Since We're Here, This Is the Jianghu

Watching the scene in the back courtyard, Peng Shan led Lu Li into a room.

The room was neither large nor small. It held more than a dozen long benches and three square tables.

On the table against the wall, two red candles burned, illuminating a guardian deity painted on the wall, holding a sword and fork.

It looked like a yaksha.

Lu Li glanced at it. This world also had the concept of mythology, though its Daoist myths only vaguely resembled those of Blue Star.

There were many unknown "wild-haired gods." The Thousand-Eyed Bodhisattva Temple was one of them. Though it worshipped Fu Zhu, the statue in the temple was indeed that of a bodhisattva with a thousand eyes.

Not only in the Jing Dynasty, but throughout the other five nations as well, there was a tradition of worshipping deities.

"After Astral Martial Arts, the official announcement said the next iteration would be Mythological Martial Arts. Could that be related to these worshipped gods?"

As Lu Li pondered this, he sat on a long bench with Liu Yueling in his arms. Peng Wan'er brought over pastries to entertain them.

Liu Yueling sat by herself at the table, obediently eating the pastries. She was not slow about it, popping them into her mouth one after another.

Peng Wan'er clearly adored the little girl. She gently pinched Liu Yueling's cheek, only withdrawing her hand after the latter furrowed her delicate brows.

"The Huang Household brothers—Huang Dalang was at the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening. He was absolutely not someone my elder sister could have killed. Back then, several brothers and I failed to break his military formation. The destruction of the Huang Household must have had something to do with you, little brother. Peng Shan thanks you!"

Peng Shan bowed to Lu Li once more.

After Madam Peng lost her child, she took pity on the dog children and used caring for them as spiritual support to keep living. As her family, he had naturally helped her.

But only after truly dealing with them did he understand just how troublesome Huang Shang was. Not only was Huang Shang, like himself, at the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening, he also kept a squad of Profound Guards skilled in the Eight-Sided Shield Formation.

Though their cultivation levels were equal, Peng Shan knew that if he were caught in that military formation, he would almost certainly die, leaving not even a corpse behind.

All they could do was try their best to intercept the dog children transported by the Myriad Life Sect and hand them over to Madam Peng to raise.

Hearing this, Lu Li raised Peng Shan with a gesture and said,

"I was also helped by Madam Peng. Otherwise, I could not have defeated the Huang Household brothers."

After saying that, Lu Li did not bother with further pleasantries and went straight to the point.

"I came to trouble you today because I have a favor to ask. But I am not trying to repay kindness with obligation. If it is inconvenient, I will not force the matter."

Peng Shan nodded.

"Please, speak freely, little brother."

"I came from Liangshui Town. My carriage was damaged somewhat along the way, so I would like to exchange it for another carriage and, while I'm at it, find a trustworthy driver to take me to Nanliu Prefecture..."

Lu Li explained succinctly.

Once he finished, Peng Shan lowered his head and fell silent in thought.

Seeing this, Lu Li assumed he was about to refuse, but then Peng Shan said,

"These days, several brothers and I have matters keeping us occupied. As for the Yahang Agency, it has closed because the Thousand-Eyed Bodhisattva Temple festival is about to begin. I wonder if you could wait for about half a month, little brother."

"Half a month?"

Lu Li was slightly stunned. The Thousand-Eyed Bodhisattva Temple festival was the day the evil weapon would be forged. At that time, the Hidden Heroes Alliance, Heavenly Righteousness Society, and Righteousness Gang would join forces to destroy the temple.

At the same time, they would be buried along with the Thousand-Eyed Bodhisattva Temple, nearly wiped out entirely. Drooping-Ear Monk, the Myriad Life Sect, the Xue Household, and others would also suffer heavy casualties.

Yet in the end, they still would not truly stop the forging of the evil weapon.

After confirming the exact timeline, Lu Li's memories of certain events became increasingly clear.

"That's right. Half a month from now, I will have a way to settle this for you, little brother."

Peng Shan nodded firmly.

"No matter. I happen to be staying in the city for a while to rest."

Seeing this, Lu Li agreed.

He truly did need to remain in Qingzhou City for some time. Not to mention fully refining his blood qi, he also needed to put the cultivation of the Poison Astral Body on the agenda.

Originally, Lu Li had not planned to concern himself with the Thousand Theater. But in his memories, Drooping-Ear Monk would be there on the day of the festival, and the Demon Token of the demon Bo was inside the Thousand-Eyed Bodhisattva Temple...

As the saying went... since he was already here.

Setting aside superior saber techniques, Lu Li was extremely eager for Demon Tokens.

Though not every Demon Token contained demonic martial arts, the points needed for the panel to light up the Demon Compendium required Demon Tokens to charge them.

The Taowu Bestiary had already let Lu Li reap immense benefits. If he obtained another bestiary for Bo, his strength would surely rise to another level.

It would be a far more substantial improvement than obtaining any martial art.

After all, the passives provided by the Demon Compendium had only two defining traits: either raw stats or special mechanics!

Hearing this, Peng Shan immediately nodded and said with a smile,

"I still do not know your name, little brother."

"Lu Li."

Lu Li gave his name.

"Brother Lu, do you have anything important to do tonight? If you are free, some of my brothers happen to be coming over. Since you arrived at such a good time, why not have a few drinks with us tonight? We can consider it a welcome feast."

Peng Shan warmly invited him.

At that, Lu Li looked at Liu Yueling.

Peng Wan'er was teasing Liu Yueling, her bell-like laughter gentle and warm. The two got along quite harmoniously.

"People from the Hidden Heroes Alliance?"

Lu Li's thoughts stirred. Once the idea arose, he did not decline and accepted.

Night fell, yet the back courtyard of the Peng Family Noodle Shop was exceptionally lively.

Six square tables had been pushed together in the courtyard. Sliced cured fish, cold beef salad, chopped chili fish head, and milky-white sheep head soup gave off mouthwatering aromas.

A dazzling spread of food and wine filled the tables, and Peng Shan even brought out aged rice wine, its fragrance permeating the air.

Thirteen people sat around the tables.

"Today, we have met another fine hero of the jianghu. Come, let us share a drink!"

Peng Shan raised his wine bowl with a smile. The twelve people beside him immediately joined in one after another, their laughter unceasing.

Amid the crowd, Lu Li also lifted his wine bowl, surveying those around him before draining the rice wine with them.

Unlike baijiu, this wine was not harsh. Its strength was moderate, and it possessed a certain mellow richness.

Even Lu Li, who did not enjoy drinking, could taste its appeal.

After several bowls of wine, everyone at the table began playing finger-guessing games for fun, eating and drinking to their hearts' content.

Lu Li was the guest this time, so everyone at the table took turns toasting him.

Among them, a fierce-looking man with a centipede-like scar across his face stepped forward and laughed boldly.

"My name is Yan Dan, a crude martial man who does not know how to make pretty speeches. But any little brother who can rid the world of those two beasts from the Huang Household is a hero. Yan offers you a drink!"

As soon as he finished, Yan Dan lifted his wine bowl and drained it in one gulp. Wiping the corner of his mouth, he laughed loudly.

"Refreshing!"

Lu Li smiled and drank with him, while information about Yan Dan surfaced in his mind.

Yan Dan, leader of the Righteousness Gang, at the Sixth Layer of Meridian Opening.

It seemed that not only were people from the Hidden Heroes Alliance here tonight, but the Righteousness Gang was as well.

Of the forces that would destroy the Thousand-Eyed Bodhisattva Temple, only the Heavenly Righteousness Society remained absent.

Lu Li swept his gaze over everyone present and sighed inwardly.

He knew that this banquet was likely their last meal before the temple festival half a month later.

Yet though they knew danger lay ahead and their lives were at stake, these people still laughed and chatted as if life and death were nothing more than trivial matters.

"Chivalry... Perhaps it was precisely because people like these existed that the jianghu could truly be called the jianghu."