Chapter 1336: Chapter 501: East Market Street Banquet (Part 3)

The painter chuckled foolishly, watching Mu Hua and Little Fuzi chatting like brothers.

Meanwhile, King Xishan sat at the bedside, warmly chatting with Sister Cui.

The Eternal Life Sect Leader seemed a bit "distant," curled up alone in the corner without anyone to talk to.

"Sister Cui."

As soon as Zhou Xuan entered the room, he greeted Sister Cui.

Sister Cui was so excited upon seeing Zhou Xuan that she rushed forward to embrace him and cried, saying, "Benefactor, you truly are my benefactor. Now that Hua Zi is back, I feel so relieved."

Zhou Xuan laughed heartily, and Mu Hua shyly stepped forward to express his gratitude.

"Hua Zi, it’s good that you’re back, it’s good that you’re back." Zhou Xuan took a handkerchief and wiped Sister Cui’s tears, saying, "Sister Cui, do you remember what you told me a few days ago? 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

You said you dreamed that Hua Zi returned, but then as soon as you woke, Hua Zi was gone again. You said you’d be willing to stay in that dream forever, but look now, is this a dream or reality?"

Sister Cui cried and laughed, saying, "Both, both."

"It’s a joyful day today, no crying allowed, there are good days ahead."

After Zhou Xuan persuaded her, Sister Cui tried hard to hold back her tears, and instead, everyone in the room laughed.

Then, Zhou Xuan turned to look at Mu Hua, examining him closely from left to right, feeling that Mu Hua had changed in appearance.

"Hua Zi, you’ve walked through the Ghost Gate once, how... how... do you no longer look like me?"

Mu Hua now bore a slight resemblance to Zhou Xuan in his features, but unlike before — they were no longer identical.

Yun Ziliang chimed in from the side, "The mirror person is a kind of fate. Once merged with the mirror, that fate is broken, and Hua Zi is no longer your mirror person, so naturally, he no longer looks like you."

"Well, that’s good, that’s good," Zhou Xuan said with a smile.

Mu Hua then wanted to kneel down and kowtow to Zhou Xuan, to express his gratitude for saving his life, but Zhou Xuan promptly stopped him.

"No need to kowtow, I don’t go for that," Zhou Xuan helped Mu Hua up, saying, "Hua Zi, in the future, enjoy life, learn some skills."

Mu Hua repeatedly agreed, saying, "Brother Zhou, from now on you’ll be my dear brother, whatever you want me to do, I’ll do."

"Well, then I’ll ask you to live well."

After Zhou Xuan finished speaking, Sister Cui was moved to tears again — previously, Mu Hua was foolish, and she worked as a kitchen maid, both receiving many disdainful looks, never witnessing true kindness in the human world.

Now, not only did she witness true kindness, but it was the purest fellowship in the world.

"Today, Hua Zi’s return is a great event on East Market Street." Zhou Xuan said, "Since it’s a joyous occasion, the celebration must be joyful, treating everyone to a meal is inevitable."

Sister Cui immediately said, "I’ll take everyone out to a restaurant, a big one."

The painter shook his head more vigorously than the Eternal Life Sect Leader’s rattle, saying, "Hua Zi ventured into the Ghost Gate for the sake of Mingjiang Prefecture. Now that he’s back, if anyone’s treating, it can’t be you paying."

The Music Master agreed, saying, "The money must be covered by us, the Bone Elder Association."

"No one needs to pay."

Gu Ling from the Bone Elder Association stepped up, saying, "My Metropolitan has already opened; today, everyone will eat and drink well in our Metropolitan. I’ll cover the tab for the most expensive wine."

It must be said that the Bone Elder Association has a substantial financial network under it; none lack money. Now, when it’s time to treat, it becomes a kind of wealth showing contest, with everyone eager to pay.

Zhou Xuan, however, said, "About treating everyone, don’t compete with me. It’s a joyous East Market Street event, I’ll arrange it."

Speaking of which, Zhou Xuan isn’t much of a businessman, doesn’t hold much cash, and is considered the "poorest" among the current company.

But when it comes to paying for a banquet, Zhou Xuan’s pockets aren’t lacking those couple of coins — if money were really an issue, he had a store of "Fox Clan’s mountain treasures" left at the God Traveling Department, selling a few strands could cover the feast.

"Mr., are you really determined to claim the chance to treat us?"

"It’s not claiming; it’s just meant to be my treat."

Once Zhou Xuan spoke, the crowd no longer argued, and Zhou Xuan continued, "As for going to the restaurant?"

"Go to Mingjiang Restaurant; it has enough space, roomy," the painter suggested.

Zhou Xuan waved his hand, saying, "Going to a big restaurant isn’t interesting. Let’s stick to the East Market Street tradition — a grand banquet and stage performance, that’s fun."

Zhou Xuan had never attended a grand banquet on East Market Street, but he had experienced one with the Zhou Family’s Troupe in Ping Shui Prefecture.

In an open space, setting up around a hundred tables, with guests buzzing around, putting up opera stages, inviting famous performers to sing grand plays, it was incredibly lively.

"Mr. is right, let’s host a grand banquet and stage performance."

The painter immediately turned to the Music Master, "Lao Le, you’re familiar with those famous performers and singers in Mingjiang Prefecture. Why don’t you do your best to invite them?"

"Is any persuasion needed? Performing for Mr. and Hua Zi is already an opportunity many performers are longing for."

The Music Master wasn’t exaggerating; famous performers and singers are seeking reputation — across Mingjiang Prefecture, Zhou Xuan is the most renowned.

"I’ll go invite the famous performers and singers," the Music Master said and left promptly.

As soon as he left, Gu Ling hooked his arm around Zhou Xuan’s, saying, "Mr., I have a request."

"What is it?"

"Since you’re hosting a stage performance, I wonder if I could let my Metropolitan singers also perform."

As soon as Gu Ling finished speaking, the painter laughed heartily, "Didn’t Lao Le just say that performing for Mr. and Hua Zi is already an opportunity hard to come by, and now you’re requesting it?"

"Lord Hua, you’re speaking lightly without experiencing the pressure... The reputation of our Metropolitan suffered significantly due to Star Covering, I hope to aprovechar this performance to showcase and proclaim to the citizens of Mingjiang Prefecture —

— We might have had the misfortune of harboring Star Covering, but our hearts are still intertwined with Mr., and with the Ye Ming River."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan thought it made sense and agreed, saying, "Let your singers come over and perform well; today is all about the host and guests enjoying themselves."

"Great."

Gu Ling also happily headed out to arrange for singers, and he even took on the responsibility of organizing the stage setup.

The Metropolitan is professional when it comes to stage setups.

Just as Gu Ling left, King Xishan approached Zhou Xuan again to "chat": "Mr., there’s something I’d like to ask for your help with."

Zhou Xuan was amused, why does everyone seem to have a request?

He said, "Let’s hear it."

King Xishan awkwardly said, "Mr., you see, from an official standpoint, Mu Hua is one of the Fox Clan, by seniority, he’s of the same generation as me, the ’Cloud Generation.’

Despite his young age, all Fox Clan members must address him as ’Old Master.’ Now that he has returned to the living, I was hoping the Fox Clan’s young and old from Snow Mountain could come to see him, pay their respects."

"About this matter..." Zhou Xuan paused, and King Xishan felt a bit tense.

For the Fox Clan to send over some senior foxes to meet the Old Master, even a hundred of them would not be excessive; so many foxes entering Mingjiang Prefecture at once might scare the citizens.

He was worried Zhou Xuan might disagree.

"It’s only right they should come." Zhou Xuan suddenly declared firmly.

"Huh?"

"Huh, what? The Fox Clan has been a tremendous help to Mingjiang Prefecture; how could they not even have the qualification to enter the city?"

Zhou Xuan said, "Let your Fox Clan members come, as many as they wish, as long as they don’t cause trouble."

"If anyone dares to cause trouble, I’ll deal with them under family law." King Xishan was ecstatic and went to arrange the clan matters.

Before leaving, Zhou Xuan called out, "Lao Xi, remember what I said, as many as they wish, I don’t mind too many foxes."

He intended to collect materials for the "Joyful Longevity Pill" —the essence of immense joy—the more guests come, and the happier they are, the more materials he can gather.

"The abundance of great joy is beneficial."

Zhou Xuan’s internal calculations were clear.

It was Alchemist Bai Lu who whispered in Zhou Xuan’s ear, "Mr., have you forgotten our plan to collect ’great joy’ at this banquet? If so many foxes come, they might not understand human emotions and won’t contribute much to the collection."

"You’re talking nonsense."

Zhou Xuan whispered to Bai Lu, "I’ll be frank with you, today the collection of ’great joy’ will be mainly drawn from the Snow Mountain Fox Clan—I aim to give the Snow Mountain Fox Clan a surprise,

making them ecstatic, so that one after another, they’ll be happy to the point of tears."

Zhou Xuan’s heart already harbored a "small" plan regarding this. Whether it would work, he glanced at the Eternal Life Sect Leader lounging in the corner, listless...