The two, Qin and Lu, entered the hall where the ceremony had already begun. The great hall seated nearly a thousand people, appearing as a dark mass that was quite crowded. They could see that Fang Zijing had also taken his seat among the crowd, his eyes seeming closed but not quite, as if dozing and resting.
Qin Zhonghai saw his master’s side was crowded with people, making it difficult to get close. He frowned and said, “It looks like all the seats are full. We might as well stand.”
Lu Yun preferred quiet and peace, so hearing this suited him perfectly. The two men then stood at the main entrance, gazing from afar at the activities inside the hall.
While the two were talking, someone suddenly turned around and smiled slightly at them – it was Yang Suguan. Lu Yun returned the smile with a nod to indicate acknowledgment, while Qin Zhonghai just picked his nose and then lazily waved his hand.
Qin Zhonghai wiped his hand, unknowingly smearing the snot on the guest in front of him. Lu Yun was just feeling shocked when suddenly they heard someone loudly say, “Alright! Since everyone has arrived, let’s begin the ceremony!”
Lu Yun heard this hoarse, unpleasant voice and quickly looked up to see the speaker was fat – it was the Feicheng Guai they had encountered when climbing the mountain. At this time, Lingding, Yuan Yi, Zhuo Lingzhao and others had already taken their seats at the front of the hall, looking focused as they listened to this person speak. Lu Yun knew that Feicheng Guai was Ning Bufan’s martial uncle, and with his venerable status, on such an important occasion he naturally had to come out and say a few ceremonial words. He then smiled and listened attentively.
The great hall was silent as they heard Feicheng Guai shout loudly in his coarse voice, “Dear friends and colleagues from the jianghu, greetings! I am one of Mount Hua’s Twin Immortals, known as ‘Fat Scale Immortal’ Shen Chengzi. I imagine everyone has heard my name.”
Everyone only knew there was a fat man among Mount Hua’s Twin Monsters, but didn’t know he was originally called “Shen Chengzi.” They all made sounds of “oh.”
Feicheng Guai, seeing many in the crowd recognized him, was delighted and laughed, “Since everyone knows me, that’s wonderful. If anyone wants my calligraphy later, you can collect it from the side hall.”
Someone below cursed, “Stop farting around! Quickly call your martial nephew out to speak – seeing your fat pig face gives me a headache!” Another person laughed mockingly, “Mount Hua’s shame is out embarrassing himself again!” A crowd of jianghu heroes immediately burst into laughter.
Feicheng Guai, being cursed at randomly, had his big face turn red with anger, but with several thousand eyes staring at him below, he couldn’t act rashly. He could only suppress his anger and say, “Everyone please calm down and listen to me say a few words.” Before he finished speaking, they heard someone roar, “Fat pig! If you have to fart, do it quickly!”
Feicheng Guai forcibly suppressed his anger and coughed repeatedly, “Everyone listen. This time our sect leader Ning Bufan is sealing his sword and retiring to stop conflicts and prevent the martial world from continuing to compete for the empty title of ‘Number One in the World.’ For this reason, our Mount Hua sect has widely invited martial world colleagues to witness this grand ceremony. Our intention is significant, hoping that everyone will consider this noble righteousness and allow my martial nephew… allow my martial nephew…” At this point, he suddenly became tongue-tied, his big face turning even more ashen.
Everyone heard Feicheng Guai speaking fluently and coherently, very different from his usual mad behavior, and secretly admired him. But after hearing just a few sentences, they saw his throat rolling as if he was stuttering. Just as everyone was becoming suspicious, they heard Feicheng Guai say, “Um… hoping that everyone will consider this noble righteousness and allow my martial nephew… allow my martial nephew…” As he spoke, he suddenly reached up to scratch his cheek, squinting and twisting his mouth, becoming stuttering again.
Several people below, hearing him hesitate and stammer, immediately roared, “Allow your martial nephew what? If you have to fart, do it quickly!”
Feicheng Guai looked distressed and suddenly roared loudly, “Hold it higher!”
The people below became even more agitated and shouted, “Allow your martial nephew to hold it higher? What kind of nonsense is that! Speak clearly!”
Feicheng Guai stood on his tiptoes and roared loudly, “Damn it, hold it higher!”
Everyone, seeing his strange behavior, was quite surprised. Several people with deep schemes secretly became alert, thinking, “This Feicheng Guai speaks so strangely – hoping everyone will consider noble righteousness and allow his martial nephew to ‘hold it higher’? What does this mean? Is Ning Bufan’s retirement just a pretense? Does he want to climb even higher?”
Several martial experts who had studied martial arts for many years, hearing these words, were also disturbed and thought, “Ning Bufan wants to ‘hold it higher’? His swordsmanship is already as high as possible – can it go even higher?”
Yet other quick-thinking people, hearing these words, thought, “Good! This fat man has finally revealed the big secret. This Ning Bufan wants to capture someone named ‘Gao Yidian’ (Higher Point). Who is this person? He must have countless secrets! I must keep a close eye on this.”
While everyone was guessing uncertainly, Feicheng Guai kept stamping his feet and shouting, “Hold it higher! I can’t see clearly!” Everyone was startled and quickly turned around to look, only to see several Mount Hua disciples hiding behind the crowd of guests, holding up large white papers with bowl-sized characters written on them, looking furtive as if doing something unseemly.
Qin Zhonghai happened to be standing next to that disciple and immediately leaned over to look at the white paper in the disciple’s hands, reading word by word: “This time our sect leader Ning Bufan is sealing his sword and retiring with the intention of stopping conflicts and preventing the martial world from continuing to compete for the empty title of ‘Number One in the World.’ This intention is significant, hoping that everyone can consider this noble righteousness and allow my martial nephew to calmly wash his hands and retire to the mountains…”
All the guests in the hall, seeing this situation, immediately burst into laughter. It turned out this Feicheng Guai had no literary ability, but faced with such a grand occasion, he couldn’t avoid coming out to say a few words. Having no choice, he had someone write the speech on white paper and hold it up far behind the hall so he could read from the script.
Feicheng Guai, hearing the people below mocking him, couldn’t help but become furious and shouted, “What’s so funny! Bring me the script!”
Several disciples, hearing the angry shout, quickly brought up the “big copy.” Feicheng Guai held up the white paper, covering his face, and read loudly: “This time our sect leader Ning Bufan is sealing his sword and retiring. This intention is significant, hoping that everyone can consider this noble righteousness and allow my martial nephew to calmly wash his hands and retire to the mountains, no longer concerning himself with worldly affairs. For this noble righteousness, Shen Chengzi is deeply grateful. Since our ancestor Tianyin Daoist founded this mountain, Mount Hua has established its sect for hundreds of years with thousands of disciples, clear mountains and bright waters, dignified throughout the four seas, making heroes respectful. Our mountain’s Dao follows the Three Pure Ones, which is to say, drawing upon heaven and earth’s righteous qi to control that… to control that in the formless…”
All the guests, hearing him suddenly stutter, couldn’t help but frown. Several people below shouted, “Control your grandmother’s heroism! You can’t even read properly! Are you a pig?”
Feicheng Guai mumbled, “Um… drawing upon heaven and earth’s righteous qi to control… control old old in the formless…”
Everyone was curious and wondered, “Control old old in the formless? What is that?” Several ruffians laughed wildly, “Your master ancestor controls old old in the formless? Who is your grandmother that got controlled into formlessness!” They then burst into lewd laughter.
Feicheng Guai’s face reddened as he quickly stuck his head out from behind the white paper and looked back at the various sect leaders behind him. Seeing Zhuo Lingzhao’s scholarly appearance, thinking his literary knowledge must be high, he quickly ran over and handed him the “big copy,” asking quietly, “Teacher, please tell me how to pronounce these two characters?”
Zhuo Lingzhao took the paper, looked at it, then smiled faintly, “Maodie – pronounced ‘mao die.'”
Feicheng Guai was delighted, “Thank you! Maodie – I thought these two characters should be pronounced ‘lao lao.'” He laughed heartily and jumped back, reading loudly: “Everyone listen carefully! Our mountain’s Dao follows the Three Pure Ones, which is to say, drawing upon heaven and earth’s righteous qi to control maodie in the formless, covering the eight orthodox transformations of the universe’s heroic intensity, therefore must reveal rotten reveal to establish Yuqing…”
Everyone was curious again, all thinking, “What does ‘must reveal rotten reveal’ mean?” Lu Yun, being well-read in poetry and books, knew he was saying “bichulanlu” (starting from nothing) and just smiled without comment.
Feicheng Guai went on at great length, chattering endlessly, but making mistakes with characters throughout. Everyone saw him read one sheet after another with seemingly no end, and couldn’t help but frown. Finally, Feicheng Guai stopped, and everyone felt relieved, thinking, “Finally finished.” But they saw Feicheng Guai wipe his sweat and say, “I’m so thirsty – someone get me a cup of tea.”
Several hot-tempered ruffians became extremely angry and roared, “Screw your grandmother! Are you finished reading or not!”
Feicheng Guai laughed, “Everyone don’t be anxious – next is the ‘Mount Hua Eulogy.’ This article is a masterpiece of all time – it would be a pity not to hear it. Please everyone enjoy it well.” He then began shaking his head and wagging his tail, using parallel prose to start another long dissertation.
Everyone, hearing his endless drivel, all frowned. Several hot-tempered people simply lay down in front and pretended to snore loudly, while others took out pai gow tiles and started gambling on the spot. Feicheng Guai pretended not to notice and just continued reading by himself.
They heard him reading eloquently: “Mount Hua rises above connecting to the Central Ultimate Canopy, below joining the Literary Deep Heaven. The strangeness and intensity of the Western Peak can be seen in general. Don’t you see Mount Hua’s peaks above reaching nine heavens? Don’t you see Mount Hua’s waters below connecting ten thousand streams? How strange! How beautiful! Mount Hua! Ah ouch, that hurts!”
All the guests were curious, thinking, “What does ‘ah ouch, that hurts’ mean? What kind of novel literary technique is this?”
While everyone was puzzled, they all looked up to see Feicheng Guai rubbing his head where a bump had appeared. It turned out someone had struck him with a hidden attack, which caused him to exclaim “ah ouch, that hurts.” His face showed wild anger as he roared, “Which turtle son of a bastard attacked me? Come out here!”
Feicheng Guai, seeing the people below remaining silent, immediately rushed forward and grabbed a guest, shouting, “Was it you?”
The guest was extremely flustered and kept waving his hands, “It wasn’t me, it wasn’t me…”
Feicheng Guai angrily pushed that person away, then pointed at the crowd and shouted, “Turtle grandson, come out here! You only know how to hide in the dark and launch sneak attacks – shameless and despicable to the extreme! Your whole family – parents, children, martial brothers and sisters – are all turtles!”
Seeing the people below keeping their heads down in silence, Feicheng Guai became even more furious and shouted, “Who exactly attacked me? Don’t you dare admit it? If you have guts, stand up!”
Just then, someone with a worried expression walked up behind Feicheng Guai and said, “Don’t be angry – I threw that stone.”
Feicheng Guai spun around and grabbed him, roaring, “Damn bastard!” But when he seized the person, he couldn’t help but be startled – the person before him was thin as a horse with a long face. It was his junior brother, Suanpan Guai.
Feicheng Guai exploded with rage and shouted loudly, “Junior brother! You’re jealous of me! You see me reading the essay well and you’re not convinced! Isn’t that right!”
Suanpan Guai frantically waved his hands and said quietly, “It’s not like that.”
Feicheng Guai angrily said, “Bullshit! In front of all the heroes under heaven, you still dare to deny it!”
Suanpan Guai said quietly, “Senior brother, you’ve read too much. This ‘Mount Hua Eulogy’ is my script – if you keep reading, I won’t have anything to perform.”
Feicheng Guai, seeing the people below laughing and pointing, couldn’t help but be furious with shame and roared, “How would I know this was your script!”
Suanpan Guai was startled and said strangely, “How could this happen? Senior brother, didn’t you attend the rehearsal?”
Feicheng Guai’s face reddened, “I had a stomachache and diarrhea that day and forgot to go.”
Suanpan Guai shook his head, “Never mind, let me read it.” He reached out to grab the white paper.
Feicheng Guai shouted, “No! I haven’t finished reading!”
Suanpan Guai now also became angry and said, “Senior brother, you’re too despicable! Every time you only care about showing off yourself!”
The two shouted and fought with each other, and several white papers were immediately torn to shreds and scattered everywhere. Everyone laughed until they fell over, while all the Mount Hua disciples turned red with embarrassment and couldn’t speak.
Suddenly they heard a woman say, “How can Mount Hua sect have such people? This is truly astonishing!”
Everyone, hearing these words, was curious and quickly turned around to see a graceful beauty enter through the temple gates. This woman wore light makeup and was dressed in an apricot-yellow Daoist robe, but her identity was unknown.
Lu Yun happened to be standing next to this beauty and, smelling the sweet fragrance from her body, felt his nose itch and suddenly sneezed.
Qin Zhonghai moved closer and said quietly, “Brother Lu, this woman is the ‘Hundred Flowers Fairy’ Hu Mei’er – be careful.”
Lu Yun was taking out a handkerchief to wipe himself when he heard this woman was the notorious female demon. Remembering her ruthlessness in killing Juan’er’s martial uncle, he couldn’t help but be greatly shocked and quickly stepped back two paces, fearing a sneak attack.
Hu Mei’er, seeing Lu Yun hastily retreat, smiled at him and said softly, “What’s wrong with this young master, acting so flustered?” Her manner showed three parts shyness and seven parts fox-like charm, captivating souls and spirits.
Lu Yun was terrified, his face alternating between pale and red as he quickly stepped back several more paces.
Qin Zhonghai, seeing Hu Mei’er still casting her evil arts, thought, “Damn that foxy slut daring to disturb our Brother Lu. Watch me deal with you.” He puffed out his chest and walked forward.
Hu Mei’er, seeing Qin Zhonghai’s tiger-like and leopard-like appearance with truly heroic bearing and imposing presence, couldn’t help but smile slightly, thinking, “There are so many heroes at Mount Hua today.” Just as she was about to cast flirtatious glances, she suddenly saw Qin Zhonghai open his bowl-sized mouth and belch at her. The sound was disgusting as overwhelming alcohol fumes rushed toward her with an unbearable stench, immediately making Hu Mei’er’s beautiful face lose color. She instantly frowned, covered her nose, and quickly fled.
Qin Zhonghai secretly laughed, “Dead little slut, others may fear you but I, Qin Zhonghai, am not afraid. If you have the guts, keep coming to provoke me every day – I’ll make you cry and run home to your mother.” Thinking this, he belched again, spraying out stinking gas that made guests on all sides cover their noses and dodge.
Lu Yun, seeing the female demon leave, finally patted his chest and breathed a sigh of relief. He leaned over and asked quietly, “How did this woman also come to Mount Hua? Could she have some conspiracy?”
Qin Zhonghai glanced at him sideways and said strangely, “Why are you covering your nose?”
Lu Yun mumbled, “I’m covering my mouth – we’re discussing secrets and can’t let others hear.”
Qin Zhonghai made an “oh” sound and was about to reply when suddenly they heard footsteps outside the temple gates, as if a large group was approaching. He turned to look outside and immediately sneered coldly, “Those who come with ill intent, those with good intent don’t come – Mount Hua is in for trouble now.”
Lu Yun didn’t understand his meaning and also looked toward the temple gates. With this look, he suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
That Hu Mei’er’s actions were indeed ostentatious, and as soon as she entered the great hall, people recognized her. Juan’er had deep enmity with the “Hundred Flowers Fairy,” and upon seeing Hu Mei’er’s face, immediately thought of her martial uncle’s death. As the saying goes, when enemies meet, their eyes become especially red. With tears about to fall, she grabbed Azure Robe Scholar’s hand and cried loudly, “Master, it’s this demoness who killed martial uncle! Let’s kill her to avenge martial uncle!”
Azure Robe Scholar, being a person of deep schemes and calculations, hearing his disciple’s words, only sighed and shook his head, saying softly, “This woman’s great support is near – it’s not convenient for us to act now. The matter of revenge can be discussed later.”
The various sect leaders in their seats, hearing that “Hundred Flowers Fairy” had other support, were all curious. Seeing Hu Mei’er standing alone in the hall, where could her help come from? Could it be that Azure Robe Scholar knew he wasn’t her match and was making this excuse?
Juan’er, hearing her master intended to pass up this good opportunity for revenge, immediately began sobbing and cried, “Master! Martial uncle died so pitifully – why are we still afraid of this and that? Quickly go kill her!”
With tears streaming and stamping her little feet, she just wouldn’t comply.
Azure Robe Scholar, seeing his beloved disciple’s heart full of grief and anger, gently held her small hand to calm her down.
While everyone was speculating restlessly, they suddenly heard a cannon sound outside the gates, followed by dozens of people shouting in unison, “The Chief Inspector of Eighteen Provinces, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, Lord Jiang Chong has arrived!”
Lingding, hearing the two words “Jiang Chong,” was immediately shocked and stood up, finally understanding what Azure Robe Scholar meant by “great support.” Zhuo Lingzhao just smiled coldly, his expression becoming even more grim.
Yang Suguan was also a person of deep wisdom and intelligence. Upon seeing Hu Mei’er’s arrival, he knew An Dao Jing must be nearby, but among all his calculations, he never expected the powerful minister Jiang Chong to personally come to Mount Hua. This shock was truly extraordinary as he quickly stood up and looked toward outside the temple. All the guests in the hall, hearing the two words “Jiang Chong,” were also greatly surprised. Only Qin Zhonghai and Lu Yun, being close to the entrance, had already seen Jiang Chong’s sedan chair and weren’t surprised.
Although this Jiang Chong had no martial arts skills, his power was overwhelming and unmatched in the world. If he wanted to use court influence to destroy martial arts sects, it would be as easy as eating and drinking. Seeing that Jiang Chong was about to enter the temple, although all the guests were jianghu heroes, no one dared to be disrespectful. They all stood up to welcome him, even comic figures like Feicheng Guai stood up.
They saw a fat-brained person walk in first – it was the Embroidered Uniform Guard commander An Dao Jing. Behind him followed many experts, including the Nine Nether Daoist, Luo Moshi and others. Everyone stepped aside, and then a person slowly walked in wearing a python robe and cloud-stepping shoes, displaying great wealth and nobility – it was Jiang Chong himself.
Qin Zhonghai, seeing Jiang Chong’s arrival, couldn’t help but chuckle, “Everyone said how dare that bastard Gao Yan offend Xue Nu’er? So Jiang Chong came from the capital. Hehe, this guy never leaves home without cause, and when he does, he always causes trouble – Mount Hua disciples are in for it.”
That day when the marriage convoy was chased by the fourth prince, they had encountered Yumen Pass Commander Gao Yan blocking the road. Thinking back now, if Jiang Chong himself hadn’t been nearby, no matter how bold Gao Yan was, how would he dare provoke Xue Nu’er? Qin Zhonghai secretly speculated that although Ning Bufan’s martial arts were high, he was just an ordinary jianghu person – why would Jiang Chong come here personally? There must be some past grievance between them.
While watching, he suddenly saw a bald-headed person standing close beside Jiang Chong – it was Luo Moshi. Lu Yun was shocked and said quietly, “Didn’t this evil monk die? How is he out again?” That day in the Western frontier blood battle, he had personally seen this evil monk commit suicide with his finger, but now he appeared again, lively and vigorous, in the Central Plains, even mixing with a generation of treacherous ministers. In his shock, he couldn’t help rubbing his eyes, thinking he had encountered a ghost.
Qin Zhonghai was also surprised. Seeing Luo Moshi’s good complexion, not resembling a grim ghost, and it being broad daylight, he knew this bald thief must have escaped by playing dead. The more Qin Zhonghai thought about it, the angrier he became. He spat and cursed, “Damn this bald thief – utterly shameless, probably escaped by playing dead! These demons and monsters have endless tricks. Next time we kill them, we must dismember them into eight pieces and see how they put themselves back together!”
While Qin Zhonghai cursed endlessly, Lu Yun felt faint melancholy, thinking of the princess and immediately feeling a wave of sadness.
As soon as Jiang Chong arrived, Hu Mei’er’s beautiful eyes immediately sparkled as she showed great attentiveness. She took Jiang Chong’s arm and said coquettishly, “Where is Mount Hua’s sect leader? Why doesn’t he come to welcome Lord Jiang?”
Before her words finished, a wretched middle-aged man rushed out, bowing and scraping, “Honored lords, please come this way.”
Hu Mei’er, seeing his wretched appearance, glared sideways and sneered, “Who needs you, such a small person, to chatter? Quickly call Ning Bufan out.”
The wretched man, hearing this, was startled and said with an apologetic smile, “Fairy, please don’t be angry – please sit down first.”
Hu Mei’er, seeing his ugly appearance and obsequious smile, found him extremely vulgar and didn’t want to look at him even once more. She angrily said, “Didn’t you hear me speak? Call your sect leader out!”
While Hu Mei’er was roaring like a lioness with her big temper, she saw Jiang Chong slightly bow to that wretched man, then cup his hands and say, “Sect Leader Ning, my subordinates have eyes but don’t recognize Mount Tai – please don’t take offense.”
With these words, everyone was astonished and began talking among themselves.
Everyone had come to Mount Hua to watch this master retire, but few had actually seen this world’s number one master. They had thought that someone called “Number One in the World” would definitely have a brave and imposing appearance, or at least an immortal bearing. Who would have thought that upon seeing him, Ning Bufan’s dress was like an inn manager’s, and his appearance not only had no extraordinary qualities but was thoroughly mediocre and vulgar. Even third-rate jianghu characters would probably be more dignified and presentable than this person.
While everyone was surprised, they naturally couldn’t help but be greatly disappointed. Hu Mei’er was even more stunned and speechless.
Juan’er, looking at Ning Bufan’s shabby figure, said in surprise, “Master, with such a ghostly appearance, can he really be called number one in the world? Could he be an imposter?”
Azure Robe Scholar smiled, “True masters don’t reveal their abilities; those who reveal abilities aren’t true masters. This Sect Leader Ning is wise as a fool – he’s a martial arts prodigy rarely seen in a hundred years. Don’t underestimate him.”
The other sect leaders present, hearing these words, all nodded, clearly having long been acquainted with Ning Bufan. Even Zhuo Lingzhao, with his naturally proud nature, hearing Azure Robe Scholar’s words, only had his eyes flash coldly without any intention of refuting.
While all the guests were surprised, Jiang Chong had already walked up to Ning Bufan with a smile, “Sect Leader Ning, these past two years I’ve sincerely invited you repeatedly to discuss national affairs, but you’ve declined. That’s fine, but why do you want to seal your sword and retire? You really don’t give face to someone surnamed Jiang – it truly makes one’s heart cold.” He reached out to put his hand on Ning Bufan’s shoulder, appearing quite intimate.
Ning Bufan shrank back, avoiding Jiang Chong’s embrace, then bowed with his face full of smiles, cupping his hands, “Bufan is getting old and weak – I just want to retire early and enjoy my remaining years. Lord Jiang’s repeated kindness, Bufan can only appreciate in his heart.”
Jiang Chong laughed heartily, “Where is Sect Leader Ning old? We’re about the same age – if you claim to be old, then wouldn’t I, Jiang Chong, also be an old man?”
Ning Bufan, hearing his jokes, also laughed a few times, “Different, different! Your lordship is radiant with health – how can a commoner like me compare with your lordship? Though we’re the same age, your lordship looks much younger.”
Jiang Chong laughed heartily, “I eat well and do nothing every day, becoming quite fat – how can I compare with you martial arts practitioners? Sect Leader Ning is mocking me.”
The two chatted casually as they slowly walked toward the right side of the great hall. Ning Bufan led Jiang Chong to those three chairs and said with an apologetic smile, “It’s rare for Grand Tutor Jiang to personally come to Mount Hua – Yuqing Temple has been quite neglectful. Please take the upper seat and rest.”
Jiang Chong looked at the chairs for a few moments and suddenly said “Oh! Three chairs?”
Ning Bufan desperately bowed and laughed dryly, “Yes, exactly three.”
Hearing these words, Jiang Chong only sneered coldly. He leaned forward and stared fiercely at Ning Bufan’s eyes with a stern gaze that didn’t blink for an instant. Under this stare, Ning Bufan quickly lowered his head and didn’t dare move.
After a long while, Jiang Chong reached out and patted Ning Bufan’s shoulder, “That’s fine. Since the sect leader is determined to retire, I, surnamed Jiang, will definitely fulfill your wish and absolutely won’t force you to come out of retirement to serve as an official.”
Ning Bufan was delighted and was about to express thanks when he saw Jiang Chong’s expression turn grim, his tone becoming icy cold, “However, Sect Leader Ning, I have a few words of reminder. We enlightened people don’t do underhanded things – you must never say one thing and do another. Appearing like a free cloud and wild crane, leisurely and carefree, but secretly being lively and vigorous, sticking your foot into every major affair – that would be very heart-chilling.”
Ning Bufan wiped the sweat from his forehead and laughed dryly, “I truly intend to retire – Lord Jiang is overthinking.”
Jiang Chong said flatly, “Go busy yourself. I’ll sit here and watch. Given our friendship, I, Jiang, must see you retire peacefully and safely – only then will I be worthy of you.” He sat down.
Ning Bufan laughed dryly twice, lowered his hands, and backed away several steps before turning to leave, appearing extremely respectful.
Seeing Jiang Chong seated, An Dao Jing shouted loudly, “Everyone come protect Lord Jiang!” The Embroidered Uniform Guards quickly rushed forward to guard around Jiang Chong. A hundred people surged forward, immediately crowding the right side of the great hall.
Jiang Chong had a hundred followers – An Dao Jing on his left, Luo Moshi and Nine Nether Daoist standing proudly in front on his right, with Hundred Flowers Fairy quietly standing behind. The scene was magnificent and extremely wealthy. The younger generation in the hall, having never seen the ceremonial procession of court officials, all felt they had opened their eyes.
The various jianghu people, hearing the exchange between the two, all became suspicious, not knowing why this Jiang Chong appeared here or whether he had other conspiracies. For a moment, everyone speculated endlessly.