Xue Jing followed the driver, Xiao Zhao, through the automatic doors of the Ruizhu Hotel. Despite his plain attire, his exceptional appearance and demeanor drew the attention of many onlookers as they passed through the lavish lobby.
"Hmm? Who's that guy?" a young man with a strong build, dressed in white tights that emphasized his muscular physique, asked in confusion as he pointed at Xue Jing from a distance.
"Judging by his outfit, he seems to be a martial artist. He doesn't look like one of the second-generation heirs here for the banquet... Which dojo is he from? Is he part of the security detail? He seems too young for that," the young man added.
A man in a suit standing next to him glanced at Xue Jing and then at Xiao Zhao, who was leading the way, before chuckling. "Master Li, that must be one of the senior disciples from Canglong Dojo."
Li Zhaoquan, the muscular young man, furrowed his brows. "I've met all six disciples of Canglong Dojo, even the youngest girl, but I don't recognize this boy. Did they take on a new disciple?"
Someone nearby couldn't resist making a joke. "What, you're not allowing people to accept new disciples now?"
Li Zhaoquan turned to face the speaker. "Zhang Daqing, you too? What are you doing here?"
Zhang Daqing, a tall and slender man dressed in a navy blue suit, strolled forward and casually rested his elbow on Li Zhaoquan's shoulder, nodding towards Xue Jing in the distance.
"The 'Dragon Lord' Li Qi has mentioned before that he would take on seven disciples. This could be the seventh one. They must have kept him hidden until now, waiting to make a grand entrance. No one in the martial arts circle has heard about him yet. Li Qi might have been secretly training him for a big debut."
Li Zhaoquan sneered. "What can a kid who hasn't even grown all his hair do? This commission is probably just a formality, so Li Qi sent him to earn some credit and gain experience. As long as he doesn't drag us down, it's fine."
He glanced at Xue Jing's appearance and smirked. "Maybe they sent this pretty boy to catch the eye of some rich ladies."
Zhang Daqing shook his head and sighed. "Don't be so sure. You might not be able to take him on. Look at his stance—his lower body is steady, and every step is measured. His upper body doesn't sway at all. That's a sign of strong body control and mastery of force."
Li Zhaoquan dismissed the observation, flexing the large muscles on his arms. "What's the point of mastering force if you can't deliver it? Even if he can use one unit of strength to achieve ten times the unit of the desired effect, he'd still be crushed by a punch at full force. It's meaningless."
Zhang Daqing rolled his eyes. "Talking to you muscleheads is pointless."
---
Xiao Zhao, still leading the way, handed Xue Jing a blueprint as they approached the hotel lobby.
"Master Xue, take a look," Xiao Zhao said as he spread out the blueprint.
"This is the layout of the banquet hall," he explained, pointing to a circled area on the map. "We've hired six masters in total, each responsible for a different area. You'll be covering this section."
He added, "Once we enter the banquet hall, I'll leave everything to you."
Xue Jing studied the map carefully, committing it to memory before nodding. "Understood. You can count on me."
As they walked toward the elevator, Xiao Zhao pointed out a few things to keep in mind, and Xue Jing absorbed the information diligently. He was there to work and took his responsibilities seriously.
After passing through several elevators, Xue Jing and Xiao Zhao arrived on the 22nd floor of the Ruizhu Hotel.
"Just continue down the corridor, and you'll reach the banquet hall. Master Ye has reserved the entire floor for today's event. He's instructed that no one is to approach unless absolutely necessary. I can't go any further, so I'll leave you here," Xiao Zhao said respectfully.
Xue Jing nodded, turned, and walked toward the banquet hall. As he rounded a corner, he spotted the double doors leading to the hall. He approached and pushed them open.
Xue Jing had imagined that a banquet hosted by second-generation elites would be a refined affair, perhaps like those in the movies—elegantly dressed men and women sipping wine and discussing topics far removed from the lives of ordinary people.
But the moment he opened the doors, he was hit by a loud bang.
"Everybody——"
"Hurry up!!"
The hall was filled with flashing neon lights and the sounds of a wild party. Xue Jing was taken aback, staring at the DJ booth in the center of the room, where a DJ in hip-hop attire was enthusiastically working the crowd.
"Huh? Did I come to the wrong place?" Xue Jing muttered to himself as he backed out of the room and checked the floor number.
22nd floor, banquet hall.
"This should be the right place..."
He opened the door again and re-entered the chaotic scene. The pounding music filled the air once more as Xue Jing took in the sight of the banquet hall. The room was adorned with exquisite crystal chandeliers, walls decorated with artistic murals and sculptures, and a luxurious patterned carpet underfoot—clearly designed with a classical aesthetic in mind. And yet, in the center of it all, there was an incongruous DJ booth.
"Why not just go to a nightclub?" Xue Jing thought, bemused by the scene before him. These second-generation elites had booked an extravagant hotel banquet hall, only to turn it into a makeshift disco.
He observed the dozens of well-dressed young people dancing to the loud music and shrugged it off. He was here to handle security, and what the guests did was none of his concern.
Even if he had walked in to find them doing something even more absurd, his job for the evening would remain unchanged.
Xue Jing began to patrol the area he was assigned to, comparing the hall's layout with the map he had memorized. From a distance, he noticed several individuals who, based on their posture and demeanor, were likely fellow martial artists hired by the hotel for security.
As the raucous music came to an end, several large crystal chandeliers lit up, brightening the once-dim hall. A dozen staff members entered, dismantled the DJ booth, and carried the pieces out of the hall.
Xue Jing nodded to himself, realizing that the dancing was just one part of the evening's entertainment, not the main event.
As the lights illuminated the room, making him more visible, a group of wealthy young women nearby caught sight of him, their eyes lighting up with interest.
Before they could approach, a burly man in white tights strode toward Xue Jing.
"Are you the new disciple of Hidden Dragon Dojo?" the man asked directly, wasting no time in getting to the point.
His approach drew the attention of those around him, and soon, several other guests began to take notice.
Not far away, a group of men and women holding wine glasses also turned their gaze toward the commotion.
"Hmm? What's going on over there?" asked Ye Chenglin, the host of the banquet, with a curious look.
"It seems like two of the security guards hired by the hotel are having a disagreement," someone responded, their voice tinged with interest.
"Come on, let's go check it out!" Ye Chenglin said with a smile.
The group immediately moved toward the spot where Xue Jing and the man in white tights were facing off. Among them was Pei Youguang, who followed closely behind his elder brother, Pei Tiancheng.
As they drew closer, Pei Youguang glanced casually at the two figures in the midst of the growing tension. He raised his glass to take a sip of wine—only to choke on it when he realized who he was looking at.
"Pfft! Jing... Brother Jing?"
Pei Youguang sputtered in shock, nearly spitting out his wine. He stared in disbelief at the familiar figure standing in the center of the room.