The time for the banquet was approaching, but Xuanyuan pondered but did not show up, Qiao Song was so anxious that he went to the back garden of Xuanyuan pondering retreat several times, but he did not dare to disturb without authorization, so he had to beckon the family to arrange all the guests to sit down first, hoping that Xuanyuan pondering could leave the customs on time, so as not to snub the heroes from all walks of life.

Xuanyuan Wan'er and Xuanyuan Ting accompanied the guest of honor and were located in the main hall. In the middle of the banquet sat two Zen masters, Huicheng and Huiwu, as well as the heads or representatives of Kunlun, Kongtong, Xueshan, Huashan, Hengshan and other sects with high status in the rivers and lakes.

Chen Dahai, the leader of the beggar gang, was seriously ill, and Mei Yingsong, the deputy gang leader, was in a different place, so only Cui Yang, the elder of the Shaanxi rudder, came.

Although he only divides the helm elder for the beggar gang, the beggar gang is the largest gang in martial arts, and the master's family still arranged for him to sit in the chairman.

Yang Baozhong's martial arts status is not high, but he is a friend of the Xuanyuan sisters, and he saved the lives of the sisters, so he was naturally treated as a guest of honor and arranged on the table near the guest of honor.

Although Qiao Song has a good reputation in the martial arts, he is only the housekeeper of the Xuanyuan Mansion, but he sits far away from the guest of honor.

How could the martial arts conference be without the alliance leader, Xuanyuan pondered that he was not there, and everyone did not dare to move their chopsticks. Seeing that the figures with heads and faces of various sects were sitting in the middle of the table, but they were staring at each other with big eyes, Qiao Song was so anxious that he couldn't do anything.

The Xuanyuan Wan'er sisters accompanied Huicheng and other long-famous seniors in the guest of honor, and they were very apprehensive.

Although I have experienced martial arts conferences before, the scale is not as large, and secondly, I have my father by my side, and the sisters are not very old at that time, so I don't feel anything wrong.

At this time, everyone at the table did not say a word, and they only hoped that their father would appear as soon as possible. After waiting for another stick of incense, many people were bored waiting and chatted below.

Except for a few big gangs such as the beggar gang and a few big gangs who came and sat together, most of the other gangs sat at the table according to their martial arts status.

Some of the people at the same table have only heard each other's names, but they have not met, this time they sat together, greeted each other, asked long and short questions, and it was not lively.

Although these people chatted well and ate some melon seeds, snacks and other platters, they all obeyed the rules, Xuanyuan couldn't figure it out, and no one used chopsticks.

Qiao Song saw it in his eyes, and looked at the guest of honor from afar, and saw that the sisters were all bowing their heads, and Huicheng, Huiwu and others also closed their eyes and recuperated, thinking that if the alliance leader didn't come out again, it would be very inappropriate to snub these heroes.

Sure enough, the following was already a little anxious and said: "The old alliance leader has not come out yet, and this heroic banquet will not be held." ”

"The old alliance master retreats and cultivates, don't go wrong......" Hearing more and more discussions, Qiao Song couldn't sit still anymore, and called the family members who served nearby to greet the guests at each table, so he got up alone and went to the back garden.

When he arrived at the back garden, Qiao Song walked straight to the two pine trees opposite the flower bed, these two pine trees were straight to the sky, the branches were luxuriant, not to mention more than 100 years, Qiao Song looked around, saw no one, and then whispered to the pine trees: "Master." After waiting for a moment and no one answered, he came closer and called again.

This time his voice was slightly higher, but there was still no movement. Qiao Song faintly felt that something was wrong, and when he called again, he heard someone walking towards the back garden, and when he looked back, it was Xuanyuan Wan'er.

It turned out that all the masters at the banquet were talking about martial arts and national affairs, and she and Xuanyuan Ting couldn't say a word, and under heavy pressure, they saw Qiao Song get up and leave their seats from a distance, thinking that he was also here to find his father, so he followed.

Qiao Song saw Xuanyuan Wan'er coming, nodded and said, "Miss" Xuanyuan Wan'er asked, "Uncle Qiao, how many days has Daddy been in retreat?" Qiao Song said: "Not long after you and Second Miss sent the hero post, the master began to retreat, and it has been more than two months. Xuanyuan Wan'er said, "Did Uncle Qiao ever see him during Daddy's retreat?" Qiao Song replied: "I only saw Lao Lu a few times when he delivered food, and the master couldn't be disturbed during the retreat." Xuanyuan Wan'er nodded, thinking: "In the past, Daddy's retreat was only ten days and a half months, and at most it was only one month, but this time it was only more than two months?" Thinking of what Qiao Song said to Qunxiong in the forest during the day, he pondered: "Daddy is the leader of the martial arts alliance, and he is famous in the rivers and lakes, Uncle Qiao usually tries his best to protect Daddy, why does he say this to Qunxiong today? Although he didn't talk about Daddy explicitly, he always faintly felt that there was something in his words, could it be Daddy......" Thinking of this, he didn't dare to think about it anymore, and asked Qiao Song: "Uncle Qiao, is there something wrong with Daddy?" Qiao Song said: "No." But Xuanyuan Wan'er saw Qiao Song's eyes flickering, and she thought that Xuanyuan must have something to do, so her tone was a little choked, and she said, "Uncle Qiao, something must have happened to Daddy......," she said and then couldn't speak, just stared straight at Qiao Song.

Qiao Song just said no, Xuanyuan Wan'er was in a hurry, and she was about to shed tears, and said, "If you don't say it, I'll take a look and understand it myself." After speaking, he stepped forward to bypass Qiao Song.

Qiao Song knew in his heart that the eldest lady was different from the second miss, although Xuanyuan Wan'er didn't talk much on weekdays, she was careful and sensitive, and she wouldn't listen to anyone's words if she was stubborn, so she sighed and said, "It's not that I don't say it, I'm just afraid that the young lady will worry." Something did happen to the master, but it didn't get in the way. Xuanyuan Wan'er's eyes widened and asked, "What's the matter?" Qiao Song said: "Not long after you and the second lady left, the master once practiced and went mad, almost injured his muscles and veins, and then he kept his retreat after a few days. Xuanyuan Wan'er asked, "Is it in the way?" Qiao Song said: "Before the retreat, there was no big problem. The young lady knew that the man had come every year in the past, and although he had not shown up for three years, the master had been preparing every year for the past three years, and the purpose of this retreat was also to deal with the man. Xuanyuan Wan'er knew that he was talking about Dugu Yang, indeed as Qiao Song said, in the past, Dugu Yang would go to the house on the ninth day of September every year to find Xuanyuan to try martial arts, but since the Double Ninth Festival three years ago, it has never appeared, if Qiao Song hadn't mentioned it to everyone today, she would have forgotten about it.

Now Qiao Song mentioned it again, somehow, she only felt like a numb heart, and suddenly said: "Will Daddy ......" Qiao Song is thoughtful and good at observing words and feelings, Xuanyuan Wan'er grew up with him, how he didn't know what she was thinking, and before she finished speaking, he knew what she was going to say, and said: "Never, Lao Lu can see the master every day these days, I think the master will probably be fine." What's more, it coincides with the Heroes Conference, and Mo said that the person did not appear, even if he appeared, he would not pick up this time. Xuanyuan Wan'er felt that he was reasonable, and heard him mention Lao Lu, so she said, "Uncle Qiao, let's ask Lao Lu." Qiao Song glanced at the two pine trees, nodded and agreed.

Xuanyuan Wan'er was in a hurry, and the two walked quickly towards the side courtyard where Lao Lu was.