Chapter 177: Embracing Two Identities
"Aiyoh, Little Anji has grown so lovely!" Hong Nian Niang could not help but coo when Anji finally entered the banquet hall, following behind her shifu.
Apologetically, Anji managed a small smile and wave but quickly assumed a neutral expression and formal posture when she heard her shifu slam her staff onto the ground. Yan Ping had an awfully commanding presence when she needed it. Today’s exchange meeting to formalise the exchange program with the seven sects and their representative could go either way. With many strong and strange personalities leading their sects, it was understandable why Yan Ping insisted on upholding formalities for the event, even if she hated them.
"Greetings to all sect leaders and representatives from the Rainbow Alliance. It is my honour to host the meeting today at the Mystical Qilin Sect. As it has been a long journey, let’s start with a banquet."
Slamming her staff on the ground again, Yan Ping marked the start of the official event. Inner disciples marched out carrying many plates full of delicious-smelling food prepared by the northern kitchen, and Anji took a seat beside her shifu after Yan Ping sat.
The food here did not pale in comparison to the feast prepared by Zhao Mingfeng during the Rainbow Alliance Meeting. However, it was more surprising for everyone else to see Yan Ping actually picking up her chopsticks to eat. Anji, used to the sight, fell into a comfortable rhythm of placing dishes into her shifu’s rice bowl and informing her what dishes were served.
Wordlessly, the representatives observed how Anji assisted the legally blind woman at the feast. Hong Nian Niang, who had come in with the intention to cause trouble, now sobered and conducted herself accordingly. How could she, as an elder, set such a sloppy example in front of a child who had not even turned ten?
The food was amazing, even Anji had not expected something of this scale. The chefs at the northern kitchen had most certainly outdone themselves in representation. They included many dishes with symbolic meaning of harmony that did not go unnoticed by the more intellectual representatives. Zhang Mou, Chen Tao and Mingshen, in particular, enjoyed them. It was a well-balanced variety with meat of all kinds, vegetables, soup, rice, and quality tea. However, there was no wine because a few underaged people were in the banquet. Nobody argued with that, although there were many chuckles directed at Mingshen, who, at thirteen going on fourteen, was still considered a child.
The banquet concluded without much hitch. Anji only saw the look of disapproval when the kitchen served steam fish that had not been deboned previously. Anji did not mind removing the bones for her blind teacher. The second sight Yan Ping used could only sense the flow of life energy. As such, things that were not living posed a significant challenge to her unless they had been previously imbued with qi. However, according to her shifu, it was unbecoming for a disciple to debone her teacher’s fish. Anji was a successor and not a servant. Some narrow-minded people could misinterpret her actions.
After the banquet concluded, Yan Ping stood up and offered everyone a toast without alcohol with a short speech.
"A toast to the harmonious martial exchange program," she raised her cup.
Standing up, the representatives who were enjoying themselves with gossip and food rose immediately to follow the serious example. It was slightly prompt and lacked warning or flowery words. However, they did not mind. This was the no-nonsense Yan Ping they were dealing with, after all.
After downing the first cup of tea with cheers, the inner disciples hurriedly came to refill the emptied cup with more tea.