After a brief gathering, Liu Meihong and the other three returned to the hotel as if normal, each leading their own teams into the staff compound behind.
They busied themselves diligently, undergoing various security checks, appearing to have no issues.
No one could have guessed that these four individuals, who controlled all matters of the banquet, were actually puppets controlled by demons.
The venue was almost ready. Guests were to be seated in batches. Qin Yexuan hurried back and immediately called Li Tianxing, "You two come out alone, meet me in the car."
Soon, two rows of heavily armed black-clad guards appeared, firmly securing the street.
Then, over four hundred Northern Territory Imperial Guards, led by General Xiao, were seen controlling the four tall buildings.
Qin Yexuan was inside the car: "Qinglu, take Teacher Wang to the back seat. I'll meet your senior brothers here. Don't greet them yet. Once we're done with important matters, you can get acquainted at the banquet."
Sun Qinglu saw his solemn expression and knew something major had happened. She quickly took Wang Jiaqian to the back seat and closed the small partition window.
Wang Jiaqian looked bewildered: "Who does classmate Qin want to meet?"
Sun Qinglu shushed her: "It's my eldest senior brother, the renowned Great Xia Marshal Li Tianxing!"
"Ah!"
Wang Jiaqian's mind reeled, she even felt a bit suffocated: "The main guest of this reception, Marshal Li Tianxing, can he be met just by a word from him?"
Sun Qinglu smiled: "It's Senior Brother Li Tianxing who is coming to pay his respects. Master is receiving him. There's a difference between being received and meeting."
Wang Jiaqian's head felt like it would explode: "What exactly is his identity?"
As they spoke, a deep male baritone voice with a hint of authority was heard from outside: "Disciple Tianxing, here to see Master."
Then another voice with a trace of pleasant surprise: "Disciple Xiao Tianxuan, here to see Master."
And then a clear and pleasant female voice: "Disciple..."
Before she could finish, Qin Yexuan's laughter was heard: "Ling Su is here too? Wonderful, Ling Su is who I wanted to see most."
Outside, Li Tianxing and General Xiao both chuckled: "So Master is too biased, only thinking of little sister Ling Su."
As the leader of the Divine Physician Hall, Fang Ling Su's status remained unshaken when Li Tianxing and others were suppressed in the capital last time. Medical arts had always been firmly in her control, a position that no power could shake.
At this moment, Ling Su happily entered the car.
Qin Yexuan was very pleased: "Not seeing you for a while, Ling Su, you've become even more beautiful."
Ah, Master is different now. Perhaps his mindset has changed after his body was remade? He never complimented her beauty before.
Fang Ling Su was overjoyed in her heart.
"By the way, where is that child Chen Tian Ce?" Qin Yexuan suddenly sighed: "When you were all with me in Jiang City, I didn't think much of it. Now that we've been apart for a long time, I miss all of you children more and more."
Fang Ling Su pursed her lips and smiled: "Senior Brother Tian Ce is busy integrating the major business associations. Now that the capital knows they can't do without you, Master, they've reinstated several senior brothers to their original positions. The General Chamber of Commerce of Shenzhou can still only be controlled by Senior Brother Tian Ce."
Qin Yexuan nodded.
Fang Ling Su smiled again: "Have you forgotten another junior brother?"
"Oh, that child Lie Yuan Zun? He's definitely not in Great Xia," Qin Yexuan smiled.
Outside, Li Tianxing and Xiao Zhanshen exchanged glances, both astonished: "How did Master know?"
"It's very simple. Yuan Zun has a volatile temper and a heavy killing intent. Even in front of me, he restrains himself a bit. A while ago, you all suffered unfair suppression. If he were in Great Xia, he would have caused a huge mess. Did you send him back to foreign mercenary groups?"
Li Tianxing and Fang Ling Su looked a bit embarrassed: "At that time, Yuan Zun was already preparing to bring his mercenary group to the capital for a major battle..."
Qin Yexuan's face darkened: "Nonsense! If he dared to do that, I would be the first to strike him down!"
The disciples fell silent, their voices hushed.
After a long while, Fang Ling Su poured tea for Qin Yexuan, carefully: "We know your temper, Master, so we persuaded him with all our might and even tricked him into going abroad. That fellow isn't well-behaved. He said the Black Continent was boring and went directly to the Goryeo Continent. He also said he wanted to completely subdue the Dragon Star Association there."
This Lie Yuan Zun fellow, he's not comfortable unless he's causing trouble.
"How about I have him return immediately to apologize to Master, and at least confine him for half a year!" Li Tianxing asked.
"Mmm, Goryeo Continent..." Qin Yexuan suddenly thought of the plea for help from Jin Gao Yue, the young master of the Daoist sect on the Goryeo Continent.
He then said faintly: "Tell Lie Yuan Zun to develop well on the Goryeo Continent. After things here are settled, I will go to the Goryeo Continent. It will be convenient for him to have a connection there then."
This was wonderful.
As long as Master wasn't angry, everything else was negotiable.
The disciples relaxed.
"Didn't Master take in another junior brother? Junior sister Meng Yao is still waiting in the banquet hall, and everyone has prepared gifts, waiting to meet her."
Qin Yexuan shook his head: "There's no rush for that. I called you here because there's a mission."
He pondered for a moment: "Go in and find Jun Mengyao. Don't bring anyone else. Just the four of you, take action together, and capture four people for me!"
Qin Yexuan looked at the environment outside and pointed to the modified area sheds: "Meet me there in half an hour!"
Liu Meihong, the head of the catering group.
Old Zhou, the stage manager.
Brother Zheng, the head of the service staff.
And Uncle Wang, who was in charge of alcoholic beverages.
Qin Yexuan described their appearances briefly, his expression growing more serious: "Remember, only you are allowed to act. This matter is of great importance, and these four people are very likely controlled by demons. They are innocent themselves, so I want them alive!"
The disciples immediately sprang into action.
Only then did Qin Yexuan get out of the car. He opened the rear door and saw Wang Jiaqian staring at him with a strange look.
"Teacher Wang, what kind of look is that?"
Wang Jiaqian was trembling and didn't dare to reply.
Qin Yexuan chuckled: "When we fought demons in the haunted house, you witnessed the lion demon turn into a cat with your own eyes. You were only shocked, not scared. I picked you up in a luxury car, gave you a dress worth tens of millions, and you didn't bat an eye. Now, just because a few powerful figures call me Master, you're scared?"
He shook his head: "It turns out Teacher Wang, you're most afraid not of demons, but of the powerful and influential!"
Wang Jiaqian's face turned red, her self-esteem severely hit: "I, I'm not afraid at all. Whether you're a billionaire or a powerful figure in the capital, I don't care."
Qin Yexuan smiled but said nothing. His aura wasn't feigned; it was magnified by the presence of Li Tianxing and other influential figures.
About ten minutes later, Jun Mengyao sent an urgent message: "Master, we've located Liu Meihong. The other three haven't been caught yet."
Qin Yexuan immediately stood up: "Teacher Wang, if you're truly not afraid, come with me to meet the demons."
The little cat that transformed from the green-maned lion suddenly leaped out from behind his collar and spoke in human language: "Master, leave this to me. I can make people controlled by demons recover their original state immediately."