Food Fairy Lord

Chapter 787 The Illusionary Feast (Part Two)
On the second day of the fourth lunar month, a strange phenomenon occurred in Shenjing.

Suddenly, many anglers appeared on the waterways throughout the city. Moreover, they were all martial arts practitioners carrying swords and knives, gathering in groups of three or five by the water's edge, whether in gardens or bustling city streets.

People naturally look at them with strange eyes, but the anglers themselves seem to take pride in it, as if they are being understood by their own friends.

It was at the height of his power, when countless people longed to meet the new Crown Prince, that this invitation was sent to the martial arts world of Shenjing.

It encompasses a wide range of things and is by no means only delivered to the Sword Sect at the top. Anyone in the capital, regardless of sect or individual, who is registered with the Immortal Platform, has received such a mysterious note.

What's astonishing is that no one has ever heard of "Illusion Tower." There is no such tower in the capital city, nor is there one around Xunfang Garden.

Those who wish to attend must fish for a small fish within the capital city, take its scales, and then release it back into the wild.

The unfamiliar Crown Prince's words were like a poem from the ancient Chu Kingdom. Of course, no one had ever participated in such a sword banquet, nor had they even heard of it.

But since paper is white and ink is black, people bought fishing rods and went to find their favorite ponds. When acquaintances met, they would often ask, "Did you catch anything?" Restaurants and teahouses were also mostly filled with tables discussing fishing techniques.

Fishing is indeed not an easy task.

In the waters within the capital city, shallow and small ponds cannot support many fish, and the fish are also quite clever; large and deep ponds have many fish, but they are scattered, and often there is no bite even after casting a line for two hours.

Although everyone receives an invitation, only a small fraction actually catch fish. Moreover, regardless of status or strength, those who catch fish either do, and those who don't are simply not lucky—it's quite a mystery of fate.

Thus, people also discerned a detached attitude from this—the Crown Prince neither cared about nor intended to abide by the hierarchy and power dynamics of the martial world. Since he wished to meet the heroes of the capital, he didn't need to follow the hierarchy or the degree of kinship; he would simply meet the ones who could catch his fish.

Countless people are distressed by the lack of fish on their hooks, yet they can also find a sense of fairness in this entirely luck-based selection, because there are many instances where the apprentice catches a fish while the master catches none, or where an outsider casts a line while the true master sits idly by.

This happened to the people of Xiaoyun Mountain.

On the day they met in Liuzhen, the young boy and girl who argued with Pei Ye about the Yunlang Sword, Zheng Shufeng and Lüla had already caught a small fish about half a palm long, removed a small scale from each of them and released them back into the wild, but Uncle Xu next to them was not so lucky.

The fishing rod has been hanging there since morning, and it's like a dead tree. The bait has been changed again and again, but not a single fish has even glanced at it. Several young boys and girls, whether they've caught anything or not, are now sitting around him, making fun of him.

“Uncle-Master, you’re not hanging this rod properly. You should let it sink into the water so the fish will think it’s wood and won’t recognize it as a fishing rod,” Zheng Shufeng said seriously. Actually, it was his first time touching a fishing rod, but he caught the first fish in a short while, which made him quite proud of himself, and he considered himself a genius.

Green wax nodded in agreement.

Uncle Xu smiled and lowered the rod in as instructed: "Is this alright?"

"Alright, Uncle-Master, just you wait, the fish will be served soon!"

But after a while, no fish came up, and the young men and women beside them were already excitedly discussing the invitation.

"I never expected to find the Sword Master Ming here." Green Wax felt a surge of anticipation as she thought about it. "This is the first time the Sword Master Ming has made an appearance since the news of the Sword Master's arrival in the capital. The Sword Master Ming never participated in the Sword Gathering before."

"It's clear that this new crown prince is truly remarkable," Zheng Shufeng said maturely.

"And several of the most renowned swordsmen were also invited, except..." Green Wax paused, looking at the last name.

“Pei Ye went too,” Zheng Shufeng read aloud.

Green Wax was a little worried: "Young Master Pei Ye has been under Yun Lang's ban these days, and his name is rarely mentioned in the capital... Now that he has finally shown his face, why is he being mentioned alongside Master Ming Jian's name again?"

There are subtle feelings that everyone can sense, as if the more dazzling the first name is, the more dim the last name seems.

He had sided with Kongtong, a fellow sword sect from the Northwest, in front of Yun Lang, and now seemed to be all alone. Although they had only met twice, Lü La was indeed deeply impressed by this figure and was somewhat worried that he would be humiliated at the sword banquet.

"...Although Young Hero Pei Ye is bold, he is a good person at heart. I believe someone like Sword Master Ming wouldn't make things difficult for him," Zheng Shufeng whispered. "—Uncle-Master, don't you think so?"

Uncle Xu said, "I'd also love to see the Glazed Sword Master in person. But Shufeng, this fish isn't biting."

"...My martial uncle isn't diligent enough at fishing!"

Green Wax laughed from the side, "That's right, Martial Uncle must have been slacking off!"

Uncle Xu sighed.

Shi Zanxue was fishing on the Green Flower Terrace.

The three pavilions and five terraces on the side, and even the Flying Mirror Pavilion, were all filled with people casting fishing rods.

Unlike the secluded little pond that Xiaoyunshan found himself, the south bank of the West Pond is a popular spot where countless people gather to cast their fishing rods.

Lühua Terrace was reserved by the Tianshan Mountains, but no one was stopped from entering. People stood close to the railings, and every now and then someone would raise a fishing rod, attracting a lot of attention and laughter.

"How long have you been fishing?" Ji Jiuying asked, casting her line down.

“One hour,” Shi Zanxue sighed softly. “It was too noisy; it scared all the fish away.”

“At least ten people have caught fish on this platform in the past hour,” Ji Jiuying said mercilessly. “Junior Sister Shi’s fishing skills are lacking.”

"Then it depends on Senior Sister Ji," Shi Zanxue said calmly.

Ji Jiuying gave a soft hum and sat down with her eyes closed.

Many eyes were cast toward the two Heavenly Maidens, but Shi Zanxue was already used to it, and Ji Jiuying ignored them.

But if, amidst all these gazes, the fishing rod remains motionless after two hours of sitting still, that's a different story.

Ji Jiuying opened her eyes angrily: "What kind of strange rule is this? If you don't want people to attend, just say so!"

Shi Zanxue smiled and said, "Senior Sister Ji, you don't know who set this rule. If the Western Court is taken over in the future, I can hold you accountable for this crime of blaming someone."

Ji Jiuying turned around: "Was it Pei Ye who made the decision?"

“Their previous struggle with the Prince of Yan’s mansion in the Eight Rivers was likely for the power of the Beak Star,” Shi Zanxue said. “Young Master Pei’s connection with this Crown Prince seems to be closer than I imagined.”

"Hurry up and catch the fish, so you can study it some more at the sword banquet tomorrow."

"If I can't catch it, please ask Senior Sister Ji to keep a close eye on Young Hero Pei. Keep an eye on the details of his interactions with that Crown Prince."

"I can't bear the shame."

“Even Senior Sister Ji might not be able to catch it.” Shi Zanxue glanced down at the woman’s rod. “I’d better ask Junior Sister Zuoqiu for help.”

"Did you catch something in Longhua?"

"Senior Sister Ji had already caught one and left before she arrived."

"..." Ji Jiuying lowered his eyes for a moment, "I'll go catch one."

"That definitely doesn't count." Shi Zanxue smiled, then suddenly turned around and asked, "Sect Leader Li, are you done with your work?"

Li Piaoqing came over carrying a fishing rod: "After you're done with your work, come and try your luck with a couple of casts."

Shi Zanxue looked back again: "Little Medicine Master Qu, true disciple of the Crane, it's been a long time."

The girl in the green dress was followed by a healer and a swordsman, each carrying a pole. They greeted the two Heavenly Maidens separately.

“There shouldn’t be any fish left here,” Ji Jiuying said, reeling in her line. “Why don’t we go somewhere else like we did?” “Really? We’ve already come all this way, let’s cast a couple of lines first,” Li Piaoqing said with a smile, lowering her line.

After three breaths, with a "splash," she instinctively lifted up and pulled up a beautiful red carp.

The stage fell silent for a moment.

"..." Li Piaoqing plucked a scale, unhooked it, and put it back, smiling slightly, "Looks like my luck is pretty good."

Ji Jiuying silently untied the fishing rod that had already been put away, and then lowered it down again beside her.

Qu Xin and He Yaoyao stood together, both frowning, each with their own expectations for their poles.

When He Yaoyao's rod suddenly trembled, the woman showed a disappointed expression, but the next moment Qu Xin pressed down on her rod and calmly said, "Let's switch rods."

He Yaoyao's eyes lit up. Qu Xin calmly pulled the fish up, and He Yaoyao got the rod she had been waiting for.

Fifteen minutes later, the pole trembled again. He Yaoyao closed her eyes, feeling utterly hopeless.

Huang Yunxian had mixed feelings.

Firstly, she was indeed somewhat lonely and missed the feeling of discussing swordsmanship with Pei Ye. Secondly, she really didn't want to go to this sword banquet, even though it was hosted by the new crown prince.

Thirdly, as the current face of Xudaoshan, she had accepted the invitation and had no choice but to go.

Fishing rods came and went along the shore of West Pond for an entire day, almost like another small gathering.

As people exchanged their experiences, they also discussed tomorrow's sword banquet. Both the format and the list of attendees brought unprecedented anticipation to the entire martial arts world of Shenjing.

Tian Shan's An Xiang and Shuang Cheng finally made some gains in the afternoon, each obtaining a scale from the West Pond.

The sword students at the Sword Cultivation Academy had it easy; no one fought over the fish in the pond, and the fish were silly too, so everyone just pulled one up.

Xu Wensang and Chen Mishuang waited by their fishing rods until late at night before each of them caught a small fish about the length of a finger, its two scales so small that they left people speechless.

In any case, the daytime fishing extravaganza in Shenjing was coming to an end. After a night, as dawn broke, many people who had obtained fish scales had already arrived at Xunfang Garden.

The invitation did not specify the time, but when people arrived, there were already waiters waiting at the garden gate.

【Red Snow Flows Vermilion】Ning Chaolie, Zhou Shise, Chu Shuiting and others, having been to the Illusion Tower and often socializing in the capital, gathered around a group of dozens to nearly a hundred people as they walked over, chatting and laughing.

Springtime is the perfect time to visit Xunfang Garden.

The season is drawing to a close, but the flowers are still vibrant, and everything always looks brand new.

The two handed out invitations at the door, but the waiter smiled and indicated that it was unnecessary, leading the group into the garden.

The quiet blue-clad woman led people through the flowers and trees, gradually leading them deeper into the forest, and the sounds of their conversations gradually subsided.

Perhaps it was the atmosphere of Xunfang Garden, or perhaps it was the sense of solemnity and awe brought about by a certain "closeness," but in any case, people straightened their posture.

Until you pass through the entire Xunfang Garden and arrive at the last garden.

Here, at the bend of the long stream, a tall and beautiful female official stands before the stream, her sleeves tucked in.

"Your Highness's personal maid greets all the heroes." She gave a slight bow, lowered her eyes, and extended her hand. "According to the Water Lord's law, please return the scales on your body to the fish in the stream, and then enter through this door to attend the banquet."

Contrary to expectations of a prince's grandeur, the courtyard was peaceful and quiet, with only a female official by the stream.

Chu Shuiting stepped forward first, and when he reached the stream, he saw a koi carp poking its head out of the water toward him.

He didn't react at first, until he put the scale in the fish's mouth and the fish disappeared with a flick of its tail and a splash of clear water. Only then did he realize that it was the fish he had caught yesterday.

From the Sword Cultivation Academy's own pond.

Everyone who enters is astonished by this miracle. The fish they caught seem to have a spirit, making one wonder whether they caught them yesterday or whether the fish chose their hook.

But since it's impossible to know for sure, and not many people care anymore.

Because once you step through that old, dilapidated door, everyone faces an even greater miracle.

An endless expanse of white marble, plazas, stone bridges, melodious songs, and flowing water.

A vermilion-painted high-rise building stands under the night sky, a white crane perches on the eaves, and the bright moon hangs high in the sky.

The candlelight and moonlight made everything as bright as day.

"Years ago I wandered to the Five Mausoleums, singing songs under the clear moon in the midnight tower. Before the silver candle tree, it was as long as day, and amidst the peach blossoms, I knew not the autumn." A beautiful young woman in a gorgeous dress leaned against a tree, raising a jade cup of clear wine and smiling. It was none other than the jewel of the Cui family. "Master Chu, the earlier you arrive, the more wine you'll get—welcome to the new Illusion Tower."

People looked towards the center of the field and saw maids coming and going, dancers and musicians lined up on the sidelines. There were already quite a few people there, many of whom were familiar faces. They were all looking around in surprise and wonder.

People suddenly realized, no wonder the Sword Master was willing to come.

Moreover, such a place is the perfect place to admire her beauty.

……

……

“Miss Ming, I’ve come to take you to the Illusion Tower.” Pei Ye, wearing a bamboo hat, sat on the carriage shaft and smiled at the woman who opened the door. “This is a carriage I just drove from the palace. It’s very safe.”

Two days had passed, yet the woman's face remained as clean as ever. She looked up at him and asked, "Have you had breakfast yet?"

"I've already eaten in the palace."

"Alright, thank you for your trouble." Ming Qitian got into the carriage. "How have you been these past two days?"

“It went quite smoothly, Miss Ming.” Pei Ye thought for a moment. “Um, Miss Ming, His Highness the Crown Prince asked me to ask you what you think. At the sword banquet later, would you be willing to draw your sword or talk about swordsmanship or something? After all, many people are here for Miss Ming.”

“Of course,” Ming Qitian said. “Didn’t you convey my gratitude to her?”

"I've relayed the message. But she feels... what if Miss Ming is reluctant to attend, since she doesn't know Miss Ming at all."

Ming Qitian nodded, and after a while said, "I saw a lot of people fishing yesterday."

"Is it?"

“Yes, people come here right here by the little river in front of the door,” Ming Qitian said. “I wasn’t wearing a straw hat at first, but then people came from nearby, so I went in to get one.”

"Miss Ming went fishing yesterday too?"

"Yes, because I didn't know you were coming to pick me up, and I was worried I wouldn't be able to get in."

"How could that be, Miss Ming... Did you catch anything?" Pei Ye turned around.

"No."

(End of this chapter)