Invincibility Begins with a Super Fairy Manny

Chapter 1406: Chapter 1403: All Are Best Actors (3rd Update)

Although his meetings with Ren Tianqi were few and far between, their relationship was quite good. Perhaps this stemmed from them both being second sons within their families, sharing similar circumstances, and thus empathizing with each other’s plight.

Ren Tianqi walked up to Luo Jian, entirely ignoring the strange looks cast by onlookers around them, and sneered, ”Actually, I ought to thank my elder brother! Had he not yet returned, I wouldn’t even have the qualifications to attend a gathering like this!”

Luo Jian remained silent. He too, like Ren Tianqi, had once wallowed in self-pity, resenting the inequities of life. Yet over time, he’d become somewhat numb to such feelings. Besides, over the years, he had long since learned to keep his grievances buried inside rather than uttering useless complaints.

Ren Tianqi’s pale face, however, was flushed with a surge of emotion. ”Seventh Young Master, don’t I look utterly ridiculous right now?”

Luo Jian was silent for a moment before gently shaking his head. ”Aren’t we all, in some way?”

”You and I are different! At least you have your own power base. But me? I’m like an unwanted rag doll, only picked up and used when needed!” Ren Tianqi said, his tone laced with agitation.

Luo Jian gently waved his hand. ”Brother Tianqi, you’re being too emotional!”

Those few words were like a needle, piercing through the inflated bitterness swirling within Ren Tianqi.

In an instant, all of his resentment vanished, replaced by an air of genteel composure, as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. ”Forgive me for making a scene in front of you, Seventh Young Master!”

His tone was sincere, his expression calm.

It was as though the earlier outburst had been nothing more than an illusion.

Such mastery in deception was enough to leave one speechless.

Yet Luo Jian merely nodded softly in acknowledgment.

The cutthroat rivalry among these scions of ghostly aristocracy stemmed entirely from their cultivation model, akin to raising venomous creatures in a jar.

Among each generation of legitimate heirs, only one could inherit everything.

The losers would be cast aside entirely, reduced to mere nobodies.

In this winner-takes-all, loser-falls-to-oblivion system, survival required a special skill set for those who managed to endure.

Take, for instance, this near-Oscar-worthy performance in deceit—it was an indispensable survival tactic.

As for those who were too honest and upright? They were either long dead or had become unwitting pawns in others’ schemes.

Ren Tianqi, of course, knew that his act couldn’t fool Luo Jian. In truth, he never intended to deceive Luo Jian in the first place.

His performance was merely for the benefit of others watching.

Just then, a burst of obsequious, saccharine laughter rang out from a distance.

Luo Jian lifted his head and saw that next to Luo Qifeng and the others now stood a finely dressed, exquisitely beautiful woman.

Standing beside him, Ren Tianqi let out a bitter laugh, his eyes filled with jealousy and unwillingness. ”Seventh Young Master, I suppose you’ve never seen this woman before?”

Luo Jian shook his head.

”Heh, let me tell you, that woman’s situation is quite similar to ours. She’s also a discarded child of an elite family! She’s from the Tan Family. This time, my elder brother didn’t travel alone; the Tan Family’s eldest legitimate daughter, Tan Feiwen, accompanied him. Now that neither of them has returned, it’s this Tan Family concubine-born daughter, Tan Xiyao, who’s attending the gathering in their stead.”

So, she’s from the Tan Family? Luo Jian stirred slightly at the thought.

Ren Tianqi continued in a cold tone, ”This Tan Xiyao is no pushover. Normally, her elder sister Tan Feiwen keeps her firmly suppressed, leaving her without any opportunity to stand out. But now that she’s barely seized a chance, she’s clinging to it with desperation. Unfortunately, her attempts are far too blatant! And moreover...”

At this, Ren Tianqi paused, a look of derision flashing across his face. ”She even foolishly dreams of latching onto the eldest son of the Wei Family, who is expected to arrive. If that’s not delusional, then what is?”

Luo Jian turned and looked at Ren Tianqi deeply. ”Brother Tianqi, how do you know so much about this woman?”

Ren Tianqi froze for a moment. Then, his face turned crestfallen, and he said in a low voice, ”Years ago, our two families had arranged for me to be betrothed to Tan Xiyao. So, you could say...”

A trace of humiliation appeared on Ren Tianqi’s pale face as he muttered bitterly, ”This woman who’s now flirting outrageously with other men, bending over backward to curry favor, and even trying to throw herself into their arms, is actually my fiancée!”

Luo Jian was momentarily taken aback upon hearing this. Then, a hint of sympathy appeared in his eyes as he let out a soft sigh. ”Brother Tianqi, let’s head over there and talk for a bit.”

Ren Tianqi let out a sharp, almost manic laugh. ”Seventh Young Master, are you pitying me? Worried that I can’t handle the blow?”

Luo Jian remained silent.

Ren Tianqi shook his head. ”That’s unnecessary. A cast-off like me has no dignity to speak of. And besides, I want to see this with my own eyes because only then will I fully understand just what kind of world we live in!”

As these elite heirs clashed openly and schemed covertly, Xue An sat by the window upstairs, sipping tea.

The place they inhabited was an unremarkable little courtyard within the Luo Family Mansion.

Yet even so, it was intricately adorned, breathtakingly beautiful, and situated near the grand plaza where the Luo Family entertained distinguished guests.

From the second-floor window, one could faintly make out the dense crowd in the distance.

Calm as a flowing stream, Xue An brewed his tea, never once sparing a glance toward the commotion beyond.

In contrast, Luo Jingting and Wen Muling exchanged peculiar looks as they observed the scene afar.

Especially Luo Jingting, whose heart quivered the moment she saw the crowd on the plaza.

What was this grand spectacle for? Her eyes were filled with confusion.

Wen Muling was equally curious, though she had fewer reservations. Instead, with an air of excitement, she asked, ”Sir, what’s all the commotion over there about?”

Xue An didn’t lift his head. He leisurely poured himself a cup of tea, took a small sip, sighed contentedly, and then said in a faint tone, ”Probably waiting for someone.”

”Waiting for someone?” Wen Muling stared intently into the distance.

Luo Jingting, on the other hand, visibly trembled, a trace of anxiety flashing across her features.

Mobilizing so many members of the Luo Family just to await someone’s arrival—who could this mysterious guest possibly be?

Suddenly, a sound of thunderous winds echoed from the skies above.

Everyone instinctively looked upward.

In the far-off horizon, an enormous Ghost Carriage slowly emerged, accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder as it surged toward them at breathtaking speed.

The crowd on the plaza erupted into murmurs.

”It’s here! It’s here!” many exclaimed excitedly.

Luo Qifeng exchanged a glance with Pan Yongge and Mo Jing. The three subtly nodded at one another before stepping forward and respectfully standing at attention.

The crowd gradually fell into silence.

Moments later, the Ghost Carriage loomed above the plaza.

It wasn’t until it descended that its sheer magnitude became apparent.

Swirling with black mist and adorned with faintly glowing runes, it was clearly a rare and extraordinary Ghost Tool.