At that moment, Zhang Zhiwei took advantage of the brief peace and quiet among the children to step outside the inn and get some fresh air.
His master had tasked him with inviting Hikaru and the others to Lord Lu's eightieth birthday banquet, a responsibility that weighed on him like a stone.
He and Hikaru's group had only met by chance. He had no idea where they were now, nor whether they'd even be willing to accept such an invitation.
Just as he turned to leave, he suddenly spotted Uchiha Hikaru, Kaguya, and Chinatsu walking down the street.
A flash of joy lit up his eyes, and the heavy expression on his face instantly lifted—as if he had just seen a savior.
He hadn't expected to run into them here of all places, but finally, he had a lead on completing his mission.
The pressure on his chest eased considerably. He quickly walked up to them, his face glowing with undisguised relief and excitement.
"Senior, what a coincidence! I was just worrying about how to find you all!"
Seeing Zhang Zhiwei approach, Hikaru and the others paused and smiled politely in response.
"Brother Zhang, you look troubled. Did something happen?"
Zhang Zhiwei gave a wry smile and nodded.
"Yes, I've run into a bit of a tricky situation. But seeing you now... I think things may finally turn around."
He paused briefly, then continued:
"My master heard about how you saved all those children. He's incredibly grateful and asked me to invite you to Lord Lu's eightieth birthday celebration."
"He said such a noble act deserves recognition. He wants to take this chance to introduce you to many respected heroes, to spread your good name. So... would you be willing to attend?"
Zhang Zhiwei's eyes glowed with anticipation and sincerity, as if all his hopes rested on Hikaru's answer.
He looked at Hikaru, silently waiting for his response.
Hikaru glanced at Zhang Zhiwei's earnest expression and couldn't help but chuckle.
In every era, there were two kinds of men: young schemers who calculated every step, and old men who looked death in the face and chose to fight anyway.
Zhang Zhiwei clearly belonged to the former.
Which was why Hikaru didn't believe a word of what he'd said.
Still, as he thought about it, the outline of the truth became clear in his mind.
He guessed that Zhang Zhiwei had reported the events of the day to his master. Out of both curiosity and caution, the master likely wanted to meet Hikaru's group in person to assess them.
Once that clicked, Hikaru's smile widened. He nodded slightly and replied:
"Brother Zhang, we appreciate the kindness you and your master have shown. Truthfully, when we saved those children, we weren't seeking recognition—it was simply the right thing to do, done from the heart."
Then, he shifted tone and added:
"But since your master insists, and he holds us in such regard... how could we let him down?"
Kaguya and Chinatsu both nodded in agreement, quickly supporting Hikaru's decision.
From Hikaru's perspective, there was no downside to accepting.
Besides, attending the event and witnessing Lu Jin get publicly slapped until he cried? That could be fun too.
At first, Zhang Zhiwei's heart sank when he heard the beginning of Hikaru's reply.
Anyone could tell from those words that he was preparing to politely decline.
But he hadn't expected such a sudden 180-degree turn in the second half.
Hikaru had actually accepted.
The emotional whiplash hit Zhang Zhiwei hard, but in the end, relief washed over him.
He prepared to give them the details about the banquet's time and location, only to realize he still didn't know their names.
A bit embarrassed, he bowed his head slightly and said:
"Forgive me, senior. I just realized... I never even asked your name."
But Hikaru didn't mind at all. He waved his hand casually and replied:
"Ah, come on. I told you—don't call me senior. I'm Uchiha Hikaru. Just call me Hikaru."
At the mention of that surname, Zhang Zhiwei's eyes narrowed, and his expression shifted subtly.
Clearly, the name had stirred some unpleasant memory or association.
Hikaru, keenly observant, caught the reaction. He calmly added:
"I know, my surname sounds very Japanese—but I've got nothing to do with the Sakura Country. You don't need to worry about that."
That name was still somewhat sensitive in this era, which was why Hikaru offered a brief explanation.
But he had no intention of hiding behind a false name just to make others feel better.
As far as he was concerned, these people weren't worthy of that kind of compromise.
The only reason he interacted with them kindly at all was because his heart told him to—and he always acted on his own terms.
Still, Zhang Zhiwei wasn't about to let down his guard just because of one sentence.
Even though Hikaru's actions had made a good impression, that surname had instantly triggered his suspicions and caution.
Nonetheless, he maintained his polite demeanor. After all, Hikaru's strength was something no one could ignore.
"In that case, Brother Hikaru, I'll be bold and call you that," Zhang Zhiwei said respectfully.
He then gave them the banquet's time and location, offered a brief farewell, and made an excuse to leave.
Hikaru watched his retreating back with a faint, knowing smile.
Just then, Kaguya stepped beside him and whispered:
"Husband, that man showed hostility toward us just now. Want me to take care of it?"
She mimicked a slicing motion with her hand, her eyes flashing with a hint of killing intent.
Hikaru turned to her, recognizing that her suspicious nature was flaring up again.
But he couldn't really blame her.
After all, she had a long history of betrayal and sneak attacks—even her own child had once turned on her. A bit of paranoia was perfectly understandable.
He reached out and tapped her lightly on the forehead. Seeing the blush rise on her face, he finally withdrew his hand, satisfied.
With a gentle smile, he said:
"No need. His reaction is normal. In this world, just hearing the name 'Sakura Country' is enough to raise suspicion. We don't need to take it personally."
Kaguya nodded slowly, half understanding, but if Hikaru said it was fine, she wouldn't dwell on it.
So she turned her attention back to her food, happily munching away as she indulged in the joy of eating.