Chapter 212: Knife and Candied Hawthorn

Young gang members initially worried that the handsome young man might impress Miss Liu, which would be an embarrassment for them, who had been close to her for years. Naturally, they felt wary and wished they could tie him up. Later, seeing Liu Nirong's indifferent attitude, they felt relieved. Their initial malicious thoughts about the man with the saber faded, as it takes two to tango, and constantly mocking him would make them seem petty. Fortunately, the young man, who introduced himself as Xu, did not use his status to order the Fish-Dragon Gang around. They kept to themselves, and the journey continued until they reached Daoma Pass, a mountain-built fortress at the border between Beiliang and Beimang. This pass was a crucial shortcut connecting north and south. Its plaque was inscribed by Song Zhiqiu, a renowned calligrapher of the current dynasty. Merchants came and went ceaselessly, and the markets on both sides of the city gate road were bustling. There was little military activity here, making it far less austere than most other border passes.

There was the ruin of an old city gate tower foundation, built of rough stones and pebbles, with cracks covered in moss and scattered debris. Many young children from nearby villages played chase on it. A burly man, dressed in a blue cloth robe with a red woven sash around his waist, his eyes wide and fierce, carried a massive saber – a much simpler version of the military-issue horse-slaying saber. He dragged its tip along the ground as he intimidatingly ascended the foundation. With a cold snort, he plunged the great saber into the earth and stood with his arms crossed.

Adults quickly and carefully maneuvered around the brawny man to pull their children off the foundation. One mischievous child was as slippery as an eel. The child's mother appeared to be in her early twenties. Despite the harsh frontier winds and sand, this young woman had remarkably smooth, almost oily skin. With her slender waist and small feet, she surprisingly couldn't catch her unruly child. Below the foundation, merchants, travelers, and local residents burst into laughter. Some older ruffians, who had no women to warm their beds, huddled together, chewing on red dates and spitting out pits as they openly teased her, causing the young woman's pretty face to flush. The child, passing by the horse-slaying saber wielder, fearlessly reached out to touch the blade. The man glared fiercely, startling the child into a frozen silence, who then immediately burst into tears. The young woman, dressed in a plain cross-collared top, quickly hugged her child, offering a soft, apologetic glance, too timid to speak. The thirty-something black-faced man inexplicably blushed, perhaps a rough man with a gentle side, a novice at such encounters. Seeing the delicate young woman before him, his carefully cultivated image of a formidable expert instantly crumbled, prompting even more boisterous jeers from the street ruffians.

This dilapidated foundation was where martial artists would compete every ten to fifteen days. Although the young woman was from a respectable family, having lived in a village near Daoma Pass for many years, she had witnessed a lot and wasn't overly afraid of these rough men who drew their swords at the slightest provocation. Beiliang was barren and harsh; unlike the fertile lands of Jiangnan, surviving here meant scraping a living from the teeth of fate. The local customs were simple yet remarkably brave and martial. The authorities did not prohibit private duels among martial artists, but injuring even one civilian was a grave crime punishable by military conscription. If three or more civilians were injured, the offender would be executed on the spot. Without hundreds of taels of silver to bribe the soldiers, one couldn't hope to survive. In these times, how many of those who claimed to be wandering martial artists, merely possessing a few flashy moves, actually had dozens of taels of silver in their pockets? With his mother's support, the child haphazardly wiped his tear-streaked face and made a goofy face at the burly man. The man, who was about to compete, scratched his head helplessly, clearly not a vicious person. The child had originally intended to kick the "stingy black lump" who wouldn't even let him touch his saber, but thankfully, his mother quickly pulled him away, gently scolding him.

The black-faced strongman appeared to be looking straight ahead, but his peripheral vision lingered on the young woman's buttocks, which jutted out slightly when she bent over. His Adam's apple bobbed. Her figure was delicate and petite, her plain clothes likely well-worn from frequent washing. Her buttocks, unusually pert for her frame, strained the fabric, making her all the more alluring. This is not to say the horse-slaying saber wielder harbored ill intentions. He did possess considerable skill but disdained becoming a depraved "flower thief." As for abducting common women, he was a rootless drifter in the martial world and certainly lacked the means to do such a thing. And what about visiting brothels without money? That's precisely why he had challenged a minorly renowned swordsman from the border today. He was determined to gain a reputation with his horse-slaying saber, even if it meant getting injured, in hopes that wealthy individuals would take notice and perhaps hire him as a guard captain or instructor.

Xiao Qiang went to present the travel permits and official documents for the goods to the pass commandant. It's said that Hades is easy to deal with, but his imps are troublesome, so getting through wouldn't be quick. Liu Nirong should have handled this, but her alluring appearance tended to cause complications. Xiao Qiang wasn't concerned about the gang leader's granddaughter gaining experience in social niceties. If something went wrong with a cartload of goods, the Fish-Dragon Gang could barely afford the compensation, even if it meant selling everything they owned. But irritating that young general would truly be devastating. So, Liu Nirong was simply kept out of sight. With official documents and private letters, a bit of expense would likely ensure a smooth exit. Liu Nirong, accompanied by several escorts, roamed around, having agreed to meet her master, Xiao Qiang, at the city gate in half an hour. Liu Nirong intended to use this trip to recruit one or two martial artists to join the gang. If she truly wanted to take over the Fish-Dragon Gang, without any loyal subordinates, she would inevitably struggle to assert herself and be constrained in everything she did, which would ultimately be unfavorable.

She and six or seven young members of the Fish-Dragon Gang joined the crowd near the foundation. Several local ruffians who tried to get close and harass them were subtly pushed away by Liu Nirong's protectors. These were skilled moves, designed to make them retreat, as this wasn't Lingzhou. If they accidentally provoked a formidable opponent here, no one would show respect to an unheard-of Fish-Dragon Gang. How vast was the martial world today? Even a mediocre martial artist who had wandered for a few years could easily list countless sects, gangs, temples, estates, islands, fortresses, societies, and palaces. Not to mention other regions, in Lingzhou alone, there were over forty named factions. To put it bluntly, even finding a good name was incredibly difficult. The Fish-Dragon Gang was considered an early starter, which was how they managed to secure the unconventional name "Fish-Dragon." Outside Lingzhou, there were probably eight or nine other gangs with the same name, if not more.

A roar of cheers erupted. Liu Nirong turned to look, and a white-clad swordsman, elegant as snow, gracefully arrived, stepping on the shoulders of the crowd. His demeanor was ethereal. This highly impressive swordsman seemed to be heading towards Liu Nirong, stepping over people's shoulders. How could Liu Nirong tolerate such humiliation of being stepped over? The famous sword at her waist silently slid out an inch. Her gaze turned sharp. The handsome swordsman, with a face like peach blossoms, narrowed his eyes, seemingly sensing the sharpness of Liu Nirong's intent. He subtly changed direction, stepping on the shoulders of nearby onlookers to glide onto the foundation. After landing lightly, he stood with a distinguished and refined air.

One wouldn't dare make such an entrance without real skill. The martial world was full of hidden masters, and one wrong step could lead to falling into a trap, easily being pulled down by an expert and face-planting. What kind of fight would that be then? What followed was according to martial arts rules: both combatants first loudly announced their names, either slandering or praising each other. Then, they couldn't immediately begin a vigorous fight. Instead, they had to declare, "Swords and blades have no eyes; life and death are your own responsibility." If it was a fight to the death, a respected martial arts elder needed to witness it and have both parties sign a death pact. Don't think everything was settled then. Unless they were truly masters indifferent to fame and fortune, they still had to look around and wait for the various gambling houses to collect enough bets before the match could begin. After all, in many fights between true masters, the outcome was often decided within the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, which wasn't exciting to watch. Thus, the gambling houses would spend money to hire people to cheer loudly. For a mediocre match, even more encouragement and shouting were needed. This benefited both combatants. The worst fate was to be booed by a disapproving audience, which was an utter disgrace for a martial artist. Even now, a powerful gang leader in Beiliang was still mocked by many arch-enemies who used the embarrassing scene of his debut match as a great joke to disgust him.

Many common folk around Liu Nirong enthusiastically brought long benches, settled down with their families, and waited for the show. Vendors selling dozens of skewers of candied hawthorn fruit weaved through the crowd, and greedy children clamored for their parents to fork over a few copper coins. Below the foundation, the place was abuzz with noise, lively and vibrant. Liu Nirong scanned her surroundings, not letting her guard down. For the past two years, the Fish-Dragon Gang had not been well-regarded by other factions in Lingzhou. Furthermore, her master, Xiao Qiang, who earned the "Twin Swallows" moniker by taking lives, had made countless enemies. Without the protection of the old gang leader Liu on this trip, it was possible that some would seek revenge or trouble. Even the largest business in Lingzhou had its limits; dozens of sects and factions occupied this small territory, and everyone wanted to seize others' livelihoods. The Fish-Dragon Gang was currently at a critical juncture of "revitalization." Not only were gangs of similar power wary of the Fish-Dragon Gang growing stronger, but even some larger gangs were looking to undermine them. Liu Nirong knew she no longer had the confidence to disregard anyone as she once did and could only be extra cautious.

Several groups of strangers nearby made Liu Nirong very wary. One group consisted of merchants who had submitted official documents outside the city gate earlier. While the Fish-Dragon Gang's trade in expensive items like cosmetics was a significant enterprise, everyone knew that those truly capable of manipulating the market were the illicit salt and iron traffickers, who operated in the shadows. If such activities were discovered, it would lead to ruin and death. No matter how powerful the official backing, once the Beiliang army found out, even high-ranking border officials would be beheaded and their heads displayed on the frontier. Next were the horse traders, who bought horses from Beimang. Whether they sold them to the Beiliang military and government or to private individuals depended on their capabilities. In any case, this trade was a dangerous business, risking one's life. It required not only strong connections in Beiliang but also reliable, influential figures in Beimang to pave the way. At this moment, Liu Nirong was near a group of horse traders. They looked like merchants, but each was physically agile and had a restrained, focused demeanor. Another group openly pointed at her, showing no attempt to conceal their interest.

Liu Nirong whispered, "Be careful. Don't just watch the fight on the stage."

The young Fish-Dragon Gang members around her nodded silently.

For some reason, when Liu Nirong saw the young man squatting on a mud-brick wall connected to the distant mountain, holding a skewer of candied hawthorn and nibbling on it, he wasn't watching the martial arts contest on the foundation like everyone else. Instead, he was gazing at the city walls of Daoma Pass. She paused, feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation. This fellow certainly had a lot of leisure time; he truly didn't have the slightest air of a rough martial artist. How did the General's Residence manage to send such a person to "escort the escort"? Liu Nirong had no desire to ponder the identity of this young man with the saber, and she redirected her gaze to the foundation. She had to admit, the horse-slaying saber wielder's strength was astonishing; he wielded his forty-jin saber so swiftly that only flashes of light were visible. The white-clad swordsman, too, possessed superb swordsmanship. He moved with effortless grace under the horse-slaying saber, his sword light, slowly lifted and gently tapped, looking very fluid. Clearly, he held back some of his strength, and his sword skills were at least on par with her master, Xiao Qiang, which sparked Liu Nirong's interest in recruiting him.

Of course, the young man on the mud-brick wall was none other than our Young Master, Xu Fengnian.

The candied hawthorn, strung on bamboo skewers, was sweet and sour. The syrup was thick and pale yellow, and despite being a cheap, inferior candy from a stingy vendor, it had its own unique flavor. The candied fruit was crispy but not greasy, each hawthorn berry a satisfying crunch. In no time, only the last hawthorn remained on the skewer. Just as he was about to eat it, he noticed a small child squatting beside him, staring intently. It was the same mischievous child who had been playfully interacting with the black-faced swordsman on the foundation. The child's family was likely not wealthy, but he was cleanly dressed, unlike many poor children. When the Young Master turned his head, the child quickly pretended to watch the fight on the foundation. Xu Fengnian smiled, bit off the last candy on his skewer, discarded the skewer, and then held out another skewer of candied hawthorn that he hadn't touched yet. The child tilted his head, his peripheral vision eagerly studying the tempting candy. He swallowed, seemingly well-mannered and unaccustomed to begging from strangers. He showed two small canine teeth, blushed, and shyly shook his head.

The child hesitated for a moment, then finally gathered his courage and determination, turning his head to look at the Young Master with wide eyes.

Xu Fengnian turned, a puzzled expression on his face.

The child pointed at the Spring Thunder saber hanging from Xu Fengnian's waist.

Clearly, to the child, no matter how much he craved the candy, a skewer of candied hawthorn couldn't compare to touching a real saber.

Which child doesn't hold a world of martial arts in their heart?

Xu Fengnian smiled, generously unfastened his saber, and handed it to the child.

The child's eyes shone with uncontrollable delight and surprise as he held the Spring Thunder saber, which was not actually heavy, with both hands.

It was as if, in that simple moment, he embraced the entire martial world.