When they returned to Yan Qingsang's residence, Jiang Chen didn't say much along the way. It was Yan Qingsang who looked weighed down with worry.
Jiang Chen could tell that Yan Qingsang probably hadn't fully recovered from the shock yet, so he didn't bother trying to console him.
Jiang Chen's silence left Yan Qingsang somewhat unsettled, and he couldn't help but grumble, "Why aren't you talking? Weren't you quite the smooth talker in front of my grandfather?"
Jiang Chen chuckled. "It's just a birthday banquet — is it really worth being this dejected about? Besides, are you really that afraid of the Xiahou family?"
"Afraid of them?" Yan Qingsang shrieked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "Afraid of them? What a joke! I just can't be bothered with them, that's all."
"Tsk tsk, 'can't be bothered' is the polite way of putting it. The truth is you're scared and dodging them," Jiang Chen said with a grin.
Yan Qingsang grew even more irritated. "Fine, fine. I've already agreed to go. My grandfather told me to listen to you, so if you've got some scheme in mind, let's hear it."
Jiang Chen shrugged. "I don't even know what the Xiahou family's situation is — what scheme could I possibly have? This kind of banquet, you can't skip it, but going doesn't exactly put you in a favorable position either. Given the Yan family's current standing, even if they've invited you, they'll probably find ways to humiliate you."
"Obviously. That goes without saying." Yan Qingsang didn't doubt that for a second.
"Then the strategy is simple — focus on protecting yourself and don't lose face. Right now, the Xiahou family is strong and the Yan family is weak. Even if you take a few knocks, it's not exactly a disgrace."
"You're really terrible at comforting people," Yan Qingsang said, exasperated.
Jiang Chen smiled but said nothing more. In all honesty, this was the last kind of banquet he wanted to attend. If Yan Wanjun hadn't specifically assigned him to accompany them, he would have had absolutely no interest.
Of course, if there was one reason Jiang Chen might find it worthwhile, it was the chance to probe the Xiahou family's true strength. His current understanding of the Xiahou family was limited entirely to what the Yan family had told him. As for exactly where their power lay and just how formidable they truly were, he had no real picture.
"Earlier, when my grandfather asked you about encountering Xiahou Zong, you really had the nerve to answer him like that," Yan Qingsang suddenly changed the subject.
"Why wouldn't I have the nerve?" Jiang Chen genuinely didn't see why he should hold back, nor did he have any reason to hide it.
"Do you even know who Xiahou Zong is?" Yan Qingsang was speechless.
"Of course I do. The Xiahou family's foremost genius, self-proclaimed number one among the young generation of the Eternal Divine Kingdom. But I can guarantee you — this man is doomed to an early death," Jiang Chen said with a smile.
"What makes you say that?" Yan Qingsang couldn't help but ask.
"Is the Xiahou family the number one power in the Eternal Divine Kingdom?" Jiang Chen countered.
"They're not." Yan Qingsang's tone dripped with disdain. "The Xiahou family is nothing but a nouveau riche clan. They have no right to call themselves the first power — they might not even securely hold second or third place. The number one power will always be the Eternal Sacred Land. If anyone dares deny that, they'll bring disaster upon themselves."
"Exactly. They're not the number one power, yet their genius dares claim to be the number one genius. At best, that's arrogance — believing the whole world beneath them. At worst, it's rebellion against the natural order, courting death without knowing it."
Jiang Chen sighed as he continued, "If the Eternal Divine Kingdom truly has only the Eternal Sacred Land as its one supreme power, then I can understand why great families and great sects like yours rise and fall so frequently. The current Xiahou family may well be the Yan family of the past. And the current Yan family may well be the Xiahou family of the future."
These words carried a certain philosophical weight. Yan Qingsang fell into thought for a moment, a look of contemplation on his face.
Jiang Chen said no more and started walking toward his own quarters.
"Brother, wait up."
Yan Qingsang hurried forward in quick steps to catch up with Jiang Chen, plastering on an ingratiating smile. "Brother, what you said actually makes a lot of sense. Do you think the Xiahou family will really have their downfall one day?"
"Absolutely. Whether you'll live to see it, though — that's hard to say."
"Why wouldn't I be able to see it?" Yan Qingsang protested.
"A family's rise and fall might play out over decades, centuries, or even millennia. Of course, if one day they offend the Eternal Sacred Land, I'd wager their good days would be numbered."
Jiang Chen took one look at Yan Qingsang's somewhat dazed expression and let out a sigh.
"Come on. First, come with me to pick out a couple of decent pieces of ancient jade. Regardless of what else, we need to get through this immediate hurdle. Otherwise, we won't be able to answer to the elders."
Though he was reluctant, Yan Qingsang still followed Jiang Chen inside.
Jiang Chen carefully sorted through the selection and picked out two pieces of ancient jade that were of fairly respectable quality.
"These two will do. They match your status — a perfect fit."
Yan Qingsang sighed. "What kind of world is this? You clearly despise them, yet you still have to put on a smile and hand over treasures. The Yan family has truly fallen. My second uncle was a prodigy of his generation — the family always believed he would bear the burden of our revival. Who could have imagined it would end like this?"
Yan Qingsang's second uncle was, in fact, Huang'er's father.