Chapter 232: No World Without You Ten People

Playing with Beacon Fires

After Xu Fengnian caught up with the Fish Dragon Gang, the handsome young man from the Qi Jian Le Fu, who looked impressive when silent, rode casually on horseback, completely oblivious to having usurped another's place. Xu Fengnian didn't bother with this noble scion whose identity had been revealed by the hook-nosed old man. He walked with Wang Dashi along the sandy road. Not long after, the Jianghu men who had earlier blindly pursued the secret manual saw that Wang Weixue hadn't followed. After some thought, they regretted it bitterly, turning and running back frantically. This created a chain reaction, and even the six swordsmen from Qi Jian Le Fu, who had been following closely, caught up. After exchanging glances, they all discerned each other's worry. The bodies were still there. They saw a classic text on the ground, indeed, covered with the cover of "Gongyang Commentary." One person picked it up, flipped through it, and then tore it to shreds while stomping their feet and cursing. The others, seeing that this pursuit was destined to end fruitlessly, immediately scattered like birds and beasts. The six people from Qi Jian Le Fu were even more puzzled: could it be that Wang Weixue had guessed wrong? If so, why didn't their highly-regarded junior disciple follow?

The six bewildered swordsmen galloped along the road. After catching up with the Fish Dragon Gang, they saw Wang Weixue still stickily riding beside the young woman from Beiliang. They didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This eldest son of the Wang clan from Baoping Province truly had unchangeable habits. Within the Le Fu, he was just as cynical, fond of flirting with senior and junior female disciples, and even didn't spare a female martial aunt. He wouldn't give up unless he took a few solid sword blows. Their sect was determined to apprehend the demon holding the "Qingfu Sword Manual" in this chase. Their group of seven was merely the weakest contingent. The six martial uncles, including Wang Weixue's master Wu Miaozai, and the unrivaled Master Huang (who was skilled in both sword and person), along with several other masters from the sect, were the main force. However, the demon's movements were unpredictable, and they had coincidentally stumbled upon him first. The border was now under a vast, unparalleled net, and it was a matter of who could catch this big fish first. Wang Weixue pulled the reins and stopped. In front of his fellow disciples, he shed his debauched air; otherwise, he didn't put on airs like a rich fop. After dismounting, Wang Weixue said, "The manual is indeed real, but that demon is truly sly. He even doubled back, so I had no choice but to hand it over obediently. I had originally torn out a page to use as bait later, but he saw through that too."

The six Le Fu swordsmen didn't suspect Wang Weixue of having secretly taken the manual. It wasn't that they were exceptionally broad-minded, but rather they were well aware of Wang Weixue's illustrious background. This young man hadn't entered Qi Jian Le Fu out of greed for unparalleled martial arts. Instead, Wang Weixue had been a renowned figure in the chess world since childhood, vexed by the rarity of worthy opponents. He had simply come to the Le Fu in his leisure to find people to play chess with. He had always been a half-hearted practitioner of swordsmanship, so much so that even his master lamented his talent for the sword. In the distance, firecrackers exploded in the sky. Using firecracker smoke and fireworks for communication was not uncommon in the Jianghu. However, for a sect like Qi Jian Le Fu to be able to create the infinitely resonant tune of "General's Order" with firecrackers, it was certainly unique to Beimang. Without needing a reminder from his fellow disciples, Wang Weixue led his horse to Liu Nirong and said with a smile, "Could I borrow some dry rations and water from Liu Xiu? If you encounter trouble in Beimang, just say you are guests of my Qi Jian Le Fu. If someone still deliberately makes things difficult, it's fine; just announce my name, Wang Weixue, and nine times out of ten, there will be no problem. As for whether you say you're my elder sister, younger sister, or my wife, it doesn't matter; I'll acknowledge you anyway."

Liu Nirong didn't respond, but simply expressionlessly told her gang members to retrieve waterskins and food. Wang Weixue and two swordsmen accepted them with smiles, not forgetting to perform a sword salute, showing impeccable manners. They did not look down on the Fish Dragon Gang due to their sect's transcendent prestige, nor did they take anything by force. Not only was Liu Nirong surprised, but the Fish Dragon Gang members were all beaming with smiles, feeling a great boost to their prestige. Although they were in Ling Province of Beiliang, they had heard of the Qi Jian Le Fu, which was among the top five major sects in Beimang. What was even rarer was that this sect upheld laws and observed propriety. Many children of princes, dukes, and nobles were willing to immerse themselves in the Qi Jian Le Fu. Compared to them, the Fish Dragon Gang wasn't even worth a sneeze from the Le Fu. Wang Weixue then led his horse to Xu Fengnian, who was beside the young Wang Dashi. He loosened the reins, then took off a priceless jade pendant from his waist, saying with a smile, "This young master is never stingy. I borrowed your horse for a ride, so consider this 'Snake-Roaming Jade' as a reward for you. But don't pawn or wear it easily. Shops can't afford its price, and it's easy for people to covet wealth. 'A common man possessing a treasure,' do you know what that means?"

Xu Fengnian lightly took the jade pendant, which was cool to the touch in his palm. He smiled and remained silent.

As Wang Weixue brushed past him, he softly said, "Nice saber."

Only after the Qi Jian Le Fu group had ridden far away did Liu Nirong heavily crack her horsewhip, rousing the Fish Dragon Gang. Some gang members who were eligible to ride regretted not having given up their horses at the time. "Snake-Roaming Jade"—just hearing the name suggested the preciousness of this pendant. Apart from the Beimang imperial family, who could wear dragon and phoenix jade ornaments, snake and python motifs became the preferred choice for high-ranking officials and nobles. They weren't fools; the dashing swordsman just now mentioned his sect and family background to Liu Xiu, with Qi Jian Le Fu mentioned first and Wang Weixue's name second. This "Snake-Roaming Jade" could probably be worth dozens, even hundreds of gold pieces. How much silver did the Fish Dragon Gang earn by toiling for a thousand miles? Yet, the fellow named Xu maintained a pretense of calm. Who wouldn't want to go up and slap him twice? Xu Fengnian looked down at the jade pendant. It was a "Six Snakes Traversing the Wall" design, which, according to legal regulations, was an ornament only for officials of the third rank or higher. This Wang Weixue truly was the son of a top-tier powerful minister in Beimang. It was on par with the jade buckle belt of the Xianbei headpiece worn by the woman with the sable-covered forehead. Xu Fengnian couldn't help but laugh wryly. This fellow had his own style from back in the day! But if one were to truly nitpick and compare family backgrounds, who was worthy and who wasn't?

Seeing that the fellow surnamed Xu was finally secretly pleased, the Fish Dragon Gang members, who had been peeking at him from time to time, sneered endlessly. "You brat, only when Liu Xiu was looking ahead on her horse did you reveal your smug tail! How shameless and thoughtless!" Wang Dashi, however, didn't think that way. He just curiously asked, "Young Master Xu, is that Wang Weixue very well-connected? Why did he just give away a 'Snake-Roaming Jade' as soon as he acted? It's as if his family has mountains of gold and silver."

Xu Fengnian put away the jade pendant and smiled faintly, "Pretty much."

The young boy clicked his tongue.

Xu Fengnian suddenly asked, "Have you ever ridden a horse?"

The young boy, trotting alongside the horse, shook his head and chuckled, "How could I? When I was little, I went to see the lantern festival and was trampled by a horse. Since then, I've been afraid of horses. Even if you let me ride one, I wouldn't dare."

Among the descendants of Beiliang officials and the sons of rich families, who hadn't galloped through bustling markets in fine clothes on spirited horses? If they didn't, they'd be embarrassed to call themselves wealthy. Xu Fengnian furrowed his brow. The young boy was simple-minded but had developed a keen sense for the surrounding atmosphere amidst hardship. He asked with concern, "Young Master Xu, what's wrong?"

Xu Fengnian shook his head and said, "I thought of something. Whether it's feasible or not, we'll have to see after we've done it."

The young boy, whose awe had turned into respect for Young Master Xu, grinned and said, "That must be a big deal."

Xu Fengnian's lips curled into a smile as he looked into the distance, muttering to himself, "It's a pity no one knows they should thank you."

Under the scorching sun, the young boy ran, drenched in sweat, and gasped, "Young Master Xu, I heard that the Qi Jian Le Fu holds a very high position among the 'barbarians' of Beimang. Their disciples are skilled in chess, swordsmanship, and music. Even commoners who enter there emerge looking like young masters from prominent families."

Xu Fengnian teased, "Are you envious?"

The young boy quickly waved his hand, "No matter how powerful, it's still a sect of the Beimang 'barbarians.' I wouldn't go even if they begged me."

Xu Fengnian tutted, "What big talk."

The breathless young boy said with a bitter smile, "Young Master Xu, I can't talk anymore. If I do, I won't be able to run."

Xu Fengnian nodded. He began to recall information about Wang Weixue and the Qi Jian Le Fu from memory. Beimang's number of provinces was far fewer than that of the Liyang Dynasty, which had unified the Spring and Autumn period, having only eight. The conventional province names, passed down for hundreds of years, had all been altered by the Beimang Empress. They were Guse, Longyao, Dongjin, Xihe, Jinchan, Yuchan, Baoping, and Juzi.

Wang Weixue's father was likely the Military Governor of Baoping Province, a powerful Beimang official who completely controlled his province. Beimang traditionally did not separate the authority of the Military Governor, unlike the current Liyang Dynasty, where Military Commissioners and Strategic Commissioners were established within one circuit to balance each other. Therefore, in Beimang, becoming a Military Governor without real power would only invite ridicule, but such situations were extremely rare. Those capable of being a provincial hegemon were invariably resourceful and ambitious official-tycoons. The Beimang Empress never denied her trust in these eight powerful ministers, openly stating that they were far more reliable than her own ungrateful blood relatives within the palace. Currently, among Beimang's eight Military Governors, only one came from the royal family, and that was the last-ranked Juzi Province. Baoping Province was the only region in Beimang with fertile land comparable to Jiangnan, making it a crucial source of military provisions. Although its jurisdiction was not large, the authority of the Baoping Province Military Governor was exceptionally heavy. Young Wang Dashi's remark that Wang Weixue's family possessed mountains of gold was indeed spot on. Thus, the "Snake-Roaming Jade," worth a hundred gold pieces, was merely a drop in the bucket for the son of Baoping Province's Military Governor.

Beimang's Jianghu, like its scarcity of provinces, was far less diverse than the Liyang Dynasty's "hundred schools of thought contending." Human and resource networks were largely monopolized by some thirty prominent sects, with other gangs merely clinging to existence, extending their necks for scraps.

For Qi Jian Le Fu to rank among the top five and contend for the top three among these behemoths was truly difficult. The Le Fu produced an endless stream of talented individuals; each successive Grand Provost was a brilliant and unparalleled polymath, skilled in almost everything. They often served as the Imperial Tutor, a real position in Beimang's official system, a status three points more revered than that of a Military Governor. What was particularly interesting about Qi Jian Le Fu was that regardless of how many mouths it could feed, it always accepted disciples and followers according to the total number of recognized Ci poetic tune patterns in the world. Currently, there were 612 globally recognized Ci tune patterns, meaning that at this time, Qi Jian Le Fu could have a maximum of 612 members in total. Only if a literary master created a new Ci tune pattern and it gained widespread fame through classic works would the Le Fu add a new slot. However, the Le Fu had already abandoned 64 disallowed Ci tune patterns, and a considerable number of others were never easily used. As long as no suitable person appeared to claim a title, those slots remained vacant.

All things considered, Qi Jian Le Fu currently should not exceed 500 members. It was no wonder that children of Beimang's nobles, like fish crossing a river, were frantically eager to enter this sect. Hong Jingyan, who first appeared on the Martial Arts Ranking and was ranked seventh, came from Qi Jian Le Fu. His Ci tune pattern was "Geng Lou Zi" (Clepsydra Tune). This tune pattern was originally not remarkable in the Le Fu, only occupying a middle, fourth-tier position. However, it was believed that after Hong Jingyan's sudden rise to prominence, "Geng Lou Zi" would become the most sought-after Ci tune pattern in the Le Fu in the future. The next person to claim it would certainly have to be a talent no less than Hong Jingyan, otherwise, they wouldn't be able to grasp it.

Xu Fengnian counted on his fingers: "There are five first-tier Ci tune patterns, which have remained unchanged for centuries. Among two-character patterns, 'Han Gu' (Cold Aunt) takes the lead. Among three-character patterns, 'Taiping Ling' (Peace Command) and 'Jian Qi Jin' (Sword Aura Nigh) are tied. Among four-character patterns, 'Bu Suan Zi Man' (Slow Divination Son) is first, along with 'Tong Ren Peng Lu Pan' (Bronze Man Holding Dew Plate)."

"Historically, the 'Taiping Ling' has always been the Grand Provost, and 'Jian Qi Jin' is the Provost of the Sword Division. The Provosts of the Chess and Music Divisions have no specific requirements regarding Ci tune patterns."

"However, the previous and current 'Taiping Ling' holders failed to become Imperial Tutors. This was because after the Beimang Empress ascended the throne, she once reprimanded the 'Taiping Ling' face-to-face, saying, 'Since ancient times, sacrifices have been ranked Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, and Teacher. I, the empress, have no parents to kneel to. If you consider yourself equal to Heaven and Earth, then come and be this Imperial Tutor.' These words, indeed from an emperor, sounded truly domineering."

"But while the 'Taiping Ling' didn't become Imperial Tutor, the current 'Han Gu' became the Crown Princess, which is like giving a date after a slap. Beimang's own top-ranked masters, the four great pillars of the Jianghu including Wang Mao of the Broken Spear (ranked fourth in the Liyang Dynasty's martial arts list), far outnumbered those from Qi Jian Le Fu. But when it came to the sect closest to the Beimang imperial court, it was still Qi Jian Le Fu.”

Taking advantage of the opportune moment created by the young sect leader of Wudang Mountain's sword-severing of fate and Li Chungang's "one sword piercing two thousand six armors," Beimang freshly released a martial arts ranking that included masters from both dynasties. However, these two individuals were not listed, one having "dissolved his body into martial energy" and the other severely injured, raising suspicions of "burning the bridge after crossing." The Liyang Dynasty had always been critical of its own martial arts rankings, but this time, most were surprisingly convinced by the ranking provided by the "barbarians" of Beimang. The undisputed top spot went to Wang Xianzhi of Wudi City. The second place went to Tuoba Pusa, Beimang's undisputed number one military figure. Third was Deng Tai'a, the Peach Blossom Sword God. Following them, in order, were: Hong Jingyan from Qi Jian Le Fu, who had laid dormant for twenty years before finally making a spectacular emergence; Cao Changqing, who had entered the imperial palace three times as if strolling through a corridor; General Gu Jiantang, who had recently become the leader of all swordsmen; Luoyang, the only demonic giant who dared to openly enter Beimang's imperial city; Murong Baoding, the Military Governor of Juzi Province; Deng Mao, who had narrowly lost to Wang Xiu, the Immortal of Spears, but had bravely overcome his shame; and Han Diaosi, nicknamed "Man-Cat," ranked eleventh.

With five from each dynasty, it could be said that the north and south had an equal share of the top masters. However, it was clear that Beimang's rankings were relatively lower, which was key to the Liyang Dynasty's acceptance of this assessment. Such an unbiased ranking had less exaggeration.

It's also worth noting that at the very end of this list, two saints from the Three Teachings were specifically mentioned: the sect leader of the Daoist Moral Sect, Qilin Zhenren, who also served as the National Preceptor of Beimang; and the Abbot of Liangchan Temple.

Among them, Hong Jingyan, who surprisingly did not use a sword, alone supported the main pillar of Qi Jian Le Fu.

"I wonder what Wang Weixue's Ci tune pattern is. I recall there's one called 'Phoenix Terrace Recalling Flute Playing.' Wouldn't he have to announce such a long string of words every time he met someone? Moreover, this title is truly appreciated by both refined and common tastes. I wonder which unfortunate soul had the audacity to emerge from the Qi Jian Le Fu."

After looking up and smiling, Xu Fengnian glanced at the scorching sun and murmured sadly, "Old man Li, you're not on the list. Are you annoyed that such a forgetful Jianghu exists? When you meet the stubborn Jiang Ni, let's see how you'll trick her into learning swordsmanship from you. And you, cow-rider, you bastard, couldn't you have stayed a little longer? The number one martial artist in the world! On Wudang Mountain, didn't you always say that no matter what kind of 'number one,' you should at least aim for one? The only time you weren't cowardly, you tricked my sister away, and I haven't even settled that score with you. At least let me, your brother-in-law, roam the Jianghu and have something to boast about, right?"

As young Wang Dashi reached to wipe his sweat, he inadvertently saw Young Master Xu's profile. He then strained to stand on tiptoes, slyly sneaking a glance at the woman's back, and a sense of melancholy arose in his heart.

The reason for his melancholy was simple: he wasn't even as tall as she was.

Though perhaps not a military strategist, His Royal Highness was certainly no layman. Gazing at Yanhuiguan, which had become a pawn on the chessboard of war between two dynasties, he found it incredible. Far from the desolation of crumbling city walls and decaying battlements, it appeared three times more imposing than what was marked on an old map in the princely mansion. From a distance, he made a rough calculation: the obviously reconstructed square fortress had its perimeter expanded from six to nine *li*. The city walls were made of rammed earth and brick, and countless horse-blocking walls with battlements and outer blue brick cladding were built on top. Even the general's platform had been erected, giving the impression of a miniature Xiangfan Fishing Terrace. Xu Fengnian, who had originally not planned to enter the city, immediately volunteered himself after observing Yanhuiguan's walls from afar. He entered the city with Liu Nirong, Gongsun Yang, and three young men from the Fish Dragon Gang. Since there were no city guards and no travel permits were required, Xu Fengnian stepped inside, instinctively narrowing his eyes. His first glance wasn't at the bustling crowd, full of both sharpness and banditry, but rather at the barbican, which, contrary to usual practice, was built inside the city rather than outside. According to ancient military treatises, barbicans were typically built outside the city.

Furthermore, the inner barbican in Yanhuiguan had holes dug into its walls, seemingly for concealing troops. Xu Fengnian had previously overheard Li Yishan and Xu Xiao discussing strategic military affairs, and they had coincidentally mentioned improvements to barbicans, including the idea of setting up hidden troop tunnels. However, inner barbicans were mostly used by large cities to project a stance of desperate defense. Could a small Yanhuiguan, sandwiched between two dynasties, withstand the ravages of thousands of iron cavalry, even if it were to defend to the last man, cut off from supplies?

Isolated and unsupported in the barren desert, Yanhuiguan was like a chicken rib—worthless no matter how much seasoning was added. To spend such immense wealth and effort on it was baffling. What was the true intention of the mastermind behind it? Xu Fengnian suddenly felt an impulse to completely pull out this nail.

Gongsun Yang, who had been exiled to Beimang in his youth, revealed a strong sense of nostalgia.

Several dirt-smeared children, chasing and playing, approached their group, seemingly with purpose or not. Gongsun Yang took two steps forward, as if deliberately meeting and colliding with two children simultaneously. Those two children, who looked six or seven but were likely three or four years older, did not fall. They slid past Gongsun Yang's sides like swimming fish. Seeing Liu Nirong's surprise, Gongsun Yang chuckled, "It's just a few *liang* of silver fragments. Here at the border, it's called 'entering the mountain to pay respects to the stakes,' a common practice. If you don't give, these children have entrenched local ruffians behind them, which means you've slapped their faces. You'll inevitably be extorted by a large group of people face-to-face. But you can't give too much either. When traveling, few fools carry too much gold or silver. Once you're seen as a fat sheep to be slaughtered, it's even more trouble."

Following the direction of Gongsun Yang's subtle gaze, Liu Nirong indeed saw a thuggish-looking middle-aged strongman at the street corner. He took a money bag, which had been deftly snatched from their side, from a child's hand. He weighed it, then met Liu Nirong's gaze. The strongman, whose arm was covered in a ferocious tattoo, showed no change in expression. Instead, he impatiently made a gesture for them to 'scram.'

Liu Nirong didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She whispered to Gongsun Yang, "In Yanhuiguan, even thieves are so audacious?"

The limping Gongsun Yang laughed, "Here, officials and soldiers are like rats crossing the street, but thieves and bandits are the real masters."

Gongsun Yang hesitated, then said, "Xiu, this place is not suitable for a long stay. However, last time at Daomaguan, this old man thought he would surely die and didn't want his ox-horn bow, which had accompanied him for half his life, to be drawn by others. So he himself snapped the bowstring. The bowstring is custom-made, and its material can only be found here at the border. Shops selling it are not easy to find."

Liu Nirong nodded, "No problem, Uncle Gongsun. Just go find the string material yourself. Shall we agree to meet at the city gate in an hour?"

Gongsun Yang considered it for a moment, then instructed, "Xiu, remember not to enter those shops with sparse business. Most of these establishments must have strong backing to be rooted in Yanhuiguan, and they make big money. Ordinary people don't deal well with them. Also, buying things in a place like Yanhuiguan will naturally cost much more silver than elsewhere. You mustn't begrudge this money; the more you haggle, the more those shrewd merchants will sell at higher prices. They can shout prices to the heavens there without feeling any pain in their backs. Furthermore, in this Yanhuiguan, although you should try to endure when big things happen, never walk with your head down or show timidity. In a border region where fists rule, it's easy to attract flies who prey on the weak and fear the strong. These characters have better noses than dogs and eyes sharper than eagles."

Liu Nirong kept it all in mind. Before Gongsun Yang left, he added, "If you don't see me in an hour, don't wait."

Liu Nirong was about to speak, but Gongsun Yang waved his hand and left without a word.

It was fine until he spoke. After hearing a long string of warnings, several of the Fish Dragon Gang's young, "newborn calves who fear no tiger" immediately cowered, making Liu Nirong furious. Only Xu Fengnian stood calmly beside her, possessing both the potential to attract "flies" (like the sable-covered woman's interest) and the ability to deter "snakes and rats." After all, any young master daring to enter Yanhuiguan couldn't be a frail scholar; they would only come to the border for study tours if they were bored and had nothing else to do. Previously, a renowned literary giant, famous for his border poetry, traveled to the border with only his page. Within half a month, his severed finger was used to extort a huge ransom from his family. Fortunately, his family was wealthy and paid the silver. The border kidnappers were reportedly honorable enough, and the literary giant also had connections with the border army, which allowed him to return alive. As for the page, it was said that the kidnappers, tired of waiting for the ransom, dismembered him with five horses.

In the true borderlands, the local customs were exceedingly brutal.

As Liu Nirong, Xu Fengnian, and the others walked, a woman dressed scantily, exposing her fair legs, approached them. Her clothes were thin, and her ample bosom seemed on the verge of spilling out. The woman was petite, half a head shorter than Liu Nirong. Yet, this woman, who seemed as if she might stumble forward at any moment, faced a burly man who swaggered towards her, aiming for her chest. With a swift and clean groin kick, she instantly emasculated him. She lifted and retracted her leg in one fluid motion, not even glancing at the man, who was three times her weight but now writhing on the ground. Presumably annoyed by his noise, she turned and delivered another kick straight to the chest of a man with abundant chest hair. Her embroidered shoe directly pierced the unfortunate man's chest cavity. The woman, whose expression remained unchanged, lifted her foot, and countless drops of blood fell.

There were thunderous cheers, and there were playful taunts, but not a single person spoke up righteously upon witnessing a murder.

The woman smiled alluringly upon seeing Xu Fengnian. As they brushed past each other, she gave Xu Fengnian's backside a resounding slap.

The three Fish Dragon Gang members behind Xu Fengnian were dumbfounded.

Liu Nirong turned to look at the alluring woman who, not forgetting, cast a charming glance back at Xu Fengnian. Then she looked at the man surnamed Xu, who was walking straight ahead, eyes fixed forward as if in meditation. Seemingly sensing Liu Nirong's indignation, Xu Fengnian said helplessly, "What, do you want me to cry 'assault'? Then you'd be the only heroine in the whole street coming to my aid. That would be quite amusing, wouldn't it?"

Liu Nirong turned her head away, her lips secretly curling into a smile.