Seeing this, Gui Heshu burst into laughter, "Great, just for that statement, I’ll down a big one."
"It’s getting late today, why don’t we have a hearty drink and set off on our return journey tomorrow?" Gui Heshu suggested.
Qin Jianji pondered for a moment, then nodded, "Alright."
Gui Heshu was always generous.
Moreover, this was his son’s first entry into the sect, so naturally, he valued it even more.
Soon, everyone arrived at the most upscale restaurant in Jade Dragon City.
Unexpectedly, when they got there, there was no space available.
Due to the mountain opening ceremony, Jade Dragon City was packed, making all the restaurants and inns extremely busy.
Sometimes, even if you have money, you can’t find a place.
For instance, now, Gui Heshu frowned deeply, while the restaurant shopkeeper kept apologizing profusely.
"Is there really no space at all?" Gui Heshu asked, somewhat unwillingly.
"Sir, would we really turn away business if we could help it? Unfortunately, all the rooms are booked, and there’s nothing I can do," the shopkeeper said.
Gui Heshu sighed upon hearing this, "Alright."
Then he turned to Qin Jianji and Zhao Ya and the others, full of apology.
"I’m really sorry, I didn’t expect it to be so busy here, and there’s no space at all."
"It doesn’t matter, we’ll just go somewhere else." Qin Jianji wasn’t bothered by this.
For him, it didn’t matter where they ate.
But just as they were about to leave, another group arrived outside.
Upon seeing this group, the shopkeeper hurriedly ran up to them with a wide smile.
"Sirs, you’re here, the rooms are already prepared, please go right up."
"Hm!"
The leader snorted through his nose, ignoring the shopkeeper and turning to a woman behind him.
"Junior Sister Nangong, the food here is quite good. I’ve been here a couple of times with my master, and it’s rather tasty."
The woman following behind, around eighteen or nineteen, was strikingly beautiful.
Upon hearing the man’s words, she smiled slightly, "Thank you, Senior Brother Cao, for going to the trouble today."
Seeing her smile, Senior Brother Cao was dazzled, thinking to himself, "What an extraordinary beauty she is."
This trip to the mountain opening ceremony, with his master accepting such a junior sister, was absolutely worth it.
With these thoughts, they walked into the restaurant lobby.
Gui Xuanqing, about to leave, had not noticed at first, but when he glanced up at the woman, he stared in surprise and then exclaimed, "Yanran?"
Upon hearing the name, the woman also turned to look at him, equally stunned.
"Xuanqing? Mr. Gui? What are you doing here?"
Gui Xuanqing replied, "I came with my father to attend the mountain opening ceremony, Yanran, and you...?"
Gui Xuanqing hesitated slightly.
This woman was his childhood friend, named Nangong Yanran.
The Nangong family and Gui family had been close for generations, often visiting each other since they lived nearby.
As kids, Gui Xuanqing often played with Nangong Yanran, and even as they grew up, they remained very close.
So much so that their parents joked about them marrying each other someday.
Gui Xuanqing took this to heart.
Having grown up together, he thought of it as a childhood sweetheart relationship.
Plus, since Nangong Yanran never objected to adults’ teasing remarks, he assumed they would end up together.
If it weren’t for his father’s advice to focus on Martial Dao, Gui Xuanqing would have proposed a long time ago.
This time, after joining the sect at the mountain opening ceremony, he had planned to visit home and personally tell Nangong Yanran the news.
But unexpectedly, they met here.
"Oh, I also came to attend the mountain opening ceremony. Let me introduce, this is a True Disciple of Wanghai Tower, Pei Quan’an, my Senior Brother," Nangong Yanran introduced naturally.
"Senior Brother?" Gui Xuanqing was somewhat astonished.
"Yes, I’ve now joined the Wanghai Tower, and I’m now a disciple there," Nangong Yanran smiled.
Gui Xuanqing was bewildered.
He never expected this situation.
How was it that his childhood sweetheart had suddenly joined another sect?
Gui Heshu witnessed everything and sighed inwardly.
His son was good in many ways, but sometimes too simple-minded.
Did he really think the reason for not arranging his marriage was solely to focus on Martial Dao?
In fact, Gui Heshu had long observed that this daughter of a close family friend was not as simple as she seemed.
But he kept these thoughts to himself, instead smiling at Nangong Yanran.
"I see, then congratulations to you, Yanran."
"Thank you, Uncle Gui. Xuanqing, have you joined a sect at this mountain opening ceremony?" Nangong Yanran asked charmingly.
"Of course I have."
"Oh? Which sect have you joined?" Nangong Yanran asked.
"Azure Dragon Temple!" Gui Heshu smiled.
"Oh, Azure Dragon Temple!" Nangong Yanran’s expression suddenly turned peculiar, her tone elongated, sounding quite harsh.
Meanwhile, upon hearing Azure Dragon Temple mentioned, Pei Quan’an, who had been silent, suddenly raised his gaze and scanned Qin Jianji and Zhao Ya with disdain in his eyes.
Though subtle, everyone present noticed this expression, as they were no ordinary people.
Without a word, Tian Yixin, Qin Jianji’s disciple, was already looking furious and couldn’t help but speak up: "Why are you snorting?"
"Ridiculous, I’m not even allowed to snort? Your Azure Dragon Temple’s control is quite far-reaching," Pei Quan’an sneered.
"Is everyone from Wanghai Tower so domineering?" Tian Yixin retorted.
Pei Quan’an glanced at Tian Yixin, chuckled, and said, "You’re absolutely right, people from Wanghai Tower are just that domineering, so what?"
"You...!" Tian Yixin was furious.
At this moment, Qin Jianji calmly said, "Yixin, stand down."
Helplessly, Tian Yixin glared at Pei Quan’an and slowly stepped back.
Qin Jianji looked coldly at Pei Quan’an across from him.
"What’s your master’s name?"
"Why do you ask? Want to leverage seniority against me?"
Apparently eager to impress his new junior sister, Pei Quan’an spoke arrogantly.
Even with Qin Jianji’s good temperament, a trace of anger appeared.
Azure Dragon Temple had indeed waned, but it couldn’t be casually bullied by a younger generation.
Yet, he couldn’t personally reprimand Pei Quan’an, as that would be too degrading and risk accusations of bullying.
But if he didn’t make a stand, it would be a major blow to Azure Dragon Temple’s already precarious reputation.
While contemplating this dilemma, a soft laugh came from behind.
"Junior Brother Xuanqing, I remember you mentioning a good friend, is it this young lady?" Zhao Ya stepped forward and asked.
Saddened, Gui Xuanqing was taken aback and looked at Zhao Ya.
He and Zhao Ya had just met today, having spoken barely three times, never mentioning Nangong Yanran, leaving him bewildered upon hearing this.
However, he quickly caught on, not knowing Zhao Ya’s intentions, but still nodded.
"Yes!"
Hearing this, Zhao Ya smiled at Nangong Yanran, "Pleasure to meet you. I’m Xuanqing’s senior brother. He’s spoken of you, though meeting you isn’t quite like the reputation, alas..."
With that, Zhao Ya shook his head as if in lament.
Upon hearing this, Nangong Yanran’s expression cooled as she detected clear mockery.
However, before she could react, Zhao Ya turned to Pei Quan’an.
"You say everyone from Wanghai Tower speaks so domineeringly, but have you heard this saying?"
"What saying?" Pei Quan’an asked, frowning impatiently.
As soon as the words fell, a figure suddenly rushed up to him, and within a blink, delivered a powerful punch.
Taken off guard, Pei Quan’an was sent flying, smashing through a window and half a wall, expelled from the restaurant.
This strike was like a thunderclap, shaking the entire place.
Zhao Ya stood firm, retracted his fist calmly, and said, "The saying is, people from Azure Dragon Temple never prattle when faced with matters, they just punch."