Lord of the Desert

Chapter 589 Gathering
The chime bells struck softly, and the sheng and xiao played in unison; the musicians played "The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate".

"The auspicious hour has arrived! The music begins! The newlyweds enter the grand hall!"

Outside the side door of the main hall, Mr. Tongyan, with a booming voice, described the scene to the guests in the side hall and courtyard.

"The groom, Young Master Hong Sheng, wore a dark gold brocade robe with gold-embroidered dragon patterns on the collar and sleeves, and a jade belt around his waist, exuding a commanding presence; the bride, Miss Ling Lang, wore a bright red silk gown and embroidered robe, a red gold and kingfisher feather crown, a pearl veil draped over her face, and her hair ornaments jingling softly..."

Then came the voice of the official in charge of rites, Hong Li.

First bow to heaven and earth, second bow to parents, husband and wife bow to each other; tea is offered and relatives are addressed, tokens are exchanged, and the newlyweds drink from the same cup...

When the ceremony was completed, the entire Hong residence erupted in cheers.

"The newlyweds will temporarily step aside to change clothes and will later offer toasts in gratitude. Gentlemen, please enjoy yourselves and celebrate this auspicious occasion!"

The ritual music resumed, and the musicians changed to playing "Celebrating a Prosperous Age".

This is just Hong Sheng's wedding.

Mo Shiqing finished his drink and looked at Tang, the young master of the family, who was seated at the sixth seat and represented the family.

She was having a pleasant conversation with the leaders of the Jinci Sect, Tongguang Palace, and the Meng Family of Huaiye, who were sitting at the same table. Her youthful eyes and brows were full of confidence and decisiveness.

The elegant Tang family has been expanding rapidly in Yunlan City in the past two years, which inevitably caused friction with the Mo family, which had crossed the river like a dragon. A few months ago, Mo Shiqing sparred with "Thousand Star" Tang Xingqing and suffered a crushing defeat.

Why is Young Master Mo so serious?

Fan Zhengzhi, the innate master known as "Wave-Breaking Blade" who sat at the same table, raised his glass and asked a question.

"Nothing else, it's just that seeing the Hong family rising rapidly and full of ambition, I felt something..."

Mo Shiqing replied.

Today is more than just a wedding.

This grand ceremony was a declaration of power and a proclamation of the Jin Hai Hong family's major advance into Xijing; from then on, Hong Fan officially sat at the table of power in Dahua as a military and political leader and a martial arts master.

Mo Shiqing dared not look at what the Celestial Magnets sitting in the chief seats were talking about, so he focused his attention on the other sounds that were mingling and intertwining in the hall.

"Let's partner up and build three rest stops on Throat Mountain..."

"Secure the sales agency rights for Yaojing Machinery Bureau in the four southern cities..."

"The Equipment Inspection Bureau has a mineral lubricating grease project, but there's an investment gap..."

"Junior brother, didn't the sect approve two hundred taels of betrothal money for you? There's still one hundred taels left!"

[What gathers here is not just people, but also the power, money, and military strength of the entire Liangzhou.]

Mo Shiqing's gaze was blank. He leaned back in his chair, feeling utterly exhausted. He sensed that all the tangible people in the room were surrounded by intangible things, which were giving rise to something indescribable.

The crowd cheered once again as Hong Fan and Jiang Danhu went from table to table toasting each other.

The entire afternoon flowed by in a joyful atmosphere.

Until the good night falls like a swaddling cloth, hatching a brand new day.

······
That night, at the beginning of midnight (11 p.m.).

The guests had left, and the moon glided across the roof of Shin-Asahi-in.

After being busy for several days straight, Hong Fan finally had some personal time.

"The Hong family has recently ventured to the frontier, and their family traditions are upright. The clansmen are your best support for achieving great things."

Tang Xingqing stood with her back to the courtyard, tiptoeing on the steps, her long neck bathed in moonlight.

“You can separate the ‘Blazing Explosion Manual’ from the Strength Realm section and let the clan’s disciples practice it in advance; the ‘outstanding contribution’ that the Martial Academy is allowed to pass on is extremely difficult for others, but what is it to you? Anyway, the headmaster is short of money but you are rich. If you throw three or five hundred thousand taels at it, wouldn’t that be an outstanding contribution?”

She chuckled lightly and casually flicked her wrist, sending a gust of wind through the hydrangeas in front of her.

The pink flower balls and the greenish-yellow stamens interspersed among them trembled gently in the breeze.

"The Blazing Explosion Manual is profound and obscure, and ordinary people with limited talent are unable to learn it on their own. Therefore, the transmission of martial arts must be done from top to bottom. I have spoken with Hongwu and Hongsheng, and they have already begun to prepare for switching to this discipline."

Hong Fan replied.

Even with compatible attributes and the aid of top-tier elixirs, switching cultivation is still an extremely risky endeavor. For a Qi Realm martial artist, spending several years preparing for this is not considered long—after all, others do not possess the life force of a destiny star or the Dragon Soul Fruit, and cannot rely on external forces to heal hidden injuries and solidify their foundation time and time again.

"That's a case of great minds thinking alike."

Tang Xingqing turned around with her hands behind her back, her skirt fluttering and rising, and looked back with a smile.

The two had not seen each other since June of the thirty-third year of Zhenghe, but had maintained correspondence during that time, so the long separation did not feel like yesterday and they were not at all estranged. Hong Fan examined the moonlight.

Compared to herself, Tang Xingqing's delicate and plain face has undergone more changes—her every smile and frown is now both lively and composed, and full of the surging vitality that comes with holding great power.

"There's something else. I met with more than a dozen of your Red Sand Army generals today, and it seems that their martial arts each have their own lineage?"

Compared to the past, her perspective on issues is significantly broader and more sophisticated.

"You want to talk about the 'Cliff-Moving Palm' and the 'Martial Calamity Divine Inscription Scripture'?"

Hong Fan asked.

"You really thought of this beforehand."

Tang Xingqing revealed an expression that said, "I knew it."

"You are one of the most talented businessmen in the world, so you naturally know that people's hearts are fickle. Martial arts are the most precious thing in the world. If your right-hand men switch to practicing the martial arts granted by the imperial court, their future will be restricted by others, and there will always be times when things are not so convenient."

Hong Fan nodded in silence.

Compared to the complexities of clan relocation, this matter is even more difficult to handle—for most members of the Red Sand Army, the meaning of joining the army is to exchange military merits for martial arts.

“Your thoughts are deep and I can’t fathom them. I just feel that you’re not as relaxed and detached as before—the Hong Fan I knew before wouldn’t do something so overly high-profile today.”

Tang Xingqing frowned slightly.

"But if you intend to learn from the Da Hua family, you'd better learn it thoroughly."

She didn't have much respect for the Xiao family of Shenjing to begin with, and even less so after meeting Xiao Chu.

"I haven't made up my mind about this yet."

Hong Fan trusted Tang Xingqing more than his own clansmen, and he spoke of her without reservation.

"My foundation in the northern frontier is not yet solid, and I do not wish to damage the relationship with the imperial court at present. In addition, it is not easy to find a suitable cultivation method."

He already possesses the complete "Blazing Explosion Manual".

However, this skill is of a very high grade and is an important part of Hong Fan's own combat power. If it is awarded to the army, it will cause dissatisfaction from both the Hong family and the Martial Arts Academy.

"How about the Fire Spirit Codex?"

Tang Xingqing suggested.

The Fire Spirit Codex is a family martial art passed down in the Gong family of Yunlan. Hong Fan had seen Gong Zhengping, known as "Wildfire," use it, and it deserves the reputation of being domineering and fierce.

"The Gong family was sacrificed by the Feng family, so the Fire Spirit Scripture will surely fall into the hands of the Feng family. They are currently hiding in the Iron Platform City of the Northern Frontier and their lives are not easy. If you are willing, you can definitely get it, and the cost will be relatively low."

She waited a moment but didn't hear Hong Fan reply.

"Feng Jianke and Feng Mubai are both dead. Do you still harbor resentment towards the Feng family? Second-grade martial arts are rare treasures, always in high demand but priceless. Moreover, martial arts itself has no right or wrong."

Tang Xingqing offered another word of advice, but seeing him shake his head slightly, she said no more.

"I just mentioned it casually."

Seeing that the topic was getting a little serious, she took the initiative to change the subject.

"Speaking of which, I also met Mo Shiqing today. I fought him before."

Tang Xingqing plucked a hydrangea, twirled the stem, and the petals burst forth, transforming into a meteor shower between her fingers and palm.

"Was that Mo family member on the list of prodigies? What was the result?"

Hong Fan recalled the scene when the toast was made, only vaguely remembering that the person was very respectful, but he forgot the specific appearance.

He met too many people today.

"What else could I do? I simply taught the younger generation a lesson."

Tang Xingqing crossed her arms and laughed spiritedly.

"He was only at the first stage of the Innate Realm, and he couldn't withstand even three of my flying swords..."

The night was quiet and the breeze was refreshing.

The two talked about everything from the northern frontier of Hezhou to the three prefectures of Huaiyang in the past, and before they knew it, they had been chatting for a long time.

As time passed, the Milky Way drifted away, and the stars and moon chased each other from behind the roof tiles to the zenith.

(End of this chapter)