Today is the day of the Summit.
Chu Ge and Jian Chunqiu woke up early; they have to reach the conference venue by eight in the morning.
Last night Lin Zhao and Lin Dong didn’t go back; they directly stayed over at his villa. They too have to get up early to open the Gambling Stone Field, so they got up early.
However, Chu Ge was curious to find Huo Tianqian was also up early.
"Why don’t you sleep a bit longer?" Chu Ge asked.
Huo Tianqian smiled and said, "No way, ever since I got back from Su City, I’ve developed a habit of exercising in the morning. Now I find it a bit uncomfortable to skip a day without exercising."
"Indeed, it’s very good to maintain daily exercise, keep it up."
Chu Ge said with a smile, "I’m going to attend the Summit today, you’re new here with nothing much to do, so why don’t you check out the Gambling Stone Field? You’re most knowledgeable about its operations; see if there’re any issues."
Huo Tianqian had the same thought; he nodded, "I’ve already arranged with Lin Zhao to go to the Gambling Stone Field together in a while."
After giving some more instructions to Huo Tianqian, Chu Ge and Jian Chunqiu left together.
The Summit is held in a seven-star hotel located in the most prosperous area of Capital City.
From afar, the vehicles began to receive inspections, all conducted by professionally trained personnel because if anyone truly intends to cause trouble, ordinary police officers wouldn’t be able to stop them.
For convenience, Chu Ge and Jian Chunqiu took the bus directly. Although Nangong Man Sha offered to send a car to pick them up, Chu Ge declined Nangong’s kind gesture to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
The bus was full, surprisingly enough, all the passengers were Ancient Martial Artists, not that he sensed it with True Qi, but these people had once met him; they had served as bodyguards for various high-level officials and authorities at the Public Sea Banquet before.
As Chu Ge boarded, those people recognized him and nodded in greeting, although they all came to attend the Summit and might face off tomorrow, those in the world of martial arts would never outright refuse to acknowledge others until the last moment.
Chu Ge courteously nodded back, feeling a bit sentimental that this circle is so small, meeting so many acquaintances on a single bus.
With the only two seats left, Chu Ge and Jian Chunqiu sat down, Jian Chunqiu curiously asked, "Do you know all these people?"
Chu Ge shook his head, "Not all of them. I’ve met a few at the last Public Sea Banquet; the others I haven’t. But since they greeted us, we can’t just play blind, right?"
Jian Chunqiu curled his lips, sitting there without further comment.
Despite being the Sword Pavilion Master, he didn’t know any of these people. Conversely, they all recognized the young man beside him who wasn’t well-known yet; honestly, it left him feeling a bit discontent.
Actually, this bus was prepared by the Nangong Family to facilitate those not residing at the hotel; it’s a bus specifically for Ancient Martial Artists, driving directly to the hotel without any hindrances.
Only upon reaching the hotel entrance did they receive thorough security checks requiring inspections and invitation letters.
Just after Chu Ge and Jian Chunqiu passed through security and entered the lobby, they encountered an old acquaintance.
Yang Kun stood there with a cold gaze, quietly watching Chu Ge. Chu Ge noticed him too, briefly pausing before resuming naturally.
While the Summit was bound to bring encounters, Chu Ge hadn’t expected to meet Yang Kun upon arrival.
Chu Ge glanced at him then withdrew his gaze. The main purpose today is attending the Summit, not creating trouble, especially since the Summit was organized by the Nangong Family; he certainly wouldn’t want to cause them any hassle on-site.
Jian Chunqiu noticed Yang Kun too, slightly stunned, puzzled by why a traitor like Yang Kun would attend the Summit.
"What’s the Nangong Family up to? How could they send an invitation to a traitor for the Summit?"
Jian Chunqiu grumbled.
Chu Ge shook his head, "He’s currently the representative of the Sunflower Sect."
At this moment, Zhang Xin from the Sword Pavilion had arrived early on site awaiting; upon seeing Jian Chunqiu and Chu Ge approach, he immediately came to greet them.
As he got near, he heard Jian Chunqiu’s complaints, stepping forward he addressed, "Pavilion Master, Mr. Chu."
"Hello." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
After greeting, Zhang Xin explained, "Pavilion Master, Yang Kun is attending the Summit because the elder originally sent by the Sunflower Sect was silenced. Thus, they sent Yang Kun now, even more perplexing; the upper management agreed."
Betrayal among martial artists is a big taboo, meant to be blacklisted, yet Yang Kun not only wasn’t blacklisted but attended the Summit which would surely stir dissatisfaction among many sects.
However, Zhang Xin continued, "The upper echelon explained that since there’s been a homicide, everyone seems uninterested in these matters."
Chu Ge nodded, "Now everyone’s focus is on the Summit and the homicide case; likely no one cares why Yang Kun came to the Summit."
Jian Chunqiu agreed, nodding, "Hmph, what luck for that guy."
Back then, he kidnapped Bingtong; for her well-being, Chu Ge didn’t deal severely with Yang Kun, even letting him escape unscathed. But in the future, wouldn’t want to fall into his hands, else he would definitely teach him a lesson.
Despite Jian Chunqiu’s heart not being as impulsive as ordinary young people, encountering such situations invariably angered him, for he detested betrayers deeply.
Chu Ge and Jian Chunqiu didn’t continue discussing Yang Kun; exchanging glances, they prepared to head to the conference hall under Zhang Xin’s lead.
Just a few steps along the way, they were halted.
"If I’m not mistaken, you should be an unbound martial artist, without a sect, right?"
The one intercepting Chu Ge’s path was Yang Kun.
He glares at Chu Ge with dangerous eyes, asking with ill intentions.
Chu Ge’s cold gaze met his; he hadn’t planned to trouble him, yet Yang Kun couldn’t resist approaching him.
Feeling a chill in his heart, Chu Ge looked at Yang Kun indifferently and said, "So what if I am?"
"Today’s conference is among sect members. What’s a solo participant like you doing attending?" Yang Kun said coldly.
His intention clear, suggesting Chu Ge isn’t qualified to attend.