In the final ten minutes before the banquet began, more guests arrived one after another. Instead of entering through the main doors, which were swarming with reporters, they came through a dedicated passageway into the old palace and took their seats in the VIP section.
Inside Hanquan Palace, Zhu Jiu first went to greet several heavyweight figures.
Aside from prominent politicians, foreign envoys, and high-society celebrities, the most significant attendees today were undoubtedly martial artists from various martial arts styles, with members of the Nature faction making up the vast majority.
The Nature faction pursued the release of desires and the indulgence of one's natural inclinations. Thus, whenever they encountered something of interest, they would seek it out regardless of their level of mastery.
Zhu Jiu had therefore sent invitations to most of the Nature faction members he knew of. Among them, the arrival of one person in particular surprised and even excited him.
This was a high-ranking figure within the faction whom he normally had no chance of approaching.
Yet he did not make a scene of it; he merely offered a respectful greeting and took special care to have items tailored to this guest's tastes brought forward. These were rare treasures he had spent a fortune scouring the world for, precisely for an occasion like this.
Moreover, winning this person's goodwill was tantamount to gaining another protective talisman.
Once he had properly attended to all the important guests arriving tonight, he finally returned to his own circle of friends, accompanied by the woman at his side.
Everyone stood up to welcome him. One person pointed at the necklace worn by the beautiful woman and said with deep meaning,
"'The moon reflects in the lake's still heart; the tranquil lake mirrors the moon's intent.' This moonstone is truly magnificent—Young Master Zhu, you must cherish it well."
He spoke of the moonstone, but everyone knew he was using the object to praise the person, and chuckles rippled through the group.
Zhu Jiu looked at Ying Bailu, who was holding his arm. Her beautiful eyes met his—clear and limpid as autumn waters, brimming with tenderness.
Even though he knew this woman was simply an exceptional actress, he thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless.
What true love was there in this world anyway? As long as she performed well enough that he couldn't see through it, that was enough. That was why the people he sponsored were always those with the finest acting skills.
Furthermore, he particularly relished the sense of accomplishment that came with creating an idol of the masses. As a member of the Nature faction, he believed he had long transcended the mundane realm of romance and physical passion to pursue something far higher. That being said, it in no way stopped these stars he made famous from catering to his every whim.
Of course, once they could no longer offer him any novelty—after a few months, or perhaps half a year to a year—he would grow bored and seek out his next target.
Just then, a confidant came over and whispered a few words into his ear.
He immediately turned and led his entourage out, where he saw an old man walking with a cane, dressed in ancient-style robes and wearing a long beard, escorted by several security guards.
The elder's eyes were sharp and spirited, carrying a natural air of commanding dignity without needing to display anger. He was an old man without a single implant in his body. Zhu Jiu stepped forward, cupped his hands, and bowed slightly. "Elder Du."
Elder Du looked him over, stroked his beard, and said, "Little Zhu, you're making quite a splash today. These old bones of mine can't take too much jostling, you know."
In the respectful tone of a junior, Zhu Jiu said, "Rest assured, Elder Du, I arranged a secluded place for you well in advance. I invited you here today just to listen to us youngsters sing and watch us dance, so you could share in the merriment."
Elder Du chuckled. "Fair enough. Being around you young people makes me feel a few years younger too. Seeing all of you reminds me of my own wild, reckless youth—I wasn't far behind you back then."
Zhu Jiu personally led the way, guiding the old man toward a guest box specially reserved for him.
Some who had only recently entered this social circle hurriedly inquired about the elder's background. They learned that he had served as the Minister of the National Ministry of Construction for Great Shun; though now retired, he still wielded immense influence.
Elder Du reached the door of the private box. He paused abruptly and said, "Little Zhu, go attend to your business."
Zhu Jiu bowed slightly, tactfully took his leave, and closed the passageway door behind him.
Elder Du entered the box. Seated inside was an individual dressed in the robes and cap of the former dynasty. Upon seeing Elder Du, the person stood up, clasped both hands together, and gave an ancient ceremonial bow. "Lord Minister Du, the Prince sends his regards."
Elder Du said, "What 'Lord Minister'? I am merely a retired minister."
Though he said this, he was clearly pleased with the title. Walking further in, he sat down, resting both hands on his cane, and said slowly, "The terms you offered before weren't enough. How can you expect us to speak on your behalf?"
The person replied, "The Prince said that regarding the conditions your esteemed country proposed, he will find a way to convince His Majesty once he returns."
"Mhm, your sincerity is evident enough, but words alone aren't sufficient, wouldn't you agree?"
"Lord Minister Du means...?"
"I don't mean anything. What could I mean?" Elder Du gave a dry chuckle.
Just then, a burst of applause echoed from downstairs. The surrounding lights dimmed, leaving most of the remaining illumination focused on the central stage.
He said, "Come, let's watch the show. Let's watch the show first."
Outside Hanquan Palace, Chen Chuan saw the time reach eight o'clock and knew the awards ceremony had begun.
The voice of a resonator came through the boundary credential: "Commissioner, we just detected that Cheng Gao from Norland has entered the venue. He is one of Norland's Nature faction martial artists. Word has it he is currently representing Norland in secret negotiations with our government over an important project. His identity may be somewhat sensitive, so Vice Minister Ren hopes we avoid exposing him if possible."
Chen Chuan said calmly, "Understood."
He looked toward the banquet palace. In truth, tonight, martial artists from not only the Nature faction, but also the Convergence faction and Refinement School were in attendance. All of them held positions in the government or corporations. Because of their high security clearances and psionic shielding, ordinary resonators could not detect them at all.
Yet to him, they were like bright lanterns, completely impossible to conceal.
After waiting quietly for a moment, he spoke into the boundary credential: "Begin the operation."
Only moments after the order was given, the rhythmic clack-clack-clack of disciplined footsteps sounded outside. Then, a guard opened the vehicle door.
Chen Chuan stepped out of the car. He wore a peaked cap and the navy-blue overcoat of the Security Affairs Department, which accentuated his already tall and upright figure, making him appear even more imposing and austere.
Zhan Jiyue stepped up beside him and said, "Councilor."
Chen Chuan nodded and looked toward the brightly lit old palace ahead, where several columns of troops were rapidly advancing.
He raised a hand to adjust the brim of his cap and walked forward. A dense rumble of footsteps rose behind him as the martial artists from the Purist Faction fell into step.
At this time, several reporters who had not received invitations were still gathered outside the gates, bored and waiting for the banquet to conclude. A few were chatting, while another had his head hunched down, eating an egg pancake.
Seeing this scene unfold, they froze in shock at first, but excitement soon overtook them. One after another, they raised their cameras and recording equipment to snap pictures.
Neither the armed operatives from the department nor the personnel from the Purist Faction paid them any mind, because beyond this perimeter, all outgoing field signals had already been severed.
As for afterward, all transmissions would still be subject to the Security Affairs Department's censorship and control.
There were numerous security guards patrolling outside Hanquan Palace. Their expressions shifted drastically when they saw these armed operatives, and they immediately attempted to report inward—only to find nothing but static hissing in their boundary credentials.
Being professionals after all, some immediately dashed inside, while others swiftly rushed forward in an attempt to block the vanguard of armed operatives.
Yet an overwhelming field pressure instantly bore down from the incoming force. A captain-like figure among the guards tried to project his own field in counteraction, but after a stifled groan, he swayed violently, while the surrounding security personnel collapsed to the ground one after another.
Passing by him, the lead armed operative slammed a rifle butt against his head. With just that single strike, the man crashed silently to the ground.
The armed operatives of the Security Affairs Department moved with exceptional speed, sealing off the entrance to the old palace within minutes.
Simultaneously, several other squads secured the remaining passageways, including an ancient underground tunnel leading outside from Hanquan Palace.
Under instructions from the inactive conscious entity, over a hundred Wuyi Academy students rapidly sealed off all main routes leading into the area. From this moment forth, all entry and exit were strictly prohibited.
By the time Chen Chuan reached the entrance, no obstacles remained. As he stepped across the threshold of Hanquan Palace, he glanced upward, noting that the characters inscribed on the palace plaque still shone resplendently.
Passing through the front hall, there were still numerous security guards—more elite than those outside—including many private armed escorts brought by the banquet guests.
At this moment, however, all of them stood rigidly in place, blank and utterly unresponsive.
Zhan Jiyue's spiritual power had already swept over this area in advance, depriving everyone of their normal faculties in an instant. Even the protective talismans they wore against psionic forces proved useless.
With steady strides, Chen Chuan arrived unhindered before the banquet hall. Tasseled curtains hung across the entrance, from behind which thunderous applause and the host's impassioned voice could be heard.
Two guards swiftly stepped forward and pulled the curtains aside. In that instant, the brilliant, lavish illumination from inside spilled out unfiltered, and the wave of sound swelled dramatically.
Chen Chuan paused to take a look before stepping inside first, while the armed operatives and Purist martial artists beside him fanned out along the aisle to both flanks.
This sudden movement immediately drew the attention of those inside, putting the martial artists responsible for security on high alert.
The guests in the back rows also showed expressions of astonishment. Only now did they realize that normal communication had been cut off, sparking an immediate stir throughout the hall.
In fact, several perceptive martial artists in the hall had already sensed fluctuations in the mental field. They had grown vigilant at the first sign, looking down with cold eyes at the armed operatives filing inside.
However, not yet knowing the exact situation, they would not intervene unless they confirmed that the matter involved or threatened them directly.
Zhu Jiu had originally been sitting right at the front. Learning of the situation, his expression chilled, and he demanded, "Which department?"
Upon learning that the intruders were likely from the National Security Affairs Department, he couldn't help but feel surprised. For a banquet of this scale, prior notice had undoubtedly been given to every department—especially a state apparatus of violence like the Security Affairs Department, which would never have been overlooked.
He immediately realized that this was no simple matter. Fortunately, there were more than enough heavyweight figures present tonight, so he wasn't afraid of trouble.
His thoughts raced. He stood up, put on a smile, let Ying Bailu take his arm, straightened his bow tie, and took the initiative to walk forward and meet the newcomers.
Chapter 1369