Chapter 1179: Guest Gathering

"Your Majesty, the banquet has begun."

Han Xiang glanced at the time, then walked slowly behind Ying Fu, who was dozing, and softly said, "Fu Kun and Zheng Zhiqin have already taken their seats; they're just waiting for us..."

Ying Fu slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of weariness in them.

Han Xiang caught this subtle change.

"Your Majesty, has that era encountered trouble again?"

"...There's been a change." Ying Fu didn't seem inclined to reveal more to Han Xiang; he simply rose slowly. "We need to expedite our plan."

Ying Fu put on the glasses Han Xiang handed him, once again concealing his imperial aura. Looking at his reflection in the mirror, he resembled an extraordinary young university student.

Han Xiang also adjusted his attire, then pushed the door open and exited, with Ying Fu calmly following behind him.

"I... This is my first time attending a banquet in this era. Is there anything I should pay attention to?" Ying Fu suddenly asked.

Han Xiang thought carefully. "This banquet is relatively informal; it seems to be a special hot pot dinner unique to Wushan. Each person has a seat, and banquets hosted by Bureau 749 are always very meticulous; they'll have name cards placed at each seat beforehand, so you just need to find your assigned spot.

"Besides that, seating is most likely arranged by seniority and rank... Your Majes... your current identity is my student, so you should be seated near me."

"That makes sense," Ying Fu nodded slightly.

"I recall you telling me that among Bureau 749's 'White Hands,' you are the most senior... So, our seats will be at the very front?"

"Well..."

Han Xiang's expression was a bit awkward. "Normally, that would be the case... but this time is different."

"How is it different?"

"I heard that this time, a more senior gentleman has returned from overseas."

Han Xiang paused for a moment. "Before you found me, I had already retired from Bureau 749 for many years, so I haven't met that gentleman... However, I heard that even Sun Zhongliang received his patronage when he was young, and his history even predates Bureau 749."

"Oh? Such a person exists?" Ying Fu seemed interested.

"Yes, he's on the list. I'll point him out to you once we're there."

As they spoke, the two had already gone downstairs and reached the entrance of the banquet hall. Four or five Bureau 749 staff members in suits were registering guests at the door.

Seeing Han Xiang approaching, these individuals immediately spoke respectfully:

"Mr. Han, you've arrived."

"Mhm." Han Xiang nodded slightly, his demeanor already different from when he was with Ying Fu. He exuded a subtle sense of authority. He glanced into the hall. "Has it started yet?"

"Most guests have arrived, but it won't begin until you and the other gentleman are here."

"What about our seats?"

"They've all been arranged for you."

The staff member looked at Ying Fu behind Han Xiang, then lowered his head to check the list. "Is this your accompanying student? Is his name... Li Fu?"

"Yes, that's me," Ying Fu replied calmly.

"Mr. Han truly has students everywhere." The staff member dared not delay and immediately gestured for them to follow. "I'll show you two to your seats. Please come with me."

Led by the staff member, the two walked directly into the hall.

Though called a hall, it looked more like Bureau 749 had rented out the entire floor of the adjacent restaurant for the banquet area. Although the decor was a bit old, it was spacious enough.

In the center of the hall was a sizable square stage, surrounded by numerous small, individual tables. Guests sat cross-legged on the floor, and hot pots on the tables simmered, emitting steam. Coupled with the distinctive folk regional decorations, it strongly resembled an ethnic minority song and dance banquet.

Ying Fu had never seen this type of banquet before; his eyes behind his glasses constantly observed his surroundings. At the same time, Han Xiang lowered his voice and said:

"Bureau 749's annual conference is publicly advertised as a 'Cultural Heritage Conference,' so the banquet arrangements also emphasize cultural characteristics, and the format changes every year."

Ying Fu nodded slightly.

As soon as Han Xiang and Ying Fu entered, they attracted many gazes. Most of the attention was on Han Xiang, with eyes full of reverence and curiosity. To them, Han Xiang was their senior, their teacher, and a renowned legend of the Shu Shendao from earlier years.

"Grandma, who's that old man?" Yao Qing whispered, sipping cola from the table.

"That's Han Shuzhi, the pinnacle of Shu Shendao in this era... and an old rival of Grandma's," Xiao Chunping said, looking at Han Xiang slowly approaching. She chuckled self-deprecatingly, as if recalling the past.

"Years ago, when we were both young, we often clashed over the philosophies of Shu Shendao and Qing Shendao... Later, as we grew older and couldn't contend anymore, we both retired."

"Oh~ So he's Grandma's archenemy!"

Yao Qing immediately said to Xiao Chunping, with a sarcastic tone,

"I knew I didn't like that old man... and the guy behind him, he looks like a fake!"

Xiao Chunping laughed heartily, then affectionately patted Yao Qing's head with her wrinkled hand. "Truly Grandma's good grandson."

As the two were talking, Han Xiang and Ying Fu had already passed their table. Han Xiang's peripheral vision caught sight of Xiao Chunping, and he let out a slight sound of surprise.

"Teacher Xiao, long time no see."

Xiao Chunping stood up from behind her table and shook Han Xiang's outstretched hand. "Oh dear, after so many years, we've both grown old... When I first caught sight of you just now, I almost didn't recognize you."

"Haha, Teacher Xiao, you're joking. I still take great care of myself normally; my students tell me I look young... On the other hand, Teacher Xiao, it seems retirement has brought quite a bit of life pressure, hasn't it?" Han Xiang's face was full of smiles.

"One has to accept getting old, you know. Dyeing one's white hair black hardly counts as proper maintenance," Xiao Chunping also laughed.

Han Xiang's smile stiffened slightly, then he very naturally changed the subject:

"Is this your grandson?"

"Yes, this is my dear grandson, Yao Qing." Xiao Chunping said, patting Yao Qing's head. "At such a young age, he's already pursuing Qing Shendao, just like me. I thought I'd bring him to the Wushan Conference to broaden his horizons... I believe it's better to meticulously cultivate one good talent than to indiscriminately gather many students without proper responsibility, don't you agree, Teacher Han?"

Han Xiang's smile gradually faded, but he waved his hand dismissively. "Teacher Xiao, the children are still young. It's really hard to say how they'll develop in the future..."

Ying Fu's gaze fell upon the young Yao Qing, his expression subtle.

The leader of Qing Shendao in the Era of Nine Sovereigns, the first demigod in the Mortal Realm, Yao Qing, the chief of Fusheng Art — he naturally recognized him...

Ying Fu simply didn't understand why Yao Qing was staring at him with such ill intent, even though they had never met before.