"Wang Sheng!"
"Forget to introduce you. This is a remarkable person, the top swordsman in the world, Xiahou Jiang, the great Xiahou hero."
"We also met him by chance, and it was thanks to Xiahou Jiang's protection that we all could safely reach Jiangdu."
Upon hearing Wang Sheng ask, Pang Yong hurried forward to introduce him.
Beside him, Pei Rong nodded repeatedly, holding her cheeks like a little fan girl, admiringly saying, "That's right, that's right!"
"Xiahou hero, is the most formidable swordsman I've ever seen."
"Along the way, he single-handedly killed five demon beasts, among them, there were troublesome species like the Sand Scorpion Demon."
Hearing Pei Rong's introduction, Wang Sheng couldn't help but gasp. His look at Li Jing also subtly changed, no longer casual as before.
He killed five demon beasts along the way, including an existence like the Sand Scorpion!
But before he could finish being amazed, Pei Rong, as if presenting a treasure, jumped forward and said, "You might not know, the notorious bandit king has already been killed by the great Xiahou hero! It is because of this that we have not been harassed by the bandits these few years!"
"This!"
"This!"
Hearing Pei Rong's words, Wang Sheng was genuinely shocked this time, staring wide-eyed, speechless for a long while.
The bandit king! He was no ordinary person! A brigand who roamed the desert for over a decade. His martial arts had already reached the Transformation Realm. Opponents of the same level had no way to compete. Even if he encountered him, he could only flee in defeat.
He couldn't believe that a person he deemed unbeatable in his heart had died at the hands of this ordinary-looking man.
He had already tried to estimate Xiahou Jiang's strength as high as possible. He hadn't expected, still, he underestimated him!
Thinking of this, Wang Sheng felt an indescribable wariness.
What was such a formidable hero doing in this remote place?
Pei Rong didn't notice the change in Wang Sheng's expression and continued to boast, "Wang Sheng, Wang Sheng, do you know? Not only that, but the great Xiahou hero is also a descendant of the Demon Extermination Clan! His Demon-slaying Sword is a divine weapon! No matter how ferocious the demons, none are his match!"
"We even encountered an old ghost in a derelict tavern. Just as he was about to escape, the great Xiahou hero's sword unsheathed itself and instantly killed him! It was really incredible!"
"I feel he is even more incredible than the legendary Sword Immortal!"
Seeing Pei Rong's excited, adoring expression, Wang Sheng felt somewhat jealous. However, he still managed to control his emotions, smiling as he said, "So it's the great Xiahou hero! Thank you for saving Pei Rong and all of us brothers! You truly are a great benefactor to me, Wang Sheng!"
"No thanks needed for great favors! Please do come into the city, and let us extend our hospitality!"
"Right!"
"Right!"
Hearing Wang Sheng's words, the straightforward Pang Yong also realized, hurriedly making an inviting gesture, laughing as he said, "Jiangdu City may not be as bustling as Zhongyuan!""
"But it has its unique charm, and the grape wine in luminous cups here is unmatched across the ages!"
"Today, we must definitely drink a few cups with the great Xiahou hero!"
"Right!"
"Right!"
"And the roasted lamb leg! It is also unmatched!"
Others also enthusiastically added.
As the group approached the city wall, the closed city gates gradually opened.
Countless citizens surged out, welcoming back their own family members. There were inevitable greetings and even some people bursting into tears.
The caravan crossing the desert always brushed shoulders with death, hence the intense excitement.
From their own offspring's accounts, they also heard of Xiahou Swordsman's deeds. People who frequented the desert knew that without the protection of Xiahou Swordsman, many of their own would surely have perished in the desert.
For this reason, they felt even more grateful towards Xiahou Jiang, spontaneously stepping forward, placing hands on their chests, and bowing incessantly.
Some people even rode fast horse to report to others in the city.
Guided by Wang Sheng and others, Xiahou Jiang arrived at the center of the city, where a grand welcome banquet had already started.
Roast whole lamb!
Roast lamb leg!
Long tables, fruits, water wine, grapes!
Rare delicacies from outside were all served.
Watching those fresh, water droplet-dripping, fragrantly emanating fruits, Li Jing couldn't help but salivate.
"Hero Xiahou!"
"Please take the seat of honor!"
In contrast to the straightforward Pang Yong, Wang Sheng was more refined. Seeing Xiahou Jiang somewhat restrained, he quickly stepped forward with a face full of gratitude and said, "You are our honored guest!"
"Indeed!"
"Mr. Xiahou! Please take the seat of honor!"
"Today, we must drink to our heart's content!"
Pang Yong, who bore some resemblance to Zhen Zidan, also came forward to insist, making it hard to decline. Li Jing, therefore, no longer hesitated and took the seat with everyone's attention on him.
As he sat down, a group of girls in tight-fitting clothes, with their navels exposed, wearing veils, and flaunting their graceful figures with an exotic charm, danced in.
And in the fervent music, they exhibited feminine gentleness.
Li Jing's gaze swept around and he noticed that everyone, be it Pang Yong or other soldiers, was displaying a fascinated expression.
However, Wang Sheng was uniquely indifferent, his gaze cold.
As if such singing and dancing could not shake his state of mind at all.
Li Jing silently nodded, appreciating such a temperament; it's no wonder Wang Sheng ultimately won Pei Rong's heart.
While Li Jing was observing everyone, Pei Rong was also quietly observing him. She noticed that Li Jing was different from other men. Though he watched the dance, his eyes were exceptionally clear.
There was no greed, no desire, and coupled with the cinnabar mark between his eyebrows, his whole being exuded an indescribable detachment.
As the dance reached its climax and the atmosphere of the banquet heated up, many stood up to toast from a distance to Xiahou Jiang, expressing their thanks.
Li Jing received them all, bowl after bowl of white liquor flowed into his stomach. Inside his chest, it felt like a flame was fiercely burning.
Due to the alcohol, Li Jing's face began to turn ruddy, his skin hot as if burning. Those sitting around him felt as though surrounding a furnace rather than a person.
To all this, Li Jing appeared oblivious, continuing to drink heavily and eat heartily. He accepted every toast without refusal!
Pang Yong hadn't expected Li Jing to handle his liquor so well. Eagerness was evident in his eyes.
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Their clay bowls clinked together.
After sharing a look, Li Jing and Pang Yong both tilted their heads back.
"Good!"
"Good!"
Seeing the two drink up in one go, the crowd couldn't help but applaud.
Encouraged by everyone, Pang Yong became even more valorous.
Huge bowls of liquor, one after another, were gulped down! His face turned visibly redder and he began to stagger as he walked.
However, Li Jing's complexion remained the same as before, his gaze still calm.
Clearly, in the first round, Li Jing completely outperformed Pang Yong!
As the drink-off continued, Li Jing's Demon-slaying Sword, placed on the table, suddenly unsheathed itself without any apparent trigger, emitting a sound akin to a dragon's roar.
Everyone was startled!
The originally warm atmosphere suddenly turned cold…