The marriage between the two was not conducted according to the process of a matrilocal son-in-law, yet it differed from a conventional marriage as well.
Shen Wanyun and Zhao Rong had agreed from the very beginning that their children would take the surname Shen.
Their first child was a girl named Shen Hongyun, bearing the Shen surname.
The second child was Zhao Honglan, though he was ten years younger than his elder sister.
By the time he was born, Shen Hongyun had already been cultivated into an outstanding individual by Shen Wanyun.
Zhao Rong had already prepared names for Zhao Honglan while he was still in the womb: if it were a girl, she would be called Shen Honglan; if a boy, Shen Honglan.
However, after his birth, Shen Wanyun directly decided that he would be called Zhao Honglan.
As it happened, Zhao Honglan possessed a high talent for martial arts and had no need to inherit the family business, so Zhao Rong brought him directly into the Qinghong Sword Sect as a disciple.
Shen Hongyun had also studied martial arts under Zhao Rong, but her talent was indeed mediocre. Nevertheless, it was enough to serve as a safeguard for the Shen family.
If all else failed, she still had a father who was the Martial Arts Alliance Leader and a younger brother with exceptional talent.
This was also why Yun Huizhou always told Lian Li behind the scenes that Zhao Honglan was a “big spender.” Whenever Zhao Honglan treated them to a meal, Yun Huizhou would always tell Lian Li not to look at the prices and to order whatever he wanted to eat.
Lian Li followed Yun Huizhou to attend Zhao Rong’s banquet and sat at the main table.
Among a table full of martial arts seniors and peerless masters, there was now mixed a person like him—someone you would worry might get pecked by the chicken if he ever tried to slaughter one.
While Yun Huizhou exchanged pleasantries with the many martial arts seniors, Lian Li sat drooling over the table full of fine dishes.
Naturally, there were those who were dissatisfied with him sneaking his way onto the main table.
However, since he was brought by Yun Huizhou, and Zhao Rong was particularly affectionate toward Yun Huizhou, many people could only endure it.
But it was only “many” who chose to endure; there were still a few who would not.
Sure enough, just as they were preparing to start the meal, an undiscriminating person stood up.
“Seniors.” That person first stood up and politely cupped his fists toward those at the main table, drawing everyone’s gaze to himself.
Then, he directed his attack at Lian Li: “Young Hero Yun won the championship of this martial arts competition, so I believe no one here has any objection to him sitting at the same table as you all. However, I would like to know what kind of ability this little brother possesses to merit sitting at the same table as such distinguished seniors.”
After saying this, he turned and cupped his fists toward Zhao Honglan, who was at the table next to the main one, though he said nothing to him.
However, his eyes held a few hints of deliberate pity.
Zhao Honglan’s face still wore his usual smile, but the mirth in his eyes had long since vanished.
He naturally understood the man’s intent to sow discord.
This was a banquet hosted by his father. For this person to publicly cause trouble for the young champion of the Martial Arts Assembly and even try to drag him into it to incite conflict was truly repulsive to him.
If he made even the slightest inappropriate move, would it not make his family a laughingstock for the heroes of the world?
Thinking this, he turned his head to speak with Qu Tingquan, even going so far as to pick up some food for her with his chopsticks, acting as if he hadn’t heard the man’s words or seen his actions at all.
He had actually ignored the man completely.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see from this action that Young Hero Zhao was treating the instigator like a clown.
Yun Huizhou also frowned. Ever since he began practicing martial arts under his master, his Martial Uncle would bring him to watch the final matches of every Martial Arts Assembly.
He would also be brought to the banquets following each event. He naturally knew that several champions from previous years had brought people to sit at the main table, and among them were those who had never practiced martial arts.
Back then, he hadn’t seen anyone jump out to pick a fight.
Why was it that when he participated and won the championship, someone found it so intolerable for him to bring a future Junior Brother to the main table?
Furthermore, when he brought Lian Li, he had informed Zhao Rong in advance, and the seniors sitting at the same table were all aware of it.
The scene actually fell silent for a moment.
Just as Zhao Rong set down his chopsticks and was about to say something, Lian Li whispered a small mutter: “The seniors at the table haven’t said anything. It really is a case of the emperor not being worried, while the… As expected of martial arts seniors, their character, poise, and martial arts are all top-tier.”
“Besides, the Alliance Leader is hosting a banquet for many heroes and legends. Isn’t it good for everyone to enjoy a harmonious and happy meal together? How can there be someone so lacking in tact?”
“No, I don’t believe anyone could be so stupid and tactless. Then, it must be intentional.”
His words sounded like he was talking to himself, but everyone present knew he was digging a pit for the troublemaker.
Since he had put it that way, the man either had to admit he was stupid and tactless, or he had to admit he was doing it on purpose.
Since this was the Martial Arts Alliance Leader’s banquet, being “intentional” would mean he was deliberately disrespecting the Alliance Leader.
Moreover, he had omitted three words in the middle, and everyone knew what those three words were supposed to be.
The eunuch is frantic.
Immediately, some of the meddlesome wanderers of the martial world burst out laughing, giving the man no face at all.
Some went even further, directly shouting out the words, “The eunuch is frantic!”
The man’s face turned beet red with rage. He stared at Lian Li for a while, but suddenly felt his scalp go cold.
Shifting his gaze, he saw Yun Huizhou looking at him with a cold, piercing stare.
Thinking of the gap between himself and Yun Huizhou, combined with the mocking laughter around him, the man could no longer stay.
With a heavy huff, he stood up and left.
After he departed, Zhao Rong stepped in to smooth things over.
He held Yun Huizhou in high regard, so naturally, he wouldn’t treat Lian Li, whom Yun Huizhou had brought, poorly.
After saying a few polite words, he sat down and placed some food in Lian Li’s bowl, signaling his intent to back him up.
In truth, it was also a way of backing up Yun Huizhou.
Some people looked at Zhao Honglan again, wanting to see if the young hero had been affected by the man’s words, only to find that he was still busy putting food into Miss Qu’s bowl.
The food in Miss Qu’s bowl was already piled into a small mountain.
Miss Qu was talking to Young Hero Zhao with a smile, while simultaneously reaching out to stop him from giving her more food.
The two looked extremely close.
Having driven away the annoying person, Lian Li gave himself a mental thumbs-up. Seeing that the seniors at the table had begun to move their chopsticks, he no longer held back and began to enjoy the banquet happily.
Because there were many seniors present, Lian Li was much more refined than when he ate alone with Yun Huizhou.
Yun Huizhou glanced at him from time to time, finding his restrained appearance quite amusing.
However, among the seniors at this table, there was one who loved wine and insisted on dragging Yun Huizhou into drinking with him.
Yun Huizhou couldn’t refuse and could only accompany him in drinking.
Thus, halfway through the meal, Lian Li felt Yun Huizhou’s left hand slide from the tabletop to beneath the table.
The two were sitting close, their legs touching.
He felt Yun Huizhou pull his own leg inward slightly, then place a hand on Lian Li’s leg and give it a gentle push, prompting him to close his legs as well.
Following that, he felt Yun Huizhou’s left hand rest in that empty space. Before long, a wave of heat slowly emerged, making the side of his leg feel warm and toasty.
