Song of Adolescence

Chapter 155 The Night Before Murder

The night before the Heroes Banquet.

The entire Lei Clan Fort was brightly lit, and everyone was busy preparing for the banquet on the next day. One thousand jugs of fine wine were being carried into Lei Clan Fort by dozens of carriages one after another. Lei Tianhen, the current chief steward of Lei Clan Fort, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and shouted loudly, "Move faster! Move faster! If you cause any delay for tomorrow\'s banquet, I’ll make you take responsibility before you leave!"

"Tianhen," a low voice called him.

"Who’s calling this old man? Can’t you see that this old man is busy?" The noise from many voices drowned out the person’s voice, so Lei Tianhen didn’t recognise it before he turned his head and snapped at the other man.

"You’ve worked hard." The man smiled and gathered his sleeves.

Lei Tianhen returned the smile. "Clan Leader, Tianhen was too bold."

"Since I became the clan leader, Lei Clan Fort hasn\'t been so lively in a long time, right?" Lei Qianhu walked up to Lei Tianhen\'s side and said lightly.

"Clan Leader doesn’t like such extravagant affairs," Lei Tianhen said while pointing over at the rest and shouting, "That wine is not supposed to be there. All wrong, all wrong. Take it over there now!"

"Actually, everyone has complaints in their hearts. Tianhen, although you’ve been working hard these past few days, I haven\'t seen you talking like this for many years," Lei Qianhu said slowly.

Lei Tianhen wiped off his sweat again and said with a smile, "I’m a steward. Although I’m always complaining, and I’m always bitter and tired, I still think of organising some big event so that I can feel accomplished. I can\'t do martial arts. I can\'t be a hero. But, I can be the man who organises a grand Heroes Banquet. That’s not bad too."

"By the way, Tianhen. Has there been news about Lei Wujie lately?" Lei Qianhu asked suddenly.

Lei Tianhen shook his head. "You mean that disciple of Lei Hong’s? Actually, disciples of the branch family are not eligible to participate in this Heroes Banquet. But since Clan Leader had given permission, I’ve already sent someone out to find him, but there’s been no news at all."

"I see." Lei Qianhu nodded. "Have all the guests for tomorrow been invited to the villa to rest?"

"The major families from Jiangnan will only come tomorrow. Those who have come from afar, the masters of Shaolin Temple and the priests of Wudang Mountain have all been invited to the villa to rest. Snow Moon City sent a message three months ago that their head disciple, Tang Lian, would return to Tang Clan first before coming to Lei Clan Fort. I suppose he will be coming together with the Tang Clan members. But, this time, the Tang Clan is really giving us face because Grandmaster Tang is coming in person. However, the last letter from Snow Moon City said that a mysterious guest would also be coming. Could it be Wine Immortal Baili Dongjun?"

"Why? Do you want to meet Baili Dongjun?"

"The legendary Wine Immortal is considered as number one under Heaven. Naturally, I’d like to meet him at least once." Lei Tianhen scratched his head. "After all, we’re also one of Snow Moon City’s biggest allies, but they’re only sending the one head disciple? Isn’t that a slight on us?"

"The mysterious guest should be Li Hanyi," Lei Qianhu said.

"Li Hanyi? Snow Moon Sword Immortal Li Hanyi? I thought if Baili Dongjun won’t join us then, it’d be the Spear Immortal Sikong Changfeng. Didn\'t they say that Li Hanyi is in seclusion in Cangshan training her swordsmanship and hadn’t left the city for many years now?" Lei Tianhen was surprised.

"Why, don\'t you want her to come?" Lei Qianhu asked.

"It\'s not that… After all, she’s one of the five great sword immortals. We won’t get to see someone like that on normal days. It’s just that…" Lei Tianhen glanced to the right side and pursed his lips. "If the Snow Moon Sword Immortal really came, the one inside…"

"The chief steward doesn’t have to worry about that." Lei Qianhu laughed loudly, patted Lei Tianhen on the shoulder, and walked into the courtyard.

Lei Tianhen was stunned for a moment. That was the first time he’d heard Lei Qianhu laugh like this. He always had the impression that this young clan leader was very different from the previous clan leader. Lei Qianhu\'s personality was taciturn and he never got angry, but he also rarely smiled. Lei Clan Fort had firmly retained its reputation as the most prestigious family in Jiangnan over the last few years, even though it hadn’t set off a storm in the martial world like it did ten years ago. But today, Lei Qianhu suddenly laughed, and the light in his eyes filled Lei Tianhen with excitement.

"Our Lei Clan Fort will soon flourish once again. This day has been long in waiting."

On the official highway, Lei Wujie, Xiao Se, Tang Lian, Sikong Qianluo, and Ye Ruoyi were riding their horses at a fast pace. Since the two from Bai Xiao Hall showed up, the assassins from the Hidden River had all but disappeared.

"Xiao Se, your two friends are really capable!" Lei Wujie praised.

Xiao Se frowned and said, "That\'s because the Hidden River only wants to delay us for now, and they haven’t sent their real assassins. Why are they trying so hard to delay us? What’s about to happen at Lei Clan Fort?"

Lei Wujie felt a tightness in his chest and he couldn\'t laugh anymore. He turned to ask Tang Lian, "Da-shixiong, how long more before we arrive?"

"There’s still…" Tang Lian frowned in thought.

"Don\'t think about it." Ye Ruoyi flicked her whip and took the lead. "Doesn’t matter how long more it’ll take. We’ll keep riding on this road, day and night, and try our best to get there as fast as possible."

Lei Wujie was taken aback for a moment, and he immediately followed up with his own whip. "Miss Ye is right!"

Xiao Se rode his horse up to Tang Lian\'s side and said, "Tang Lian, those who are plotting against the Lei Clan Fort this time… besides the Hidden River, do you think Tang Clan will definitely make their move?"

"I don\'t know." Tang Lian shook his head.

"Then if Tang Clan does make a move, what choice will you make?" Xiao Se asked again.

"I will stop it from happening!" Tang Lian said sternly.

"Good." Xiao Se yelled angrily, "Ride!"

"Faster, faster, faster! Put away all this wine. Once you’re done, everyone go back and rest. Don\'t bring shame to us Lei Clan Fort tomorrow!" Lei Tianhen shouted loudly.

"Got it!" The young disciples responded with a smile.

"Siyi, Luoqiao. You two will have to work a little harder tonight. You’re responsible for the night watch," Lei Tianhen said, pointing to two young disciples.

The two disciples nodded hurriedly. "Yes, sir."

After that, Lei Tianhen and the other disciples left, leaving only the two night watch disciples at the gate of the courtyard to prevent anyone from entering. However, in their blind spot, there were some guests already sneaking in.

Many tiny red spiders were slowly sneaking in from outside the courtyard. In the dark night, it was impossible to see their movements. They climbed cautiously up the side of the wine jars, their mouths opened slightly, and a small transparent drop of liquid dripped into the wine jar.

Colorless and tasteless, even the Lingnan Wen Clan, who were the number one poison users under Heaven, would not notice it. Xianxia Potion.

It wasn’t lethal, but all it took was one drop. The victim will lose their energy instantly and be paralysed for four hours.

On a hillside not far from Lei Clan Fort, a graceful woman in a long black dress was standing there. Behind her were several coquettish women wearing the same dress. They opened their hands slightly, their long skirts fluttered, and those tiny spiders came crawling out continuously from under their skirts.

Hidden River Mu House, Mu Yumo.