Chapter 92: Banquet

In the evening, Huang Zong held a banquet at God Sword Mountain Villa. He had to seize this opportunity to promote God Sword Mountain Villa.

The banquet took place in the courtyard of God Sword Mountain Villa; the courtyard was large enough to hold several hundred, even several thousand people.

Chen Yi He roughly estimated that there were over a hundred tables, with at least ten thousand jugs of wine stacked in every corner for anyone to help themselves. The dishes on the tables were rare delicacies—abalone, bear paws, bird's nest, and more—leaving Chen Yi He dazzled.

God Sword Mountain Villa was truly rich enough to rival a nation!

Those who came today were the top experts of the martial world, especially many swordsmen, plus a handful of peerless Dao masters!

Old acquaintances who hadn't seen each other for years gathered to chat, and even those who had only heard of each other finally got to talk face to face.

The strongest individuals were naturally placed at the center of the courtyard, drinking and eating while being admired by others.

The Sword Master sat alone in the grand chair, not touching a drop of wine, eyes closed, brows furrowed—clearly he disliked such noisy gatherings, but he couldn't refuse Huang Zong face, so he endured it, hoping the banquet would end soon.

Duansheng Dajian, on the other hand, was drinking happily; his great sword drew many gazes—who in the martial world didn't know his skill? Many people came up to chat with him, and he enjoyed being flattered, telling each drinking companion, 'My great sword will protect you; I owe you this favor…' After a few drinks, he liked to make rash promises.

Ximo Jianmo dominated a table alone; who would dare come within three meters of him? He buried his head, just drinking, while servants of God Sword Mountain Villa kept bringing him wine. 'Good wine! Good wine!'

Before everyone entered God Sword Mountain Villa, five people alighted from a stopped carriage; Chen Yi He knew all of them except Luo Qingkui.

Zhou Ke was dressed very formally today, with Ye Wuming and Situ Qing standing at his sides, never leaving, keeping about a meter's distance. Zhou Ke and Huang Zong were old acquaintances; they were discussing something, occasionally throwing their heads back in loud laughter and constantly clinking cups.

After not seeing each other for over two months, Zhou Ke remained the lively socialite he was; Chen Yi He knew that since Zhou Ke had come, he must be interested in the Heavenly Opportunity Sword, which Zhou Ke had always been determined to obtain.

What Chen Yi He didn't know was who Zhou Ke was looking for this time—after all, he had once been Zhou Ke's choice. Even if he was ultimately abandoned by Zhou Ke and became a discard.

"I didn't expect Feng Yichu to come as well…" Chen Yi He also saw Feng Yichu, "Truly a gathering of the powerful! It seems this Heavenly Opportunity Sword doesn't belong to someone like me, an opportunist…"

Someone like Chen Yi He, obscure and unknown, could only quietly drink in the corners of the courtyard, with no one coming over to talk to him.

Besides swordsmen, there were many others, all of whom were skilled martial artists.

Amid the clinking of cups, Chen Yi He spotted a familiar figure—the swordsman who had rescued him in Shanggu City.

The swordsman also saw Chen Yi He, raised his cup toward him across the crowd, and gave a slight smile.

Chen Yi He also raised his cup, knowing that if the other revealed his identity here, he would have nowhere to die. Yet Chen Yi He was unusually sincere, convinced the other wouldn't do that.

About an hour later, as the banquet was nearing its end, Huang Zong finally spoke; his son Huang Gaoyu stood behind him, his face full of pride, while Zhou Ke stood on his other side.

"Clap clap clap…" he clapped his hands, signaling everyone to quiet down, as he had something to say.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I don't know whether my hospitality today has been adequate; if there are any shortcomings, please forgive me!" Huang Zong bowed with clasped hands to everyone to express his apology, "Fortunate to have you all come to my God Sword Mountain Villa as guests, you have given me, Huang Zong, great honor! Please accept my bow!"

"Master Huang, you're too kind!"

"Master Huang, you've gone to great expense! You truly are a model for our generation!"

"Please rise quickly!"

Huang Zong's superficial duties were now done.

"Hahaha! Giving you face? We're here for the Heavenly Opportunity Sword; without it, what is your God Sword Mountain Villa? Hahaha!" Ximo Jianmo didn't know if he was laughing from drink or pretending to be crazy, laughing loudly in front of everyone. He laughed so hard he almost tipped over from his chair.

As soon as those words were spoken, all sound in the venue ceased, and everyone's gaze turned to Ximo Jianmo.

Who dared say another word?

Who dared not give Ximo Jianmo face? Who would speak up for Huang Zong?

What Ximo Jianmo said wasn't without reason—without the Heavenly Opportunity Sword, who would come all this way just to drink at God Sword Mountain Villa? He was merely voicing what everyone present felt.

Even the aloof Sword Master couldn't help but be amused.

"Sleep, sleep, Old Man Huang, got a place to sleep?" Ximo Jianmo struggled to rise from the chair, staggering toward the indoors.

"You!?" Huang Gaoyu, angry, tried to stop Ximo Jianmo, but he himself was stopped by Huang Zong.

Huang Zong's face flushed red then white, but he quickly adjusted himself.

"I am old now; forging the Heavenly Opportunity Sword has exhausted me greatly. The task is complete, and I do not feel I have disappointed my ancestors' hopes. From now on, I will gradually entrust God Sword Mountain Villa to my son Gaoyu to manage. You are all his seniors; please look after him in the future."

Huang Gaoyu stepped forward, clasped his hands, and bowed separately to everyone in the east, south, west, and north, saying, "Seniors, please continue to look after me in the future."

Huang Zong, taking advantage of the fact that the Heavenly Opportunity Sword had not yet appeared, had already arranged his retreat, making everyone present owe him favors, and in front of all he paved the way for his son.

Truly a case of killing two birds with one stone!

The incident of Huang Gaoyu losing the Purple Tempered Sword to Chen Yi He at Guiyan Tower spread throughout the martial world, at first causing God Sword Mountain Villa to lose face. But after Chen Yi He one-against-two wounded Xiao Feng and repelled Nan Zhongyi, no one mocked Huang Gaoyu anymore.

It wasn't that he lacked strength; it was that Chen Yi He was too strong.

Xiao Feng's joke shifted everyone's attention from Huang Gaoyu onto Xiao Feng.

"Tonight, I, Huang, declare a bounty of five million taels of gold to hunt down Chen Yi He and seize back the Purple Tempered Sword!" As the wind ruffled Huang Zong's hair, he proclaimed this righteously to all the guests present.

Huang Zong's bounty was ten times that of the Western Depot! Five million taels of gold—who wouldn't covet it?

Upon hearing this, everyone erupted in an uproar.

Chen Yi He was nearly scared silly… He was just an innocent junior; he had been speaking fine moments ago, so why did it suddenly turn onto him?

"But isn't Chen Yi He already dead?" Duansheng Dajian asked.

"If he's dead, I'll take back the Purple Tempered Sword; if he's alive, I'll throw him into the Sword Pool to be melted by fierce flames!" Chen Yi He had insulted God Sword Mountain Villa, and Huang Zong, amidst this gathering of martial masters, issued a kill order!