A birthday celebration?
Qin Yexuan’s heart skipped a beat.
His birthday was no ordinary day.
As for his true birth date, no one in the world knew it. Even those closest to him, like Su Qing, were unaware.
The birthday that Li Tianxing mentioned was a date he had casually told his disciples: the fifteenth of September.
Inside him, that mysterious power began to stir: "Actually, even if you told the world your real birth date, they wouldn't understand. The so-called day of the Heavenly Demon's descent..."
"Shut up!" Qin Yexuan forcefully suppressed it with his consciousness.
Then, he smiled faintly at Li Tianxing and said, "In my current state, do I still need a birthday celebration? You're probably making an unnecessary effort."
"No, it's the disciples' good fortune. Master, you've become younger again, but this etiquette cannot be abandoned," Li Tianxing pleaded, his face full of earnestness. "Several senior brothers dare not disturb you here now. I was only appointed to come, and they specifically instructed me to ensure you have a good birthday."
Qin Yexuan pondered for a moment. "Very well. No one else needs to come. Let it just be us, master and disciple, sharing a drink."
This...
Li Tianxing began to rub his hands together. "Mengyao has already made all the preparations. Just in time for today's Chaoge Night Banquet, a rich program has been arranged for you, Master, along with many birthday gifts. From the Imperial Capital, the Emperor and the Senate, all the major noble families, and even the Tianjian Academy have prepared gifts."
Nonsense!
Qin Yexuan's face suddenly darkened. "Why wasn't I informed about something like this?"
Li Tianxing lowered his head, not daring to speak.
He was a renowned marshal in the outside world, but before his Master, he was always the obedient eldest disciple.
Just as Qin Yexuan was about to erupt in anger, a delicate laugh was heard.
Jun Mengyao, dressed in a floor-length red gown, appeared with graceful bearing. She immediately linked her arm through Qin Yexuan's and began to act spoiled, "Don't be angry, Master. It has nothing to do with Senior Brother. It was all my plan."
Qin Yexuan's eyes were sharp. "Explain yourself."
"It's not that we want you to sit there in public for us to celebrate your birthday. It's a private congratulation. We're just using this banquet as an opportunity."
Jun Mengyao dared to continue, "I've noticed, Master, that you have too few interactions with us. Take Elder Sister Ling Su, for example. She might see you once every three to five years. What kind of relationship is this?"
So, she only wanted to deepen the master-disciple bond.
Qin Yexuan used his Mind Control technique to examine Jun Mengyao's thoughts and found no issues.
After a long pause, he nodded. "Since that's the case, I will attend the banquet. Get me an invitation, but I will not participate in any external activities."
Li Tianxing let out a sigh of relief, filled with joy. "Mengyao speaks well. We've become a bit estranged from Master now, and everyone is uneasy."
Qin Yexuan sighed, a mixture of resignation and helplessness. "When I took you in, I never intended for us to be so intimately close like a family. Especially now that you have achieved so much, and are preparing to step back and live peaceful lives. Too much contact with me would actually be detrimental."
Li Tianxing was stunned.
Jun Mengyao was also puzzled. "We are your disciples, Master. How can too much contact be detrimental?"
Qin Yexuan sighed again.
"I am an ill-fated person, who does ill-fated things. I am punished by heaven's decree. Heaven does not take me in, nor does hell accommodate me. Only in this mortal world can I hide my identity and live my own life."
As he spoke, he suddenly smiled. "You will only understand these things when you experience them. Alright, for the birthday banquet tonight, the fewer people the better, and the simpler the better."
He rose to leave.
Li Tianxing and Jun Mengyao walked beside him, on his left and right, both reluctant to part.
"Regarding the Su sisters, Ning Shuang will attend the banquet. But Dean Bingyan is too busy. She still needs to handle the inspection and monitoring of the Ling Su Mountain area. Also, Su Yu Luo has also been detained by Bingyan."
Jun Mengyao said softly, speaking of the Su family's affairs. "We are still investigating Xue Qing's whereabouts. Should Yu Luo drop out of school and come home?"
Qin Yexuan's eyes flashed. "That is beyond her control. The moment she appeared in Chaoge City, she became a target for all forces in the world. Your Night Demon organization should constantly monitor her. Then, inform Bingyan not to detain her sister. Let Yu Luo return to school as soon as possible."
"As long as I am at Chaoge Academy, Yu Luo will never walk down another path."
After seeing their Master off, Jun Mengyao's brow furrowed, as if deep in thought.
Li Tianxing couldn't help but ask, "Were there any issues with Master's words just now?"
Jun Mengyao nodded. "Given Master's temper before, that statement should have been, 'As long as I am at Chaoge Academy, I will guarantee Yu Luo's safety'..."
But this time, Qin Yexuan said, "Yu Luo will not walk down another path."
"This is the first time he hasn't used the word 'safe and sound.'"
The deeper meaning of this shocked even Li Tianxing.
However, neither dared to delve too deeply into it.
Qin Yexuan left the Jianguo Hotel and soon received the electronic account for the banquet invitation.
He glanced at it and replied to Jun Mengyao, "Change it. This is for a special VIP. Carrying this would directly draw attention, wouldn't it?"
Mengyao quickly changed it to the most ordinary entry ticket for staff.
The security measures this time were extremely strict. All personnel held electronic entry tickets, which were bound with all their information.
Staff members were assigned white numbers, a long string. To enter the venue of the Chaoge banquet, the 'Lu Wang Tai Ge', one had to go through at least a dozen security checks.
Even so, such entry tickets were priceless.
How many people carried money and begged for one, only to be refused?
For example, the internet celebrity Wu Yuefeng from the academy was currently kneeling before a stout noblewoman, desperately cleaning her pig-trotter-like feet, his face full of flattery. "Sister Liu, my dear sister, you are in charge of the banquet's catering and plating. Can't you just get me an entry ticket?"
Liu Meihong rolled her eyes. "Good brother, you make it sound so simple. The security is so tight that they even check your DNA information. I didn't put your name down. Unless... unless you pay to have one of the chefs removed from the list."
"How much?" Wu Yuefeng's eyes turned red.
Just entering this banquet and taking a single photo would make him the top celebrity in Chaoge, even Da Xia.
What would a mere academy talent show matter then?
He would become a famous internet celebrity, a celebrity among celebrities.
He desperately calculated the total amount he had borrowed over the past few days. He could probably mortgage a house back home to get fifty thousand yuan.
"Sister, fifty thousand yuan, that's all I have."
Liu Meihong almost burst out laughing. "Fifty thousand yuan? That's not even enough for one main course at the banquet. Are you an idiot? Forget it, I'll help you one last time. Let me tell you, one spot costs at least thirty million, and you need connections and influence."
Wu Yuefeng repeatedly kowtowed, while Liu Meihong, with surprising strength, picked him up.
It was like a sow carrying a skinny monkey, heading towards the big bed...
Outside the window, Night Demon member Ninety-seven, responsible for the banquet's security investigation, was feeling sick.
He was responsible for investigating the backgrounds of all staff members.
He couldn't help but send a message to Commander Jun Mengyao: "Commander, a student named Wu Yuefeng has infiltrated the catering team. Should he be dealt with?"
Jun Mengyao quickly replied, "Wu Yuefeng? Is he the one competing for the campus heartthrob at Chaoge Academy?"
"Yes. He is ranked first, only a few votes ahead of the second-place contestant, Qin Sheng. So, it's likely for fame and poses no threat."
Jun Mengyao, however, immediately became interested. "Keep a close eye on him for me!"
Ninety-seven was taken aback, then looked at the video he had just taken, and finally scratched his head. "Well, then I'll have to shoot this again properly."
...