One day later.
Banquet.
"This noble son saved my daughter. I, Chang, am extremely grateful. I propose this first toast to the clan leader Ma!" Chang Biao raised his wine glass and smiled.
Ma Yingjie quickly raised his glass, replying modestly, "This is just a lucky coincidence. I never thought I'd be saving the beloved daughter of the esteemed Chang Biao. It is also Hongyun's fortune."
"Hahaha." Chang Biao laughed heartily and drained his glass.
Ma Yingjie also emptied his glass.
Ma Hongyun sat beside him. He had become the main focus of the entire banquet, with dozens of gazes fixed upon him.
Feeling those probing, curious, and doubtful glances, Ma Hongyun appeared somewhat uneasy.
Chang Biao gently set down his glass and signaled with his eyes to Pan Ping who was seated nearby.
They had discussed this beforehand. Pan Ping understood and looked at Ma Hongyun, saying, "Nephew, tell us how you played the hero and saved the beauty."
"I, I..." Ma Hongyun stammered, unable to speak.
To be honest, he himself didn't know how he had saved her. At the time, he was only focused on fleeing, with iron-beaked birds swarming behind him. The situation was so urgent that even when he saved Chang Li, he didn't think much.
Pan Ping stared wide-eyed, waiting in vain for Ma Hongyun to speak.
Fortunately, Chang Biao had anticipated this, having already figured out Ma Hongyun's personality. He shifted his gaze to a certain person at the table.
That person immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Elder Chang Biao, esteemed sirs, I was one of the witnesses and had the honor of seeing the entire incident with my own eyes. Lord Ma Hongyun is generous and modest, not one to boast of his achievements, but I cannot bear to see a hero's deeds go unsung. Therefore, I take the liberty, emboldened by the wine, to recount the story to all you distinguished guests."
Upon hearing this, everyone knew this was someone skilled in speech.
Chang Biao nodded. "Go ahead."
The man began to speak, his words convincing and vivid, full of twists and turns, painting a lively picture. He portrayed Ma Hongyun as a lone hero, decisive, brave, resourceful, and unafraid of danger.
As they listened, the crowd frequently cheered and praised.
The gazes directed at Ma Hongyun also changed, becoming respectful, warm, and appreciative.
Ma Hongyun stared wide-eyed, listening as if hearing a heavenly scripture. He found it unbelievable: "Is he talking about me? When did I become so formidable? Maybe he's mistaken?"
There was another person who couldn't believe it — Ma Yingjie.
Ma Yingjie was the clan leader of the Ma family, a distinguished figure, well-acquainted with Ma Hongyun's character and behavior. How could he be fooled by such flattery?
Outwardly, he smiled faintly, nodding at the right moments, casting approving glances at Ma Hongyun, but in his heart, he was pondering: "It's not surprising that Ma Hongyun coincidentally saved Chang Li. But why would Elder Chang Biao send a planted person to speak so highly of Ma Hongyun? What is Chang Biao scheming? At this banquet, although there are dozens of guests, only two are truly the main characters: Chang Biao and Pan Ping."
Ma Yingjie grew wary inwardly.
The Ma family had suffered a setback in the Imperial Court struggle, declining from prosperity. Ma Yingjie's master and father had both fallen in battle. Hardships and setbacks had made Ma Yingjie mature quickly, turning him into a distinguished man.
He secretly guessed Chang Biao's intentions but maintained a composed exterior.
Now, the Ma family was in decline, while the Chang family, due to Fang Yuan, was at its zenith! Pan Ping had abandoned the demonic path and defected to the Hei family, now serving as an external elder of the Hei family.
Neither of these was someone the current Ma family or Ma Yingjie could afford to offend.
"Good, good, good." After the man finished narrating Ma Hongyun's heroic deeds, Chang Biao said 'good' three times.
"Truly, heroes are born young." Chang Biao looked at Ma Hongyun, not stingy with praise.
He paused for a moment and then continued, "Since ancient times, it's said that heroes love beauties, and beauties deserve heroes. I won't hide it from you all: after my daughter was rescued, she returned home and became often silent and distracted. When I asked the reason, I learned that she had set her heart on someone—the young hero who saved her in the moment of crisis. I held this banquet, first to express gratitude, and second, for this very reason."
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall buzzed with excitement.
Countless gazes, mingled with envy, jealousy, shock, and disbelief, fixed on Ma Hongyun.
"What luck that kid has! He actually gained the favor of the Chang family's daughter?"
"Chang Li is pretty and charming, but she chose this silly lad? Ah, if I had known, I would have gone to the dense forest where the iron-beaked birds nest."
"Although Chang Li is not Chang Biao's biological daughter, she was adopted as a child and has always been his favorite, the apple of his eye. If Ma Hongyun marries Chang Li, Chang Biao will be his father-in-law!"