Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Chapter 343: Chapter 266: First Confrontation

Early the next morning, the harbor of East Sea Dragon City was a bustling scene of activity, with people coming and going. Members of the Qin Family, specially assigned to reception, were stationed there, inspecting the tokens of the various hidden families and sects. It was not a pleasant job.

Just because a family or sect was small and unknown didn’t mean it lacked true masters. While the major families typically sent their younger generation to these exchange gatherings, it wasn’t uncommon for smaller sects and families to send their strongest elites, hoping to make a name for themselves and attract attention.

Those responsible for reception were mostly Outer Disciples from the Qin Family, who held little to no standing. Even so, few families dared to show any disrespect to the Qin Family. Not to mention the Qin Family was the local powerhouse for this event, their strength among the hidden families and sects, while not at the level of a superpower, was certainly enough to be considered first-rate.

So, after a few days of this reception work, these Qin Family disciples had a good grasp of the situation. While they hadn’t become overtly tyrannical, a subtle sarcasm and veiled mockery were always present in their words. The people from the smaller sects were all counting on boarding the large ship to broaden their horizons at the exchange gathering, so how could they possibly dare to offend them?

When Ling Xiao and Song Mingyue arrived, the pier was teeming with people, the air abuzz with voices.

Watching the red sun rise from the surface of the sea, Song Mingyue said softly to Ling Xiao, "I didn’t expect there to be so many people, even this early. It looks like a market day. Are all these people really from the hidden families and sects? There are so many!"

Ling Xiao smiled. "They’re probably not all from the hidden families and sects. Perhaps some prominent families from the Mortal World also came to see what it’s all about."

Song Mingyue nodded gently. "I suppose so."

The two of them stood out in the crowd, a striking pair like a golden boy and a jade maiden. Furthermore, while they didn’t exude the hostile, arrogant aura that High-tier Martial Artists often deliberately released, they possessed a natural, pure presence that made others feel an inexplicable sense of affinity. As a result, people instinctively parted to make a path for them.

A group of Qin Family disciples stood guard at the gangway leading to the great ship. In truth, the exchange gathering didn’t restrict entry by status; as long as you were from a hidden family, you could board after stating your name and registering. However, there was one condition: this was only permitted after the larger, more prominent families and sects had been given priority boarding.

Neither Ling Xiao nor Song Mingyue emanated any discernible aura or fluctuations of Inner Strength. So, despite their remarkable appearance, one of the disciples politely stopped them.

"You two, this is the last ship of the day. You’ll have to wait until after the major families and sects have boarded, then we’ll see if there’s room for you," one of the disciples said, his eyes sweeping over them. His tone was polite, yet it held a hint of arrogance so subtle it was almost imperceptible.

The reason was simple: while these Qin Family disciples had little status among the hidden families, every single one of them possessed a cultivation level no lower than that of a Great Sword Master! In the Mortal World, though they might not hold an exceptionally high status, absolutely no one would dare to treat them with contempt.

For many villages in the Mortal World, producing a single Great Sword Master, even over several decades or a century, would be a source of immense pride for the entire community!

Therefore, when faced with people who seemed weaker than themselves, they were finally able to recover some of their warped pride.

Song Mingyue wasted no words. She pulled a token from her waist, flashed it before the disciple’s eyes, and said coolly, "Sea Domain Song Family."

The plastered-on, polite smile on the disciple’s face instantly froze. It was immediately replaced by a much more enthusiastic one as he began nodding and bowing obsequiously. "My goodness! It’s the young lady of the Song Family! My deepest apologies, forgive my poor judgment for not recognizing you. Please, please, come right in! Our young master has given specific instructions: anyone from the Sea Domain Song Family is to be treated as an honored guest and given a first-class cabin!"

At that moment, those from the smaller families and sects who were close enough to hear were taken aback. Gazes filled with envy and jealousy immediately fell upon Ling Xiao and Song Mingyue.

Most of them had been waiting here for several days and had seen plenty of arrivals from large families and sects. While the Qin Family disciples in charge of reception were always exceedingly polite, even flashing ingratiating smiles upon seeing the tokens of certain families, they had never once been so proactive and effusively friendly. And from the looks of it, they were treating this young woman as an honored guest of the Qin Family!

"Damn it all. It’s true what they say, different people, different fates! That little slip of a girl doesn’t look like she has an ounce of power, yet she’s a guest of honor for the Qin Family!" a burly, bearded man muttered in the crowd.

"Oh, come on, brother. Stop grumbling," a skinny, weaselly-faced man said with a placating smile. "We’re all in the same boat. It’s our lot for being from small-time sects without real power. Didn’t you see? The Qin Family people only started being polite to that young lady after she showed her token. Anyway, as long as we can scramble aboard and grab a spot before they set sail, that’s all that matters. Just getting to witness this grand event, one that only happens once every few decades, will be a priceless experience!"

"I suppose you have a point. I was being petty," the burly man’s voice trailed off.

"Oh, thank you, then," Song Mingyue said, turning to glance back at Ling Xiao. A faint smile played on Ling Xiao’s lips. ’Looks like Qin Feng’s intentions are anything but friendly,’ he thought. ’He’s certainly good at biding his time, though.’

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