Chapter 134: The Terrifying Executioner

Chapter 134: The Terrifying Executioner

The scale of Elder Fu’s birthday banquet far exceeded any in history; in fact, a celebration of such magnitude had never before been seen in the entire East Sea region. Originally intended to be semi-private, it had turned into a public affair, with the number of attendees swelling to four or five times the initial estimate.

The Shui Ting Restaurant, originally designated for the reception, was woefully insufficient. As a result, the side halls on both the left and right were opened up. Even so, the main hall could not accommodate everyone, forcing the staff to set up banquet tables in the open air. Guests of lower status had to settle for seats in the plaza outside. Yet, not a single person complained; instead, they were filled with excitement. Being able to attend such a prestigious banquet was worth the trip. On the platform outside the Shui Ting, over a dozen tables had been set up, all of which were packed with guests. Every one of them held a status far higher than those in the plaza, though even being able to sit in the plaza was a status symbol in itself, far superior to being tucked away in the side halls.

The banquet was scheduled to officially begin at 11:40, an auspicious time. The elderly were always traditional and concerned with such metaphysical factors, and Elder Fu was no exception. Even if he did not care himself, his family certainly had to.

As the start time approached, the atmosphere grew increasingly quiet. Those who had been whispering stopped their conversations, turning their gazes toward the central Shui Ting, waiting for the banquet to commence.

The guests inside the Shui Ting were no different, as the space was strictly categorized. The inner hall, resembling a small banquet room, could accommodate over a dozen tables, while the outer hall, the main lobby, held forty. By now, both were filled to capacity, as was the plaza outside. The number of guests here alone exceeded five or six hundred.

The influx of uninvited guests had made the banquet lively and broken original restrictions. The inner hall, initially planned for only two tables, had been expanded to six—and six alone. Those seated in the inner hall were the true top-tier magnates of the East Sea region, individuals on par with Elder Fu. Six tables were quite enough. As for the outer hall, the original twenty tables had doubled to forty, filling the entire space. Even most of the second-generation Fu family members were relegated to the outer hall. As for the third generation, unless they were core personnel managing family businesses, they didn't even have the qualifications to enter the outer hall, let alone the inner. Furthermore, among the major families and conglomerates present, only the patriarchs themselves or their direct representatives were permitted into the inner hall; those of slightly lesser standing were relegated to the outer hall or the plaza.

Despite the numbers far exceeding expectations, there was no chaos; rather, everything appeared remarkably orderly.

The clock struck 11:20, yet Elder Fu, the host of the banquet, had still not appeared. The responsibility of hosting fell to the younger Fu family members and their servants.

None of the guests felt impatient or dissatisfied. Beyond the fact that Elder Fu’s status was far above theirs, they understood that he had not appeared not because he was late, but because he was in the back, accompanying even more distinguished guests. They noted that of the six tables in the inner hall, only five were occupied; the center table remained empty. That was Elder Fu’s seat, and one could only imagine the status of those who would sit beside him. Many had personally witnessed Elder Lin arrive earlier with his grandsons, yet neither he nor Lin Cong had appeared in the outer hall—they were surely in the back with Elder Fu. The same applied to the magnates of the other great families and super-conglomerates.

This banquet was truly epoch-making.

Many felt a sense of awe and excitement at being part of such an event, while others were filled with anticipation. Was the rumor from a few days ago true? Would the Lin family actually propose a marriage alliance at the banquet? Many had come specifically for this reason.

Wait and see. The banquet would begin soon, and the truth would be revealed. The guests were patient, especially those who were there to watch the drama unfold.

Just then, a group of people emerged from the back hall. Leading them was the energetic Elder Fu, accompanied by seven or eight others. Among them were Elder Lin and the other top-tier magnates who had been absent, as well as the focal point of the day, Lin Cong.

Being able to walk alongside Elder Fu and Elder Lin proved Lin Cong's status in the eyes of the older generation. Not every member of the six great families was qualified to stand with the elders. The higher the status of the family, the more emphasis they placed on seniority and hierarchy. After all, the younger members of other families hadn't even been allowed into the inner hall.

But Lin Cong was an exception.

However... why did Elder Fu look so anxious? It wasn't just him; Elder Lin and the others also appeared visibly uneasy, their expressions heavy. What was going on?

The crowd was bewildered. Under everyone's confused gaze, Elder Fu and his group walked out of the inner hall, through the outer hall, and finally to the plaza outside the Shui Ting. There, they greeted a handsome man and a beautiful woman who were walking toward them, their faces suddenly beaming with smiles.

"Mr. Mu, what a rare guest! I never expected you to grace my banquet with your presence. Haha, welcome, welcome!" Elder Fu took a few quick steps forward to greet them, his face filled with such enthusiasm and courtesy that it far surpassed the reception he had given Elder Lin.

"Mu Feixue?"

Many in the crowd recognized him, and their faces changed drastically. Even those who had never seen him before quickly learned his identity from those around them. The name "Mu Feixue" might not be universally famous, but the title "Chief Steward Mu" was enough to terrify everyone in the East Sea.

Why had this executioner come here? Were his relations with the Fu family that good? Many whispered in hushed tones, terrified that Mu Feixue might overhear them. Much like Chu Zangtian had been a taboo for the East Sea twenty years ago, Mu Feixue was the taboo of this era.

"Elder Fu’s banquet is so grand; it would be rude of me not to come and offer my congratulations, heh heh!" Mu Feixue smiled, yet his expression remained sinister and cold.

"Not at all, not at all. It is my honor that you could come, Mr. Mu." Elder Fu’s smile became even more fervent. Even if he cursed inwardly, he dared not show it. One simply could not provoke this executioner who killed without blinking.

"The banquet is about to begin. Please, Mr. Mu, come inside and take a seat," Elder Fu invited with a gesture.

Mu Feixue did not move. Instead, he looked up at Elder Lin and the other magnates who were smiling at him, shook his head, and laughed: "I won't go in to sit. If I were to sit inside, I imagine many people would feel quite uncomfortable."

Elder Fu’s expression flickered, though he quickly recovered. "Mr. Mu, you really know how to joke." Inside, he thought, *You know no one wants you here, yet you still came?* But he dared not voice this, lest he anger the executioner. In truth, Elder Fu felt only awe, not fear, as they were business partners through the East Sea Alliance. But the others were not so relaxed. As Mu Feixue said, if he sat in the inner hall, at least a third of those magnates would be sitting on pins and needles.

"Elder Fu, there is no need for such formality. I am only here to witness this grand event, nothing more. Please, go attend to your other guests; you need not entertain me," Mu Feixue said with a calm smile. He turned to look around, appearing to search for a seat. Every guest at the tables he glanced at bowed their heads, terrified that the executioner might sit next to them.

"Very well, I shall not force you, Mr. Mu. Please, help yourself. I will come to host you properly once the banquet concludes." Elder Fu did not insist; he was relieved that Mu Feixue wouldn't go inside. As for whether he would scare others outside, he couldn't care less.

"Go ahead and attend to your business, Elder Fu!"

Mu Feixue smiled, then took the hand of Ye Jiaying beside him and walked toward a table in the corner that still had empty seats.

Elder Fu’s expression shifted slightly, for the table Mu Feixue was heading toward had only three guests: the family of three from the Chu family of Xicheng. Because of their insufficient status, they had been left in the plaza, not even allowed into the outer hall. From the start, Elder Fu hadn't greeted them personally, leaving them to the young reception staff. No one knew his intentions—why invite the Chu family only to ignore them? Was it intentional or an oversight?

People couldn't be sure. But anyone with some experience knew of the feud between the Chu and Fu families. Everyone else had come to the banquet, but the Chu family were the only ones who shouldn't have dared to show their faces. The table they sat at was the most deserted, the most empty. And now, Mu Feixue was walking straight toward it.

Was it a coincidence, or did Mu Feixue know the Chu family? At that moment, not only the top magnates but every guest watching the scene began to speculate. Many cast strange looks at Chu Zangxuan—some envious, some pitiful.

"Mr. Chu, you wouldn't mind if we sat here, would you?"

People expected Mu Feixue to simply sit down, given his well-known arrogance, but to their surprise, he didn't take a seat immediately. Instead, he greeted Chu Zangxuan with great courtesy.

"Mr. Mu, please, have a seat!" Chu Zangxuan stood up immediately to invite him. It was a joke to think he would dare refuse.

"Mr. Chu, please, sit as well!" Mu Feixue smiled, though the smile was enigmatic. He then glanced at Elder Fu, who was still watching, and gave a slight nod, signaling that he was settled and the elder should return to his duties.

This sight allowed Elder Fu, who had been closely monitoring the situation, to breathe a long sigh of relief. It seemed it was just a coincidence; they were not acquainted.

He quickly turned to usher Elder Lin and the others back into the Shui Ting. Mu Feixue’s sudden appearance had disrupted the rhythm of the banquet. Even though they were still ten minutes early, Elder Fu no longer wished to wait. He gave a command, and the banquet began.