Chapter 190: Birthday Banquet
Yan Ping had no idea when the last time the Mystical Qilin Sect held such a lavish banquet. Ever since she became the sect leader, the banquet hall had been left to rot. Unlike the previous sect leader, who was fond of alcohol and parties, Yan Ping invested more time in maintaining libraries than hosting parties. As such, nobody in the Mystical Qilin Sect knows how to host their successor’s birthday banquet properly. The team of researchers and cooks gathered to throw ideas, but nothing seemed right until Hong Nian Niang took over.
Within two days, Anji’s birthday banquet was set up. From decorations and menus to entertainment and gifts, Hong Nian Niang was a master of coordination. The Mystical Qilin Sect gained a new respect for the supposedly coquettish lady who owned many lovers. Anyone who had superior knowledge in any field automatically gained respect. Yan Ping could not be more grateful for someone experienced stepping up in their time of need. She would never forgive herself if Anji’s last birthday celebration for a while ended on a sour note.
It was finally the morning of Anji’s seventh birthday. According to tradition, Anji went to visit her shifu and parents to serve morning tea and greet them. Then, she had to prepare to greet guests who came with gifts and wishes for her until the afternoon. Following that, Anji had a private lunch with her family to spend some time with them in the afternoon while everyone else was busy with the birthday banquet dinner.
When late afternoon arrived, Anji left to get showered and pampered. Hong Nian Niang begged to be in charge of dressing Anji up for her birthday banquet, and nobody could tell her otherwise. The lady in red took her job very seriously, and Anji had no idea how she looked until she changed into the new ceremonial robes that Yan Ping had tailored for her.
Looking into a bronze mirror, Anji gasped. Was this really her? When she was six, she remembered distinctly dressing up like a little princess. Her clothes were very colourful, and she was bundled in many layers. This year, Anji looked in the mirror. The clothes were less elaborate than last year. However, there was a subtle elegance and a hint of maturity in the simplicity of the design. During her time at the Mystical Qilin Sect, Anji was finally able to see just how much she had grown. It would not be long before she could stand beside Brother Mingshen as a mature and elegant young lady.
"It’s done!" Hong Nian Niang grinned after putting the finishing touches to Anji’s hair, sliding the secret weapon hairpin in place. "I thought I’d dress you up a little more maturely now that you’re also the Mystical Qilin Sect’s precious successor." Nobody should look down on you just because you are young. Do you like it? If you prefer a different hairstyle, it’s not too late to make a change.
Anji smiled and shook her head. Normally, she would wear her hair in two braided loops at the side of her head like most children and maidservants had. Lizi had a similar hairstyle. However, the new hairstyle was closer to what her older sister and Gu Ying wore. Anji’s hair was gathered at the back and pulled into a high ponytail with a hair guard that allowed a hairpin to slide in neatly, holding it in place while the ends flowed freely. The only difference between her hairstyle and the hairstyles that many female warriors wore was the additional mini braids woven into her ponytail, which Hong Nian Niang meticulously added to emphasise Anji’s youth. The Vermillion Bird Sect Leader even added some dried jasmine flowers into the weave, and it made Anji look like a mini fairy.
Satisfied with the new look, Anji thanked Hong Nian Niang as they prepared to leave for the dinner banquet. Even from the waiting room, they could hear more guests arriving. The loud laughs told Anji that it was a good banquet. She could not wait to see everyone. The non-researcher staff were also invited to join them at Anji’s insistence. Aunt Wine and Doctor Yun were among those people.
When she finally arrived at the banquet hall, new surprises were waiting for her.
"Brother Mingshen? Doctor He? Lizi?" her jaw fell, unable to believe her eyes.
Didn’t Brother Mingshen say that he could not make it because of important business? It had been a year since she last saw Lizi and Doctor He. Seeing how much older her medical teacher had grown, Anji became teary-eyed. She ran over to them and jumped right into Lizi’s waiting arms. The maidservant who had been serving her since she was a child was not dry-eyed either. They hugged and talked, ignoring the other guests who had smiles on their faces.
"How did the both of you get here? Brother Mingshen, I thought you couldn’t attend until the new year!"
Sheepishly, Mingshen looked away.
"It would be too late if I returned on New Year. Sect Leader Yan informed me that you were supposed to undergo isolation training immediately after the birthday celebration. I rushed to get them over as soon as I could, and we were meant to arrive two weeks ago. However, an unexpected heavy snowfall hit the Eternal Night Valley, and we were stuck for a considerable time. Thank goodness the weather cleared up three days ago. We barely made it for the birthday banquet and just arrived two hours ago."
Hearing that her brother already knew about her teacher’s arrangement for Anji to undergo isolated training after her birthday banquet, Anji looked over at her parents and older sister. Did they also know that?
"Everyone knows," Mingshen replied without even hearing her question aloud. We were the ones who begged Sect Leader Yan to postpone the training as your birthday was approaching. Happy birthday, my beloved sister. Sorry, I was late. Additionally, I pestered Yihao, but he was unable to leave the training because he was on the verge of breaking through. Instead, he sent you a letter."
The letter was very dirty and crumpled. The penmanship was very rough. However, Anji instantly recognised her second brother’s handwriting. There were not many words that filled that one-page letter, but it told everything Anji needed to know.
[Let’s meet in three years. I will be strong enough to protect you.]
Nodding tearily, Anji agreed and made her public promise.
"I’ll finish the successor training in three years," she announced. "Please let Brother Yihao know that he has to keep his word. I will try not to be late."
From the front of the banquet hall, Yan Ping slammed her staff onto the ground, silencing the entire crowd.
"If my successor is this confident in completing the training in three years, then I shall no longer hold back. From tomorrow onwards, we shall begin the successor’s training."
For a while, Anji looked around nervously. However, Aunt Wine and the researchers cheered loudly and started placing bets among themselves.
"Five years to complete the training," Pearl smirked.
"Ten years," Researcher Ke doubled down, much to her assistant’s chagrin.
Baffled, Anji wondered why nobody believed in her three-year promise. Her shifu mentioned that the successor training was not difficult because Anji had already mastered part of it. However, she let them place their bets. Everyone else will lose their bets when Yan Ping is involved. After all, her shifu was known for her spot-on predictions. If Anji were determined to complete the training in three years, Yan Ping would make it happen.