socalfunplaces Page 97
Page 97
"Guyue, I seem to remember you being three years older than all of us. If we're talking about 'old,' you're the first one, aren't you?"
"You get out too!"
Dongfang Guyue glared angrily, but when she saw everyone's suppressed laughter, she couldn't help but burst out laughing herself, and the laughter in the hall grew even louder.
In the shadows of a corner of the council chamber, two low voices, tinged with discontent, buzzed like mosquitoes.
One of them clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white.
"Hey, tell me, what exactly is Mu Qinghan up to?"
"They called us all over here for no reason, without even giving us a proper explanation."
The man next to him scoffed, spat on the ground, and spoke with utter disdain.
"Pshaw, who knows! He's just a greenhorn who thinks he's all that just because he has a little talent."
"Isn't he just a half-step demon emperor?"
"What's with the attitude? You dare to call me from home? Do you really think you're the boss of the Dao Alliance?"
Another rough, hoarse voice broke in, his face contorted with pain.
"That 'little firecracker' I was raising at the Celestial Academy was actually released by him a few days ago!"
"I paid a fortune for that, and now I can't even find a trace of them!"
"Oh, you mean that skinny girl with a slim waist and long legs?"
The man's eyes lit up, then he sighed.
"I drank with her back in the day. Her figure and personality were incredibly alluring. What a pity."
Suddenly someone approached, their voice trembling, their eyes nervously scanning their surroundings.
"Keep your voices down! I heard... I heard Mu Qinghan has already broken through to the Demon Emperor realm! Don't you guys want to die?!"
"Hahaha--"
The previously hoarse voice suddenly burst into laughter, drawing the attention of several people around.
"You actually believe that?"
"No one has ever reached that level before! No one has now, and no one will ever!"
"If that kid can become the Demon Emperor, I'll eat this table right here and now! I just can't stand that little brat. Why should he be able to ride on our heads at such a young age?"
Among these people, some had their family businesses cut off from their source of income when Mu Qinghan reorganized the Dao Alliance.
Some of them, considering themselves highly experienced, couldn't stand seeing a junior climb to a high position. They were gathered in a corner, venting their dissatisfaction with every word they uttered.
"Damn it, these idiots!"
The Zhang family head, who was not far away, heard everything clearly. He was so angry that the veins on his forehead throbbed. He rolled up his sleeves and was about to rush over when Dongfang Guyue grabbed him.
Dongfang Guyue grabbed his arm, shook her head, and looked at him with a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"Don't rush, let the little guy handle it himself."
"Since he dared to call everyone here, he must have a way to deal with it. Why are we old guys getting involved?"
Wang Quan Shouzhou also put down his wine glass, glanced at the few people in the corner, and slowly nodded, his tone calm.
"Qinghan knows his place, let him handle it."
Only then did the Zhang family head suppress his anger, sit heavily back in his chair, and glare fiercely at the corner.
On the other side of the council chamber, in stark contrast to the tense atmosphere on this side, several children were sitting around a small table, creating a lively scene.
The table was laden with various exquisite pastries, including osmanthus cake, almond shortbread, and rose sugar cake, along with a pot of steaming flower tea.
Li Quzhuo picked up a lotus-shaped pastry, biting into it until his mouth was full of crumbs, and said indistinctly, "So, what do you think Qinghan wants to do by calling everyone here this time?"
"who cares!"
Zhang Zheng, who was standing next to him, waved his hand and stuffed another piece of mung bean cake into his mouth.
"Qinghan has his reasons for doing this, we should just support him!"
"That's it!"
Wang Quan laughed and echoed, holding a piece of plum blossom cake in his hand.
"Anyway, with Qinghan here, we don't need to worry about anything. Let's finish these pastries first. This osmanthus cake is really delicious!"
The group chatted amongst themselves, their mouths full of sweets, their faces relaxed, completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere in the hall.
To them, Mu Qinghan was never a powerful figure who was high above them, but a trustworthy partner. No matter what he wanted to do, they would support him unconditionally.
It's definitely correct.
"Jingle Bell…"
Chapter 117 Let Him Roll Over
"Jingle Bell…"
A very soft bell suddenly rang out.
The sound was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, like the lingering echo of a wind chime on the eaves, almost drowned out by the noise.
But it was like an invisible needle, instantly piercing through the noise of the room.
The next instant, the crowd, who had been arguing endlessly, seemed to be paused, and they all looked up sharply, their eyes like torches, fixed on the heavy vermilion door of the council hall.
The air seemed to freeze at that moment, and even breathing became clearly audible.
"Squeak-"
The wooden door hinges emitted a slight grinding sound, which sounded particularly jarring in the silence.
The heavy door slowly opened inward, and a figure in pure white came into view first.
The white robes were spotless, and under the bright lights of the hall, they looked like pure white snow falling into an inkwell, exceptionally dazzling.
Before anyone could even make out the figure's face, a blur flashed before their eyes, and in the blink of an eye, the white-clad figure stood firmly in the center of the council hall.
The illusory figure that had just lingered at the entrance slowly dissipated like morning mist meeting the sun, leaving not a trace.
Looking at the white-clad youth again, he stood with his eyes lowered, his aura completely concealed.
If perceived with magical power, he was no different from an ordinary street urchin, without any of the spiritual energy fluctuations that a cultivator should have.
Yet, within three feet of him, wisps of sword energy quietly emanated.
The sword energy was not an outward display of sharpness, but it carried a chilling coldness, like ancient ice in the dead of winter, making everyone present feel as if an invisible sword was hanging over their heads.
The cold glint of the sword blade pressed against his brow, sending chills down his spine even to his fingertips, making him afraid to even breathe.
Wang Quan Shouzhuo and Dongfang Guyue, who had been wearing faint smiles, instantly lost all expression, their brows furrowed, and their eyes filled with surprise.
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes. Then they turned their gaze back to the boy, scrutinizing him carefully, as if trying to see through him inside and out.
In a corner below the hall, several children also looked up.
Their eyes showed no fear like others, but were filled with joyful smiles. Their bright eyes were fixed on Mu Qinghan, but they tacitly refrained from approaching him to speak.
She simply stood quietly in place, waiting for Mu Qinghan's move.
Those cultivators who had previously been hiding in the crowd, mocking others, had long since lost their arrogance.
They stood frozen in place, mouths slightly agape, staring blankly at the figure in white, their disdain replaced by utter shock.
A few of the more sensitive ones lowered their heads quietly, twisting their fingers around the hem of their clothes, their minds racing as they recalled the sarcastic remarks, a cold sweat breaking out on their backs.
This guy... is really strong!
Mu Qinghan stood in the center of the council hall, his gaze sweeping across the entire room like a cold pool.
Those seated inside were all powerful figures in their respective fields.
Wang Quan Shouzhuo lightly tapped the armrest with his fingertips, his gaze deep and profound.
Standing to the side, Dongfang Guyue's wide sleeves hung down, her expression calm.
The seats in the other families were occupied either by elders with graying temples and holding clan power, or by patriarchs with a calm demeanor who ruled over the entire clan.
Every gaze carried the authority of someone who had long held a high position.
His brows furrowed slightly as his gaze fell upon the Xiao family's seat.
The person sitting in that seat was neither Xiao Wancheng, the head of the Xiao family, nor the highly respected elder of the family, but a young man he didn't recognize.
The man, dressed in a brocade robe with a jade pendant hanging from his waist, was turning to the side and flirting with his beautifully made-up concubine.
His fingers were still casually fiddling with the pearl hairpin in the woman's hair, completely ignoring the gathering.
The next moment, Mu Qinghan appeared in front of the young master of the Xiao family.
Just as the young master of the Xiao family was making his concubine laugh, he suddenly felt his vision darken and the warm sunlight was completely blocked.
Immediately afterwards, a chilling killing intent surged forth like a tide, instantly enveloping him.
The killing intent was not a vague oppression, but rather carried the sharpness of a blade, as if countless invisible longswords were suspended around him.
The blade was pressed against his skin; if he moved even slightly, he would be shredded to pieces.
The smile on his face froze instantly, his hair stood on end, and even breathing became difficult.
Looking up, he saw Mu Qinghan standing in front of him with her eyes lowered, her posture as upright as a pine tree, but her eyes as cold as ice.
Looking at him was like looking at an insignificant ant, devoid of any warmth.
"why?"
A cold voice rang in the ears of the young master of the Xiao family. It was completely flat, yet it made him shiver and his teeth began to chatter slightly.
"Wh...what why?"
He tried to remain calm, but the panic in his voice was unmistakable. Even the concubine beside him sensed something was wrong and timidly withdrew her hand, no longer daring to make a sound.
Mu Qinghan didn't say much, but slowly raised his right hand.
The next second, an extreme pressure far exceeding that of before suddenly descended, crashing down on the young master of the Xiao family like Mount Tai.
The oppressive aura was imbued with an almost tangible killing intent, and the bluestone slabs on the ground cracked open in a spiderweb-like pattern.