This Banquet Was Held for One Person Alone

The invitation says tonight.

Chu Tianshu had already left home by evening.

At this moment, the sunlight gradually faded.

Although the setting sun still cast a blood-red glow in the west, a chill had already crept into the air once more.

Suzhou and Hangzhou and Hangzhou were once known as the most prosperous cities in the world, but by evening, the street scene became extremely desolate.

The few pedestrians on the street looked pale and were wrapped up tightly in their clothes, hurrying along. All the restaurants and shops had already closed half of their doors.

Ordinary people don't have many clothes to cover their bodies, and when the weather gets cold, they can only survive by staying indoors. From many dimly lit houses, one can hear shivering coughs.

There are also some young men whose families have just fallen into ruin, who are unwilling to become beggars, so they become petty thieves and bandits, wandering around at dusk.

They can't see well at night, so evening is the best time to get things done.

That's why those shops had already closed half of their doors so early, and the people inside were also guarding the doors vigilantly.

At the street corner, the occasional large tree you see has leaves that have already turned yellow.

As Chu Tianshu walked past the street corner, a yellow leaf fell onto his shoulder, which he casually picked up.

But as he walked a few more streets, the yellow leaves gradually began to reflect a golden hue.

That's a light.

The northern part of Hang Prefectural City was mostly inhabited by high-ranking officials and nobles.

People as wealthy as Zhao Jintang would keep their distance from this place, but the average and middle-class wealthy families have always liked to attach themselves to these prominent families.

As a result, when choosing locations, brothels, taverns, cosmetic and cloth shops, tea houses, and money shops almost all flocked to these places.

Before the sun had even set, lanterns were already hung in front of many brothels and shops, their lights shining brightly.

Chu Tianshu looked up.

In mid-air, there were many long ropes spanning the entire street, with lanterns hanging from them. Shop assistants from each store were coming out to light and decorate the lanterns.

The light made the entire street's stone slabs shine brightly.

Even the withered leaves in Chu Tianshu's hand shone like gold here.

"Brother, is this also your first time visiting this prefectural city?"

Suddenly, a man spoke to Chu Tianshu.

This man wore a yellow bamboo crown, had a face resembling a goat, with thin cheeks and a long beard, wore a blue robe, and held a long banner in his hand. Behind him followed a large group of middle-aged men and women dressed similarly.

"I am Sikong Baili, the head of the Ren Human Head Stockade in Western Hunan. Haha, I come from a poor, remote village, and I thought my business was doing quite well. But upon arriving in this land of wealth and luxury, I've realized the difference is like heaven and earth. It truly makes my mouth water!"

"So you are the recently much-discussed Brother Chu."

Sikong Baili said with emotion, "Qin An is renowned, and his skills are unparalleled in Suzhou and Hangzhou. Brother, you took down the Zhao family with just one move. You have truly made a name for yourself and are worthy of admiration."

Chu Tianshu's expression was somewhat subtle.

This Sikong Baili is clearly a genuine Taboo powerhouse.

Putting aside his methods, just considering his foundation, if they really fought, Qin An might not be his match.

However, in the martial arts world, it's always the case that people help each other out. Qin An, being in charge of a wealthy family, naturally had people promoting his name, and he hadn't made any mistakes for over a decade.

Even if someone is truly capable, they wouldn't dare to guarantee they could take action against him.

To outsiders, Qin An's strength is probably unfathomable.

"Brother, have you come here also at the invitation of Prince Merit and Virtue Sage to attend a meeting at the Darughachi's residence?"

Sikong Baili was very eager, "If that's the case, why don't we brothers go together?"

"Although the prince's banquet is scheduled for the evening, it is still a very important occasion, and we cannot be negligent. Let's go early to show our respect for the Grand Tutor."

Chu Tianshu chuckled and did not refuse.

Darughachi was an official title in the Yuan Dynasty, also known as the seal-holder. It was often a relative or close minister dispatched by a nobleman in the court to serve in a local position, and he had great power to supervise the local area.

The Darughachi's residence was indeed well-maintained and prosperous, with a towering lintel and thick, imposing walls on both sides.

The two stone lions in front of the gate are carved from green jade, and the hitching post is made of Baiyu.

As soon as Chu Tianshu and his group arrived, servants came up to verify their invitations and invited them into the mansion. They first passed through several courtyards before turning into the garden.

The garden was vast, with flowers in full bloom, their vibrant colors and fragrant aroma filling the air. Even though it was already chilly in the air, it felt as if it were still spring or summer here.

Stone paths crisscross the garden, and there are more than a dozen pavilions with high foundations, allowing those sitting inside to enjoy a commanding view of the flowers and plants.

When Chu Tianshu and his group entered, almost all the pavilions were already occupied, but the atmosphere was rather strange.

Everyone, whether holding a teacup, a folding fan, or a whisk, was somewhat distracted, their eyes frequently glancing at the tall pavilion at the far north.

The pavilion faced Northern Dynasty, and bamboo curtains hung on three sides, obscuring the view inside.

Only on the south-facing side, with the bamboo curtain rolled up, was a large group of people kneeling, all dressed in official robes, some even wearing armor.

Another guest has arrived.

A young voice came from inside the pavilion, sighing softly, "I originally wanted to save you some face by inviting you distinguished guests to the gathering tonight."

"It must be the will of Heaven that I must deal with you all in front of everyone."

The servants then led Chu Tianshu and the others to a pavilion.

Sikong Baili's disciples could only stand outside the pavilion; only Sikong himself and Chu Tianshu went inside.

Inside the pavilion, a round, plump old monk wearing a kasaya sat first. His face was sallow and his scalp was bluish. When he saw the two enter, he stood up and greeted them.

"So it's the abbot of Wolf Mountain Temple. Wolf Mountain Temple is known as the foremost of the eight lesser Buddhist mountains. He truly has discerning eyes, coming to seek refuge here so early."

Sikong Baili smiled and said, "This is Brother Chu from the Zhao family. Does the old monk recognize him?"

The abbot of Wolf Mountain carefully examined Chu Tianshu, then clasped his hands together and said, "It's our first meeting, Benefactor Chu. Greetings."

Chu Tianshu held the withered leaf upright in front of his chest as a gesture of respect, then sat down to the side and asked in a low voice, "What's going on?"

He raised an eyebrow, gesturing towards Gao Ting.

Abbot Wolf Mountain whispered, "After the prince enters the city, send someone to the barracks to take inventory of the local troops."

"The roster should show a permanent garrison of 8,000 troops, fully armored and well-fed, but only about 2,000 were actually counted; the rest were being paid without working."

"Of those two thousand men, some were illegally setting up checkpoints outside, acting as robbers; they were urgently recalled."

Upon hearing this, Chu Tianshu suddenly understood.

It's one thing for someone to receive a salary without working and falsely report half the number of employees, but to dare to falsely report three-quarters is truly outrageous.

Oh, the Great Yuan, that's not surprising.

After all, in the future, the elite forces to suppress the uprisings will likely rely on civilian "righteous men."

Those kneeling before the Prince's Pavilion were the local prefect, Darughachi, and military officers of the rank of ten thousand, thousand, and hundred.

There is only one household with ten thousand members, but if you add up the households with a thousand or a hundred members, there are more than ten people.

At this moment, the Darughachi was kowtowing repeatedly, shouting in his native dialect, seemingly pleading for mercy.

"Hmph, are you trying to threaten me by mentioning your Lineage and father-in-law?"

Prince Merit and Virtue Sage said, "I carry the Grand Tutor's token and the Emperor's decree; I have the authority to execute first and report later."

"Your negligence is so great that you should be beheaded, and your family can be spared."

"As for those at the rank of commander of ten thousand and below, since you are military officers, you should be dealt with according to military law. I am now showing mercy and sentencing you to have your property confiscated and beheading at the waist. You will not be subjected to slow slicing, nor will your families be forced into slavery for three generations."

His tone was slow and deliberate, carrying an undeniable air of authority.

A man with a full head of fine braids, dressed as a guard, stepped out of the pavilion and reached for his waist knife.

Judging from their posture, it was unclear whether they intended to intimidate the crowd and take him away, or if they were preparing to execute him right there.

Nadarughachi, covered in cold sweat, lay prostrate on the ground. Suddenly, he arched his body and unleashed three palm strikes.

Before the guard could react, he was struck hard in the abdomen, chest, and chin, and his body flew backward back into the pavilion.

The man was sent flying backwards, but the dagger at his waist was pulled out by Darughachi.

"This barbarian's not giving us a way out, let's brothers fight him to the death!!"

The Darughachi used Chinese to say this.

As he spoke, the dozen or so Han Chinese officers behind him suddenly spread out into a crescent shape, as if they had been practicing martial arts regularly and had a tacit understanding.

A dozen or so men formed a crescent formation, almost completely surrounding the pavilion, and simultaneously drew their swords.

All the movements were completed in the blink of an eye.

More than a dozen sharp blades of energy tore through the ground and instantly entered the pavilion.

The pavilion's railings, bamboo curtains, and even its foundation all showed neat, broken holes.

Despite the addition of more than a dozen cracks, the entire pavilion remained intact, as if held in place by an invisible force, showing no signs of breaking.

There was no blood splattered in the pavilion.

Everyone's heart skipped a beat. Without thinking, they unleashed another slash of their blades, their figures hastily turning and flying away.

They were truly in sync; even their escape was perfectly synchronized, with each person choosing a different direction.

But as soon as they turned around, seven or eight thin, stray-dog-like figures suddenly pounced out of the pavilion.

The bamboo curtain was finally smashed to pieces, sending bamboo shavings flying everywhere.

One of the commanders was tackled to the ground on the spot. Before he could even use his knife, his armor and muscles were torn apart by the claws.

The thin figure riding on his back looked like a child, but with disheveled hair and ruthless attacks.

The armor was as brittle as paper beneath the slender claws; with a few frantic scratches, the claws had already penetrated deep into the bone, gripping the spine.

Collapse!!

Its spine was broken, and two vertebrae were gripped by claws and pulled directly out of its body.

As soon as this person died, the child cried out and pounced on the nearest target, running on all fours like a wolfhound.

The second target was also a master of light-footed skills, leaping and bounding among the flowers, almost escaping the garden's walls.

But all he heard was a howl, coming from afar and suddenly appearing behind him.

"Get out!"

The commander, startled and enraged, turned around mid-air and slashed with his sword.

Inudou sprang up from the ground, narrowly avoiding the blade, and crashed headfirst into his chest.

Thump!!!

Qianhu's chest caved in, his back slammed against the wall, and he slid down. His eyes began to glaze over, and blood gushed from his mouth and nose.

In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen experts had been killed.

The Darughachi was bitten on both hands by two children, who tore off his arms. He convulsed in excruciating pain, collapsed, and bled to death.

The dogs and children dashed back into the pavilion.

Prince Merit and Virtue Sage sat in the pavilion, his head full of fine braids, with a red silk ribbon with a gold pendant tied around his forehead. He had a fair and handsome face and wore a black python robe.

He had no maids by his side, only one living guard and one dead guard.

All that's left are these dog boys.

Seven or eight children huddled around him like dogs, some rubbing against his trouser legs, others intently gnawing on the bloody bone in their hands.

Merit and Virtue Sage reached out and touched the hair of a dog-boy, a smile on his face, and gestured for a guard to pour a cup of fragrant tea and place it on the ground for the dog-boy to lick.

Chu Tianshu tightened his grip on the withered leaves and whispered, "These children—"

"What a bunch of Human-Faced Dogs!"

Sikong Baili's tone was filled with deep envy.

"I've long heard that many children of martial arts masters in the Southern Song were born with abundant innate internal energy, nurtured even in the womb."

"Unfortunately, as one grows up, if one's innate talent is insufficient or one does not practice diligently enough, this innate True Qi will also degenerate."

"The great masters of the Great Yuan created a miraculous technique, gathering these children together and using medicine and acupuncture to prevent their muscles and bones from growing, thus preserving their pure internal energy. Combined with their unique boxing style, their internal energy deepens with each movement. Although this results in lower intelligence, they are still more fluent in human speech than even the smartest hunting dogs."

Sikong Baili murmured eagerly, "Loyal and devoted, never afraid of betrayal, quickly becomes a master, fearless of death."

The abbot of Wolf Mountain also praised, "Back then, among the various temples on Wolf Mountain, my lineage was in decline. It was only because a high-ranking monk from the Mongol Yuan transmitted the Dharma to us that we now enjoy our majestic dominance over the entire mountain."

"Our founding patriarch was also one of the masters who created the Human-Faced Dogs Secret Technique and cultivated this Dharma Spirit."

"Unfortunately, Emperor Shizu issued a decree in his later years, abolishing this practice, and our temple lost the lineage of this method. Fortunately, it is still passed down in the hands of noble people."

In a distant pavilion, an old woman with a scarred face suddenly spoke.

"Prince, the Great Yuan Dynasty is teeming with talented individuals and masters. What use would this Human-Faced Dogs be? Besides, Emperor Shizu has issued a decree stating that it is against the natural order."

Merit and Virtue Sage laughed heartily and said, "Granny Putuo, you are truly compassionate. These dogs were secretly raised by the princes of Shangdu then, Non-Self in Dadu."

"But since it has already recovered, it would be a waste to discard it, so we will keep it for the time being."

A few years ago, there was an internal power struggle within the royal family, resulting in a bloody battle Shangdu Shangdu and Dadu. Almost all the experts in Dadu were killed by Yan Tiemu'er, who also confiscated their property and looted their treasures. Naturally, all the good stuff was taken by Dadu.

Sikong Baili curled his lip and said, "A hundred years ago, the Water Moon Sword Sect of Mount Putuo exclusively accepted women. It had many disciples, but very few true masters. Outsiders thought that most of them were fairy-like heroines, and they were highly praised."

"This woman came from a poor family, but she was arrogant because of her diligence and exceptional talent. She didn't know how to be humble and subservient, so her fellow disciples took advantage of her seclusion and poured boiling oil all over her, almost scalding half of her skin."

"Once she's mastered her martial arts and outlived all her elders, she'll suddenly unleash her ruthlessness, slaughtering all her senior sisters until only she remains. And then she'll have the nerve to pretend to be soft-hearted."

Upon hearing this, the abbot of Wolf Mountain smiled.

"Now that Granny Putuo has submitted to us, the prince won't take offense at our open advice. It's those who harbor ulterior motives but remain silent that are more of a concern for the prince."

As the monk spoke, Zi Guang subtly glanced at Chu Tianshu.

In that high pavilion over there.

Prince Merit and Virtue Sage's gaze suddenly turned in this direction as well.

"Senior Chu, what do you think of my methods for dealing with these corrupt officials in the court? What are their advantages and disadvantages?"

As soon as he turned his gaze, all the distinguished guests, experts, disciples, and followers in the dozen or so pavilions turned their eyes in his direction.

Chu Tianshu twirled a leaf in his hand, glanced at everyone, and said, "Those parasites truly deserve to be killed."

Merit and Virtue Sage laughed heartily and said, "It seems that Senior Chu and I share the same view. However, in today's world, sorcerers are bewitching everyone, and the ignorant masses are slandering the imperial court."

"Young Master Wang is determined to rectify the court's affairs, but he also fears that if he kills too many, there will be no one left to pacify the regions."

"Fortunately, there are many people of ambition in the martial arts world. Today, everyone present is an elder or leader of a major sect in Jiangnan, possessing great talent, and it's a perfect opportunity for them to display their abilities."

"Senior Chu, would you be willing to join my ranks and contribute to this great undertaking?"

The group of people had different temperaments; some smiled at Chu Tianshu, while others had somber expressions.

Chu Tianshu's face was full of doubt as he said seriously, "I heard that all the major sects gathered in Suzhou and Hangzhou for the Meteor Gods and Devils's selection of disciples Chuangong their skills. Is that not the case?"

Merit and Virtue Sage smiled and said, "Senior Meteor is of high moral character and prestige; he should live to a ripe old age. How can we hope that he Chuangong before passing on his skills?"

"The world probably thinks that I have come here to plot against Senior Meteor, but little do they know that Senior Meteor has a long-standing relationship with the Grand Tutor."

"This selection of disciples and Chuangong is also a pretext; it's a bait to be thrown out for a more important matter."

The prince's expression turned solemn.

"To ensure this matter goes perfectly, gathering all the top experts from Suzhou and Hangzhou should be part of the plan."

"It's not difficult to win over Qin An of the Zhao family, but the appearance of Senior Chu in Suzhou and Hangzhou is unexpected. If he is attracted to us on the day of the plan and makes a rash move, causing some misunderstandings, that would not be good."

Chu Tianshu glanced at everyone present again, a slight chuckle escaping his lips.

I thought that today's scene might be a good opportunity for each side to test their positions and form alliances.

Little did they know, these people had already been summoned by the imperial court before the banquet was even held.

I'm afraid those who have already refused to be courted won't even have the chance to come here.

"Is this banquet tonight just for me?"

Chu Tianshu chuckled, "I haven't even done anything yet, and I already have such a big reputation. I'm truly flattered."

As he finished speaking, it seemed he was about to give a reply.

The garden was full of flowers that moved erratically without any wind, their branches trembling and swaying in different directions.

A sense of unease drifted over from the attic outside the garden.

A powerful figure in black robes with white hair emerged from the pavilion and arrived in the garden in an instant, stepping onto the bluestone path.

"Young man, don't ruin your own life."

The old man, with his imposing lion-like eyes and dignified air, laughed and said, "I've heard that your lifespan is also nearing its end. If you were to pledge allegiance to the imperial court, Yan Temür could extend your life with a wave of his hand."

Chu Tianshu's gaze darkened, his voice tinged with surprise. "You mean Yan Tiemu'er can extend lifespan so easily?"

The Meteor Gods and Devils laughed heartily and replied, "Look at me, I'm already over sixty years old, yet I'm radiant with health, full of energy, and I've fought fiercely every night. Could that be fake?"