Urban Divine Doctor Descends the Mountain

Chapter 438: Chapter 438: I Regretted

”Haha, everyone, I am deeply grateful for your affection in attending this old man’s birthday banquet. Please, come inside,”

At the moment, Qiao Guoting was also full of pride.

He had competed with his old rival Zhou Shichang for so many years, but this was the first time he had so completely defeated him.

Zhou Shichang couldn’t even utter a word in response.

To make such a hard-mouthed man admit defeat willingly was satisfying.

In the future, Zhou Shichang would have to look up to him.

Thinking about that, the pent-up frustrations Qiao Guoting had harbored for decades were all released. He felt immensely relieved.

The guests from all walks of life began to make their way inside under Qiao Guoting’s invitation.

After entering the hotel banquet, Zhou Shichang realized that all the guests he had invited had actually run off to wish Qiao Guoting a happy birthday.

Especially those colleagues from the Medicine Supervisor’s office!

”These people, they truly are opportunists,” Zhou Na couldn’t help but say.

Zhou Shichang had long seen through the fickle nature of the world.

He shook his head and said, ”It’s very normal, the individuals Lin Dong invited are all significant figures. For our family’s guests, being able to make connections with just a few of them is an opportunity.”

”We can’t blame others for this.”

Zhou Na naturally understood this principle as well.

And it wasn’t just their Zhou family’s guests—some of the Zhou family’s relatives were also scurrying to toast to the influential figures of the Qiao family.

Even Lu Feng himself was standing at the Qiao family’s banquet table, right behind Bei Wang.

Zhou Na looked again at Lin Dong. The seat he occupied was not at the main table.

But because of him, his location had inadvertently become the focal point of both families’ banquet.

Everyone’s gaze lingered there more or less.

Zhou Na watched Lin Dong sitting there, chatting merrily with the Southern King, Bei Wang, Bai Zhonglou, Liu Chuanqi, and a host of other big shots.

Her fiance Lu Feng, whom she saw as having unlimited potential in the future, stood behind like a bodyguard.

Even the Divine General Fei Ying, whom she regarded as unattainable, was not much different.

The only difference was that the Divine General stood a few positions further forward than her fiance, Lu Feng.

”Lin Dong, what kind of person are you really? Can mere medical arts grant you such status?” Zhou Na muttered to herself.

Even someone like Mayor Fang couldn’t become the center of attention at this kind of occasion.

At the moment, he too was quietly watching Lin Dong, who was chatting amicably with the bigwigs from the Provincial Capital, feeling a pang of introspection.

”I’ve underestimated Mr. Lin Dong,” he thought.

”I originally thought it would take Mr. Lin Dong a few years to reach the achievements of Bei Wang or the Southern King. But now it seems that his status is already on par with them.”

Over there at the Zhou Shi Clan, Zhou Yue initially didn’t understand why her grandpa, Master Zhou, would choose to personally attend this banquet and decide to acknowledge Lin Dong as their leader.

Now, she finally understood!

At the moment, she couldn’t take her eyes off Lin Dong.

Zhou Tianming shifted his gaze from Lin Dong back to Elder Zhou, feeling emotional.

”Elder Zhou truly has a keen vision. Now it’s undoubtedly confirmed—he really is Master Lin. It’s worth it for our Zhou Shi Clan to acknowledge him as our leader,” he thought.

At this moment, everyone’s attention was doubtlessly focused on Lin Dong.

They each had their own thoughts and intentions.

Lin Dong did not possess mind-reading abilities.

Of course, even if he did, he probably wouldn’t be interested in reading every single person’s mind.

At the moment, he was chatting with the Southern King and Bei Wang.

Suddenly, Bei Wang Murong Qingyun proposed, ”Mr. Lin Dong, may I have a word in private? Our War department has come to wish Elder Qiao a happy birthday, but we actually have another matter to discuss.”

The Southern King Xiao Jiu also nodded, clearly indicating they had something to say to Lin Dong.

But the current location was obviously too public to disclose anything.

The War department’s affairs were confidential.

They couldn’t possibly speak about it in front of so many people.

Lin Dong nodded, ”Okay.”

Then he instructed the hotel’s management staff.

The staff arranged a private room.

Lin Dong got up and walked to the outside of the banquet hall.

Behind him followed the Southern King Xiao Jiu, Bei Wang Murong Qingyun, and a phalanx of War Soldiers.

On the side of the Southern King were figures like Ye Linglong and the Elite warriors of the Southern Capital’s Army Chief.

On Bei Wang’s side were Divine General Fei Ying, Lu Feng, and the Elite warriors of the Jiangbei War Department.

A path immediately cleared among the crowd for them to pass through.

Zhou Na stared blankly at Lin Dong leading the way, observing big shots like Bei Wang and the Southern King flanking his sides, and seeing her once proud fiance Lu Feng silently following like a mere bodyguard.

At that moment, her eyes were filled with a complex mix of envy and shock.

Of course, the one thing missing from before was jealousy and hatred.

Because in her eyes, Lin Dong had become an existence as high as the sky, how could she dare to harbor jealousy and hatred towards him?

When someone reaches a height inaccessible to you, you even lose the courage to be envious or resentful.

Once Lin Dong, the Southern King, and Bei Wang had entered the private room,

Those left in the hall could only see the War Soldiers of Nanjing and Jiangbei stationed at the door of the private room.

Divine General Fei Ying took charge of the left,

While Ye Linglong took charge of the right,

And the only ones allowed into the private room for the discussion were Lin Dong, the Southern King, and Bei Wang.

Qiao Xue had been holding back from looking at Lin Dong.

But as Lin Dong left the banquet hall, she turned to look in that direction.

At the moment, her face revealed a bitter expression.

”Lin Dong, I... I regret it!”

But what use was regret?

He had already been ’picked up’ by her younger sister.