Food Fairy Lord

Chapter 793 The Illusory Feast (Part 8)
As the Feather Scales approached, half of the heroes of the martial world entered the capital; the day before yesterday, during the Imperial Selection, half of the heroes of the capital attended the banquet at the Illusion Tower.

But among the assembled heroes, not one could withstand the young man's swordsmanship. These men were renowned and legendary figures in the martial world. Now, gathered in the capital, they had drawn ten swordsmen, yet they could not even complete a single strike of the "Breaking the Earth" technique.

Among the top twenty on the Fu Ranking, there were eleven legendary sword sects, each one seemingly untouchable, yet he nearly pierced through them with a single sword strike.

This is the young hero who "trusts life and death" to the Crown Prince.

Pei Ye clasped his hands in a salute to the four directions, and no one on stage spoke. He then turned and stepped off the stage.

But then they heard the person at the head of the table call out, "Pei Ye."

Pei Ye stopped and looked at the figure to the north. Everyone else also looked at the Crown Prince.

But he didn't say anything more, only smiled and raised his hand to beckon to Pei Ye.

Pei Ye turned his toes and came to the front of the main seat. Li Xizhou remained silent, gesturing for him to stand behind him.

Pei Ye stood by, his hand on his sword.

"There are so many talented people in the world." Li Xizhou looked at the crowd, poured wine, raised his cup, and then stood up. "I have just ascended the throne and am fortunate to see so many outstanding individuals like you..."

There was a moment of surprise in the banquet hall, then everyone stood up in a flurry.

Li Xizhou smiled slightly. She had a pair of extremely captivating eyes, whether as a woman or as the crown prince. At this moment, she scanned the crowd and raised her wine cup higher: "...A galaxy of stars, truly a blessing for the Tang Dynasty."

"Gentlemen, there's no need to return the wine. I'll drink this cup to my heart's content, as if I've conquered the world." Li Xizhou tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, holding the cup with his arm hanging down, looking at the figures filling the building.

"Please, everyone, have a seat." She smiled and raised her hand.

After a brief pause in the banquet hall, people took their seats.

But Li Xizhou did not sit down.

She remained standing quietly, gazing down. After a moment, she composed herself and said, "When I ascended the throne the other day, there were still ninety percent of the affairs to be handled. The reason I am holding this banquet today is because I am worried that after Yu Lin, the heroes will be scattered and there will be no opportunity to gather them together again."

"I wish to see all the heroes, and I think they also wish to see me. For more than a decade, I have lived in seclusion in the capital, and the name of Jinyang may not be known to many." Li Xizhou's voice was calm and steady. "Today is the first time we meet, and I am delighted to see you all. I wonder how you all see me. In the recent hundred sword trials, I have already recognized many heroes, but I think you may not recognize me. Therefore, I have a few words to say here today."

Li Xizhou lowered his head, turned around, picked up the wine pot, and poured another cup.

"My father has ruled the country for twenty-seven years, and he has not had any henchmen under his command." She turned back to look at the crowd, holding her cup, and said, "When I ascended to the throne as the Crown Prince, I invited many people from the capital, not to select trusted confidants from the martial arts world."

The banquet fell silent as countless people stared in astonishment at the crown prince.

“Since the blood test of the unicorn a few months ago, more and more people have come to offer gifts. The Xiuwen Academy has accepted and examined them, and there are so many talented people that we have pointed out the way for them one by one, such as the Imperial Guard, the Constable of the Capital, or the Officer of the Imperial Guard. But when we inquired later, very few of them actually went.”

Li Xizhou lowered his head and swirled the clear wine: "It seems that many of those who claim to 'serve the country' are only willing to be my personal servants and guests. They are not truly willing to serve the country and bring peace to the people."

The banquet hall was completely silent, and some people's faces were slightly pale.

"Since ancient times, there have been people who seek advancement, and there is no shortage of talented people who are desperate but have lofty ambitions. However, those who come to seek refuge are mostly from certain backgrounds. Once the Crown Prince is chosen, people from all over the martial arts world will come to seek refuge, and the gangs and families at the top of the list always come first; many people who do not want to offer their services are also afraid of falling behind because of their grudges and their fear of being left behind, so they follow suit... It seems that in the martial arts world, anyone who does not submit a letter to the Xiuwen Hall will find it difficult to make a living."

Li Xizhou raised his head: "I have heard that the people of the martial world are bold and outspoken, so I speak frankly here. The sects that wish to help me are all subjects of the Tang Dynasty, and their opponents and enemies are also subjects of the Tang Dynasty. As the Crown Prince, I have no reason to associate with one group of people or to eliminate other groups."

"My court is the court of the Great Tang. Over the decades, the court and the martial arts world have made great achievements through contact and cooperation. In the future, we will open up more avenues. If you gentlemen wish to serve the country and seek advancement, all government offices will grant your request. Once you enter the court, we are naturally ruler and subject, and there is no need for private correspondence with the Crown Prince."

Li Xizhou raised the cup: "Gentlemen, there is no need to drink. This cup is offered to the Immortal Terrace and the Thirty-Three Sword Sects. Since the Dao Qi Hui was established, the swordsmanship of the Great Tang Dynasty has flourished, more than doubling in number."

She tilted her head back and drank it all, then glanced at the crowd: "So I say this: the heroes of the martial world are the people of the Great Tang who cannot be abandoned, and the talented people that the court is eagerly seeking. Those who apprehend evil and kill thieves are the chivalrous men of the people; those who fight for the country are the heroes of the Great Tang... There is no need for them to be the private dogs of any one family."

Her eyes were cold and sharp, her voice clear and calm, as if the entire banquet hall was covered with a layer of frost.

Li Xizhou poured another full cup of wine, raised it to the table, and this time drank it all without saying a word.

A moment later, everyone at the table stood up to return the wine.

Many people seemed to immediately recall a similar scene from the other day.

Then Li Xizhou glanced at the quiet banquet hall for a moment and smiled gently: "I hope that from now on, we can be considered to know each other."

"I admire all the heroes who just demonstrated their swordsmanship, and I present them all with precious swords, hoping they will not find them offensive. Ten outstanding swordsmen, please follow me to the pavilion in Penglai to choose your gifts. I have finished speaking. Today, this building is open for your enjoyment. Those who wish to learn swordsmanship are welcome to use the space as they please."

After saying this, she turned around and returned to her seat, putting down the wine glass.

……

After a brief silence, people began to leave their seats and socialize. A moment later, laughter and conversation grew louder, and the hall was filled with the sounds of clinking glasses.

Li Xizhou sat cross-legged on the seat, surrounded by two layers of gauze curtains, and the figures outside were hazy.

"What did you give them?" Pei Ye leaned against a pillar, rubbing his tired wrists. "There were several hundred people just now. Giving each of them a sword must have cost too much."

“We’ve invited the capital city, and even provided a venue like the Illusion Pavilion. How can we skimp on other places?” Li Xizhou picked up a pastry. “Raising the bar high first, and then being more approachable from there, is much better than doing things mediocrely while putting on an arrogant act.”

Pei Ye asked, "So what did you give them?"

“Each of the ten people chose three items. One thousand taels of silver, the East Sea Yi-class sword, the Immortal Platform sword manual, the Bixie spirit steed ‘Immortal Hunting Child’... In short, Zhaohua prepared a lot.”

“…” Pei Ye straightened up from the pillar he was leaning against.

Li Xizhou looked up: "What?" "I want one too."

Li Xizhou smiled.

“Even if I’m not first, I’ll be tied for second. And I’ll definitely be the most tired person here today,” Pei Ye said seriously. “You should give me one…two thousand taels of silver, and other things like swordsmanship and precious swords as well.”

"Have you finished spending the two hundred taels we shared last time?"

“…It’s not the same thing,” Pei Ye said. “This is my reward for the sword competition.”

“The Crown Prince’s palace is also short of funds; the registrar is currently taking stock of them.” Li Xizhou smiled. “Since you’re one of us, you should help save some money.”

“If you give each of them a hundred taels less, you’ll have made a total of a thousand taels for me,” Pei Ye sighed.

"Do you think anyone in the fight just now was particularly strong?"

"What, didn't you say you weren't going to recruit trusted confidants?"

"The attitude that the Crown Prince Palace shows to the martial arts world is the attitude of the Tang Dynasty. This is a completely different matter from finding a few usable people—many positions in the Crown Prince Palace are still vacant."

Pei Ye laughed: "Your Highness is two-faced anyway—I don't think anyone is particularly outstanding. That Gao Ge seems to be all alone, and his sword is quite good too."

“Then let Zhaohua try to get in touch with him.” Li Xizhou smiled. “Don’t worry, you will always be my only confidant.”

"Your Highness has not yet ascended the throne, but you already have the appearance of a tyrant."

The two ladies behind them quietly brewed tea.

Li Xizhou gazed out the curtain for a while, and the clanging of sword shadows began again; he wondered who was playing swordsmanship outside.

She turned her head and said, "Why don't you go out for a walk? Whether you have old friends or new friends, I think many people would be willing to chat with you."

"it is good."

"Okay, after you go out, please call Ming Qitian for me. I want to meet with her."

"...Now?"

"Hmm, see if she's free or not, I can wait for her for half an hour."

“…Alright.” Pei Ye paused for a moment, “You, you shouldn’t say anything strange to Miss Ming.”

What kind of words are considered strange?

"..." Pei Ye pursed her lips, "Anyway, it was last time—"

He stopped speaking, then turned his head away in a daze.

Several figures stood outside, separated by a thin curtain.

The young woman at the front bowed with perfect manners: "Your Highness, the Sword Master Yun Langming requests an audience and has asked Zhao Ye to convey my message."

"..."

Li Xizhou put down his cup: "I've kept you waiting. Please come in."

Penglai lifted the curtain, and Cui Zhaoye was the first to step out, casting a bright glance at the boy next to her.

Behind her was a woman in white, with a black cat still in her arms.

Next to her was a girl in a blue dress and a criminal in a gray dress.

A gathering of talents. Pei Ye thought.

Li Piaoqing gave him a helpless look that said "I've done my best," clearly unwilling to see her former lover in such a difficult position, but she couldn't stop him.

Qu Xin looked at him with some regret.

"So many friends." Li Xizhou smiled. "Sect Leader Li, Physician Qu, it's been a long time."

"Greetings, Your Highness." Li Piaoqing bowed. "I was just chatting with Sword Master Ming, and he said he wanted to meet Your Highness and asked us to introduce him."

"Sect Leader Li confided his admiration for the Glazed Sword Master to me last time, and today his wish has been fulfilled." Li Xizhou smiled, turned to the white-clad woman in front of him, and paused, "Sword Master Ming, who in the world does not know you? I was just about to send Pei Ye to invite you, so why bother with an 'introduction'?"

Ming Qitian bowed and said, "Since arriving in the capital, I have been fortunate to receive Your Highness's care, and I have long wished to express my gratitude in person."

"Master Mingjian's willingness to attend this banquet is worth far more than ten mansions—please take a seat."

To avoid putting the young man in a difficult position, Li Piaoqing took Qu Xin's sleeve and was about to bid him farewell when she heard Li Xizhou smile and say, "Sect Leader Li, is there something urgent? I miss our chat. Why don't you sit down and have a cup of tea?"

Pei Ye said, "Isn't that enough?"

"Don't talk," Li Xizhou said with a smile.

(End of this chapter)