Mysterious Martial Arts: The Record of the Swordsman

Chapter 329 Bone-Heavy Divine Cold Heavenly Temple Artifact

Chapter 329 Bone-Heavy Divine Cold Heavenly Temple Artifact

The moment the words "Manting Immortal Banquet" were uttered, many present were immediately moved—not because they knew anything about the mirage snail or the ascension to immortality behind it, but because the words "Manting Immortal Banquet" themselves represented a legend behind Wuyi Mountain.

The earliest written record of the myth of "Wuyi Jun's Banquet at the Manting Pavilion" can be found in Yuan Jie's "Wuyi Jun" and Lu Yu's "Record of Wuyi Mountain" from the Tang Dynasty. The texts clearly record the legend that Wuyi Jun set up a Manting Pavilion on the mountaintop every year on the fifteenth of August and met with the villagers. They even left the earliest prototype of the banquet dishes (water moss, water lily, stream delicacies, dried fish, etc.).

In his "Record of Wuyi Mountain" (included in "Fangyu Shenglan"), Zhu Mu of the Southern Song Dynasty fully documented this legend: On the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the second year of Qin Shi Huang's reign, Wuyi Jun, Huang Tai Lao, and thirteen immortals including Prince Qian of Wei set up a pavilion on the top of Manting Peak, decorated it with colorful banners, and built a rainbow bridge to guide two thousand villagers from the foot of the mountain to a banquet. During the banquet, celestial music played, and a singer sang "The Song of Human Sorrow". After the banquet, a sudden storm came, the rainbow bridge flew off and broke, and the immortals and mortals were separated. This text was also included in the "Records of Wuyi Mountain" of later generations and became the core part of the Manting Banquet.

During the Tang Dynasty, Wuyi Mountain was listed as one of the thirty-six Taoist grotto-heavens. With the rise of Taoism, the Manting Banquet was incorporated into the Taoist fasting and sacrificial ritual system. It transformed from a folk sacrifice into an exclusive banquet for Taoists to entertain distinguished guests and hold grand fasting and sacrificial ceremonies. Therefore, in the eyes of Feng Daode, Dongxuan Daoren, and Lu Feiqing, this was an extremely solemn event.

For the general public, during the Song Dynasty, Wuyi Mountain became a secluded retreat and a place for scholars and literati to study. Famous figures such as Zhu Xi, Xin Qiji, and Lu You visited the mountain and left behind a wealth of poems and essays for the Manting Banquet, which served as the best advertisement for the area.

Xin Qiji once wrote a poem, "In vain I sought the road to the Jade Pool in Penglai, unaware that there is a Manting Pavilion in the human world," comparing the Manting Banquet to the fairyland of the Jade Pool. When Zhu Xi was lecturing at Wuyi Academy, he often used the Manting Banquet to entertain his disciples and friends, incorporating the aesthetics of literati gatherings into the banquet, turning the Manting Banquet from a "legendary fairy banquet" into a grand human event that others flocked to.

The truly feasible, standardized, and culturally rich "Manting Fairy Banquet" was fully established during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty: with the gradual prosperity of Wuyi rock tea planting and trade, the food culture of northern Fujian ushered in its golden age, and the Manting Banquet's regulations and dishes formed a series of cold dishes, hot dishes, main dishes, sweet soups, and snacks made from local specialties.

But now that Jiang Wen has arrived, he completely disregards these rules and wants to plan according to his own ideas. He has also learned from his experience at Yi Na Xuan in Jizu Mountain that a good banquet does not necessarily have to be a feast of delicacies. What is more important is to establish a fixed system that focuses on local mountain delicacies and fresh streams, and fits the temperament of Wuyi Mountain and water, so that people can not taste the authentic flavor once they leave this area.

Marketing is something Jiang Wen excels at.

"Please be seated, everyone. We are all 'immortals' at this grand gathering. Let's drink and have some fun, and let's not talk nonsense. Even if there are any major issues, we can discuss them after we have eaten and drunk our fill."

Jiang Wen raised his glass in a toast at the head of the table. After the guests had finished drinking and settled down, he raised his glass again and said a few words of toast, emphasizing the story of the Wuyi Jun Manting Banquet and expressing his feelings of hospitality to fellow practitioners and joint protection of peace in the martial world. Then he gestured with his eyes that the dishes could be served.

The first of the eight appetizers is Wuyi Langu Smoked Goose.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this Langu smoked goose was originally attributed to Zhu Xi, who said that he used smoked goose to accompany tea when he built the Hanquan Hermitage on the southern slope of Wuyi Mountain. I believe that this is a story with no factual basis. However, during the Jiajing period, Li Shilong, the instructor of Jianzhou, once inscribed the words 'Smoked goose is the best flavor in the world,' which shows the wonder of the local smoked goose."

The golden-red, glossy goose skin, exuding a faint aroma of smoky tea, is made by slow-smoking with Zheng Yan tea stems and glutinous rice. The goose meat is firm yet tender; with each bite, the skin is crisp and the meat is tender. The subtle bitterness of the rock tea perfectly balances the greasiness of the unimproved goose meat, leaving only a rich, savory flavor. Master Chicken immediately spotted the dish, grabbed half a goose leg, and began to devour it with gusto, mumbling "Good stuff!"

Then, another appetizer dish was served, a meat dish with a yellowish-brown color and a glossy sheen. The portion was smaller than the smoked goose that had been served earlier, and immediately people started talking about it: "Why are they serving duck right after the goose? This is too perfunctory."

Jiang Wen picked up a piece with his chopsticks and said, "This is Jian'ou preserved duck. Its history can be traced back to the Song Dynasty. It was once a dish served in the Song court and was a delicacy for the emperor. Its flavor complements that of goose meat perfectly. It is one of the four famous preserved ducks in China. You must try it!"

Upon hearing that it was a tribute dish for the imperial court, everyone hurriedly tasted it. Sure enough, the meat was firm, salty, and fragrant, with a mellow and not greasy flavor, and they all exclaimed how delicious it was.

The following six appetizers were local delicacies specially arranged by Jiang Wen. While not as famous as the first two, they were still dishes he had researched based on culinary classics such as the Ming Dynasty text *Zunsheng Bajian*. He believed that as long as the ingredients were fresh, there was no reason for them to be bad.

Wild red mushrooms with spring bamboo shoots: The red mushrooms are wild-caught from deep in the Wuyi Mountains. The crimson mushrooms paired with tender white bamboo shoots are fresh and refreshing. Blanched stone frogs from the Nine Bend Stream: These are stone frogs from the crevices of the stream. They are simply blanched in water and dipped in ginger and garlic sauce. Every bite is pure freshness. There are also fermented fish, salt-baked peanuts, braised smoked bamboo shoots, and cold seaweed salad. They are either savory, fresh, or crisp, just right to whet the appetite and soothe the aftertaste of alcohol.

Since the meal was served individually, each of the eight appetizers, except for the goose leg of the smoked goose from Lan Gu, was served in a small dish. Once the dishes were served, they were devoured like a whirlwind. In addition, the wine sponsored by Lin Zhennan made everyone feel hungry even though they had eaten a lot. This was also partly Jiang Wen's selfish desire to whet their appetites with savory food.

Of the eight people seated on either side of the table, apart from Feng Daode who looked displeased, the others all raised their glasses to Jiang Wen. Gui Xinshu seemed to be in high spirits, so much so that the waiters next to him couldn't keep up with pouring his drinks.

The wine served at the banquet was divided into three types: Fujian specialty Chenggang wine, prepared for the Taoist priests and high monks, was mellow and sweet, best enjoyed slowly; Lin Zhennan sponsored a fine wine for the chivalrous heroes of the martial arts world, which was strong and fragrant, warming the whole body with a single sip; and Wuyi glutinous rice wine was prepared for women or those who could not hold their liquor, which was sweet and smooth, not strong or harsh. Therefore, even Yan Yongchun, who usually did not like to drink, made an exception and drank two more cups today. She probably had some alcohol allergy, as her cheeks were flushed as if she had applied rouge, and she looked at Jiang Wen with a strange expression.

Feng Daode was rather helpless. He was originally a Shaolin disciple, and later became a Taoist priest. He had not eaten meat for most of his life, but Jiang Wen was cooking goose and duck meat, and braised it with scallions, ginger and oil. It seemed like he was deliberately making things difficult for him.

Just then, the waiters invited from the foot of Wuyi Mountain filed in, their footsteps light and silent, and brought a hot dish to the table. The dish was served in a rough earthenware pot, and it was still bubbling when it was brought to the table.

The moment the lid of the casserole is lifted, a rich, savory aroma mixed with the fragrance of mushrooms wafts out. The soup is a bright, rosy red, with a local free-range chicken, stewed until it falls off the bone, nestled in the center, and a few plump, round wild red mushrooms floating on top.

Jiang Wen smiled and gestured for everyone to have some soup: "These red mushrooms can only be found deep in the Wuyi Mountains. They've been simmered for three hours with free-range chicken raised in mountain spring water. Everyone, please have a taste."

Zhao Banshan scooped up a spoonful and put it in his mouth. His eyebrows relaxed and he praised repeatedly, "It is indeed a top-quality delicacy. I have traveled all over the country and have never tasted such pure freshness."

Jiang Wen smiled slightly. People who love to drink know that spicy dishes are appetizing and go well with alcohol, but in the end, nothing beats a bowl of hot soup. He had just used strong-flavored appetizers and spicy wine to almost marinate these people. Now that they are finally drinking warm and refreshing hot soup, they are sure to enjoy the taste.

The light and sweet soup was quickly finished, and then a bright red river fish was served, braised with its scales and flesh intact. Even though the aroma of Fujian red yeast rice wafted over the fish, some people hesitated and dared not take a bite.

Jiang Wen took the lead again, saying, "This braised nine-bend fish uses the unique red-eyed stream fish from the Nine-bend Stream. Cooking it with its scales on is a traditional way of eating it. I, Jiang, will eat it first as a sign of respect!"

That's right, this fish is the red-eyed stream fish that the Tanka people caught for Jiang Wen while paddling bamboo rafts. Its scientific name is *Sinocyclocheilus glaber*. In later generations, these wild fish would be protected and naturally could not be caught and eaten, but there is no such rule now.

According to Jiang Wen's plan, he naturally intended to create a complete tourist route along the Nine-Bend Stream and Thirty-Six Peaks at the foot of Wuyi Mountain. The Dan people, who could not farm, would row boats and open restaurants nearby. In the end, he would provide a complete package of black tour guides and black restaurants, ensuring that tourists would return with clean wallets.

But this fish was truly delicious. Even the scales were stewed until they were soft and tender. Because it had absorbed all the broth, the scales were crisp and tender when you bit into it, and the fish meat was delicate. There was not a trace of fishy smell. Even Feng Daode, who was usually aloof, picked up a piece with his chopsticks and nodded slightly.

After everyone had finished enjoying the fresh fish, a waiter brought out a small white porcelain cup containing cubes of pork belly stewed until they were amber-colored, with skin that trembled and cracked when picked up with chopsticks.

"This is braised pork belly with rock tea and cinnamon. Everyone, please enjoy it quickly, as it won't taste as good when it gets cold."

Jiang Wen didn't need to introduce the dish; everyone had already started eating. In this era of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, fatty meat and oil were still rare. Moreover, the oil in this dish had long been absorbed by the cinnamon tea soup, melting in the mouth without being greasy at all. The aroma of meat mixed with the spiciness of rock tea and the aroma of charcoal spread layer by layer in the mouth.

Lin Zhennan, who understands the charm of this dish best, smiled and urged everyone to eat it: "This is the local Wuyi recipe, using Zheng Yan cinnamon, which cuts through the greasiness and enhances the aroma. Even those who don't like fatty meat can try a couple of pieces."

He then said that the original soup should be used to digest the original food, so he had a small bowl of bright orange-yellow tea soup with a rich and mellow aroma. The aroma had a hint of cinnamon, which was particularly unforgettable. Even those who were not used to the smoky and charcoal-grilled taste could still taste a flavor different from Longjing and Silver Needle tea.

Wuyi Mountain rock tea was already beginning to emerge in this era, but the earliest mention of Rougui tea, which brings out the characteristics to the extreme, can be found in Jiang Heng's "Wuyi Tea Song" (1851) in the Qing Dynasty. The poem mentions "Gui" in "The rare variety naturally retains its true flavor, with a slightly strong papaya flavor and a slightly spicy cinnamon flavor", which refers to Rougui tea.

At this time, cinnamon was already a famous local variety in Wuyishan, but its cultivation was limited and it was not widely promoted until the Republican era.

Jiang Wen, however, did not consider these factors. He disliked the original Tea Horse Road for being too backward and earning money through hard work from afar. Local tea merchants were at best distributors closer to the upstream. Therefore, he wanted Lin Zhennan to promote the rock tea Rougui as a specialty product, starting with the Jianghu figures represented by the Fuwei Escort Agency and the official forces behind the Jingnan Prince's Mansion, to promote this category and seize the Fujian market in advance.

Therefore, even for the dessert at "Manting Xianyan", Jiang Wen specially arranged a Jianlian Rock Tea Soup as a sweet soup. It uses tribute lotus seeds from Jianning, Fujian, and is slowly simmered with rock tea soup. The lotus seeds are stewed until they are soft and sandy, sweet but not greasy, with a light tea fragrance, which is just right to relieve the greasiness of the appetizers.

At this moment, the curtains fluttered and a gentle breeze caressed the clothes. All the guests were completely absorbed in the music. The drunkards of the Eight Drunken Immortals were shouting and laughing with joy. If it weren't for the opera troupe arranged by Jiang Wen continuing to play, and the music changing from the stirring Water Margin soundtrack at the beginning to the much more soothing "Accidentally Entering the Heavenly Family," the scene would have been noisy long ago.

He stood up and offered another toast, signaling the waiters to stop serving drinks. He then addressed the group of martial arts figures who were drinking like drunkards, saying, "Gentlemen, please stop drinking for now and listen to what I have to say—yes, I'm talking about you guys. If you can't finish your drinks, you can take them home. I won't hold you accountable."

Before these people got too drunk and started fighting, Jiang Wen quickly took control of the situation and got down to business. Just as he stood up, everyone present, each with their own agenda, pricked up their ears, knowing that the more relaxed and uninspired people were during such a meal and drinks, the more their words would reveal their true intentions.

Jiang Wen's gaze swept over Gui Xinshu, Feng Daode, Master Ji Po, Shang Baozhen, Zhao Banshan, Lu Feiqing, Yuan Ziyi, and Yan Yongchun in turn, observing the various expressions on their faces. Then, ignoring Yuan Ziyi's winking and gesturing, he solemnly said.

"I, Jiang, have said before that I am not holding this martial arts conference for the sake of supremacy, nor for personal gain, but I know that none of you here believe me. You misjudged me yesterday, and you misjudged me again today, and perhaps you will misjudge me again tomorrow, but I am still me, and I am never afraid of others misjudging me."

Jiang Wen suppressed the urge to recite a two-line poem on the spot and then randomly kill a dissenter. Instead, he resolutely smiled under the gaze of all the martial arts practitioners present.

As early as when he consulted Yuan Chengzhi on how to organize a martial arts conference, he had already figured out that the conference was nothing more than a few modes: vying for righteousness, engaging in power struggles, resolving grudges in the martial arts world, and gathering forces for alliances. Under normal circumstances, no matter how much Jiang Wen claimed to be indifferent to fame and fortune, people would still interpret his actions in these ways.

But today, he's going to do something no one expected!

He stood up from his seat, and Luo Shuang'er, dressed in white, walked out from the back hall, holding a long, rusty, and badly damaged iron box in her hands. She slowly took out a tattered ancient scroll.

As the tattered and decaying ancient scroll slowly unfurled, all that could be seen was a hastily drawn and shabby geographical map. Only by ignoring the large areas of damaged blank space could one barely guess the shape of the drawing.

The incomplete scroll begins with the six large characters "Heaven displays its signs, Earth takes its form" in ancient seal script. Then, the characters "Mountains and Rivers in Two Directions" in clerical script appear. The map is divided into two major regions, north and south, by a huge horizontal stroke, as if a giant river is rolling across it. It is obviously imitating the ancient star map that divides the stars into clouds. The map clearly marks the nine provinces, five regions, five sacred mountains, four rivers, etc., and only ends at the end of the north and south boundaries.

Upon closer inspection, however, the painting reveals an eeriness in every aspect: the boundaries between the North and South are blurred, with many extra lines remaining, as crude as a child's scribbles; the chaotic traces south of the South are not random scribbles, but rather countless tangled and twisted shadows of insects and snakes with flowing manes and strange scales; beneath the mountain lines in the central Fujian section, a string of sharp spikes of a hidden monster is hidden, outlining its fierce and malevolent essence; the Central Plains and the Five Sacred Mountains and Four Rivers are filled with bizarre and inexplicable traces, as if dirty ink had been spilled and secretly drawn upon.

When the map was displayed before everyone, the martial arts practitioners in the hall first held their breath and stared at it, then began to whisper and discuss among themselves. Some people wondered why the map was so hastily drawn, while others marveled at the mountain and river formations it marked. Only a few people noticed the strange marks in the map and their expressions suddenly changed drastically.

"This is the 'Two Maps of the World' painted by the holy monk Tang Yixing. Our Wuyi Sect has long resided in the mountains and forests. The reason we are holding this martial arts gathering is to invite heroes from all over the world to complete this incomplete map. There is no need for you to say anything more or ask any more questions at this moment. If you are interested, you can discuss it with me privately. If you are not interested, you may return to the elders and report this matter. Perhaps one day we will set foot on Wuyi Mountain again!"

His gaze slowly swept across the room again, and he saw that Feng Daode's face was ashen. Clearly, among everyone present, he, as the Wudang Sect Leader, knew the most about the matter of Xi Yi. Moreover, he also knew that Jiang Wen's martial arts were exceptionally high, even high enough to deal with these things. Therefore, even he could not resist this temptation.

Across from him, Lu Feiqing's face remained impassive, but her eyes were fixed intently on Feng Daode like needles. Zhao Banshan, on the other hand, had a strange expression; he seemed lost in some memory, his mind wandering to who-knows-where. Shang Baozhen was deep in thought, but more so in self-doubt. What surprised Jiang Wen the most was Gui Xinshu; his eyes were wide open, as if spitting fire, and his Hunyuan Gong unconsciously began to circulate, his muscles constantly swelling and contracting, it was impossible to know what he was thinking.

Jiang Wen smiled slightly, knowing that he had made the right bet again—this was the purpose of his invitation to several major sects to hold a separate banquet!

The mysterious and inexplicable forces surging behind the martial arts world of the Ming and Qing dynasties are a nightmare from which no one can escape. As long as a sect has a long enough history and one has a deep enough connection with it, one will inevitably be infected with the disease, and no one can escape it.

The Rhinoceros-Wielding Swordsmen are the root of a thousand-year-old scourge, while the Four Sects of Green, White, Red, and Purple are the staunch defenders against the crisis. The fact that Maheshvara, the Heavenly King, painstakingly collected this scroll, which he sees as a "menace for ten thousand years," has already told Jiang Wen one thing: this world cannot be saved by a single, towering figure. He may not need helpers, but he needs a sufficient number of informants, and the people of the martial world are precisely that many informants. Yet, they cannot find trustworthy helpers!

Jiang Wen smiled slightly, clenching his fist in his sleeve. He knew that the situation was now settled, and it was not advisable to add anything unnecessary. He just needed to wait for things to develop and find an opportunity to make everyone truly acknowledge his abilities. Then, from that point on, it would be difficult for anyone in the martial arts world to be willing or dare to be an enemy of the Wuyi Sect.

So he slowly put away the ancient scroll and remained calmly in his seat, watching the crowd discuss amongst themselves. Half an hour passed in this way, and just as he was about to announce the end of the "Manting Immortal Banquet," a loud shout suddenly rang out from outside the door.

"You scoundrel! Give me back my second brother's life!!"