Cold Blooded Wife

14 The Banquet (8)

In the capital, there were many wealthy and powerful families. Ordinary citizens believed that the imperial family had the most wealth and that the emperor had absolute authority but those in the upper classes knew better.

In truth, there were 5 other families who truly had influence in the Buxiu Empire.

The Wu* family was one of them because they had many secret martial techniques that other families are unaware of. They had a long history of being able to produce geniuses who were not only intellectual but well trained in combat. Master Wu himself was a high ranking general and held prestige throughout the country.

The other four families were: Lang*, Hu*, Feng*,and Bao*.

The imperial family were the Long* family and they were the ruling dynasty for many years because the 5 families supported them to be in charge of state affairs.

Master Wu had been trying to form an alliance with the Bao family before his children were even born. To think they would respond now made his heart jump with joy.

"Take the First Young Master and don't let him leave his chambers until I say so!" He ordered. Under his commands, the guards entered and helped the young master up. They escorted him out the banquet hall which had been silent the whole time.

Madam Wu clenched her fists. He dared to put him on house arrest!

Bao Ling looked at Wu Xingxie. She had only stopped crying when Master Wu hit Wu Yunxia.

He didn't say anything else but turned to where Master Wu stood.

"Let the people leave first." His command was straightforward and serious because as soon as the people heard his words, they began to exit the hall one after another.

Madam Wu ordered her remaining children to leave. They were frightened earlier, having seen their father hit their brother.

She followed after them, not even bothering to look back once. Only Master Wu, Wu Xingxie, and Bao Ling remained.

Master Wu glanced at Wu Xingxie as if signalling her to leave.

"She's staying." Bao Ling knew what the man was thinking so he said that loud and clear.

Wu Xingxie had to admit, she had no idea who this man was. Yet at the same time, he seemed familiar. He gave her a sense of deja vu which she can't seem to recall.

"Wu Dingxiang, were you not planning to show off your one and only daughter?"

Master Wu dropped down on his knees at once.

"I was, but Xing'er is innocent." He stated, as he had a feeling the man was here for Xingxie.

Wu Xingxie wiped the dried tears from her face. She no longer had to act since her plans were nearly finished. Why she was staying was because the man had asked her to.

"My Lord, have you met Xing'er before?" Master Wu couldn't help but ask. But that was impossible! He hadn't let her outside the huge manor her whole life!

"This is my first time meeting her." He replied in a calm manner.

"I only wanted to gift her with a painting of mine." He said and made the artwork appear in the air.

Master Wu gasped when his eyes fell upon the work of art. It was none other than Wu Xingxie! How can that be? How could he have known what she looked like if he was only meeting her now?

He didn't dare to ask those questions aloud.

When Wu Xingxie saw the painting, she was a bit surprised. It was indeed her, but she seemed older it it. It looked like the her from when she was 21 years old to be exact.

"This...... is very beautiful. Xing'er will love it, right?" Master Wu looked at her.

Wu Xingxie, who was still on her knees turned to answer. She fixed the coat that had been put on her before speaking.

"I don't know if I can accept this. Such a beautiful peace of art is priceless. How can me, a nobody take this from sir?"

She politely declined. It wasn't that she didn't want it. This man seemed suspicious.

He claimed to have never seen her but gives her a painting of her future self.

If Wu Xingxie's soul wasn't from the future, she would've thought nothing was odd and accepted the painting willingly.

"Are you displeased with it?"

Master Wu was at loss for words.

This man was the Demon King who was known for his mystique. Even in public, one wouldn't be able to recognize him. However, because of his unique and powerful aura, Master Wu was able to deduce who he was.

To think the Demon King would personally talk to him was beyond his wonders. However, just to deliver a painting to Wu Xingxie, he took time out his life to come here. How could he let an opportunity slip?

"Xing'er, father thinks you should just accept this. I will have the servants put it in your room."

All his hard work of raising her to be a proper lady was worth it. She was a puppet whom he could use to benefit himself.

"Since father says so then I'll have to thank sir to show my sincerity."

Wu Xingxie kowtowed twice, not once looking up. She didn't want to meet his eyes.

Bao Ling was satisfied by her so he helped her stand up. Grabbing her delicate hands, the man gently pulled her up on her feet.

He gestured for Master Wu to rise before saying his last words.

"You've impressed me today, Wu Dingxiang. I look forward to seeing you more."

After those words, the masked man disappeared into thin air. His presence was gone and it was as if the man was never here in the first place.

Master Wu was ecstatic! He looked at Wu Xingxie and smiled.

"Xingxie, father has to thank you. Name anything you want. If it is possible for me, I will gladly obtain it for you."

*****
Wu* (武)- Ttranslates to "martial".
Lang* (狼)- Translates to "wolf".
Hu* (虎)- Translates to "tiger".
Feng* (凤) Translates to "phoenix ".
Bao* (豹)- Can be read as "leopard" or "panther". In this story, I am using it as panther.
Long* (龙)- Translates to "dragon".