The moment Huang Xunjiu showed his face, he drew the attention of the many gift-bearers gathered outside.
"Is that the head of the Huang clan, Huang Xunjiu?!"
"Heh, it really is him. Who would have thought he'd come in person?"
"It's hardly a surprise. Look at how much business the Huang clan has lost in recent days—how could he not be hurting? If it were me, I wouldn't be able to sit still either."
"If he knew it would come to this, why did he act that way in the first place?"
"Who has eyes in the back of their head to see the future?"
"Ha, what good timing today! We're in for quite a show!"
"I wonder if Huang Xunjiu will even be allowed inside. It'd be quite a sight if he's shut out..."
"..."
Curious, playful, mocking, pensive... all manner of gazes fell upon him, while hushed whispers buzzed in his ears, leaving Huang Xunjiu deeply embarrassed.
His face flushed slightly red. Trying his best to project an air of calm composure, he walked forward at an unhurried pace. Several burly servants bearing gifts followed closely behind him, not daring to raise their heads.
The crowd parted to make way for them, and before long, Huang Xunjiu came to a halt before the main gates of Qinghui Garden.
Looking at the two tall guards stationed at the entrance, Huang Xunjiu took a deep breath. "I... I would like to go inside and meet with your master."
The two guards exchanged glances, feeling rather at a loss as to what to do.
As guards of Qinghui Garden, how could they not know the relationship between their master and Huang Xunjiu? It was precisely because they knew that the matter was so thorny.
Hesitation showed on the face of one black-clad guard. "Please... honored guest, wait here at the entrance for a moment. I will go inside to report."
Huang Xunjiu had no choice. "Very well."
After the guard in black slipped inside, Huang Xunjiu remained standing at the gate. The myriad gazes pricked against his back like needles, making him exceedingly uncomfortable.
Yet beneath that discomfort ran an even deeper apprehension.
*If I am turned away before the eyes of all these people...*
He hardly dared imagine the sheer humiliation. Just picturing such an excruciating scene stirred an urge to cover his face and flee on the spot!
Yet in the end, he did not leave. Compared to the century-old foundation of the Huang clan, his personal face was of little consequence.
Fortunately, the agonizing wait did not last long.
The gate opened.
The black-clad guard stepped back out with a taut, rigid expression.
The moment he saw that look, Huang Xunjiu's heart sank. His hands, hidden within his sleeves, trembled slightly—whether from anxiety or dread, he could not tell.
The guard approached Huang Xunjiu, pursed his lips, and said, "Please return. The master is not receiving outside guests for now."
Boom!!
It felt as if a bolt of heavenly thunder had struck his skull, sending his head spinning and his vision blurring. His body swayed, and he nearly tumbled to the ground.
"Master, be careful!"
The burly servant behind him rushed forward to support him. Huang Xunjiu steadied himself with effort and blinked hard several times before the dizziness gradually receded and his vision cleared.
Looking at the black-clad guard, his voice came out hoarse and dry. "Did you truly see him?!"
Seeing that he refused to give up, the guard replied flatly, "I did. The master said he will not see outside guests. No matter who it is—you included!"
*You included!*
With those words, the last glimmer of wishful thinking in Huang Xunjiu's heart was snuffed out. He opened his mouth instinctively, wanting to say something, but froze. Only after a long silence did he force out a single line: "Then these gifts..."
"He won't accept them either. Take them back," the guard replied without hesitation.
As if struck another heavy blow, Huang Xunjiu's face went deathly pale, his posture instantly slumping.
The guard shook his head inwardly. *Putting on such an act now—what were you doing before? There is no medicine for regret in this world!*
Gazing at the vermilion gates of Qinghui Garden, Huang Xunjiu felt a profound despair well up inside.
*Is the century-old foundation of Huang Manor truly destined to be ruined in my hands?!*
With that solitary thought echoing through his mind, he pushed through the crowd in a daze and climbed back into his carriage.
Only after settling onto the carriage seat did he faintly recover his senses. The sound of mocking titters drifted to his ears. Taking a deep breath, he fought down the mortification and despair churning within him and forced out, "L-let's go back."
That single sentence seemed to drain every ounce of strength from him. He collapsed into utter dejection, looking as though he had aged ten years in an instant.
The driver hurriedly acknowledged the order, cracking his whip to urge the horses forward, and the carriage quickly made its way out of the alley.
Once the carriage had moved far into the distance, the crowd of well-wishers in the alley exchanged glances, and many burst out laughing.
"Who would have thought that the dignified head of the Huang clan would see such a day!"
"This is what comes of poor family governance."
"Looks like there's zero chance of reconciliation between the two sides. The Huang clan is in for hard times ahead..."
"..."
In a mere half a day, the prominent clans, wealthy households, and official yamen throughout the commandery seat learned that Huang Xunjiu had personally called to seek reconciliation, only to be turned away at the door. Overnight, Huang Manor became the laughingstock of the city.
While the commandery seat was in an uproar, outside its walls, the people of the Feihong Sect were even more gripped with shock and terror over the news that Huang Tian had killed Thousand Faces Old Ghost.
Inside the council hall, Sect Master Qian Shan sat at the head of the table, his expression exceedingly grim.
"You have all heard the latest intelligence. Huang Tian actually overpowered and killed Thousand Faces Old Ghost. Tell me, what should we do next?"
The elders seated below wore heavy expressions, exchanging wordless glances.
After a long silence, seeing that no one was speaking, the one-eyed elder spoke up helplessly: "Sect Master, we underestimated Huang Tian. He hid his strength too deeply. None of us imagined he would be this powerful. As matters stand, I fear our only option is to call upon the Supreme Elder..."
Qian Shan felt displeased. Constantly calling on the Supreme Elder to intervene would make them look utterly incompetent. Yet just as the one-eyed elder had said, they were completely powerless against Huang Tian right now.
Without a Grandmaster stepping in, who could possibly bring down Huang Tian?
Just as Qian Shan was hesitating, a green-robed deacon clutching a letter suddenly barged into the council hall, drawing everyone's startled gazes.
"What has caused such panic?!" With his train of thought interrupted, Qian Shan frowned in displeasure and snapped a rebuke.
Yet the deacon seemed not the least intimidated. Instead, his face was an overwhelming mix of shock, wild excitement, and terror. Passing the letter into Qian Shan's hands, he said nervously, "Sect Master, please read this first!"
Puzzled, Qian Shan took it and unfolded the letter, skimming it rapidly.
Boom!!
The very next instant, he shot to his feet. A surge of thick, potent true qi erupted uncontrollably from him, whipping up fierce gusts through the council hall and making the air howl with piercing shrieks.
"How can this be?!"
Clutching the letter, his face full of disbelief, he read through it again as if to verify whether his eyes were playing tricks on him.
Yet... he had not misread it!
He stood slack-jawed, having completely abandoned any semblance of the dignified poise expected of a sect master of the Five Great Sects, staring blankly at the letter for a long while.
"Sect Master, what on earth has happened?"
Seeing Qian Shan appear as though struck mad, the one-eyed elder could no longer hold back and asked, while the other elders cast questioning, bewildered glances in his direction.
Qian Shan's chest heaved erratically. Only after a good while did he speak, each word falling heavy and slow as if he were dreaming:
"A Void Realm divine armament has emerged!!"
Chapter 101