As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Han Li naturally wouldn't give a mortal's pill a second glance. But he certainly couldn't refuse the gesture of goodwill at a time like this, so he put on a slightly bashful expression and hesitantly accepted it.
"Haha, Nephew Han! That Heart-Protecting Pill is Brother Hua's own secret formula — he never gives it away easily! For him to bring it out as a meeting gift today, that's truly generous of him!" Qin Yan knew full well that Han Li wouldn't think much of the item, but he still put in a few good words for his friend, hoping the old surnamed Hua would leave a favorable impression on Han Li.
The elder shot Qin Yan a few odd glances, unsure what he meant by saying such things in front of this young man.
He had given this incredibly precious pill to the youth purely out of respect for Qin Yan. Otherwise, such medicine was worth a fortune and would never be handed to a stranger he'd just met.
Just as the puzzled elder was about to ask a couple of questions, a shrill voice rang out.
"Prince Xin has arrived!"
The servant's announcement instantly silenced the clamor in the hall. Everyone turned their attention respectfully toward the side door of the main chamber.
Four maidservants emerged first, taking up positions on either side of the host's seat. Then a man and a woman walked out at an unhurried pace.
The man was a middle-aged figure in his forties with a few inches of short beard. He had a square, dignified face and a pair of fierce tiger-like eyes that exuded an effortless aura of authority. The woman beside him was a ravishing beauty of twenty-three or twenty-four, dressed in elegant palace attire with her long skirt trailing along the floor.
Seeing this, everyone seated rose to their feet and bowed.
"Your Highness, My Lady!"
Since this young woman was not the Prince's original wife but merely a favored concubine who had gained his attention recently, they could only address her as "My Lady."
"You are all my good friends — there's no need to be so formal. Come, please sit down," the prince said.
Prince Xin's manner of speaking was strikingly different from his appearance. He was straightforward and genial, instantly putting people at ease. His favored concubine simply smiled with an alluring grace and said nothing.
Hearing his words, the others exchanged glances, smiled, and sat back down as requested.
"I'm a plain-spoken man, so I'll just say what's on my mind!" The prince had barely settled into his seat before he spoke with a broad grin.
This immediately set the assembled guests chattering among themselves.
"Your Highness, please, do tell."
"Indeed, we've been friends with Your Highness for years. Everyone knows what kind of temperament you have."
…
It was obvious that some spoke from the heart while others were simply flattering the prince.
"I've invited you all here today for two reasons. First, my beloved Qing'er has fully recovered from her strange illness. Knowing my temperament, of course I want to celebrate in style! Second, I have an extraordinary opportunity that I wish to offer to each of you. Whether you can seize this chance depends entirely on your own fortune."
The prince's words caught everyone completely off guard. They stared at one another in stunned silence.
The prince had gathered them all here, and all he wanted to do was hand out benefits? That seemed almost too incredible to be true!
"Hehe, Qing'er, look. Everyone's just as startled as I predicted!" Rather than taking offense, the prince turned with a smile toward his beautiful concubine beside him.
The ravishing woman called Qing'er let out a soft, melodic laugh before replying in a sweet voice: "Your Highness, anyone hearing those words would surely be surprised. Their reaction is perfectly natural."
The prince chuckled at this, stroked his short beard, and then turned back to the somewhat awkward assembly to explain: "There's no need to be confused. Here's what happened — Qing'er's illness was cured by a remarkable individual who recently arrived at my estate. This expert can summon winds and call rain, swallow fire and exhale ice. He is a true immortal among men. Moreover, after curing Qing'er's ailment, this living immortal immediately discerned that my young son possesses a Spirit Root and can comprehend immortal arts. He has taken my boy as his disciple, and before long my son will depart with him to study the path of immortal cultivation."
At this point, Prince Xin could no longer contain the joy on his face, and a look of undisguised pride spread across his features.