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Chapter 35 - Banquet of Veiled Daggers

The gates of Valehart Manor loomed like silent sentinels upon the snow-swept ridge, their lacquered timbers half-buried under frost. Torchlight flared along the courtyard walls, and the banners of the Valehart line—silver quills crossed upon a field of crimson—snapped in the night wind.

At Juliana's side, Liam Ardent walked with measured pace, his gaze cool yet attentive. Though the manor presented a scene of warmth and hospitality, the System's quiet pulse in his chest whispered caution. Within these walls lay no mere feast—it was a theater where daggers hid beneath smiles.

As the doors swung wide, a man emerged. He was tall, broad-shouldered, his beard trimmed but streaked with gray. His expression was solemn, though his eyes flickered with shrewd calculation. At his side trailed Cedric Valehart, jaw set in bitterness, and several retainers in heavy cloaks.

System Scan

[Detected: Lord Alistair Valehart – Patriarch of Valehart Manor]

[Realm: Early First-Rate Expert]

[Title: "The Quill of Heaven," inheritor of Zhu Ziliu's famed calligraphy-arts swordsmanship]

Liam's inner breath stilled. So this was Juliana's father—the master of the manor, once disciple of a direct line tracing to the Peach Blossom Isle legacy. A man who cloaked sharp ambition with refinement, much like a calligrapher's brush concealing the lethal edge of the sword.

For the briefest instant, when Alistair's gaze brushed over Liam, a chill as sharp as steel flickered beneath the surface. Then, as quickly, it was gone, replaced by genial warmth.

"Ah, so this is the famed Liam Ardent," Lord Alistair declared, stepping forward with open arms. His voice was full-bodied, a host's tone woven with deliberate courtesy. "The youth who struck down the Abbess of Emei herself, bearer of the Celestial Blade. Your visit to my humble hall is an honor that brightens our lineage."

He laughed, rich and deep, as though no shadow lay behind his words.

System Update

[Lord Alistair Valehart's Suspicion +20 → Current: 40 (Cautious Interest)]

Liam inclined his head, his expression a mirror of polite calm. "The honor is mine. Your daughter's grace has already outshone the manor's reputation."

Juliana flushed, eyes glimmering as she slipped closer to Liam's side. Cedric, standing just behind his father, nearly trembled with rage at the display. His teeth ground audibly, his fists clenched tight.

The hall soon filled with the fragrance of roasted meats and spiced wine. Musicians plucked zithers, their notes carrying a deceptive serenity over the undercurrent of tension. Retainers and branch members of the Valehart line bowed as Juliana led Liam to the seat of honor.

Lord Alistair raised his goblet. "Sir Ardent, allow me to toast you first. Word of your medical skill and sword prowess has already traveled beyond the northern peaks. To stand beneath my roof with such a guest is fortune indeed."

They drank. Yet Liam's senses were not dulled by wine. Each word from the patriarch, each glance from Cedric, each calculating pause—they were strokes of a larger calligraphy, one meant to weave him into their designs.

Juliana, however, leaned close, her voice a warm whisper. "Pay no mind to their schemes, Lord Ardent. Tonight, you are mine alone. Whatever trials await, I shall see you treated as our honored guest." Her hand brushed his wrist beneath the table, a fleeting touch but filled with promise.

System Update

[Juliana Valehart's Affection +6 → Current: 111 (Cherished Bond)]

Cedric's goblet slammed onto the table. "Father," he growled, voice strained, "how can we honor an outsider more than blood? This… wanderer brings only discord between our house and kin!"

A hush fell. Lord Alistair's brow furrowed, though his tone remained velvet. "Cedric. The heavens favor those who adapt. Do not mistake pride for loyalty."

But Cedric's glare never left Liam. His envy had curdled into something sharper, more dangerous.

System Update

[Cedric Valehart's Hostility +10 → Current: 100 (Implacable Foe)]

The feast pressed on. Platters of venison and mountain fowl, delicate wines from distant provinces—each served with flourish. Yet Liam noted with detached calm: no trace of poison touched the dishes. For all his hostility, Lord Alistair was no fool; poison at first meeting would have been far too blunt a brushstroke.

Instead, conversation became the true battleground.

Retainers flattered Liam's skill in healing; others pressed subtle questions about the Celestial Blade. Each inquiry seemed harmless, yet all circled the same hidden truth: the manor's interest in his sword and in his person was not mere courtesy.

Juliana, unwilling to yield ground to her kin, cut across them with laughter. "Father, cousins, must every guest be treated as prey for your questions? Sir Ardent is not here to satisfy your hunger for secrets. He is here because I, Juliana, wished it so."

Her words carried defiance, rare even for her. The hall rippled with unease.

Lord Alistair's smile never broke, though his eyes cooled. "Daughter, a manor is not governed by affection alone. Yet—" he raised his goblet toward Liam—"perhaps the fates have indeed turned our wheel in a fortunate direction."

The feast concluded with musicians striking brighter chords, servants clearing away remnants of venison bones and wine goblets. Guests began to disperse, though Cedric lingered with simmering eyes.

At last, Lord Alistair rose. "Sir Ardent, the night grows deep. I have arranged chambers for you. May you rest well in Valehart Manor."

Juliana seized the moment. "Father, forgive me, but Lord Ardent must lodge in my own hall. It is nearest, and I will see to his comfort myself."

The words struck like thunder. Cedric nearly choked on his own fury, and whispers flared among the retainers.

Lord Alistair's brows twitched, but his smile held fast. "Very well. If our heiress insists, who am I to deny her judgment?" His eyes, however, were daggers concealed behind calligrapher's grace.

System Update

[Lord Alistair Valehart's Suspicion +10 → Current: 50 (Wary Observation)]

Juliana slipped her arm through Liam's once more, her voice lilting with triumph. "Come, my lord. The snow deepens, but my hearth burns warm. Tonight, let no storm trouble your rest."

Selestine's absence weighed faintly—her promise to fetch the Orchid Hand scroll still lingering. Yet for now, Juliana had claimed the field.

As they departed the banquet hall, Liam's senses sharpened. The music had faded, the torches guttered in the wind, and above the distant ridges the faint roll of drums trembled once more across the mountains. War stirred beyond these walls, and within them, a subtler war had already begun.

He allowed Juliana to lead him deeper into the manor's wing, though his thoughts remained steady. To linger was to invite intrigue. Yet to flee was to squander opportunity.

For now, he would stay.

System Update

[Quest Triggered: Secrets of Valehart Manor]

[Objective: Uncover the true ambitions of the Valehart lineage. Reward: Unknown]

The doors closed behind them, sealing away the echoes of the banquet. Ahead lay warmth, politics, and perhaps more dangerous snares than steel itself.

And in the silence of the corridor, Liam's fingers brushed the hilt of the Celestial Blade at his side, its presence a quiet reminder: the path of the cultivator was never paved by trust alone.

Glossary – Chapter 35

Lord Alistair Valehart – Patriarch of Valehart Manor, known as "The Quill of Heaven," inheritor of Zhu Ziliu's lineage of calligraphy-sword arts. A cautious, calculating leader whose courtesy masks sharp ambition.

Cedric Valehart – Cousin to Juliana, proud disciple of Valehart branch. His hostility toward Liam Ardent has now reached its peak, marking him as an implacable rival.

Juliana Valehart – Heiress of Valehart Manor, wielder of Sunpierce Divine Finger. Her affection for Liam grows bolder, and she openly defies her family's designs to keep him near.

Valehart Manor Banquet – The political gathering where Liam was first presented to the patriarch. Veiled courtesy cloaked hidden motives, while Juliana boldly secured Liam's stay in her own quarters.

Quest Triggered – "Secrets of Valehart Manor," signaling deeper intrigue within the Valehart household.

This story is inspired from various Wuxia novels ,so if you find any similarities please dont mind . and if you think this is boring wait till the Dual cultivation starts ,Thank you .

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