Chapter 395: Chapter 395: Grand Reception

Actually, Xia Wenjin was also quite puzzled in her heart. Did they really look like people who eat others? They didn’t appear ferocious, so why did that person who greeted them change his expression so drastically?

To put it nicely, he was shocked; to put it bluntly, it was as if he had seen a ghost.

But if they really turned around and left now, it would instead make them seem guilty, and they would truly be mistaken for some kind of notorious bandits.

However, from the whispers of these guests, Xia Wenjin got a rough idea. The Heavenly Tiger Sect had a resounding name and was well-known in this area, but in the Jianghu, it could only be considered a third-rate power.

Haotian Village belonged to a first-rate power, and as for some hidden sects, they were considered top-tier forces.

There are also three major families in the Jianghu, which are first-rate powers.

However, be it the major families or the hidden sects, each has its own way of existing in the world. Particularly those hidden sects, they hardly interfere with Jianghu affairs, and how many such hidden sects exist in this world is known to none.

Currently, there are also rumors in the Jianghu of the four top-tier forces: East Concealing Moon, West Break Yuan, South Seven Stars, and North Fire.

Yanyue Manor, Po Yuan Island, Seven Stars Sword Sect, Fiery Fire Hall!

These four top-tier forces, even Haotian Village has not been able to establish any connections with them; they are legendary existences in the Jianghu.

Though the three major families are not as powerful as these four top-tier forces, they nonetheless have a long history, passed down from generation to generation, unlike the three hidden sects of Xiahou, Baili, etc., over six hundred years ago, which have long faded from the Jianghu and no longer concern themselves with worldly matters. The later generations of the three major families also do not know their whereabouts.

The newly risen three major families have existed for two to three hundred years, namely, Ouyang, Xuanyuan, and Nangong.

Even as first-rate powers, Haotian Village, compared to these three major families, still falls short in terms of depth, which is the heavy legacy passed down through hundreds of years of history!

Xia Wenjin seemed to stand on the shoulders of giants overlooking these powers, so of course, the Heavenly Tiger Sect was not worth mentioning.

Yet in this town, in this corner of the Jianghu, the Heavenly Tiger Sect was still a force not to be underestimated.

People speculated that the two of them were offspring of a major family or disciples of a powerful sect. Xia Wenjin’s heart was stirred; could it be that her name Xia Wenjin was also renowned in the Jianghu? Did people know that the eldest young lady of Haotian Village was called Xia Wenjin?

If the eldest young lady of Haotian Village came for a birthday celebration, it would indeed surprise the Heavenly Tiger Sect, and Min Chang’s loss of composure would be understandable.

But obviously, that wasn’t the case now; her identity shouldn’t be known, as she wasn’t that high-profile!

Just as she was contemplating, Min Chang returned, and he wasn’t alone.

Behind him followed a middle-aged man with a purple face, who walked with a brisk pace and light steps, clearly possessing good martial arts skills.

Someone whispered, “Jiang Sect Master has come out personally!”

“He wouldn’t be coming out just for these two kids, would he?”

“Definitely not, there must be other honored guests, right?”

“What honored guests? At this hour, anyone coming would only arrive tomorrow!”

…

The entourage of Jiang Tao moved swiftly, bringing a gust of wind as they stopped in front of Huangfu Jingchen and Xia Wenjin. Min Chang pointed at them and said, “Master, it’s them!”

Jiang Tao, with a dignified appearance, set his eyes on Huangfu Jingchen and Xia Wenjin.

Huangfu Jingchen instinctively stepped half a step forward, partially shielding Xia Wenjin behind him.

If Jiang Tao intended to cause trouble, he would stand in front.

“So Jiang Sect Master is really here for these two kids; who exactly are these two kids?”

“Why not take a look and find out?”

“Since when did the Jianghu produce such young rising stars?”

“Rising stars emerge every year, but ones so young and accomplished like this, I’ve never heard of before!”

…

The murmurs of the crowd abruptly ceased because Jiang Tao actually clasped his hands in salute.

Jiang Tao, aged sixty, with a burly appearance, and possessing the vital energy typical of a martial artist, seemed only about fifty. Yet, despite his age, he actually clasped his hands in salute to a pair of youngsters whose combined ages were not even equal to his?

In the crowd’s astonishment, Jiang Tao said, “May I ask if the two of you are from Jiazhou?”

Xia Wenjin replied with a smile, “Indeed we are!”

Jiang Tao’s gaze lingered on Xia Wenjin’s face for a second longer, his tone becoming more courteous, “Then may I ask if the two of you are Huang Zheng, also known as Huang Xiaoxia, and Xia Wenjin, also known as Heroine Xia, who once stayed in Northern County Wanshan Town?”

It turned out to be because of Wanshan Town.

Some didn’t know what had happened and quietly asked those nearby, “What kind of place is Northern County Wanshan Town? Is it very famous?”

“You might not know this, but it didn’t have much of a reputation before. However, some time ago, Wanshan Town had an epidemic!”

“What does an epidemic have to do with these two people?”

“I’ve heard of this. It’s said that a young couple passing by discovered the epidemic and dedicated their resources and efforts to cure it, saving many lives!”

“Is such a thing true?”

“Of course, even the story-tellers have crafted tales about it. That young couple is remarkable!”

“So could these be the two individuals?”

“Most likely they are!”

…

Xia Wenjin suddenly understood. As long as it wasn’t her identity as the eldest young lady of Haotian Village being revealed, she wasn’t troubled. She also clasped her hands in a Jianghu salute and said, “Jiang Sect Master is too kind. That would be us!”

Jiang Tao’s face lit up with joy, and he cheerfully said, “The incident in Northern County Wanshan Town is well-known among those of us nearby. The chivalrous deeds of Young Master Huang and Miss Xia are much admired by us. It’s my birthday, and it’s an honor that you two came to share a drink, truly a grace upon my humble abode! Please, come with me!”

The Heavenly Tiger Sect held a name and status in this town, and now, in the late evening, many villagers were watching the excitement. Previously, only the Jianghu people whispered, but now even those villagers, having heard, were discussing, “So the storyteller’s words are true, there really are two good-hearted people who saved a whole town?”

“The storyteller said that that person named Xia Wenjin was a Bodhisattva’s envoy sent down upon Wanshan Town’s plight!”

“I think they are all the Bodhisattva’s mythical Golden Boy and Jade Girl, sent to save lives. Think about it, they’re so young yet they did such extraordinary deeds. How could ordinary people manage that?”

“Scholar Zhang, aren’t you good at drawing? Did you get a clear look at their faces? Why don’t you draw them, and I’ll buy it from you!”

“I’ll buy one too, I’ll buy one too. The Golden Boy and Jade Girl by the Bodhisattva’s side, let’s enshrine them, offering incense day and night, surely the Bodhisattva will bless us!”

…

Xia Wenjin and her companion were unaware that they were merely joining in the fun, but they ended up having their portraits drawn and taken home for worship!

If she knew, she would certainly be moved. It shows that the hearts of these common people all have a scale for good and evil. If they like and accept someone, they will express their admiration in the most sincere and simple way possible.

But in the previous generation, how many such honest people perished unfortunately because of war?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep