Chapter 73. Sohu’s Zhang Chaoyang Greets Sect Leader Mo!
Liu Pingping’s mind was utterly overwhelmed.
She never imagined that this West Lake Forum would carry such prestige.
The man before her was unmistakably Mr. Yong, and he had actually come!
Qiu Bojun’s reputation as the nation’s top programmer was well-known, though there might be even more skilled coders hidden in obscurity.
But Mr. Yong’s status as the undisputed world champion of wuxia fiction was unshakable.
In the realm of martial arts novels, the “Five Greats” were revered: Jin Yong, Gu Long, Liang Yusheng, Wen Rui’an, and Huang Yi.
At the height of wuxia’s popularity, these five were household names.
Yet among them, Jin Yong stood supreme, a literary titan known to every television-watching citizen for classics like The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Deer and the Cauldron.
His position was beyond question: the unrivaled king of wuxia.
And now, this living legend, someone no amount of money could ordinarily summon, had appeared at the West Lake Forum.
Liu Pingping began to grasp the event’s staggering scale.
This gathering far exceeded anything she’d envisioned.
“Brother Liangyong,” Li Mo clasped his hands in salute.
Though five decades younger, he used the honorific “brother”, a mark of deep respect.
During his time at West Lake, Jin Yong had taken to calling Jack Ma “Brother Xiaoyun,” and Ma reciprocated with “Brother Liangyong.”
Only those he esteemed earned such address.
The others, Ma Tengyun included, opted for safer titles:
“Mr. Jin.”
“Mr. Yong.”
“Mr. Jin.”
They knew their place.
Qiu Bojun, however, matched Jin Yong’s candor: “Brother Liangyong.”
After the greetings, Jin Yong’s gaze lingered on Liu Pingping and Su Qingyan.
“What a pity,” he mused. “Had I met these two earlier, the younger could have played many of my heroines. And this lady, perfect for middle-aged Huang Rong in The Return of the Condor Heroes.”
“A true waste.”
The praise stunned Su Qingyan, but showbiz held no allure.
That world taints everyone it touches, she thought.
Her only desire was to stand quietly by Li Mo’s side.
Fame? Fortune? Meaningless.
Liu Pingping, walking beside her, reeled from the surreal scene.
These were legendary figures, yet they all gravitated around Li Mo with unmistakable reverence.
Just how deep do his secrets run?
Is this forum merely the surface of something far greater?
Li Mo smiled. “These two are family. They’ll remain out of the public eye, so no dramas, Brother Liangyong.”
Jin Yong chuckled and let the matter drop.
“Days ago at Yong’s Tavern,” he reflected, “Brother Xiaoyun and I spoke of chivalry and the internet’s rise.”
“It struck me then, the world has changed. Swords and honor fade before keyboards and code.”
Li Mo nodded. “The age of martial heroes may be past, but your influence will endure for centuries.”
“You flatter me,” Jin Yong demurred, though he didn’t disagree. His legacy, he knew, was unassailable.
“Now the youth crave ‘xianxia’ tales of immortal cultivation,” he sighed. “I’ve grown old.”
“But that night with Brother Xiaoyun opened my eyes. His explanation of e-commerce, B2B models, this digital frontier, it felt like discovering a new world.”
“So when he invited me here, I came without hesitation.”
“To hear internet luminaries debate over lakeside tea? A joy rare in this lifetime!”
“Were I younger, I’d write a wuxia saga of this digital realm. But after The Deer and the Cauldron, I laid down my pen. The fire is spent.”
As the group moved toward the banquet hall, where Ma planned a night of spirited drinking, Jin Yong studied Li Mo.
“Yet you, Brother Li Mo, embody the heroes of my books.”
“Defying limits. Forging miracles.”
“Brother Xiaoyun recounts your exploits daily. In years to come, you’ll eclipse even my protagonists.”
“My admiration for you surpasses all internet leaders combined.”
The praise left the group stunned.
Jack Ma seized the moment: “Mr. Mo, Jin Yong has never spoken this way of anyone, not even Wang Zhidong, Sina’s ‘sect leader’ and industry king.”
“Portals merely ride trends, he says. But you? You carved your own path. His highest praise is for QQ, how it transcended ICQ, especially with Mobile QQ’s launch.”
“He even bought a Mobile QQ card to chat with wuxia fans!”
Ma Tengyun’s eyes flashed with triumph.
Mobile QQ’s reach is exploding. With Jin Yong’s endorsement, we’ll crack 100 million users!
Before he could strategize further, a new figure approached.
“Sect Leader Mo!” called a hearty voice.
“Zhang Chaoyang of Sohu pays respects!”
The founder clasped his fists in salute, completing the gathering of internet royalty.