Fantasy: Immortality Begins with Absorbing Demons

Chapter 761 During the Banquet

On either side of the procession were beautiful maids dressed in thin gauze, carrying flower baskets. As Han Yi and his entourage moved, a carpet made of colorful flower petals slowly appeared.

In the distance, the faint sound of a pipa being played could be heard, melodious and ethereal, like an echo in a snow-capped valley or a clear stream formed by melting glaciers.

"Brother Han..."

As Han Yi's closest friend, even though the manor in front of him belongs to the Fang family.

Hu Ping remained at the front of the welcoming team, serving as the main greeter, smiling as he was the first to step forward to greet them.

However, his gaze towards Han Yi was somewhat complicated, and he didn't know what to say. Unbeknownst to him, this person, whom he once regarded as needing help and thought to be far inferior to himself, had silently climbed to a position that he never dared to dream of.

In the Huayang area, everyone submits to one person.

Truly above all others.

"Old Hu, our friendship... doesn't seem that distant, does it?" Han Yi smiled and walked over, quietly breaking the ice.

The night I clashed with Fan Hongchou.

If it weren't for Hu Ping's timely intervention, allowing Zhong Han to escape smoothly.

If Qiao Xiu were to capture Zhong Han and use her as a hostage, it would be disastrous.

Even if it cannot change the fate of the government army's defeat, at the very least it can create an extremely difficult problem for Han Yi.

Furthermore, considering Hu Ping's repeated assistance to Han Yi and the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect in the past, Han Yi, no matter how high his strength, status, or position, would never forget this good brother.

"That's true. I thought you'd turn your back on me now that you've made it big," Hu Ping joked, then turned to Han Yi and said, "Come, come, let me introduce you."

"My father, Hu Liuyun, needs no further introduction... This is the patriarch of the Fang family, Fang Chongde. When it comes to the richest man in Huayang, he is undoubtedly the one! If you need money, just ask him, and he'll give you plenty!"

This is You Bufan, the head of the You family. He has a very wide network of connections. In the vast Yunzhou region, if you encounter any problems, you might as well mention his name. Perhaps, there will be some pleasant surprises…”

The three people who were named all nodded and smiled in response.

Han Yi knew these three people very well, but in such a formal setting, he still had to go through the motions.

He smiled and greeted them in the same way. "Oh, right. And these two as well." Hu Ping looked at the other two.

"This gentleman is the current Censor of Huayang, Lord Dai'an. He is exceptionally talented and resourceful, and is a favorite of the Governor..." He drew out his words, as if with deeper meaning.

"What celebrity? He's just a scapegoat... Sect Leader Han, it's a pleasure to meet you." Dai An was clearly a little nervous, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and smiling obsequiously at Han Yi.

"Nice to meet you." Han Yi smiled but didn't say anything more.

The Imperial Censor was responsible for oversight duties; in essence, he was a person sent by his superiors to oversee administrative affairs.

Hu Liuyun was the governor of Huayang County, and Dai An was naturally the one who supervised him.

This person and the Hu family probably didn't get along well before, which is why Hu Ping's introduction was somewhat sarcastic.

Skipping over this little episode, Hu Ping quickly introduced the last person: "This... is Commandant Lü Fan... who is also the current military commander of Huayang, responsible for the security and safety of the Huayang area."

Lu Fan was dressed in a black and red outfit. He had a majestic appearance and a tall, upright figure, exuding an aura of authority that commanded respect even without anger.

However, his gaze towards Han Yi was slightly unnatural, his eyes darting around as if he were afraid and trying to escape something.

Han Yi thought for a moment and then understood the reasoning.

The Commandant was in charge of the troops in the Huayang area, and was usually selected from the government army.

Speaking of which, the previous captain seems to have been Qiao Xiu.

As a result, Han Yi crushed the woman to death in one fell swoop.

The previous commander was Kou Hu's younger brother, Kou Lie. It seems that Kou Lie's death was also related to Han Yi.

Even the mysterious disappearance of Fan Hongchou, the commander of the imperial guards, is still connected to Han Yi. Han Yi could easily add another title to his list: Captain Assassin.

Furthermore, in the past few days, at least dozens of the generals of the government army have died at the hands of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect.

This Lü Fan may have had some colleagues implicated, or he may have even witnessed it himself.

Therefore, his fear of Han Yi is understandable.

Han Yi glanced at Lü Fan and nodded casually, taking it as a greeting.

Given his reputation as a fierce and ruthless figure in the army, the fact that he didn't attack upon meeting him was already a sign of respect.

The others didn't mind and, after the introductions, warmly welcomed Han Yi and invited him to take a seat.

Afterwards, Hu Ping led the way, guiding Han Yi and his group into the manor.

The reputation of the wealthy Fang family did not come out of thin air.

The manor is already extremely luxurious from the outside, and the interior decoration is even more astonishing.

Gems and pearls are scattered everywhere, embedded in the walls, as if they were free.

Enter any room, and you'll find it brightly lit and adorned with jewels.

Inside the manor, there is even an artificial landscape called "Huanjinsha" in the clear river.

On a man-made artificial mountain more than three meters high, rivers converge to form a waterfall, with several pieces of raw gold ore placed below.

As the waterfall cascades down day and night, countless fine, delicate golden sands, like stars, drift with the current, shimmering with a soft golden light under the setting sun, creating a beautiful, star-like spectacle.

Even someone as knowledgeable as Han Yi couldn't help but repeatedly praise such beautiful scenery.

As dusk fell, the sun began to set in the west.

Hu Ping then led his group into the banquet hall and arranged the seating. At Han Yi's table were naturally occupied by high-ranking figures from various families.

Hu Liuyun, Fang Chongde, You Bufan, Dai An, Lü Fan, and others, as well as Hu Ping, Fang Jiulian, and so on.

In fact, there is not much to say.

They're all just saying these nice, flattering words.

There wasn't much actual content.

Han Yi simply listened quietly, sipped his tea, and occasionally smiled as a response.

The purpose of this banquet hosted by the three families was to apologize and acknowledge his current status.

Han Yi didn't need to say anything. Just by coming, he was essentially accepting their sincerity and resolving the conflict.

Therefore, the conversations at his table were superficial and empty, far less substantial than those at the other tables.

Accompanying Han Yi were Zhong Han, Gongsun Di, Chen Yuxiang, and other outstanding young figures from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect.

Their job was to verify the contents of the apology list and relay it back completely and accurately.

This is the real, serious business.

After the apologies were tallied and verified, and everything was finished, the sky darkened completely, and the banquet officially began.

Hu Ping recounted several amusing anecdotes from when he first met Han Yi, eliciting bursts of laughter from everyone at the table. After a round of toasts, the guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely.

By the time the banquet ended, it was already late, and many of the members of the Myriad Beasts Sect who had accompanied them were already slightly tipsy.

Fortunately, the Fang family had made proper arrangements and had prepared accommodations in advance, so they had the maids lead the group to the back room to rest.

As for Han Yi, he was led by Hu Ping to a separate residence on the side.

The moonlight, like water, created a picturesque scene. Large swaths of silvery light poured down, dancing like shards of silver on the shimmering surface of the water.

Feeling the river breeze blowing on your face, cool and refreshing, makes you feel relaxed and happy.

"Old Han, you've really made a name for yourself this time. Your deeds have spread throughout Yunzhou," Hu Ping remarked.

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I still wouldn't believe it. You've managed to overthrow Fan Hongchou, that mountain of a man."

"Just good luck. I also had the help of a benefactor," Han Yi said with a smile.

"Luck? Luck can't stop Fan Hongchou's direct attack." Hu Ping's tone carried a deeper meaning.

But he didn't press the matter further. Everyone has their own opportunities and circumstances, and as long as their friendship remained, that was enough.

The two strolled slowly along the riverbank.

"Please keep an eye on the Hu family these days. There's a judicial officer position in the prefectural city that I need to take up," Hu Ping said suddenly, pausing in his steps.

"Fucheng? What, are you going to Fucheng to take over the Hu family business and get some experience there?" Han Yi said with a smile.

The judicial officers who participate in military affairs hold relatively low-ranking official positions and have numerous nominal responsibilities, but possess little real power.

These are generally choices made by second-generation disciples as a stepping stone to gain prestige.

"There's no other way. It's time for me to share the burdens of the family. Our Hu family has suffered many misfortunes in recent years. We need to settle the succession arrangements as soon as possible to at least put people at ease." Hu Ping said with a sense of helplessness.

If he had a choice, he would also like to pursue a path of martial arts, like Han Yi, using his power to intimidate and lead the Hu family to a higher level.

However, compared to Han Yi, he who originally boasted of his exceptional talent was like a firefly trying to compete with the bright moon, showing a significant gap.

Furthermore, since getting married, he has gradually become more composed, his frivolous nature has faded, and his focus has returned to his family, relatives, and clan. He has become increasingly disgusted with his past life of fighting and killing in the martial arts world.

After weighing the two options...

Hu Ping decided to temporarily suspend his martial arts cultivation, change his focus, and concentrate on forging a new path amidst the ups and downs of officialdom.

"Very well. With your talent, you'll achieve great things no matter which choice you make. If you do well in the city, I might even need to rely on you." Han Yi joked. "After all, our Yuanmiao Sect has some businesses in the city, and even my two senior brothers are active in the area."

Everyone has their own ambitions and choices.

Hu Ping's choice cannot be called wrong. It can only be said that it is a path that suits him.

Not everyone can be like Han Yi, possessing a power panel that allows him to ignore any obstacles and grow stronger time and time again.

In fact, once you reach a certain level, it's normal to not make any progress even after ten or eight years of practice, no matter how much you cultivate.

After Hu Ping broke through to become a Grandmaster, he remained stagnant for a long time, and even with the support of resources within the Grandmaster Association, he could not see any progress.

The entanglements of family, relatives, and friends also greatly distracted him, leaving him no time for anything else.

Therefore, Han Yi was not surprised by his choice.

But I couldn't help feeling a little sentimental.

The path to becoming stronger and more successful is always like this: gradually moving further and further away, becoming a lonely king.

The two strolled around casually, soon crossing the river area and arriving at a garden and pavilion area.

Hu Ping gave a brief introduction to the origins of the manor, interspersed with some anecdotes about the Fang family's forceful acquisition of the estate.

Of course, it also contains the bloodshed and darkness hidden beneath the seemingly upright methods.

They walked another ten meters or so.

The two arrived at an exquisite courtyard. "Have a good time and get some rest. Who knows when we'll meet again?" Hu Ping stopped and smiled.

Two women dressed in light gauze came out and respectfully greeted Han Yi.

Both women were elegant and beautiful, and at first glance, they looked remarkably alike.

They look like twins, with differences only visible in the details.

"You flatter me. There will be plenty of opportunities." Han Yi shook his head, waved goodbye to Hu Ping, and followed the two women toward the resting area.

"My lord. The night is cool. If you need anything... such as warming the bed, please feel free to ask." The beautiful woman on the left bit her lip, her face slightly flushed.

She has a faint red mole on the corner of her mouth, which makes her look extremely charming and alluring when she is shy.

"Hmm." Han Yi nodded, ignored her, and turned to walk towards the bedroom.

This courtyard clearly offers excellent privacy. The bedroom doors alone are more than four fingers thick, solid and heavy, providing superb sound insulation.

However, as soon as Han Yi pushed open the door, he was stunned by the scene before him.

On the large, square wooden bed, there was a delicate pink blanket that could comfortably accommodate ten people.

A woman was lying on the blanket.

The woman was stunningly beautiful, with long, flowing hair. Her collarbone was breathtakingly white, and a thin, white veil gently covered most of her body.

However, the two bright red spots and faint blackness could not be concealed at all, appearing only faintly.

Her limbs were firmly restrained, her body twisting slightly, her breath coming in ragged gasps, as if she were experiencing arousal. "...Fang Liuying?"

Han Yi narrowed his eyes slightly and immediately recognized the woman's identity from the portrait Zhong Yunxiu had given him.

Zhong Yunxiu took his marriage very seriously from the very beginning.

He arranged blind dates for several women in succession.

This firefly is one of them.

The reason Han Yi was so impressed with her was simply because he never actually saw her and was stood up.

Don't think about it.

This is undoubtedly another extra "compensation" offered by the Fang family to express goodwill and beg for forgiveness.

No wonder Hu Ping's last sentence sounded so strange...

He said he had a great time, and the way he looked at him was extremely strange.

"..."

Han Yi paused for a moment, then strode over. The sound of his footsteps seemed to startle Fang Liuying, who was trying her best to suppress her emotions.

She opened her eyes and saw Han Yi standing in front of her; tears streamed down her face instantly.

Even so, the rosy glow on her face only grew more radiant, and the soft moans emanating from her mouth were captivating.

It's like I've taken some kind of drug; I can't control myself at all.