Chapter 1347: If You Don't Speak, How Am I Supposed to Know?

"This banquet is a trap, Ye Yuan. You can't go!" Yang Rui said in a low voice.

At this moment, both Yang Rui and Ye Yuan held an invitation in their hands.

These two invitations were issued by the City Lord's Mansion.

The four families had been fighting for so long, and the City Lord's Mansion had remained silent.

This time, they finally made a move.

But the fact that Ye Yuan also received an invitation made Yang Rui very uneasy.

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "Go? Why not? They're after the Yangyuan Pill. If I don't go, I'm afraid this matter will never end."

Yang Rui naturally knew they were after the Yangyuan Pill, but he was worried about Ye Yuan going.

All the people attending this time were experts. He alone couldn't protect Ye Yuan.

"I know, but... I'm afraid they might harm you!" Yang Rui said.

"That can't be, right? The City Lord himself is hosting this time. No matter how bold those families are, they wouldn't dare to act recklessly in front of the City Lord, would they?" Ye Yuan asked doubtfully.

Yang Rui sighed and said, "You don't know this, but that Wang Su from the main branch of the Wang family—his elder brother and City Lord Chen Yongnian both graduated from the Wumeng Academy. Before you came out of seclusion, the City Lord's Mansion had already been subtly suppressing us. Their intentions are clear."

Ye Yuan raised an eyebrow and said, "You mean they're in cahoots, all targeting us?"

Yang Rui nodded and said, "If nothing unexpected happens, that should be the case! So for safety's sake, it's better if you don't go!"

The complexity of the situation in Guishan City was beyond Ye Yuan's expectations.

However, this didn't scare him.

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "Since they've already ridden over our heads, there's no way we can avoid it. If we don't go today, they'll find some other way to cause trouble. Instead of that, we might as well take this opportunity to speak openly and settle things once and for all."

Yang Rui said anxiously, "Ah, you stubborn fellow! That City Lord Chen Yongnian is a mid-stage Insight Heaven expert. If he's determined to make a move against you, I won't be able to stop him!"

Ye Yuan laughed heartily and said, "Tower Lord, you worry too much. Even if they have that connection, I don't think the City Lord will act rashly. After all, he has his status to consider."

...

Unable to persuade Ye Yuan, Yang Rui still brought him along.

He could only hope that Chen Yongnian would be mindful of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion's reputation and dare not lay a hand on Ye Yuan.

The hall of the City Lord's Mansion was spacious, and the banquet was lavish.

The young City Lord at the head of the table wore a genial smile, appearing on good terms with everyone.

After three rounds of wine, Chen Yongnian finally brought up the topic.

"I thank you all for doing me this honor and gathering at the City Lord's Mansion. Everyone present is a pillar of Guishan City. They say enemies should be reconciled rather than kept. What do you all think?"

Chen Yongnian's gaze swept across everyone's faces, and they immediately felt immense pressure.

Even Yang Rui felt the weight of it.

"The City Lord speaks wisely!" Old Master Lu said with a smile.

"Indeed, indeed! They say harmony brings wealth, haha..." Old Master Lin chimed in.

Wang Su, however, smiled faintly and said, "Brother Chen is absolutely right. Guishan City belongs to everyone, not just one family. Being aggressive is not good!"

Chen Yongnian turned to Yang Rui and smiled, "What do you think, Tower Lord Yang?"

Yang Rui's expression was somewhat grim, and he forced an awkward smile, "Well...!"

He was very reluctant. Back when the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion was on the verge of collapse, why didn't you, Chen Yongnian, say such things?

Now that the Wang family is about to fall, you step up and act high and mighty?

But the pressure Chen Yongnian exerted on him was too great, and he had to bow his head.

Strength was one thing, but more importantly, Chen Yongnian represented the Wumeng Royal City!

The words were on the tip of Yang Rui's tongue, but Ye Yuan interrupted him.

"Mmm... delicious! So tasty! Tsk, tsk, the City Lord's Mansion is indeed no ordinary place. The dishes here are excellent." Ye Yuan smacked his lips, looking very pleased.

At this occasion, even Lin Zaitian, the head of the Lin family, Lu Jinghao, the head of the Lu family, and Wang Lingbo could only stand respectfully to the side.

Yet Ye Yuan sat casually below Yang Rui, eating and drinking heartily.

Chen Yongnian frowned, his gaze sweeping toward Ye Yuan, but Ye Yuan completely ignored him and continued eating.

Chen Yongnian felt as if he had punched cotton, extremely uncomfortable.

Even Yang Rui, an early-stage Insight Heaven expert, had yielded, yet this brat deliberately came out to cause trouble.

"Ye Yuan, do you... have objections to my words?" Chen Yongnian asked with a frown.

Hearing his name called, Ye Yuan looked up at Chen Yongnian, a blank expression on his face, and said, "Huh? What did you say, City Lord? Your dishes are so delicious, I didn't hear you!"

Pretending!

Keep pretending!

He had spoken just now, and the entire hall could hear him. He didn't believe Ye Yuan hadn't heard!

But he had to admit, Ye Yuan was a key figure today.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have specially given him a seat.

Chen Yongnian suppressed his anger and said, "I just said that we all live in the same city, crossing paths often. Enemies should be reconciled rather than kept. Don't you agree?"

Ye Yuan laughed at this and said, "Enemies? Who are my enemies? My enemy is Xiaohong from the Drunken Wind Pavilion. Could it be that the City Lord knows I have a taste for that and has called her over?"

The Drunken Wind Pavilion was the largest brothel in Guishan City—Ye Yuan knew that much—but Xiaohong was something he made up on the spot.

Chen Yongnian was so angry he nearly suffered internal injuries. This guy was clearly joking around on purpose!

Yang Rui broke out in a cold sweat listening from the side, while Wang Su and the others looked on with schadenfreude.

Offending the City Lord in Guishan City was not a wise move.

Chen Yongnian snorted coldly and said to Yang Rui, "Tower Lord Yang, I held this banquet out of consideration for everyone's contributions to Guishan City over the years, hoping to turn hostility into friendship! Is this the attitude of your Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion?"

With that cold snort, Chen Yongnian unleashed the aura of a mid-stage Insight Heaven expert, an imposing and terrifying presence.

Yang Rui's expression changed, and he was about to speak, but Ye Yuan cut him off, saying, "Haha, so that's what the City Lord meant! Why didn't you say so earlier? If you don't speak, how am I supposed to know? Turning hostility into friendship is great! What does the City Lord have in mind?"

Chen Yongnian was about to suppress Yang Rui with thunderous means and force him to submit, but Ye Yuan's interruption nearly made him spit blood.

Ye Yuan had led him in a circle and then brought it back—was he playing with him?

But Chen Yongnian didn't want to push things too far. He was targeting the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion today, but he preferred to avoid force if possible.

Resorting to武力 would also be troublesome.

After all, the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion was not to be trifled with.

This was the business of a Heavenly Emperor-level expert!

Chen Yongnian suppressed his anger, snorted coldly, and said slowly, "I have an idea. Let's discuss it and see if it works. Tower Lord Yang, it's better for everyone to make money together, don't you think? Your Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion's Yangyuan Pill is too dominant; it leaves no room for others to survive. How about you share the sales rights of the Yangyuan Pill and give a portion to the Wang, Lin, and Lu families?"