Chapter 761: Two-Person Battle, Two-Nation Battle (6)

In the deepening twilight, a man and a woman approached a brightly lit border city in the Western Regions. Their posture was peculiar: the woman carried the man on her back, and he, in turn, carried a purple casket. Both looked unwell, their faces ashen and jaundiced, suggesting they shared a similar plight.

The woman cast a cold glance at the city, which stood out sharply in the night. "Is this the 'Sleepless City' you spoke of?" she asked icily. "Why here? There were many other options to escape that old mad dog."

The man pulled at the corners of his mouth, a strained, difficult smile. "This city's real name is Snow Lotus City. If we're lucky, it will have what we need."

The young woman, whose face was pale but whose beauty was striking, frowned. "Snow Lotus? Do you need it as medicine for your injuries?"

Describing a woman's beauty often involves countless analogies and flowery phrases: "sinking fish, falling geese," "eclipsing moon, shaming flowers," "overthrowing cities, toppling kingdoms," "national beauty, heavenly fragrance." Yet, none carry the weight of those four words: "peerless grace." In any given generation, only one person might possess such grace. This woman, at this moment, perhaps deserved that description—if not as the sole individual, then at least as one of four.

The man, whose appearance was actually quite a match for the woman's, offered no further explanation. Instead, he lifted his head slightly to gaze at the city, where music and dance filled the nights. As he stared, lost in thought, a sudden pain shot through his head; she had bumped him with her own. Having suffered countless undeserved mishaps, he exploded in frustration: "What now? Since I woke up, *you* said you'd carry me. If I put my arms around your neck, you'd throw me several yards. So I just gently held your shoulder, and you threw me off again! My hands are practically glued to my chest, I don't dare put them anywhere! Are you still accusing me of being too familiar? Jiang Ni! Why don't you just chop off my hands?!"

Before, his accidental brush against her temple had made her hair itch; now, his incessant chatter in her ear was driving her mad. Without hesitation, she tilted her head again, their two heads colliding fiercely. It was clearly a move that would wound the attacker a thousand times but harm herself eight hundred. "I'd love to chop them off and feed them to dogs," she snapped bitterly, "but even dogs wouldn't want to eat them!"

He retorted ungraciously, "Are *you* a dog, then? Otherwise, how would you know what dogs eat or don't eat?"

Snow Lotus City was a small town isolated beyond the passes, forming a strategic pincer with the Western Regions' mountain passes that connected to Nanzhao and Xishu. The city was famous for its residents' generations-long tradition of harvesting snow lotuses from the peaks. Among the Nine Nations of Spring and Autumn, not only Nanzhao and Xishu, which were close at hand, but even the Liyang imperial family—derided as "Northern Barbarians"—would specifically include snow lotuses among their top-tier tributes. The rarity of snow lotuses now rivaled that of the Haidongqing falcon from Liangliao. Snow lotuses were widely acknowledged as the "King of Herbs," yet they grew only on the sheer cliffs of thousand-foot-high peaks, akin to finding a needle in a vast snowy haystack. Furthermore, their blooming period was exceptionally long, ranging from fifteen to thirty years, comparable to a young woman awaiting marriage. Consequently, many lotus gatherers would find that a parent had discovered a budding snow lotus, but it would fall to the children or grandchildren to actually pick it. These rare finds were eventually sold at exorbitant prices amidst frantic bidding to wealthy patrons from the Central Plains who had long awaited them in the city. Snow Lotus City derived its name from this flower, and the lives and fortunes of its over three thousand local households revolved entirely around these white blossoms. As these natural treasures became increasingly scarce over the past three decades, the emergence of almost every snow lotus not only jolted Snow Lotus City awake like a dozing elder, prompting city-wide festivities, but also plunged it into successive waves of turmoil and bloodshed. In those days, the city was a chaotic mix of various factions: spies and assassins from different nations operating undercover to fulfill tribute missions, imperial purchasing agents from various dynasties staking out the city, government enforcers currying favor with separatist powers under the guise of provincial weaving bureaus, chivalrous heroes willing to risk their lives for a beloved woman, and even more numerous merchants hoping to get rich overnight from snow lotuses. People from all walks of life, both honorable and disreputable, converged here.

This "ownerless" city naturally had no night curfew. After she carried him into the city, she stood on the bustling, tourist-filled street, feeling a sense of ill-timed bewilderment. Find a place to rest and stay? That would require money, wouldn't it? But they had none.

That fellow retorted irritably, "Putting aside your prowess at killing, you're practically a sword immortal who can travel thousands of miles on your blade! Even if your purse is empty, what's wrong with staying at an inn? If anyone dares to ask you for money, just chop down their entire family tree until they're convinced. See that one, with the 'Joyful Inn' sign? If you don't have the nerve to dine and dash, I'll talk reason to the innkeeper later."

She suppressed her fury but still followed his words, entering the inn whose ground floor was packed with boisterous drinkers. The moment she crossed the threshold, everyone turned to stare at the peculiar pair—a woman carrying a man, and a man carrying a casket. The fellow behind her, adding fuel to the fire, loudly announced, "Rooms! We need a high-class room!"

The innkeeper was a haggard old man with furrowed brows, who had been drowsily leaning on the counter, yawning. Upon seeing the shabbily dressed but remarkably composed young couple, he took a quick mental note and inwardly gasped. That single zitan wood casket, practically a treasure of great weight, was worth a fortune. How could such an obviously wealthy and influential "river dragon" have chosen to stay at his small establishment? The "Bodhisattva" was too grand; the temple was simply too small to contain him. What was crucial was that they had arrived at such a sensitive time, with two snow lotuses appearing consecutively... Silently muttering "Buddha bless us," the old innkeeper sighed, forced a smile, and personally led them around the counter to a quiet room on the third floor. Without needing the old man to say a word, the usually lazier-than-a-pig waiter immediately brought in the finest tea. Noticing the waiter's dazed gaze, the old man firmly pulled him out of the room, closed the door quietly, and whispered a scolding: "You little rascal, your ambitions are too grand! A woman with a fairy-like appearance like that is not someone you can just stare at. Do your work properly, save your money, and honestly marry Little Mei from the wine shop next door. Then you'll be content for the rest of your life!"

The waiter replied indignantly, "A few more glances at the lady won't make her lose any weight!"

The old innkeeper slapped the waiter's head. "She won't lose any flesh, but it's hard to say if *you*, you little bastard, will lose a few pounds! That woman might look delicate, but she's definitely a martial artist."

The young waiter's eyes lit up. "So beautiful and a martial artist? Could she be the famous Violet Bamboo Immortal? Is that purple bamboo blade in the casket then? Hey, a purple casket holding a purple bamboo blade—wouldn't that be fitting?"

The old innkeeper, hands behind his back, scoffed with a self-deprecating smile, "Don't even think about it. The Violet Bamboo Immortal has long been a distinguished guest of General Liu in the city."

The young man muttered softly, "It's strange, though. Why are there so many fairy-like women warriors with 'purple' in their names these days? Last year, didn't the Violet Robe Immortal and the Violet Sword Immortal also come to the city to buy snow lotuses?"

The old innkeeper rolled his eyes. "Heaven knows. If you're so capable, go ask those immortals yourself."

Inside the room, she tossed him onto the bed, placed the zitan sword casket on the table, and sat in a chair, closing her eyes to rest. First, she had traveled thousands of miles by sword, from the misty Guangling Dao to the Western Regions desert. The moment her feet touched the ground, she had to face a life-or-death struggle with that old Northern Barbarian dog, and then escape hundreds of miles with that burden, without a moment's rest. This had severely disrupted her internal energy flow, and a deep, bone-visible gash on her neck was only roughly bandaged. If it hadn't been for the old man, later identified as Li Mibi, needing to split his attention to protect Tuoba Pusa, she might not have made it to this city. The difference between cultivation levels and the effectiveness of killing techniques—both the old man in sheepskin who taught her calligraphy instead of swordsmanship, and Uncle Cao, the Chess Grand Master—had clearly explained these to her. During their first encounter in a torrential downpour, she had manipulated thousands of swords from rain and mud, forming two sword formations, yet Li Mibi effortlessly broke through them. During their escape, she had exerted all her strength, transforming everything into a three-foot sword, but Li Mibi had remained unhurried, like a shadow.

The man was indeed Xu Fengnian, who had narrowly escaped death. Lying on the bed, he said softly, "Although Li Mibi is only at the Finger Profound realm, his fighting style is somewhat similar to that of 'Human Cat' Han Shengxuan—unbeatable at his level. Even ordinary Heavenly Elephant masters would struggle to suppress him; otherwise, he wouldn't be the patriarch of Northern Barbarian's Spiderweb spies. Don't be fooled by how easily he broke your sword formation then, showing off his master's demeanor. In truth, your formations gave that old geezer plenty of scares; he just has a thick skin, so you couldn't tell. If he hadn't put on such a brave face and intimidated you into only defending, what if you had killed Tuoba Pusa by chance? How would he have gone back to report to the Northern Barbarian Empress?"

She sneered, "Are you blaming me?"

Not getting the sharp retort she expected, she grew even more furious. "Someone couldn't finish off their opponent in one go, and almost had their head taken for a bounty. How impressive! Truly one of the Four Grandmasters of the world! If I recall correctly, the martial arts world was even calling someone the 'New Martial Emperor' after Old Freak Wang, tsk tsk. Did someone pay people to spread that nonsense in the jianghu?"

Xu Fengnian replied weakly, "Please, the person I almost killed back then wasn't some minor figure; it was Tuoba Pusa! If Li Mibi hadn't intervened, right now I'd be striding boldly to the Liangmang border, riding out alone, with the head of their Northern Barbarian God of War hanging from my spear. That would send Northern Barbarian morale to rock bottom, far more effective than killing two hundred thousand of their cavalry at the border. Simply put, it means our Northern Liang could save a hundred thousand lives..."

Jiang Ni didn't care for his "if-thens." Interrupting his foolish rambling, she scoffed, "And yet, here you are, hiding like a stray dog."

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "If I'm a stray dog, what does that make you? Wouldn't that make us 'dog and bitch'?"

For once, Jiang Ni didn't retort, remaining silent.

Xu Fengnian forced himself to sit up, looking at the city lights outside, which made the night seem like day. "Tuoba Pusa will definitely recover faster than me. With Li Mibi, who excels at ambushes and interceptions, we can only buy time by heading south. We'll have to wait for Xu Yanbing and Tantai Pingjing to bring their people south, forcing Tuoba Pusa and Li Mibi to abandon their pursuit. I think they'll give up on their own and secretly return to Northern Barbarian in about five days at most. This gamble is risky for both sides. Even if Li Mibi was willing to pull Tuoba Pusa into a duel with me, the Northern Barbarian Grand Marshal wouldn't agree. Tuoba Pusa understands the gravity of the situation."

Jiang Ni asked coolly, "When will you be able to walk?"

Xu Fengnian gave a wry smile. "Probably two more days. Tuoba Pusa and Li Mibi might track us to Snow Lotus City in just one day. That means you might have to fight another battle, of course, that's the worst-case scenario. If my luck isn't so bad, perhaps they're already on their way back north."

Xu Fengnian suddenly looked utterly exhausted and said helplessly, "But it seems my luck isn't very good right now."

Jiang Ni frowned. "In your half-dead state, how do you expect to get a snow lotus from anyone?"

Xu Fengnian smiled. "You don't seriously think that a grand place like Snow Lotus City wouldn't have a place for Northern Liang's hidden forces, do you?"

Jiang Ni couldn't help but turn her head and ask, "Is this inn run by Northern Liang spies?"

Xu Fengnian quipped, "Do you think they'd be this shabby?"

Jiang Ni, who loathed being led by the nose by this fellow, glared at him.

Xu Fengnian leaned against the bed frame and smiled. "Would you mind asking the old innkeeper for some supper?"

Jiang Ni hesitated but still went downstairs to the unlucky-looking, furrow-browed old man to ask for food, and then requested another room on the third floor. Since the inn hadn't asked for any money from them at all, she felt at ease to act more generously. Xu Fengnian only saw the old innkeeper enter the room with a food box, but not Jiang Ni, and he let out a sigh of relief. He smiled widely and said, "Innkeeper, don't worry, you won't be shortchanged a single coin for the accommodation. As they say in business, 'a horse won't grow fat without night fodder.' I wonder if you have any connections at the Snow Lotus Pavilion? I hear the Snow Lotus Pavilion in Snow Lotus City is the premier pleasure house in the southern Western Regions. Whether one can buy a snow lotus here depends on fate, but whether one can 'enjoy' a woman from the Snow Lotus Pavilion depends on how much silver you have in your pocket. As for me, I have a bit of silver, and since *she* is angry with me and sleeping in a separate room, I wanted to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make my trip to Snow Lotus City worthwhile..."

The aged innkeeper immediately understood and smiled knowingly, but quickly looked troubled again, carefully saying, "To be frank, all the inns and taverns in the city have these various connections, all for the sake of pleasing guests, so they arrive happy and leave happy. My 'Joyful Inn,' since it dares to bear such a name, naturally has its own ways. However, young master, you might not know this, but the ladies of the Snow Lotus Pavilion are very particular, like imperial concubines. Regardless of status, those women never leave the pavilion to entertain guests. The ladies from other establishments aren't so strict; I can arrange for them to come here, beautifully adorned, without anyone knowing, especially your family's lady. And you can specify your preferences beforehand. Even if you're worried about not liking them, I can use my old connections to have several ladies come, so you can choose the one you fancy... Young master, how about that?"

Xu Fengnian shook his head and chuckled. "Forget the girls from other alleys. We're here for the Snow Lotus Pavilion's reputation. Whether the girls are 'fresh' or not isn't the most important thing; it's about having something to brag about to my friends back home. Otherwise, isn't all eating the same? Can women from your Snow Lotus City really be more beautiful than the courtesans of the Central Plains' pleasure houses? Innkeeper, isn't that right? Here's what we'll do: Innkeeper, I used to have a friend who was a regular at Snow Lotus Pavilion, someone who spent thousands of taels of silver there like water. Go find the madame of Snow Lotus Pavilion and tell her that a friend of a Young Master Xu from Fushui Commandery wants to invite their top courtesan out for drinks. Let them name their price; as long as they dare to name it, I dare to pay it. Innkeeper, just deliver the message. Whether it works out or not, I'll add an extra 'travel expense' to your bill when we check out."

The old innkeeper, hearing this, was overjoyed and scurried off to make the arrangements.

Not long after, Xu Fengnian saw the door open. There she stood, a chilling, humorless smile on her face. Before he could explain, she slammed the door and left.

Less than half an hour later, a soft knock came at the door. Xu Fengnian calmly said, "Come in."

Two women entered the room, having deliberately changed into ordinary clothes. However, once they removed their veiled hats, it became clear that one was a mature woman, past her prime but still elegant, and the other was a young woman in her prime. Both were remarkable, radiating charm from head to toe.

Upon seeing Xu Fengnian's face, the younger woman's gaze was still a mix of curiosity and scrutiny. The voluptuous woman, who had already been trembling with trepidation throughout their journey, was so terrified that she immediately dropped to her knees, not daring to utter a single word or even take a breath.

Xu Fengnian said gently, "Madam Song, please rise and sit. Even Lu Qiu'er, who is universally known in Liyang as heartless, respects Madam Song privately."

The woman's eyes were red. After rising, she curtsied deeply before finally sitting down.

Xu Fengnian asked with a smile, "Is this Yu Qingling, the next courtesan queen of Snow Lotus Pavilion?"

The woman, who had already recognized Xu Fengnian's identity, nodded and replied respectfully, "Yu Qingling is an orphan from Snow Lotus City. She entered the Snow Lotus Pavilion as a child and is a confidante I personally groomed. For caution's sake, she was only registered in the third-class division of the Fushui Chamber four years ago. Last year, she performed a minor service and was just promoted to the second-class division this spring. Currently, she is tasked with monitoring Liu Huaixi, the city's foremost local strongman, nicknamed General Liu. He is a native of Snow Lotus City, commands over a thousand directly deployable men, and holds significant influence in Nanzhao, where several established 'Miao' factions are deeply indebted to him. I suspect Liu Huaixi was initially supported by Liyang's Zhao Gou, but three Zhao Gou spies died consecutively last autumn and winter. Whether Liu Huaixi has since been swayed by Northern Barbarian or Xishu is what Yu Qingling needs to investigate. If she can successfully recruit him for our Fushui Chamber, Yu Qingling will certainly have earned her second-class status."

Xu Fengnian smiled. "Liu Huaixi has managed to navigate among several major powers, making connections and steadily expanding his influence. He rose from a common street thug and, after gaining a foothold, became a regional warlord in the southern Western Regions by the age of thirty-five. Such a courageous and cunning schemer naturally possesses immense personal charisma. Our intelligence reports even say that the daughter of the Liyang Prince in Nanzhao willingly became his secret supporter, eloping and defying her arranged marriage for him."

The woman glanced at the young woman standing there, looking somewhat bewildered, and chuckled softly. "Entering the tiger's den, it's best to retreat successfully. Even if her body is never found, it wouldn't be surprising. But if she aids the tiger, then her crime deserves death. Since Yu Qingling has joined the Fushui Chamber, she understands the distinction between public duty and personal matters."

The next sentence fully displayed Madam Song's ruthless demeanor as a top-tier spy: "If there's any mishap, the Fushui Chamber won't even need to give orders; I, your humble servant, will personally cleanse the house. And I, for misjudging character, will confess my sins to Grand Manager Chu myself."

Yu Qingling bit her lip, standing gracefully, appearing even more pitiful.

Xu Fengnian remained noncommittal, looking at the charming woman famous throughout Snow Lotus City. "Yu Qingling, what do you truly think of Liu Huaixi as a person? Speak your mind."

She still couldn't guess the identity of this young master, but since he could command such solemnity from Madam Song, nicknamed "Empress Dowager" of the Snow Lotus Pavilion—even to the point of humbling herself by referring to herself as "your humble servant"—Yu Qingling believed he must be an important figure from the Fushui Chamber visiting Snow Lotus City. Feeling apprehensive, she carefully formulated her words before replying, "Ruthless and cruel, yet also loyal and righteous."

Xu Fengnian dismissed her answer with a smile. "Are there any ready-to-harvest snow lotuses in Snow Lotus City lately?"

The woman replied, "Coincidentally, not only are there some, but there are two. One was found by a large team of lotus gatherers dispatched by General Liu Huaixi's mansion. The other was discovered by a young man from the city, based on a message from his father's dying words. He waited a full six years, traveling to the snowy mountains four times to check on the lotus buds, enduring immense hardship before finally harvesting it this year. The former is currently waiting for the best offer. Rumor has it that Liu Huaixi initially intended to present that snow lotus to the Nanzhao Prince's Mansion as an apology to his father-in-law. Later, it seems that the weaving bureaus under the two great vassal kings of Xishu and Nanzhao also expressed interest in purchasing it, intending to present it to the current Empress to curry favor with the new Liyang Emperor of the Zhao imperial family. However, there's also a top-tier Central Plains master who has been waiting here for years; he has announced his willingness to risk his life for Liu Huaixi in exchange for the snow lotus, seemingly to cure a woman's illness. After the lotus-gathering boy returned to the city with that snow lotus and an old man who had lost both legs, various factions began a new round of struggle. After all, snow lotuses are incredibly rare and hard to come by. Thirty years ago, one could sell for as high as thirty thousand taels of silver. Now, they are priceless; you might not even be able to buy one for a hundred thousand taels. That naive young man, however, is stubborn; he says his snow lotus is not for sale, only to be given to a girl from Majia Fort. That girl is the daughter of the Majia Fort master and was already betrothed through an arranged marriage to a suitable family by her father. Perhaps the young man had some interaction with her that made him so determined, even willing to risk his life. Currently, the young man and the snow lotus, stored in an ice cellar, are being guarded by that Central Plains master at the entrance. The two must have reached some agreement; without the protection of that sword master, the young man's body would likely have been untraceable long ago."

Madam Song lowered her voice and asked, "Does Snow Lotus Pavilion need to contend for those two snow lotuses? If so..."

Xu Fengnian waved his hand. "Snow Lotus Pavilion doesn't need to get involved. Just tell me the precise locations of the two snow lotuses."

Madam Song's eyes were fervent and resolute. She said in a deep voice, "Since the Fushui Chamber established Snow Lotus Pavilion in this city, is it merely for show? How many people have already died fighting on the border of Liangyou provinces? Even if every last person in Snow Lotus Pavilion died, how many would that be?"

Xu Fengnian smiled. "Madam Song said that Snow Lotus Pavilion distinguishes between public and private matters. I should do the same."

Madam Song shook her head. "It's not the same!"

Xu Fengnian looked at the woman, who seemed ready to die bravely at any moment, and calmly said, "My word is final."

Madam Song paused, startled.

Xu Fengnian glanced towards the door, cleared his throat, and said to Madam Song, "Madam, please ask the inn to prepare a carriage for me. I need to go to the lotus-gathering boy immediately. You just need to show the coachman the way. Oh, and give the innkeeper some extra silver. If there's a need afterward, I will certainly come to Snow Lotus Pavilion. Otherwise, don't act on your own initiative; consider it a rule of the Fushui Chamber."

Two carriages departed from outside the inn, going their separate ways. Madam Song sat expressionlessly inside her carriage. Yu Qingling, who would soon enter General Liu's mansion to "feed herself to the tiger," mustered her courage to ask something, but Madam Song, with her eyes closed, spoke stiffly, "Don't ask what you shouldn't."

In the other carriage, Xu Fengnian leaned against the side, while Jiang Ni sat stiffly upright, her back against the zitan sword casket, her expression fluctuating unpredictably.

The carriage wound through several turns, arriving at the entrance of a narrow, dark alley. The simple-looking coachman stopped the carriage, lifted the curtain, and apologized, "Young Master, Young Lady, the alley is too small; the carriage can't enter. You'll have to walk about thirty or forty steps yourselves."

Jiang Ni was the first to alight, tossing out, "Prop yourself against the wall and walk."

Xu Fengnian, with a bitter smile, got out of the carriage with the coachman's help. He then told the coachman not to wait and to return to the inn. He truly had to lean on the wall to move forward, looking as pathetic as possible. Jiang Ni, however, took small steps, walking slowly about six paces ahead, not forgetting to mock him, "If you'd spent the night at the Snow Lotus Pavilion, wouldn't you be unable to walk without leaning on a wall tomorrow?"

And that wasn't all. She twisted the knife further, adding, "'Forget the girls from other alleys; we're here for the Snow Lotus Pavilion's reputation.' Tsk tsk, truly a first-class profligate. Only a seasoned philanderer could utter such words."

Xu Fengnian said with an exasperated laugh, "Are you really so righteous about eavesdropping?"

Jiang Ni snorted coldly, "My ears are sharp. Otherwise, do you think I'd *want* to hear such vulgarities?"

The two arrived in front of a dilapidated mud house without a fence. Jiang Ni stood with the zitan sword casket on her back, arms crossed. Xu Fengnian tried to steady himself by placing a hand on her shoulder, but she swiftly dodged him. He had to bend over, resting his hands on his knees. On the steps in front of the house sat a middle-aged man with a sword across his lap, presumably the Central Plains swordsman considered a martial arts grandmaster in Snow Lotus City. Xu Fengnian didn't recognize him, and the man, who seemed to have been in Snow Lotus City for four or five years, apparently didn't recognize Xu Fengnian or Jiang Ni either. As for the figures lurking in the surrounding darkness, Xu Fengnian, though frail, could perceive them clearly with his spiritual sense—a dying camel is still bigger than a horse. While he couldn't handle Li Mibi and Tuoba Pusa, going on a killing spree here wouldn't require lifting a finger, especially with Jiang Ni by his side. Unless one of the top fourteen martial artists or a grandmaster just shy of that level arrived to stir up trouble, it would be no big deal. The swordsman kept his gaze straight, his expression cold. "I don't care about Liu Huaixi's snow lotus," he stated. "But the snow lotus inside this house is already reserved by me. Leave. If you're unwilling, then by all means, consult my sword."

Xu Fengnian gasped for breath, looking up at the middle-aged swordsman, whose mastery was unmistakable. He asked with a smile, "May I boldly ask what distinguished alias this hero possesses?"

The swordsman did not reply. Instead, a hearty, weathered voice boomed from inside the house, "What 'hero' nonsense? That's Dong Yuanrui of Dongyue, one of this old man's defeated opponents back in the day, a fellow I could take down with one hand! This martial arts world truly gets more ridiculous by the day. Such a character, carrying a rusty sword, is considered someone now? My generation, *that* was truly a time of emerging talents! Not to mention others, just among those I've fought: there was Wang Xiu, the Hegemon of Liang, who used a spear; and the Green-Robed Old Ancestor of Fengdu—they were barely considered masters. When I crossed paths with them back then, it was just a warm-up. Only a swordsman named Li was my destined rival, though we also held mutual admiration..."

But then a youthful voice from inside interrupted the old man's rambling boasts, "Alright, alright! You're still the one I carried out of that snowy mountain cave! A true hero doesn't dwell on past glories, you know? Eat your pancake!"

Xu Fengnian was utterly confused. He turned to Jiang Ni. Her lips twitched. "There's no such person," she said coldly. "The old man in sheepskin never mentioned him."

Xu Fengnian muttered softly, "His internal energy is less than that of a second-rank minor master right now. At his peak, he probably just barely reached the first-rank threshold. But his arrogance... it's even more sky-high than Old Man Li's was back then."

Then Xu Fengnian saw Jiang Ni walk forward. "What are you doing?" he asked.

Jiang Ni said calmly, "Going in to beat him until he's spitting teeth, so he stops bragging without a draft."

Xu Fengnian said with a wry laugh, "He's an old man; can't he just indulge in a bit of boasting? Besides, with all his grand talk about the heroes and masters of the martial world, he still put Old Man Li at the top of the list, didn't he? For that alone, I'd like to share a few bowls of wine with this 'old senior.'"

Only then did Jiang Ni stop. However, she suddenly tilted her head, looking towards the alley corner. Xu Fengnian followed her gaze. It was a young girl, just blooming into womanhood, slowly approaching, leading a bay horse. She possessed the unique, fearless forward momentum of a newborn calf, ready to disregard everything.

After entering this perilous den, the girl warily glanced at Xu Fengnian, but then flashed a bright smile at Jiang Ni, which left Xu Fengnian feeling somewhat dejected.

The girl, leading her horse, called out, "Hong Shuzhi, don't be foolish! Quickly find any buyer for that snow lotus, do you hear me? That's all I'm saying; I'm leaving!"

With her back to the house, the girl tried her best to hide the tremor in her voice, "From now on... we go our separate ways!"

A thin, jaundiced boy rushed out of the house, his face covered in tears. Wiping them away with his hand, he cried out, "Ma Shanggong, your father said that if I harvested the snow lotus, he'd promise not to let you marry that scoundrel!"

The girl turned her head, furious. "My father just wanted you to die in the snowy mountains, you fool! What good is it even if you harvested the snow lotus?!"

The girl raised an arm to cover her face, sobbing, "We can't be together..."

The boy also cried, "I don't care! I don't want you to be with me anymore either. That guy isn't any good anyway. As long as you don't marry him, that's all that matters! I'll be happy then!"

Xu Fengnian remained bent over, his expression unreadable.

Then Jiang Ni walked over and kicked him on the shin.

Xu Fengnian asked, "What's wrong?"

She glared at him, furious. "You're not going to do anything?"

She quickly added, menacingly, "If you don't, I will!"

Xu Fengnian smiled, slowly straightening his back with one hand on it, his face bright. "Let me catch my breath first. Of course, I'll intervene. Why wouldn't I?"

Xu Fengnian looked at the young boy and girl, remarking, "That's wonderful."