The Day After the Banquet

The day after the Gu Family's annual gathering.

The midday banquet had just concluded.

The venue quickly emptied out, leaving behind a hollow silence.

"Whew..."

Gu Yan sprawled on the sofa, his expression utterly drained. "I'm exhausted. The first thing I'll do when I become the family head is cancel this annual meeting."

"What's the point of putting ourselves through all this?"

His complaint drew a soft chuckle from Leng Qingqiu, who sat beside him. "This is a Gu Family tradition. You think you can just scrap it like that?"

"Even if the Gu Family agrees, the people of Jianghai might not."

Gu Yan sighed in resignation. "True. It’s probably bustling out there right now."

The Gu Family's annual gathering wasn’t just an internal affair—it was a festival for all of Jianghai.

While the family's private celebrations lasted only three days, the city-wide festivities hosted by the Gu Family continued until the year's end.

Leng Qingqiu, sitting close to Gu Yan, suddenly remembered something. "Ling'er took Ning Qian and Gu Yingying to the parade."

"I heard... they’re planning to livestream it?"

Gu Yan laughed. "Kids these days have endless energy."

Casually, he reached for Leng Qingqiu's hand and asked in a low voice, "There’s a street festival tonight in Jianghai, with performances and a whole food street."

"How about... we sneak out and have some fun?"

Though tempted, Leng Qingqiu hesitated. "Wouldn’t it be inappropriate to skip the family banquet?"

"Not at all. It’s perfectly fine," Gu Yan insisted. "Don’t tell me you’re not curious about the food?"

After a brief internal struggle, Leng Qingqiu’s craving won out.

"Alright," she agreed with a nod.

.........

.........

The atmosphere in downtown Jianghai had reached a fever pitch.

Even before dawn, eager crowds had already swarmed the streets, buzzing with anticipation for the annual spectacle hosted by the Gu Family.

The sidewalks were packed with people—faces painted in vibrant colors, some wearing elaborate masks. Children, dressed in dazzling costumes, tugged at their parents’ hands, impatiently asking when the show would begin.

Disguised as security personnel, martial artists from the Gu Family patrolled the area in uniform, their sharp eyes scanning the crowd to ensure everything remained under control.

This year’s celebration was different.

The emergence of the Night King had drawn martial sects from all over to Jianghai.

Now, hidden among the spectators, there might be other martial artists.

If trouble broke out, the consequences could be severe.

The central road had been cleared of vehicles, as if reserved for something—or someone.

A first-time visitor to Jianghai turned to the excited locals nearby and asked, "What’s going on here?"

"Is today a special holiday?"

"Ah, you wouldn’t know," a local replied. "This is a parade hosted by one of our city’s most prominent families. They hold it every year around this time."

"How long does the festival last?"

"The parades run all the way until New Year’s Eve. Every day, there’s a new performance, and the streets are lined with food stalls—all sponsored by the Gu Family."

"That’s insane. The Gu Family pays for all of it?"

"Absolutely."

"There’s even a dedicated parade route. During the performances, everyone else uses alternate paths to get around."

"Damn. That’s some serious influence."

As they chatted—

Suddenly.

A drum corps emerged at the starting point of the parade route, their vibrant uniforms standing out against the morning light.

Mounted on towering floats, they raised massive drumsticks, swinging them through the air with powerful precision.

The thunderous beat of the drums reverberated through Jianghai, shaking the very ground.

"It’s starting! The show’s starting!"

"Get closer!"

Excitement rippled through the crowd, faces alight with exhilaration.

Behind the drummers came wave after wave of performers.

First, the lion dancers—their movements both fierce and graceful. Every leap, every roll of the lion’s body drew gasps of awe from the audience.

The lions’ eyes gleamed with an almost lifelike intensity.

Next, a troupe of young female martial artists took the stage, their swords glinting in the sunlight as they moved in perfect sync with the music.

Each motion was elegant yet brimming with power.

Then came the Gu Family’s own martial artists, embodying legendary figures—some wielding swords and bows, others seemingly walking on air.

A few even appeared to stride across the sky itself.

Unfamiliar onlookers gaped in disbelief.

Pointing at the figures floating above, one asked, "Is that real?"

A local scoffed. "Of course not. They’re just using wires."

"But you’ve got to admit, the Gu Family knows how to put on a show."

The tourist nodded, finally understanding.

Meanwhile, the martial artists hidden in the crowd watched with equal parts amusement and awe.

Tsk. As expected of the Gu Family.

Even the performers were at least at the Houtian level.

This wasn’t just entertainment—it was a display of power.

"ROAR!"

Then—

A pitch-black alien creature was dragged to the front of the crowd by Old Gao, who was part of the performance, its neck tightly bound by an iron chain.

"Damn, that looks way too real."

"It's fake. There's a person inside that costume."

"Yeah, but where did the Gu Family find a special effects artist this good? The details are insane."

Some onlookers, unaware of the truth, marveled and chattered in admiration.

Meanwhile, the martial artists from various sects mixed in the crowd immediately sensed something was off.

Huh?

Isn’t that a Hellfire Tiger? How could the Gu Family just drag it out like this? Aren’t they afraid of disaster?

"ROAR!"

The Hellfire Tiger’s eyes burned crimson, the chains around its neck making it increasingly agitated and violent.

"Tch. Behave."

Old Gao yanked the chain, his gaze sharpening.

SNAP!

"ROOOAR—!"

As the chain tightened, the Hellfire Tiger let out a pained screech, its eyes bulging in agony. Unable to hold back, it opened its maw wide—

BOOM!!

Fireballs erupted from its mouth, shooting into the sky before exploding into dazzling bursts of fireworks.

"Wow! So pretty!"

"Mommy, look! Fireworks!"

The children in the crowd squealed in excitement.

"This performance is way too realistic. Are they really using props this convincing for fireworks now?"

A few bold kids weaved through the crowd, reaching out to touch the Hellfire Tiger—only to be sternly warned by security.

"Do NOT touch the props!"

"Waaah…"

"Why are you so mean? My kid just wanted to pet it! Don’t you have kids?"

"Yeah, you’re just a security guard. Who do you think you are?"

"........"

"I’m doing this for your own good."

"Pfft. Don’t lecture me. I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice in your life..."

The undercover martial artist disguised as security didn’t bother arguing, just sighing inwardly.

If only I could tell them how dangerous this thing really is. If it weren’t for Old Gao—a grandmaster—keeping it suppressed, everyone here would be dead.

Still, the Gu Family’s audacity to use an actual demonic beast for entertainment…

Typical of a Jianghai elite family.

Though he’d participated in these "large-scale live performances" before, the Gu Family’s extravagance never failed to shock him.

With the show proceeding smoothly, he pressed the earpiece for the team comms.

"Zone A clear. How’s it on your end?"

"All good here. But seriously, the Gu Family really gets the royal treatment every year with this stunt."

"The audience thinks it’s all special effects."

"HAHAHA… Don’t even get me started. There’s a girl here livestreaming, bold enough to pose right next to the demonic beast for selfies."

"I was sweating bullets just watching."

"Wait, civilians can get that close for streams?"

"Not a civilian—she’s from the Gu Family. That Dragon King Mountain disciple, Ning Qian, is standing right beside her. The beast’s acting like a tame kitten around them."

"Oh? The Gu Family has that much pull? Even a Dragon King Mountain disciple is playing bodyguard?"

"Who knows? Our job’s just to keep things under control."

"Fair enough."