Banquet [part 3]

After listening to that, Kurosuki Fuantei was about to explode with anger, but...

Oooh—!

The spectators emitted sounds of admiration and amazement, while some of them even whistled loudly.

"This time he got you, Kurosuki Fuantei!"

"Kuhaha, see? I always told you to be more careful in front of others, Kurosuki Fuantei. My friend, it seems that the young master Ryushin has taught you an important life lesson."

"The master saved your life, you know? I'm sure you would have gotten into big trouble later in life because of your barking trap. Ahah, listen to the teachings of the young master."

"Don't tell me you'll challenge him to a duel for your embarrassment. I'd like to think you're not that obtuse."

The other guests naturally approached Kurosuki Fuantei and patted him on the back and shoulders to lighten the atmosphere.

They were all senior martial artists and cultivators who were close to him.

Kurosuki Fuantei took a deep breath, trying to control the storm of emotions boiling inside him.

He had a very simple mindset.

He felt the warmth of the pats on his back from his fellow cultivators, and slowly the anger turned into gratitude.

Realizing the importance of the lesson he had received, he said with a forced smile:

"It seems I made a mistake. Thank you all for opening my eyes. I won't make the same mistake twice"

He took a pause and then added:

"I have much to learn from the young master Ryushin. Seniors and elders, I hope you will forgive your foolish junior for his mistake. I would be grateful if even the Young Master Ryushin Tenku would forgive me. Thank you all for opening my eyes. I won't make the same mistake twice."

"Of course, Sir Kurosuki Fuantei."

A situation that could have escalated terribly ended warmly and amicably.

With a nod of thanks, Kurosuki Fuantei moved away from the crowd, determined to put into practice what he had learned and walked towards the members of his clan.

"Really a shame, I was hoping he would eventually challenge me to a duel, but in the end he only receives a reprimand from the patriarch and elders of the Kurosuki clan"

"But even that is good enough, I put him back in his place without even lifting a finger"

"Moreover, both the patriarch and the elders of the Kurosuki Clan were already frowning when Kurosuki Fuantei spoke to me informally"

"They had already realized that the member of their clan had made a mistake"

"In fact, both the patriarch and the elders of the Kurosuki clan, who were nervously watching from the table over there, would have rushed over to take him away," Ryushin Tenku thought.

After the pleasantries exchanged with various guests, Ryushin Tenku decided to sit down and decide who would be the next people he would greet based on their importance.

Once he had decided that, he was about to get up from his chair when suddenly...

Clack!

Someone placed a glass of wine on Ryushin Tenku's table and sat down next to him.

The young woman approached Ryushin Tenku's table with a grace reminiscent of cherry blossoms dancing in the spring breeze.

Her long red hair, smooth as silk, cascaded down her back like a fiery waterfall.

Her purple eyes were deep and mysterious, as if they held ancient secrets and forbidden dreams.

On her neck, a small tattoo of a dragon boldly stood out.

The intense red of the dragon seemed to glow, almost as if it were alive.

Its sinuous and articulated lines intertwined, creating a work of art on her pale skin.

It was a symbol of strength and power, and anyone who saw it couldn't help but wonder what story lay behind that design.

The young woman wore a tight black silk dress, clinging to her body with a deep neckline that revealed the tattoo.

Her movements were fluid and confident, as if she were used to moving among shadows and secrets.

She had the air of someone who had seen much in her life, yet there was still a light of curiosity in her eyes.

When she spoke, her voice was calm and her words were polite, with a tone loaded with challenge:

"May I dare to ask for a glass from the rising star of the Ryushin?"

Ryushin Tenku looked up and made eye contact with the young woman.

Then he couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"Of course, Lady Amari Yui, of the Imperial Guards, and member of the Twelve Stars, you are welcome. Tell me, where is the fourth prince you usually escort?" Ryushin Tenku asked, full of curiosity.

"The fourth prince is near a turning point, so the second one came" Amari Yui replied firmly.

"Is that so? Isn't it because he still has bad memories due to our little encounter?" Ryushin Tenku asked, chuckling.

"Of course it is. What proof do you have to say otherwise?" asked another person who had just intervened in the conversation.

This person is a young man with delicate features and refined bearing who stands elegantly among the crowd.

His black hair, shiny as ebony, falls softly on his forehead, framing a face with harmonious features that, together with his pale, almost translucent skin, seems to reflect light ethereally.

The amber-colored eyes are the most fascinating feature of his face.

Deep and mysterious, they capture the gaze of anyone who meets them.

They are the eyes of someone who has lived many stories, who has seen the world through a unique lens.

When they stare at you, it seems like they can read your most secret thoughts.

The young man wears a dark tailor-made suit, where the jacket fits snugly and the pants are perfectly tailored.

Every movement is calculated and every gesture measured, giving the impression that he knows he is the center of attention, but does not flaunt it, making it seem to others that his elegance is natural, innate.

When he moves, it seems to others that he is dancing, as if invisible music were guiding him.

His hands are agile and slender, and when he smiles, his face lights up with disarming beauty.

"When I wondered where you were, Kyōi no tsurugi, or should I say your highness?" Ryushin Tenku asked.

"For you, I am, and will always be your highness," replied Suzuki Kyōi firmly.

Ryushin Tenku stared at the imposing figure of Suzuki Kyōi, the prince with the icy gaze and the sword as sharp as a moonbeam.

The tension in the air was palpable, and the wind seemed to hold its breath.

"Suzuki Kyōi, haven't you learned to respect boundaries yet?" Ryushin Tenku said sharply.

"This is Ryushin territory, and here we are the supreme lords."

Suzuki Kyōi smiled, but his smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Respect is for the weak. And I am not weak."

"Don't confuse arrogance with strength, Suzuki Kyōi," retorted Ryushin Tenku, keeping his grip firm on the sword.

"You can be arrogant only if you have the strength to back up what you say, but you don't have enough strength."

The tension between the two was palpable as the onlookers oscillated between them, trying to perceive the slightest detail of what was about to happen.

Nakamura Kyōi stood up slowly, his imposing posture exuding an aura of power and determination.

"Perhaps you haven't yet understood the true nature of my strength, Ryushin Tenku. But soon you will."

With a fluid movement, he drew his sword, and the blade gleamed in the candlelight, emanating a vibrant energy.

Ryushin Tenku remained immobile, his hand on his sword, ready to respond to the challenge.

"If it's a lesson you seek, Suzuki Kyōi, I will gladly give it to you."

The tension became palpable as the two prepared to confront each other in a duel that could change the course of the evening.