I Cultivated Too Long and Got Isekai'd Into a Game-Chapter 196: Disrespected

It was a sunny day.

In the middle of the city, a large hotel complex was completely rented out, with guests filling not only its lobbies but even the wide-open field behind it—next to the swimming pool.

These guests had arrived the night before, fully booking all fifty floors of the hotel, leaving no room unused. Every single one of them was there to attend the birthday celebration of a certain daughter of a wealthy and powerful man.

"Ritta, are you alright?"

Inside one of the rooms on the first floor, a maid asked with worry.

Before her sat a woman with fiery red hair, tied into a bun behind her head. She wore a simple dress, seemingly prioritizing movement over grandeur... but of course, it wasn’t a cheap article by any stretch. The dress was made of special materials, so expensive that just hearing how much it cost would make others gulp with greed.

"Uriel..."

Henrietta faced the mirror, looking at the worried woman wearing the usual black-and-white maid uniform behind her.

"...Of course, I’m fine," she claimed. "I’ve been preparing for this moment the entire time... No way I’m getting cold feet this late in the game."

The maid, Uriel, frowned deeply at her reply. "You know that’s not what I’m talking about, right?" She sighed.

"I know..." Henrietta nodded. "And as I said, I’m fine..."

Knock! Knock!

Just then, someone knocked on the door. Although the two girls remained silent, not responding, a voice echoed from beyond it. "Young lady, the venue is ready. Please head to the hotel’s garden, as the Patriarch has called for you."

A brief silence followed before Henrietta nodded.

"It’s time. Let’s go..."

Saying just that, she stood and walked forward, the hem of her dress swaying as she moved.

However, despite her words, she wasn’t fine... She was nervous.

This moment, after all, was the greatest turning point in her life. One that would determine her future—and perhaps even her life or death.

🔷🔷🔷

At the garden, beside the covered pool, a stage had been set up. It was there to showcase the star of the day, the birthday girl, and to facilitate the ceremony.

Behind that stage, a few figures stood idly.

"These clothes feel too... weak. Can’t I wear my armor over them?"

Jehanne complained, tugging at the hem of her pure white flared dress. It wasn’t like a wedding gown, like what Zetian had worn a few days ago, but rather, a simple white party dress.

"Please, no, Lady Jehanne..." Yifa, who was with them acting as their personal maid, shook her head. "What would the visitors say if they saw you wearing armor over a dress? You’d become a laughingstock at worst..."

"Isn’t that better than dying right away from a surprise attack?"

"You simple woman, always thinking in the ways of a muscle-headed warrior..."

"What?!"

Zetian’s sudden interruption made Jehanne turn aside. There, Zetian stood, wearing what was commonly known as Goth Lolita fashion. Unlike before, it suited her perfectly—her dark hair, her sharp poise. It was as if she had been born to wear such clothes.

Completely opposite Jehanne’s outfit, Zetian’s attire was mostly black. She even had black lipstick and a black veil, along with a wide-brimmed black hat to complete the ensemble.

"I said, ’You should put aside your personal preferences for a moment and act as you should at a public event,’" Zetian clarified, not even considering retracting her words. "We’re under the watch of countless eyes. Do you want to embarrass the birthday celebrant instead?"

"Of course not! I wouldn’t want to trouble Henrietta either!" Jehanne shouted back.

"But that doesn’t change the fact that this dress offers little to no defense! If I’m forced to evaluate it, then its protection is in the negatives, hampering my movement!"

"As I said, drop that kill-or-be-killed way of thinking already."

"I can’t! Lowering your guard can lead to deadly consequences on a battlefield!"

"Does this place look like a battlefield to you?"

"...No."

Just then, Xu Tao finally stepped forward, stopping their squabble.

"Both of you, quiet down. If you keep shouting like that, others will hear."

He fixed his solid blue necktie as he spoke, looking just as uncomfortable as Jehanne. After all, right now, he was wearing what would be called a three-piece suit—a tuxedo.

Not only was it tight around his waist, but it was even hard for him to raise his arm higher than his shoulder. The clothes were stiff and extremely uncomfortable... but he had to conform to the dress code of the event, at the very least.

As he spoke, the three girls turned their heads in unison, staring at him.

"Well... at least I don’t look as uncomfortable as you do, Sir Tao..." Jehanne muttered, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

Zetian, on the other hand, simply covered her mouth with her fan as she spoke. "As you wish, my Emperor. By the way, you look dashing as always in that tuxedo. I’m glad we chose that back then."

"Yep! Master Tao looks like a different person wearing that suit!" Even Yifa couldn’t help but comment. "I’m sure if you step out there wearing that, even just standing idly, girls would flock around you~!"

"...!"

But her casual comment made the two girls glare daggers at her. The pressure she felt was almost enough to make her wet herself, as though she were facing a genuine threat to her life.

"I-I was just joking..." she whispered, backing away nervously.

However, Jehanne and Zetian weren’t really thinking of hurting Yifa. Instead, their bloodlust was directed at the imaginary girls who dared to gather around Xu Tao in their minds.

The two of them exchanged wordless glances before nodding to each other.

At that moment, they decided.

Not a single woman would be allowed to approach Xu Tao! They would make sure of it!

"Ah, so this is where you are, my friend!"

"Hmm?"

And just then, a voice called out to Xu Tao. Approaching them from behind was a man wearing a similar tuxedo, though his was a lighter gray compared to Xu Tao’s night black.

"Oh, Alexis." Xu Tao muttered, nodding slightly. "It’s been what... three days?"

The man, Henrietta’s father, Alexis Campbell, smiled and waved a hand casually. "Basically two, but it works either way."

Their exchange felt like two old friends meeting again, checking up on each other. Although they had first met only three days ago, and spent just a few hours together, that didn’t change the fact that they were now "friends."

But more than the two men, it was those behind Alexis who felt puzzled instead. After all, Xu Tao was someone they had never seen before—not in any social circles they knew of.

Behind him, Carlos’s mother frowned, glaring at Xu Tao, thinking him just some upstart her husband had taken a liking to. Henrietta’s mother, on the other hand, simply stared at Xu Tao, her gaze unreadable, cold and calculating.

Carlos himself lingered further back, too afraid to even come close. His eyes flickered with fear, still traumatized by Xu Tao’s "threats."

And beside Alexis...

"So you’re Sir Tao." A young man with a polite smile greeted, extending a hand forward. "I’ve heard about you from Father. It’s nice to meet you."

"..."

Judging from his red hair and orange eyes, he was clearly Henrietta’s brother. Her older brother. Yet Xu Tao simply stared at his hand before looking at his face, not even bothering to return the gesture.

"I’m Xu Tao, former sect leader and a great elder of the Azure Dragon Sect," he said, hands clasped behind his back. "My hands aren’t so cheap that I’d return the gesture of someone who can’t even name himself."

His words were sharp, making Alexis show a wry smile. However, he didn’t dare smooth things over. Instead, he took a step back, observing his son’s response.

"Ah, pardon me."

The young man quickly retracted his hand, his smile unwavering despite Xu Tao’s "rude" remark.

"I’m the first son and heir of Alexis Campbell, Julius. It’s an honor to meet you, Great Elder." He bowed respectfully with cupped fists.

Xu Tao, seeing his quick-wittedness, lightly nodded. "Good. Seems like you do have some manners."

"Hehe, I just forgot for a moment, seeing my father act so friendly with you. It’s rare, you know? Someone treating him as a friend, not a boss or business partner."

"...And you have a glib tongue too." Xu Tao grinned. "Still, you’ve got a long way to go in hiding your discontent and killing intent. I’ll forgive it for now, but there won’t be a next time."

With that, Xu Tao turned to Alexis one last time before gesturing with a nod.

"Since it looks like we’re not being appreciated here, we’ll move to the tables for now."

Alexis didn’t insist on holding him back but instead quickly offered.

"Ah, I reserved the first table up front for you. Feel free to sit there."

"Understood."

And just like that, Xu Tao’s group moved as one.

Only a young man with a fake smile kept his gaze on them, not letting them out of his sight for even a second.

"Xu Tao... huh?"