"This way, please!"
"This way, please!"
*****
"My young friend, Brother Ningdao, this way, please!"
Song Que stroked his beard in high-spirits while he extended an invitation to Happy and Ningdao Qi.
"Senior, since you have invited me, I must surely show my respect to you by accepting your invitation." Happy reciprocated by accepting the invitation.
"Haha! It seems like I will be basking in your spotlight, Young Swordsman Happy. I'll be going to enjoy the feast as well, then." Ningdao Qi flung his sleeve in a relaxed manner, then jumped off the reef to fly to the cliff.
*****
Song House had managed to escape destruction this time, and a feast with hundreds of tables was set up in the inner city. All the martial artists who shared the same principles in the city were invited.
However, usually, the players who did not join the core of the quest knew that they would not receive any benefits even after they received their rewards. They chose to leave without hesitation and seize time to train or carry out new quests.
But this time, things were slightly different.
Two martial artists who were One with the World had appeared, and the elusive Ningdao Qi had also shown up. Right now, even Happy had shown up!
More than ninety percent of the martial artists who helped Song House chose to stay. The inner city was as lively as a celebration during Chinese new year. Many people talked about the battle at the bed of reefs, and all of them had lively expressions on their faces. Their spit even flew when they talked, and they spoke as if they had personally witnessed the fight.
*****
There was also a feast in the inner mansion of Song House, and it was set in the hall. It was incredibly exquisite, and only around one hundred people could enter the place. Not only did Happy see Phantasmal Shadow and Lin Xiao, he also saw Silver Wolf, Thunderous Battle, and other familiar faces whose strength could not be considered among the top group of players. These people had all joined the quest to protect Song Shidao and Song Yuzhi.
When Happy walked into the mansion with Song Que, all the people's gazes were instantly gathered on them.
Phantasmal Shadow and Wu Kuo were already familiar with him, so they got up and went up to him.
"Sect Master Happy."
"Everyone, please accept my greeting."
Happy wrapped his fist in his palm and greeted each of the people in the mansion, even some of the people who were not well-known. He looked at them when he greeted them, and there was a smile on his face. He did not say anything during then, and he only greeted Phantasmal Shadow and Wu Kuo last. "My apologies. If I have been inattentive to you, I hope that you can be magnanimous enough to forgive me, tower master and vice tower master."
Phantasmal Shadow, Wu Kuo were Happy's long acquaintances. Naturally, they would not be at odds with Happy because of this. However, Wu Kuo did find it slightly unbelievable that Happy had just spent a few minutes greeting all the people in the mansion.
If Happy had been seemingly impolite to them, then logically speaking, he should not have shown these people so much courtesy as well. After all, these people were not that famous in the game, and Phantasmal Shadow as well as Wu Kuo also found Happy's act of sending a private message to them and apologizing to them later very telling. He did so in the tone of a friend, and the atmosphere between them was also friendly, but it was still enough for them to see that Happy paid a lot of importance and attention to these virtual martial artists.
'Why?'
After Phantasmal Shadow sat down, she watched curiously as Happy started chatting with a person to whom he was clearly not very familiar with on the table next to hers. The surprise on her face grew even greater.
"Brother, you seem very familiar. Could you be Silver Wolf…?"
The people on the table next to Phantasmal Shadow had been paying attention to Happy and were observing him quietly. When they suddenly heard Happy's question, Thunder, Knife, and Bar looked at him in surprise. They stared at Happy, then at Silver Wolf, who also had a strange look on his face.
"I am indeed Silver Wolf…"
When he turned around, he saw Happy with a cordial smile on his face. His mind was filled with only puzzlement, and he found that his thoughts had come to a screeching halt. He had never liked talking to others, and he was usually rather indifferent when treating others as well. But now, he suddenly found that he did not know what to say, and he found himself rather clumsy in his words.
Many of the people in the mansion looked over.
"It IS you!"
Happy sounded delighted because his guess had been correct. Under everyone's surprised gazes, he took the initiative to wrap his fist in his palm. "I am Happy. A few years ago, I watched your battle replay, and I have always remembered it. I was certain that you will definitely rise to fame and become one of the few elites in World of Martial Arts, but I do find it regretful that you left, and I am also curious as to why you left the game for nearly two years, Brother Silver Wolf."
"It's not two years, it's three years." Knife butted in to correct him.
Happy looked as if he had suddenly realized something, and he nodded at Knife to show his gratitude. "I see. That is a pity…"
When he sensed Happy's sincere and regretful gaze, Knife subconsciously nodded in return, but almost immediately after, he found what he did baffling.
Thunder, Bar, and the other people who shared their table found the situation incredibly strange, and they looked at each other at a loss.
'This is Lovely Land's sect master?
'He sure is friendly. He's not like those other sect masters at all. He doesn't keep everyone at arm's length!'
"Just now, when I saw your side profile, I found you very familiar, but since you didn't wear your silver mask, I wasn't too certain. I didn't expect that it's really you, Brother Silver Wolf. Even though I don't know what happened three years ago, since you have returned to World of Martial Arts, I believe that the Chinese server will definitely become an even more interesting place!" Happy said sincerely.
Silver Wolf said nothing. He was originally puzzled as to why Happy would speak to him, but when he heard Happy say those words, he was suddenly a little touched. It was already a surprise that Happy would be able to remember his name for such a long period of time, but Happy had actually managed to recognize his uncovered side profile, and it was enough to show just how much attention Happy paid to him.
"You praise me too much."
Happy knew Silver Wolf's personality very well, and he knew that when Silver Wolf reacted this way, it meant that he did not want to say much. Perhaps he would actually need some time to digest the information, which was why Happy chose not to speak to him any further. He wrapped his fist in his palm and nodded before he also nodded at Knife, Thunder, and Bar. Then, he switched to his next target.
"Alliance Master Lin, Alliance Master Red Dust, I have heard of how noble, chivalrous, and just you are, and I have been full of admiration for you since two years ago, but unfortunately, fate never allowed us to meet. Today, as fate would have it, we managed to meet each other at Song House. Please allow me to be audacious enough to use someone else's wine to offer a toast to the both of you." Happy got up and picked up a wine cup, and this attracted everyone's attention again.
But Lin Xiao and Red Dust were different from Silver Wolf. They were both great heroes in their own regions, and when someone offered them respect, they would offer a great deal more respect back to them. When they saw how earnest and serious Happy treated them, their expressions became stern. They stood up at the same time.
"Sect Master Happy, you are far too polite! We, too, admire your deeds, and compared to you, what we did are not worthy of being mentioned."
These words came from the bottom of Lin Xiao's heart.
Red Dust nodded. "A toast to you, sect master!"
Happy's expression became stern, and he raised his hand and said, "No! During
the fight against Class One Hall and Wild Wolves, I fought because I had nothing to lose, and that's why I fought with my life on the line. It's different from the both of you. You enjoyed a high status, and you had everything, but you were willing to attack with turning for the sake of a righteous cause and for the Chinese plains. For this, you sacrificed hundreds of thousands of members from Chivalry Alliance, but you didn't complain about it. I admire this from the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of all Lovely Land members, I propose a toast to the both of you as well as all the members of Chivalry Alliance!"
Right when he finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent.
Everyone held their breaths and watched Happy finish his wine in one gulp after he finished his fervent and impassioned speech.
Lin Xiao and Red Dust stood as still as logs as they held their cups and stared at Happy, who still had a sincere look on his face. They did not move even after a long time had passed.
Chapter 1125 - Chivalry Alliance
Most of the Chinese players had their gazes fixed on the gains and losses Lovely Land and Wind Assault Tower went through during their fierce war against Wild Wolves and Class One Hall.
Few people paid attention to Chivalry Alliance, who also fought with everything they had during the war and were crippled. Even Phantasmal Shadow had to admit that she chose to temporarily overlook Chivalry Alliance's existence and prioritized restoring Wind Assault Tower as her main goal.
However, right now, Happy had mentioned this in front of multiple heroes earnestly, the seriousness that came from the bottom of his heart caused everyone to feel their hearts jump in fear.
Phantasmal Shadow's smile faded away into a stern expression. "Brother Happy is right. Brother Lin, Brother Red Dust, today, I, Phantasmal Shadow will also have to use the feast's wine to toast to you, and on behalf of my members from Wind Assault Tower, I propose a toast to all the people in Chivalry Alliance!"
At that moment, Lin Xiao and Red Dust had finally recovered the shock Happy delivered on them.
"A toast to you, Sect Master Happy."
"A toast to you, Sect Master Happy!"
The two men looked at each other before they spoke firmly. Their gazes burned as they stared at Happy, and they lifted the wine cup in their hands at the same time before they readily downed everything in one go.
Phantasmal Shadow and the other people around them could tell that the two alliance masters of Chivalry Alliance had clearly been moved by Happy's words, and their voices quivered a little when they spoke.
The people who were seated sighed.
Some of them knew about Chivalry Alliance's current situation.
In the past, they were the third strongest faction of power in the Chinese server, but because of that war, they lost hundreds of thousands of members. Right now, they had fallen to the state of being a normal large-sized sect. They had already lost their former glory.
But even though Chivalry Alliance lost so many things, they never complained in the slightest. They just continued developing their sect quietly and, just as quietly, faced the leaders of the two greatest giants in the Chinese server—Happy and Phantasmal Shadow.
It was only at that moment Happy seemed to have truly been able to touch them.
Whoosh!
Thunderous Battle and his group stood up as well. They lifted their wine cups and spoke together, "We propose a toast to the two alliance masters of Chivalry Alliance and to all the members of Chivalry Alliance!"
This scene seemed to have affected many of the people in the feast.
While Song Que, Ningdao Qi, Kuo Zhong, Xu Zhiling, and the rest watched calmly, the virtual martial artists sitting by the tables in the mansion stood up and lifted their cups to the Chivalry Alliance members.
"We propose a toast to the Chivalry Alliance members!"
Loud shouts rang through Song House neatly and clearly, and it also traveled into the ears of quite a number of virtual martial artists who remained outside the mansion but were in the city.
This was originally supposed to be a celebration for Song House's successful defense, but at that moment, it seemed like the people from Chivalry Alliance had become the main characters of the celebration, and it was all because of Happy's words.
Lin Xiao, Red Dust, and the Chivalry Alliance members fell silent. With tears in their eyes, they looked at the faces of all the people in the mansion.
"Chivalry Alliance members, are you here?!"
"Aye!"
The group of Chivalry Alliance members shouted in reply.
"Lift your cups!"
Lin Xiao filled in Red Dust and his own cup.
Whoosh!
Under Lin Xiao and Red Dust's lead, the group of Chivalry Alliance members lifted their cups, and after they saluted the people around him, they faced Happy. "We drink a toast in return for all of you!"
At that moment, some of the people outside the mansion had either gathered at the entrance because of the strange sounds inside or laid on the walls to look inside.
When they looked, they noticed that the originally incredibly normal celebratory feast had seemed to have gained another air at that moment. Everyone stood sternly in the hall, and a fervent atmosphere flowed among the crowd.
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Someone on the wall looked puzzled. The development of the feast in the mansion had clearly exceeded their expectations, and they noticed that they might have missed something.
"That Happy sure is good."
"Yeah, he's the only one who came from Lovely Land, but he managed to push Wind Assault Tower out of the limelight. With just a few words, he managed to stir up all the people and showed huge respect to Chivalry Alliance."
While Silver Wolf, Knife, Thunder, and Bar toasted to Chivalry Alliance, they also discussed this matter among themselves in secret.
"You don't say. Judging by Lin Xiao and Red Dust's current appearance, they must be treating Happy as their bosom buddy by now. Even though Phantasmal Shadow is sharing the world with Happy right now, they never cared about Chivalry Alliance because they are currently busy with obtaining all the resources in the south. In terms of magnanimity, they have already lost."
"Big Brother Silver Wolf, why did Happy suddenly mention this matter? What goal does he possibly have? Is he just trying to draw Lin Xiao and Red Dust to his side?" Knife asked.
Silver Wolf shook his head slightly. "If that were really the case, I will look down on him, and Lin Xiao as well as Red Dust will definitely feel irritated and unnerved by it. Let's watch how things go first. This time, Wandering Know-it-all definitely has his own plans to invite us to Song House, and this is also the reason why we haven't immediately left."
"Yeah."
Compared to Silver Wolf's callous and skeptical personality, Thunderous Battle and the other groups were clearly much more accepting when it came to this.
As Song Shidao came out to calm down the situation, everyone sat down once more, and the stern atmosphere turned into a celebratory one. But there were still people who would occasionally propose a toast to Chivalry Alliance's Lin Xiao and the others.
Lin Xiao, Red Dust, and the others seemed to have their dejectedness and grievances over this period of time instantly fade away because of Happy's words, and they did not reject anyone who proposed a toast to them. They just let themselves loose and drank to their heart's content!
"Haha, youngsters are indeed full of life…"
Song Que and Ningdao Qi sat together and watched them with smiles on their faces. They gave off an aloof air, as if they were completely removed from the situation.
*****
At a corner was a young man who was followed by three mysterious people covered with black hoods. Once he sat down, he just kept staring
at Happy's table. When he saw that the other people in the mansion had proposed a toast to Chivalry Alliance in groups one after another, he actually wanted to get up and go over, but when he remembered the fact that he was alone, he would always hesitate.
And he continued hesitating for a long time before he finally overcame this obstacle in his heart.
"Alliance Master Lin, Vice Alliance Master Red Dust, I propose a toast to you."
Lin Xiao and Red Dust might not reject anyone who came to propose a toast to them, but as of current, Happy was the only one who came forth alone to propose a toast to the both of them. Right now, a youngster who was not well-known had suddenly run over, and they could not help but be rendered speechless.
The other people in the mansion could not help but snicker.
"Where did he come from? He doesn't understand the ways of the world of martial artists, does he?"
Happy had been engaging in a quiet conversation with Phantasmal Shadow during the feast, and he noticed this scene as well. He was first stunned before he smiled in his heart.
'Little North!'
The one who descended into an awkward situation during the toast was, indeed, Little North.
Just as usual, his friend was rather unconventional.
At that moment, his face was flushed red while holding his winecup in his hand. The words, "I'm a noob" were practically written on his face as he hesitantly looked at Lin Xiao and Red Dust while he was under everyone's gazes.
No matter what, the two alliance masters of Chivalry Alliance were famous people in the Chinese plains, and when the others proposed a toast to them, they would always do it in groups to toast to the two alliance masters or proposed a toast to them separately to show their respect.
Of course, with Lin Xiao and Red Dust's personality, they would not reject Little North when he came forward to propose a toast to them, and they were perfectly alright with him proposing a toast to them, but he was proposing a toast to two leaders at once, and he did not even state his own name, because of it, he was not quite following the etiquette in this sort of situations.
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