Hosting a Banquet

When Li Chengfeng saw the doubt and confusion on his face, he thought it over and realized that it truly was rather unreasonable for a mere hired hand like himself to have offended a great figure like Master Zheng, who was in the Meridian Opening Realm.

After hesitating for a moment, he considered that Zhao Lie was an old martial artist with considerable experience in such matters and might have his own insight into this kind of thing. At once, he sighed and briefly told him about Liu Yuniang.

"What? There was actually such a matter of seizing another man's wife by force? A base slave like that deserved killing! Deserved death!"

After hearing Li Chengfeng's brief explanation, a flash of furious anger crossed Zhao Lie's brow.

But after thinking it over for only a moment, he cupped his fists to Li Chengfeng in earnest. "Brother Chengfeng, you may be overthinking it. This was most likely only that house slave's own idea, and not Zheng Pandao's doing."

"Brother Chengfeng may not know this, but cultivating qi and blood is only the beginning of the martial path. After that comes the Body Tempering Realm, where qi and blood temper the body, then the True Qi Realm, where qi and blood condense into qi. Only after qi and blood have condensed into qi does one reach the Meridian Opening Realm."

"Zheng Pandao's cultivation has already reached the late stage of the Meridian Opening Realm. In Green Mountain City, he is one of the foremost great figures. Never mind Green Mountain City—even across the entire Shuiyang Prefecture, he is a resounding name. With his cultivation, strength, and reputation, what kind of woman could he not obtain?"

Zhao Lie could not help explaining to Li Chengfeng one thing after another. "In that case, why would he deliberately scheme for a married woman?"

As Zhao Lie spoke, he said sincerely to Li Chengfeng, "A brother's wife may possess some unusual art, but with Zheng Pandao's cultivation realm, status, and strength, the number of women with special qualities hidden in his household is likely no fewer than the fingers of one hand—and they would have been taken into his estate while still maidens."

"Brother Chengfeng did injure the Zheng family's steward, but that was also his own fault. Now that Brother Chengfeng has become a martial artist, such a small matter surely won't be placed in his heart. At most, he will send someone to give Brother Chengfeng a warning."

Zhao Lie thought for a while, then spoke to Li Chengfeng sincerely. "Brother Chengfeng, go ahead and register yourself without worry. After you have been registered, you may come to Lin-Feng Pavilion for a banquet. Let Zhao celebrate your becoming a martial artist."

"This... Gang Leader Zhao's words are reasonable."

Hearing Zhao Lie's words, thoughts surged in Li Chengfeng's heart. After hesitating briefly, he cupped his fists to him and said sincerely, "Gang Leader Zhao's earnest words leave Li Chengfeng endlessly grateful. In that case, respect is no substitute for obedience. After Li Chengfeng has registered on the martial path, I will seek out Brother Zhao for a celebration!"

"Hahaha, that is exactly how it should be! Exactly how it should be!"

Zhao Lie laughed loudly. Then he cupped his fists to Li Chengfeng, his face wearing a smile like spring wind. "Then, Brother Chengfeng, Zhao will set a banquet in Lin-Feng Pavilion and wait for you there. I hope you won't miss the appointment."

"Certainly, certainly. However..."

When Li Chengfeng heard there would be food and wine, he could not help cupping his fists and speaking. Then his eyes moved, and he said with a smile, "I cannot bear to leave my wife at home while I go enjoy a grand feast alone. Might I bring my wife along?"

"Eh? Brother Chengfeng's heart of love for his wife is quite deep. What would be wrong with that? I'll simply set up a separate elegant room for madam in Lin-Feng Pavilion."

Hearing this, Zhao Lie raised his brows in surprise. Then, after pondering briefly, he smiled and spoke to Li Chengfeng.

"In that case, many thanks."

Li Chengfeng cupped his fists with a smile and thanked him softly. Behind him, Liu Yuniang could not help revealing a gentle smile as well.

"What need is there for thanks? It is only right."

Zhao Lie smiled unconcernedly. Then he cupped his fists. "Brother Chengfeng, would you like to go with me to the county yamen to register and enroll, then return afterward to fetch madam to the banquet?"

"Many thanks for Gang Leader Zhao's kind intent, but Chengfeng would like to go take a look at that county yamen alone."

Thinking of the county yamen in this world, Li Chengfeng's brows moved. Then, involuntarily, he cupped his fists and spoke seriously.

"Good. Only by stepping through this layer of reverence yourself will you be able to deal properly with the authorities in the future."

Zhao Lie smiled and nodded. Then he cupped his fists to Li Chengfeng. "In that case, Zhao will take his leave first and wait for Brother Chengfeng in Lin-Feng Pavilion."

"Good. Gang Leader Zhao, please do as you wish."

Li Chengfeng smiled and nodded, cupping his fists courteously to Zhao Lie as he spoke with a smile.

Hearing Li Chengfeng's words, Zhao Lie nodded to him with a face full of smiles, then turned and strode away.

"This Black River Gang's gang leader is rather interesting. He's someone of real caliber."

Li Chengfeng watched Zhao Lie's departing back and could not help pondering inwardly.

But after thinking about it, given how difficult martial practice was in this world, and given the status of martial artists, if Zhao Lie truly had been born from a poor household, then obtaining his current position as the master of a gang could not have been easy. If he were not someone of real caliber, how could he have fought his way to it?

But thinking of the information Zhao Lie had mentioned just now, a bright gleam could not help flickering in Li Chengfeng's eyes.

Body Tempering Realm, True Qi Realm, Meridian Opening Realm... In Green Mountain City alone, there were actually martial artists of so many realms.

The strength of the martial path in this world was probably beyond his imagination.

In addition, the imperial court was actually so overbearing, monopolizing the trade rights to all cultivation resources under heaven. Its strength was probably unfathomably deep.

In an instant, Li Chengfeng gained a new understanding of this world, and of the Great Qing Dynasty.

"Chengfeng, if Gang Leader Zhao is holding a banquet, you could just go by yourself. Why did you call me along too?"

While Li Chengfeng's thoughts surged, Liu Yuniang, at his side, could not help walking forward gracefully. She straightened Li Chengfeng's clothes for him, then lifted her eyes with a gentle smile and looked at him softly as she spoke. "Aren't you afraid Gang Leader Zhao will summon some beauties to serve you, and if I go, I'll spoil the mood?"

"Ah, what are you saying, my wife?"

Li Chengfeng's expression turned serious. He could not help lowering his voice and leaning close to her ear as he said, "What pleasure could compare to the joy of being together with Sister-in-law?"

Liu Yuniang's pretty face reddened. Her gentle smile turned into a flushed, coquettish expression, and she lightly patted his shoulder. Her fair cheeks showed a roll of her eyes as she pouted and turned away. "Shameful. I'm going to practice martial arts too."

"Hehe, wait a moment, Sister-in-law."

Li Chengfeng chuckled. Before she could turn around, he suddenly kissed her once on the cheek and once on the lips, then said softly to her with a beaming smile, "I'm going to make a trip to the county yamen and see whether this so-called registration in the Martial Path Register is real. With my wife home alone, I'm a little worried. How about hiding in the house?"

As Li Chengfeng spoke, he turned Liu Yuniang's body back around and said to her gently, "After I register and enroll, I'll find a clothing shop and buy my wife a set of pretty clothes, then have you go with me to Lin-Feng Pavilion for the banquet."

"All right. I'll listen to you."

Hearing this, Liu Yuniang looked at him with pretty eyes that seemed to blame him with tender annoyance. "Then I'll stay at home and not move, so I don't end up covered in sweat later."

"Hehe, my wife may do as she pleases. However you like is fine."

Li Chengfeng chuckled. Then he affectionately escorted Liu Yuniang back into the house to rest. After that, he took the six long spears captured yesterday, the fifty-tael silver note, and a three-tael silver ingot from inside the house.

Only after watching her lock the door from the inside did he lift his spear, his eyes revealing a strange brilliance, and leave the courtyard.

"The Martial Path Register... I wonder what mysteries this Martial Hall that monopolizes all cultivation resources might hold."