Uncle Huzi's eating habits were a sight to behold.
Imagine a starving wolf let loose at a banquet.
I tried to distance myself, pretending I didn't know him, but the man had an uncanny ability to sniff out good food.
I was eyeing a particularly delicious-looking fish on my plate when his chopsticks swooped in, snatching it right before my eyes.
He devoured it in one gulp, oblivious to my look of utter disgust.
"Talk about embarrassing," I muttered to myself, silently lamenting my master's absence. "Master, Master, if only you could see us now…"
Suddenly, a hush fell over the room, followed by a wave of whispers.
"Someone important just arrived."
Curious, I looked up to see what had caused the stir.
And that's when I saw her, Zhang Yuchen's daughter, the one we had met at our courtyard a while back.
"Isn't that the girl from the Julong Group?" whispered Uncle Huzi, equally surprised by her presence.
All eyes were on her as she gracefully glided towards the VIP table, radiating an aura of sophistication.
She was dressed to impress, her makeup subtle, her long hair cascading down her back like a silken waterfall.
Wang Chaoyang's father rushed over, his face beaming.
"Yao Yao! It's an honor. How is your father doing, my dear?"
"Uncle Wang, it's a pleasure to see you. Father is doing well," she replied, her smile polite yet distant.
Wang Chaoyang, practically glowing with pride, joined them, eager to bask in her presence.
She was escorted to the VIP table, surrounded by a gaggle of admirers, like a queen bee amidst her drones.
I, however, noticed something else, something that sent a chill down my spine.
The dark cloud I'd seen hovering above her before, a harbinger of bad luck, had intensified, the evil energy swirling closer.
She was in danger, and the danger was growing stronger.
Normally, I would have jumped at the chance to help, especially if it meant a hefty reward.
master had trained me well in the art of dealing with such matters.
However, his final instructions before he passed were clear: I was to use my abilities only for survival, not profit.
As we finished our meal, Uncle Huzi, ever perceptive, sensed my unease and gave me a knowing look.
He was worried about the gift-giving ritual and knew we were ill-equipped to participate.
"Let's make a swift exit before they notice," he mouthed, his eyes darting towards the grand banquet exit.
It seemed like a sound plan.
But just as we were about to make our escape, Wang Chaoyang, beer in hand, headed towards us, a triumphant grin on his face.
We reluctantly sat back down.
There was no escaping now.
"A toast," boomed Wang Chaoyang, raising his glass. "To classmates, to the future, and to all of us going our separate ways."
He downed his beer in one gulp.
We followed suit, the celebratory mood feeling increasingly hollow.
As if on cue, a classmate rose, a brand new laptop in hand.
"Wang Chaoyang, this is for you. Consider it an investment in our future success!"
The laptop looked expensive.
Wang Chaoyang, beaming, showered him with gratitude.
What followed was a parade of gifts — watches, designer pens, the cheapest item worth a few hundred yuan.
All eyes turned to me, the only one empty-handed.
A mischievous glint flickered in the eyes of one of Wang Chaoyang's friends.
"Wu Jie, don't tell me you forgot! What grand treasure did you bring for our dear friend?" he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Uncle Huzi squirmed, trying to disappear under the table.
Unfazed, I pulled out a folded triangular amulet.
"I may not have much," I said, handing it to Wang Chaoyang, "but I put my heart and soul into this amulet. May it keep you safe and bring you luck."
Silence.
Everyone stared at the amulet as if I had placed an alien artifact on the table.
They had no idea of my master's reputation, of the value, both monetary and mystical, that a charm like this held.
To them, it was a worthless trinket.
I couldn't help but chuckle internally.
They were looking at a gift worth more than everything else combined.
But the laughter, as expected, came at my expense.
"Seriously? A doodle? Couldn't even spring for a cheap keychain?"
The first classmate who spoke roared with laughter, setting the tone for the rest of the table.
"The only one in our class who didn't make it to university," chimed another, his voice heavy with disdain. "Probably too scared to even take the exam."
Wang Chaoyang, sipping his beer, simply observed the spectacle, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
Suddenly, a commanding voice cut through the noise.
"I'll give you ten thousand yuan for that amulet," a voice declared.
The room fell silent.
It was Zhang Yunyao（Yao yao）.
"Ten thousand?" sputtered Wang Chaoyang, his jaw dropping. "Are you out of your mind?"