Chapter 36: The Last Night

"Yes yes, I didn't expect his third daughter to..."

"This year went by so quickly...."

"What are you saying!? Aren't we brothers-"

Twilight shone upon the compounds of Gang family. The whole place was lively this evening. Almost all family members were here, chatting with their brothers and sisters. Most of them had plates on their hands, made of polished wood or copper.

They ate varieties of foods, fruits and drinks. Tonight, there would be no fight. Tonight, all past grudges could be forgotten. This was a special day, not just because of the feast. Today was the family's anniversary, and they would eat and celebrate until midnight.

I was inside a large hall, the biggest and the most important in the family. I had recently joined, so this feast was a chance for me to talk with other family members and make bonds with them.

Yet, I was in a corner, talking to Gang Bing and Gang Ju about something.

"So you want to learn how to cook, miss Ju?" I gazed at Feng Yi. She had pulled no stops on being the prettiest this evening. Her cousins (step-cousions, so to say) had their eyes on her this whole time. Meh, most were below her rank, lazy boys. They would never get her attention... or rather her approval.

"Y-yes, if that's not too much trouble... I want sister Bing to teach me," she squeaked.

Just why, oh why? I couldn't think of a reason for her acting. I looked at Gang Bing and she was... happy?

"I know, I will teach you everything you need to know," she cheered. Gang Bing was an ultimate angel at heart and she didn't realise her step-sister was just acting.

Gang Bing was about to lead her to the kitchen but I suddenly grabbed Feng Yi's hand. I said, "Miss Bing, I have something to say to your sister. Will it be alright if I keep her here for just a while?"

There was no need to even think that she would disagree. Gang Bing was an easy going person and I had a good impression on her. After she left, I could feel the gazes of those boys on me. Though, most didn't seem hostile (how could they even dare?), I did manage to spot jealousy.

I paid them no heed. They should focus on eating. Soon, I would have to attend to the boring old men and their wifes. I knew I wouldn't have time for cultivation tonight.

"Listen to me, Feng Yi. You can't go wrong here." Even though my voice was a mere whisper, chills passed though Feng Yi's body when she heard me. Seriousness was oozing out of me.

"Come here," I pulled her towards a less lit area.

"I know I know, I won't mess this up. Now, stop holding my hand, it hurts." She gave a light punch to my arm.

The doors were locked in this place and the chatter of people was subdued. It was a little cold here because there were hardly any lights or people.

"You know which dishes you need to make, right?" I asked and she recited a long string of names.

"I'm not making all of them. I'm just having a part in the process, the servants will do the other work." She leaned on the wall. Her sharp gaze went towards Gang Bing who was talking with her father.

"Look here," I pinched her cheeks. "If you really want to escape, today is the day; the only day. I have been planning for this before I even met you, it won't be good if you get caught."

She was a vital element in my plan. Indeed, there was another reason why I'd joined Gang family. I didn't think this critical day would come this fast. It was because I'd found a better way to execute this plan, fortunately. Still, the feat I was about to do wasn't going to be easy.

"Do I tell Fu He to keep the bags ready?" she asked, finally managing to struggle free from my grasp.

"No, he seems suspicious. I think he was made my slave for keeping tabs on me," I said, acting like I was arranging my robe. People were starting to look at us.

"Don't worry about the escape route, I have someone ready for that. We have to finish this in 5 hours."

After saying that, I whispered something to her and we walked towards the hall again. I headed for the place where the men were drinking wines and talking about the family's less important matters. Feng Yi met with Gang Bing and they both went inside the busy kitchen.

I saw Gang Bing smile seeing her sister's eagerness. They looked good together, if one ignored the differences in their looks. My gaze was on the pretty girl's bulging pouch until she disappeared behind the curtains.

"Look, Nephew Fang is here. Come, sit with us. Let's have a board game elder Yue brought from another city." Gang Zheng seemed a little drunk.

"This junior greets the family head and the elders," I bowed towards them and sat near Gang Zheng.

"No need to be so courteous today, Benfang. You have saved a lot of money for the family. That's why we could hold such a large feast this time." Gang Shan was in a good mood today.

The windows of this hall were large and only one of them was open. Soon, it would also be closed because the heat will cool down rapidly after the sunset.

I spoke with the men for a long time. All of them had been busy this year. A lot of them had lost their sons and there was still some tension because Gang fanily hadn't found Jin and Qin yet.

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Among the people whose sons died, elder Yue was the most unfortunate. His lost his three talented lads. There was a high chance that I'd killed at least one of them.

The board game Gang Zheng mentioned was similar to Go but it had less pieces. I rarely managed to beat others at it as I'd only played Go a few times. I knew the basic tactics and that was nothing in front of elder Yue who'd been playing for 5 months.

Soon, the maids informed that the food was cooked and the game was stopped. It was time to eat. The younglings had only been eating some light snacks earlier. The real feast had just started.

As I was laughing a required-by-norm laugh, I noticed Gang Bing and Feng Yi coming out of the kitchen. Three cutely dressed girls accompanied them from behind.

All five had their hands full with trays which had delicious looking dishes on them. They all came for the largest table here.

Following them, tens of servants also exited the kitchen. The young ones outside came in, filling the hall.

"Keep them here..."

"Where's the meat? Bring it quickly!"

"Here, let the family head have the first bite..."

The servants rushed here and there, trying to meet their masters' demands. After the five girls had distributed the foods meant for elders, they all sat with their parents.

There were four rank 8 practitioners in Gang family and all of them were married. The other practitioners (around rank 6 or 7) had been busy in search of Jin and Qin, but they were all here at this time and only Gang Wei was missing.

Everyone was waiting for Gang Shan to eat. Elder Xi's daughter carefully arranged the plates in front of the old man. His food wasn't as spicy and had more fruits than meat.

He casually picked a rice bread and took a bite. Everyone cheered and started eating. It was a new tradition about which I'd recently learned.

Talks broke out once again. Some family members spoke about their future while others were melonchalic. Everyone had their own sorrow and joy.

"Here, brother Benfang." From her tray, Gang Ju carefully put three plates before me, on the table. My food had arrived a bit late. She seemed reserved this time and didn't say anything else.

"These smell good," I said, making small hand gestures only Feng Yi could see. There was only one meaning.

'Go now, this your chance!'

The elders and other family members had started feasting. The family members only talked to Feng Yi when she herself opened a conversation. This was because of Gang Zheng's attitude towards her. She wasn't really cared by anyone here, other than the creepy boys who kept sneaking glances.

"I-I'll be right back," Feng Yi made an embarrassed expression and hurried towards the toilet. Her acting was really top-notch.

"Zheng calls you nephew Fang, so why can't I, right? Hahahaha," Elder Xi struck a friendly conversation. He was fully drunk but it was normal tonight.

I indulged him in a short conversation while firmly refusing his requests for me to sing a song. The fourth and the last elder was a crafty fellow. He kept introducing his daughter to me. I was highly suspicious that Gang Shan had a hand on it.

I mixed my wine with water and laughed along with others. I'd only be distancing myself from them if I kept being polite.

Munching on a chicken leg, Gang Dong, a rank 8 practitioner suddenly joked, "This brother here plans to get drunk on not the wine but the water."

It wasn't a particularly good joke but people at the table still laughed.

"Hahahaha- ack!? cough! cough!!"

"Haha, someone give water to elder Zhe- ack!"

"What's happeni- Hic- m-my... throat..."

First, Gang Zheng and then the clan head - one by one, everyone suddenly started grabbing their throat. Their faces turned red and they had difficulty breathing. Foam leaked from the mouths of Gang family members. One of the elders noticed me. Yet, he died without managing to point out that I was still eating as if nothing had happened.

"AAAA- he...lp- ack!"

"Why is this-"

I looked at the struggling men and women, boys and girls, children and old. Casually, I sipped my diluted wine and closed my eyes. This night, Gang family members fell without knowing who poisoned their food.

For each and everyone of them; it was their last laugh, their last talk, their last feast, and their last night.

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