Chapter 23

Without further ado, let's not talk about how Jiang Chen taught martial arts to Guo Xiang and Guo Polu. Due to the upcoming Heroic Assembly, Guo Jing and his wife were so busy that they even skipped lunch. Huang Rong, however, found time to inquire about Jiang Chen's situation. She learned that Jiang Chen seemed to get along well with their two children and even planned to teach them martial arts, which left her somewhat at a loss. She shook her head with a bitter smile, unsure of Jiang Chen's background.

The next day was the Heroic Feast, where heroes gathered, and nearly four hundred tables were set up. The安抚使 (pacification commissioner) of Xiangyang, Lu Wendeng, and the city's commander, Wang Jian, toasted the heroes from all over. During the banquet, everyone spoke of the brutality of the Yuan-Mongol invaders, who had killed their people and seized the Song Dynasty's territory. All were indignant and resolved to fight against them. That night, they elected Guo Jing as the leader of the alliance, and everyone pledged their blood, vowing to fight to the death.

Jiang Chen declined to attend the banquet, citing his dislike of crowds, and instead stayed in his guest room to practice the Buddha's Elephant Throwing Skill. As for Guo Xiang, she had quarreled with her sister at the Yang Taifu Temple that night and said she wouldn't attend the Heroic Feast, and indeed, she stayed in her room out of spite. Guo Jing and Huang Rong, preoccupied with the defense plans, had no time to worry about their daughter's tantrum.

Most of the heroes were heavy drinkers, and as the banquet progressed, some, in high spirits, began to display their martial arts skills, much to the amusement of the guests. Huang Rong, still concerned about her younger daughter, said to Guo Fu, "Go and ask your sister to come and see the festivities. Such a grand occasion is rare in one's lifetime."

Guo Fu, unwilling to invite trouble, declined, but Guo Polu said, "I'll drag my second sister here." He hurriedly left the table and went to the inner chambers. After a while, he returned alone, looking puzzled. "Second sister said she's having a small Heroic Feast in her room and won't come to the big one," he reported. Huang Rong smiled and said, "Your second sister always comes up with such unconventional ideas. Let her be." Guo Polu added, "Second sister really has guests. Five men and two women are drinking in her room."

Huang Rong frowned, thinking that her daughter was becoming increasingly unruly. How could she invite grown men to drink in a young lady's room? The "Little Eastern Devil" lived up to her name, but with so many distinguished guests present, she couldn't punish her daughter and dampen the heroes' spirits. She said to Guo Fu, "Your brother is too young and inexperienced to deal with strangers. You go and invite your sister's friends to the main hall for a drink, and everyone can have a good time."

Curious, Guo Fu wanted to see who her sister had invited. Knowing her sister's lack of concern for propriety, she thought the guests were likely disreputable. Following her mother's instructions, she got up and headed to Guo Xiang's room.

Meanwhile, Jiang Chen was in his guest room, practicing his newly acquired martial arts. When he came to his senses, it was already past dinner time. Since he had given instructions not to disturb him, the servants didn't dare to call him, and he missed the meal. Feeling a bit hungry, he smiled bitterly and pushed open the door to go out.

He hadn't taken a few steps when he met Guo Fu. Jiang Chen, who didn't want to have anything to do with this big oaf, had no choice but to force a smile and say, "Isn't this Miss Guo? Walking so hurriedly, has something happened?"

Guo Fu seemed particularly cheerful today and smiled slightly. "Nothing much. I'm looking for my second sister to attend the Heroic Feast. Young Hero Lu, have you had dinner yet? Why don't you come to the main hall first?"

Jiang Chen's mind raced, and he quickly recalled many things. He smiled and said, "I'll go with you to find Little Sister Guo Xiang."

Guo Fu said, "If you want to come, let's go together." She led the way to the back courtyard, and Jiang Chen followed with a smile.

They passed through several courtyards and stopped a few feet from Guo Xiang's room. Peering through the window, they saw a low table in her room, with cups and plates scattered about. Eight people were sitting on the floor, passing cups and toasting each other, in high spirits. Jiang Chen looked surprised and said, "So there's dinner here too. Miss Guo, I'm going in. Are you coming?"

Guo Fu, looking annoyed, said, "Go if you want." Jiang Chen, not knowing why she was angry, walked straight in and pushed open the door.

The people in the room, who were enjoying themselves, were taken aback by Jiang Chen's sudden entrance. Apart from Guo Xiang, the other seven were renowned top-tier martial arts experts. Although they were playing with Guo Xiang, they were always alert to their surroundings. They had noticed Guo Polu and Guo Fu earlier, but they hadn't detected this young man's approach, which made them break out in a cold sweat!

"Brother Jiang? You're here!" Guo Xiang exclaimed with delight.

Jiang Chen smiled in response and then looked around the room. He saw a fat man with a broad chest and a row of black hair on his chest. To his left was a scholar with a long beard, dressed neatly, holding a fan and looking quite refined, though the fan depicted a tongue-sticking-out ghost. To the scholar's left was a woman in her forties with a delicate face but numerous sword scars. A tall, thin monk with a golden crown on his head was sitting to the side, eating a chicken leg with relish. The other three had their backs to the window, and their faces were unclear, but they seemed to be two white-haired old men and a black-robed nun. Guo Xiang sat among them, her face flushed with a hint of alcohol, talking and laughing happily.

"I am Zhang Yimang. May I ask who you are? Since you're here, why not join us for a cup of wine?" the scholar said loudly, raising a cup of wine and sending it steadily towards Jiang Chen. This display of skill, in terms of internal strength, was already superior to Zhu Ziliu and even matched the Nimo Star, who had died at Jiang Chen's hands.

Jiang Chen extended his hand, caught the cup, and without raising it, opened his mouth, and the wine flowed into his mouth in a stream. He smiled and said, "Thank you. But it's impolite not to return the favor. I'll toast you all." He picked up a wine jug from the table, and with a burst of internal strength, a stream of wine shot out of the jug, splitting into eight streams mid-air and landing precisely in the cups of Zhang Yimang, Guo Xiang, and the others, filling them to the brim.

Guo Xiang found it curious, but Zhang Yimang and the others were amazed. It wasn't difficult to force wine out of a jug with internal strength, but splitting it into eight streams and controlling the force so precisely was a sign of extraordinary internal cultivation.

Jiang Chen tilted the jug, pouring the wine into the cups, and looked around with a smile. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'll drink first." He raised his head and drank the wine in one gulp. Zhang Yimang and the others exchanged glances, unsure how to respond to this unfamiliar young man.

At this moment, a young servant brought more wine and meat, and everyone continued to eat and drink. When they finished, a white-haired old man stood up and said, "We're all about eight-tenths drunk today. On your birthday, we'll come back for a big feast. I have a small gift, though it may not be much." He took out a brocade box from his chest and opened it.

Jiang Chen looked over and saw a foot-long white ginseng root, shaped like a small child, with a head, body, and limbs, and a faint blood color on its skin, truly a rare treasure.

Everyone praised it, and the old man, known as Bai Cao Weng, was quite pleased. "This thousand-year-old snow ginseng can cure serious illnesses and neutralize all poisons. It can even bring the dead back to life. You, Miss, will live to a hundred without any trouble, so you won't need it. But on your hundredth birthday, taking it will extend your life by another twelve years, which is not inappropriate." Everyone clapped and laughed, praising his good wishes.

The fat man, known as the Cook, took out an iron box from his chest and said, "I have a small toy that might amuse you." He opened the box and took out two iron fat monks, about seven inches long. He wound them up, and the two iron monks started to fight, punching and kicking each other. Everyone laughed as the iron monks' movements were quite skillful, clearly a set of "Shaolin Luohan Fist." After a dozen moves, the mechanism ran out, and the two monks stood still, facing each other like martial arts experts.

The Cook smiled proudly. "Hehe, this is from the head of the Shaolin Temple's Luohan Hall, Venerable Wuse. He said he will definitely be here on your birthday to wish you well. My gift is here!" He opened a hidden compartment in the iron box, revealing a black jade bracelet.

The black jade bracelet looked ordinary, but the Cook pulled out a thick-bladed ghost knife from his waist and slashed at it. The knife bounced off, and the bracelet remained unharmed. Everyone cheered. Then Zhang Yimang, the nun Shengyin, the monk, and the woman all gave gifts to Guo Xiang, each more extraordinary and rare than the last. Guo Xiang smiled and thanked them as she accepted the gifts.

When it was Jiang Chen's turn, he felt a bit awkward. Everyone had brought gifts, and he had none, which was quite impolite. He had a sword that could cut through anything, but he needed it to deal with the Golden Wheel Dharma King, so he couldn't give it away.

"Cough, cough." Jiang Chen cleared his throat, unwilling to be seen as disrespectful. He took out paper and a brush, drew the Nine Swords of Dugu, and handed it to Guo Xiang, saying, "Your Brother Jiang has nothing valuable, but this set of sword techniques is quite good. If you practice it, you won't be invincible, but if you grasp its essence, you can become a top-tier martial artist."

"Ah!" Everyone was shocked. After all, for a master like Jiang Chen to give away his ultimate martial arts skills was an incredibly valuable gift!

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