Of the twelve who advanced, three were Innate First Layer, and the remaining eight were all Postnatal Great Perfection.
After the tournament ended, the Drew Family arranged a lavish banquet for everyone.
It was obvious that everyone was excited, since tomorrow they might marry the goddess-like Miss Irene Drew. Of course, two people remained rather calm—Ian Song and Liam Lee.
“Brother Lee, you don’t seem all that happy?” Ian Song raised his glass and asked Liam Lee.
“You’re not much different.” Liam Lee smiled.
Their glasses clinked in midair with a crisp sound. Ian suspected that Liam Lee had also noticed something odd.
Still, Ian found it strange. Irene Drew’s cultivation had already reached Innate Sixth Layer peak, and her charm technique was nearly supernatural—she could cast it on hundreds at once. He himself was unaffected due to his strong spirit, but Liam Lee was only Innate First Layer; how did he break free of Irene’s charm so quickly?
And what was the real purpose behind her martial tournament for marriage?
She’s strong and not lacking in looks—why would she worry about not finding a husband?
“How should I address you, friend?”
Suddenly, a man in blue, holding a wine bottle in one hand and a glass in the other, walked up to Ian Song with a grin.
“Ian Song.” Ian replied calmly.
The blue-robed man raised his voice: “So you’re Brother Song! You really had good luck today, getting two byes in a row. Come on, let me toast you with this bottle.”
“Are we that close?” Ian said coolly. “I don’t like drinking with people I don’t know.”
The blue-robed man’s expression suddenly turned cold. “You’re looking down on me?”
“Do I know you?” Ian’s tone grew even colder.
“You...!”
Ian continued, “I don’t even know you. How could I look down on you?”
The blue-robed man was left speechless, but secretly grew more resentful toward Ian. After a while, he finally said coldly, “Fine, very fine. You’re already this arrogant before even becoming the Drew Family’s son-in-law. I guess you really don’t care about any of us, do you?”
Ian caught the malicious intent behind the blue-robed man’s words. It was obvious he wanted to turn Ian against the whole group.
But was Ian really afraid to go against this crowd? Of course not.
Still, he had no interest in being manipulated by a nobody, so he said, “I do look down on scheming little men like you. Besides, you’re just you—no right to speak for anyone else. So drop your dirty tricks. Do you really think everyone else is as dumb as you?”
A few people had started to resent Ian because of the blue-robed man’s words, but once Ian exposed his scheme, they realized they’d almost been used as pawns. Instead, they turned their resentment on the blue-robed man.
The blue-robed man was furious and roared, “You bastard! Stop slandering me. If you’ve got guts, let’s fight a couple rounds—I want to see if someone who got through on lucky byes actually has any skill!”
Ian ignored him and instead smiled at Liam Lee, “Brother Lee, do you hear a strange sound?”
Liam Lee was momentarily stunned, then smiled and asked, “What strange sound?”
“Naturally, it’s the sound of a dog barking.”
Hearing Ian’s words, Liam Lee glanced at the blue-robed man.
That look made the blue-robed man’s anger surge. He shouted, “You’re asking for it!” and struck at Ian’s head with his palm.
“Careful, Brother Song!” Liam Lee’s expression changed and he called out in warning.
“No worries.”
Ian smiled at Liam Lee and casually struck out with his own palm.
Bang!
The blue-robed man, who had just lunged forward, was instantly slapped and sent flying out of the hall.
Everyone was stunned by the scene.
Wasn’t he just Postnatal Great Perfection? How did he send someone of the same level flying with a single slap?
The blue-robed man got up outside the hall, his face dark with anger. He charged back in and attacked Ian again.
Bang!
Another completely casual slap.
The blue-robed man became a flying figure, sent out of the hall even faster than before.
“What...?”
The first time might’ve been because the blue-robed man was careless, but what about the second time?
For a moment, everyone looked at Ian differently—with more seriousness and suspicion.
The blue-robed man climbed up from the ground, shot Ian a venomous glare, but in the end didn’t rush back in. Instead, he shouted, “You little bastard Song, I’ll remember you! One day, I’ll tear you to pieces!”
As soon as he finished, he used his movement technique and fled outside the Drew Estate, clearly too embarrassed to stay.
Ian didn’t care at all about the blue-robed man’s threats. But after that, the other contestants all came over warmly to toast Ian.
After several rounds of drinks, Irene Drew appeared and shared a glass with everyone. The nine other men became almost unnaturally excited, as if they’d taken stimulants.
As she left, Irene Drew gave Ian a meaningful look.
After the banquet, everyone was led to their new quarters by the maids.
The rooms were elegantly decorated, and the maids who brought them there didn’t leave, but waited outside to be at their service.
But Ian noticed something suspicious—the maids were all Innate Second Layer experts. Rather than serving, they were clearly there to monitor them.
Still, Ian didn’t care and went straight to bed after returning to his room.
The next morning.
After getting up, Ian was served washbasin and breakfast by a maid.
After eating, Ian exercised a bit in the open area outside his room.
About two hours later, one of Irene Drew’s personal maids arrived and said coldly, “Young Master Song, my lady invites you.”
“Alright.” Ian nodded. Inwardly, he thought, Looks like the real mystery is about to be revealed.
Led by the personal maid, Ian passed through several corridors and arrived at a pavilion.
“My lady is on the second floor. Go up quickly!”
The personal maid stopped outside the pavilion, speaking coldly, her tone urging him on.
“Alright!”
Ian replied and stepped into the pavilion, then walked up the stairs to the second floor at a leisurely pace.
As soon as he stepped onto the second floor, he caught a faint, unusual fragrance, and a playful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The second floor was divided in two by a hanging curtain. On the other side, a graceful silhouette could be seen—if he guessed right, it was Irene Drew.
“Young Master Song, is that you?”
Irene Drew’s voice was still soft and gentle, with a hint of huskiness.
“It is indeed me.” Ian replied.
“Please come in, Young Master Song.”
“Alright.”
Ian reached out and parted the curtain, entering to find Irene Drew sitting with her back to him. She wore only a sheer gauze robe, her beautiful figure faintly visible, most of her fragrant shoulder exposed—white and delicate enough to make one’s mouth dry.
Just then, Irene Drew slowly stood up, and the gauze slipped off her body. In the next moment, she turned, fully revealing herself to Ian.
“Young Master Song, am I beautiful?”
Irene Drew’s voice was full of enchantment, as if it could steal a person’s soul.
According to Irene’s script, Ian should have shown an infatuated expression and loudly declared she was stunningly beautiful.
But instead, Ian didn’t follow her script at all. He said, “Miss Drew, aren’t you cold?”