novelraw Chapter 929: The Real Meeting Begins
Chapter 929: The Real Meeting Begins
Han Yu frowned.
Mistress Love Wine giggled behind her sleeve while Lady Rot Rose simply sipped wine elegantly.
Daoist Blood Pool pointed toward Han Yu.
"The newer Legacy Disciples are expected to present gifts first. Especially when attending gatherings hosted by senior members."
Han Yu stared blankly.
"So I got scammed."
"That is an ugly way to phrase tradition," Lady Rot Rose replied smoothly.
Han Yu immediately understood now.
No wonder everyone had looked so expectant earlier.
These old monsters had basically sat there waiting for the newcomer to shower them with presents.
’A bunch of shameless parasites.’
Still, before Han Yu could complain further, Mistress Love Wine suddenly smiled brightly.
"I did prepare a gift for Ju Fan though."
Han Yu instantly became alert.
That smile was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Mistress Love Wine slowly rose from her seat before leaning toward him across the table.
Her eyes curved beautifully while her lips pouted slightly.
Han Yu immediately sensed disaster approaching.
"Love Wine..." he said cautiously.
She ignored him completely.
"Close your eyes," she whispered teasingly.
Han Yu absolutely did not trust those words.
Especially coming from her.
Unfortunately, before he could retreat, Mistress Love Wine suddenly leaned in closer with entirely obvious intentions.
Han Yu’s eyes widened.
She was actually trying to kiss him in front of everyone.
Instinctively, Han Yu reacted.
His finger flicked forward instantly.
Soul Stinging Needle.
A condensed spike of soul qi shot toward Mistress Love Wine directly.
Poke.
The attack landed.
Mistress Love Wine froze for half a second.
Han Yu felt hopeful immediately.
Then...
She burst into laughter.
"Oho?"
Han Yu’s expression stiffened.
The attack had barely done anything.
Mistress Love Wine touched the side of her cheek lightly.
"That tickled."
Han Yu suddenly remembered an extremely important fact.
She was a Dao Shell realm cultivator.
His soul techniques were terrifying against cultivators of similar level or weaker souls, but Mistress Love Wine’s cultivation surpassed his current Qi realm by far.
Instead of stopping her...
He had essentially poked her flirtatiously.
Which somehow made the situation even worse.
Mistress Love Wine leaned closer again with delighted eyes.
"If you wanted to touch me, all you had to do was ask."
Han Yu instantly regretted his entire existence.
Daoist Blood Pool almost fell out of his seat laughing while Daoist Snake Face looked thoroughly entertained.
Even Lady Rot Rose’s shoulders shook faintly with restrained amusement.
Han Yu immediately tried creating distance.
Unfortunately Mistress Love Wine moved faster.
The woman practically flowed around him like silk.
Han Yu genuinely began considering whether jumping into the lake outside would be a valid escape strategy.
Thankfully, before the situation could descend further into catastrophe, Lady Rot Rose finally intervened once more.
She lightly tapped her pipe against the table.
A wave of red smoke spread instantly across the pavilion, forcing everyone gently back into their seats.
"Enough," Lady Rot Rose said calmly.
Mistress Love Wine pouted again but obeyed.
Han Yu internally thanked every ancestor in existence for Lady Rot Rose’s continued intervention tonight.
Then...
The atmosphere changed.
It was subtle at first.
Yet everyone around the table gradually straightened slightly.
The earlier humor and teasing slowly faded.
Even Mistress Love Wine stopped smiling so casually.
Lady Rot Rose’s eyes swept across the pavilion calmly before she spoke a single word.
"Report."
The shift was immediate.
Han Yu noticed it instantly.
The casual gathering feeling disappeared entirely.
The people before him suddenly no longer resembled eccentric cultivators gossiping over wine.
They looked dangerous again.
Truly dangerous.
Han Yu silently observed everything while remaining composed.
Daoist Snake Face spoke first.
"My earlier mission was partially successful," he said calmly. "The detailed report has already been given to Lady Rot Rose."
Han Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Earlier mission?
Then suddenly realization struck him.
The frozen corpses.
The northeastern border region.
Daoist Snake Face must have been the one investigating it originally.
Han Yu had not expected that.
And that realization brought another thought with it.
Why exactly was a Legacy Disciple carrying out missions for Lady Rot Rose?
Legacy Disciples were prideful existences. Ordering one around was no simple matter even for another Legacy Disciple.
Which meant...
This group clearly operated on something deeper than mere friendship.
Han Yu remained silent while mentally filing that information away carefully.
Lady Rot Rose nodded calmly.
"We will discuss the remaining details later."
Daoist Snake Face inclined his head slightly before returning to silence.
Next Daoist Blood Pool spoke.
"The rebel uprising in Golden Eagle Province has been resolved."
Han Yu immediately paid attention.
Golden Eagle Province was an influential region connected to several clans and organizations supplying disciples to the sect. It was wealthy, resource rich, and politically important.
Lady Rot Rose asked calmly,
"Any possibility of future instability?"
Daoist Blood Pool grinned.
It was not a pleasant grin.
"Unless they reincarnate and return from the dead, no."
Han Yu’s expression remained calm externally.
Internally though...
His mind sharpened immediately.
So that was the truth.
The so called rebellion had clearly been annihilated completely.
Han Yu had heard absolutely nothing about such an event within the sect.
Which meant it had either been concealed... Or handled before information spread.
And considering Daoist Blood Pool’s personality... Han Yu doubted the suppression had been gentle.
Lady Rot Rose nodded approvingly.
"Efficient as always."
Daoist Blood Pool snorted proudly before drinking more wine.
Han Yu was beginning to understand the nature of this gathering now.
This was not merely social interaction.
This was coordination.
Political coordination.
Dangerous coordination.
Then Mistress Love Wine spoke next while lazily twirling a wine cup between her fingers.
"The next batch of subjects has already been enthralled."
Han Yu’s brows furrowed slightly.
Subjects?
Lady Rot Rose nodded with visible satisfaction.
"As competent as ever."
Mistress Love Wine smiled beautifully.
"Several noble families practically offered them willingly."
Han Yu did not know exactly what they meant.
Yet hearing the word enthralled spoken so casually made him uncomfortable internally.
Especially considering Mistress Love Wine’s cultivation methods.
Han Yu strongly suspected those "subjects" were likely powerful or influential individuals now dancing unknowingly in the palm of her hand.