Chapter 253 Delusional

Lu Tianzi was stumped for a moment, but he was not nearly nice enough to feel bad about it.

This is just how life is.

So what if he reaped the rewards of General Nanbai Zhaoyu's hard work?

Had things not fallen together nicely for him, his life might have been taken by General Nanbai Zhaoyu instead.

If that happened, would the other party ever feel bad for him?

The answer was a definite no.

"Since that is the case, I can only thank General Nanbai for your generosity!" Lu Tianzi clasped his fist towards the general and accepted the gift.

General Nanbai Zhaoyu's actions seemed to have sparked off a chain reaction as many of the guests started coming up to Lu Tianzi, all of them offering gifts of their own.

All of these gifts were rare and valuable items that would have been beneficial to a Peak Essence Condensation realm martial artist. However, not a single one was valued anywhere near that of an Origin Core rank treasure.

That was only natural as well.

After all, not even every Origin Core realm martial artist in these influences possessed an Origin Core rank treasure, so how could they just give one out this easily?

While Lu Tianzi was still busy receiving gifts, City Lord Nanlan turned towards Sect Master Nanhui with a big smile on his face.

"Hahaha! Look at how popular Tianzi is, Sect Master Nanhui must be really glad!" City Lord Nanlan toasted his cup towards Sect Master Nanhui. "Here is to a prosperous future for all of us!"

"To a prosperous future for all of us," Sect Master Nanhui raised his cup in response.

While City Lord Nanlan and Sect Master Nanhui downed the wine in their cups, an elder seated beside City Lord Nanlan stood up and raised his cup towards Sect Master Nanhui as well. "Since this is such a joyous occasion, why don't we turn things up a notch?"

This was someone at the Third Cycle Origin Core realm, with a head of white hair tied into a neat bun.

"Oh? What does Deputy City Lord Nandian have in mind?" Sect Master Nanhui asked.

"Since Sect Master Nanhui asked, I shall just speak frankly," Deputy City Lord Nandian replied. "I have long heard that the Nine Suns Sect's Nanlu Tianzi and our young Miss Nanlan has something going on between them. Since everyone is here, this is a good opportunity to consider the topic of marriage between the two of them!"

Seated beside City Lord Nanlan, Nanlan Qianbing's face turned as red as a tomato. Still, the smile that slowly appeared on her face betrayed her inner thoughts.

"Hmm?" the smile faded from Sect Master Nanhui's face as he shot a glance towards Elder Diansheng who was seated beside him. "Is there such a thing?"

"This…" Elder Diansheng was stumped. Not knowing what to say, he turned towards the other elders seated beside him for help. "Does anyone know anything about this?"

The other elders could only look at each other blankly.

"Come to think of it, they seem to have spent quite some time with each other during the war. It is certainly possible for them to have developed feelings for each other in all that time," Elder Mingxin exclaimed in sudden realisation.

Hearing her words, City Lord Nanlan frowned.

His daughter Nanlan Qianbing had been in Bluenight City all along and did not even join the war, so what did Elder Mingxin mean by the two of them spending time together during the war?

Beside her, Nanlan Qianbing's expression darkened as well.

Seeing their reactions, Elder Mingxin immediately sensed that something was amiss. "Wait a minute, Deputy City Lord Nandian. By Miss Nanlan, may I know who you are referring to?"

It was at this moment that everyone realised that a misunderstanding had occurred.

Both Nanlan Qianbing and Nanlan Qianxue could be termed as Miss Nanlan!

Since Nanlan Qianxue was part of the Nine Suns Sect, she was naturally the first one who had come to mind for the elders of the sect. Unfortunately, she was not the person that Deputy City Lord Nandian had been referring to.

Yet Elder Mingxin had actually said that it was possible for feelings to have developed between Nanlu Tianzi and Nanlan Qianxue?

How awkward!

"I naturally meant our precious Miss Nanlan Qianbing," Deputy City Lord Nandian suppressed his irritation and spoke out.

"Miss Nanlan Qianbing and our Tianzi?" the elders of the Nine Suns Sect could not help but repeat doubtfully.

Was that even possible?

"Tianzi," Sect Master Nanhui called out.

Whatever it was, the easiest way to clarify things was to ask the person in question.

"Yes, Sect Master," Lu Tianzi answered before heading over.

With him gone, the ones who were lining up to speak to him could only turn their attention to the front helplessly. Not just him, but everyone else did as well. They could vaguely sense that there was something of importance happening right now.

"Let me ask you. Is it true that there is something going on between you and Bluenight Palace's Nanlan Qianbing?" Sect Master Nanhui's voice sounded out in his head.

"What? Nanlan Qianbing?" Lu Tianzi shot a glance towards the young lady seated beside City Lord Nanlan. "No way."

Oblivious to the conversation between them, Nanlan Qianbing could not help but smile shyly upon seeing Lu Tianzi's gaze land upon her.

"Then why is Deputy City Lord Nandian saying that, even proposing marriage between the two of you?" Sect Master Nanhui asked.

"Marriage?" Lu Tianzi was in complete disbelief.

Their conversation had been carried out through voice conveyance, so everyone else had no idea about what they said.

"So how is it?" Deputy City Lord Nandian spoke up upon seeing that Lu Tianzi had arrived. "Nanlu Tianzi, do you wish to marry our Miss Nanlan Qianbing?"

Gasps of surprise sounded out in the banquet hall. It was only now that the majority of the guests realised what was going on.

To think that the celebratory banquet had suddenly turned into a marriage proposal, how fascinating!

At the same time, the various guests could not help but sneer in their hearts.

By marrying Nanlan Qianbing to Nanlu Tianzi, the Bluenight Palace would be securing their connection to the up and rising Nanlu Tianzi. In the future when he grew to become someone of great influence within the kingdom, Bluenight Palace would certainly benefit from it.

In fact, many of them were already contemplating the option of marrying their younger disciples to Nanlu Tianzi. Even if not as a wife, being a concubine would be fine.

But who knew that the Bluenight Palace would still be one step ahead?

However, Lu Tianzi's reply stumped the entire banquet hall into silence.

"Why would I ever want to marry her?" Lu Tianzi replied out loud.

He certainly could have phrased it better, but the pure ridiculousness of the situation caused him to lose control over his words.

"W-What did you say?" Deputy City Lord Nandian finally managed after a good few moments.

"Nanlu Tianzi!" Nanlan Qianbing stood up in anger. "What's wrong with you? Are you trying to act as if nothing happened now?"

"Please mind your words. Since when has anything ever happened between us?" Lu Tianzi was quick to correct her. He could already feel weird glances from the crowds because of what she said.

"You!" Nanlan Qianbing's face grew even redder, this time from shame. "Then why did you cripple Beihua Wanlei when you heard about my marriage arrangement to him? And why did you continue wearing the mask that I gave you? Were you trying to lead me on?"

"Are you kidding me?" Lu Tianzi had to consciously stop himself from laughing. "Those matters had nothing to do with you whatsoever. What's more, did you forget about how the mask landed in my hands? Right, it is a banquet just like today. How arrogant were you back then? Do you really think that despite all that, I would still cherish the mask like some love token?"

Nanlan Qianbing felt tears of shame welling up in her eyes. Then a sudden bolt of realisation struck her.

"It's you, isn't it?" Nanlan Qianbing turned her finger towards her sister Nanlan Qianxue who had not moved from her seat. "Back then, you tried to stop the marriage arrangement between Beihua Wanlei and I. Now, you are doing it again by coming between Tianzi and I. No wonder Elder Mingxin thought that Tianzi has something going on with you. You seduced him during the war, didn't you? You slut!"

Nanlan Qianxue was shocked by the sudden accusation, but Lu Tianzi spoke up before she could even react.

"Whether or not there is something between your sister and I, I will never consider you as a possible partner, not in a million years," Lu Tianzi's tone was extremely cold. "What a delusional woman."

"Delusional?" Nanlan Qianbing stepped forward towards Lu Tianzi. "You dare to call me delusional?"

"If you can even call your innocent sister a slut, what is wrong with me calling you just that?" Lu Tianzi shrugged. "After all, it is nothing but the truth."

Nanlan Qianbing did not reply. Instead, her palm flew straight towards Lu Tianzi's face.

However, Lu Tianzi easily grabbed the oncoming hand before the slap could connect. "And when you fail to speak with logic, you resort to violence. How cultured!"

With a slight push, Lu Tianzi sent Nanlan Qianbing tumbling back.

Unable to regain her footing, Nanlan Qianbing could only fall on her back, exhibiting a posture of utter disgrace.

"You are going too far! To lay your hands on our Miss Nanlan in front of everyone, looks like the fame has gotten to your head! I have to teach you a lesson here to make sure you don't stray any further from the right path!" Deputy City Lord Nandian roared as he stepped forward, his palm smashing towards Lu Tianzi.

Sect Master Nanhui and the rest of the Nine Suns Sect elders stood up in alarm, only to see Lu Tianzi fearlessly step towards Deputy City Lord Nandian, smashing out with his palm in response.

The two palms collided against each other in a thunderous bang, but it was actually Deputy City Lord Nandian who was pushed back.

Witnessing this scene, everyone could not help but gasp out loud once again.

That's right.

Nanlu Tianzi had already shown his ability to match Origin Core realm martial artists in battle. Considering that Deputy City Lord Nandian was only at the Third Cycle Origin Core realm, coupled with the fact that he had not summoned his Origin Totem, it was not too surprising that he would be pushed back.

Many of the guests present smirked in schadenfreude, eager to see how things would pan out from here.

"You!" Deputy City Lord Nandian could not help but exclaim in shock.

He had heard the rumours as well, but he had believed them to be exaggerated. It was only now that he realised the authenticity of these rumours.

"Enough!" City Lord Nanlan finally could not sit still any longer. "This might have been a mistake on our part at the start, but don't you think you went a little too far by resorting to violence against Qianbing, someone whose cultivation level is a full realm below you? Is this how you repay us for our hospitality?"

"Gone too far? Hospitality?" Lu Tianzi scoffed. "Back then when you eagerly sent me to the Lightning Crow Sect, wanting to use me as a sacrifice to appease Beihua Wanlei, have you thought for a second that you are going too far? Or is that the hospitality that you speak of?"

The crowds immediately started to whisper among themselves.

Even now, there were some among the crowds who had not heard of that incident. Now that Lu Tianzi announced it in public, they could not help but feel shock in their hearts.

City Lord Nanlan was momentarily stunned by the sudden reveal, his gaze darting around the banquet hall, looking at the whispering crowds in panic.

"Looks like our Nine Suns Sect is not fated to enjoy City Lord Nanlan's hospitality," Sect Master Nanhui broke the awkward silence with a smile. "We shall take our leave first. Farewell, City Lord Nanlan. Let's go, everyone."

Without waiting for a response, Sect Master Nanhui turned and left, leading the rest of the Nine Suns Sect away.

"Our Heaven Constellations Inscription Tower will take our leave as well," Inscription Master Nanbai and his companions stood up and followed right behind Sect Master Nanhui.

General Nanbai Zhaoyu was left in an awkward position, but ultimately decided to stay for now.

However, many others made a different decision.

"We shall take our leave as well."

"Farewell, City Lord Nanlan."

Guests from various different influences hurriedly took their leave to follow behind Sect Master Nanhui, leaving City Lord Nanlan speechless as he watched their departing backs.

These people were all leaders of their influences, and the gears in their minds worked quickly. Now that the Bluenight Palace had fallen out with the Nine Suns Sect in public, it was the best time to choose their sides.

As long as they picked the winning side, it could bring great benefit to their respective influences in the future.

Considering the fact that the Nine Suns Sect had always been relatively stronger, as well as the existence of the monstrous Nanlu Tianzi, it was not surprising that the majority of them actually decided to follow after Sect Master Nanhui!

With the loss of the support from so many different influences, the authority of Bluenight Palace had taken a great hit.

From today on, it was most likely the Nine Suns Sect that would hold true power in Bluenight City!