The banquet continued.
Someone was secretly appraising everyone’s gifts and ranking them.
Jia Sidào raised his wine cup, using his wide sleeves to cover his face.
It looked like he was drinking, but in reality, he was pouring the wine into his sleeve.
At this moment, someone suddenly walked up to him.
“Huang offers his apology to Senior.”
Jia Sidào glanced over.
An old man with white beard stood in front of him.
It was none other than Great Sui’s number one national hand—Huang Jiu.
“Disciple Huashengdou.”
“Disciple Jiang Niurou.”
“Disciple Zhu Tourou.”
“Disciple Cold Jellyfish Skin Salad.”
“Apologize to Senior!!”
Huashengdou, Jiang Niurou, and Zhu Tourou were still somewhat understandable.
But Cold Jellyfish Skin Salad was a bit too much!
Jia Sidào stood up and toasted, “It’s a case of not knowing each other until we’ve fought. My subordinate might have gone a little too far—don’t worry, I’ve already disciplined her.”
Huang Jiu tugged at the corner of his mouth—That woman was merely your subordinate?
The Third Prince of Great Sui, Ye Yuntai, sulked while downing his wine, casting a sidelong glance at Jia Sidào.
Ye Yuntai was indeed holding a grudge.
He was a Prince of Great Sui, after all.
He had just accompanied his teacher on a trip to a mountain within Great Sui’s territory—hadn’t even announced a challenge yet—when the other party attacked.
Startled, he revealed his royal identity.
But rather than back off, the other party beat him up even more.
And now his father actually wanted him to apologize to that person.
If his father didn’t want to protect Great Sui’s pride, he did!!!
This was the backbone of Great Sui.
When it came time to apologize later, he would purposely leave out a couple words—let the other side know he wasn’t just some pushover.
Ye Yuntai thought stubbornly.
“Mount Shushan disciple Su Wan has arrived with a gift.”
Another voice rang out.
“Mount Shushan people are here too!?”
“As far as I remember, this is the first time they’ve ever joined the banquet.”
“As expected from Mount Shushan—only sent one disciple.”
Jia Sidào’s heart alarm bells rang loudly.
As soon as Su Wan appeared—
Jia Sidào’s gaze caught sight of Fifth Prince Ye Yunzhou walking in.
Jia Sidào took a deep breath.
I can deal with Tribulation Stage powerhouses calmly.
But when it comes to abstract types, I’m in mortal peril.
Jia Sidào immediately focused his mind, fully suppressing his aura.
Of course, just suppressing his aura wasn’t enough. After all, Ye Yunzhou was someone who could recognize him purely through intuition.
And Su Wan... was indescribable!!!
Jia Sidào shut his eyes and didn’t dare move a muscle.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with the Emperor of Great Sui, Su Wan took her seat.
Despite her young age, Su Wan showed no stage fright in such a grand setting.
Her seat was directly placed diagonally across from Jia Sidào.
Then the Fifth Prince, Ye Yunzhou, also sat down.
The various sect leaders looked toward Ye Yunzhou with strange expressions.
This Ye Yunzhou... what happened to him?
Ye Yunzhou—an Innate Sword Body.
He was the most gifted descendant ever born in the Great Sui royal family—spirited and confident.
Flawless in both talent and character.
Even in governing, he wasn’t lacking.
Yet now, Ye Yunzhou’s gloom was clearly written on his face. The whole person seemed dispirited.
Ye Yunzhou and Su Wan sat down almost at the same time.
Their eyes subconsciously swept the room—and landed simultaneously on Jia Sidào.
Feeling their gaze, Jia Sidào’s heart trembled.
It felt no less terrifying than having two Great Ascension Stage powerhouses locking onto his aura.
Like sitting on pins and needles, like thorns against the back, like a fishbone stuck in the throat!
Su Wan raised an eyebrow slightly—among those present,
she knew most of them, and even if not familiar, she had at least heard their names.
Seated so close to the head table, his identity must be unusual.
Ye Yunzhou had the same thought as Su Wan.
But unlike her, he looked at Jia Sidào and inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity.
There wasn’t the usual distance or wariness one felt when facing a stranger.
Driven by some mysterious impulse, Ye Yunzhou dragged a stool and sat beside Jia Sidào.
The Emperor of Great Sui nodded. That’s my son indeed.
His vision is unique!!
Too bad that after returning from Daxia, he became depressed and never recovered.
Seeing this, Ye Yuntai snorted coldly.
He only got close because he knew the guy was a Tribulation Stage powerhouse—when it comes to preserving Great Sui’s pride, look no further than me, Ye Yuntai.
“Haven’t asked for your dao title yet, Master?”
“Surname Jia, you can call me Daoist Jia.”
“So you’re Master Jia.”
Every time Jia Sidào spoke, his heart trembled slightly.
Su Wan had activated hacks.
This one never even turned his off!!
Fortunately, Ye Yunzhou didn’t seem to notice anything strange.
Maybe it had something to do with the Sword Spirit’s intent still lingering in his body.
Looking at Ye Yunzhou’s expression, Jia Sidào relaxed just a tiny bit.
“I’ve long heard that the Fifth Prince of Great Sui possesses a once-in-a-million Sword Body, but now that I see you, why do you seem so dejected? Shouldn’t sword bearers always charge forward?”
Ye Yunzhou gave a bitter smile, “Master Jia doesn’t know, but I’ve had a knot in my heart.”
Ever since returning from Daxia, Ye Yunzhou had tried using the Communication Mirror to keep in touch with his mirror friend.
But Li Xuanxiao’s replies were perfunctory. Sometimes, he didn’t reply at all.
“I was just taking a bath.”
“I was just cultivating.”
Ye Yunzhou had no idea what he said wrong.
Sometimes he’d get angry at the other’s attitude and decide to ignore him for a while.
But he never lasted a day before sending another message.
Ye Yunzhou clutched the mirror day and night, sinking into gloom, with no heart left for anything else.
Jia Sidào said, “Oh? I’d be happy to hear the whole story.”
So Ye Yunzhou told him the whole thing.
He just left out the part about Li Xuanxiao’s real identity—and his own.
“This is a friend’s story!!”
Jia Sidào nodded, “Mm... mm...”
Why does this Ye Yunzhou seem so obsessed with me?
I need to make him give up completely.
In some ways, this guy was even more terrifying than the old emperor.
As the saying goes, even the coldest straight man has a warm workplace heart.
Thinking of that, Jia Sidào cleared his throat and spoke:
“Everyone wants many things, but you can’t have it all.
At some point, you must learn to pick up and let go.
Picking up is courage, letting go is magnanimity. Picking up is rare, letting go is transcendence.
The greatest courage in life is to pick up, the greatest comfort in life is to let go.
A valley with no echo isn’t worth jumping into.”