Chapter 406 - 291: Tracking, The Strange Engagement Banquet (Part 2)

Chapter 406: Chapter 291: Tracking, The Strange Engagement Banquet (Part 2)

"Sir, be careful!"

[Zige: Eliminate Killing Intent]

Strange pictographs flickered in Tang Wen’s eyes.

The Alien Spider, which had been ramming in place trying to break free of its Spiritual Power bonds, suddenly fell quiet.

"Squeak."

The spider froze on the spot.

The woman’s eyes were filled with utter disbelief. "How could this be? Is the spider possessed?"

[Spiritual Soothing]

BZZZ~

His Spiritual Power vibrated.

The spider moved its eight legs and turned its head to look at Tang Wen.

A flicker of confusion seemed to pass through its cold, compound eyes. ’Why does this guy in front of me look so... agreeable?’

BZZZ, BZZZ BZZZ

He hit it with three waves of spiritual soothing.

The spider, ignoring the Spiritual Power bonds, struggled to crawl toward Tang Wen.

The woman’s jaw dropped.

Like a wooden puppet, she stiffly turned her head, watching the spider crawl all the way onto Tang Wen’s palm.

At some point, a thick glove made of Exotic Beast Hide had appeared on Tang Wen’s hand.

The woman subconsciously wanted to say, ’The scent of another Exotic Beast will provoke it.’

But then she remembered the Alien Spider’s behavior. She opened her mouth, but said nothing, merely staring wistfully at Tang Wen.

Sensing her gaze, he looked at the spider in his palm and asked casually, "You need this spider’s venom?"

"Yes, yes! And some of its leg hairs and silk would be even better!" The woman nodded repeatedly, her face full of envy as she looked at Tang Wen.

The bitterness in her heart was no less than that of a simp who drags himself out of bed at 3 a.m. to deliver condoms, Plan B, and a feast to his goddess’s hotel room.

She had painstakingly tended to the Alien Spider, serving it all sorts of precious medicinal herbs.

She’d offered up the Pills she had accumulated over many years as if they were worthless.

And what was the result?

She didn’t even dare to touch the thing.

Yet Tang Wen had forcefully woken it from its slumber the moment they met!

And he had instantly calmed its mood.

Then, it had proactively crawled onto Tang Wen’s glove, acting exceptionally docile.

The woman closed her eyes in anguish.

A man watching his goddess fawn over another man couldn’t have felt more heartbroken.

"Alright, can you sense your master?"

"Squeak squeak! (You are my master!)"

Tang Wen clearly perceived the Alien Spider’s thoughts.

"Your *mistress*."

"Squeak? (I don’t have a mistress.)"

It seemed that while the Alien Spider had reached the Extraordinary Level in terms of venom and abilities, its intelligence hadn’t kept up at all.

After some back-and-forth, Tang Wen took the spider back to Feng San Niang’s small building.

It took great effort to make the creature, with its worryingly low IQ, understand who it was supposed to look for!

"Squeak squeak! (Follow me!)"

Tang Wen mounted Hu Qi, with the little white cat, Xiaobai, perched on his shoulder and the spider resting on his left hand.

Like a compass, the spider continuously adjusted the direction of its head on his glove.

Tang Wen followed its guidance, speeding all the way into the city.

Inside the city, a cluster of buildings belonged to the Commerce Association.

In a small plaza at the very heart of the complex.

Four hollow bronze pillars were filled with lamp oil and burned brightly. The pillars glowed red and purple, creating a very festive atmosphere.

On temporary wooden lamp stands set up in the plaza hung round stones.

Anyone who had been underground would know that these were Fluorite.

The Fluorite emitted a bright, soft light, illuminating the small area as if it were a night with a full moon.

"Hall Master Zhao, Water Gang Leader, Patriarch Lu, Patriarch Chen... Everyone, thank you for gracing my humble daughter, the Third Lady’s, engagement banquet! My future in-law, Third Master Huang, and I would like to raise a toast to you all."

The Commerce Association’s president and Huang San raised their cups in a brief gesture, then drained them in one gulp.

The guests’ expressions remained neutral, showing neither joy nor sorrow. They were exceptionally calm.

The Commerce Association president’s adopted daughter, Feng San Niang, was to marry the son of Huang San—an Extraordinary Level degenerate who indulged in every vice imaginable!

This was no small matter.

Once the two sides were truly joined by marriage, their families would inevitably grow closer.

What did this mean?

Was the Commerce Association siding with the Huang Family?

Furthermore, today’s engagement banquet had been arranged very suddenly.

Logically speaking, the bride was the famously beautiful Feng San Niang, adopted daughter of the Commerce Association’s president, one of its few heirs with considerable Talent.

Her status was roughly equivalent to that of a young master of the Black Water Gang.

The groom was Huang San’s eldest son.

And Huang San was one of the true leaders of the Huang Family.

A man of his status had already taken a wife long ago.

His current wife’s status wasn’t bad by the standards of an ordinary family.

But in the eyes of the Huang Family or the Commerce Association, it was nothing.

If Feng San Niang married into the family, she would surely be the principal wife.

With the bride and groom holding such statuses, the engagement banquet should have naturally been a grand affair!

If not a city-wide celebration, it should at least have been more magnificent. Invitations should have been sent to the heads of the various powers at least half a month in advance for a lively, proper event.

Shui Qianjun, Hall Master Zhao of the Giant Rock Martial Arts Hall, and Patriarch Chen secretly communicated via voice transmission.

They had all only received their invitations yesterday.

The Commerce Association president and Huang San had even stated on the invitations that today was merely the engagement, and they were inviting everyone to act as witnesses.

The implication was not to bring too many people.

It would have been better not to add that line. Once said, it made it sound like a banquet with ill intentions.

Shui Qianjun and the others didn’t dare to be careless. Not only did they put their gangs on high alert, appearing relaxed but ready for action...

...but they also each brought their most capable Fifth Grade masters.

But upon arriving, it seemed to be just about drinking wine, eating food, and discussing their children’s marriage.

The whole affair reeked of something strange.

How could Shui Qianjun, Hall Master Zhao, and the others be in the mood for drinking?

They waited patiently, one by one, to see what kind of trick the Huang Family and the Commerce Association were planning.

But they waited and waited, and Huang San and the Commerce Association president didn’t bring up anything else. They just kept plastering on smiles and urging everyone to drink.

Shi Lei couldn’t hold back any longer. After a quick, silent exchange with the others, he spoke up, "Congratulations to you two old brothers on gaining a fine daughter-in-law and son-in-law! We’ve been drinking for half the night. Shouldn’t it be time to see the young couple?"

Everyone nodded in agreement. "Old Stone is right. It’s time we saw the Third Lady and Nephew Huang."

That’s right!

’Stop with the nonsense.’

’We’re all thousand-year-old foxes here, so what’s with this charade?’

’If you have something to say, just say it.’

’I’ve been guessing all damn night.’

The Commerce Association president impassively refused, "They’re just two youngsters, what’s there to see? Third Master Huang and I are merely using this as an excuse to get together and have a drink with you all."

Huang San added, "That’s right! We are all the busiest of the busy. When we’re not engaged in Martial Arts Training, we’re bogged down by mundane affairs. It’s rare we get a chance to drink together! Come, come, bring more wine!"

A line of servants entered in single file, each holding a wine jar over half a meter tall.

"Come, drink!"

Huang San and the Commerce Association president laughed inwardly. ’These guys must be going crazy with suspicion!’

’Heh heh, let them wonder!’

In reality, the two of them had summoned the upper echelons of the city’s various major houses.

They truly had no other motive than for these people to act as witnesses.

But not for their children—for themselves.

The situation in Ganshan City was now very clear.

The Huang Family and the faction formed by the Black Water Gang, the Giant Rock Martial Arts Hall, and the Chen Family were subtly pitted against each other.

The Commerce Association president had originally been a fence-sitter, even leaning more toward the Black Water Gang’s side.

But after today, everyone would know that the Ganshan City Commerce Association—or at least the faction controlled by its president—was going to fully side with the Huang Family.

Since ancient times, a marriage alliance, especially one between heirs, has always been a symbol of binding interests!

But what the Commerce Association president truly wanted was to share in the great secret hidden within the Huang Family’s "Flesh Factory."

For this, he had spared no expense, selling out his adopted daughter to throw his lot in with the Huang Family. His sincerity could not be called into question.

If the Huang Family didn’t give him his promised share after the wedding, the consequences of him turning against them would be equally terrifying.

’See? The Huang Family is so unreliable they can’t even keep their own in-laws on their side.’

Which of the neutral or fence-sitting powers in the city would dare to follow the Huang Family after that?

The shrewd ones, like Shui Qianjun and Zhao Chuang, remained impassive.

If it was time to drink, they would drink. They clinked glasses and drained their cups!

The more straightforward ones, like Shi Lei, showed their impatience.

’Drinking?’

’Where can’t I go to get a drink? Why do I have to come drink with you two old bastards?’

’And it’s such a plain affair. There isn’t even a singer.’

"Something isn’t right up ahead."

Hu Qi stopped at the edge of the small plaza.

Hearing this, Tang Wen was startled.

Hu Qi was at the Peak of Fifth Grade. If it said something was wrong, the problem was likely huge.

"What do you mean?"

"I sense several Fifth Grade masters up ahead. They aren’t intentionally hiding their auras."

"Twenty-one!" Tang Wen grabbed the dozing cat from his robes and tossed it out. "Go, get backup! Feng San Niang... I’m going to have her. I am *definitely* going to save her!"