The Hongmen Banquet

The moonlight was enchanting. Bo City lay serene, carrying the gentle, refined quality of a southern city — water winding around it in an unhurried flow; mountains stretching endlessly beyond its borders.

Tomorrow would be the most important day of his life.

A kid from a poor family had no real Coming-of-Age Ceremony to speak of — though in everyone else's eyes, he supposedly had quite a fine one lined up: a supporting role in a rich man's son's ceremony.

To those people, he was nothing more than a stepping stone — crouching on the ground beneath Yu'ang's gleaming shoes, lifting him higher above his peers.

But was that really how it was going to go?

Mo Fan picked up the beer beside him, tilted his head back, and poured the cold, crisp mouthful down his throat.

Before him stretched a sea of high-rises, the nearly hundred-meter World Trade Building towering at the center of it all — a lone sword thrusting proudly skyward above a city blazing with lights.

He sat on the terrace as the wind buffeted him from all sides. He had always loved this spot. From here he could take in all of Bo City's splendor: the World Trade Building, the Mu Clan Estate, the Bo River threading through the heart of the city, and Tianlan Magic High School nestled against the southern hills.

He was deep in thought when footsteps sounded behind him in the corridor — steady and unhurried.

A breeze drifted from behind him, cool and carrying the faint scent of books. Mo Fan didn't need to turn around to know who had come.

"I asked Xinxia. She said you were here." The girl's voice was clear and lovely — the kind that would have rung like a silver bell on a snowy day, if only it weren't so cold.

"Coming to find me this late?" Mo Fan reached over and grabbed a sheet of newspaper that had been used to wrap peanuts, patted it down beside him, and gestured for her to sit. "This time, I won't be able to carry you and run."

Mu Ningxue stayed where she was. Something shifted in her eyes at that familiar little gesture.

When they were small, he used to take her to all sorts of strange and wonderful places. He could sit on the ground anywhere without a second thought, while she refused every time — afraid of dirtying her pretty dress. She wasn't sure when it had started, but at some point he had begun laying down whatever clean thing he could find beside him before she arrived. His own shirt included. Even when that shirt was filthy.

"Don't go tomorrow," Mu Ningxue said, not moving closer, speaking from where she stood. "Yu'ang will come after you hard. He does whatever my father tells him, and anyone who wrongs my father — even a single word of criticism — he hates with his entire being. He won't stop until it's finished."

"You and your father really did adopt yourselves a fine dog," Mo Fan said. "I imagine here in Bo City you just point, and he bites whoever you like." He had no fondness for Yu'ang whatsoever.

"He's strange. I don't like him either," Mu Ningxue said.

"Then I'll do you a favor tomorrow and teach him a lesson." Mo Fan grinned.

"Can you not understand me? I'm telling you not to go tomorrow." She frowned.

"My lady — have you reached Intermediate-Level Mage yet?"

"Don't go tomorrow. Dodge this and head straight to Magic University. During your four years there, I'll gradually take control of the clan's power. By the time you return to Bo City, no one will be able to touch you."

"You want to keep me?" Mo Fan turned his head with an exaggerated look of astonishment. "Still going, though."

"You—" Mu Ningxue's chest heaved with indignation.

*I'm trying so hard to help him, and he's still making jokes. Does he even realize what it means to offend my father? There is no place left for Mo Fan anywhere in Bo City if this goes wrong!*

Finding it utterly impossible to get through to him, Mu Ningxue turned and walked away.

"Bro, I heard the little princess went to find you," Zhang Xiaohou texted.

"She did."

"And?"

"She still worships me completely. Basically told me to go destroy that Yu'ang guy."

"Try talking like a normal person."

"Fine. She told me to run before I get beaten to death. Hahahahaha."

"Bro, I'd say the same. Yu'ang is a freak. There's something seriously off about him."

The day finally arrived.

Early in the morning, staying at his aunt Mo Qing's place, Mo Fan could already hear the sounds of celebration drifting over from the estate not far away.

Luxury cars streamed in one after another along the winding mountain road into the Mu Clan Estate. Arriving on the back of a motorbike taxi, Mo Fan found himself wondering whether he'd brought some shame to the title of "Yu'ang's Challenger."

He had barely reached the iron gate when he spotted several familiar faces.

"Li Wenjie, Feishi — you're finally here! Come in, come in. We have several of Bo City's finest chefs at the estate today, guaranteed to suit your tastes." Guo Caitang stood at the entrance, welcoming her squadmates.

"Ha, lucky us!" Feishi patted his rumbling stomach. "It's thanks to you, Caitang, that lowly city-watch types like us get to peek inside a rich clan's home."

"What a shame Fan Mo couldn't make it — something came up," Li Wenjie said. "If he'd been here, he could've gotten a good look at your lavish lifestyle, Caitang. Then he'd definitely have been chasing after you non-stop."

Guo Caitang shot him a withering glare.

Inwardly, she felt a genuine pang of disappointment. She had rather hoped to invite Fan Mo to her home today.

*Wait — is that Fan Mo??*

Her gaze shifted to a vaguely familiar silhouette in the distance. She looked closer.

The irritation that flooded through her was immediate and total.

Not Fan Mo at all. Just that little punk Mo Fan.

She had no idea what had gotten into him, agreeing to duel Yu'ang. He was going to get half-crippled at best.

"Hmph. You actually showed up?" Guo Caitang looked at him sidelong, every line of her posture radiating scorn.

"Yeah. Nowhere else for breakfast," Mo Fan said without a trace of shame.

Guo Caitang seethed. Who did this kid think he was, treating the Mu Clan Estate like a free buffet?!

"Apologize to me right now, and I'll ask Yu'ang to go easy on you," she said coolly.

"You're still holding a grudge over the split-crotch pants thing? Relax — worst case, I'll take responsibility for you. It's really not that big a deal." Mo Fan said.

"Drop dead!"

Having had his fill of teasing her, Mo Fan strolled off into the Mu Clan Estate with a cheerful laugh.

*I'm supposedly a person of importance today — there ought to be a seat with my name on it somewhere. Well, whatever. With food like this spread out everywhere, might as well eat my way through it first.*

"Who's that arrogant little punk?"

"Which clan's disciple is he — he actually dared to tease our Lady Caitang?"

"What clan?" Guo Caitang said, contempt thick in her voice. "He's a driver's son. Insulted Master Mu in public. He's the one dueling Yu'ang today."

"Is this what the younger generation has come to?"

"Not all of them. Look at our squad's Fan Mo — Lightning Element, real power behind him, young but not hot-headed. Caitang, I'm telling you in all sincerity, you need to snag Fan Mo before some other woman beats you to it..." Feishi chimed in again.

"Stop talking nonsense!" Guo Caitang's cheeks blazed scarlet as she lowered her voice to a furious whisper. "I invited him to my home and he didn't even bother showing up. Who even cares about him!"