Ten Thousand Sword Masters

"I'm so sorry, some things at the gang kept me waiting, Lord Zhang."

Wang Chaoyang strode in and said, looking like he had rushed over, while Liu Fei followed closely behind.

"You're too kind, Chief Wang. I just arrived recently," Zhang Jianyun said, standing up.

"Xiaoqin, you haven't neglected Lord Zhang, have you?"

Wang Chaoyang asked the alluring woman a question, and she hurriedly replied, "How could I dare to neglect Lord Zhang? I was just pouring tea for you."

"Lord Zhang, this is your daughter, Wang Qinqin. She greatly admires you and insisted on coming along. I couldn't dissuade her," Wang Chaoyang said with a smile.

"Lord Zhang is young and promising; which woman wouldn't admire him?" Wang Qinqin said, her eyes shining.

Watching the Wang father and daughter sing in unison, Zhang Jianyun chuckled inwardly. Once a person's value is revealed, others will show unusual enthusiasm.

"Everyone, please take your seats. The dishes will be served soon." Wang Chaoyang invited everyone to sit down at the table. Wang Qinqin deliberately sat to Zhang Jianyun's left.

"Chief Wang, didn't you say you had some dishes I'd never seen before?" Liu Fei asked, looking at the table full of food after taking his seat.

"Lord Liu, please don't worry, the kitchen is working on it," Wang Qinqin said.

Upon hearing this, Liu Fei's expression brightened. "What kind of amazing dish could it be that even Chief Wang is so excited about?"

After Wang Qinqin chuckled a few times, she said, "These dishes aren't from our Xing Restaurant. We sent someone to buy them from Jiang's Restaurant in the county town this morning."

"Could it be the famous braised lamb?" Liu Fei asked excitedly.

"That's right. This kind of vegetable is not something that ordinary people can buy. I sent someone to Jiang's Restaurant yesterday to reserve one at three times the usual price," Wang Qinqin said.

"My daughter has put a lot of thought into today's banquet. The light purple and red dress she is wearing today was originally what she was going to wear when she went to Jixia Academy to report for duty," Wang Chaoyang said.

Zhang Jianyun was taken aback upon hearing this and re-examined Wang Qinqin.

It should be noted that during the reign of Yu the Great, those who were admitted to the Jixia Academy were truly exceptional individuals.

Jixia Academy was one of the four famous academies of the Yu Dynasty. Because every emperor of the dynasty had studied at Jixia Academy, it was shrouded in mystery. Compared with the other three famous academies, people within the dynasty system respected the students of Jixia Academy more.

Liu Fei was also shocked: "I never expected that Chief Wang's daughter would actually be admitted to the Jixia Academy. Is the chief planning to retire from the underworld?"

Seeing Zhang and Liu's reactions, Wang Chaoyang was extremely smug: "I won't retire from the martial arts world. Jixia Academy doesn't ask about backgrounds and even accepts students from other dynasties. However, if Qinqin marries into a respectable family in the future, I won't continue to mingle with martial arts sects."

"Father, if I'm going to marry, I'll marry a hero of the martial arts world," Wang Qinqin said sweetly.

"Heroes of the martial world are certainly admirable, but a brilliant strategist like Lord Zhang is also someone worth entrusting one's life to," Wang Chaoyang said casually.

Following Wang Chaoyang's words, Wang Qinqin gave Zhang Jianyun a seductive look.

At this moment, Zhang Jianyun dared not underestimate Wang Qinqin. With the identity of a student of Jixia Academy, she still came to attend such a banquet, which meant that the father and daughter had an extremely good relationship, so good that Wang Qinqin lowered her status to help Wang Chaoyang win him over.

"Chief Wang is too kind. In the face of such a glorious dynasty, we are but insignificant figures, mere foot soldiers. We dare not presume to entrust our lives to others," Zhang Jianyun said politely.

"Lord Zhang is too modest," Wang Chaoyang said.

Just then, two waitresses from the restaurant came up with a mahogany tray.

"The braised lamb is here, all the dishes are ready. Come, let's raise a glass together to celebrate Lord Zhang and Lord Liu slaying the Snake Master and ridding the people of a scourge." Wang Chaoyang said, gesturing for Wang Qinqin to pour wine for Zhang and Liu.

"I can do it myself."

Knowing Wang Qinqin's identity, Zhang Jianyun dared not be presumptuous and reached out to take the wine pot from Wang Qinqin's hand.

Wang Qinqin bypassed Zhang Jianyun's hand and filled his glass with wine. Then, when she was about to pour wine for Liu Fei, Liu Fei quickly took the wine pot from Wang Qinqin and filled his own glass.

After several rounds of drinks and a good meal, the guests had a long and enjoyable time.

Wang Qinqin kept toasting Zhang Jianyun, seemingly trying to get him drunk.

"This humble woman toasts Lord Zhang once more, wishing you a smooth and successful career," Wang Qinqin said, and then drank the wine in her cup in one gulp.

Zhang Jianyun's face was already slightly flushed, indicating he was a little drunk. However, considering that he had lived two lives and had lost to a woman in terms of drinking capacity, he felt quite ashamed. So, he forced himself to finish the drink in his cup.

"You have a good capacity for alcohol, sir," Wang Qinqin praised without missing the opportunity.

Just as the atmosphere was getting right, Wang Qinqin suddenly took out a package from under the table and placed it in front of Zhang Jianyun.

"What's this?" Zhang Jianyun asked, looking at the package in front of him.

"Why don't you open it yourself, sir?" Wang Qinqin said, gesturing for Zhang Jianyun to open the package.

Without much thought, Zhang Jianyun, slightly drunk, opened the package and saw a black box, which he then opened.

"A yellow stone? What's this?" Inside the box was a palm-sized yellow stone, which Zhang Jianyun picked up curiously.

Upon seeing the yellow stone, Liu Fei was instantly astonished and exclaimed excitedly, "This...this is a crystal?"

"Lord Liu has a good eye; this is indeed a crystal," Wang Chaoyang said calmly.

Upon hearing the word "crystal," Zhang Jianyun suddenly sobered up and stared intently at the stone in front of him.

This is a crystal. You need this to break through to the Sea of ​​History Realm, and you need it even more after you break through to the Sea of ​​History Realm.

This is something that money can't buy.

After his emotions subsided, Zhang Jianyun forced himself to calm down and put the crystal back in the box: "What is the meaning of this, Chief Wang? Such a precious item is actually displayed in front of us."

"To be honest, Lord Zhang, around noon today, Chen Laosan and I invited your parents to lunch here, intending to give them a house on Phoenix Street and a monthly allowance of 50 taels of silver, but they refused." Wang Chaoyang said in a low voice. He hadn't expected Zhang Jianyun's parents to refuse such a large offer directly.

Zhang Jianyun smiled upon hearing this: "Chief Wang, you've gone to a lot of trouble, but my parents have always been unwilling to have any involvement with people in the martial arts world."

"And what about you, Lord Zhang? Are you also unwilling to have any involvement with martial arts sects? Or, what is your view of people in the martial arts world?" At this moment, Wang Qinqin asked gently.

Faced with Wang Qinqin's question, Zhang Jianyun remained silent for a while before saying, "I am a soldier of Cangxi Pavilion and have no connection with any Jianghu sects. As for the people of Jianghu, I have always admired them and longed for the life of righteous indignation and revenge."

"If every Nine-Star Guardian thought like Lord Zhang, then the world would be a little happier," Wang Qinqin said with a radiant smile.

"Recently, the Green Fang Gang has gotten involved with a soldier from the Nine Star Guard in the county town, and their arrogance has increased significantly. They have repeatedly sabotaged my business on Phoenix Street." Wang Chaoyang suddenly brought up gang matters, his expression somewhat indignant.

"If Lord Zhang could interact with us more, I think the Green Fang Gang wouldn't be so rampant. Then I could go to the Jixia Academy with peace of mind," Wang Qinqin said delicately, then looked at Zhang Jianyun with sparkling eyes, full of expectation.