"T-Thank you for the compliment, Manager Gao, you're also looking as stunning as ever," Yi Chen said while bowing respectfully.

The smile on Gao Zhen's face widened subtly when she heard his words, as she said the next moment.

"I've been waiting for Young Master Chen to visit my Red Velvet Pavilion during these days…it's a pity, but it seems that Young Master Chen was very busy with his work,"

"Well," Yi Chen smiled embarrassingly and said, "I've been too focused on cultivating during this period, so I didn't get any time to visit."

Before passing Elder Lei's test, he had no intention of visiting anywhere. If not for that mission reward, which he was promised, he wouldn't have shown up at today's banquet as well.

"Young Master Chen sure is very diligent," Gao Zhen thought of it as an excuse and said while glancing at his right hand, "It's good to see you using the gift which I gave you earlier."

When Yi Chen heard this, an uncomfortable smile formed on his face as he said, while lifting his hand to his chest. His thumb fidgets with the ring on his ring finger.

"This storage ring has been of great help to me, so I thank Manager Gao once again for this great gift. Moreover, although my cultivation is lacking right now, in the future, if there's anything that I can be of help to you, please tell me. I'll be more than happy to do so."

"Young Master Chen, just you saying that is more than enough," Gao Zhen said with a sweet smile as her eyes gleamed meaningfully.

'You better not forget these words, Young Master Chen,' She thought as her smile widened subtly.

"Brother Chen!" It was right at that time that Zhou Mei rushed towards him in delight.

"I finally found you. I'm sorry abo-" it was only now that she noticed Gao Zhen and stopped midway.

"Greetings, Miss Mei," Gao Zhen greeted warmly as an expression of great interest formed on her face, seeing this exchange.

"A-ah, yes, Greetings," Zhou Mei greeted her back with an uncomfortable expression. It was natural since this was her first time interacting with Gao Zhen. Usually, in all the functions, she had only seen her interacting with people of her father's age.

Feeling her state, Gao Zhen gave an understanding smile and, glancing towards Yi Chen, said, "I'll go and talk with other guests then. Remember to visit my Red Velvet Pavilion soon, Young Master Chen."

With that said, she headed back the way she came and began interacting with a few aged cultivators, a professional smile apparent on her face.

It was also at this moment that Yi Chen realised the number of gazes that were being directed towards him.

'How come Miss Gao knows him?'

'Just who is he?'

'Even the Patriarch's younger daughter knows him…'

Similar thoughts were plastered on the faces of most of the people present around him.

'Well…this feels embarrassing,'

Coughing a couple of times, he acted as if he wasn't the subject of all these gazes and turning towards Zhou Mei, asked.

"Where were you? I had been looking for you before crossing paths with Manager Gao," Yi Chen asked.

"About that…my sister's hair-pinning ceremony took a little longer than expected, so I became free only around ten minutes ago." Zhou Mei explained in an exhausted voice.

"Ah, is that so? Where is she now?" Yi Chen asked while looking around the hall.

"She's changing into her ceremonial robes. So, it will take about fifteen to twenty minutes for her to come here. Look, even the tables have started to get laid,"

Zhou Mei said while gesturing towards the rows of tables a few metres ahead of them.

"Indeed," Yi Chen nodded while glancing at the exquisite dishes that were being brought one after another.

It was at that time that Yi Chen's gaze fell on a group of three who were wearing matching blue and black coloured robes.

Seeing this, his curiosity was stoked, and he couldn't help but frown.

'Hm?' Zhou Mei traced Yi Chen's gaze when she saw this, and, realising who he was staring at, she said with a smile.

"Ah, those are my sister's friends from the Heavenly Azure Dragon Sect." Zhou Mei explained and asked after a thought, "Shall I introduce Brother Chen to them?"

"Sure! I would love that," Yi Chen answered with enthusiasm.

Seeing this, Zhou Mei chuckled and said, "I knew Brother Chen would answer like this."

With that said, the two of them soon approached the three Heavenly Azure Sect's disciples.

One was a male, and the other two were females, all around the same age as Yi Chen.

"Hello, Senior Sister Hui Min!" Zhou Mei exclaimed cheerfully and ran towards one of the two women with open hands.

"If it isn't Zhou Mei!" Hui Min exclaimed with a bright expression when she saw Zhou Mei and bent down a little to welcome her embrace.

"Senior Sister, I missed you a lot!" Zhou Mei said while pecking her left cheek.

"Did you really?" Hui Min feigned a surprised expression before asking with narrowed eyes, "Or are you just trying to gain my favour since you'll be entering the sect soon?"

"Hehe…I can't lie in front of Sister Hui Min. I'll be depending upon you in the future," Zhou Mei chuckled shamelessly while unwrapping her arms from Hui Min's waist.

"I knew it, this little brat…" Hui Min snorted playfully and was about to knock on Zhou Mei's head when Zhou Mei immediately ran behind Yi Chen's back to hide.

"Brother Chen, it's her!" Zhou Mei shamelessly pointed towards Hui Min and exclaimed, "She's the one who's been bullying me! Please teach her a lesson!"

Yi Chen: "…"

The natural smile that had been on Yi Chen's face broke the very next moment.

'You little rascal…is this what you meant by introducing me to them?'

The three cultivators in front of him were all in the Ninth Level of Meridian Refinement, and it was apparent that they would become his seniors when he entered the Heavenly Azure Dragon Sect.

Not wanting to get in their bad light, he immediately clasped his hands towards them and bowed.

"Greetings, Senior Brothers and Sisters. I'm Yi Chen. Zhou Mei's friend."

"Zhou Mei's friend?!" Hui Min exclaimed in surprise as she met the other two disciples' eyes.

An incredulous expression was apparent on their faces as well, and the next moment, the three of them directed their gazes towards Yi Chen again.

'Um…did I say something I shouldn't have?'

It was Hui Min who spoke first.

"Brother Chen, are you sure you're not being forced to do something that's against your will?"

"Yes, Brother Chen, if there's something you need help with, do tell me. I, Huang Bo, will do my best to help you!" a man who was standing next to Hui Min said in an upright tone while patting his chest.

"I, too, agree with Sister Mei and Brother Bo. Doing something against one's will is never good. Just ask us, and we'll save you from her evil clutches."

Xie Rou, the third member of the party, said. An amused glint was apparent on her face as she said that.

"You! You! You!"

Being accused like this by the three of them, Zhou Mei finally lost her cool and whined while pointing her fingers towards them individually.

"How could the three of you think to say such things about me? Do I look like a ruffian in any way?!"

"Uhm…isn't that obvious? Didn't you once ask a First Meridian Refinement Stage cultivator to befriend you at one of the functions two years ago?

When he refused to do so, who was the one who turned his eyes black?" Hui Min asked while savouring the changes in Zhou Mei's expression.

"Haha, I still remember that day. After that, almost all the boys of her age started avoiding Little Mei like a pest," Huang Bo chuckled in thought.

A soft chuckle also escaped from Xie Rou's direction.

Zhou Mei's countenance turned red after hearing her past being brought up by the three of them.

'Haha, it sure feels good to watch her suffer. That's what you deserve for making things difficult for me,' Yi Chen observed with a smug smile on his face.

Not wanting this to continue any longer, Zhou Mei finally decided to steer the conversation away.

"Stop! Why are you discussing my past? The reason I came here was to ask the three of you about the recent happenings in the sect. Is there something that we, new entrants, should know about?"

Seeing her cute attempt to get out of this situation, the three of them smiled knowingly but allowed her to do so. In the end, they were only doing it for fun.

"The sect? Well, everything's the same. If you want something specific, then the yearly demonic beast's subjugation will begin next month. The three of us and your sister will be participating in it for the first time," Hui Min explained.

"Demonic Beast Subjugation?! Wasn't it only limited to the Qi Absorption Stage experts? Why are the four of you also participating?" Zhou Mei asked the next moment. A frown was apparent on her face.

At the mention of Demonic Beast Subjugation and Zhou Mei's subsequent question, an expression of intrigue appeared on Yi Chen's face as he too focused on Hui Min's next set of words.

"Well, the thing is…"

Hui Min began her explanation.

"What?! The demonic beasts are getting stronger?" Zhou Mei asked with widened eyes a minute later.

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