Chapter 14: Inferior Horse and Yellow Wine Over Six Thousand Miles

If Xu Fengnian had heard his father and master's account, he would certainly have to educate Old Huang on putting more thought into naming his sword techniques. If "three drawn swords" weighed three *jin*, would four swords then weigh four *jin*?

At that moment, what Xu Fengnian most wanted to ask Old Huang was how many compartments were in his zitan sword-chest and how many swords it held.

The great battle ended swiftly and unexpectedly. This left the Prince, who hadn't seen enough to be satisfied, feeling even more bored and frustrated. He thought, "Old Ogre, Old Huang, you two heroes don't need to worry about the princely mansion's buildings. Just tear them down! You won't have to pay for the damage, will you?"

But life rarely goes as one wishes. Xu Fengnian couldn't just rush up, crying and shouting for the two masters to continue their fight.

Blades have no eyes; life and death are your own affair.

Afterwards, a knowledgeable person explained that in that battle, Old Huang, who carried the sword-chest, ultimately used three swords and a total of six techniques.

It certainly wasn't like the exaggerated tales told by storytellers in teahouses, where two peerless masters would fight for days and nights in a world-shaking, ghost-weeping spectacle. It was, in short, not earth-shattering or ghost-weeping.

At this moment, the Old Ogre, who carried a saber, sat inside the dilapidated pavilion, now just a platform. His two sabers were stuck into the ground, his face was flushed, and his white hair was dishevelled. He shook his head and said, "No more fighting today."

The short, scrawny Old Huang, with his sword-chest on his back, stood on the long embankment. He rubbed his hands together, then tucked them into his sleeves. But to most onlookers, it was utterly absurd. This old stableman, who seemed incapable of any real martial prowess, had truly revealed himself as a hidden master, astounding everyone.

Xu Fengnian was undoubtedly the most shaken. How could he have known that it was Old Huang who had single-handedly sent the Old Ogre to the bottom of the lake years ago?

If not for this, would Grand Marshal Xu Xiao have confidently allowed his most beloved son to travel six thousand *li* on such a difficult journey? And survive one life-threatening situation after another?

The Old Ogre, sitting on the ground, shouted to Xu Fengnian: "Hey kid, bring grandpa some wine and meat! After I've eaten and drunk my fill, I'll fight Old Huang Jiu for another five hundred rounds! Whoever loses goes back to the bottom of the lake!"

Xu Fengnian heard the Old Ogre's booming voice from afar. After much hesitation, he still went to tell the manor steward to prepare a lavish meal. Specifically, a whole roasted suckling pig was placed in an extra-large food container. Xu Fengnian carried it and ran towards the long embankment.

His steps slowed as he passed by Old Huang, the stableman, giving him a glance. The old servant, who was silently resenting the Prince for forgetting to reward him with a pot or two of Longyan Chengang wine, rubbed his cheek, indicating it was fine. Only then did Xu Fengnian bravely step forward and place the food container on the ground in front of the Old Ogre.

The steward hadn't forgotten to bring a few crisp cucumbers for the Prince. The Old Ogre, not one for politeness, tore off a pig leg and shoved it into his mouth, his face glistening with grease. After eating live carp with a raw, earthy taste for over ten years, the Old Ogre, who was over ten feet tall, clearly relished the exquisitely cooked suckling pig.

Xu Fengnian squatted in front of him, slowly munching on a cucumber. He was pondering how to craft a moving opening speech. After all, their acquaintance spanned over a decade, and he needed to make good use of it.

In the past, going into the water to see the Old Ogre felt like two people staring at each other in the underworld. Unlike now, when he was finally in the land of the living, he needed to plan carefully. Otherwise, all this effort and risk taken with trepidation, if not fully capitalized on, wouldn't align with the Prince's philosophy of demanding an overwhelming return for even the smallest kindness given.

Before Xu Fengnian, whose eyes were secretly darting about, could finish his calculations, the Old Ogre stated bluntly: "Back then, the King of Beiliang played a trick, and Old Huang Jiu lent a hand, which put your grandpa here at the bottom of the lake, living a life worse than death. Today, you saved me, so we're even. I'll just spar with Old Huang Jiu and turn his five broken swords into four. As for the Beiliang King's Mansion, your grandpa will be kind enough not to demolish it. Kid, don't expect your grandpa to repay you even a tiny bit of kindness!"

Xu Fengnian, dumbfounded, thought, "Oh my." He had encountered an opponent with equally thick skin. He cautiously asked, "Old grandpa, the mansion has wine and meat, and Old Huang to fight with. Why don't you stay?"

The Old Ogre scoffed: "There are plenty of masters in this world. After I break Old Huang's Sword Nine, your grandpa is going to Wudi City. After defeating the 'Second Under Heaven', what else could your grandpa be but 'First Under Heaven'?! A small princely mansion like this doesn't even catch your grandpa's eye."

Old Huang, who had taken off his zitan sword-chest and used it as a cushion to sit on, was putting a small blade of grass into his mouth, chewing it carefully. He was rolling his eyes vigorously, mimicking the Prince.

Xu Fengnian looked embarrassed. He truly had no experience dealing with a hero like the Old Ogre, who killed people as easily as slicing melons and vegetables. He didn't know how to begin speaking.

The last cucumber in his hand was snatched by the Old Ogre. He bit off half of it, spat a few times, and threw it into the lake. The Old Ogre, now tackling another pig trotter, glared at Xu Fengnian and said: "This bland, tasteless stuff – you eat it too, kid?"

Xu Fengnian, sprayed with spit on his face, hastily wiped it away with his sleeve. He tentatively asked, "Old grandpa, could you help me teach someone a lesson? He's a martial grand-uncle from Wudang Mountain, a master!"

The Old Ogre thought for a moment, then nodded and said: "I've been indebted to you these past years for letting me taste some cooked food. But if you ask for anything more, your grandpa will beat you to a pulp. However, if it's about fighting and killing, your grandpa is more than willing. Once I defeat Old Huang Jiu, I'll set off immediately!"

Old Huang, once again showing no deference, twisted his mouth. He held the root of a blade of grass, whose leaves had been chewed off, in his mouth, his old face full of derision.

The Old Ogre angrily roared, "Old Huang Jiu, not convinced? If not, let's fight again!"

Old Huang simply turned his back to the Old Ogre, choosing "out of sight, out of mind."

Xu Fengnian, covering his ears, had a headache. If the Old Ogre hadn't agreed to go to Wudang Mountain to teach that arrogant Taoist riding a green ox a lesson, he would definitely have made Old Huang send this tactless old fellow back to the bottom of the lake. For the rest of his life, aside from the servants who committed suicide by drowning, he would never expect to see any other living person there.

Xu Fengnian murmured softly, "Huh?" Since Old Huang's martial prowess was so formidable, why take the long way around? Wouldn't it be simpler and more convenient to just take Old Huang, with his sword-chest, directly to Wudang Mountain? Why bother dealing with the Old Ogre's moods and listen to his roaring? Xu Fengnian weighed the pros and cons, his expression changing erratically.

The Old Ogre, though rugged in appearance, was as meticulous as a strand of hair in his thoughts. He ate the entire suckling pig, meat and bone, patted his stomach contentedly, and chuckled:

"Kid, I can see your eyes darting around, and your grandpa knows you're up to no good. What's wrong? Do you want Old Huang Jiu to send me back to the bottom of the lake?"

"To tell you the truth, it's easier to invite a god than to send him away. If it weren't for Li Yuanying's cunning trick back then, even if I hadn't defeated Old Huang Jiu, your grandpa could still come and go as he pleased. Four iron balls weighing eight thousand *jin* were at the bottom of the lake, with my two sabers cast into two of them. That's what trapped your grandpa. Now, with my two sabers in hand, the world is mine, wahahaha! Kid, aren't you scared?"

The Prince, again blasted by roars and spittle, forced a smile. He mumbled, "How could that be? Fengnian's admiration for you, Old Grandpa, is like a great river flowing eastward, or like stars hanging over a vast plain."

The Old Ogre smiled wryly: "You, kid, are quite different from that Butcher Xu; you're more to my liking. Arrange a comfortable room for your grandpa, and then a whole table of wine and meat."

Xu Fengnian stood up and said, "That's a small matter."

Old Huang spat out the grass root and said, "No more fighting?"

The Old Ogre arrogantly replied, "Why the rush? You'll get your fight later."

Old Huang hoisted the sword-chest onto his back and said flatly: "If we're not fighting, then so be it. I'm going to Wudi City soon to retrieve 'Huang Lu'."

The Old Ogre exclaimed in surprise, "Really?!"

Old Huang nodded.

The Old Ogre sighed deeply, then shook his head with a wry smile and said, "Then no fighting. It would just be a waste of your grandpa's energy."

Xu Fengnian was completely bewildered.

After arranging for the Old Ogre, whose massive physique even surpassed Yuan Zuozong's nine-foot height, to stay in a courtyard, Xu Fengnian came to the stable. Old Huang, with his cloth bag and sword-chest on his back, was chatting with the bay horse, seemingly saying goodbye. Xu Fengnian asked in surprise, "Old Huang, what's going on?"

The old stableman said softly: "For all these years, I've been watching Chu Kuangnu at the bottom of the lake. Now that the young master has released him, there's nothing more for Old Huang to do here. Years ago, I lost one move to that old monster Wang Xianzhi and left the 'Huang Lu' sword in Wudi City. I've never been able to let it go, and I'm thinking of going to retrieve it."

Xu Fengnian said bitterly: "The great sword stuck in Wudi City's wall? The 'Huang Lu,' ranked fourth among the Ten Famous Swords?"

Old Huang chuckled and nodded.

Wudi City is located on the cliff edge of the East Sea, built facing Jieshi Stone to view the vast ocean. Its lord, Wang Xianzhi, was nearly a hundred years old, yet had been famous for a full eighty years. He was truly a once-in-a-century martial arts genius. From his youth, he was known for never carrying any weapons, and always fought with just one hand.

At twenty-five, he had already ascended to the ranks of peerless masters. At forty, he challenged Li Chungang, the Sword God of that generation. He forcefully broke the "Wooden Ox and Horse" sword, which could cut iron like mud, with just two fingers. For a time, his fame spread across the four seas, and he was unrivalled.

Wang Xianzhi clearly had the qualifications to be regarded as the "First Under Heaven," yet he proclaimed himself "Second Under Heaven." This resulted in the popular "Top Ten Masters" list in the martial arts world extending to eleventh place, leaving the top spot vacant for twenty years.

In the past fifty years, two supreme sword masters emerged. The new Sword God, Deng Tai'a, who carried a peach branch, sought defeat but was never defeated. He fought Wang Xianzhi three times, neither winning nor losing, and was ranked third among the super-elite masters.

The other, however, was as elusive as a dragon in the clouds. It was only known that he was from Western Shu, an obscure swordsmith by origin. After thirty years of forging swords, he self-realized the Way of the Sword, traveled the martial world alone, and collected famous swords into his sword-chest. What was known to the world was that after just one battle, he became renowned throughout the land. Although he lost and left a sword embedded in the city wall, no one doubted that this mysterious swordsman had been defeated gloriously, because he had lost to Wang Xianzhi, the formidable and ageless lord of Wudi City.

Who could have imagined that a swordsman whose single sword move could shake forty prefectures would become a stableman in the Beiliang King's Mansion? He spent his days talking to horses, and at most, would ask the Prince for a pot of yellow wine to satisfy his craving.

So, as soon as the Old Ogre heard that Old Huang Jiu was returning to Wudi City to challenge Wang Xianzhi, he knew that if he couldn't defeat Old Huang Jiu over a decade ago, he couldn't now either.

Xu Fengnian, whose hand was not idle, holding a cucumber, smiled bitterly: "Old Huang, tell me, how many swords are in that sword-chest? Everyone in the world is guessing."

Old Huang, who had been lying in the stable and had a few blades of grass stuck to his head, scratched his head and said: "The sword-chest has three layers and six compartments. Originally, it held six of the Ten Famous Swords under Heaven, but now it only has five."

Xu Fengnian was speechless.

Old Huang, you're a master! Can you be even more impressive?

Old Huang said naively: "If the young master wants to practice with swords, I can leave three or four for you."

Xu Fengnian shook his head and said, "No, the young master wishes you had a hundred or eighty swords on your back to stab Wang Xianzhi into a hornet's nest. Then, when I go out to flirt with the martial world's heroines, I'll have bragging rights, saying I once stole chickens and ducks with you, Old Huang. Isn't that right, Old Huang?"

Old Huang grinned foolishly. Toothless Old Huang was truly endearing. How could he be Sword Nine, someone infinitely more formidable than even a master?

Xu Fengnian couldn't figure it out, so he simply stopped thinking about it. He had a servant prepare a pot of Longyan Chengang yellow wine and brought over a scrawny horse. Xu Fengnian personally took the reins and escorted Old Huang outside the princely mansion. He also slipped Old Huang a few small denomination silver notes. Old Huang didn't refuse, saying, "Young master, you can go back, I know the way." Xu Fengnian didn't agree, saying, "At least let me see you to the city gate, right?"

The horse was a poor one, not because the Prince was stingy. It was just that neither the "Five-Flower Horse" with its mane cut into petals to symbolize celestial patterns, nor the even rarer and more valuable Ferghana horse, suited the principle of resolutely avoiding becoming a "fat sheep" (easy prey) when traveling. Furthermore, Old Huang probably wouldn't actually ride the horse; Xu Fengnian was just finding him a companion for conversation.

The five or six hundred taels of silver notes were for Old Huang to buy wine. Old Huang loved yellow wine; Xu Fengnian genuinely didn't know if he loved it because his surname was "Huang" (yellow), or if he was surnamed "Huang" because he loved yellow wine. Old Huang always held various secrets, but in Xu Fengnian's eyes, he was merely the old stableman who had carried him through hardship. Sword Nine Huang was secondary; this was his true feeling, but he dared not say it aloud, fearing it would seem affected.

From the Beiliang King's Mansion to Lingzhou's main city gate, even the longest journey has an end.

The city gate captain, seeing the Prince's solemn expression, dared not approach him flatteringly. He merely hurried to usher everyone queuing to leave the city to one side, leaving the city gate empty.

Xu Fengnian, leading the horse for Old Huang, stood beneath the inner city gate wall, handing the reins to the old stableman, and said with emotion: "We'll stop here. I won't see you off any further. Old Huang, wasn't it very boring dealing with a debauched ignoramus like me, a frog at the bottom of a well?"

Old Huang shook his head, gazing at the Prince's young, handsome face, and said cheerfully: "It was very interesting, truly. Old Huang doesn't flatter people, and didn't the young master often say I speak honestly?"

Xu Fengnian smiled faintly.

Old Huang pulled out a stack of silk scrolls, drawn with charcoal, depicting sword postures. Each scroll had only two characters, from Sword One, Sword Two, to Sword Nine, written crookedly, like earthworms crawling through mud. He handed them to Xu Fengnian and said, "Young master, keep these. If you see a talented child in the future, take them as Old Huang's apprentice. It would be more proper than just snatching young maidens off the street."

Xu Fengnian carefully accepted them.

Old Huang thought for a moment, then said with a troubled expression: "Young master, Old Huang isn't educated and doesn't know how to name swords. I only have nine moves, from Sword One to Sword Nine. The first eight swords were named by martial artists on their own initiative, and I've always felt uncomfortable hearing them, just not quite right. Young master, could you think of a name for them?"

Xu Fengnian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. After serious thought for a moment, he said: "We walked six thousand *li* together, so how about 'Six Thousand Li'? If you don't find it too common or lacking in grandeur, then use that."

Old Huang gave a thumbs-up and praised: "It has grandeur! When I arrive at Wudi City and announce this amazing sword name, Wang Xianzhi might even get terribly envious."

Old Huang ultimately walked away, leading the horse and with a flask hanging at his waist.

Xu Fengnian climbed onto the city wall, watched Old Huang's solitary figure, and shouted at the top of his voice: "Old Huang, if you want yellow wine on your journey, and run out of money to buy it, just come back! I'll save some for you!"

The old servant, carrying his chest and leading the horse, stopped and turned around, looking deeply at Xu Fengnian. He shouted their shared catchphrase, "The wind is strong, time to pull away!" then ran off in a comically endearing and foolish manner.

Sword Nine.

Six Thousand Li.