Hero Summit Gathers Amid Storm, Jade Hawk Johnson the Unforgivable

"Are you really Zach Ironpillar and Wayne Sledgehammer... uh, husband and wife...?"

Faced with this question from the Beggar Sect disciple, Barry Sherman and Stayfree only felt one thing—horror! Hey, this script is all wrong. Normally, when you put Zach Ironpillar and Wayne Sledgehammer together, it should be the "Iron Hammer Duo" or something, right? They should be shady Robin Hood types, not... husband and wife? What the heck is this nonsense!

The Beggar Sect disciple pressed on: "Well, are you or aren't you?"

"Uh..." Suddenly, everyone’s attention was sucked in by the word "husband and wife." All those eyes staring over were so blinding, Barry Sherman and Stayfree couldn’t help but shiver. It was like trying to break out of jail on a dark, windy night, only to get cornered by SWAT—with a dozen searchlights the size of washbasins blasting you in the face. Man, even the dogs would go blind!

Deny it? Admit it? What now? They were stuck—totally stuck! Seriously, what are you supposed to do in a moment like this?

"That's right!" When Stayfree was so panicked he didn’t know what to do, Barry Sherman—the rough-and-tumble guy—stepped up. Suddenly, he puffed out his chest, lifted his head, and with a proud, smug, and just a hint of tender expression, he swung his burly arm around Stayfree’s waist. Stayfree shivered: "This is my Sledgehammer sister!"

"Me—!" Stayfree was stunned, bristling all over at that big hand on his waist. But as a senior member of the United Front, he quickly caught on. So he ducked his head, gave a bashful little smile, pushed Barry Sherman’s chest with a mix of playfulness and annoyance, and rolled his eyes: "Ironpillar bro, you rascal, everyone’s watching us~~"

The looks on their faces were Oscar-worthy, and their acting was totally natural. But as soon as Stayfree slapped Barry Sherman’s pec, both of them thought the exact same thing: In the heat of the moment, they’d tried to cover up the lie and ended up doing all sorts of brainless, cringe-inducing stuff. But thinking about it... they suddenly regretted it! No way, they were doomed—there was no way anyone would buy this. Who on earth would believe such a thing?!

But, under Ironpillar bro’s and Sledgehammer sis’s incredulous stares, that Beggar Sect disciple froze for a full five seconds—then spun around to face the crowd. With a voice twice as loud as any other guest’s arrival, he bellowed, announcing to the whole venue: "Zach Ironpillar, Wayne Sledgehammer—The Honorable Couple—have arrived!!"

Barry Sherman and Stayfree were stunned, feeling almost like they were dreaming. Huh? Did they actually get away with it? No way, did that Beggar Sect guy really buy it?

"Please!" The Beggars' Guild disciple even personally led the two forward. They walked along mechanically, surrounded by endless whispers, closing in like a Gestapo roundup.

Spectator A: I’ve heard Zach Ironpillar’s wife, Wayne Sledgehammer, is a real tomboy. I always thought my Ah Chun was the manliest woman alive, but today—wow, there’s always someone tougher out there!

Spectator B: Whoa, Ah Chun’s your wife? That’s wild, you’ve got it rough... Wait, look closely at that ‘Sledgehammer’—that’s no tomboy! Check out that Adam’s apple, it’s solid as a walnut. That’s just a straight-up dude!

Spectator C: Shhh, keep it down—I’ve heard some rumors too. Those two might be... you know, ‘that.’ Huh? Don’t get it? ‘That,’ you know! Still don’t get it? Ugh, you’re all grinning like cow pies and pretending to be innocent?

Spectator D: Makes sense—one’s called ‘Ironpillar,’ the other ‘Sledgehammer.’ Of course, a hammer needs a handle, and an iron pillar fits just right.

"I..." At this moment, Stayfree wished he could rip his own ears off. As a high-level expert in all things shady, he totally understood the subtext in the crowd’s chatter. But—me, me, me, I’m a lech, okay?! You know what that means? It means I’m the straightest of the straight! If this ‘Sledgehammer sister’ thing gets out, my glorious reputation will be ruined—forever!

"Boss, these two are Zhang... the hero, and Wang... uh, the wife." The old beggar who led them finally found someone to hand them off to, and as soon as he brought Barry Sherman and Stayfree to his own boss, he bolted.

That boss, of course, was the Beggars' Guild Chief. Ever since Helen Wong passed the position to... uh, not Lu You... wait, what was his name? Right, Kevin Kee! After Helen Wong handed it to Kevin Kee, and Kevin Kee got killed by Huo Du, the top spot landed with the guild’s son-in-law—Kevin Kee.

Standing before Barry Sherman and Stayfree was a man of about thirty-seven or thirty-eight, right in the prime of his career. Past the peach-fuzz stage, not yet old and crusty—basically, a man in his golden years. He looked calm and impressive, with an aura that commanded respect. As Beggars' Guild Chief, he could hold his own. But who knows how much of his rise was due to family connections?

Anyway, this guy—said to be the most capable Beggars' Guild Chief since Helen Wong and Kevin Kee—looked the part and had the presence, so he wasn’t just riding coattails. For this Heroes’ Summit, most of the sect leaders and guild bosses were greeted by him, and he could handle things solo. But even this elite dude, when meeting the "Ironpillar and Sledgehammer couple," his face froze up. He tried to smile politely, but couldn’t quite pull it off—his lips twitched awkwardly, totally conflicted.

Barry Sherman and Stayfree couldn’t help but get nervous. Maybe they could fool others, but probably not Kevin Kee—the Beggars' Guild Chief wasn’t so easily duped. But to their surprise, Kevin Kee just took a deep breath, let it out slowly, then flashed a calm smile: "The Honorable Couple has come from afar to attend the gathering. I’m truly grateful—please, take your seats."

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Wait, that’s it... they got away with it?

When Barry Sherman and Stayfree sat down, they still felt like they were dreaming. It was hard to believe they’d made it in after all that drama. They exchanged glances, relieved but also uneasy. No matter how you spun it, causing such a huge scene should’ve raised suspicions. The Beggars' Guild disciple just let them through, and Kevin Kee acted totally normal seating them—something was definitely off.

"Looks like the Kwok Family has their own agenda. We’d better think things through—don’t go fishing for chestnuts and end up the turtle in the pot." Stayfree whispered to Barry Sherman, getting so close his breath tickled Barry’s ear. Barry scratched his tingling ear, then nodded, and leaned in to whisper back: "You’re right, always plan an escape before doing big stuff. I think..."

"You two are seriously gutsy—whispering sweet nothings in public like that. If you’re not grossed out, I’m going blind over here!" Sure enough, that lips-on-ear style was way too much for some people. A chubby, squinty-eyed young guy slammed the table and yelled: "Full-grown men flirting with each other instead of chasing women? That’s a disgrace! I’m ashamed to share a table with you—go find another seat!"

"What did you just say, you bastard!" All plans flew out the window—Barry Sherman was instantly furious, slamming the table and rolling up his sleeves to defend his orientation: "Who I love, man or woman, is none of your damn business! You wanna get smacked? I’ll slap you all the way to Bianliang!"

"Disgusting waste, eyesore, food-wasting trash—don’t come near me. Just looking at you makes me wanna puke." The pale-faced chubby guy had a mouth like a razor, and his insults hit hard.

"Oh, for crying out loud—what, just one glare from me and you get pregnant?" Barry Sherman was beyond furious. He didn’t have fancy words, but he was blunt and wild: "If I could do that, I’d be in the infertility business! And I’ll glare at you for three years straight—let’s see what kind of weird kid pops out of your butt!"

The chubby guy’s razor-sharp tongue and Barry Sherman’s wild cursing kicked up a storm—everyone in the crowd was buzzing. The whole venue’s attention was glued to the chaos, with whispers flying everywhere. Even the disciples at the door and guests waiting to enter craned their necks to watch the drama. Suddenly, Zach Ironpillar and Wayne Sledgehammer were the hottest topic. Nobody noticed two cloaked figures slip into the hall—a man and a woman by the looks of it.

"Boss, should we wait a bit before heading in? Isn’t it a little too early to show up now?" The woman’s voice was sweet as honey—this was Sanmiao, who replied, "I’ve always been the last one to show up. You know what they say: ‘the latecomer always steals the show.’ Arriving this early is usually for the newbies."

"Oh, you know about the ‘Demon King’s Entrance Technique’? As a card-carrying demon queen, I appreciate your dedication. But you haven’t mastered the advanced moves yet. Here, let me share some pro tips: the classic ‘burst onto the scene and stun everyone’ is a crowd-pleaser, but you’ll miss out on a lot of good stuff if you rely on it every time. For example..." The tall, cloaked fighter glanced left and right, then lifted his hood to reveal a handsome face—none other than Jade Hawk Johnson. He grabbed a chicken leg from the plate: "For example, this chicken leg."

"Uh..." Sanmiao’s voice faltered, and she realized she might not be quite as clever as she thought.

"Don’t get it? Think about it. We’re here eating and drinking, comfy as can be, and have a front-row seat to all the action. But if you try the ‘dramatic last-minute entrance’ routine, you’ll end up outside, freezing your butt off and getting eaten alive by mosquitoes. Plus, you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled and ears perked, terrified you’ll miss the big moment. What if you miss the crucial line, like when someone yells, ‘Who will be my champion?’ or ‘Who can cure my constipation?’ and you burst in with, ‘I’ll do it!’—wouldn’t that be a disaster?"

"This—!" Sanmiao’s voice was impressive, almost as good as Amiba’s. A single word perfectly captured her confusion and the philosophical crisis of having her worldview upended.

"So just sit back, enjoy the show, mingle a little, or you’ll end up an old spinster." Jade Hawk Johnson plopped down at the grass mat, flashed a familiar, friendly grin at the folks at the next table: "Hey fellas, what’s all the commotion over there?"

"Oh, bro, you just got here? Come, have a seat!" The warmth of Jade Hawk Johnson’s smile was contagious. The guy glanced at Sanmiao, but didn’t find anything strange. In these days of religious defense, even a Jianghu woman might prefer to keep her face covered. Wearing a hood, a mask, or a hat was pretty normal. "Bro, you’re asking the right person. I just did a lap and got the scoop. Come on, everyone, gather round—I’ll spill the beans."

There were more than ten people at this table, and when they heard that, they all crowded over. The place was big, the seating was spread out, and the noise made it hard to catch what was happening on the other side. Eavesdropping is human nature, and this guy’s lively storytelling drew in folks from several nearby tables. Back and forth, the chatter started flowing.

A few rows away, Lord Sevenfold’s ears perked up—he could hear everything from this side. After catching the gist, Lord Sevenfold smirked: "Central Plains folks... huh..."

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Meanwhile, not far away in the second row, the ‘daughter’ from South Sea Fairy Wings was also drawn in by the lively conversation. Her gaze happened to cut through the crowd at just the right angle—forty-five degrees diagonally forward—and she spotted Jade Hawk Johnson, who was chatting happily with his neighbor. That look, that vibe, in the words of the hottest girl forum, was pure ‘bad boy charisma.’

Jade Hawk Johnson’s looks really were top-notch. The woman stared for a moment, then couldn’t help but sneak another glance and, almost unconsciously, asked, "Who’s that?"

"Who?" The fairy wings girl turned her head to look, but the crowd was thick and Jade Hawk Johnson was quickly blocked from view.

"Nothing." The woman shook her head, her gaze going cold again. "Stay sharp—Huang Rong isn’t someone to mess with, and don’t let your guard down. Besides, most of the guests have arrived. The Heroes’ Summit is about to begin."

Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, footsteps echoed from outside the north gate—clearly, a sizable group was approaching. The Beggars’ Guild disciple at the entrance perked up, ready to report, but a hand reached out, patted his shoulder, and stopped him.

Night had fallen, so no one inside the courtyard could see the newcomers’ faces. But by the firelight, everyone could see that hand resting on the Beggars’ Guild disciple’s shoulder—it was a very unusual hand.

Wide, thick, with a hint of ruggedness, but not the kind that bullies people. It was an extraordinary hand—hard to say what exactly made it special, but it was impossible to look away. Yet if you really tried to remember its details, it seemed perfectly ordinary—just a regular hand, forgettable once you’d seen it.

The less skilled martial artists couldn’t sense much, but the more advanced ones could see something was up. The South Sea Fairy Wings girl, the scholar-leader, all frowned tightly, clearly surprised by this ‘one hand.’

"Oh?" Jade Hawk Johnson’s gaze locked onto that hand, and he nodded slightly. "Definitely a master."

Sanmiao also looked closely, then murmured, "Boss, that person’s kung fu is top-notch. Returning to the basics—probably only a step below the legendary ‘Dharma King.’"

"Dharma King?" Jade Hawk Johnson’s mind raced, suddenly remembering. The Dharma King was a top-tier master from another world, a grand minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The Holy Sword Saint had even introduced him once. If the Sword Saint singled someone out, you knew they were the real deal. The Dharma King was one of the most extraordinary masters around.

Which meant, the owner of that hand was probably a character of that caliber.

"Is that..." Lord Sevenfold’s eyes lit up. He clenched his fist under the table, so tightly his muscles and bones creaked. He couldn’t hide his excitement, and like a wild beast spotting prey, he growled softly: "Is that... the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms?"

"Fellow heroes, I, Guo Jing, apologize for my late arrival and regret not welcoming you in person." A calm voice rang out as the owner of the hand entered the hall.

Suddenly, one person, two people, ten, twenty—guests rose to their feet. Even the chubby guy arguing with Jade Hawk Johnson and the others stood up. Soon, the whole place was on its feet, everyone eager to greet this legendary figure. It wasn’t just respect; it was curiosity about this low-key new member of the Five Supremes. After all, not everyone gets to meet a true master.

"General Guo is busy with military affairs, serving the country. No need to apologize for being late."

"Exactly! If General Guo had come any earlier, we’d be the ones feeling awkward."

"General Guo, Madam Huang, sorry we’re late in greeting you both!"

With polite greetings exchanged, the newcomers entered the hall. Sanmiao wasn’t tall enough to see, even on tiptoe. But Jade Hawk Johnson was plenty tall; he watched as a string of a dozen people entered together. In the fourth spot of the group was little Guo Xiang, always looking east and west. Leading the way were two elders.

The man wasn’t very tall, but he stood ramrod straight, walking with the steady confidence of a soldier. The woman had faint wrinkles, but her elegance still shone through, and her eyes were as bright and lively as ever. They looked only middle-aged, with no sign of old age on their faces, though their hair was completely white. These two were none other than Guo Jing and Huang Rong.

Back in the day, Old Child’s hair was completely white, but now he looked rejuvenated. Meanwhile, the young archer girl had lost her youthful glow, but the years had given her a dignified air.

"Fellow heroes," Guo Jing said, "I invited you here for one reason: to unite against evil and uphold justice." He didn’t waste time with pleasantries—after settling the guests, he got straight to the point: "Recently, the righteous sects have suffered disaster after disaster. Quanzhen and Shaolin have both been hit hard. When the righteous falter, evil will surely rise. I ask you all to join me in sweeping away chaos, restoring order, and defeating the demons—let’s set things right!"