After the maidservant brought the crabs, Han Qi focused all his attention on peeling them.

Whatever Yin Changli could do, he couldn’t possibly fail to accomplish.

Some guests on the lotus boat began to look over curiously, but he paid them no mind.

This wasn’t embarrassing; he and Yin Changli had been rivals for thousands of years. In their younger days, they had competed in almost everything they could, including cricket fighting.

What he couldn’t accept was that Yin Changli would stoop to serving a woman.

It was bad enough that the red marriage star had moved to this Tian Kuang brute, but now this brute had trained him to be a servant.

In Han Qi’s perception, Yin Changli was the only person in the world worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with him.

He was a respectable and formidable opponent.

If he let this brute walk all over Yin Changli, it was like letting them walk all over himself as well—of course, he was angry.

“Senior Brother, what are you doing?” Xiang Haikui had finally finished exchanging pleasantries with everyone and turned to see a mountain of crab shells in front of Han Qi. She asked with confusion, “Didn’t you use to be allergic to seafood? Are you better now?”

Han Qi paused, then handed her a plate of perfectly peeled crab meat: “Thank you for your gift, young lady.”

Xiang Haikui was stunned for a moment, then happily accepted it.

Yin Changli also pushed a jade plate toward her: “What about mine? If you eat his, will you not eat mine?”

Xiang Haikui rolled up her sleeves: “I’ll eat both!”

These few crabs barely had a few ounces of meat—she could eat ten more plates.

Just as she was about to use her chopsticks, she felt Yin Changli’s eyes from beneath his hood, shooting her a fiery, slightly sour gaze.

That look seemed to ask: I peeled mine first, yet you eat his first, hmm?

Xiang Haikui quickly moved her chopsticks to the other plate.

Yin Changli spoke up: “What are you doing? I didn’t say anything.”

Xiang Haikui moved her chopsticks back to the first plate.

Yin Changli said, “I never thought to compete with your Senior Brother. He’s now the beloved disciple of the Sword Master, with immeasurable prospects. What am I? A former fugitive, now without memory, without cultivation power, worthless, only annoying, no matter how much I do, it’s useless…”

Will this never end? Xiang Haikui wanted to punch him.

The boss was becoming increasingly emotional and sensitive. If she gave in now, he would only get worse later, becoming even more unmanageable.

The alpaca incident had already dragged on for several days, annoying her greatly.

But if she put her chopsticks down now, he would truly lose emotional control, and how would he help Little Bai win the treasure then?

Ha, fortunately, she had a unique technique!

Xiang Haikui gave a fake smile, picked up two pairs of chopsticks, one in each hand, took a piece of meat from each plate, and put them both in her mouth at the same time.

Eating from both sides simultaneously, with no first or second.

She raised her eyebrows at him as if to say, “What do you think of that? Nothing to say now!”

Yin Changli indeed had nothing to say. His chest heaved up and down as he reached out and pinched her waist.

Even when angry, a puppy could only bite with this much force. Xiang Haikui didn’t care at all, happily eating with both hands.

Han Qi didn’t care which plate she ate from first. He was still seriously peeling crab shells, and finally found the trick, peeling one to his satisfaction: “Look.”

Yin Changli turned to look and was genuinely surprised: “It’s just peeling crabs. I have other skills you can’t match.”

“Oh?” Han Qi thought to himself, You’ve lost your memory for ten years, yet developed new skills? “Let’s hear about them.”

During this time, several more groups of people boarded the lotus boat, including Wan Yuyao from Snow Dragon City, who had argued with Xiang Haikui earlier that day.

Xiang Haikui sent a teasing message to Lu Xiqiao: “Your brother has quite the reputation.”

“Indeed, apart from His Majesty’s birthday celebration in ten days, this is the grandest event in Jin Ling recently.” Lu Xiqiao sat beside his brother without any pride in the association.

If he hadn’t brought Bai Xingxian aboard, he wouldn’t have wanted to appear here at all.

Lu Xiqiao sent a message to Lu Xigu: “Brother, couldn’t you change the prize? I want that treasure to give to my friend.”

Lu Xigu turned to look at him: “I’ve already announced it. Would it be appropriate to take it back now?”

Lu Xiqiao complained: “What’s inappropriate about it? You’ve hidden so many treasures; just bring out something better and be done with it. You’re just being stingy.”

Lu Xigu pinched the bridge of his nose and ignored him.

After most people had gathered, Xiang Haikui finally saw the treasure being offered as the prize.

It was a ram-horn-shaped wine cup. Even ordinary tea poured into it, after a gentle swirl, would become infused with spiritual energy.

Such vessels weren’t rare, but the key was the “ram horn,” which seemed to be the horn of some auspicious beast that could influence one’s fortune.

Lu Xigu stood up, raised his cup, and smiled faintly: “According to our custom, before the competition begins, we’ll draw lots.”

“Sister Kui, do you know what drawing lots means?” Lu Xiqiao doubted she understood.

How would Xiang Haikui know these games of the rich second generation? “What is it for?”

Lu Xiqiao said: “They throw a turtle into the middle, and when its shell spins around…”

Xiang Haikui understood. It was an entertainment before the formal competition, randomly selecting someone to perform for everyone.

She had just grasped the concept when suddenly all eyes in the room focused on her—she had been selected.

“No way.” Xiang Haikui’s eyes darkened. “Is your brother targeting me?”

“What’s there to target? This is an opportunity to showcase yourself. Everyone here wants to be selected.” Lu Xiqiao shook his head, actually showing some excitement. “If my brother did manipulate it, it would be to give me face. According to our Jin Ling custom, if the later competition ends in a tie, the prize belongs to you!”

So that was it. Xiang Haikui immediately dismissed her doubts and quickly picked up her sword case, walking onto the stage under everyone’s gaze.

She opened the sword case and was about to take out Tian Kuang when her pupils contracted again.

Earlier, sitting side by side with the boss, she couldn’t see, but now, after leaving her seat, she discovered another black shadow behind the boss, flashing by and disappearing.

What was going on?

This time, she couldn’t possibly be seeing things, yet she couldn’t sense any danger.

It was too strange. Could it be that the boss’s power was beginning to recover?

Lu Xigu raised his wine cup and took a sip, concealing his face with his long sleeve as he sent a message: “Senior Que Chi, it seems she can see you.”

Que Chi’s voice sounded in his ear: “Mm.”

Lu Xigu: “She might be your master’s disciple.”

Que Chi: “This has nothing to do with my master. It’s her Tian Kuang sword. Tian Kuang is a battle sword, forged with the blood of my Zhu Yan clan in its materials.”

Ten years ago, the fifth-rank Xiang Haikui had fought a death battle with a seventh-rank demon cultivator and cut him down with her sword.

Her fighting style and methods had become quite famous for a time.

When Que Chi, who was staying with the Lu family in the royal capital, heard about this, he realized it was very similar to his master, the former Sword King of the Mountain Sea Clan, Qi Yin.

But Que Chi couldn’t believe that Qi Yin would dare to take a disciple after being pierced through the chest by his sword.

Just now, he had followed Lu Xigu, sensed the Tian Kuang sword, and then followed Xiang Haikui ashore, wanting to investigate further.

But as soon as he approached her, she discovered him, so he had to return to the lotus boat and have Lu Xigu act.

He brought out a treasure that Tian Bao might not have eaten before to lure Bai Xingxian aboard, then lured Xiang Haikui aboard as well.

He needed to confirm whether she was his junior martial sister.

“If she’s my junior martial sister, then heaven is truly helping me, hahaha…” Que Chi’s laughter was like knife blades scraping bone, making Lu Xigu’s ears ache.

“Then why do you keep staring at the hamster demon beside her?” Lu Xigu was referring to Yin Changli.

“What? Hamster demon?” Que Chi laughed even more loudly. Though his physical form wasn’t visible, one could sense that he might be laughing to tears. “You called him a hamster demon…”

Lu Xigu frowned slightly, seemingly disgusted by his attitude.

Que Chi gazed greedily at Yin Changli.

The cloak Yin Changli wore to conceal his aura was like air in his eyes.

Que Chi recognized him. Being able to see a fellow Mountain Sea clan member in this small world truly made him happy.

He became lost in memories, unable to extricate himself.

“I remember when he was just a little thing… hmm, I think I even ate one of his relatives in front of him, maybe his brother or sister…”

He had forgotten, only remembering that it was delicious.

As for why he hadn’t eaten the little one as well, the time was too distant, and he truly couldn’t remember.

Now he was glad he hadn’t eaten him. This candle dragon would be perfect energy for healing his wounds.

Lu Xigu reminded him: “Senior, she’s about to begin. Shouldn’t you gather your thoughts and watch carefully?”

This whole arrangement was intended to make Xiang Haikui demonstrate a set of sword techniques in public.

Even if it was just the most basic sword technique, if she truly was a disciple of the Mountain Sea Clan’s Sword King Qi Yin, Que Chi would certainly recognize it.

Everyone present was also very curious about Xiang Haikui’s Tian Kuang sword. Normally they wouldn’t want to miss this opportunity to showcase themselves, and today they all expressed satisfaction at her selection.

“I’ve heard that Second Young Lady Xiang can transform, becoming like a half-demon after transformation, and in critical moments, she can even transform into a flood dragon?”

“Though we’re all very curious, we know that transformation certainly consumes a great deal of spiritual energy. Just demonstrate a set of sword techniques for us, let us broaden our horizons…”

Xiang Haikui certainly couldn’t perform a flood dragon transformation for them on the spot. Wild intent wasn’t to be wasted like this.

But these second-generation nobles were being surprisingly reasonable, and just performing a basic sword technique seemed lacking in sincerity.

After all, the sword techniques Xiang Haikui practiced were the simplest moves.

Her master rarely taught her complex sword techniques, often saying that the combinations of basic moves were enough for a sword cultivator to handle all situations with consistency.

So what else could she perform as a sword cultivator?

Xiang Haikui had never attended such gatherings before; she wasn’t sure.

“I’ll do this.” Xiang Haikui tossed her sword case aside and held Tian Kuang in her hand. “I’ll perform a specialty act from my hometown for everyone present.”

The people on the lotus boat became genuinely curious: “What specialty act?”

Xiang Haikui announced solemnly: “Sword swallowing!”

Then, tilting her head back, she stuffed Tian Kuang into her mouth, performing the sword-swallowing feat!

She had practiced this when she had nothing better to do.

After the performance, she cupped her hands: “Please forgive my poor showing!”

Everyone on the Lotus platform was silent.

Lu Xigu was also stunned for a moment. After he recovered, the corner of his lips curled slightly, his tone carrying a hint of mockery: “Well, Senior, did you see what you needed to?”

After a long pause, Que Chi managed to squeeze out a sentence: “What the f*ck!”