The Sword Release Hall was filled with distinguished guests. Outside the door, one could see the beautiful lake scenery under the warm sun, and inside the hall, there were the sounds of the qin and the sheng.
A lady and a young miss, dressed like a mother and daughter, sat at the most prominent seat, watching the singing and dancing in the hall.
The elder woman was wearing an elegant green dress. Her hair was coiled into a dignified bun for a married woman, with a jasper hairpin inserted obliquely. She wore a thin veil on her face, revealing only a pair of captivating peach-blossom eyes.
Next to the woman sat a young girl wearing a white and red ruqun. Her hair was in the common double-bun style of young girls. If it weren't for the knife hanging behind her waist, she would look like a young lady from a scholarly family in her early teens.
Although this mother and daughter didn't reveal their identities and were only addressed as "Madam Xue" and "Miss Yun" by the Zhou family, the renowned martial artists present in the hall knew very well the identity of the woman — the wife of the leader of the Pingtian Sect, the woman of Xue Baijin, the leader of the Pingtian Sect!
Xue Baijin was recognized as invincible below the mountain. Not to mention the guests present, even if Sword Saint Zhou Chiyang were here, he would probably show some deference to this lady.
After Zhou Huaili took his seat in the main position, the martial artists present started chatting again.
Guang Hanlin, the Three Immortals of Sanjue Valley, didn't have the highest martial arts skills among those in the hall, but he had a good reputation, with disciples all over the world. Being nearly seventy years old, he could be considered a half-senior in the martial arts world to everyone present.
Guang Hanlin sat next to Xuan Yuanhongzhi. At this moment, he stroked his beard and said with a sigh:
"Nowadays, young people are different from us old martial artists. They don't follow the rules when doing things and don't care about the reputations of the old martial arts seniors. One of my nominal disciples was wandering in the capital. Last month, he was taught a lesson by a brash young man. The young man cut his left hand with a knife and then his right hand. After that, he even said, 'I heard your master is the Three Immortals of Sanjue Valley?' Alas, when I received the letter, I almost died of anger on the way..."
"Hehe..."
Everyone present shook their heads and chuckled upon hearing this.
Zhe Yunli, who had just arrived with her mistress, had sparkling eyes and asked curiously:
"Is he that arrogant? Didn't Grand Master Guang go to teach that guy a lesson?"
Guang Hanlin shook his head and said: "Thirty years ago, I would have gone to the capital to see which young man was so arrogant. But now I can't. The court's rules are strict, so the rules in the martial arts world have naturally become looser."
Everyone present was from the martial arts world, and chatting about these things could easily turn into a criticism of the court's "harsh laws and regulations".
Zhou Huaili thought it was not appropriate to talk about this, so he changed the subject and said:
"Heroes emerge in troubled times, and only famous ministers can be produced in prosperous times. The people in the current martial arts world who can take on great responsibilities are still those from twenty or thirty years ago. The young generation, who all grew up in peaceful times, are all arrogant, but few of them have really made a name for themselves..."
"That's true..."
...
Everyone started discussing.
Luo Ning sat gracefully on the chair, looking at the singers, dancers, and qin players. She didn't listen to these conversations at all. Instead, she played with a small jade pendant with her slender hand hidden in her sleeve.
The jade pendant was the "Dragon Pool Tourmaline", a family heirloom passed down in the Zhou family. She obtained it when she and Ye Jingtang killed the Wingless Owl in the capital.
Originally, when she came to celebrate the birthday this time, she planned to give this item as a gift to the Zhou family, returning it to its rightful owner and repaying the favor of the Zhou family for forging a sword for her. After that, she would no longer participate in such boring occasions.
But although she had made up her mind before coming, when she actually sat here, she couldn't bring herself to say it no matter what.
After all, this jade pendant was given by that shameless little thief...
On the day she got the jade pendant, the little thief unbuttoned her clothes, kissed her shoulder, and gently touched her red lips...
If she gave this jade pendant away, wouldn't that little thief be angry when he found out...
Why should I be afraid of him!
Luo Ning turned the jade pendant with her fingers, feeling that there must be something wrong with herself.
She wanted to clear her mind, make up her mind, and take out the jade pendant to give it away. But every time the thought came up, it was quickly suppressed by other distracting thoughts.
She was going back to the capital in a few days. What if that little thief caused trouble again because she gave away the jade pendant? That would be troublesome...
While she was lost in these thoughts and hesitant, suddenly there was a commotion outside the Sword Release Hall:
"Dad! Dad! Something's wrong..."
Luo Ning's thoughts stopped. She turned to look and saw one of Zhou Huaili's sons running in a flurry.
It was the Zhou family's birthday today, and there were countless renowned martial artists present. A disciple running in to report something in a flurry naturally attracted everyone's attention, and the entire hall fell silent.
Zhou Huaili's smile froze slightly, and a hint of hidden anger flashed in his eyes. When he looked up and saw that it was his son, he didn't slap the person away. Suppressing his anger, he said calmly:
"All those present are elders. If there's something, go to your third uncle."
"It was my third uncle who sent me here. People from Honghua Tower have come. There are a lot of them. Bai Fo and Jiangzhou He are among them. There's also a man wearing a wide-brimmed hat leading them. He's probably the 'Red God of Wealth'..."
"Buzz..."
As soon as these words were spoken, a commotion broke out in the hall filled with distinguished guests.
Shuiyun Sword Pool and Honghua Tower had had many frictions in recent years due to their businesses along the Qingjiang River, and this was well known in the martial arts world.
It was not surprising that people from Honghua Tower came to maintain their relationship on the surface on the Zhou family's birthday today.
But who were these people who came?
Bai Fo, a grandmaster of boxing in Tiannan, Chen Yuanqing, a powerful figure of the Jiangzhou Ship Gang, and the leader of Honghua Tower, the Red God of Wealth...
Honghua Tower had only three grandmasters in total, and they had all come out in full force. This posture didn't seem like they were here to celebrate a birthday, but more like they were here to exterminate the family!
Upon hearing such explosive news, Luo Ning's numerous thoughts of a woman in love were also suppressed, and her expression became serious.
Before coming, the leader of the Pingtian Sect had already guessed that there would be frictions between Honghua Tower and the Zhou family and told her to be careful with her words and not to offend either side.
But she never expected that Honghua Tower would come with such a large force. If the two sides fought, she had the highest status in the martial arts world present, and she couldn't just stay silent. What should she do...
Zhe Yunli's eyes sparkled. With the mentality of not minding the trouble and wanting to watch the excitement, she wanted to get up and go out, but was stopped by a glance from Luo Ning.
The guests in the Sword Release Hall also wanted to get up and take a look, but since Zhou Huaili didn't say anything, it wasn't appropriate to do so, so they looked at Zhou Huaili.
Zhou Huaili's eyes darkened a bit. He knew that with the posture of Honghua Tower, they were most likely up to no good.
But with countless martial arts friends sitting here, if the Zhou family showed signs of cowardice, it would surely become a laughingstock in the martial arts world.
After a little thought, Zhou Huaili still showed a smile:
"So these are the distinguished guests from Honghua Tower. Everyone, please wait a moment. I'll go out to welcome them and will be back soon..."
"No need!"
Before he could finish his words, a clear and resounding voice suddenly came from outside the Sword Release Hall:
"We've come uninvited. Why should Leader Zhou personally come out to greet us?"
The voice was clear and aloof, full of vitality. Just from the sound, one could tell that the person speaking was definitely a young man who was unruly and had excellent martial arts skills!
At the same time as the voice, there came dense footsteps from the lakeside:
Ta ta ta ta ta...
The footsteps were very fast, and there were a lot of people. It sounded like a large army was approaching, directly rushing towards the gate of the Sword Release Hall!
The oppressive feeling, like a storm was about to break out, made all the martial artists present change their expressions and turn to look outside the door.
Luo Ning, who was sitting at the main seat, was so startled by the man's voice that her fragrant shoulder shrank slightly. She looked like a young wife who had been caught by her husband for running around, and a flash of panic appeared in her eyes.
But immediately, Luo Ning's expression turned to one of shock and disbelief — this voice...
Zhe Yunli's reaction was almost the same. She almost slipped off the chair, opened her mouth, and it seemed that she wanted to say:
This voice... Why does it sound so much like my Brother Jingtang?!