545 Belated
That evening, the opening ceremony was held very quietly. The White Cloud clan leader invited everyone to sit in the great hall and invited everyone to have dinner together.
Seen the Crown Prince was sitting on the front left next to the clanâs chief Sang Guan Yi Lu. Everyone knew him as a guest from the capital, young master Luo. Luo Xiang looked around. That boy, where is he? Why hadnât he seen that bratâs face earlier? Does it take him too long to get dressed? Even though he had brought his maid with him. Luo Xiang glanced at Bei Yau who was standing by the door. The young bodyguard knew what the Crown Princeâs gaze meant. He immediately nodded and walked out the door behind him.
Sang Guan Yi Lu raised his cup high. Toast with the others.
âThank you to the leaders and competition participants for being present in this rickety White Cloud hut. This yearâs event was made possible thanks to the efforts of everyone including General Po and our guest of honour,â said the white-haired man.
Guests have filled all the round tables in the room. A total of fourteen clans from the martial world came. Fact, the attack from the Black Rose didnât lessen everyoneâs intention to come there. Even though they didnât know what the attack actually meant.
One of the guests, from the table to the right, stood up, holding up his wine cup.
âChief Sang Guan, this year the palace is involved in the affairs of the martial world? We know how the code of conduct should be, if the party from the capital canât interfere in our matters, right elders?â cried the man, looking around him.
The manâs voice made some people agree with him.
âThatâs right!â
.....
Luo Xiang waved the fan in his hand. He looked at Elder Yi who was sitting not far beside him, asking who the ugly-looking man who was so confident speaking was in front of everyone.
âWho is that old man?â he asked.
Elder Yi stroked his chin. How did he know who it was? They were so much younger than him, did the Crown Prince forget how old he was? However, he couldnât answer that he didnât know. He was Elder Yi, the great master of Bao Yi of the medicinal valley, he should have known who those people were. Speaking of Medicine valley, where are the disciples? Why havenât they arrived yet? They are really useless.
âEm, ahem, that, seems to be from the Southern Night Moth clan. They are famous for their secret weapons that attack quickly. Well, though, not as fast as Your Majesty thinks.â
Luo Xiang nodded.
âHemm, from his clothes, it looks like that. Why is he so confident that the palace wants to interfere in his affairs? What great thing has he done so far?â Luo Xiang asked.
Elder Yi furrowed his eyes. Yes, thatâs right, does the palace have nothing to do to take care of that useless?
Meanwhile outside the hall. Bai Ying, who was already wearing his beautiful clothes that night, looked at the situation inside. So many foreigners there. His brother YiFang seat near the side door. The Cold Water Clan to his right. And the rest, Bai Ying didnât recognize them. Where are Yo Tang and the others? Didnât it say Medicine Valley would also join this meeting? Why are they nowhere around?
âEm sis, it looks really boring inside, doesnât it? Unlike the event at the palace, there is music and dancers, there is also a magic show. This one looks like nothing.â Bai Ying said, squatting under the window. Bi also ducked down with him.
âIt seems so, Your Majesty, does Your Majesty not want to come inside?â
Bai Ying pursed his lips. Thinking about what he was going to do.
âEmm, how about we go to the gate, letâs just wait for brother Tang Tang and the others,â said Bai Ying.
Bi hadnât even adapted what the Viceroy was about to do when Bai Ying sneaked off towards the road in front of them.
âYour Majesty, wait.â
Bei Yau who was looking around belatedly turned his head when Bai Ying and his maid were gone. He scratched his head. Where do you think Concubine Hua is now? Without thinking the young guard rushed towards the path leading to the outside, could he be at the gate at this time?
Bai Ying and Bi settled among the trees. Until finally the two made it through the door leading to the front of the Clan where some of the disciples were still receiving guests who were a bit late.
âYour Majesty, donât run,â said Bi in a whisper.
In front of the gate.
There was a commotion between Xu er and some guests who were about to enter but couldnât because of the missing invitation card.
âForgive us, sir, but all participants who enter must show an invitation card, this is a clan rule, to avoid the arrival of intruders,â said Xu er.
Several young men dressed in light blue with their horses and a rather old but sturdy carriage were already waiting in line at the gate and had been stuck there ever since.
âBut we really lost our invitation letter, how is this? Master and all of them have walked quite a distance from the Golden Buffalo Valley, this is a very long journey, at least let us meet the chairman, he recognizes our teacher, âsaid the slightly stocky man.
Xu er looked at his junior.
âBrother, is the teacher still outside?â he asked.
His junior looked at the door leading to the inside. He shook his head.
âHeâs already inside, brother,â replied the junior.
Xu er looked back at the young man in front of him, and he smiled.
âEh, Iâm sorry sir, but Master and Uncle Master are all inside for the opening ceremony. Gentlemen will have to wait until the ceremony is over.â
The young man took a deep breath.
âHeh, how long have we waited? We were late and the teacher should be able to join the opening ceremony inside. Everythingâs so messed up todayâ the stocky young man who was none other than Yo Tang looked around. He and his teacher and his siblings were held back because the invitation letter they had was lost on the way, donât know where the letter was, but they didnât realize it was missing until earlier.
Bai Ying and Bi had just emerged from within the road when they saw the party from the Medicine Valley that he had been waiting for. Without thinking the young man rushed over.
âOlder brother! Brother Tang Tang!â he exclaimed.
His loud voice was heard until Yo Tang was about to approach his teacherâs carriage. His eyes widened when he saw who was running toward him. But is that possible? The lack of light at night might make his eyes blurry. But he couldnât possibly didnât recognize his voice, it was Bai Yingâs voice.
âEh Xiao Ying? Is this really little Ying?â he asked.
Bai Ying already walked over to Yo Tang and almost jumped to hug him.
âOlder brother! Iâve been waiting for you ever since! Why are you just arriving now!â Bai Ying exclaimed. Without hesitation, the young man jumped onto Yo Tangâs stocky body and hugged him. Yio Tang himself couldnât hide his surprise and joy, he hugged the young manâs small body tightly.
âYounger brother! Little Ying is here! Brother misses you so much!â
Everyone, without exception Xu er was shocked to see what happened. He looked at the maidservant who was smiling too. Bi turned to Xu er who was still confused.
âThat, Your Majestyâs adoptive brotherâ
Bai Ying and Yo Tang were still engrossed in each otherâs arms, while loud voices tried to stop the two of them.
âAhem!â Bei Yauâs voice. Bi almost jump out because of him.
âOh my Goshâ
The young bodyguard was already standing behind Bi seeing how Yo Tang hugged concubine Hua with all his heart. If the Crown Prince found out, that person could get a big hook from him. But neither of them seemed to hear him until he spoke again quite loudly.
âAhem! Eh, old man Ou Yang, are you in there?â cried Bei Yau.
And finally, his voice was loud enough to stop Bai Ying and Yo Tang from embracing Bai Yingâs body and spinning in the air.
One of the Medicine Valley disciples who was near the carriage helped the old man out. Heâs old, why is he still travelling this far? Bei Yau thought.
âHehe bodyguard Bei didnât expect that we would meet again here, uh, Your Majesty the Viceroyâ the old man limped off his carriage and walked over to Bai Ying.
Bai Ying immediately held the old manâs two hands before he lowered his old knee.
âGrandpa Ou, nice to meet you here, letâs go in, everyone must be waiting for grandpaâs arrivalân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Bai Ying was about to help the old man enter but Bei Yau glanced at Yo Tang who immediately knew what his piercing glance meant.
âEh teacher, here let Tang er helpâ
Xu er watched the group enter without being able to do anything. In fact, according to the provisions, anyone who does not have an invitation letter is not allowed to enter. But, if it was the Viceroy and the Crown Princeâs personal bodyguard who invited them in, what could they do?
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