Ma Wu hurriedly ushered He Yuxiu to the VIP seating area, "Aunt Xiu, you’re making me blush. I’m so happy you could come today, I’m over the moon!"
The guests took their seats and the ceremony began.
Qiu Zhiheng glanced toward a corner of the dance floor and raised his wine glass.
Li Banfeng likewise raised his glass, and the two men downed their drinks in one go.
The flashbulbs of the photographers never ceased, and neither did Ma Wu’s toasting.
All eyes were focused on the Lu Family.
It was about prestige as well as deterrence; not until today had Li Banfeng truly felt the mettle of the Lu Family in Puluo State.
The Singing Empress Jiang Mengting and Xu Qiulan took turns performing, bringing the ceremony to a climax.
Li Banfeng quietly approached Yang Yanzheng and whispered, "Old Senior Yang, could I trouble you to come to a private booth?"
Yang Yanzheng saw it was Li Qi and asked no further, following him to the private booth.
A beautiful song played in the booth. The sound was crystal clear, devoid of any noise, as if a singer was performing live.
The two chatted idly for a while, had a couple of drinks, and Li Banfeng broached the main topic: "I have asked you here because I need to consult you on something."
"Brother, there’s no need for formalities, just speak your mind."
"You and I are from the same Taoist Sect, both Traveling Cultivators. I want to ask about some Techniques."
Yang Yanzheng, knowing Li Banfeng was a Traveling Cultivator, asked with interest, "Brother Li Seven, have you advanced to the Second Layer?"
"I am versed in the Second Layer Technique."
Yang Yanzheng was taken aback, "Then what you want to inquire about is the Third Layer Technique?"
Li Banfeng was silent for a moment before responding, "I am also aware of the Third Layer Technique."
Yang Yanzheng scrutinized Li Banfeng carefully; the oversized top hat obscured his face, and there was a big beard on his cheeks.
To be honest, he couldn’t tell Li Banfeng’s age, but he remembered that this man apparently didn’t have the Fourth Layer Cultivation.
Li Banfeng said with a smile, "Senior Yang, you have misunderstood. My cultivation level has recently reached the Second Layer. I just want to learn more about Techniques to prepare for my future cultivation."
That was the truth; Li Banfeng indeed had just reached the Second Layer recently.
Yang Yanzheng shook his head and chuckled, "You’re preparing a bit too early, aren’t you? Just reaching the Second Layer and you’re asking about the Fourth Layer Techniques?"
"It’s never a bad thing to learn more."
Yang Yanzheng shook his head, "It’s against the rules."
Li Banfeng held up his wine glass, "I am sincerely seeking your guidance."
Yang Yanzheng hesitated.
Although Li Qi was close to Ma Wu, he seldom initiated conversation with others and always carried a certain indescribable aloofness about him.
It was really quite exceptional for him to take the initiative today. Yet, it was against the traditions of Cultivators to casually divulge Techniques to others.
After agonizing for quite a while, Yang Yanzheng’s head ached intensely from the dilemma.
"Brother Li Seven, the Fourth Layer Technique of our Taoist Sect is called ’Unimpeded.’ To put it simply, you can think of it as Wall-Penetrating Sorcery."
While speaking, Yang Yanzheng demonstrated it. He stood by the wall to the left of the door, pushed off with his left foot using a Short Step Technique, and in a flash, he disappeared from sight.
A scream came from the next room, not from a woman but from a young man.
Following the scream, He Yuxiu’s voice berated, "Old Yang, what are you sneaking around for?"
BANG!
He Yuxiu kicked Yang Yanzheng back out.
Yang Yanzheng dusted himself off and returned to Li Banfeng’s private room, speaking calmly, "Brother Li Qi, this Technique must be used with caution. Before going through a wall, it’s best to first understand the situation on the other side."
Li Banfeng asked, "Can the Fourth Layer Technique only be used to penetrate walls?"
"Not at all. I’ve heard a senior say that if your cultivation level reaches a certain degree, you can even pass through mountains. However, at the Fourth Layer cultivation, you can only get through barriers up to three feet thick. Once the Technique is deployed, there’s no turning back. If the barrier is more than three feet thick, you could get trapped inside, unable to come out. That’s the most dangerous aspect of the Technique. You must not act rashly before making a move."
"I noticed that before you performed the Technique, you first used the Short Step."
Yang Yanzheng nodded, "To use Unimpeded, you need to first use the Traceless Short Step. That’s the rule of the Technique. After executing the Short Step, you must immediately achieve a state where your eyes see nothing and your heart holds no obstructions. You must also concentrate your mind on moving freely. Only then can you successfully perform the Technique. Even the slightest hesitation will result in failure. Let me demonstrate it again for you."
This time, Yang Yanzheng switched to the wall on the right of the door and passed through.
Again, there was an exclamation of surprise, still in the voice of a young man.
"Old Yang, what are you doing here again?"
BANG!
Yang Yanzheng was kicked out by He Yuxiu once more.
After returning to the private room, Yang Yanzheng sat in silence for a long time, unable to comprehend the reason behind it all.
The wall on the left connected to He Yuxiu’s private room, where He Yuxiu was busy with a young man.
The wall on the right also connected to He Yuxiu’s private room, and He Yuxiu was still in there, busy.
While he was puzzled, Yang Yanzheng realized Li Banfeng was gone.
Someone pushed open the door to the private room. Yang Yanzheng looked up and saw He Yuxiu again.
With a seductive look in her eyes, He Yuxiu said to Yang Yanzheng, "Old Yang, you just popped over for another look. Are you craving it?"
"No, no, how dare I..."
"If you’re craving, just say it. I’ll indulge you." He Yuxiu sat down beside Yang Yanzheng.
"Miss, I, I’m not worthy of you."
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t tempted. Yang Yanzheng had admired He Yuxiu for a long time, from his youth until now.
"What’s this talk of being worthy or not?" He Yuxiu touched Yang Yanzheng’s cheek. "We’re both not young anymore, aren’t you afraid you’ll miss this chance in your life?"
"I..." Yang Yanzheng looked up at He Yuxiu. No matter her age, she was still incredibly beautiful in his eyes.
The singing in the private room became even more enchanting, and Yang Yanzheng’s blood pressure kept rising.
What he didn’t notice, however, was that there was no record on the phonograph.
The real singer was the Month Plate hidden behind the curtain.
...
After a trembling moment, Yang Yanzheng woke up.
Li Banfeng said from the side, "Senior Yang, how did you fall asleep?"
Yang Yanzheng looked around and didn’t see He Yuxiu.
"Perhaps I’ve been a bit tired lately." Yang Yanzheng wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling an indescribable sense of regret.
Li Banfeng said, "I invited you here to seek your advice. We belong to the same Taoist Sect and I wanted to ask you about a Technique."
Yang Yanzheng laughed, "Brother Li Seven, you’ve reached the Second Layer?"
"I’ve just reached the Second Layer, and I don’t yet know what our Taoist Sect’s Second Layer Technique is."
"Our Taoist Sect’s Second Layer Technique is called Traceless Short Step..."
...
In the Ma Family Mansion, Ma Chunting was grinding his teeth with rage.
He had received news that the major families of Greenwater City had all gone to the Xiaoyao Lodge for a banquet.
"Ungrateful child, animal, even if you beg me, don’t ever think about stepping into this house again!" Ma Chunting slammed down his teacup and slapped Ma Junjiang across the face before going back to lie down in his bedroom.
PS: That slap Ma Junjiang received...