Chapter 568: Chapter 151: Settling Previous Grudges Over a Cup of Wine_2
Ning Zhuo proposed, with a bitter smile on his face.
He was dressed in white, and although he was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, he had the poise of someone from a great clan, handling himself with ease even when conversing with Golden Core or Nascent Soul Level Cultivators.
He was sufficiently confident to issue an invitation to a banquet.
How should one put it?
One could only say he was the epitome of the Righteous Path through and through!
Ma Liangcai shook his head: “No need!”
He rejected the offer immediately.
He was on a mission ordered by the Monarch, yet he had not accomplished it well. In such a situation, if he agreed to stay for Ning Zhuo’s banquet, what message would that send?
It would practically be telling the Monarch that Ma Liangcai had not devoted himself to his duty, and might even have accepted Ning Zhuo’s bribe.
For Ma Liangcai, the correct course of action was to return to the Royal Capital immediately, see the Monarch, and ask for punishment in person!
For a famed General like him, failing once or twice was not a big deal, but it would be terrible if he ruined his reputation in the Monarch’s heart.
The emissaries from the Royal Capital, for that reason, also declined Ning Zhuo’s invitation.
However, Shuangjing and Sun Gan agreed.
These two had previously clashed with the Red Flower Camp over control of the Upper General Mansion. Seeing Ning Zhuo take the initiative and give them an out, they were happy to take the chance to mend relations with the Red Flower Camp through Ning Zhuo.
This is how the Righteous Path was.
One moment there could be strife, and the next, reconciliation.
Oftentimes, interests were the basis of everyone’s stances.
Why, given the imminent battle, all these military forces needed to support each other to gain more victories.
Since Shuangjing and Sun Gan agreed, Liu Er, Zhang Hei, and Guan Hong naturally saw no reason to refuse. Mu Lan felt some aversion, but also recognized the wisdom in Ning Zhuo’s actions and thus joined them.
Ning Zhuo was not stingy, and immediately chose the most luxurious tavern in Canglin Immortal City, booking a very high-standard banquet.
This banquet alone cost him over ten thousand Mid Grade Spirit Stones!
One should know, the monthly income of a Golden Core Cultivator was only between three thousand to eight thousand Mid Grade Spirit Stones. Those with lower incomes earned profits of about thirty or forty thousand a year.
Ning Zhuo spending over ten thousand Mid Grade Spirit Stones on a single meal certainly shook the others.
Mu Lan had a complex expression, with lots to say, but she swallowed it all down.
With that money, it would have been better to pay the military salaries for the Red Flower Camp!
“As expected of a scion of a noble family,” remarked Shuangjing. He used to be as lavish, but now could not afford to be, as the White Jade Camp had suffered heavy losses in an ambush.
Ning Zhuo laughed out loud: “This time my family has granted me more authority, allowing me to use more assets.”
“And taking revenge on the Six Cave Sect is my main purpose.”
“In the upcoming battle, I hope to cooperate with all the seniors here to break through the Thousand Peak Forest.”
Sun Gan nodded with satisfaction at Ning Zhuo’s understanding and immediately followed up, expressing his stance: “Indeed, Thousand Peak Forest is our common goal, and the source of our military exploits!”
Ning Zhuo slammed the table, stood up, lifted his wine cup, and spontaneously composed a poem.
“A golden cup of fine wine invites the heroes, past grudges and old resentments can thus fade.”
“United by a common enemy, we march through a thousand peaks, to earn our glory in the blood-soaked fields.”
“Gentlemen, why not drink up this cup!”
After speaking, Ning Zhuo tilted his head back and drained the beautiful wine in his cup.
The crowd exchanged quick glances and raised their cups in response, emptying them in one go!
The atmosphere opened up from there, and under Ning Zhuo’s lead, gradually grew more spirited.
Ning Zhuo sat at the head of the table, with Mu Lan by his side.
At the banquet, Mu Lan couldn’t help but frequently look at Ning Zhuo, who spoke eloquently.
Despite being compelled by the circumstances to recognize this “little husband,” at that moment, Mu Lan saw a glimpse of his father in Ning Zhuo.
Sometimes, a banquet table is also a kind of battlefield.
The role Ning Zhuo played at this moment was one that Mu Lan couldn’t. By easing relations with Shuangjing, Sun Gan, and the others, he was also representing a thawing of hostilities between the Red Flower Camp, White Jade Camp, and Golden Halberd Army. Mu Lan knew this was a wise move and was pleased to see it happen.
Liu Er felt quite uncomfortable inside!
The fine wine had turned into a bitter drink; the more spirited Ning Zhuo was, the more resentment grew inside him.
Liu Er struggled to keep himself in check, reminding himself that Ning Zhuo was not his enemy but one of his own! He should be more magnanimous.
Seeing Mu Lan’s gaze towards Ning Zhuo, a sharp pang hit him hard.
He started to feel irritated again!
He had no choice but to shift his gaze to his second and third brothers and noticed that Guan Hong and Zhang Hei had complex expressions and were quite constrained.
Liu Er felt a slight shock in his heart and immediately realized that something was wrong.
“Things have already been done, and it’s too late to turn back. We can’t let the second brother, third brother, and the military adviser become disheartened and disloyal.”
“The military adviser is the purse of our Three Generals Camp. If there’s internal strife, the combat power of the Three Generals Camp will also be greatly weakened!”
This was not what Liu Er wanted to see.
Liu Er then covertly transmitted his divine sense to reassure Guan Hong and Zhang Hei, explaining that his pursuit of Mu Lan and the so-called love at first sight were just excuses. His real intention was to seek alliance and transcend his mixed-blood status to utilize the support of the Upper General Mansion to become a high-level figure and acquire connections at court.
“Now, with the military adviser chosen as husband, it’s also a victory for our Three Generals Camp!”
“In terms of the outcome, we’ve triumphed over Shuangjing, Sun Gan, and even Ma Liangcai, achieving a great victory!”
With Liu Er’s words of encouragement, Zhang Hei’s tensed face came alive. Guan Hong’s movements became less stiff, and he slowly extended his hand to stroke his beard.
The waiter presented the last main course.
When the platter was lifted, there was a blazing flame.
As the fierce flame burned, a rich fragrance spread rapidly, soon filling the entire room.
Remarkably, the chicken meat remained intact despite being enveloped in flames.
When the flames extinguished, everyone clearly saw that it was not chicken, but bird meat.
Shuangjing’s expression was complex as he praised, “This is a dish made primarily of Fire Feather Perch Bird named ‘Flame Aroma’!”
“It uses dry chili, star anise, cinnamon, herbs, honey, orange peel, purple cabbage, pepper powder, sea salt, and other condiments, seasoned with soy sauce, minced garlic, honey, and juice squeezed from oranges.”
“A spell is used to summon a spirit flame to burn, ensuring that the seasoning and condiments completely permeate the bird meat, unifying into one.”
“The meat of the Fire Feather Bird, originally tough and flavorless, undergoes a drastic transformation through this cooking process, resulting in a delicacy one will never forget!”
Everyone tasted the dish in turn, all nothing but compliments.
The rich layers of spicy, fragrant, sweet, and numbing flavors delivered a powerful impact on the palate.
This was the weaving of fire and aroma!
The bird meat became tender and smooth under the coating of honey, while the roast and the fiery sauce complemented each other, conveying to the diners a sense of transformation from the ordinary to the extraordinary.
For Liu Er and Guan Hong, who tasted such luxurious fare for the first time, complex emotions surged from within as they savored it.
Shuangjing, consuming the bird meat and gazing toward Ning Zhuo, expressed his complex emotions with a low chant:
“The feathers red as flames illuminate the rosy light,”
“The aroma penetrates bones and intoxicates one’s gut.”
“When shall the common bird ascend the branch and transform,”
“Soaring into the clouds, unfurling its nine chapters.”
This poem was about the delicacy, Ning Zhuo, and even about himself.
After reciting the lines, this noble’s son drained the wine in his cup and stood up with diminishing interest.
“I am drunk.”
“Gentlemen, until next time.”
He turned and left, stepping across the windowsill and onto a patch of light cloud, his sleeves billowing as he disappeared into the solitude of the night sky.
Shuangjing’s poem rendered the banquet’s atmosphere a void.
Guests got up one by one, taking their leave.
Ning Zhuo also wished to depart with Liu, Guan, and Zhang, but was caught by Mu Lan.
“Young Master Ning Zhuo… It’s getting late; why not return to the Red Flower Camp with me?”
“I shall teach you the ‘Xuanjin Armor Breaking Technique.'”
Liu Er, just about to descend the stairs, hesitated upon hearing this.
Guan Hong and Zhang Hei both paused and turned to look at Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo bowed to Mu Lan: “General Mu Lan, I have no interest in the ‘Xuanjin Armor Breaking Technique.’ Becoming your husband was just a mistake, compelled by circumstance.”
“I am the military adviser of the Three Generals Camp!”
“The night grows deep, General, you’d best rest early and tend to your injuries. Take my leave.”
Having said that, the white-clothed young military adviser did not look back, meeting and merging with the joyful and admiring gazes of the Three Generals.