As Andrew Han smiled calmly, it was as if a thunderbolt split the heavens, shattering the myriad calculations in everyone’s hearts and freezing their vivid, expressive faces in place.
Though the banquet was splendid, at this moment it was eerily silent.
There were many attendees, yet not a single one spoke.
Between heaven and earth, there was no movement—only the barely perceptible sounds of heartbeats, breathing, and the widened pupils of those struck by fear and dread.
“Who?”
“Who is that?”
Everyone trembled, their hearts quaking.
From the moment the voice of praise had sounded from the corner, everyone was already deeply shocked. No one could have imagined that someone would dare challenge the authority of a Titled Sequence master to his face... Until Quentin Su spoke, no one else had the right to comment or offer praise.
This was the ironclad order of things!
The higher one’s status, the more one abided by the rules.
It wasn’t just that rules made the world orderly; it was also because they were the beneficiaries of those rules, naturally compelled to defend hierarchy and strength.
On the other hand, sheer martial might was also truly intimidating.
So no one spoke, all waiting for Quentin Su to decide the fate of Eric Duke’s daughter, Autumn Duke.
Yet this voice didn’t just offer praise—it called Quentin Su by name and, in an unquestionable tone, told him to let the matter end here?
Heavens above.
One must have the courage of a lion—or be utterly reckless—to so brazenly disregard life and death.
The hall was deathly still.
Only Andrew Han, hand in hand with Monica Zhang, walked out calmly, unruffled by the storm.
A chill rose from the depths of everyone’s hearts as they sensed the imminent wrath of Titled Sequence master Quentin Su, and imagined the terrible price this young couple would pay... Of course, a very few people stared at Andrew and Monica, finding them somewhat familiar.
Before anyone else, Autumn Duke’s eyes widened in shock.
Her crimson lips formed a perfect 'O' for the first time, wide enough to swallow two small eggs whole. Her arched brows and bright eyes were filled with incredulity: “Th-this is—”
In an instant.
Quentin Su, sect master of Su Stele Sect, stepped forward with utmost respect, bowed deeply as if greeting an emperor: “Quentin Su pays respects to Venerable Han. I did not know you had personally come; please forgive me.”
Andrew Han replied with a mild smile, “It’s nothing.”
The Quentin Su before him—sect master of Su Stele Sect—was someone Andrew had once sparred with, a brief acquaintance. Moreover, his friend Kevin Lin was also a disciple of Su Stele Sect.
Beside him—
Monica Zhang smiled sweetly, glancing at the stunned Autumn Duke. The girl seemed to have realized the truth, her red dress frozen in place, looking especially charming.
(*^__^*) Heehee.
This was likely Monica’s first time showing off her martial prowess in public.
Though Andrew’s Venerable-level strength was hers by association, he belonged to her—and so did his power. Monica felt the unprecedented sensation of being the center of attention.
A little thrill bubbled up inside her.
She quietly stretched out her slender finger and scratched Andrew’s palm.
“Let’s go.”
Andrew gently squeezed the girl’s small hand, not even glancing at Autumn Duke, simply nodding to Quentin Su and Eric Duke. Super-Solid Inner Origin surged around his body.
Buzz!
A stream of cyan light, dominating the entire hall.
The golden, resplendent banquet was bathed in pure cyan. Andrew smiled calmly; Monica smiled softly. They looked like the most perfect couple under heaven, as the radiant light illuminated the hall. A streak of violet shot skyward, and they vanished from everyone’s sight.
“Monica, we weren’t too high-profile this time, were we?”
“Hmm, I think it was fine.”
“Wait... I still can’t stop thinking about those spicy fried chicken drumsticks. Let’s grab a couple before we leave.”
The violet light swirling overhead shifted slightly, and a mysterious force extended across hundreds of meters. Two plates of spicy fried chicken drumsticks traced a meteor-like arc, silently streaking from the edge of the banquet up into the sky.
Yet—
Apart from Quentin Su, no one noticed, as everyone was utterly consumed by shock.
This extravagant banquet, with twenty round tables and three or four long ones, and more than two hundred of Southvale Province’s upper-class elites, now seemed as if a hurricane had swept through, leaving them frozen like lifelike statues.
It was as if a tsunami had struck their hearts.
Everyone present was moved and stunned, their minds buzzing, barely able to think.
Venerable Han of Green Mountain Sect?
The greatest prodigy in human history—now called Venerable Han by all—had appeared here in person. It was almost beyond belief.
...
A middle-aged man’s eyes bulged, round as fish eyes, his hands trembling as he pushed his glasses back up: “Heavens, this is the first time I’ve seen Andrew Han in person.”
How could one not be awestruck, how could one not feel reverence?
Though he was a major official in Southvale Province, he’d never had the privilege to visit Andrew Han before.
...
“That was Venerable Han just now!”
Two or three young men exchanged glances, their faces flushed red with excitement. Overwhelmed, they could hardly find words to express their surging emotions.
A mix of shock and joy crashed over them like waves.
“He’s not just a Venerable, he’s the leader and greatest prodigy of our generation—the highest ideal for all martial arts students!” The youths stammered in low voices, hurriedly pulling out their phones and rushing toward the corner.
...
“What a pity.” A well-dressed, elegant middle-aged woman squinted her eyes.
Seasoned by years in business, she wasn’t easily shocked—just regretful: “My daughter, in looks, character, and talent, surpasses her peers. She’s good at housework, and her cooking is excellent.”
On further reflection—
That girl holding hands with Venerable Han—her looks might be a bit better than my daughter’s, but in terms of height, weight, and figure, she’s no match at all!
The elegant, well-rounded woman shook her head, secretly unwilling: “My daughter truly isn’t inferior! She just isn’t fated... If only she could marry someone like Andrew Han, she’d have all of Southvale at her fingertips.”
...
Everyone attending the banquet was, for the most part, composed and self-controlled.
After three or four waves of shock, order gradually returned. Everyone put on warm smiles, but their gazes toward Autumn Duke had changed dramatically.
Quentin Su nodded and left.
He hadn’t intended to pursue the matter further. Even if the engagement was broken, so what? In this era, failing to form an alliance didn’t mean becoming enemies.
Besides, Andrew Han had already spoken: let the matter end here.
A Venerable’s words were law; Quentin Su would never dare defy them.
This chapter isn’t finished yet~.~ Please click next page to continue reading!
Only at this moment—
Eric Duke finally realized, turning urgently to his beloved daughter Autumn: “What happened? Was Venerable Han really eating in the corner just now? I remember you went over there too.”
A Martial Lord’s mind was razor-sharp.
He might not catch every detail, but at least he remembered everything about those around him with perfect clarity.
“Mm.”
Autumn Duke pressed her crimson lips together.
Her delicate hands hung at her sides, clutching the hem of her pale red dress. Her swan-like chin trembled twice, as if she wanted to speak but couldn’t.
She never imagined—
That the man she’d criticized as a jealous, petty person was actually Andrew Han himself!
“To them, it’s probably just amusing.” Autumn Duke recalled the smiles of Andrew Han and Monica Zhang. Her flawless, pale face turned even paler as she bit her lip.
Eric Duke and his daughter Autumn, now understanding the whole story, exchanged silent glances.
Blind to the presence of a true immortal, only now did they realize the Venerable had come in person.
...
Time passed, and the cold wave gradually faded away.
The climate across nations returned to normal. As New Year's Eve approached in Huaguo, though the country remained tense from war, the air was still festive.
Suhe City, Han family living room.
Chen Shu got up early to tidy the house and was mopping the floor.
The bedroom door was open. Six-year-old Xiaoqian sprawled lazily on the bed, rolling around and then lying still, as if debating whether to get up.
“Xiaoqian, time to get up, no more sleeping in.” As her brother, Andrew Han took it upon himself to wake her.
“Okay.”
Xiaoqian opened her big, dark left eye, sneaking a glance at her brother Andrew Han. Hesitant, she buried her head under the covers, pretending not to see or hear him.
That’s right.
Her brother couldn’t see her now.
Andrew couldn’t help but laugh. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he looked at the pair of short legs sticking out: “With my innate sense of truth, I should be able to investigate a little, shouldn’t I?”
Times had changed.
With his spiritual diamond and the practice of the Consciousness Constellation method, Andrew believed he could finally try to uncover the mystery of Xiaoqian’s extraordinary origins.
So—
He reached out his left hand, gently grabbed Xiaoqian’s short legs, and slowly pulled her out. For a moment, the entire bedroom seemed frozen.
“Wah!”
Xiaoqian’s face was stunned, frightened by the rough treatment. She burst into tears: “Mama mia, help!”