"So in your manor, the word 'invite' means carving it into someone's door with a knife?"
— Lin Zhou
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[1] The Invitation Kneeling at the Street Corner
At the street corner, the black-gold armored warrior remained kneeling on one knee, both hands presenting an intricately carved golden token.
On its surface, a red gem was inlaid at the center, with a single "西" (Xi) character carved into it—sharp as if cut by a blade.
Lin Zhou glanced at it, then took a step back. "You've got the wrong person. I live in the Spirit Herb Workshop, no relatives with the surname Xi."
The warrior spoke in a low voice: "The master said—if you refuse, he will come in person to invite you."
Before the words had even faded, Crown Prince Chiyan clang drew his blade, the tip pressing against the warrior's chest. "Who gave you the courage to threaten him under my eyes?"
Honglei, the Blood Prison Witch, slowly raised her eyes, her smile turning cold. "Oh? Come in person to invite him…? Why not come in person to die?"
The Dragon Clan Saint Son snapped his folding fan shut, his smile gone. "Does your Xiling Royal Manor think the Dragon Clan is hard to discipline, or that my temper is too mild?"
Li Xinglan opened her little notebook and wrote three words—[Eliminate in Secret].
Lin Zhou slapped the table. "Hey, hey, hey, stop scaring people! I haven't even paid for my soup yet!"
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[2] The Return Gift
Cold sweat began to bead on the warrior's forehead, but he still gritted his teeth. "Young master, the master insists you attend the banquet. This is the token."
Lin Zhou was about to refuse, but Crown Prince Chiyan had already reached out to take it, sneering. "Fine. Since the invitation has been delivered into my hands—let's send a return gift."
Five minutes later—
The wooden bucket that had been holding tofu soup at the street corner was replaced with a two-meter-tall… wine vat filled with chili water.
The Crown Prince grinned brightly. "Tell your master, I'll bring people to his banquet—but first, let him sample our return gift."
Honglei casually tossed in a handful of her special bloodflame petals. "Shelf life three seconds. Drink it, and you'll run a fever for seven days."
The Dragon Clan Saint Son elegantly dropped in a chunk of dragon bone. "Replenishes qi and strengthens the body."
Li Xinglan pasted three sealing talismans onto the vat—[Do Not Open], [Beware of Rampage], [May Explode].
Lin Zhou covered his face. "This… won't directly start a fight, right?"
Crown Prince Chiyan smirked sideways. "What's there to fear? If it does, it's the perfect warm-up."
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[3] Preparations Before the Banquet
Back at the Spirit Herb Workshop, the "Protect-the-Master" squad went into emergency combat mode.
Crown Prince Chiyan took charge of "show-of-force" duty, with three full squads of Imperial Guards patrolling the entrance to the workshop.
Honglei led her Bloodshadow Guard, preparing all manner of unspeakable hidden weapons and poisons.
The Dragon Clan Saint Son dispatched two young dragons to follow Lin Zhou, disguised as "pets."
Li Xinglan covered Lin Zhou with layers of protective talismans—she didn't even spare the soles of his shoes.
Lin Zhou: "I'm just going for a meal, not fighting a boss."
Crown Prince Chiyan: "It's different—this is diplomacy."
Honglei: "Even more different—this is a death banquet."
Dragon Clan Saint Son: "What I fear most is anyone plotting against you."
Li Xinglan: "Anyone with schemes will have to make it out of the banquet hall alive first."
Lin Zhou: "…"
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[4] On the Way to the Banquet
The Xiling Royal Manor sat in the north of the city, grand and imposing, its gates hung with massive bronze beast-head rings that pressed down with suffocating weight.
As the squad arrived at the entrance, the manor's doorman approached with a beaming smile. "Honored guests, please—"
He didn't finish before Crown Prince Chiyan stepped forward, shoving the gate open with the back of his blade. "Tell your master to come to the door and greet us!"
Honglei leapt up the steps and perched atop a stone lion at the gate, her eyes flashing with cold light.
The Dragon Clan Saint Son waved his hand, and the two young dragons circling above let out low, resonant roars.
Li Xinglan had already taken out her notebook—[Xiling Royal Manor · Structural Survey · Potential Attack Points].
Lin Zhou: "Can't you at least let me go in and eat first?"
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[5] The Banquet
The Xiling King himself did not appear. Instead, greeting them was a refined-looking young man with a cultured smile—the Xiling Heir.
He raised his cup in a toast. "Young Master Lin Zhou, my father has long heard of your great name—"
Crown Prince Chiyan cut in coldly. "And what great name has your father heard? 'Champion of the Spirit Herb Workshop's Field-Turning' or 'One Hoe Uncovering a Spirit Vein'?"
Honglei smiled faintly. "Or perhaps 'Whoever touches him dies'?"
The Dragon Clan Saint Son fanned himself. "Whichever it is, I was there in person."
The Xiling Heir's smile stiffened slightly before turning toward Lin Zhou. "Might the young master be willing to speak with me in private?"
Lin Zhou had just opened his mouth when four voices pressed down at once—
"No."
The air instantly froze.
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[6] Foreshadowing
Midway through the banquet, a servant hurried in to whisper something in the Xiling Heir's ear.
His expression flickered for an instant, but he quickly recovered, smiling as he raised his cup. "In that case, tonight's banquet will simply serve as a warm-up on my father's behalf. If you have the time—please return tomorrow."
Lin Zhou's stomach sank. "Did I… just step into a big trap?"
Crown Prince Chiyan, Honglei, the Dragon Clan Saint Son, and Li Xinglan—four pairs of eyes met, all holding the same thought:
> The Xiling Royal Manor—absolutely suspicious.