Chapter: 858 (1/2)

AST 858 – Attending the banquet，Dong Yan and Sun Yan

“Brothers, why don’t you count me in?” Qing Shui looked like a Xiantian cultivator and perhaps even a low grade Xiantian cultivator if he did not show his actual abilities.

Dong Yan and the considerably handsome 30 year-old looked at Qing Shui and laughed.

This laughter seemed to have brought them together, as if they were birds of a feather.

“I am Sun Yan!” the handsome man smiled.

“I am Dong Yan. It’s my pleasure to meet you!” the mild-mannered middle-aged man said smiling.

“I am Qing Shui. It’s my pleasure to meet both of you,” Qing Shui responded with a smile.

“Good. It is getting late, the banquet must be starting. Let’s not delay any further!” Dong Yan grinned at the two other men.

They got into a beast carriage and it sped quickly along the wide roads towards the Dongfang residence, as it swept pass the changing scenery.

“Brothers, is the Dongfang Aristocrat Clan very rich and powerful?” Qing Shui was unsure if this particular Dongfang Aristocrat Clan was the one mentioned by the old man at the Golden Buddha Temple. However, seeing that they were in Dongfang City, he reckoned that this particular clan must still be very powerful and influential.

“Dongfang Aristocrat Clan is the biggest clan in Dongfang City, I’m sure you can tell from its name. They are kind and charitable and the people here in Dongfang City only have praise for them. We are going to the wedding banquet of a talented member of their fourth generation, Dongfang Ye,” Dong Yan replied, smiling.

Qing Shui could tell from the man’s tone that the Dongfang Aristocrat Clan had quite a good reputation. However, to Qing Shui, everyone had a reason to be good or bad. The reason wasn’t important to him, even if their purpose was to boost their reputation, it was a good thing that they were being charitable.

People who deceived the public to gain reputation weren’t the worst. The worst were those who appeared to be charitable but instead donated to themselves. Such actions are detestable. They may appear to be open and aboveboard but they only care about their own benefits, even to the extent that they could boldly justify their actions by declaring that other people should not reap the benefits of their efforts. These people were worse than the former. In other words, this was the difference between a poseur and someone truly despicable.

Qing Shui did not condemn them. It was a fact that many large clans in the World of the Nine Continent would usually bring benefits and advantages to the people around them. This was how their families established themselves in a particular city or country, gaining dominance in the region.

They reached the residence of the Dongfang Aristocrat Clan very quickly. It was a huge magnificent-looking manor which was located in a bustling district. Three of the men got down from the carriage and just when Qing Shui was about to pay, Dong Yan laughed, “How can we let you pay for the trip? Just wait and see.”

Dong Yan walked up to the lavishly decorated gates. A middle-aged man walked up to him and smiled saying, “Sir, are you here to attend the banquet?”

“Yes, yes. May I ask if you work here?” Dong Yan smiled at the middle-age man.

“Yes, I am in-charge of some miscellaneous tasks,” the man replied, still smiling.

“So you are the housekeeper? That’s fantastic. You see, I came here in a hurry so I forgot to bring any money. The ride here was a little expensive. I’d heard that Dongfang Aristocrat Clan is very generous, do you think…”

“Sure, sure.”

The man gestured to one of the guards. That guard immediately ran to the beast carriage and paid for the trip and even gestured politely for the three men to enter.

Qing Shui was a little stunned by Dong Yan’s antics. At that moment, many of the people who were entering and leaving the residence looked at the three men with contempt. Who would believe that these three men did not have the money to pay for their ride? Even though they were not well-dressed Xiantian cultivators not having enough money to pay for a carriage ride? What a joke…

Of course, there were people who found that little incident quite hilarious. With this, there were comments about Dongfang Aristocrat Clan’s generosity and kindness. The housekeeper happily accepted these compliments on behalf of the clan.

Dong Yan did not show any hint of embarrassment, Sun Yan even held his head high, just like a proud cockerel… And, Qing Shui looked totally like an outsider…

The people around them seemed to be driven speechless by their behavior. Anyone would see them as a bunch of stingy people. They did not bring any congratulatory gifts, yet they even expected the Dongfang Aristocrat Clan to pay for their ride here. Who knows if they would need the family to pay for their trip back? If they did not have the money to come to this place, it was highly unlikely that they would have the money to go back…

“It is a disgrace to attend a banquet with such guests,” a fat man sighed, shaking his head.

“That’s right. Why would these random people attend the banquet? I wonder if they have a invitation?” an ugly young man with a monkey-like face added.

“Invitation? Do you think Dongfang Aristocrat Clan would send an invitation to such people?” that fat man replied, once again casting a look of disgust at the three men.

“Brother Qing Shui, do you know what a pig is?” Dong Yan laughed while he walked. Everyone could clearly hear his words.

“This question is quite difficult, please enlighten me, Brother Dong,” Qing Shui asked, with a false look of seriousness on his face.

“Phish!” Just then, a young lady laughed when she heard Qing Shui’s reply. That bell-like laughter was like a breeze in spring.