Ning Zhuo heard that it was Ning Xiaohui's voice, so he left the dining table and came into the courtyard, where he saw his former classmate.
Ning Xiaohui and Ning Zhuo were students of the same cohort at the school.
In the school, Ning Zhuo's performance was above average but unremarkable. In contrast, Ning Xiaohui, as a main branch member with the Talent Ice Fat Jade Hand, always held the top position and was a star among students.
At this moment, Ning Xiaohui's face was indifferent, her gaze frosty, as she swept her eyes over Ning Zhuo.
She was slightly surprised: Who would have thought that this inconspicuous classmate actually didn't look bad.
She looked him up and down.
"I really couldn't tell, you are the creator of the Explosive Flame Monkey."
Ning Zhuo let out an "ah" and replied somewhat embarrassedly: "This... I feel it was a coincidence. If I were to create another mechanical work, I fear I couldn't. I have no confidence at all."
"Yes." Ning Xiaohui had read all the information about Ning Zhuo, including the numerous manuscripts and drawings discovered and replicated by the Ning Family investigation team in the underground workshop.
From this, Ning Xiaohui saw that the entire development process of the Explosive Flame Monkey by Ning Zhuo took at least five or six years from inception.
This discovery greatly lowered her evaluation of Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo walked up to Ning Xiaohui: "May I ask why you called me out?"
Ning Xiaohui frowned slightly, feeling that Ning Zhuo was too close, and took a small step back, questioning: "You actually presented the Explosive Flame Monkey to an outsider, why didn't you report it to the family first?"
Ning Zhuo sighed, spreading his hands, looking frustrated and innocent: "I also wanted to tell the family. But at the time, my Explosive Flame Monkey still had flaws and needed to be completed, it wasn't intact at all!"
"I couldn't present it."
"At that time, I consulted Chen Cha to solve the design issues of the monkey. But unexpectedly, it was exposed and caught the attention of some big shot."
"What could I do?"
"Fortunately, they gave me money."
"Hmph, you're talking about Master Fei Si, right?" Ning Xiaohui deliberately revealed the name.
Ning Zhuo instantly showed a look of shock.
Seeing that she achieved her purpose, Ning Xiaohui smirked coldly: "Ning Zhuo, you are so focused on money, you are short-sighted."
"Do you not know that fame and fortune come together, with fame in front and fortune behind? With fame comes fortune."
"Fame is much more important than fortune!"
"Creating the Explosive Flame Monkey is such a great honor! Now it has been taken away. This loss cannot be compensated by some money?"
"Is that so?" Ning Zhuo scratched his head, showing an innocent and naive expression.
Ning Xiaohui saw his foolish look and instantly felt a surge of disgust, losing the desire to continue the conversation.
Little did she know, Ning Zhuo saw through her disdain and arrogance, effortlessly manipulating her.
Ning Xiaohui turned to leave: "I came to tell you that there is a small banquet tonight, I will take you there."
"Make sure you clean yourself up and don't bring disgrace to our family."
Ning Zhuo was puzzled: "May I ask what kind of banquet it is? Who will be there?"
Ning Xiaohui kept walking, not turning back: "It's the people from the three-family united team, Zheng Jian, Zhou Zeshen, and Zhou Zhu."
"A dragon does not mingle with snakes. Just follow me and talk less."
"Oh, okay," Ning Zhuo replied hastily, "Oh no, I have to ask the Young Clan Leader for permission first."
"Suit yourself," Ning Xiaohui walked out of the back courtyard, her figure disappearing beyond the door.
Ning Zhuo's eyes turned deep.
He asked the Young Clan Leader for instructions deliberately, knowing well that since Ning Xiaohui could come all the way to the back courtyard, she must have gotten Ning Xiaoren's approval.
"Ning Xiaohui belongs to the main branch, while I'm just from a side branch."
"My cultivation and skills in mechanical techniques already pose a certain threat to Ning Xiaohui."
If it had been before, Ning Zhuo would have already been warned and suppressed.
But now, with the three families united in a relatively fair competition, and the Ning Family at a disadvantage, Ning Zhuo's personal contribution was needed to support Ning Xiaohui.
Thus, he received special treatment.
"But Ning Xiaohui is not a tolerant person. If I continue to stand out and show my talents in the future, she will become an obstacle."
"Only by removing this obstacle can I continue to move forward."
Ning Zhuo calculated three steps ahead for every step he took.
As the saying goes, "a man without foresight has immediate worries," he had already started thinking about how to remove Ning Xiaohui as an obstacle.
After pondering for a while, he shook his head slightly, smiling bitterly.
He couldn't come up with a good solution.
Ning Zhuo first reported to the Young Clan Leader Ning Xiaoren, informing him about the banquet tonight.
Ning Xiaoren saw Ning Zhuo's behavior and sensed his inherent obedience, feeling quite pleased, and immediately expressed his approval, saying that Ning Zhuo's clothes were not suitable for the banquet and ordered someone to measure him for new clothing.
With the Young Clan Leader holding a position of high power and surrounded by numerous servants, the efficiency in crafting ordinary attire in the cultivation world was remarkably high.
By evening, the garments were ready.
Not just one set, but three sets.
Ning Xiaoren did not miss this opportunity to show goodwill.
He was present throughout the fitting, constantly praising.
In the end, his eyes turned red with tears, and he choked up a bit: "If only Brother Ning Zhong were still alive, he would be so pleased to see his nephew growing up to be such a fine young man."
Ning Zhuo quickly inquired about his father's situation.
Ning Xiaoren, not knowing, coughed and evaded, saying it was getting late and that they could catch up later.
In his mind, though, he planned to investigate all the information on Ning Zhong to fabricate a story of deep affection between the previous generation.
"Oh, right." Ning Xiaoren took out a money pouch and handed it to Ning Zhuo.
"I know you have a large sum, but take this pocket money from your Uncle Ning as a token of my regard."
Ning Xiaoren passed the pouch slowly.
Ning Zhuo's eyes lit up, and he quickly extended his hands to take it.
The swift action left Ning Xiaoren momentarily stunned.
"Thank you, Uncle Ning!" Ning Zhuo's thanks were more straightforward than usual.
Next, he added: "Uncle Ning, where do I have a large sum!"
"I never think I have much money. In fact, it's really not a lot at all."
"Besides, who ever thinks money is too much?"
"Thank you, Uncle Ning."
Ning Zhuo thanked him again.
Ning Xiaoren couldn't help but cough a little: "Alright, alright, I'm glad you accepted it."
Watching Ning Zhuo check the pouch, his feelings were mixed.
On one hand, Ning Zhuo's attitude toward money perfectly echoed Ning Xiaoren's own sentiments.
This is a kindred spirit!
But such a kindred spirit... well, he could do without.
Especially because Ning Zhuo was taking Ning Xiaoren's money.
On the other hand, it made perfect sense!
Ning Xiaoren thought of all the information he had seen.
Ning Zhuo had been treated harshly, almost penniless, while his cousin Ning Ji lived in luxury, with ample food, clothing, and pocket money.
Ning Zhuo had struggled financially and often worked odd jobs even after joining the school.
Growing up like this, Ning Zhuo would naturally have a strong desire for money.
So, it was no surprise that Ning Zhuo agreed to let Chen Cha take credit for creating the Explosive Flame Monkey while he enjoyed a large profit.
Leaving Ning Zhuo, Ning Xiaoren felt satisfied.
He realized that Ning Zhuo was not hard to win over!
Winning someone over was actually simple—cater to their preferences!
"Ning Zhuo's first preference is mechanical techniques. His second is money."
"Yes, let's win him over with mechanical technique texts."
Because after all, Ning Xiaoren himself greatly coveted money.
As night fell.
The carriage stopped, and Ning Zhuo was the first to leap down.
Afterwards, Ning Xiaohui gracefully stepped down, using a servant's back as a step.
"Ning Zhuo, your status is different now. Every action matters." Ning Xiaohui frowned, "Jumping down casually is too flippant, not something a member of our prestigious family should do."
"Oh, okay," Ning Zhuo hurriedly acknowledged.
Along the way, he looked around, as if it was his first time there. Everything seemed new to him.
Ning Xiaohui's frown deepened: "Stay close to me."
Ning Zhuo quickly followed.
Ning Xiaohui added: "Not so close, keep some distance."
Ning Zhuo: "Oh, okay."
"Welcome, welcome, both of you." Zheng Jian personally stood at the private room's door to welcome them.
He was the host of this small banquet.
Ning Xiaohui and Ning Zhuo entered the room and found Zhou Zeshen and Zhou Zhu already there.
Meeting together, everyone wore smiles.
Just this experience was novelty enough for Ning Zhuo. He had never seen these geniuses smiling and engaging in friendly conversation.
The dishes at the banquet, naturally, were exquisite.
Ning Zhuo's eyes sparkled, fixated on the table, and he took the most bites.
Zheng Jian and the others kept a close eye on Ning Zhuo.
They were quite familiar with Ning Xiaohui but knew very little about the suddenly appearing Ning Zhuo.
Despite their families' thorough investigations, equaling the Ning Family's intelligence.
Often, though, real-time observation and probing were necessary.
Seeing Ning Zhuo's attempts to suppress himself, to act indifferent, yet unable to resist eating and drinking, everyone gradually formed an impression.
Combining this with the intelligence, they quickly sketched out his profile in their minds—a family bottom-tier cultivator with displayed talents, a former marginal figure, lucky enough to enter the higher circle, but still out of place, every small glance betraying his humble past.
While eating and drinking, Zheng Jian and others naturally brought up the Magma Fairy Palace.
Zheng Jian first raised a toast to Ning Xiaohui: "We must thank the Ning Family for providing us with the talismans to protect us from having our souls extracted arbitrarily by the Immortal Palace."
"Since our three families are united and everyone here has reached the peak of Qi Refinement, we can now enter the palace together without reservation."
"I believe that by joining forces, we will surely overcome any obstacles before us."
Ning Zhuo perked up his ears, listening intently. He then exclaimed, his tone vibrant and face alight: "Absolutely, by joining forces, we will overcome every hurdle and advance triumphantly!"
Zheng Jian: ...
Zhou Zhu: ...
For a moment, the banquet fell into an unusual silence.