Chapter 663: Blue Lantern

Beiliang, located on the northwestern frontier, had always been renowned for possessing the finest swords, strongest crossbows, best horses, and most potent liquor. For many years, however, it lacked a preeminent martial arts master. Hong Xixiang of Wudang was too fleeting, and Li Chungang, who later made a comeback, was not a native of Beiliang. At the time, neither Chen Zhibao nor Xu Yanbing had yet entered the martial arts rankings. This changed with the sudden emergence of Xu Fengnian, the Prince of Liang. He first climbed the martial arts rankings and later killed Wang Xianzhi within Beiliang territory. The martial arts world of Liyang firmly believed that the rise of the Fish Dragon Gang was merely a spontaneous creation of the Xu family, just as the Crown Prince had once lavished money to woo courtesans; now, it was merely teasing the martial arts world. As Xu Fengnian displayed his prowess both in the Liyang realm and the martial arts world, the most dramatic changes in attitude were seen not among the Beiliang border troops or the Liyang imperial court, but among the people in Liangzhou who had personally witnessed the Crown Prince’s wild antics. For instance, the brothels where he had drunk, the various shops where he had given rewards, and even fortune-tellers who dared to call themselves eminent monks after shaving their heads or true immortals after donning Taoist robes, all swore that they had recognized the Prince of Liang’s extraordinary constitution from the very beginning. The madams of the brothels who had hosted Xu Fengnian, Li Hanlin, and their companions even wished they could enshrine the rooms and chairs the Crown Prince had once used. The courtesans who had been fortunate enough to entertain these young lords saw their value skyrocket.

The only minor imperfection was that after Xu Fengnian inherited the title of Prince of Beiliang, he never again frequented any pleasure establishments within the city. As for the large group of young, unruly nobles in Liangzhou City who had been beaten by the Prince of Beiliang in their youth, they now walked around with their noses in the air, each believing they had "fought" with the world's foremost martial artist. "Who among you dares to claim to be a jianghu practitioner in front of me?" they seemed to say. "Can any of you in your generation even exchange blows with any of the top ten martial artists?"

Although everyone had heard that the Prince of Beiliang had slain the old monster Wang, who had dominated the martial arts world for sixty years, these were ultimately just rumors and anecdotes. There was no clear understanding of how this "Martial Emperor" was defeated. Thus, upon hearing that the two figures would appear at Danzhongping, located at the northeast corner of Liangzhou City, the streets emptied as thousands flocked to the site. The origin of Danzhongping had long been cited as strong evidence of the Crown Prince's absurd behavior. It was built at great expense specifically for martial artists to spar and practice combat. In Liangzhou City, where mansions dotted the landscape and every inch of land was precious, Danzhongping measured five hundred zhang in both length and width. From Qingliang Mountain, overlooking the entire city, this remarkably prominent empty space was clearly visible. It was said that the whimsical Crown Prince, in order to promote the construction of Danzhongping, drank tea for half a month straight at the Governor's mansion, forcing the Governor to risk beheading and divert 400,000 taels of military funds to build Danzhongping.

For many years, Danzhongping had only been used by minor figures in the martial arts world for showy displays. Not even top-tier martial artists or even Second-Grade Grandmasters were willing to show off there. Over time, Danzhongping became a playground for children from aristocratic families, suitable for flying kites and riding bamboo horses. However, this time, it seemed to be serious. With the Wu family's hundred riders entering Beiliang, the Prince of Beiliang himself was going to spar with an unnamed centenarian swordsman here! Suddenly, rumors spread like wildfire. On the way to Danzhongping, several bits of hearsay circulated wildly. Some said the white-browed swordsman with eyebrows reaching his knees was the head of the Wu family sword tomb. Others claimed the old swordsman was the one who, after delivering a single sword strike in Martial Emperor City, consecutively defeated four of Wang Xianzhi's top disciples, including Lin Ya and Yu Lang. Still others said the Prince of Beiliang agreed to the fight to win a lady's smile. As for why the venue was moved from the Prince's mansion to Danzhongping, it was rumored that one of the Princess Consorts, being a good housekeeper, felt that fighting on Qingliang Mountain would damage the Tide-Listening Pavilion. Because the long-browed, one-armed, elderly swordsman arrived first at Danzhongping, and the Prince of Beiliang did not arrive quickly but instead came slowly in an unassuming carriage, this gave the well-informed city residents enough time to go and watch the battle.

Sui Xingu, who arrived first at Danzhongping, stood in the upper left corner of the training ground. His two snow-white long eyebrows fluttered in the wind. The old man extended two fingers and stroked one of his long eyebrows, showing no signs of tension as if facing a formidable enemy. The old man ignored the dense crowd of spectators outside the field, his expression calm. Yet, he couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic. He had originally thought he could resist the urge to fight, but seeing that young man, it was hard to keep his heart still. This last battle of his life, to challenge the world's strongest hand, truly had to be him. It wasn't that Xu Fengnian would necessarily be stronger than Deng Tai'a's sword or Tuoba Pusa's fist. It was just that Sui Xingu, having been renowned in the martial arts world for over a hundred years, felt that at the end of his life, it would be fitting to conclude with a grand, world-renowned battle. Regardless of victory or defeat, it would let the world's swordsmen know that there was once an old man named Sui, who had exchanged an arm with Li Chungang and had "eaten" several swords.

Just as the tension between the two was at its peak, a little girl entered their sight. Her presence dissipated the intense killing intent that had reached its zenith for both of them. Sui Xingu then went with the flow, suggesting they move to a more conspicuous location for a satisfying fight. After a moment's thought, Xu Fengnian named Danzhongping in the city, and Sui Xingu had no objections.

Inside a carriage, eyes met, wide and curious. Xu Fengnian had the ancient sword "Shudao" resting across his lap. Wang Chudong, one of the future concubines of Beiliang and the former top courtesan of Dantou, gazed at her husband-to-be, with whom she had fallen in love at first sight. Her small face glowed.

Feeling a bit guilty, she carefully asked, "Did I come at a bad time?"

Xu Fengnian's expression was gentle. He reached out, ruffled her hair, and smiled, "You are always a timely rain for me."

Wang Chudong tilted her head, looking puzzled.

Xu Fengnian explained, "Fighting a life-and-death battle with old Senior Sui by Tide-Listening Lake would involve too many considerations, making me more or less constrained."

Wang Chudong frowned, then clenched her fists and said indignantly, "Why do these old seniors in the jianghu always want to pick fights with you? They're so disrespectful!"

Xu Fengnian couldn't help but laugh, "There's nothing I can do about it. Even decades from now, I'll still be generations apart from them; I won't be a year older or younger."

Xu Fengnian stroked the rustic scabbard of Shudao, sighing, "Being in the martial arts world, ultimately, isn't about seeking 'freedom to act on one's own will.' Add to that being the second most powerful martial artist, and you're bound to be fighting. I'm actually lucky. Wang Xianzhi was stuck in his sixty-year dominance. There was a scholar named Xie in the capital who wanted to trap him in Martial Emperor City in the East Sea, and Wang Xianzhi himself didn't want to leave. So he just had to wait there to be challenged. In over ten years, he had nearly 1,400 fights, big and small. Let alone fighting them myself, just thinking about it makes me tired for Wang Xianzhi."

Wang Chudong hesitated, then finally couldn't resist asking softly, "Why didn't you bring Sister Lu with you?"

Xu Fengnian froze, at a loss for words. It seemed he had never even considered that thought. He always felt she should be in her courtyard on Qingliang Mountain, day after day, year after year, and that a respectful relationship with her was enough.

Wang Chudong was naive but not foolish; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to write "First Snow," a book that fully explored male-female relationships. It was precisely her pure heart that allowed her to see directly into others' minds. She lowered her head and said, "Does this count as 'the crying child gets the candy'? Sister Lu is more sensible than me, so you easily forget her. I don't think that's good."

Xu Fengnian remained silent.

Only after Wang Chudong brought it up did he remember many trivial things: he seemed to have promised to take her on a tour of Beiliang, to play a few games of Go with her if there was a chance, and to take her to the mountains to strike the one hundred and eight bells. Most of these promises were made on a whim at the time. After she "married" into Beiliang, she handled household affairs and official documents in Wutongyuan with decisive efficiency. Xu Fengnian had, in a way, quietly come to view Lu Chengyan as a woman with whom he could accomplish great things, a capable wife who would never complain or express grievances. And Lu Chengyan, after arriving in Liang, indeed conducted herself impeccably, smoothly navigating all situations. It was perhaps true, as that girl Wang Chudong had said, that Lu Chengyan was a "woman who wouldn't cry," a truly extraordinary woman.

Xu Fengnian felt a little dazed and, for no particular reason, recalled his first meeting with Lu Chengyan on Chunchen Lake. She had been very cordial, slightly pragmatic and worldly. Perhaps because of this, Xu Fengnian had never worried much about her. The one who truly occupied his thoughts was even less so than the cat-holding girl who chose to stay in Shangyin Academy.

Xu Fengnian smiled and said, "If I can withstand the southward advance of the Northern Mang cavalry, I will fulfill all the promises I made to her."

Inside the Prince of Beiliang's mansion on Qingliang Mountain, there was a small private courtyard. In its dimly lit main hall, a young woman, whose birth chart had been prophesied by a fortune-teller before her marriage to be a "perfect match" with Xu Fengnian, quietly lit a green lamp.

This was the second time she had lit the wick.

The first time was when Wang Xianzhi entered Liang.

This time, it was Sui Xingu's provocation.

The lamp was called "Life Exchange."

"My life for his."