Read Novel Full Chapter 1628: Insight
Chapter 1628: Chapter 1628: Insight
Before long, a servant came over to invite Him.
Qi Hao didn’t mind, he followed the servant into the parlor; that official was already gone.
"Father, this is Tan Qihao, Brother Tan, his skills are truly impressive."
Jiang Yushan laughed heartily. "Heroes really do emerge among the young. Brother Tan, please sit."
Qi Hao cupped his hands and sat down.
Jiang Liangcheng started talking about Qi Hao’s skills; with that kind of introduction, Jiang Yushan’s face was all smiles.
"Good, good, Brother Tan, you must get up on the stage and give it a try this time."
Qi Hao cupped his hands again. "We’ll see. I don’t think I’m up to it."
"Brother Tan, you’re too modest. May I ask who your master is?"
Qi Hao thought to himself that he couldn’t mention his Master anyway. Even if he did, they wouldn’t know him.
"My master has no title, just an ordinary Martial Artist."
Jiang Liangcheng and his father both smiled. This sort of thing happened often—many people wouldn’t say their Master’s name at first, usually because the Master was too famous. Once the disciple made a name for himself, people would find out sooner or later.
At that moment, two young girls came in. They were the Jiang Family’s two daughters: the elder daughter Jiang Hongxia, the younger daughter Jiang Yan Yang.
Jiang Liangcheng smiled. "Hongxia, Yanyang, this is my friend Tan Qihao.
Hongxia, Brother Tan’s Qinggong is the best I’ve ever seen."
A little girl in her early teens heard this and was extremely unconvinced.
"Mr. Tan, try Qinggong with me." Jiang Hongxia had always believed no one’s Qinggong could be better than hers.
Qi Hao had no desire to compete for superiority with mortals. "My skills aren’t as good as Brother Jiang said; there’s no need to compete."
"No, you have to. Are you looking down on me?"
Qi Hao fell silent; the ones he hated most were those spoiled girls.
Seeing that Qi Hao didn’t respond, Jiang Hongxia anxiously turned to Jiang Liangcheng. "Big Brother!"
"Calling me is useless, Brother Tan already said he’s not as good as you."
"Hongxia, don’t make trouble. Brother Tan just arrived, you need to let him rest." Jiang Yushan also wanted to see Qi Hao’s skills.
He was getting old; this time, keeping his position as Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch was a bit shaky, so he was thinking whether he should support someone else to the top.
Just now his son had told him about this Tan Qihao. Seeing him in person, he felt it wasn’t very likely—this young man had pride, the kind who wouldn’t agree to take orders from him. In that case, he’d either have to find a way to make him obey, or ruin him.
Hearing Jiang Yushan’s words, Qi Hao thought, people are just like this.
He reminded himself, this isn’t the Cultivation World, it’s the Mortal World. Human relationships matter more than anything else, so he still had to follow the rules of the Mortal World.
So he just sat still. It didn’t really matter; he might as well treat it like watching a play—his elder sister would definitely enjoy this.
He wondered how she was now. She probably wouldn’t be lonely, with Gu Ersheng and that Artifact Spirit around.
His thoughts drifted elsewhere as he watched this family of four men putting on their little show.
A servant came to report that the banquet was ready.
"Brother Tan, let’s go together."
Qi Hao stood up and cupped his hands. "Thank you for the hospitality."
"Brother, you’re being too polite. A guest is like family—just treat this place as your home."
Jiang Yushan also smiled. "That’s right, Brother Tan, from now on this will be your home, don’t stand on ceremony."
Jiang Yan Yang had been watching from the side all along. Her skills weren’t good, but her mind was sharp.
She was born of a concubine. She and her mother could have a place in the Jiang Family only because both of them were clever.
Watching her father’s attitude toward this Tan Qihao, she could tell—this man was definitely someone formidable.
A thought formed in her mind. She knew her father was about to lose his Alliance Hierarch’s seat, so he would certainly try something. Clearly, he’d set his sights on this man.
Recalling her father and elder brother’s actions and words just now, she instantly understood: they wanted to win Tan Qihao over, planning to marry her elder sister to him?
She felt this was very likely. Which meant that this Tan Qihao was very outstanding?
With that thought, the two sisters walked together.
"Elder Sister, are we still going to the front to eat?"
"I’m not going. If you want to go, go by yourself." Jiang Hongxia looked down on this younger sister. Father said she was smart, but she honestly didn’t think the girl was all that clever.
"If Elder Sister isn’t going, I won’t either. Elder Sister, are you really going to compete with that man? I noticed Father and Big Brother were quite polite to him."
"Humph. I’ll find a way to make him agree to compete."
"I think Big Brother is wrong. He’s been away from home for years; he doesn’t know how hard Elder Sister has been training."
Jiang Hongxia loved hearing this kind of talk. "Exactly. He always thinks other people are better. I’ll make sure they’re astonished this time."
"Mm, Elder Sister definitely can. It’s just, I feel that man is a bit too aloof, like he looks down on us. Who does he think he is? And who are we?"
Jiang Hongxia frowned. "You really see it that way?"
"Mm. I watched him—he didn’t even glance at anyone in our family."
"What’s he got to be proud of? Just some wild-path stray. Wait till I defeat him. Looks like a downright ugly freak and still won’t look at us?"
Jiang Hongxia was used to being admired. If someone didn’t look at her, of course she was displeased.
Jiang Yan Yang went back to her own quarters, where she lived with her mother.
"Have you eaten?"
"No. There’s some important guest today. Since Jiang Hongxia isn’t going to the front, I can’t go either."
"Right, no need. I’ll have Xiao Cui wrap some wontons for you."
"Mother, I think Father might be finding a husband for Jiang Hongxia."
"Finding a husband?"
"Yes, it’s that man who came back with Big Brother this time. His skills should be very good. Father probably wants to win him over, make him the Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch."
"Is that even possible?" Hu Xiuting let out a soft laugh.
"Mother, I don’t think it is. My elder sister won’t like that man’s looks."
"Mm, don’t bother with them. Whatever your father has in mind is pointless anyway."
Hu Xiuting knew her young woman was clever; one sentence was enough for her to understand.
"Got it, we’ll just watch."
Hu Xiuting nodded. Since she’d humbled herself into becoming a concubine, they could forget about trying anything with her daughter.
Qi Hao sat off to the side, doing his best to dull his presence and speaking very little.
He knew Jiang Yushan had been watching him the whole time.
The official had honored them with his presence today. The atmosphere of the banquet was quite lively.
Listening to them talk, Qi Hao guessed that this official wanted the Jiang Family to keep the Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch’s seat. Would that count as control? Would the Jiang Family obey?
It really was quite interesting. Then again, maybe not. From Jiang Liangcheng’s attitude, he seemed very eager to build ties with the government. Maybe he’d willingly become that puppet.
They chatted happily, but once Qi Hao had made his guesses, he lost interest. After the meal, he tactfully took his leave, not wanting to get involved with them.
On the way, he saw some unfamiliar faces. These knights hadn’t joined the banquet, but it seemed they had an understanding—they were all outside. Were they hoping to bump into that official by chance?
So most of the people here wanted to latch onto the government. Qi Hao thought, is this what worldly currying of favor looks like?