don’t you think that’s rather inappropriate?”

Zhou Huaiqiu’s mind went blank, and his heart shook. As expected, this kid is using the banquet to get revenge!

“Senior Apprentice Brother Su, this is the House of Prosperity. You can’t act up here!” Nan Ying couldn’t help but say.

Qian Yunjiu, Huo Long and the others couldn’t help but laugh coldly too.

Things never ended well for those who caused trouble in the House of Prosperity!

Huo Long took it a step further. “Su Yi, you probably don’t know this, but just a few days ago, Nian Yunqiao and Yan Chengrong died precisely because they caused trouble here. The governor of Harmony Prefecture killed them both. When their families learned what had happened, they were so intimidated, they didn’t even dare fart in protest. Don’t tell me you plan to try something too?”

“Nian Yunqiao and Yan Chengrong are dead?” Nan Ying was stunned. To the best of her knowledge, those two were Su Yi’s enemies once too.

“That’s right. They died right here, in the Mountain and River Palace!” Huo Long’s voice was loud and clear.

Both Zhou Huaiqiu and Ni Hao were stunned.

“If you dare attack even now, I’ll acknowledge that you’re a real man!” He pointed at Su Yi, his gaze disdainful.

The implication was that if he didn’t attack, he was a woman.

Qian Yunjiu and the others couldn’t help but burst into mocking laughter.

Their tone was decidedly provocative. Seeing this, the muscles of Huang Qianjun’s face twitched. He almost couldn’t help but laugh.

They’re using the people Brother Su killed that day… as fodder to provoke him? They really think he won’t dare attack?

This is just… Wow!

When he saw that things had reached this point, Zhou Huaiqiu’s brow furrowed, and he sighed inwardly. He planned to intervene and make peace, when….

Clang!

A wave of sword hums reverberated throughout the Mountain and River Palace!