In Nanyan City, on New Year’s Eve, inside the Ji family estate which occupied nearly half of the inner city red lanterns hung high, firecrackers popped, and laughter echoed continuously.
In the main hall of the estate, where the lights were brightest, seven or eight huge carved wooden chandeliers were suspended upside down. Thousands of candle flames illuminated the main banquet table below and dozens of guest tables arranged on both sides. The New Year’s Eve dinner had already concluded, and maidservants and attendants were smilingly carrying the empty dishes out one after another, replacing them with plates of exquisite pastries, fruits, and fine nectar wines. Hosts and guests laughed together, and the entire hall was filled with a joyful festive atmosphere.
The young maids and servants who had finished setting out the fruits retreated behind the tables, gathering in groups of two or three with pursed lips, eagerly awaiting the performances below. According to Ji family tradition, the New Year’s banquet was followed by a time of family celebration and festivity. Storytellers, acrobats, and opera troupes had long been waiting outside to perform and liven up the mood. Tonight, hosts, guests, servants, adults, and children alike did not need to stand on too much ceremony; as long as everyone was happy and having a good time, that was all that mattered.
Furthermore, times were different this year. Not only were members of the Ji family—from the sect master down to collateral branches—gathered together in one place, but the Second Young Master, who had been away practicing cultivation for eight years, was returning home for the very first time. On top of that, a momentous piece of great good fortune had fallen upon the Ji family. It truly was one happy event after another.
The gazes of those maidservants almost all enthusiastically fell upon the two low tables on the left and right below the main table, as none of them wanted to miss the demeanor of the three young masters.
A young maid whose line of sight was blocked by a pillar in the hall desperately shoved her companion aside to peek into the front. The moment she caught a distant glance, her face instantly turned flushed. Twisting her handkerchief, she whispered softly to her companion in admiration, “Second Young Master Yinsang truly looks like an immortal.”
“Indeed he is,” the slightly older companion said with undeniable pride, as if she were the one who had served the Second Young Master. “The sect where Young Master Yinsang practices cultivation is the Liuling Palace on the immortal mountain. Everyone from that place is said to look like a deity.”
“Still, I think Young Master Wutong is the most handsome, and his eyes are the brightest, and his smile is the most charming,” a third maid chimed in upon hearing them, stepping closer. “You have no idea—even though Young Master Wutong is often seen around the estate, every time I watch him walk over, my heart races and my legs go weak.”
“Little girl with such nerve! Is a master something you are even allowed to daydream about?” the middle maid chuckled softly, though her eyebrows and eyes seemed quite approving of her words.
“Well, it’s New Year’s today anyway…” the daydreaming young maid said with a light giggle.
“Actually, the Eldest Young Master is also a phoenix among men with refined and handsome features,” the first maid remarked, before adding, “It’s just that the other two young masters are too dazzling, making him like the moon beside the sun, casting a shadow over his brilliance. However, the Eldest Young Master treats people with utmost gentleness and is extremely kind to us servants. He really is a good person.”
The older maid let out a soft, almost imperceptible sigh. “It’s a pity the Eldest Young Master wasn’t born to the mistress of the house…”
At that moment, the three maids’ whispered conversation was interrupted by a burst of applause and cheers. In the middle of the hall, a mystic had just finished his performance. With a wave of his horsetail whisk, a five-colored brocade lion in front of him, along with the embroidered ball in its mouth, dissolved into a wisp of light smoke and was drawn into his sleeve. He bowed respectfully.
The applause and cheers from the crowd were endless, and the person whose voice was particularly loud was the youthful, picturesque Young Master Wutong. He clapped his hands, almost jumping up with excitement, while the Second Young Master beside him smiled at his younger brother, shaking his head with a mixture of helplessness and doting affection.
Across from them, the Eldest Young Master, Ji Longbai, looked gently at his younger brothers with a smile that seemed permanently welded to his face.
Seated at the head of the main table, the master and mistress of the house directed their gazes solely toward the pleasing duo of Yinsang and Wutong. Exchanging a glance, the mistress smiled and said, “Reward him!”
An attendant waiting nearby immediately brought a tray holding the reward to the mystic. The mystic gave another deep bow, accepted the reward, expressed his gratitude, and withdrew.
“What else is there? Bring them all out!” said the head of the family, Ji Huaishan, with high spirits. As a practitioner of cultivation, his lifespan was vast; although he was already over a hundred years old, he still looked to be in his forties, with handsome whiskers, a straight nose, and piercing eyes, hinting at how striking his youth must have been.
Meanwhile, the mistress, Zhao Xuerong, possessed skin as smooth and white as ice, and exquisite beauty. If not for her hairstyle and garments, which showed dignity and maturity, it would have been hard to tell her age at all.
The beauty of the world comes from Nanyan, and the beauty of Nanyan lies in the Ji estate. This was truly no idle boast.
Before the family head’s voice had even faded, a clear voice rang out: “I’ll do it!”
Accompanied by the voice, Wutong skipped into the center of the hall and exaggeratedly bowed to the two people at the main seat: “Father, Mother, your unworthy child is willing to provide some amusement for our uncles, aunts, elder brothers, and elder sisters.”
Before he even finished speaking, the mistress covered her mouth and chuckled, half out of fondness and half with a light scold: “You child, what mischief are you getting up to now?”
Ji Huaishan looked at his youngest son, stroked his beard, and laughed heartily: “Alright, go ahead.” Then he turned and spoke softly to his wife: “Xuerong, today is New Year’s Eve, let the children have their fun.”
The mistress nodded, then gazed at Wutong with a smile full of tenderness and affection.
A considerable commotion stirred through the hall as well. The Ji family’s youngest son was notoriously mischievous. Because he was born without spiritual roots and could not practice cultivation, Young Master Wutong possessed not a shred of magical power despite being born into this premier immortal cultivation family. Fortunately, with his two elder brothers possessing superior bone structure and profound cultivation, the Ji family did not rely on him to bring glory to the lineage. Instead, he became the only child able to enjoy his parents’ affection up close. Coupled with Wutong’s striking beauty and talent for pleasing his elders, by the time he reached seventeen, he was the most doted-on person in the entire estate.
He did not care for studying the classic texts of sages, but instead took a deep interest in various miscellanies, strange tales, and bizarre anecdotes. From major cultivation sects and noble clans down to peddlers and commoners, he would grab anyone and ask endless questions. Consequently, nobody knew how many interesting stories and jokes this handsome young master kept locked away in his head, and whenever he told them, he always managed to have everyone rolling with laughter.
Hearing that Wutong was going to put on a show once more, everyone was filled with excitement and anticipation. More maids and servants rushed over to spread the word, causing the spacious hall to fill up with even more attendants who stood on tiptoe in eager expectation.
Yet, unlike his usual routine of striking a pose and starting right away, Wutong simply smiled, scanned the surroundings in silence, and then unhurriedly turned on his heel and walked toward the door.
The crowd became even more curious, wondering what tricks this young master had up his sleeve.
Just as he was about to reach the door, Wutong suddenly stopped, turned around, flicked the hem of his garment, and strode briskly back.
The moment he turned, however, his demeanor and temperament shifted abruptly. With an expression that was majestic yet amiable, he pointed here and there along the way, nodded from time to time, said “Not bad, not bad,” and raised a hand to stroke an imaginary beard.
Some people in the crowd could already be heard holding back their laughter. Before Wutong had even walked halfway back, laughter was already erupting all around. Although he still possessed a youthful face and light pink robes, his expression, gait, and conversational style were the spitting image of the Ji family head’s demeanor.
“It’s the Master. It’s the Master!” Someone immediately pointed out with a laugh.
Just as he neared the main table, an expression of concern suddenly crossed Wutong’s face. He gestured as if supporting someone and said, “Slowly now, slowly.” Then, with a sudden sway of his body, his posture and demeanor transformed instantly.
He appeared as graceful as a willow in the wind, his eyes shifting charmingly as he tucked an imaginary stray lock of hair behind his ear. Then he walked with slow, measured steps, his expression turning dignified and poised.
This time, even the mistress at the main table burst out laughing: “Naughty child!”
Wutong went on to imitate various figures around the estate, capturing the essence of each person so accurately that everyone could instantly recognize who he was portraying, sending the entire hall into roaring laughter. In the end, everyone laughed until they were out of breath while excitedly shouting out the names of the people he was mimicking:
“Young Master Yinsang!”
“Hahaha, it’s the steward! The old steward!”
“The plump cook! That’s so like her, hahaha, hahaha!”
“The brocade lion from the ball dance just now, hahahaha, hahahaha!”
“Hahahahahaha…”
Amidst the joyful laughter, Wutong’s expression suddenly shifted once more, revealing a mature and gentle temperament. The smile on his face froze as if it were semi-permanent, and his gaze turned abruptly cold—a look that strangely matched that fixed smile to perfection. Upon seeing this, the crowd first froze, and then their gazes almost unanimously turned toward the direction of the Eldest Young Master, Ji Longbai, seated below the main table.
Someone was just about to shout out that it was the Eldest Young Master, but then they noticed that the usual smile on Ji Longbai’s face had vanished, and his expression was extremely unsightly.
The people who had just been impersonated laughed uproariously because the young master’s every move was a carbon copy of themselves; far from being displeased, even those who hadn’t been imitated felt somewhat disappointed. Yet, seeing the Eldest Young Master’s sudden change in expression, the crowd was visibly taken aback, and the laughter that was about to burst forth got stuck right in their throats.
Unaware of this, Wutong cupped his hands in a bow, standing tall and straight, bowing again and rising—a reenactment of the scene earlier when the relatives and guests arrived and the Eldest Young Master welcomed them at the door.
The “Eldest Young Master” stood tall and graceful, his posture elegant, his demeanor bearing that consistent gentle modesty, with a permanent smile. Standing like a sturdy tree facing the breeze, his movements were composed and steady, perfectly demonstrating the aristocratic bearing of a great clan’s disciple. Meanwhile, Wutong’s ethereal looks lent this performance a sense of noble prestige, seamlessly blending the temperaments of the two brothers in a way that was nothing short of breathtaking.
Everyone switched to praising him, and for a moment, no one laughed.
As all eyes turned toward him, Ji Longbai immediately caught himself and forced his expression back to normal, though the hand beneath the table slowly tightened into a fist.
Naturally, the others knew nothing of the humiliation and shame he had endured that day while welcoming guests on his father’s behalf.
It was common knowledge inside and outside the clan that the Eldest Young Master held a far lower status in the Ji family than the other two brothers. But a master was still a master, and given his mild, friendly, and unaggressive nature, even if the servants in the estate held some inner disdain, they didn’t show it overtly, and some even felt a bit of private sympathy for him.
However, the clansmen who arrived today had no such reservations and made no effort to conceal their condescension toward this unfavored eldest son. For an entire day, he had been treated like an ugly artifact on display at the Ji estate gates, subjected time and again to mockery, pity, and even gloating glances.
Ji Huaishan was the first to laugh heartily: “Just like him! Just like him!” He turned and pointed at Ji Longbai: “Look at that. If you weren’t sitting right here, I’d have thought you changed into your brother’s clothes and stood there with a new face, hahahaha…”
Hearing him laugh, everyone in the hall let out a relieved burst of laughter as well. The smile on Ji Longbai’s face widened significantly, as if he too had been infected by the atmosphere.
Only, no one noticed that his tightly clenched knuckles had turned nearly white.
Wutong dropped his stance, reverting to the playful demeanor of the Ji family’s youngest son. While the crowd’s laughter still hadn’t died down, he slightly raised his chin, his pretty eyes curving as he waited proudly for praise.
“Good! Very good!” Ji Huaishan clapped his hands and said, “My son Wutong, what reward do you want?”
The mistress seized the moment to prompt: “Tong’er, today you’ve brought joy and smiles to everyone, so your father will naturally grant you whatever you wish.”
Wutong smiled sweetly and replied, “I heard that Father is about to shoulder a great responsibility and work for the welfare of all people under heaven. Father has virtue and a steadfast character, and you truly command the respect and expectations of all. Why doesn’t Father tell me what this big event is?”
Though these words sounded somewhat flattering, Wutong spoke with such sincere and fervent warmth that one could only feel his heartfelt reverence and admiration for his father. Naturally, this pleased Ji Huaishan immensely. Furthermore, since he had intended to announce the matter to the entire clan tonight anyway, Wutong’s words came at the most opportune time.
Ji Huaishan laughed heartily and bade Wutong come forward. Wutong went over and obediently squatted beside his parents, massaging his mother’s legs. The mistress couldn’t help but take his hand and pat it lightly, while Ji Huaishan also stroked Wutong’s head before turning to face the crowd and announcing in a resonant voice:
“Indeed, this matter also brings our Nanyan Ji family an unprecedented and supreme honor.” He paused, looking at the expectant gazes of the crowd, and continued, “This coming autumn, the position of Immortal Alliance Leader, which the Tianchen Sect has held for five hundred years, will be officially handed over to the Nanyan Ji family. I, Ji Huaishan, shall also become the next Immortal Alliance Leader.”
At the end of his speech, his voice was already charged with abundant spiritual energy. Though spoken lightly, every word resonated with a clanging force that shook the eardrums of everyone present.
Immortal Alliance Leader! This thrilling news stunned everyone on the spot, followed immediately by thunderous applause that swept through the entire hall, mixed with cheers and words of encouragement. The relatives and guests in attendance all stood up, cupping their fists toward the main table as endless congratulations poured in.
When the cheers finally subsided, a guest asked, “I wonder if the Immortal Alliance’s sacred artifact, the Zhutian Jue, will also be handed over to the Family Head at that time?”
Ji Huaishan smiled and stroked his beard: “Precisely.” He added, “Because of this, in the golden season of autumn, the Tianchen Sect will grandly hold the Alliance Leader succession and sacred artifact handover ceremony at Shangxiantai. Major sects and noble families will all attend to witness the event. Truly, it is the greatest grand event in the cultivation world for several centuries!”
A fresh wave of gasps broke out, and everyone exchanged excited whispers with bright expressions.
Ji Huaishan raised a hand to press it downward, and once everyone quieted down, he continued, “The position of Immortal Alliance Leader carries heavy responsibilities. After taking office, I fear I may no longer be able to divide my attention for family affairs. Therefore, taking advantage of this occasion, I must also announce a second matter.”
What else could there be? This was immediately the question flashing through almost everyone’s mind. One by one, they instantly focused their attention to listen.
Ji Huaishan smiled, his gaze sweeping over each of his sons in turn before finally resting on Ji Longbai.
“Longbai, come forward,” Ji Huaishan said.