Chapter 139: Opening Ceremony

　　Lu Mingshu went back to her room, hugging the boots tightly.

　　“This hide is not bad, I’ll keep it to make you a pair of shoes.” That’s what he once told her.

　　However, the hide had to be processed first, and it couldn’t be done in a day. Time was tight back then, so she never got it.

　　She never expected that she would receive a pair of boots made out of hide five years later.

　　Was it Yan Wugui who gave the package to the servant girl? Other than him, there’s no one else who would do this.

　　Lu Mingshu stared blankly at the boots, and there was a strange sensation in her heart.

　　Memories were always beautiful with time. Those short two weeks with him now seemed warm to Lu Mingshu.

　　If he knew I’m in Zhongzhou, why didn’t he come to meet me? Is it that his identity cannot be known?

　　She felt something bulging out slightly from the boots on her fingertips. Lu Mingshu slowly took out a paper ball from the boots.

　　Safe and sound, do not worry.

　　She looked at these six words. It must be Yan Wugui then. He knew that I was looking for him, so he sent someone over to deliver a message. Is it because he doesn’t want me to continue looking for him? Or is it that he really can’t meet me? Doesn’t that mean I troubled him when I mentioned him to the Alioth Star-Lord?

　　Lu Mingshu bit her lips and tore the paper into pieces.

　　Since she didn’t know about Yan Wugui’s situation, the best thing to do was nothing.

　　…

　　When Lu Mingshu woke up the next day, the Flying Immortal Palace looked totally different.

　　In one night, the main palace was filled with a colourful canopy. Rare flowers, colourful lanterns, and spiritual birds decorated the Flying Immortal Palace. The spiritual birds made it look like the palace came out of a fairy tale.

　　The younger disciples were in high spirits. They ran around, and their laughter filled the place, bringing it to life. It was hard to witness such a scene elsewhere.

　　When the sun had risen up, it shone on the Flying Immortal Palace, making the palace shine brightly. A long bell followed the sunrise.

　　Everyone from Nine Jade Palace gathered at the courtyard. Upon hearing the bell, the chaperone Kang Tian stood up, “Let’s get going.”

　　The peak was packed like sardines in a can as more than a thousand disciples from each sect went up with their leaders and elders.

　　Even though it was packed, everyone was behaving in an orderly manner.

　　When the bell stopped, everyone stopped as well.

　　A ray of red light shone down on the peak in the direction of the main palace. The red light shot down onto the rooftop. Mist covered the rooftop, and the light disappeared. When the mist dispersed, there was a woman in a purple gown.

　　“Dear ladies and gentlemen, I’m Xiahou Shan.”

　　Xiahou Shan was dressed fancily in a pretty evening gown, and she wore a pearl crown on her head, giving off an aura that she was wealthy but earnest.

　　She slowly prepared herself before she started her speech, “The gathering of heroes – the Qilin Festival. I’m here representing the king and queen. We are sincerely thankful for your participation…”

　　While Xiahou Shan was making her opening speech, Tan Yubing nudged Lu Mingshu.

　　“Look – the barbarians,” she whispered.

　　Lu Mingshu looked over. The barbarians were further away from the sects. They were all dressed in capes, and they had horns on their heads. It was a totally different style compared to the rest of the area.

　　“That’s weird; why did they invite the barbarians to the Qilin Festival?” Tan Yubing commented softly. “Are they competing with us too? I heard that they are unaware of what etiquette is, and they are hot-tempered. What if they suddenly go on a killing spree?”

　　Something struck Lu Mingshu’s mind, “Wait, they don’t stay at the hotel, do they?”

　　“Nope, they don’t.”

　　The barbarians arrived at Tianyun City at the same time as them, and they even got into a conflict with them. After that, Tan Yubing had no idea where they were arranged to stay.

　　“Since that’s case, Zhongzhou should have taken precautions. Anyway, we have so many elders in the Spirit Realm here. If they really want to fight, our elders will most likely win, right?”

　　Tan Yubing pondered for a while and laughed, “I have too many groundless fears.”

　　While they were chatting, Xiahou Shan had finished her speech, and there were fireworks.

　　Among the fireworks, there was a red cloud surging the palace. It stopped on top of the rooftop, dispersed, and turned into specks of mystic lights like pearls floating in the starry night sky that surrounded a couple who slowly descended to the rooftop.

　　Everybody’s eyes were on them.

　　“Wow!” Lu Mingshu heard some younger disciples gasp in awe.

　　The guy wore a king’s robe and had a crown on his head. There was no doubt that he was the king of Zhongzhou. To most people’s surprise, he only looked about thirty, which was way younger than his actual age. Rather than having the look of a serious tyrant, he looked like a young martial artist who only cared about learning more to upgrade himself and nothing else that happened in this world.

　　As for the woman, she was simply… beautiful. Even that word couldn’t perfectly describe how good-looking she was. She had a babyface and eyes which shone brightly like stars. Her eyebrows were arched perfectly to match with her red lips. It was as if her face was made of magic. Even the fancy dress she was wearing couldn’t compare with her face. She was beautiful just with her bare face.

　　Now Lu Mingshu knew who Xie Lianzhen took after. With such a beautiful mother, it was hard to grow up to be ugly.

　　Lu Mingshu was so starstruck by the queen that she didn’t hear a single word that the king said.

　　The queen’s appearance was totally different from her strong character. She was smiling throughout and looked absolutely gentle, like the perfect wife and mother, always cooperating with her husband and smiling all the time.

　　After the king made his speech, both of them settled themselves, and the opening ceremony began.

　　Delicacies and fine foods were sent up to the tables consecutively, and performance had started, lightening the mood.

　　Younger disciples were all in a good mood. None of them enjoyed the boring speech, but the current festivities lightened up their spirits.

　　Lu Mingshu was distracted, so she didn’t pay attention to a single delicacy that was sent up.

　　Seeing that she had her eyes on the main palace, Shao Zhengyang smiled, “Does Junior Sister Lu also think that the king is easy-going? I wouldn’t know that he’s in the Assimilation Realm if it wasn’t mentioned.”

　　Lu Mingshu nodded her head absent-mindedly. “Ah, sure….”

　　Suddenly a familiar figure entered her eyesight; “Who’s that?”

　　“Who?”

　　“The one talking to the queen.”

　　Shao Zhengyang looked over in that direction. “Oh, that’s State Master Jia Yan. She’s the daughter of the king of Yijun – the brother of the king of Zhongzhou.”

　　No wonder she addressed Xie Lianzhen as a cousin, but not by blood.

　　Shao Zhengyang seemed to be interested in the topic, since he continued on, “The royal family doesn’t have many people. The king of Zhongzhou only has one brother, and the king of Yijun only has a daughter. Counting the prince, they only have two for the next generation. The king of Yijun has been trying to find a son-in-law, but this State Master is too spoiled, so it’s hard to find one.”

　　Of course, she’s spoiled, Lu Mingshu thought. She came to harass me because of such a small thing. Looking at how she treats Xie Lianzhen, maybe she’s interested in him? Wow. Their family is so messed up.

　　“And that’s the prince.”

　　Lu Mingshu looked over in the direction where Shao Zhengyang was pointing. A teenager was chatting happily with the queen, and both of them had smiles on their faces. The queen looked at him lovingly and adjusted the crown for him.

　　Mingshu then looked over to where the Seventh Truth Platform was seated.

　　As one of the Big Dipper Seven Star Lords, Xie Lianzhen was right in front, which made him easily spotted.

　　His clothing was formal today. He was dressed in dark blue, which made his pale skin stand out more. He seemed to be too absorbed in the performance on stage to even spare a glance toward the main palace.

　　Lu Mingshu’s heart squeezed upon seeing this scene.

　　They were a family, and yet he wasn’t related to them… just like her in the Nine Jade Palace.