An elegant atmosphere permeated the entire banquet hall, with exquisite screens and Japanese paper lanterns swaying in the breeze, casting a warm glow. The walls are hung with precious ancient paintings of the Ampere family, showing their profound artistic accomplishment and taste passed down from generation to generation. Around the gorgeous cherry blossom wood dining table, guests chatted quietly in small groups, each wearing the most exquisite dress, exuding the slightest hint of pleasure and respect.
The head of the Anbe family, Abe Qingming, stood at the other end of the hall, greeting every guest with a smile. He has a tall and straight figure, wearing a gorgeous hunting coat, and a seal made of bronze and ancient jade on his chest. The light of wisdom shines in his eyes, making people feel his profound knowledge and majesty as an onmyoji.
Mu Yu was led to Anbei Qingming, and he bowed deeply to show his respect for this great Onmyoji. Abe Qingming smiled and nodded in return, then led him to an empty seat. The family dinner gradually heated up with toasts and pleasant conversations.
After three drinks, the family dinner reached its climax. Exquisite food continued to be served on the table, and all kinds of delicacies were dizzying. One of the special delicacies caught Mu Yu's attention - it was a steaming bowl of stewed fox mushrooms. This is a special dish of the Ampei family. Legend has it that it is made from the Ampei family's secret recipe. Its delicious taste is unforgettable.
As the music sounded, the Ampei family's lion dance team began to perform. Wearing golden costumes and lion-head masks, they interpreted the ancient lion dance with vivid performances. The warm atmosphere infected every guest present, and everyone applauded and cheered.
The afterglow of the setting sun shines on the red-brick and green-tiled roof of Anbei's mansion, outlining a beautiful golden-red picture. Under the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard, Mu Yu was sitting there quietly, staring ahead with his smart eyes.
Suddenly, a burst of noise broke the silence. A group of teenagers dressed in onmyoji costumes walked into the courtyard surrounded by a girl in gorgeous clothes. The girl has a beautiful appearance and a proud demeanor, which is in sharp contrast to the teenagers around her.
"Look, that Mu Yu is doing divination again." An Onmyoji boy pointed in the direction of Mu Yu and said to the people next to him with a sarcastic smile.
"It's really ridiculous. Isn't divination something that only our Onmyojis can do? He is a commoner, and he really dares to do whatever he wants." Another young man answered, his eyes full of contempt.
When the girl heard this, she cast a disdainful look at Mu Yu, and a sarcastic smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
Mu Yu just glanced at them lightly, and then continued the divination in his hands. His expression was so indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with him and he was just doing what he liked.
Seeing Mu Yu's indifference, the group of Onmyoji boys seemed to become even more arrogant. They began to surround Mu Yu, taunting him with all kinds of unpleasant words, and becoming jealous.
"You all, stop arguing." The girl frowned and waved her hand, "We shouldn't waste time here."
After saying that, she turned and left, and the group of teenagers immediately followed her, as if they were treating the queen respectfully.
At this time, under the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard, Mu Yu sat opposite a group of junior Onmyoji masters. The expressions on their faces varied, including pride, confusion, and even an indescribable jealousy.
Mu Yu, who was surrounded by everyone, had a calm face and eyes as deep as the sea. He was wearing an exquisite shaman costume, with a simple jade pendant hanging around his waist. It was as green as moss after the rain, and made his skin as white as snow. His presence was like a bright knife piercing into the eyes of those junior Onmyoji masters.
"Isn't this Mu Yu?" A young onmyoji wearing a blue tunic sneered and said, "What is he doing here? Who does he think he is?"
A young onmyoji next to the blue-robed onmyoji tugged on his sleeve and said softly: "Okay, Saburo, don't do this. He is a guest."
The young onmyoji named Sanlang glared at her, and then smiled coldly at Mu Yu, "Humph, we don't have any extra space for you here."
Mu Yu glanced at him and raised a smile on her lips. That smile seemed to contain all tolerance and disdain. He spoke slowly, "I don't need a position. I just came to see how powerful this new generation of Onmyoji from the Ampei family is."
These words were like a stone thrown into the calm lake, and the faces of the junior Onmyoji instantly became ugly. They exchanged glances, as if asking each other what to do. And the young onmyoji named Saburo was so angry that his face turned red.
"You-" He pointed at Mu Yu, his fingers trembling, but he couldn't speak.
Mu Yu stopped looking at him. He looked over the heads of the junior Onmyoji masters to the sunset in the distance. His expression revealed a kind of indifference without any desire, but it also seemed to have an unknown ambition. Mu Yu in that scene was like a tall and tall pine tree. No matter what kind of wind and rain, he could not be shaken at all.
At this time, Anbei Qingkong, the owner of the Anbei family, walked out of the house and frowned slightly when he saw the scene in the courtyard. However, he didn't say anything, he just glanced at Mu Yu lightly, and then sat cross-legged on the big stone in the center.
"Let's get started." Amp Qingkong said.
Following his words, the atmosphere in the courtyard instantly became tense. The junior Onmyojis sat down one after another, their eyes focused on Mu Yu, as if he was their prey. But Mu Yu didn't care about their gazes. He just sat there quietly, like an old monk in meditation.
Amp Qingkong nodded, and then waved to the juniors. Balls of will-o'-the-wisp light immediately emerged from their palms, which was their shikigami. These shikigami rushed towards Mu Yu under their control.
However, Mu Yu didn't react at all. He just sat there quietly, as if waiting for something. Those shikigami rushed in front of him, but immediately stepped back, as if blocked by an invisible wall.
The juniors laughed one after another, and their eyes looking at Mu Yu were full of pride and contempt. But Mu Yu never moved, with a faint smile on his face.
A trace of doubt flashed in Abe Qingkong's eyes, then he nodded and said softly: "Very good."
Mu Yu looked at them with a smile on his face. She knew that these juniors were actually just bluffing. She smiled lightly and replied: "I don't need to be compared with you, I just need to be myself."
