Professional Licker

Hallucination...

This must be a hallucination!

Both sides widened their eyes in disbelief. The notoriously ruthless Island Master Sa had actually uttered such words at this moment.

A hundred Transformation Dao Sturgeons had been caught, yet he wasn’t enraged—instead, he praised the other party?

Wasn’t this like swallowing one’s pride and forcing a smile?

Such a thing would never happen to Island Master Sa!

The crowd sat frozen in shock, their faces twisted with expressions of utter bewilderment.

Yi Feng also stared in astonishment, struggling to process the situation.

Weren’t they supposed to be picking a fight?

Why was he suddenly being so accommodating?

This wasn’t following the script at all!

As the atmosphere grew increasingly awkward, Yi Feng didn’t know how to respond. All eyes turned toward the head seat, where Sa Donglai only grew more flustered under the scrutiny.

Fortunately, his years of experience allowed him to quickly regain composure and smoothly shift the topic.

"Sir, let’s set this matter aside for now. The banquet shall begin."

As he spoke, Sa Donglai glanced at the wine on the table, seizing the opportunity to vent his frustration and divert attention.

"Is this the kind of wine served at today’s banquet?"

"Just because I’ve been in seclusion for a few days, you’ve grown so lax that you’ve forgotten the proper etiquette for hosting guests on this island?!"

"Bring out new wine! The finest wine! The ten-thousand-year Snow Brew!"

With this scolding, the elders on the left snapped out of their daze and hastily ordered the maids outside to comply.

Within moments, every table was furnished with the legendary Snow Brew Immortal Wine, its intoxicating aroma filling the hall and leaving everyone even more stunned.

In the blink of an eye, the banquet’s standard—and Island Master Sa’s attitude—had undergone a complete transformation, as different as heaven and earth!

Elder Liu stared at the Snow Brew before him, utterly dumbfounded.

Having served Island Master Sa for thousands of years and guarded the Snow Lake diligently, he had contributed no small merit. Yet, he had only ever caught a distant whiff of this wine’s fragrance once—when the island master had caught a single Transformation Dao Sturgeon.

Today, however, everyone was granted the chance to savor this divine liquor.

Not only had there been no punishment, but Island Master Sa had even generously offered this treasure. It was beyond comprehension.

What in the world was happening?

Was this a case of "soft words before harsh actions"?

The previously tense atmosphere, thick with the threat of conflict, had abruptly shifted into one of warm hospitality and cheer. The banquet’s mood had changed so swiftly that it left everyone reeling.

Both factions wore expressions of deep contemplation and suspicion.

Yi Feng, meanwhile, was even more baffled.

What the hell...

Just as he had started provoking them, they responded with smiles, even serving him fine wine. All the taunts he had prepared were now stuck in his throat.

As the saying goes, you don’t hit a smiling man.

Faced with such hospitality, how could he continue picking a fight?

After an awkward pause, Yi Feng tentatively met Sa Donglai’s gaze.

"Island Master Sa."

"I really did catch over a hundred Transformation Dao Sturgeons. Aren’t you angry?"

The moment he spoke, all eyes turned toward the island master.

Sa Donglai, now the center of attention, wore a face full of smiles.

"Sir, you jest. How could I possibly be angry?"

As he spoke, he uncorked the wine jar before him.

The rich, intoxicating aroma spilled forth, and his smile deepened.

"Yi Feng, you must not know this."

"That Snow Lake is brimming with spiritual energy. I once released many beloved spirit fish into its waters, only for these damned Transformation Dao Sturgeons to appear out of nowhere and devour them all. Truly despicable!"

Seemingly recalling the painful memory, Sa Donglai gritted his teeth slightly.

After pouring a cup, he stood and approached Yi Feng, filling his glass as he continued.

"Though the Transformation Dao Sturgeons are valuable, they are utterly loathsome. Not only did they eat my spirit fish, but they also hid deep in the lake, shamelessly avoiding capture!"

"If I drained the lake to catch them, it would ruin the lake’s spiritual essence. I’ve been seething with helpless rage for years! The only thing I could do was charge immortal crystals, hoping to attract skilled anglers who could rid me of this scourge."

"And then you arrived, Yi Feng. You caught those wretched sturgeons and finally freed me from this torment, restoring the Snow Lake to its former purity. How could I not be grateful?"

By the time he finished speaking, the wine cups were full.

Sa Donglai raised his glass with a warm, sincere smile.

Yi Feng listened, half-convinced.

"So that’s how it is..."

"In that case, the Transformation Dao Sturgeons are like an invasive species from my past life..."

Sa Donglai nodded eagerly, and the two clinked their cups together.

The scene was so harmonious and warm, it was as if they were old friends reuniting.

The others, however, were left gaping in shock.

Absurd...

This was downright absurd!

The Transformation Dao Sturgeons were clearly treasures—how had they been twisted into pests in just a few words? And the most outrageous part was that this nonsense had come from Island Master Sa himself, delivered with such conviction!

That pained expression earlier—it had seemed so genuine!

If not for the fact that everyone present had lived on Sunlight Island for years, they might have actually believed this nonsense!

What the hell was going on?!

Wasn’t this supposed to be a trap? How had the tone shifted so drastically?

Island Master Sa lying through his teeth was one thing. Serving the treasured immortal wine was still somewhat acceptable. But now, in front of everyone, he was spinning wild tales and even pouring wine for Yi Feng?

Every action screamed "seasoned bootlicker."

Was this even the same Island Master Sa?

Xu Baichuan and Luo Pengfei stared blankly, their minds racing with suspicions, their faces etched with expressions of utter disbelief.

At the neighboring table, Lu Xinlan’s delicate eyes trembled, her heart roiling like a stormy sea.

She had witnessed countless grand scenes since childhood.

But the rapid succession of bizarre events today, coupled with Island Master Sa’s sudden shift in attitude, had caught her completely off guard.

In just a few breaths, the answer had crystallized in her mind.

What kind of man was Island Master Sa?

There was no way he would show such leniency to an outsider—unless...

Yi Feng’s cultivation had reached a level that even he dared not provoke, far surpassing their previous estimates.

Such a realm couldn’t possibly be the previously assumed Heaven Tier Sixth Rank.

Perhaps Seventh Rank.

Eighth Rank!

Or even higher?!

Only then would a figure like Sa Donglai lower himself so shamelessly to flatter him!

To force Island Master Sa into such a drastic change of attitude upon their first meeting—Yi Feng’s strength was truly terrifying. And Sa Donglai’s sharp instincts were beyond ordinary people, befitting a ten-thousand-year-old monster.

As the situation took this sudden turn, Lu Xinlan’s heart pounded violently, her mind reeling. Even she now held little significance in this banquet.

The hall fell into silence.

Both factions sat frozen, enveloped in an unprecedented sense of shock.

Feeling the awkward tension, Yi Feng grew even more uncomfortable.

This was ridiculous.

What was supposed to be a confrontation had turned into a gratitude feast!

Seeing the legendary ruthless island master right before him, Yi Feng still couldn’t let it go.

"Island Master Sa, I’ve heard you’re a man of formidable methods. Forget the fish—but I’ve repeatedly broken your rules by fishing here. Aren’t you even a little angry?"

His suspicious gaze landed on Sa Donglai, who instantly felt a chill run down his spine.

That single look made his entire body tremble with fear, as if an ant under the gaze of a towering giant. He wanted nothing more than to vanish into the ground.

Terrifying!

This pressure was unlike anything he had ever experienced!

Just then, Elder Liu, who had been frowning in silence, seemed to sense an opportunity for revenge. He mustered his courage and spoke up to fan the flames.

"You—"

But before he could finish, Island Master Sa cut him off with a wave, urgently explaining.

"Sir, please understand."

"This was merely a misunderstanding, and certainly not my intention. It must be this disgraceful wretch who exploited my reputation to act recklessly out there!"