Chapter 436 - 272: Primordial Jianmu, Hundredth Birthday Banquet
Chapter 436: Chapter 272: Primordial Jianmu, Hundredth Birthday Banquet
On the left was a woman in a dress as red as fire. She was tall, her skirt outlining an alluring figure. Her face was bright and gorgeous, and she carried herself with an innate, aristocratic air.
On the right was another, wearing a long, moon-white dress like ice silk. Her figure was slender and poised, her face as cold and bright as the moon over a snowy peak, and her aura was ethereal.
"Husband, are these guests? ...Why have they arrived several days early?"
The question came from Yan Mingyi, who had been relaxing and sipping Spirit Tea with Lin Changheng by the lake. She naturally noticed the arrivals as well. Though she had never met them, she was struck by their extraordinary beauty. Their auras, though starkly different, were both captivating, prompting her surprise.
But there was no reply from beside her—only a gentle breeze that stirred her hair. She turned her head. Lin Changheng, who had been relaxing in his rocking chair and sipping tea a moment before, had vanished.
The next time she looked, the figure in the green robe had already appeared high in the sky outside the island’s Array, a joyful smile on his face as he went to greet the two beautiful women.
"Feiyue!"
"Hanji!"
Lin Changheng’s voice rang out.
His gaze first fell upon Tantai Feiyue, the one in the red dress with the bright, aristocratic air.
Their eyes met. The corners of Tantai Feiyue’s lips curved into an expression that was half-pout, half-smile, but she didn’t speak immediately.
Then, his gaze shifted to the cold, moon-like Xu Hanji beside her. His expression softened slightly, offering a silent greeting.
The moment Xu Hanji met his gaze, it was as if a layer of ice on her cold face had begun to melt. She lowered her eyelids, avoiding his overly direct stare, and simply murmured, "Brother Lin," as her response.
Perhaps her restraint was due to Tantai Feiyue’s presence.
Tantai Feiyue took in this scene. The smile on her red lips deepened, yet it carried an inscrutable undertone. She spoke languidly, her voice soft, yet it carried clearly down to Yan Mingyi. "Brother Lin, it seems your Moonrest Island is... a bit livelier than I imagined. And who might this little sister be? Aren’t you going to introduce us?"
Her words, though seemingly casual, instantly pulled the still-dazed Yan Mingyi at the lakeside into the center of the delicate situation.
Upon hearing her words, Lin Changheng’s expression remained unchanged, but the corner of his mouth twitched. ’What must be faced,’ he thought, ’cannot be avoided.’
"Let’s go inside before we talk..."
With a smile, Lin Changheng led the two women as they slowly descended back to the lakeside. He was just about to make the introductions when Yan Mingyi stepped forward on her own. She bowed slightly and said, "I am Yan Mingyi, Brother Lin’s concubine."
The name "Tantai Feiyue," along with Lin Changheng’s earlier cry of "Feiyue," had allowed Yan Mingyi to instantly understand the identity of the woman in red.
’As for the other, colder woman... though her identity hasn’t been revealed, it’s clear from my husband’s attitude that their relationship is anything but simple.’
A whirlwind of emotions churned within Yan Mingyi, but she kept a proper smile on her face. Knowing how she was expected to act, she performed a curtsy. "Mingyi greets Sister Tantai and Sister Xu."
Tantai Feiyue’s gaze swept over Yan Mingyi, her smile still bright. "Little Sister Yan, there’s no need for such formalities. You’re quite a spirited and lovely person."
Xu Hanji, however, simply offered a faint smile and returned the curtsy. "Greetings, Little Sister Yan."
With the three women now gathered together, the atmosphere by the lake grew subtle and quiet.
Lin Changheng stood in the middle, feeling three gazes so intense they felt tangible. It struck him that this was even harder to handle than being besieged by Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
So he gave a light cough to break the delicate silence and gestured them forward, saying, "It’s windy out here. Since you’ve arrived early, let’s go inside for some Spirit Tea."
Tantai Feiyue flicked her red sleeve and took the lead. As she passed Lin Changheng, she murmured in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Husband, you seem to be living quite a comfortable life." Her tone carried a hint of feigned annoyance.
Lin Changheng’s expression didn’t change. He rubbed his nose and pretended not to hear.
The four of them entered the lakeside pavilion and sat down. Yan Mingyi took the initiative to pick up the teapot and pour for everyone, her movements graceful and composed. She presented the first cup to Tantai Feiyue with a smile. "Sister, please have some tea. This is the Water Concealment Spirit Tea that Hus—Brother Lin personally planted. He only harvests half a catty of it each year."
Tantai Feiyue accepted the teacup, her fingertips lightly touching the rim. Suddenly, she smiled. "Then we truly have Little Sister Yan to thank for managing household affairs and assisting Brother Lin. As your elder sister, I must toast you with this tea in place of wine."