Chapter 394: Li Chungang’s Two Wishes for the World’s Swordsmen

Under the shade of an old locust tree, Xuanyuan Qingfeng tentatively asked, “Today’s visit to Downfall Ridge—should I consider it your Uncle Lu, the Tangxi Sword Immortal, or Lu Baijie from the Lu family, the Vice Minister of War?”

Xu Fengnian softly replied, “Both. By seeking and bestowing swords as the Tangxi Sword Immortal, he settles old debts. By lowering himself to greet a junior first as an elder, it saves me the trouble of dealing with Lu Daolin, the Minister of Rites. Uncle Lu is a good man, but unfortunately, being a high-ranking official in the imperial court, he must prioritize his family’s interests, making it impossible to satisfy both duty and personal sentiment. I’m being considerate by not embarrassing him. If it were anyone else, who would dare to visit me personally at Downfall Ridge and share a pleasant meal under the Emperor’s nose? Most would just send a messenger to Downfall Ridge.”

Xuanyuan Qingfeng sneered, “Officials truly have more twists and turns than the Yellow River’s winding bends.”

Xu Fengnian chuckled, “This is already considered straightforward.”

Xuanyuan Qingfeng dismissed the murky topic and curiously asked, “Who do you think will be the first to come to Downfall Ridge to cause you trouble?”

Xu Fengnian pondered for a moment and slowly said, “There are many influential figures in the capital, but only a handful would dare to storm in directly. Princess of Sui Pearl, who is sworn enemies with me, is definitely one. Then there are a few others…”

Just as he spoke, Ziliang, the stable boy, knocked a few times at the courtyard gate before reporting, “Your Highness, Princess has arrived at Downfall Ridge on an incognito visit.”

Xuanyuan Qingfeng was momentarily stunned. Xu Fengnian, known for his uncanny predictions, rose with a self-deprecating expression and said, “I’ll go meet her.”

Princess of Sui Pearl, Zhao Fengya, had already reached the outer courtyard. Her escort was still Zhang Huan, the former Eastern Yue noble who carried a pair of barbarian-silk knives at his waist. Sun Diaosi, one of the twelve chief eunuchs who had accompanied them to Wudang Mountain, quickly lost favor and faded from sight after returning to the palace. Seeing Xu Fengnian, whose waist was bare except for a jade belt, she clicked her tongue and scoffed, “You don’t even dare to wear a sword now? What, are you afraid someone will challenge you to a duel and expose you? And you claimed to have killed Fifth He of Armament Mountain—who are you trying to fool?”

Xu Fengnian narrowed his phoenix eyes, which many women found alluring, and smiled faintly, “Believe it, and it exists; disbelieve it, and it doesn’t.”

Zhao Fengya flared up in anger, “Why isn’t Uncle Xu here in the capital? What are you, a good-for-nothing, doing here, trying to join the fun? Aren’t you ashamed?”

Xu Fengnian said nonchalantly, “Xu Xiao told me to have you take me to try some Beijing snacks, but I think I’ll pass.”

Zhao Fengya spat, “You’re a giant pile of dog shit! This Princess wouldn’t even have time to walk around you!”

Xu Fengnian feigned surprise, “But Princess, your current actions don’t seem like you’re trying to avoid me.”

Zhao Fengya sneered, “Originally, I just sent Zhang Huan to expose your true colors. But seeing you regress so much, not even having the courage to carry a sword, this Princess has no interest in even stepping on a pile of dog shit!”

Xuanyuan Qingfeng stood behind Xu Fengnian, her lips curled in obvious schadenfreude.

Zhang Huan, who wore two long and short Jiadang knives at his waist, had not dared to let his guard down after first seeing Xu Fengnian. Upon seeing the young woman in purple, he became even more wary, as if facing a formidable enemy. As for the Princess’s reckless provocation, he felt the silent bitterness of knowing the truth but being unable to speak. The martial arts world is different from the official world; in the latter, the more cunning and ruthless an old fox is, the more respect they command. But in the martial arts world, it’s better to provoke an old man with a white beard than a young man. Most martial artists, once past their prime, become set in their ways like a chess opening; their advancement in cultivation pales in comparison to their younger days, as late bloomers are rare. Facing the Northern Liang scion, who was vastly different from his persona on Wudang Mountain, already made Zhang Huan feel unable to gauge his true depth. And then there was that gloomy woman whose beauty and attire were both enchanting and alluring, whose aura was so formidable that Zhang Huan felt he could almost concede without even drawing his blades.

Xu Fengnian smiled, “Then it’s perfect; the Princess won’t have to dirty her feet. Everyone’s happy.”

The Princess of Sui Pearl turned, leaving behind a thunderous prophecy: “You dared to ambush a prince; I’ll see how you, Xu Fengnian, leave Tai’an City alive!”

Xu Fengnian looked up at the empty autumn sky and calmly remarked, “Look, a sparrow came, and then the sparrow left.”

Zhao Fengya furiously spun around. Zhang Huan dared not stop her. She walked to the bottom of the steps and pointed at Xu Fengnian, who stood on the steps, “Say that again!”

Xu Fengnian looked down, smiling at the small, freckled, and playful nose of the fiery, arrogant woman. “I was talking about a sparrow. What does that have to do with Your Highness?”

Zhao Fengya, without turning her head, shouted, “Zhang Huan, kill him!”

Zhang Huan reluctantly and slowly drew out a relatively longer Jiadang barbarian knife. And then, nothing else happened.

The bewildered Princess of Sui Pearl turned to look, about to angrily scold him, when she saw a sight that made her shriek: a large red robe hovered behind Zhang Huan, and a female ghost was laughing joyfully, extending six arms. One arm pressed down on Zhang Huan’s sword-drawing arm, and another rested on his head.

Like most imperial women, Zhao Fengya believed in Daoism and the existence of immortals and spirits. She was so terrified that she stumbled backward, hitting a step and falling. She instinctively closed her eyes, bracing for the impact and pain, but instead, she fell into a warm embrace.