Chapter 88

The Seven Provinces Green Forest Assembly did not have any concrete theme or purpose, and it was not a fixed event. Sometimes it would be held two or three times a year, and sometimes it wouldn't be held for three to five years. It could only be convened by someone with influence and the right intentions.

At the assembly, all the bandits from the Seven Provinces Green Forest would gather, drink, and boast. They would also introduce new faces to everyone to avoid conflicts in the future, where no one would recognize each other.

This time, the Seven Provinces Green Forest Assembly was particularly lively because the "Purple-Faced Heavenly King" Xiong Kuo Hai, the chieftain of the Heavenly King Fort, was opening his doors to take on disciples.

An altar was set up in the training ground of the Heavenly King Fort, with offerings of three animals and three cups of wine.

The incense burner emitted a purple mist, and the fort's flags flapped in the wind...

The "Purple-Faced Heavenly King" Xiong Kuo Hai sat on a tiger-skin-covered chair, smiling, looking quite pleased and self-satisfied.

The chief of the Seven Provinces Green Forest, the "Red-Haired Spirit Official" Shan Xiong Xin, stood beside him, looking up at the noon sun and loudly declared, "The auspicious time has arrived! Open the doors to receive disciples!"

"Good!"

The crowd below burst into loud applause.

Shan Xiong Xin took a prepared willow branch from someone, dipped it in water, and held it in his hands, continuing, "Those who gave me life are my parents, those who teach me are my masters! The one opening the door, report your name!"

Xiong Kuo Hai stood up, slapped his chest, and solemnly said, "He Wu! I am from the Taihang Mountains, my surname is Xiong. Today, I am taking on disciples, hoping for your support and respect!"

"Bravo!"

The crowd burst into applause again.

After the noise subsided, Shan Xiong Xin turned to Tong Wei and said, "Joining a master is like being reborn, once you enter, there's no turning back! The one entering, report your name!"

Tong Wei, who didn't understand this, stood there dumbfounded.

Wu Fan leaped onto the stage from below and laughed, "This greenhorn, he's so excited he's speechless. He Wu! Can I report for him?"

Shan Xiong Xin, knowing what was up with Tong Wei, smiled and said, "Sure! Please report for him!"

Wu Fan clasped his hands and loudly said, "He Wu! This greenhorn is from Luoyang, his surname is Tong, he is still young, and today he wants to learn from a capable master!"

"Good!"

The crowd cheered again.

Shan Xiong Xin picked up a cup of wine from the altar. After the opening and entry ceremonies, there was no need for the jargon of the underworld. He held the cup of wine in one hand and handed it to Tong Wei, saying, "The first cup is for filial piety. Those who enter my master's door must be filial and respectful to their master!"

Tong Wei took the cup with both hands. Even if he was a bit dazed, he knew this wasn't for him to drink. He walked to Xiong Kuo Hai, knelt down, and presented it.

Xiong Kuo Hai drank it in one gulp.

At this moment, the willow branch in Shan Xiong Xin's hand came into use. He whipped it three times on Tong Wei's back, making Tong Wei grimace. This was to remind him to remember the teachings and not forget them.

Next, Shan Xiong Xin handed the second cup of wine to Tong Wei and said, "The second cup is for loyalty. Those who enter my master's door must be loyal and sincere!"

Tong Wei took the cup with both hands, knelt down, and presented it to Xiong Kuo Hai, and was whipped three more times.

Xiong Kuo Hai drank again.

Shan Xiong Xin handed the third cup of wine and loudly said, "The third cup is for righteousness. Those who enter my master's door must put righteousness first!"

Tong Wei took the cup with both hands, knelt down, and presented it to Xiong Kuo Hai, and was whipped three more times.

Xiong Kuo Hai drank the third cup.

Shan Xiong Xin handed the willow branch to Xiong Kuo Hai with both hands, laughed heartily, and said, "The ceremony is complete! Congratulations to the Heavenly King on getting an excellent disciple! Congratulations to the Heavenly King on getting an excellent disciple!"

Since the chief of the Seven Provinces Green Forest was giving face, how could the others not give face?

"Congratulations to the Heavenly King on getting an excellent disciple! Congratulations to the Heavenly King on getting an excellent disciple!"

For a moment, the Heavenly King Fort was filled with thunderous cheers.

Xiong Kuo Hai stood up, clasped his hands, and smiled, "Today, I am opening my doors to take on disciples, and it coincides with the Seven Provinces Green Forest Assembly, truly a double celebration! I won't say much more. Today, there's plenty of wine and meat! Boys! Bring the wine and meat!"

As large tables were brought over, jars of fine wine were placed on them, and large pieces of tender meat were served in basins, the atmosphere gradually became lively, and the people from various forts kept toasting each other.

Wu Fan, who originally had no right to sit at the same table as Shan Xiong Xin and others, now had the right and naturally sat with them.

During the banquet, Shan Xiong Xin, Zhai Rang, and Wu Fan exchanged glances and nodded slightly, as if they had made some kind of agreement.

As for Xiong Kuo Hai... he was drinking! He even drank all the toasts that the others frequently offered to Shan Xiong Xin, since he was truly a man who could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk!

At some of the tables in the assembly of over three hundred tables, some people had strange smiles on their faces... perhaps for them, taking advantage of everyone being drunk was the best opportunity!

The banquet continued from noon until sunset.

How they drank, unless you were like Xiong Kuo Hai with a true capacity for alcohol, most people couldn't even stand, their faces red like monkey butts, and they began to show all sorts of behaviors... some crying, some laughing, some cursing, some making a fuss, some vomiting, some urinating... all sorts of people were there, with only a few still sober.

Those who remained sober among the drunkards... were self-evident!

Wu Fan lay on the table, burying his head in his arms, and through the gap under his armpit, he observed and said, "There are about two hundred people, the plan has succeeded! We just need to wait for them to act, and we can capture them all!"

Shan Xiong Xin also pretended to be drunk, secretly giving a thumbs-up under the table and smiling, "Good plan, brother! Once we get rid of those rats, we can have a good drink together!"

Zhai Rang interjected, "Let's go to our Wagon Fort!"

Xiong Kuo Hai, though he drank a lot, was indeed very sober. Hearing this, he muttered unhappily, "Why go to your Wagon Fort? Are you blaming me for not handling this well?"

Zhai Rang was speechless, and under the table, he and Wu Fan exchanged glances, both smiling helplessly. Talking to such a stubborn person was truly exhausting.

Finally—

As no one was standing at the banquet, some people who had been bought by the Maitreya Sect or were originally members of the Maitreya Sect slowly stood up.

The leader, a man with a pale face and no beard, with triangular eyes, scanned the crowd with a cold smile and shouted, "Brothers! No need to act anymore! Get up! Tie up all these drunkards!"

"White-faced Snake? Damn! I knew he wasn't a good person!" Zhai Rang said angrily, "Bastard! If I had known he was this kind of scum, I would have wiped out his Wild Wolf Gorge Peach Fort last month!"

"Shh!"

Wu Fan made a shushing gesture