Chapter 10: Gathering of Talents

The sun rose in the east, and the morning breeze heralded the dawn.

At the Mu Family estate in Shunan City, the gates of the administrative courtyard had already been opened early, ready to welcome every arriving guest. In the courtyard, measuring over thirty meters in both length and width, dozens of large round tables had been arranged in neat rows. Each table was laden with an array of pastries and fruits, as well as the indispensable wine and spirits. At every table sat a core member of the Mu Family to attend to the guests.

At the entrance, several young men and women stood in two orderly lines on either side of the main gate, their faces beaming with smiles, forming a beautiful and vibrant scene.

Mu Tianhen, along with several elders, stood on a specially cleared patch of ground within the courtyard, ready to guide guests to their seats. Although it was still early, many had already arrived to offer their birthday congratulations, placing their gifts in a designated spot before approaching Mu Tianhen and his company to exchange greetings and take their seats.

These early arrivals were representatives of smaller families, who needed to come ahead of time to make a good impression on Mu Tianhen, hoping to foster future relations. Regardless of who arrived or their status, Mu Tianhen treated everyone with the same courtesy, bowing in return and expressing his gratitude.

The family members were equally enthusiastic in their hospitality, guiding guests to their prearranged seats and engaging them in pleasant conversation over food and drink. Seeing everyone take such interest in the pastries she had made, Mu Tianxue was overjoyed, feeling she was not entirely useless and had not embarrassed her elder brother.

Mu Tianxiang stayed close to Mu Tianxue’s side, but since their relationship had always been good, no one thought anything of it.

As time passed, more guests arrived, and soon representatives from all families below the third rank were present, filling most of the seats. During this time, conversations flourished, and some even struck up new collaborations, gaining unexpected benefits.

By noon, representatives of several second-tier families had also arrived, taking up more seats. The entire courtyard buzzed with lively chatter, voices rising and falling in a cacophony of celebration. Thanks to the abundance of pastries, fruits, and wine, no one felt hungry, and the conversations continued seamlessly into the afternoon. It was almost time for the first-tier families to make their entrance.

Now, only three tables remained unoccupied.

“Miss Huang of the Huang Family has arrived!”

A loud announcement from outside drew everyone’s gaze to the entrance, where a young woman in a red dress strode forward at the head of her entourage, immediately sparking heated discussion.

“Wow! That’s Miss Huang Xiaoshan of the Huang Family, truly like a celestial maiden descended to earth—no wonder she’s one of the three great beauties of Shunan City!”

“She’s not only beautiful, but also highly accomplished in her cultivation. I heard she’s already reached the fourth level of the Blood Ignition Realm, making her the strongest among the four prodigies.”

“It’s five prodigies now, not four. Haven’t you heard? Young Master Mu Tianyou has awakened the Warrior bloodline—he’s a rare talent, too.”

“Yes, yes, five prodigies indeed.”

“Ah, I’d love to go and greet her, just to have her remember my face.”

“Don’t even think about it. I hear Miss Huang has a proud and aloof temperament—she’d never spare a glance for the likes of us.”

Amid the lively chatter, Huang Xiaoshan led her family members straight toward Mu Tianhen, her head held high, face full of arrogance—indeed, she didn’t look at anyone else. She stopped before Mu Tianhen, clasped her hands, and said, “Acting Patriarch Mu, greetings. On behalf of the Huang Family, I come to offer birthday congratulations to Master Mu. This small gift is a token of our respect.”

With that, she gestured for her retinue to bring forth the gift, presenting it to Mu Tianhen. He did not accept it himself but had someone beside him receive it, then responded with a bow, “Thank you, Miss Huang. Please, take a seat and rest for a while.”

Huang Xiaoshan said no more, leading her group to their seats under the guidance of the Mu Family’s attendants. Feeling the intense gaze of the crowd, she snorted softly to herself, thinking how ridiculous these people were to seek favor with the Huang Family.

Yet, she also felt a sense of pride and accomplishment, standing out like a crane among chickens, towering above the rest.

“The Young Lord has arrived!”

Another resounding announcement heralded the arrival of Gu Lingyun, the young lord of the city, accompanied by eight attendants. Like Huang Xiaoshan, Gu Lingyun ignored the crowd, leading his group directly to Mu Tianhen, presenting his gift with a faint, amused smile.

Without waiting for guidance, he strode over to sit beside Huang Xiaoshan and said with a grin, “Miss Huang, you grow more beautiful by the day.”

Huang Xiaoshan didn’t rise, replying coolly, “Young Lord, the seats here are all taken. My apologies.”

Gu Lingyun’s expression darkened, but he did not show anger. Instead, he replied, “We’ll speak later,” and turned to take his own seat, glancing at Mu Tianhen with a subtle smirk.

“Miss Dai of the Dai Family has arrived!”

With a third announcement, a slender figure in pale green appeared at the entrance, followed by eight attendants. Her arrival set off another wave of excited murmurs.

“Heavens! How can anyone be so beautiful? She’s like a goddess untouched by mortal dust!”

“That’s Dai Ling’er, the seldom-seen daughter of the Dai Family, one of Shunan City’s three great beauties. I was lucky enough to see her once—she’s unforgettable.”

“I’ve also been fortunate to see her. In my opinion, Dai Ling’er is the foremost among the three beauties. Whether it’s Huang Xiaoshan or Mu Tianxue, both fall a little short compared to her.”

“I’ve heard her cultivation has reached the third level of the Blood Ignition Realm. She’s outstanding among the younger generation. With both beauty and talent, even as a woman, I can’t help but feel envious.”

Listening to the discussions around her, Dai Ling’er smiled gently, nodding in greeting and instantly winning everyone’s favor.

She led her retinue to stand three steps before Mu Tianhen, bowed, and said, “I, Ling’er, on behalf of the Dai Family, have come to offer birthday congratulations to Master Mu.”

Her attendants quickly presented the gift. Mu Tianhen also bowed to Dai Ling’er, smiling: “Thank you, Miss Dai. Please, have a seat. The old master will be here shortly.”

Dai Ling’er nodded and took her seat, maintaining her enchanting smile. Instantly, all attention was drawn to her, leaving Huang Xiaoshan visibly displeased, her expression darkening.

Just moments ago, she had been the focus of admiration, but with Dai Ling’er’s arrival, all her superiority was snatched away—utterly infuriating! Even Gu Lingyun, the young lord, was staring at Dai Ling’er, eyes fixed and unblinking, his face overflowing with admiration, to the point that a trace of drool hung at the corner of his lips.

Huang Xiaoshan longed to retaliate, to reclaim her lost glory by publicly humiliating Dai Ling’er and proving to all that she, Huang Xiaoshan, was the true leader of the younger generation. But now, however uncomfortable she felt, she could only endure it. She must not lose her temper, let alone cause a scene. If she was to target Dai Ling’er, she would need a suitable excuse.

Her eyes flickered rapidly as she soon devised a plan. She rose and walked to Gu Lingyun’s side, whispered a few words in his ear, then returned to her seat.

After hearing her, Gu Lingyun withdrew his gaze, a sly grin spreading across his face.

“The birthday elder has arrived!”

At that moment, Mu Qianyuan emerged from the only chamber in the courtyard, smiling warmly at everyone.

All the guests immediately stood and bowed to him.

Mu Qianyuan waved his hand, signaling that there was no need for formality, and continued forward to stand beside Mu Tianhen. In a loud, clear voice, he declared, “Thank you all for your kindness. I am deeply honored!”

“Seeing so many promising young people here today fills my heart with joy. The future of Shunan City is bright, and that is a blessing for all its people!”

“Come! Let us raise our glasses together, for the sake of our city—”

“Wait a moment!” a loud voice interrupted him. Gu Lingyun had risen to his feet, filling the crowd with uncertainty as to why he would interrupt the elder.

PS: Another little guessing game: What will Gu Lingyun do next? The first five correct answers can claim a ten-yuan red packet in the group chat, in order of comment time. The deadline is the release of Chapter 11.