The hunting feast was to be held in the hills behind Snakehead Ravine, and the villagers rejoiced.
How many years had it been? Those grand merchant lords had finally opened their eyes.
For such a grand occasion, the merchants would show their generosity by donating money and food to the villagers, putting their benevolence and compassion on display.
Snakehead Ravine was now the only village nearby that had not been swallowed by a new gang.
The surplus grain the merchants gave them would last ages, and so would the money. Life could hardly be sweeter.
Platforms rose one after another, flags fluttering above them. The place was bustling.
It was as though the festivities made up for the year's heavy snow, which had blanketed the mountains and kept New Year's Eve from being properly celebrated.
Thirty or forty martial arts halls from Inner County and Outer County had gathered there.
"Hey, look, Scale Python Martial Academy is here too! They haven't shown their faces in months. I thought someone had beaten the nerve out of them!"
"Their second disciple, third disciple, and that little Grade A Bone Structure disciple who was always throwing his weight around are all gone. Serves Scale Python Martial Academy right for acting so high and mighty!"
"Keep your voice down. See the young man beside Jiang Zhongkun? He's Jiang Zhongkun's only son.
They say his bone structure rivals Lin Hu's. He was sent to Dragon-Elephant Academy's outer school for training the year before last, and by now,
he must be at the Hua Force realm at least.
Apart from Heavenly Harmony Martial Academy, which has two Hua Force martial artists, who among the other academies can say they're certain to beat them?"
The major trading houses saw the contest for first place much the same