Chapter 196: Pot of Wine and Double Bowls, Borrowing the Sword to Serve Wine

The Crown Prince happened to overhear the old scholar muttering to himself, but paid him no mind. In the countless states of the Spring and Autumn period, weren't all citizens of fallen nations like homeless dogs?

As he walked past the Jixia scholar, who had just referred to himself as an old dog, the Crown Prince's peripheral vision caught the old man's visibly anxious expression. Seeing no intention for the Crown Prince to stop, the old man quickly turned sideways, assuming a profound posture as if gazing at the river, full of concern for the nation and its people, and continued: "Before our Zhenyuan era, court disputes were struggles between powerful officials, meritorious civil and military figures who helped the previous emperor establish the empire. They schemed and fought, each representing their factions, vying for 'profit.' Among them, the remnants of the Eight Kingdoms managed to secure positions. Starting from the Yonghui era, First Minister Zhang Julu began to wield power. After more than a decade of the strong preying on the weak, the talented individuals from the Eight Kingdoms, whether willingly or reluctantly, gradually shed their old allegiances and integrated into the imperial court. The lines between civil and military blurred, transforming into a north-south confrontation between two major scholar groups. The south was relatively weaker but had the support of the Yan Chi and Guangling princes. Especially during the brief four years from Yonghui 1st year to Yonghui 4th year, led by Zhao Youling, the Minister of Personnel who came from a commoner family, southern commoner families like Wang Xiong'gui, Yuan Guo, and Han Lin were successively promoted, gaining control of key departments. They complemented the Jiangnan scholar group, greatly enhancing their influence, and striving relentlessly for one thing: 'fame'! However, the struggle for fame and fortune between civil and military, and between regions, was merely superficial; ultimately, it couldn't escape the Emperor's balancing act. Looking back over these past twenty years, various figures in court have risen to prominence, but only General Xu, isolated in Beiliang, could transcend this. His true value lies in staying away from court disputes. Not contending is the greatest contention—truly formidable. Enlightened monarchs throughout history have always been wary of powerful ministers holding too much sway, or court officials controlling the state. I, Liu Wenbao, differ from other strategists; when I consider the rise and fall of dynasties, I don't focus on the wisdom or foolishness of individual emperors. Instead, I take a different approach, starting with powerful prime ministers: virtuous prime ministers uplift the nation, while corrupt ones ruin it. I, Liu Wenbao, secretly believe that within five years, Zhang Julu, the foremost figure of our dynasty, will..."

Just as Liu Wenbao, in his lengthy and eloquent discourse, reached the crucial point he intended to save as a cliffhanger, to pique his listener's interest before delivering a shocking revelation, he slightly turned his head, only to be dumbfounded as if a basin of cold water had been thrown over him. The Crown Prince had already vanished. This impromptu yet meticulously planned self-recommendation had been completely in vain.

Liu Wenbao, the "homeless dog," sighed, inevitably disheartened. He came from a declining gentry family in the former Southern Tang. As Xu Weixiong had said, he belonged to the type of impoverished scholar who, even with a satchel of books, couldn't travel beyond a single prefecture. In his youth, he often recalled his mother saying that before his birth, she dreamed of a leopard biting her palm, hence his name "Wenbao." From a young age, he aspired to become a marquis and a prime minister. However, before the fall of Southern Tang, only hereditary privilege was valued. Young Liu Wenbao, exceptionally arrogant, traveled to Shangyin Academy to study, aiming to make a name for himself. Little did he know how difficult it was to enter the academy. His funds depleted, and with a long journey home amidst war, how could a poor scholar return? What face did he have to return? He vowed never to go back until he achieved glory, but in the blink of an eye, he was an old man in his fifties, with wealth and honor still beyond reach. Some fellow students at the academy, despite their astonishing talent, were almost young enough to be his grandsons. Old Liu's youthful ambitions were like the river before him, flowing slowly eastward with time, never to return. Yet, today, he had encountered the Beiliang Crown Prince, hoping to seek wealth through danger. But it was only natural that the Crown Prince had no interest in listening to the old scholar's rambling. Given the Crown Prince's noble lineage, if anyone were to sell their talents to him by the pound, he'd probably have acquired not just hundreds but thousands of pounds over the years. What was Liu Wenbao, a mere nobody, in comparison?

The river wind wasn't particularly biting. Liu Wenbao reached up and rubbed his wrinkled, tree-bark-like skin, murmuring distractedly, "It's time to go home and see. Even if I have to beg all the way, I must die in my hometown, like leaves falling back to their roots."

Seeing Xu Fengnian walk away without stopping, Xu Weixiong only chuckled softly once they reached the boat's bow and asked, "Aren't you curious if that old scholar truly possesses some invaluable strategies?"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Didn't that old man surnamed Liu say he was homesick? If I took a liking to him and brought him to Beiliang, when would he ever return home?"

Xu Weixiong sighed, "Liu Wenbao's hometown has long changed beyond recognition, and his family has largely withered away. His parents, wife, and children all died in war and illness. Even if he returned, no one would remember an old man who left home thirty years ago."

Xu Fengnian frowned and asked, "Does this old man truly possess talent and knowledge?"

Xu Weixiong replied indifferently, "The masters at Jixia Academy all believe Liu Wenbao's knowledge is broad but not specialized, so they don't think highly of him."

Xu Fengnian asked straightforwardly, "I don't care what others think. Just tell me, Sister, what do *you* think of this old man? If you find him useful, at worst I can let him come to Beiliang for a living. At the very least, he could land a comfortable minor official position, which would be better than suffering indignation at Shangyin Academy. He's not young anymore, and given his eagerness just now, it's clear he's sharp and probably doesn't care much for appearances."

Xu Weixiong smiled, "Actually, I don't think highly of Liu Wenbao either."

Xu Fengnian rolled his eyes. "What's the meaning of this? Then let him stay put at Shangyin Academy and cool his heels. I, the Crown Prince, have neither the grand ambition to conquer the world nor the affected manner of generously recruiting talent. An aged scholar who hasn't made a name for himself after so many years at Shangyin Academy would just be a waste of rations in Beiliang. If he causes trouble, he might even get his head chopped off by rowdy soldiers. Why bother?"

Xu Weixiong shook her head. "However, what Liu Wenbao just said was quite interesting."

Xu Fengnian scoffed, "Even an uneducated person like me can tell that was just grandiloquence. Always talking about Zhang Julu and Zhao Youling, or the First Minister and imperial regents—it's as boundless as this river! What's the point of just talking about all that?"

Xu Weixiong, who had been walking slightly behind him, blinked. "The interesting part is what Liu Wenbao didn't get to elaborate on. It's a shame you walked off so quickly. Otherwise, he'd most likely have said that the Emperor has, in recent years, been cultivating a confidant who can rival Zhang Julu in all aspects. In fact, as Liu Wenbao suspected, it's almost certainly true. Did you know that the Chancellery has recently appointed two Imperial Diarists responsible for recording and observing the Emperor's words and actions? This position, situated right by the Emperor's side, is even more esteemed and transcendent than that of the Lesser and Greater Chamberlains. These two imperial confidants, who are about to rise to great prominence, fit Liu Wenbao's description of the north-south struggle: one is from the Wei clan, a foremost northern aristocratic family, while the other's ancestors were a humble Eastern Yue family, previously unknown, only known for studying under the Northern Sage, Zhang. However, according to reliable sources, this thirty-year-old Imperial Diarist is deeply valued and trusted by the Emperor. In terms of his career trajectory, it's highly probable that he will follow Zhang Julu's path exactly. After a few more years of tempering, this might be his moment to turn things upside down. You must understand that this secret is obscure even to many high-ranking court officials, who failed to spot the clues. Yet Liu Wenbao, a mere scholar far removed from the court, could deduce future events from history. That is truly remarkable. If you don't believe me, you can summon Liu Wenbao and ask him."

Xu Fengnian waved his hand. "No, don't. Second Sister, you're like a prophet; I never won a single bet against you when we were kids."

Xu Weixiong squinted and smiled.

Xu Fengnian immediately and spinelessly corrected himself, "Sister!"

Unexpectedly, Xu Weixiong quietly said, "From now on, just call me Second Sister. Don't argue with her about this anymore."

Xu Fengnian dared not press the issue further, knowing when to quit. He quietly asked, "Since the old man still has some ability, how should we deal with him? Send him to Beiliang?"

Xu Weixiong pondered for a moment. "No rush for now. We'll decide after you return from Beiliang. If just a few words make you personally try to win him over, Liu Wenbao's ambition, which has been worn down for decades, will resurface. Your impatient nature isn't suited to tempering anyone."

Xu Fengnian looked aggrieved. "Sister, that's just unreasonable."

Xu Weixiong changed the topic, looking directly at Xu Fengnian and saying, "I want someone from you."

Xu Fengnian paused slightly, then said, "Name them."

Xu Weixiong's smile held a hint of amusement. "Yu Xuanji."

Xu Fengnian frowned. "Although Yu Youwei's father was a renowned scholar from the Spring and Autumn period who graduated from Shangyin Academy, what use do you have for his daughter?"

Xu Weixiong, with her usual overbearing manner, said, "Are you refusing?"

Xu Fengnian grinned cheekily, "Can I lend her to you? Remember to return her?"

Xu Weixiong replied without hesitation, "It is a loan. Otherwise, what use would I have for a woman from you? If she were merely Yu Youwei, the courtesan, it would be a terrible waste of talent."

Xu Fengnian wondered, "With their nation destroyed and family ruined, what could even Yu Xuanji stir up at Shangyin Academy?"

Xu Weixiong stated plainly, "To bait out thousand-year-old turtles and ten-thousand-year-old tortoises, your bait needs a bit of thought."

Xu Fengnian was full of doubt and curiosity, and couldn't help but press, "Sister, tell me more."

Xu Weixiong shook her head, smiling without a word.

Xu Fengnian immediately pulled out his trump card, tugging at Xu Weixiong's sleeve and acting childishly. Perhaps unable to resist the Crown Prince's childishness, Xu Weixiong said something inscrutable, "I've always wanted to play a game of chess with an old senior. It's time to make a move."

Xu Fengnian merely uttered an "Oh," no longer probing. He knew that no matter how reluctant he was, they would eventually part. Helplessly, he said, "Sister, how about I visit you at the Academy after I've been to Martial Emperor City in the East Sea?"

Xu Weixiong replied flatly, "No."

Xu Fengnian was about to speak, but she cut him off definitively, "There's no discussing this matter."

Xu Fengnian let out a long breath and said softly, "Then take this boat for your use. Traveling by water is always more comfortable and lighter than by land, saving you from jolting and fatigue. I won't be needing it anyway."

Xu Weixiong didn't stand on ceremony and nodded.

Xu Fengnian went to find Yu Youwei. From beginning to end, from their initial conversation to their parting ways, the graceful woman holding a white cat never spoke to the Crown Prince. Xu Fengnian disembarked and mounted his magnificent white horse. He looked back, seeing her and the "Wu Meiniang" cat—which had seemingly gained many pounds—gazing back at him from afar. Xu Fengnian sighed quietly. Her eyes showed no trace of joy or sorrow. This parting meant they wouldn't see each other for at least a few years. If not for his Second Sister Xu Weixiong's intervention, Xu Fengnian would never have let her stay at Shangyin Academy, where her parents were seemingly buried. When the Crown Prince returned to Beiliang after his three-year journey, she had apparently said that if he had been a few days later, she would have gone to the Academy to guard her parents' graves and never set foot in the Jianghu again. Xu Fengnian sat on his horse, gently reining it in, turning its head, and riding slowly along the road. He recalled when he was still a notorious playboy, discussing the etymology of characters with the courtesan Yu, who was not yet Yu Xuanji. She had said that the character for "sorrow" (愁) should be interpreted as "autumn on the heart of a parting person" (离人心上秋). Xu Fengnian looked up at the sky and muttered, "What a perfect time for endless dog-shit homesickness and parting sorrow."

The persistent little rascal on the bank shouted towards the large boat, "Sister Yu, Sister Yu, when I grow up, I'll marry you! It's a promise!"

Long Yuxuan, who had acquired an "advantageous" father, twitched his lips. He pulled the mischievous child back by the scruff of his neck, then leaped onto a horse. Father and son rode together, and had the child not been so naughty, it would have been quite a harmonious scene.

Besides this father and son pair, the Crown Prince and his two attendants, Shuxiu and Yang Qingfeng, were on horseback. Princess Jing'an, Pei Nanwei, and the Murong siblings rode in two separate carriages, with the old Sword God and Qingniao acting as coachmen.

This small contingent traveled northeast.

Initially, besides seizing the time to consult the old man in sheepskin on martial arts, the Crown Prince would also find leisure to visit the carriage and play a few games of chess with Princess Pei, who was like a bird in a cage. Later, as they approached the renowned solitary city by the coast, he began riding alone, becoming quiet and taciturn. The Murong siblings, who had initially been thrilled at seeing the vast, boundless ocean for the first time in their lives, found their excitement gradually worn away by association. Murong Tonghuang fared well, but Murong Wuzhu had a gentle nature and was not good at concealing her emotions. Since meeting the Crown Prince, she had developed an exceptional fondness for this handsome and dashing young master. Especially after the Battle of Daxe Plateau, when the Crown Prince personally helped them remove the great burden from their hearts, it was clear to anyone with discernment that if the Crown Prince were to jokingly propose marriage, she would likely shyly half-assent. Throughout the journey, she would always secretly lift the curtain, watching his back more than the sea. There are thousands of illnesses in the world; a love sickness is incurable, a heart ailment has no remedy. Murong Tonghuang, surprisingly, offered no reprimand, seemingly accepting the situation naturally.

They arrived.

Looking up, the majestic outer walls of Martial Emperor City were visible.

The magnificent horse, being intelligent, stopped on its own accord without Xu Fengnian needing to rein it in.

The Beiliang Crown Prince didn't look at the city wall. Instead, he turned his head and stared blankly at the surface of the East Sea.

After a long wait, Qingniao softly asked, "Young Master, aren't we entering the city?"

Xu Fengnian said softly, "Enter the city."

He led the way on horseback.

Martial Emperor City was, by nature, a solitary city independent of the dynasty. Therefore, its city gate guards were largely ceremonial. No travel permit was required for entry, except for martial artists who had violated the city's prohibitions and were barred. Everyone else, whether peddlers, commoners, or princes and ministers, was treated equally. Entering on horseback, skipping, or even crawling into the city—it made no difference. Of course, since Wang Xianzhi became the City Lord, Martial Emperor City had never displayed a welcoming posture, not even when the Emperor who unified the Spring and Autumn period entered the city; the "Second Under Heaven" never stepped out of the inner city to greet him. Shuxiu and Yang Qingfeng were both entering Martial Emperor City for the first time. Though they were accustomed to the ups and downs of the Jianghu, as they walked from outside the city into the shadow of the gate arch, their hearts still felt exceptionally heavy. Of the countless cities in the world, over the past hundred years, with its martial arts rankings held every two decades, only this city gate had been traversed by almost all of the Top Ten Experts. The most prominent martial artists of the day—Deng Tai'a, riding a donkey backwards and carrying a peach branch, and Cao Changqing, the green-robed official—had all walked through. Like the Jianghu figures beside Shuxiu and Yang Qingfeng at this moment, they all had to pass through this gate, follow the main road along the central axis, and confront the inner city wall.

There, a monster named Wang, who called himself "Second Under Heaven," stood unyielding.

Two years prior, a Swordsman of West Shu named Sword Nine Huang had also passed through, carrying his sword box, and it was his second time. Unfortunately, as expected, he futilely left six famous swords there on two separate occasions, and in the end, he couldn't even take his own life out of the city, dying while seated on that city wall.

Xu Fengnian dismounted and led his horse.

After walking a distance, he spotted a wine stall by the roadside. He hesitated for a moment, then sat down and asked the stall attendant, "Do you have wine?"

"Yes, yes, yes! We sell wine, so how could we not have it? We have all the best wines from all corners of the land right here!"

The shrewd shop owner, seeing the young master in fine clothes with a splendid horse and an air of distinction, thought to himself, "Here comes a big fat sheep." He dismissed his idle assistant, who only liked taking money without working, and personally stepped up, first boasting about his wares. He then scurried a few steps to the young master's side, bowing ingratiatingly, and chuckled, "Young Master, we have Zhuyeqing, Liangzhou Laojiao, Jiannanchun, Jinling Daqu—everything! What would you like to drink?"

The young master smiled slightly. "Do you have rice wine?"

The shop owner hesitated. Rice wine they had, but it couldn't fetch a high price; no matter how much they gouged, they wouldn't make much profit from it. Just as he was about to persuade the young man to switch to more expensive famous wines, the young master simply turned his head to look at the inner city wall and said, allowing no room for argument, "Rice wine will do."

The wine stall owner's eyes darted around, and he chuckled, "Judging by your accent, Young Master, are you from Beiliang? Rice wine is good! To tell you the truth, our rice wine has been a century-old brand in this city. Although a pot of it costs twenty taels of silver, which is a bit expensive, you get what you pay for—it's definitely worth it! Oh, Young Master, do you know about that widely known martial arts contest on the city wall a few years ago? Good heavens, I'm an honest man, I won't say it was a once-in-a-century event, but it was certainly a once-in-a-decade event, absolutely no exaggeration! That old swordsman surnamed Huang drank quite a bit of our rice wine right here at this stall before competing with the City Lord. He praised our wine for being authentic and said the twenty taels were well spent! That swordsman was incredible; he alone wielded six of the Ten Great Swords under Heaven. Young Master, you tell me, could a swordsman surnamed Huang be weak? Isn't that right? Alas, it's a pity that swordsman didn't drink enough of our rice wine at this stall. As the old saying goes, wine gives courage,嘿, if he'd had another pot, he might have inadvertently unleashed the skills of a Sword Immortal..."

The young master simply listened to the wine stall owner's rambling, which was spraying saliva, without speaking.

The green-clad maid, who had not dismounted the carriage, pressed her lips together, wanting to speak but holding back, finally deciding not to open her mouth and disturb the young master.

The old man in sheepskin was dozing off with his eyes closed.

The young master finally spoke, "Bring me a pot of wine and two bowls."

The shop owner paused, but still complied. In his mind, he wondered: although this young master brought many servants, none of them sat down, so why did he need two bowls?

Bringing the rice wine and wine bowls, the wine owner, whose costs for a pot were less than one tael of silver but who charged twenty, was in an excellent mood. For the first time, he intended to personally pour wine for this lavish young master. While secretly pleased, he couldn't help but inwardly mutter that these wanderers from outside were simply easy to fool.

The young master, who had just been severely fleeced, seemed not to care about the price of the wine. He calmly said, "I'll pour it myself."

The wine stall owner wasn't going to press the matter further, cheerfully saying, "I clearly remember that old swordsman sat right here, at the spot to your right, at this very table!"

The young master hummed in acknowledgment.

He poured two bowls of rice wine, filling both, and placed one on the table to his right. He picked up the bowl in front of him, took a sip, then looked up and smiled, "Did that old man with the sword box have two missing front teeth?"

The wine stall owner thought for a moment, then nodded, feeling uneasy. Could it be that this Beiliang young master knew that master swordsman named Huang? If that were true, the twenty taels of silver he had just acquired would be too hot to handle.

The young master chuckled and slowly said, "Also, that old man with the missing front teeth certainly didn't have twenty taels of silver to pay you, Boss. At most, he'd have emptied all his copper coins to buy a bowl or a bowl and a half of rice wine, drinking it sparingly, right?"

The wine stall owner, his lie exposed, completely panicked, his face stiff. Although the common folk in Martial Emperor City naturally held an inexplicable sense of superiority, habitually looking askance at Jianghu wanderers, this superiority had its limits. Wherever one made a living under heaven, didn't one have to weigh their own capabilities in dealing with others? The more humble the family, the more shrewd and calculating they were; without the foresight to adapt, how could they make others willingly part with their silver and copper coins? Although the wine stall owner was like an old sparrow who loved to comment on everything, having seen many so-called masters and experts, it was all just talk. Anyway, no one cared if he spoke ill, boasted, or flattered, but if he accidentally hit a snag and hindered his earnings, it would be unpleasant in the end.

Fortunately, the young master didn't dwell on his lie, simply drinking his wine. This relieved the wine stall owner, who no longer dared to boast. He retreated behind the counter, cautiously speculating about the young man's identity.

He stared at the long and short twin blades hanging from the young master's waist, marveling, "Tsk, tsk, rarely seen good blades."

Could he truly be a prominent young master from a noble Beiliang family?

But he hadn't heard of any famous Jianghu sects or martial arts families from Beiliang. Since the death of the previous generation's Spear Immortal, Wang Xiu, Beiliang had completely lacked any impressive masters. In that impoverished region, only Beiliang's 300,000 iron cavalry were truly formidable. Scholars and wandering heroes, it was said, were quite mediocre, with none standing out.

The curtains of both carriages had been drawn open. Murong Tonghuang and Murong Wuzhu both watched the silent Crown Prince, finding him somewhat inscrutable.

Princess Jing'an, Pei Nanwei, had witnessed many different facets of the Crown Prince, but she had never seen Xu Fengnian as he was now: silent, neither smiling nor sorrowful, which inexplicably wrenched her heart, as if he were a child who had made a mistake.

A child?

Pei Nanwei sneered, "Could a child emerge alive from the reed marsh outside Xiangfan City? Could he turn Guiniu Dagang upside down? Could he make Zhao Danping of Longhu Mountain rush back to the Celestial Master's Residence from the capital?"

But why did he set out two bowls and drink that cheap rice wine?

The pot of wine wasn't large to begin with, and fortunately, the bowls were small. But at most, it only poured five bowls. After drinking three bowls, and with the bowl on the right side of the table remaining untouched, the young master only had one last bowl left.

Bowl clinked against bowl, and he still drained it in one gulp.

The young man, who seemed a bit mystical in the wine stall owner's eyes, squinted, apparently enjoying his drink immensely, feeling pleasantly tipsy. He murmured, "Old Huang, back then when we chatted, I asked you what it meant to have the demeanor of a true master. What did you say?"

"Right, it was a master who could make the clouds of the nine heavens descend and the waters of the four seas stand up. You said only someone with such an ability could be considered a true master. You also said that old monster Wang in Martial Emperor City, judging by his age, should have that capability by now. But you clearly knew that old monster Wang was almost an immortal, so why did you still come here looking for a beating? Didn't you always say that when we roam the Jianghu, if we can't win, we run, and if things get tight, we make a quick exit?"

At some point, the old man in sheepskin, Li Chungang, got off the carriage, approached the wine stall, and sat down directly, scolding, "Xu boy, what are you blabbering about? If you don't have the guts, then tuck your tail between your legs and scram! Are you going to embarrass this old man by lingering here too?"

The wine stall owner was startled by the dirty old man's bluntness, finding it very strange that this one-armed old coachman understood no sense of hierarchy whatsoever.

Even stranger, the young master didn't get angry, merely saying softly, "Otherwise?"

The old man in sheepskin glanced at the city wall, which was stuck with weapons from martial artists all over the world, and sneered, "Just a kind reminder: no matter what you do, this old man promised Xu Xiao to keep you alive."

The young master pointed a finger at the city wall, where a dark purple box was vaguely visible, and chuckled, "I don't intend to do anything grand. With my meager abilities, I can't achieve great things. I just want to take this bowl of wine and go up there for a look."

The wine stall owner instinctively rolled his eyes. These outsiders were truly outsiders—they didn't understand any rules and were utterly ignorant of their limits. How could an ordinary person just go up the city wall? For almost sixty years, how many had tried to force their way onto the wall, only to be struck down? He had been doing business here for over a decade and had seen some so-called masters who, oblivious to danger, tried to fly directly to the city wall. Without exception, they all met a bad end, falling like kites without wind at the foot of the wall, dead beyond dead, after rising merely five or six zhang before being struck by an inner-city master. How were the skills and Jianghu status of Sword God Deng Tai'a and Cao Qingyi? Rumor had it that when they challenged the City Lord a few years ago, didn't they also have to follow the rules and fight their way up the Martial Tower floor by floor?

The one-armed, disheveled old man, unsightly in the wine stall owner's eyes, laughed freely, "What's so difficult about that?"

Upon hearing this, the young master slowly rose, picked up the bowl of wine, and turned to Qingniao, saying, "You all wait here."

Pei Nanwei's autumn-water eyes widened in disbelief. Was this fellow insane? Even a woman like her, outside the Jianghu, knew that the "Second Under Heaven" resided in the inner city.

That day, on the bustling main road of Martial Emperor City, all visitors and residents witnessed an unforgettable sight: a handsome young master walked with a bowl in hand and declared loudly, "Wang Xianzhi, I dare to ask: what makes the clouds of the nine heavens descend, and what makes the waters of the four seas stand tall?!"

This single sentence, empowered by profound inner energy, resonated through half the city.

Immediately afterward, according to later estimates by busybodies, at least nineteen hundred swords simultaneously unsheathed and shot skyward, hovering together in the firmament.

This magnificent and wondrous phenomenon was caused by a single sentence from a one-armed old man who had been a solitary figure in the Jianghu for far too many years: "Wang Xianzhi! Li Chungang has come to the East Sea, borrowing the swords of this entire city, to fight you!"