Phi-Fic Chapter 5 Celebration Banquet
Chapter 5 Celebration Banquet
The following day, the city lord's mansion was brightly decorated and bustling with activity. Servants bustled about, and the long tables in the banquet hall were already laden with a dazzling array of delicacies, awaiting the arrival of the guests.
In the courtyard, children who had arrived early with their parents were playing and laughing.
Time slipped away quietly amidst the joy, until the butler, Uncle Lin, broke the commotion with his slightly authoritative voice: "Miss, the banquet is about to begin. Madam requests that you lead the children to get ready and proceed to the banquet hall together."
Chu Qiuchi replied, "Okay, Uncle Lin, I understand! You go ahead and do your work, I'll take them to wash up right away."
As she spoke, she turned to the children and called out, "Kids, stop playing and come here! Let's go wash up. The banquet is about to begin, and we can continue playing after the banquet!"
When we arrived at the banquet hall, Uncle Lin was already waiting at the entrance. Inside, the adults were all seated in their assigned seats and talking in hushed tones.
Chu Qiuchi handed the children over to their respective parents one by one, and then walked to the front row with Chu Yichen, sitting next to Qiu Jingya and Chu Siyuan, quietly waiting for the banquet to begin.
Before long, the banquet officially began. City Lord Chu Siyuan stood up, raised his wine glass, and spoke in a loud voice.
"Thank you all so much for coming! Let's raise a glass together to celebrate our successful repelling of the beast tide and the protection of our loved ones and homes. Cheers!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass, and the others also raised their glasses and drank heartily.
After finishing his drink, he continued, "In this battle, we obtained three precious level-six magic rune cores. I plan to keep one, award another to the most talented child at the Magic Awakening Ceremony, and send the last one to the Wanbao Auction House. The proceeds will be used to subsidize all the warriors who participated in the battle. What do you all think?"
A chorus of approval quickly filled the banquet hall.
“We have no objection! These three level-six magic rune crystal cores were obtained by you and your wife through great effort. Even if you keep them all, we will have no objection.”
"Yes, it's already generous of you to offer one as a reward, not to mention that the gold coins obtained from the auction will be used to subsidize everyone."
"That's right, City Lord, you've considered everything very thoroughly. We have absolutely no objections!"
The crowd echoed each other, their voices rising and falling, their words revealing their trust and gratitude towards Chu Siyuan.
Chu Siyuan nodded slightly, raised his glass again, and said, "This is what you deserve! Xiyue City is the home of all of us, and protecting our home is our responsibility and our honor. This glass is for ourselves!"
He drank again, and the sound of glasses clinking filled the air, gradually raising the atmosphere.
Just then, a discordant voice suddenly rang out, shattering the cheerful atmosphere: "Lord City Lord, you are truly generous, leaving behind only a level six magic rune crystal core. I wonder who you intend to give this precious crystal core to? Is it for our young lady or our young master? Oh, why don't you just sell it to me? My Yuping awakened a Heavenly Grade Magic Pearl last year, and she can use it soon."
Upon hearing this, the previously noisy crowd instantly fell silent, as if even the air itself had frozen. All eyes turned to the source of the voice—Deputy City Lord Shao Bing.
He wore a barbed smile, and his tone seemed to be joking, but the sarcasm and provocation in his voice were clear to everyone.
Chu Siyuan put down his wine glass, his gaze sharp as a knife as he shot at Shao Bing. His tone was low but carried an undeniable authority: "My things are mine to give to whomever I want; it's none of your business. If you want them, go buy them at the auction. If you're genuinely here to celebrate, then shut your mouth. Otherwise, please leave immediately; you're not welcome here!"
Upon hearing this, Shao Bing not only didn't back down, but instead chuckled smugly, his tone still unhurried, "Hey, Lord City Lord, why are you so angry? I was just joking, why take it so seriously? I was just asking a question, after all, you only have one crystal core, but you have two children. It's not a good look to favor one over the other, is it?"
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he slapped his forehead. "Oh, right, I almost forgot, our young lady failed her first awakening, so she probably won't need this level six magic rune core! Haha, City Lord, you are indeed very thoughtful!"
These words immediately sparked whispers among the crowd. Some frowned, while others looked thoughtful. Qiu Jingya, standing to the side, had a slightly somber expression and was about to speak when Chu Siyuan raised his hand to stop her.
Chu Siyuan's gaze swept coldly over Shao Bing, his tone growing increasingly calm, so calm it was almost oppressive: "Deputy City Lord, since you've reached this position, you should know your place. Today is Xiyue City's victory celebration, a moment of glory for every warrior, not a place for you to sow discord and cause trouble. If you feel it's not appropriate for you to stay, the door is over there; there's no need to force yourself."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a boulder crashing into a lake, shattering the smug smile on Shao Bing's face. Everyone in the banquet hall felt the chill in Chu Siyuan's tone, and for a moment, no one dared to utter a sound.
Shao Bing's expression froze for a moment, but he quickly put on a smile and pretended to be nonchalant: "Oh, Lord City Lord, please don't misunderstand, I didn't mean anything by it. Since you've said so, then I'll just take it as me being nosy. Let's not talk about this anymore, let's drink."
Just as Chu Qiuchi was about to get up to speak, Chu Yichen stood up first. His youthful voice stood out clearly in the silence, revealing an undeniable firmness.
“Vice City Lord Shao, I think you may have misunderstood something. In our family, the best things are always given to my sister first. It’s just a level six magic rune crystal core. My sister can use it to smash people for fun.”
His calm, unwavering eyes looked directly at Shao Bing. "So, you don't need to worry about this at all. I don't think Father is biased. On the contrary, I completely agree with Father's actions. In the future, I will personally find even more precious treasures for my sister."
Shao Bing's smile gradually froze, his lips twitching slightly, as if he had been rendered speechless by Chu Yichen's words. He chuckled dryly twice and picked up his wine glass to hide his embarrassment.
"Hehe, Young Master Yichen is indeed a promising young man, truly impressive! It seems I was overthinking things. Come, let's continue drinking!"
"Chenchen, sit down."
Chu Siyuan looked at his youngest son. Although his tone was gentle and reproachful, he could not hide the fleeting joy and pride in his eyes.
He looked up and glanced around, then continued, "Alright, that was just a boring interlude, don't take it to heart. Let's raise our glasses again, this is the moment we should be enjoying!"
Qiu Jingya slightly raised her eyes, glancing at Shao Bing with a hint of coldness, but the corners of her lips remained a faint smile, and she said nothing more. She elegantly raised her wine glass and exchanged pleasantries with the guests beside her, as if the unpleasantness just now had never happened.
However, the cold glint in her eyes made everyone's hearts tighten, and they all wisely changed the subject, no longer mentioning anything sensitive.
Chu Qiuchi quietly turned her head to look at her younger brother beside her, her eyes filled with a sense of relief and warmth. She smiled slightly, gently patted Chu Yichen's shoulder, and whispered, "Good brother, you really made our family proud today!"
Upon hearing her sister's praise, Chu Yichen proudly raised her chin, her eyes brimming with confidence, and her tone tinged with childlike pride: "Of course, don't worry, sister. With me here, no one can bully you."
Chu Qiuchi nodded, her smile deepening, but she said nothing more. She lowered her head and quietly ate the rice in her bowl, appearing nonchalant on the surface, but silently clenching her fists: This feeling of being looked down upon is truly awful!
Shao Bing didn't say anything more, but the fleeting resentment and sarcasm in his eyes didn't escape Chu Siyuan's notice. Chu Siyuan glanced at him coldly, then exchanged a knowing look with Qiu Jingya.
Under Chu Siyuan's deliberate manipulation, the atmosphere in the banquet hall gradually returned to its lively state, with laughter and cheerful voices echoing all around once again, as if the recent commotion was merely a brief interlude.
But some perceptive people knew that beneath this surface harmony, undercurrents were surging. Regardless, today's victory celebration was ultimately a moment of glory for everyone in Xiyue City, and no shadow could overshadow this moment of jubilation.
As night deepened, the city lord's mansion gradually quieted down from the day's hustle and bustle, and the lively victory celebration finally came to an end. Servants quietly tidied up the hall, and the lights were gradually extinguished, leaving only the bright moonlight shining through the windows, illuminating the peaceful world.
Chu Qiuchi lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. The scene of Shao Bing mocking him in public during the day kept replaying in his mind like a movie, and his heart was filled with resentment and anger.
She turned to the side, clenching her fist. "I was just about to give up, but now, humph! I'll fight for my pride. If my magical talent isn't up to par, I'll just train my body properly. I refuse to believe I can't become a strong person. After all, I was a black belt in Taekwondo in my past life. Maybe I can even forge a new path in this magical continent."
She took a deep breath, as if to expel all the resentment that had been building up in her chest.
Before closing her eyes, she silently prayed in her heart: "Gods and goddesses of Earth, please, please! I am, after all, the only child of our Earth on this magical continent, you must protect me! Bless me to awaken a great talent this time!"
Lost in her thoughts, she gradually drifted off to sleep.
In her dream, she saw a glorious battlefield, where she stood in the center of attention, clad in armor and holding a staff that radiated powerful energy.
Behind her stood countless people gazing up at her, cheering for her. That was the powerful force she had longed for, the goal she had pursued her entire life.
That night, her dream was exceptionally vivid, like a call from the depths of the universe. Perhaps her destiny was quietly changing, waiting for her to unlock its secrets step by step.