After attending the Gathering of Heroes, Li Jian and Tan Wei finally succeeded in meeting the Beggar Sect Chief and became acquainted with the leaders of the various Canal Brotherhoods. Once the heroes' banquet had concluded, they accompanied Salt Gang Chief Zeng Qiang and the others back to the Salt Gang headquarters in Xuzhou City.
Since Wu Tong, the former Hall Master of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, had long been renowned throughout the jianghu for his righteousness and heroism, and had once organized resistance forces against the Yan armies during the years of turmoil, he shared deep bonds of brotherhood with several canal gang leaders. Thus, after Li Jian inherited the position of Hall Master, these gang chiefs naturally treated him with great affection and respect, taking turns hosting banquets in his honor. Besides Chief Zeng Qiang of the Salt Gang, there were also Qiu Feng, Chief of the Phoenix Gang, and Xu Li, Chief of the Xuzhou Gang.
One day, Xu Li hosted a banquet for Dongkuang and Xidian, the Beggar Sect Chief and the Four Elders, as well as Li Jian and Tan Wei. Salt Gang Chief Zeng Qiang and Phoenix Gang Chief Qiu Feng attended as honored companions, while Ye Wen, second-in-command of the Salt Gang, and Tang Fei, deputy leader of the Phoenix Gang, also joined the gathering. Two tables were prepared for the feast.
At noon, the party proceeded to the famed tavern known as Drunken Sky Tower. Upon ascending the upper floor, they were led by a waiter to their reserved tables and soon took their seats. Li Jian and Tan Wei sat together with Dongkuang, Xidian, the Beggar Sect Chief, and the three gang leaders. The Four Elders of the Beggar Sect shared the second table with Ye Wen and Tang Fei.
"Honored guests, please rest for a moment. The wine and dishes will arrive shortly," said the waiter respectfully.
Before long, fine wine and delicacies filled both tables. Tan Wei personally poured wine for everyone at the chief's table, while the Four Elders and the others likewise filled their cups.
After several rounds of drinking and a satisfying meal, the conversation gradually turned toward recent events in the martial world.
Xu Li sighed heavily. "Too many things have happened these past months. First came the return of the Martial Demon. Then the Persian Faith, the Manichaean Sect, and the Fire Worshippers allied with Shaolin Temple in an attempt to eliminate him, yet all their efforts proved futile. Meanwhile, the Western Holy Cult originally sought to recruit the Martial Demon into their ranks, but when that failed, conflict erupted between them and Master Liaoyin of Shaolin. The dispute began because Master Liaoyin openly denounced the Western Holy Cult as an evil sect. In the end, the two clashed in combat, and Master Liaoyin passed away from his injuries. The entire realm mourns his death."
Qiu Feng frowned. "What puzzles me is that Shaolin Temple has not sought vengeance for Master Liaoyin's death."
Zeng Qiang replied, "Strictly speaking, the blame cannot be placed entirely upon the Western Holy Cult. Master Liaoyin repeatedly insulted them and refused to retract his accusations. The Western Holy Mother asked him many times to apologize and end the matter peacefully, but he stubbornly refused. Resentment grew between them, and eventually they resorted to combat to settle the dispute. Tragically, things spiraled out of control."
Xidian, Situ Kong, glanced toward Li Jian and Tan Wei. "You two were there that day, were you not? Is that truly how events unfolded?"
Li Jian exchanged a glance with Tan Wei before answering, "Chief Zeng speaks truthfully. The facts are exactly as he described. At the time, the Western Holy Mother declared, 'Shaolin Temple has gone too far. There is no need for further argument between us. Let combat determine right and wrong.'"
Beggar Sect Chief Fei Jin sighed deeply. "Alas… the Western Holy Mother, Chen Jinfeng, had no need to make enemies of Shaolin. Yet those Buddhist monks were far too rigid. In the end, Master Liaoyin brought disaster upon himself. If the Western Holy Mother had shown weakness and retreated, the Western Holy Cult would have lost all standing in the jianghu."
Unexpectedly, Dongkuang, Duanmu Song, praised the dead monk instead. "With so many Shaolin monks present, only that old monk dared to speak out for what he believed was righteous. Should not the other monks feel ashamed?"
Recalling the scene of Master Liaoyin calmly facing death that day, Tan Wei nodded solemnly. "I still remember his final words. Though pressured by the Western Holy Mother Chen Jinfeng, his resolve never wavered. He said, 'For the righteous path of Buddhism, this old monk is willing to die.'"
Situ Kong sneered. "Old blockhead, the truly amusing part comes afterward. The matter should have ended there, yet Wutian Chan Master used the incident to stir further trouble. He boldly proclaimed that he would uphold justice for all Buddhists under heaven. He may be even more arrogant than you, Dongkuang! Even Shaolin Temple, knowing themselves partially at fault, refrained from pursuing vengeance against the Western Holy Cult. Yet Wutian Chan Master openly challenged the Western Holy Mother Chen Jinfeng to a duel at Huangshan Palace twenty days from now."
Duanmu Song shook his head. "You think only you are mad? In my view, the jianghu is now filled with ambitious figures seeking dominion over the martial world."
"To Master Liaoyin!"
Suddenly, Qiu Feng raised his wine cup in tribute. Everyone followed suit and drank solemnly.
After setting down his cup, Xu Li asked, "Chief Zeng, Chief Qiu—have you both received the Heroes' Invitation?"
Both men nodded.
Situ Kong blinked in surprise and looked toward Duanmu Song. "What Heroes' Invitation? Why did neither Old Woodhead nor I receive one? Are we not considered heroes?"
Qiu Feng laughed. "Seniors like you are extraordinary eccentrics of the jianghu. Such invitations are beneath you. Even the newly appointed Hall Master of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness did not receive one."
Duanmu Song shook his head. "It matters little whether we are called heroes, but if even the Hall Master of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness is not invited, then something is clearly wrong. Without the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness presiding over justice in the Central Plains, none of these ambitious overlords would submit to one another. For more than a decade, had it not been for Wu Tong maintaining order and righteousness throughout the jianghu, where would peace have come from?"
Situ Kong asked, "Chief Qiu, who issued these invitations?"
Qiu Feng answered, "They were sent by the Purple Heaven Holy Cult. Cai Hong of the sect is organizing the Heroes' Assembly at Mount Lingjiu, inviting martial heroes from all under heaven. They claim to oppose the so-called 'martial justice' championed by Wutian Chan Master. Instead, they preach that the Buddhist Dharma resides within the human heart itself. They call upon all heroes to gather at Mount Lingjiu, unite the jianghu, uphold the Dharma, and preserve martial justice."
Xu Li snorted coldly. "These people fight over prestige and influence in the martial world. I fear they are hiding ulterior motives."
Situ Kong said bitterly, "You may not know this, but not long ago Cai Hong sent the Four Sacred Lords of the Black Tortoise Division to seize the Crouching Dragon Saber that Wu Tong entrusted to me for safekeeping. That woman and the Western Holy Mother are birds of a feather. Neither of them harbors good intentions."
Qiu Feng frowned. "Then perhaps our three gangs should stay away from this gathering. Better not board a pirate ship."
Xu Li shook his head. "If we refuse to attend, the Purple Heaven Holy Cult may take offense and seek trouble with us later."
Duanmu Song nodded. "Chief Xu has a point. Qiu Feng, why not send Tang Fei in your stead? And let the new Hall Master of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness accompany him. The young man ought to see more of the martial world. One day, he will have to uphold justice himself."
What Duanmu Song said was indeed true. Through generations, it had always been the sacred duty of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness to defend justice in the jianghu, punish evil, and preserve righteousness throughout the martial world.