Felix Yu felt a headache coming on. The Cloud Guildmaster looked so young and gentle, yet now, facing the Ghostmaster, she refused to yield even an inch!
Their gazes clashed in midair, and it seemed as if everyone could hear the crackling tension between them.
The Ghostmaster curled his lips into a faint, provocative smile and said, "Is the Cloud Guildmaster afraid to sit with me, or do you simply not care about my presence at all?" His eyes locked onto Morgan Shangguan's, and to outsiders, it looked like he was pressing her relentlessly.
For a moment, everyone felt a bit sorry for Morgan Shangguan, but most were more curious to see how the Cloud Guildmaster would handle this situation. In truth, many were intrigued by Fiona Yun, especially the righteous sects—they had heard her name but never met her. Now, seeing her in person, their curiosity only grew. How could someone like her be the leader of the Cloud Guild, a sect second only to the Ghost Guild among the demonic factions? Though most present were seasoned martial artists who knew better than to judge by appearances, it was still hard for them to believe!
At this moment, if she admitted she was afraid to sit with the Ghostmaster, her aura as the Cloud Guildmaster would falter. But if she claimed not to care about the Ghostmaster at all...
No matter how bold Fiona Yun might be, she surely wouldn't say such a thing now! The Ghostmaster's reputation was not built on mere rumors, while the Cloud Guild had only recently risen to prominence. Even if its predecessor was the Demonhunters Guild and held some influence, few believed it could openly challenge the Ghost Guild.
In the silence, Felix Yu's eyes suddenly lit up. He quickly instructed someone to set up another table beside the Ghostmaster's. This way, they would be together, but not quite together—surely that would be acceptable?
But clearly, Damien Gray had no intention of accepting this gesture. He kept his gaze locked on Morgan Shangguan and asked, "So, Cloud Guildmaster, have you made your decision?"
To everyone listening, it sounded like he was asking whether the Cloud Guildmaster would concede or if she wanted to fight it out.
Morgan Shangguan's lips curved into a faint smile as she replied, "How could I dare disregard the Ghostmaster? If the Cloud Guild ever offends you in the future, I hope you'll be generous enough to forgive us." Her tone was calm, but the words sounded almost like a challenge.
Everyone present had their own thoughts. The rivalry between the Ghost Guild and Cloud Guild was wonderful news for the righteous factions. Noah Duanmu leaned over and whispered to Liam Duanmu, "Brother, if the Ghost Guild and Cloud Guild start fighting, you won’t have to worry so much!"
Liam Duanmu frowned and sighed, "If the Ghost Guild and Cloud Guild go to war, the martial world will be thrown into chaos." The Ghost Guild was too powerful, and since Fiona Yun dared to challenge the Ghostmaster, the Cloud Guild must be nearly as strong. In such a short time, she had grown the Cloud Guild to its current scale—he doubted Fiona Yun was just a reckless youth.
If these two great powers clashed, the martial world would surely be swept up in a storm! And now, even Felix Yu seemed to have his own hidden agenda. It was clear that the current peace would not last much longer.
Under everyone's gaze, Morgan Shangguan calmly walked over to Damien Gray and sat down beside him. The next moment, a hand reached under the table and held hers. Morgan's smile deepened slightly, and she discreetly glanced at the man beside her, giving his hand a gentle squeeze in return.
The tense atmosphere eased, and the hall became lively once more. Yet beneath the bustle, a sense of oppression lingered. Morgan Shangguan was unfazed; Maxwell Jing and Ethan Gu were accustomed to this as well. Whenever the Ghostmaster appeared, such tension was only natural.
Maxwell Jing sensed the stares directed at him and those around him. His eyes darkened, but he didn’t turn to look—he already knew who it was.
Seeing the mood had settled, Felix Yu was about to speak when a bold voice suddenly rang out at the entrance.
Quentin Hua strolled in lazily, a bright smile on his face. "Ah... Felix Yu, your hospitality leaves much to be desired! How could you start the banquet without waiting for your Lotus Sect Master?"
Only now did everyone remember this notable figure. Normally, Quentin Hua would never be overlooked, but tonight, all attention had been on the intense undercurrents between the Ghostmaster and Cloud Guildmaster. It was no wonder they hadn’t noticed his absence.
Felix Yu, preoccupied with major concerns, had neglected his duties as host. He quickly apologized, "That was my oversight. Lotus Sect Master, please, take your seat!"
Quentin Hua swept his gaze around the room, then walked straight over to Maxwell Jing. On Maxwell’s right sat Arnold Iron, the leader of the Iron Thunder Gang—a burly, imposing man—while on his left was Ethan Gu. Without hesitation, Quentin Hua reached out and pushed Arnold aside with a single finger, taking his seat and nestling coquettishly against Maxwell’s shoulder. "Little Max, you didn’t wait for me either. You’ve truly broken my heart…" he said sweetly.
Arnold Iron was a huge, rough man—no ordinary woman could move him even an inch. Yet Quentin Hua, with just a gentle push of one finger, nearly sent him tumbling to the floor. Staggering back several steps before regaining his balance, Arnold wanted to get angry, but remembering Quentin Hua’s identity and the obvious strength behind that push, he could only grit his teeth and endure. He wasn’t foolish enough to let pride put him in danger!
Maxwell Jing frowned, looking at the overly radiant smile beside him. He leaned in and asked through gritted teeth, "What exactly are you trying to do?"
Quentin Hua grinned, "I’m helping you! You don’t want to be disturbed, do you?" As he spoke, his gaze drifted—intentionally or not—toward the disciples of the Healer’s Sanctuary.
Lucas watched the two acting so familiar and frowned. He realized he’d been overthinking—the two weren’t involved at all. Remembering the past, a trace of guilt flickered in his eyes. If only he’d known how things would turn out, he never would have…
Sensing that probing gaze fade away, Maxwell Jing gave a quiet snort and said to Quentin Hua, "I’ll handle this myself!"