Young hero, stay put and don't be reckless.

Chapter 63 Throwing a Brick to Get the Jade

The other tables were the same; the dishes were so simple they couldn't be more basic. There was no meat, not even a drop of oil.

"This..." A middle-aged man in brocade robes was dumbfounded. "Master Meng, this is the banquet?"

Some people were already frowning: "Isn't this too rudimentary?"

"Yeah, we came all this way just to eat this?"

"I heard that His Majesty rewarded Master Meng with a fortune of ten thousand strings of cash. How can he be so stingy?"

Whispers rose and fell.

Meng Huaigu stood up calmly, glanced at everyone, and slowly said, "You may not know this, but this year the southeast has suffered from floods, and refugees are everywhere. Although I have some wealth, I am still uneasy about it."

In the past two months, most of the food stored at home has been donated, leaving only a small amount for personal use.

Tonight is rushed, and I don't have anything fancy to offer, so please make do with some simple food.

Please forgive any shortcomings.

He spoke calmly, yet every word was sincere.

The courtyard fell silent.

Those who were just complaining now looked ashamed.

"Master Mencius is truly righteous!" A scholar stood up, bowed solemnly, and said, "This student is ashamed."

"I am ashamed, I am ashamed." More people followed suit and stood up to bow.

Meng Huaigu waved his hand and said with a smile, "There's no need for that, everyone. Simple food is still food; as long as it fills our stomachs, that's enough. Come, please eat."

Everyone then sat down and began to eat.

Jiang Xun picked up a piece of tofu and put it in his mouth—it was surprisingly delicious. The tofu was tender and smooth, the sauce was just the right amount of salty, and it had a delicate fragrance.

"This tofu is good," he whispered to Li Tang.

Li Tang, who was also eating, nodded: "It's even better than the chefs at the Prince's mansion."

Li Che didn't say anything, just ate quietly, occasionally glancing around.

Jiang Xun noticed that Meng Huaigu's gaze would occasionally sweep over Li Che's side, and there seemed to be something hidden in his eyes.

He glanced again at the scholar disguised as a man—but she was gone sometime later.

Jiang Xun couldn't sit still any longer. He absentmindedly picked at the rice in his bowl and suddenly stood up.

I'm going out for a bit.

"Where to?"

"The outhouse." Jiang Xun said without changing his expression.

Li Tang glanced at him suspiciously, then her eyes lit up and she immediately understood.

She slightly raised her body, her toes already half an inch off the chair—but was stopped in her tracks by a single look from Li Che.

His gaze wasn't intense, yet it felt as if he were pressing down on her shoulder.

Li Tang pursed her lips, sat obediently without moving, but her eyes kept glancing at Jiang Xun's back.

Jiang Xun left the banquet and made his way down the corridor to the backyard.

Along the way, he encountered several servants, and he pretended to be desperate to relieve himself, asking each of them where the outhouse was.

After asking twice, I finally found the entrance to the backyard.

Two people were standing in front of the courtyard gate.

He was no ordinary servant—his posture, his eyes, and the slight bulge at his temples all indicated that he was a trained martial artist, and a skilled one at that.

Jiang Xun slowed his pace and casually glanced inside.

The two men immediately glanced at him, staring at him warily.

"This guest, the backyard is where the women of the household live, so it's not convenient for us to go in." The one on the left spoke up, his tone was polite enough, but the warning was clear.

"Oh, I was looking for the outhouse." Jiang Xun scratched his head sheepishly. "Wrong way, wrong way."

He turned around and walked back, but after a few steps, he suddenly stopped.

That familiar feeling in my body came back—heat.

A warm current rose from the dantian and flowed slowly along the meridians, neither fast nor slow, yet exceptionally clear.

This familiar feeling is like a sleeping snake suddenly awakening, slowly crawling between its muscles and bones.

Back then, at the foot of the cliff in Wuling City, this hot current kept him awake all night, and he could only barely suppress it by soaking in a pool of water.

The dragon crystal is inside.

No wonder Shen San said that he could sense something whenever he got close to the Dragon Crystal.

Jiang Xun took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the impulse in his heart, and continued walking back without showing any emotion.

We cannot force our way in.

Those two are just gatekeepers; who knows how many experts are hiding inside.

Turning against them now would not only alert the enemy, but also risk alerting the hundreds of people in the front yard. He wasn't confident he could escape unscathed.

…………

"Gentlemen."

A voice suddenly rang out in the front yard, and all eyes in the yard turned to the high platform.

The speaker was an old man in gray robes, with a thin face and piercing eyes. He was Huang Hu, who claimed to be the Sword God's follower.

He stood beside Meng Huaigu, bowed to the crowd, and said loudly, "Entrusted by an old friend, I have been traveling the martial world for many years. Today, I have something to discuss with you, Master Meng."

The group exchanged bewildered glances, some of them already guessing what had happened.

"Who is this old gentleman?" someone asked in a low voice, unaware of the situation.

"The Sword God's guardian," someone whispered, "I heard that he's been setting up tournaments in various places for the past few years to find a successor for the Sword God."

"The successor of the Sword God? That's the legendary Sword God, Lu Qingfeng?"

"That's right, I didn't expect him to come to Qiantang too..."

Whispers spread like ripples on water through the crowd.

Huang Hu remained calm and composed, waiting for his voice to subside before continuing, "Before the Sword God passed away, he left behind a legacy. I, an unworthy old man, was entrusted with the task of finding a suitable person. Tonight, with so many distinguished guests and the warm hospitality of Master Meng, I dare to suggest—why not take this opportunity to let the younger generation spar, so that I may see who among the martial world has the potential to make a name for themselves."

As soon as he finished speaking, the whole courtyard erupted in uproar.

The four words "Sword God's Legacy" are like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

Some were eager to try, some whispered among themselves, and most eyes turned to the empty space in the center of the field—that would be the second battlefield tonight.

Meng Huaigu stroked his beard and smiled, nodding: "Since Elder Huang has this intention, I will naturally do as he wishes. However..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"Tonight is a gathering to discuss scriptures, not a martial arts tournament. Sparring is fine, but it must be done in moderation and no one should be injured."

"Master Meng is quite right." Huang Hu cupped his hands in greeting, then turned to the crowd. "Which young hero is willing to come forward and give it a try?"

After a brief silence, someone stood up.

He was a young man in his early twenties, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, with a long sword at his waist, and a touch of heroic spirit between his brows.

"Zhou Jing of the Yu Cang Sect is willing to offer his humble opinion as a starting point for further discussion."

Huang Hu nodded: "Please."

Zhou Jing walked to the center of the field and stood with his hands behind his back.

A moment later, another person stood up—Zhang Tao, the young master of Baoyue Manor.

Today, Zhang Tao was dressed in a blue brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist. With a handsome face, he was truly a man of great talent.

He strolled to the center of the arena, cupped his hands in greeting to Zhou Jing, and said, "Brother Zhou, please give me your guidance."

The two faced off for a moment, then attacked simultaneously. Swords flashed, and their figures clashed.

Zhang Tao's swordsmanship was elegant and agile, like moonlight flowing; Zhou Jing's swordsmanship was steady and profound, with each strike carrying the sound of air being cut.

They exchanged blows for over twenty moves, and were evenly matched.

"Excellent swordsmanship!" someone cheered.

Li Tang watched intently, her eyes never blinking.

Although she was not skilled in martial arts, she had received guidance from a master and could understand the techniques of swordsmanship.

"That Zhang Tao's swordsmanship is flashy but impractical," she commented softly. "That Zhou Jing is solid, but too rigid, and his moves aren't quick enough to change."

Li Che nodded, but his gaze subtly swept around the surroundings.

Jiang Xun hasn't returned yet.