"Qilin, what gift did you prepare for your grandfather?" asked Li Yaozong with a smile.
These words naturally caused the guests to feel curious.
Their gifts were already given when they arrived.
But for the birthday gifts prepared by the people of the Xia Clan, they would usually only be given when all the guests were present as a display for all to see.
Xia Qilin smiled. He took out a scroll of painting from his sleeves and spoke, "I wish grandfather would have today's glory forever!"
Xia Cangliu laughed. He received the painting and opened it up for everyone to see.
A vivid and life-like landscape painting was displayed. At the same time, a faint fragrance emitted from it.
"It is actually the Floating Jademountain Painting!"
"Floating Paintings are Master Jademountain's work. Ever since he passed away, the paintings have become very rare on the market. Young Master Xia's sincerity can be seen from the fact that he managed to find one of these paintings to offer as a birthday gift."
Everyone was praising Xia Qilin.
"Silly child, even if you have gifted an ordinary painting, grandpa would also be very happy!" Xia Cangliu spoke in a doting tone.
At this moment, Xia Xun also walked over and presented a title deed.
"This child congratulates father on his birthday!" Xia Xun offered the title deed up. "This child is useless, I couldn't take out any presentable gift and can only prepare this Fuyu Mountain Manor for father."
All the guests were in a clamor.
"Fuyu Mountain Manor is a peak-level manor that's worth 500,000 taels of silver. Being able to stay there is a symbol of one's status."
"That's right. All the wealthy people in our Lone Cloud City would wish to obtain a Fuyu Mountain Manor when they grow old. However, only a pathetic few could afford one."
"Manor Lord Xia is so imposing. 500,000! This gift is truly too heavy!"
Xia Cangliu had a face full of joy. He was very satisfied with this gift. "I have made you spend excessively."
Xia Xun humbly spoke, "You are most welcome!"
His gaze turned toward Xia Yuan and said, "I believe my elder brother would prepare an even more shocking gift for my father."
The gazes of everyone turned as well and landed on Xia Yuan.
Xia Yuan sighed silently. Given his financial ability, how would it be possible for him to be able to prepare an even more 'shocking' gift?
This was Xia Xun trying to squeeze him, wanting him to embarrass himself.
But now that things had come to this, Xia Yuan could only brace himself and walked out. He took out the gift he meticulously prepared. "I wish for father's good health."
The wide smile on Xia Cangliu's face had since long vanished. He merely gave an empty smile and nodded.
"This child has prepared a set of Go pieces, a game which father is most fond of," Xia Yuan spoke. "The pieces are handmade personally by me grinding fish bones and vines. They would be beneficial to father's health. I hope that father will like them."
The father-and-son duo of Xia Xun only cared about Xia Cangliu's face when they presented their gifts.
Only Xia Yuan was truly concerned about Xia Cangliu's health.
Those who had a heart would be able to understand who cared truly and who didn't.
Xia Cangliu received it. He opened the gift in public and saw an exquisite set of Go pieces that were polished until they shone and a chessboard. These items were packed with the utmost care.
"Thanks." Xia Cangliu's face was expressionless. He casually placed the gift on the small table at the side.
The aura of dissatisfaction flowed forth clearly!
Xia Xun pretended to be astonished. "Eh, elder brother. Could it be you already don't have any money to spend? How could you give such an unsightly thing? If you don't have money, your younger brother can lend it to you. Now, you actually gifted such a thing before the eyes of our guests, are you intentionally trying to become a joke in the eyes of outsiders?"
Xia Xun's appearance was as though he was grieving and lamenting over something, causing Xia Yuan to feel even more ashamed and unable to show his face.
The gazes of the guests were all filled with a hint of contempt when they looked at Xia Yuan.
"Not wanting to spend any money to celebrate his father's sixtieth birthday. What an unfilial child."
"I heard that in order to help his worthless son enter the martial pavilion, Xia Yuan spent two times the amount of money to hire Swordsman Pingyang as a tutor. This must be why he didn't have any money to spend now."
...
Everyone joined in the conversation. Xia Yuan felt like he was being penetrated from ten thousand ice thorns and was forced into an extremely difficult situation.
He acted composed and could only silently return to the table which he and his son were seated at.
When Xia Qilin saw his uncle being mocked by the guests, a hint of disdain appeared in his eyes. After that, his gaze turned to Xia Qingchen. "Younger cousin, don't tell me your gift is also something you casually prepared?"
He precisely wanted Xia Qingchen to lose his face completely.
Daring to cause his esteemed teacher to fall into such a state? He must make Xia Qingchen pay the proper price for his actions!
Xia Yuan hurriedly spoke, "Qingchen is still young, how would he have money to buy a gift…?"
It was fine if he was being ridiculed alone, but his son must not be implicated no matter what.
Hence, he didn't want Xia Qingchen to display the treasure from their warehouse which was too inferior to be shown in public.
But who would have expected that Xia Qingchen actually stood up in a manner that was neither servile nor overbearing? He spoke, "I did prepare a gift."
"Oh? Why don't you take it out for everyone to see?" Xia Qilin was smiling.
Xia Qingchen calmly spoke, "Sure."
In any case, he concocted it for everyone to see.
He took out a jade bottle roughly the size of a palm. Stored in there, there was a five-colored spiritual liquid.
"What nonsense is this? Can it be drunk?" The one who spoke was Xia Qilin's friend, Li Yaozong.
Xia Qilin also had a doubtful look in his eyes. "Is this the gift you prepared? Grandfather is already old in years, and he cannot drink any nonsensical stuff of unknown origins."
Even the guests had never seen this five-colored liquid before.
They were musing in their hearts. The spiritual liquid prepared by a child? How good could it be?
At most, it would be something concocted from the random mixing of medical ingredients, right?
This liquid didn't look too bad. But when speaking of drinking it, one might really have to put their life at risk.
Xia Qingchen's expression was calm, there was no joy nor sorrow. He ignored everyone else and walked toward Xia Cangliu. "This is the Tranquil Heart Divine Water. There are two effects upon drinking it. Firstly, one's intelligence would be improved or developed. Secondly, one's longevity would be extended by ten years. I prepared this as a gift for grandfather. I hope you will like it."
However, Xia Cangliu didn't take it at all. He was staring at Xia Qingchen with unhappiness.
He was sixty today and didn't really count on his mediocre grandson to give him any precious gift. But he should have put more effort into it and let him have some face, right?
For his grandson to play around and give him a self-concocted liquid of unknown effect, did he try to intentionally anger him to death?
What was even more ridiculous was that Xia Qingchen even said that it could extend one's longevity by ten years!
The most top-tier alchemy medicine in the Lone Cloud City could at most extend one's longevity by one year.
Ten years? How dare he make such a claim!
At this moment, Xia Cangliu's disappointment toward Xia Yuan and his son reached the extreme point!
Seeing that Xia Cangliu didn't want to accept it. Xia Qingchen's hand that was stretched out in midair retracted. He remained calm, there were no waves in his heart.
"Hahaha. Qilin, your younger cousin is really interesting. Extending longevity by ten years and improving intelligence? Does he know what this means or not?" Li Yaozong clutched his belly as he laughed uproariously. "An alchemy medicine that extends one's longevity for ten years? I have never even heard of this. It can also develop or improve one's intelligence? Does he really think that this five-colored liquid is some immortal medicine?
"Is your younger cousin a little retarded?" Li Yaozong continued laughing as he asked.
The guests on the scene all broke out into laughter.
"Xia Qilin, Xia Qingchen. Truly, one is the heavens while the other is the earth."
Xia Qingchen's state of mind was undisturbed. There were no ripples of emotions even after he heard that. He simply turned around and returned.
However, Li Yaozong knew of Xia Qilin's intentions. Evidently, he didn't want to let Xia Qingchen go so easily. He then spoke, "Brother Xia, don't leave so fast. No matter what, we have to test your magical spiritual liquid on the spot to broaden our horizons, right?"