Wandering Swordsman |

At this moment, a long table was set up in front of the hall, and two young martial artists were seated at the table. These two martial artists wore light blue robes with black belts around their waists, and had handsome faces with sharp eyes. Their demeanor was composed and unhurried, as if they were already accustomed to such occasions.

Upon seeing the three approaching, the two young martial artists immediately stood up and greeted them with smiles, "Are you three young heroes here to participate in the martial arts competition tomorrow, the fifteenth of the twelfth lunar month?"

Li Fanglin returned the greeting with a cupped hand and a smile, saying, "Indeed."

One of the young martial artists nodded and said, "You three young heroes have come a long way and must be tired. Please come with me. We will take you to the rest room to rest for a while, and then arrange guest rooms for you later."

He Yun, Zhao Xue, and Li Fanglin exchanged glances, feeling a surge of warmth in their hearts. He Yun cupped his hands and said, "Thank you both, brothers. We'll have to trouble you then."

Seeing the three men's humble attitude, the young martial artist felt a sense of goodwill towards them. He smiled and said, "Young heroes, please follow me. This way, please."

After saying that, he turned around and led the way, guiding the three of them through a series of corridors.

Along the way, the three encountered many martial artists from Jingtian Pavilion. Upon seeing them, these martial artists all greeted them warmly and proactively, some even stopping to chat for a few words. He Yun secretly admired: the atmosphere within Jingtian Pavilion was indeed unique; the martial artists here were not only highly skilled but also extremely friendly, making one feel right at home.

Finally, the three arrived at a spacious lounge. The lounge was warmly and comfortably furnished, with several landscape paintings hanging on the walls. The mountains and rivers depicted in the paintings were so lifelike that they seemed to evoke the tranquility and beauty of nature. Around the center of the hall were ninety round wooden tables set with tea sets and snacks, creating a welcoming atmosphere. In addition, there were ten luxurious and grand mahogany round tables in the center of the lounge, laden with various exotic fruits, forming a striking contrast with the ninety round wooden tables.

By this time, half of the round wooden tables in the lounge were occupied, with many people drinking tea, chatting, and introducing themselves. The air was filled with a faint aroma of tea and fruit, creating a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere.

The martial artist who had led the way brought the three to a round wooden table, gesturing for them to sit down and rest. He Yun, Zhao Xue, and Li Fanglin sat down in turn, and the young martial artist smiled and said, "Please rest here for a while, young heroes. If you need anything, please let us know, and we will arrange guest rooms for you later to ensure you have a comfortable resting environment."

He Yun cupped his hands in thanks and said with a smile, "Thank you, brother. We'll wait here for your arrangements."

Not long after the three sat down, He Yun overheard people at the next table whispering about who those ten luxurious mahogany tables in the middle were for. He Yun turned his head and saw six people sitting together at the next table, one of whom was speaking loudly, seemingly showing off his exclusive information.

The man said smugly, "Those large mahogany tables are naturally prepared for the members of the nine sects and one gang: Shaolin, Wudang, Huashan, Emei, Qingcheng, Kunlun, Diancang, Tangmen, Changhe Sword Sect, and the Beggars' Gang."

Upon hearing this, a young man at the next table paused for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Hahaha, let's not even talk about the Shaolin monks. The Emei sect is entirely composed of female disciples, so why would they participate in the martial arts competition for Master Situ's beloved daughter's husband?"

The louder-voiced man smiled slightly, seemingly having anticipated such a question. He spoke eloquently, "You seem to lack understanding of the ways of the martial world. Before founding the Jing Tian Pavilion, Master Situ was the leader of the martial arts alliance. Although the martial arts alliance has been disbanded for many years, Master Situ's prestige remains. If Master Situ were to host such a grand event, even if Shaolin and Emei didn't participate, how could they not show up? Moreover, the leaders of the various sects have very close personal relationships with Master Situ; it's impossible for them not to send someone to show their support."

Another person at the next table shook his head and offered a different opinion: "I don't think so. I guess those big mahogany tables were prepared for the four great academies, the eight great families, and the Black Wind Gang, which has been making waves recently."

Someone nearby immediately objected, "Bah! The four great academies are full of bookworms who know nothing about martial arts. How could they possibly participate in the martial arts tournament? Besides, among the eight great families, the Huangfu family never participates in the affairs of the martial arts world. As for the remaining seven families—the Dongfang family, the Ximen family, the Nangong family, the Beiming family, the Murong family, the Zhuge family, and the Peng family of Hebei—the Murong family has been merchants for generations, and martial arts are not their forte, so the Murong family definitely won't participate. As for the Black Wind Gang, although they are currently the most prominent, they do mostly evil deeds. How could Senior Situ let his daughter marry someone from the Black Wind Gang?"

Seeing that the conversation among the people at the next table was about to escalate into an argument, one of them quickly stood up to smooth things over, smiling as he said, "What you all say makes sense, but in my opinion, those large mahogany tables might also be prepared for sects that are small in number but renowned throughout the martial arts world. For example, the Sword Tomb, and the legendary Ghost Valley sect that is said to know everything about the world..."

These words eased the atmosphere at the next table a little. However, when He Yun heard the words "Sword Tomb" spoken by others, he felt a slight stirring in his heart, and an indescribable sense of pride welled up within him.

He had initially thought that the desolate place he had lived in since childhood wasn't particularly famous in the martial arts world. After all, the wealthy man he had met in Beiping City had probably only heard of his master's Sword Tomb from some corner of the martial arts world because of his long-term business dealings. But now, hearing the Sword Tomb mentioned by a mere novice in the martial arts world, He Yun instantly realized that the Sword Tomb he belonged to was actually quite powerful. It seemed that sneaking out this time was indeed the right decision.

He Yun's eyes flickered slightly, a hint of barely concealed excitement flashing within them. Zhao Xue seemed to notice his unusual expression and asked softly, "Brother Yun, what's wrong? Is something the matter?"

He Yun smiled slightly, shook his head and said, "Ah Xue, I'm fine. I just overheard their conversation and was struck by how vast the martial world truly is."

Upon hearing He Yun mention this, Zhao Xue seemed to remember something and said with slight surprise, "Right, Brother Yun, if I remember correctly, Master Wang said that your master was from the Sword Tomb."

Although Zhao Xue's voice was soft, everyone at the two adjacent tables heard it clearly. Immediately, the people at those two tables stopped talking, and all eyes turned to He Yun, their curious and slightly shocked gazes as if they were examining some rare treasure.

Li Fanglin was also slightly surprised, a hint of nervousness flashing across his face. He asked softly, "Brother He, is your master really from the Sword Tomb?"