Shen Hui was delighted when Rong Jun volunteered, though she feigned reluctance on her face, saying, "Don't take it too far; he’s still a guest invited by the Old Master."

Rong Jun smiled faintly, "Don't worry, I'll make him retreat in the face of difficulty."

Seeing him turn and leave, Shen Hui’s face broke into a smug grin as she looked at Li Yundong, her eyes full of schadenfreude. Her female companions around her asked curiously, "Huihui, who is that? He’s so handsome! Why wouldn't you introduce such a handsome guy to us? Why shoo him away?"

Shen Hui glared at them dismissively, "Idiots! That's the tutor my dad wants to foist on me! Humph, if I don't drive him off, am I supposed to let him stay so I can suffer later?"

Most of Shen Hui’s companions were her classmates, all young women in their prime, right in the age for starry-eyed infatuation. Some couldn't help but say with glittering eyes, "Huihui, if you don’t want such a handsome private tutor, don't waste him—pass him over to me!"

"Exactly! I've never seen a private tutor this good-looking!"

Shen Hui tilted her head, examining Li Yundong. Though he wore a traditional Tang suit and cloth shoes—attire completely out of sync with everyone else—on anyone else it would look utterly mismatched. But on Li Yundong, it exuded a profound classical elegance. Standing among the crowd, his posture was as straight as a pine, his demeanor lofty; even with her dislike for the man, she had to admit he was undeniably attractive to women.

Shen Hui snorted, pursing her lips. "Private tutor? He wants me to become his disciple! The old-fashioned master-apprentice kind!" She couldn't help but sigh, pressing a hand to her forehead, "I don't know what the Old Master is thinking, trying this routine in this day and age!"

"Become a disciple?" The girls all echoed the question, buzzing with excitement, "That sounds like fun! What are you learning?"

"I don't even know what!" Shen Hui exclaimed in frustration. "Can you all stop swooning every time you see a handsome man? There are so many handsome men in the world; won't you turn into drooling idiots if you keep this up?"

The girls burst into laughter. "Not afraid, not afraid, we're only afraid there aren't enough handsome men!"

Their chorus of laughter drew the attention of the men in the hall.

Li Yundong also glanced over curiously. He noticed a young English-dressed man walking toward him. The man was about 1.8 meters tall, clad head-to-toe in designer brands. He was handsome, and though his face held a smile, his brow exuded the aristocratic haughtiness of someone from an established, powerful family.

Rong Jun approached Li Yundong, first stealing a greedy, appreciative glance at Su Chan, then smiling faintly at Li Yundong. "Hello. May I ask your name?"

Though Li Yundong couldn't guess Rong Jun's intent, he nodded politely. "No need to be so formal; I'm Li."

Rong Jun nodded. While he intended to cause trouble for Li Yundong, he maintained some restraint. He asked, "Hello, Mr. Li. May I ask what line of work you are in?"

Li Yundong paused, then turned to Su Chan with a smile, "What do I do for a living?"

Su Chan was stumped by the question. She blinked, thinking hard. I certainly can't say I'm the sect master of the Fox Charm Gate, can I? Nor can I say I'm a cultivator.

The young girl whispered tentatively, "A teahouse owner?"

Li Yundong chuckled, winked at Su Chan, and whispered back, "Too pedestrian!"

Then, Li Yundong turned back to Rong Jun with a slight smile. "Unemployed!"

Su Chan let out a soft snicker, pinched Li Yundong’s arm, and whispered, "Even more pedestrian than a teahouse owner!"

Although Rong Jun hadn't heard their exchange, seeing Li Yundong and Su Chan speaking so intimately caused an inexplicable pang of jealousy in his chest. He smiled and asked, "Unemployed? Mr. Li, you must be joking."

Li Yundong said earnestly, "I'm not joking. I used to be a student, but I quit. I even opened a teahouse, and it was nearly shut down by someone."

Rong Jun laughed heartily. Seeing Li Yundong speak with such seriousness, his caution began to wane. He smiled and said, "Very well, Mr. Li. May I ask if you know where we are?"

Li Yundong smiled. "Seems like the Shen Family Mansion?"

Rong Jun nodded. "Then could I trouble you with a favor?"

Li Yundong asked, "A young master like you, what favor could you possibly need from me?"

Rong Jun smiled, took out a wad of cash from his wallet, and pointed toward the main gate. "Could you help me buy something?"

Li Yundong was taken aback. "Buy something? What exactly?"

Rong Jun nodded and smiled. "If you help me, this is all yours. Also, Old Master Shen enjoys the freshest West Lake lotus seeds. Could you perhaps help me procure some?"

Su Chan, standing nearby, suddenly looked astonished. "West Lake lotus seeds? That’s in Hangzhou, it’s far! Besides, what fresh lotus seeds would there be at this time of year?"

Rong Jun gave Su Chan a brief smile, then looked back at Li Yundong with a serious expression, stating reservedly, "Please?"

Only then did Li Yundong understand—the man was indirectly trying to send him away! Where could one buy fresh lotus seeds in the dead of winter? Even if he could get fresh West Lake seeds, the round trip from Dongwu City to Hangzhou would take so long that the banquet would be over, not to mention whether the banquet was even still in session.

Li Yundong, having cultivated for so long in the Minor Thousand World, had nearly shed all his fiery temper, but his fundamental nature hadn't changed. If others were polite to him, he was exceedingly polite in return. But if someone started playing games, his own penchant for mischief would surface tenfold.

Li Yundong didn't get angry; he smiled and said to Rong Jun, "Ah, but I happen to know that Shen Wancai enjoys something else even more."

Rong Jun, seeing Li Yundong speak with such solemnity, frowned internally and asked, "What is it?"

Li Yundong said with a straight face, "This is a marvelous thing! Old Master Shen must dream of eating it. Rumor has it that consuming it can reverse aging, perhaps even grant eternal life!"

Rong Jun looked at Li Yundong strangely. He vaguely suspected Li Yundong was trying to trick him, but Li Yundong seemed utterly sincere. So he asked, "What exactly is it?"

Li Yundong grinned, "Dragon liver and phoenix gall!"

Rong Jun's face immediately changed, ready to explode in anger. But then he saw Li Yundong reach into his pocket and pull out a one-yuan coin. Li Yundong smiled, "Could you perhaps help me buy dragon liver and phoenix gall, and I'll help you buy the West Lake lotus seeds?"

Rong Jun had intended to get angry, but after hearing Li Yundong's proposal, something clicked, and he forcefully suppressed his rage. He smiled and said, "I'll go get the dragon liver and phoenix gall, and you get the West Lake lotus seeds? Deal!"

Li Yundong was overjoyed, accepting the stack of cash from his hand without ceremony, then handing over the coin he held. "Here, this is the money for the dragon liver and phoenix gall!"

Rong Jun inwardly sneered at Li Yundong’s gesture, which seemed like giving alms to a beggar, and said with forced composure, "Forget it, would I be short of this little bit of money?"

Li Yundong chuckled, "Then I won't stand on ceremony. Even a mosquito's thigh is still meat!"

With that, he tucked the coin back into his pocket without pretense, then carelessly thrust the stack of bills into Su Chan's hands. "Little lady, your master struck it rich today! Count how much this is!"

Su Chan, having spent the most time with Li Yundong, knew her master’s deep-seated love for teasing people. Even now, as a powerful cultivator, he hadn't kicked the habit. She immediately cast aside her worries, giggling as she took the money and started counting with a bright smile.

Li Yundong watched Su Chan count the money happily. After a while, he noticed Rong Jun still standing beside him, glaring at him unkindly. He asked quizzically, "Oh, why are you still here? Weren't you going to buy dragon liver and phoenix gall?"

Rong Jun snorted with a cold laugh. "Let's wait until there are dragons and phoenixes in this world! But aren't you supposed to go buy the West Lake lotus seeds? Why haven't you left yet?"

Li Yundong fought back a laugh and said earnestly, "I did promise to go. However, I might go ten minutes from now, or I might go ten years from now."

Su Chan burst into a peal of laughter, instantly recalling the time Li Yundong had tricked Liu Dakai. She laughed so hard her body shook.

Rong Jun was instantly provoked into shame and anger, finally losing his temper. "You tricked me?"

Li Yundong looked at Rong Jun with an expression of genuine confusion. "Strange, how did I trick you? I only agreed to go buy it for you; I never specified when I would buy it for you!"

Rong Jun sucked in a sharp breath. "Do you know who I am? How dare you play games with me?"

Li Yundong chuckled, "I haven't had the pleasure of learning your esteemed name yet?"

Rong Jun instinctively wanted to announce his name and status, but he felt it would be too impolite. He swallowed hard and retorted angrily, "You don't even know me, yet you have the nerve to attend this banquet?"

Li Yundong asked curiously, "Is your surname Shen?"

Rong Jun burst out, "My surname is Rong!"

Li Yundong laughed. "This banquet was held for Shen Hui's birthday. You're not part of the Shen family, why should I know you? Besides, even if you were part of the Shen family, why should I necessarily know every member of the Shen family?"

Su Chan also made a face at Rong Jun, saying, "Hurry up and go, you're annoying! We don't welcome you!"

Rong Jun was furious and about to retort when Shen Family's Fourth Concubine suddenly walked over and said with a cold smile, "It should be us who don't welcome you! It seems I still have some say in this house, some authority to make decisions, right?"

The Fourth Concubine had been eavesdropping on their conversation nearby and finally seized an opening to interject.

Rong Jun was overjoyed when the favored Fourth Concubine spoke up. He laughed happily. "Auntie Shen, you came at the perfect time!" He pointed at Li Yundong. "Why did Uncle Shen invite someone like this to the banquet? So rude, so ill-mannered!"

The Fourth Concubine snorted and said spitefully, "Perhaps Butler Zhang’s eyesight is failing, letting all sorts of riff-raff in. Humph, Zhang Xiaoquan, Zhang Xiaoquan!"

The Fourth Concubine's voice was sharp, and her shout immediately drew the attention of everyone in the hall toward her.

Butler Zhang Xiaoquan, who was greeting guests at the door, immediately approached and said respectfully, "Fourth Madam, you called for me?"

The Fourth Concubine looked at Li Yundong with a sneer, pointing at him. "You're old, your eyes must be blurry. Why are you letting people like this in?"

Butler Zhang glanced at Li Yundong, then said hesitantly, "No mistake, Madam. He holds an invitation personally written by the Old Master!"

The Fourth Concubine raised an eyebrow. "Can't it be forged?"

Butler Zhang paused. He knew this situation would be hard to resolve smoothly. This Fourth Concubine, accustomed to acting high and mighty in the household due to the prestige of her son, would surely make his life miserable if he didn't comply with her wishes.

Butler Zhang turned around, saying apologetically to Li Yundong and Su Chan, "I truly apologize... Perhaps I was mistaken after all. Gentlemen, what do you think..."

Even under the intense scrutiny of the crowd, Li Yundong’s expression remained unchanged. He kept smiling faintly at the butler, acting as if he were just an ordinary spectator passing by, completely unconcerned. He chuckled to Su Chan, "Forget it, since someone doesn't welcome us, we should leave first. Anyway, we've already given face to Zhou Qin."

Su Chan nodded vigorously, made a face at the Fourth Concubine, and huffed, "Dogs only know how to look down on people!"

The Fourth Concubine watched the receding figures of Li Yundong and Su Chan, feeling an inexplicable surge of anger with nowhere to vent. She immediately turned her head and shouted angrily at Butler Zhang, "In the future, keep your eyes wide open and don't let such unsavory people in again!"

Shen Hui, upstairs, saw that Li Yundong and Su Chan had finally left. She clapped her hands in delight, laughing gleefully, "Wonderful, they're gone! They really left!"

"Xiao Hui, who's gone?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, an old man walked out with a hearty chuckle—it was Shen Wancai himself!

================================================== I was held up with some matters today, my apologies. There is one more update, but it will be very late, so everyone shouldn't wait up. E