The Banquet of Madness (3)

Ja Sun, Bibi Dong, and Tang Yuehua soon began to enjoy themselves. They met with various other scions including Ning Fengzhi who has already had more interactions with their group in the past but what Ja Sun noticed was that even if he still thirsted after a talented member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, this greed was relatively curbed now that he and his team had defeated Ning Fengzhi. Of course, what Ja Sun was interested in was not only the buffs that the martial soul provided but also the ability to appraise treasures not known to the naked eye.

"Miss Bibi, if you are interested, I would like to form an expedition team soon enough with your and mine members into the Star Dou Great Forest." Ning Fengzhi proposed a team-up and his fiance and his Titled Douluo leveled guardian had nothing to add or refute on the matter. This interested Bibi DOng greatly and she accepted the thought and informed that they may discuss it in detail after the banquet settles. What Ja Sun noted at this point was that Ning Fengzhi's guardian, the Sword Douluo Chen Xin actually had a core in his body. A core related to his spirit energy, unlike Ja Sun who had a mental and physical core instead. This already proved his mental energy far superior to the battle masters like Chen Xin.

Once Ning Fengzhi left, a plain voice interrupted the trio and Ja Sun already knew the identity of the speaker. Turning back, the trio saw Dai Taiyin with Zhu Ning. Zhu Ning wore a robe instead of a dress like her sister-in-law and mother-in-law due to her inflated abdomen. She had a radiant expression at the time while Dai Taiyin seemed to have lost his flair yet it only made him more dangerous than anything. In fact, the moment Ja Sun matched his gaze, he was instantly reminded of the divine tiger that attacked him.

The White Tiger Family has been full of surprises for Ja Sun. Not because of their treasures but because of their mental fortitude. To become the crowned prince, Dai Taiyin snuffed out his brother's ambitions and Ja Sun had never met the rumored sibling. Dai Mu, too, endured the guilt she must have inflicted on herself but this made the two siblings stronger. They understood the art of learning lessons and growing for the better. Dai Taiyin had lost his exaggerated flair and now looked similar to his father while Dai Mu befitted a dignified spirit master instead of a childish and spoiled girl who would chew more than she could handle.

"Congratulations are in order," Dai Taiyin smiled as he held Zhu Ning's hand. Glancing at it, Ja Sun frowned for a moment and then suddenly held Bibi Dong's and Yuehua's hands, causing the two to blush at his actions.

"You, too," Ja Sun smiled.

"Hmm." Dai Taiyin nodded and walked past him.

"Hmm." Ja Sun hummed, too, continuing to move along as he now confirmed that Dai Taiyin truly hadn't lost his will. After all, Ja Sun distinctively felt something divine hidden in him only to have been strangely excited... angered... when Dai Taiyin walked past Ja Sun, allowing him to recognize the sensation.

"What was that about?" Yuehua whispered and then glanced down towards her hand to hint Ja Sun to let go of it only to see him a bit dazed and preoccupied.

"Oh? Sorry. I just recalled something," Ja Sun replied absentmindedly.

Soon, many members of the Clear Sky Sect began to come up and congratulate the trio. Yuehua proved her worth this time as she steered the conversation naturally and introduced many members to Ja Sun and Bibi Dong. Out of all of them, only the Speed Clan could be pointed as a bit rude in the manner they presented themselves but it was because of the fact that during the competition, Ja Sun had traded with the other three attribute clans— Defense. Attack, and Strength, but not the Speed Clan. After all, they desired Ja Sun's movement technique but they lacked anything of value with their immortal herb already taken by Ja Sun after winning the bet.

By now, the Speed Clan no longer pestered him.

---

After the initial commotion, the banquet soon turned peaceful and cordial. Tang Hao and Dai Mu were allowed to step out of their seats. Dai Mu led her man everywhere. Knowing Tang Hao, instead of bringing him to political discussions, she would rather move around the stalls more often than not, leaving all the political agendas to her family as she intended to enjoy the night. However, this act caused them to run into another group who were exploring the delicacies, too.

"Heh, not many can hold the effects of the Clear Wine brewed from the Alcohol Peak in the extreme north for a hundred years," Tang Hao sneered as Ja Sun picked the glass of brilliant purple liquid and sniffed it for a moment before draining the contents and then proceeded to bite into a 300-year-old peerless lemon without a change in his expression.

His actions caused the girls to cringe as they imagined how sour the lemon must taste like but Tang Hao's expression became somber as he regarded Ja Sun's indifference as a challenge.

Gritting his teeth, Tang Hao chugged the drink. It barely affected him. But the true challenge wasn't the drink. It was the lemon.

Holding the lemon slice, Tang Hao admired its pristine condition and was reminded of his first duel with Ja Sun where he created the handkerchief made from the Diamond Essence Gold. Making a snap decision, Tang Hao bit down and his entirety shivered as his cheeks sunk in and lips puckered up as he tilted sideways, "Sour!" He growled.

"Believe me, you're going to taste something much sourer later," Ja Sun shrugged, causing Bibi Dong and Dai Mu to glare at him.

"What's that?" Tang Hao inquired curiously only for Dai Mu to drag him away, "Don't listen to him, brother Hao. Come, let's meet Big Brother Taiyin and enjoy that dumpling you liked."

"So, it is sour?" Bibi Dong, however, didn't let go of the insult.

"Yeah, responsibilities feel super sour." Ja Sun scratched his cheek.

"You meant responsibilities?" Yuehua narrowed her eyes suspiciously as Ja Sun shrugged, "Well, yeah. What did you think?"

He smiled suggestively, adding softly, "Now that you're a 'member' in name, let me tell you, Yin and Dong tastes sweeter than you can imagine--"

He hadn't completed when he let out a sweet groan causing those around the trio to look at them weirdly as Bibi Ding blushed deeper and stopped pinching Ja Sun, clearly not expecting this kind of response to her 'punishment.' A rookie mistake, Ah Yin would have remarked should she have been here.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I, Tang Xiao, personally thank every guest to have taken time out of their life to share this joyous occasion with my family and clan."

Tang Xiao's voice boomed within the tent as everyone looked in his direction only to see him stand with two green-haired men. One older and one younger.

"To take advantage of this occasion, I would like to introduce everyone to our Sect's external elder— Dugu Bo and his son Dugu Xin! They have developed a rare commodity. A wine from a serpent's poison that can intoxicate even Titled Douluo, something my father and Uncle Laohu are willing to admit!"

Dugu Bo's appearance had caused a commotion in the hearts of other spirit masters as the man was at rank 89, one step away from rank 90 and to the Titled Douluos present, they clearly felt an extraordinary pressure from the man which should only be possible should he have refined a great treasure. {Remember the death spider emperor's mandibles gifted by Redstar?}

This meant that after his breakthrough, Dugu Bo's accomplishments might be better than an average Titled Douluo and this man belonged to Clear Sky Sect which meant that the top sect with the strongest tool spirit would gain another Titled Douluo!

Ja Sun smiled seeing the man. He was Redstar's surviving subordinate but now Ja Sun wasn't sure if Redstar had survived his battle with Qian Xunji or not. At the time when the battle occurred, even Ja Sun wasn't qualified to know the outcome and now both Redstar and Qian Xunji are missing.

Dugu Bo only glanced in Ja Sun's direction once and then pretended to have not seen him ever in his life. However, that was hardly the truth. Ja Sun and Ah Yin had sacked the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Not only that, Dugu Bo was in a compromising position under Redstar's order then was asked to risk exposing his identity and hunt Ja Sun while he was within Gengxin City to find materials for the construction of the arena of the competition. Right now, Ja Sun held leverage over the man which he intended to use should the opportunity present itself.

"Hahaha! Dugu Bo's new alcohol really is a spice to behold! I got drunk during my 49th cup! Please, let us all enjoy this wine while we let the youngsters enjoy themselves!"

Surprising everyone, Tang Xiao added, "Unlike the tradition of battle, I propose a drinking competition. A sport that does not discriminate between men or women. Rich or poor. Those who hold their liquor the best will earn a remarkable boon from our sect. Come on, little Hao," Tang Xiao grinned, "Let's end our rivalry once and for all."

This was actually something that pressured many from the younger generation.

A spar is held in such events as a demonstration but nobody wanted to go against Fearless Tang Hao and Crazy Ka-ul. However, a drinking competition changed all of it.

They could enjoy while competing and not have any injuries at all. This was also done purposely to not have Ja Sun and Tang Hao face each other. While Tang Hao was willing to face Ja Sun, confident in his abilities, as the host, the Clear Sky Clan simply couldn't afford any blemish, and facing Ja Sun might bring one such mark.

This was especially the case for Dai Laohu who would not tolerate anything bad on his daughter's engagement banquet. The White Tiger Douluo knew that nobody under Rank 90 held too much of a threat since Ja Sun can escape and those above rank 90 would have to go through Qian Daoliu first. This essentially made Ja Sun untouchable. Of course, Dai Laohu could have never expected Ja Sun to reach the same level as Qian Daoliu in some aspects and already considered a peer in the path of cultivation instead of a disciple now.

So, this drinking battle was the most 'elegant' solution the two men— Tang Peng and Dai Laohu— could think of... while drinking.

***

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