Chapter 767: New and Old Jianghu, Two Poems in Succession

After the dramatic turn of events in the narrow corridor, all manner of human reactions were laid bare. The old sword master, who had just loosened his grip on his weapon, watched his clear sword heart—painstakingly cultivated over decades—shattered completely. His expression was vacant, and his grandmasterly demeanor had vanished. The purple-clad woman, who had endured countless hardships to earn the title of "Immortal Maiden," saw her usually icy composure melt away. Her expressive eyes spoke volumes, yet she held back words, revealing a complex mix of awe, admiration, and even guilt. The young noble from Xishu abandoned his opportunistic thoughts, adopting a humble and retreating posture, while striving to maintain the dignified air expected of a scion of a prominent family, careful not to appear overly opportunistic or fickle. His sister, however, presented the greatest contrast. Fearless like a young calf, she not only didn't cower but widened her eyes, as if she were about to propose they elope.

Madam Song did not further wound these four. She reined in her smile and approached Xu Fengnian, beginning to introduce the others as if they were alone: "This is Huang Chunyu, the Purple Bamboo Immortal. Her sect, Jingwei Sword Mountain, is ranked just below Springbloom Cottage in the Western Shu region. Her mentor is Deng Kuai, the Peak Master of Dou Niu Peak, one of the four peaks of Sword Mountain. She recently stayed at General Liu's residence and only arrived at Snow Lotus Pavilion yesterday. If I'm not mistaken, the brother and sister are from the Lu family of Yizhou in Western Shu. As for this senior who was unwilling—or rather, disdained—to draw his sword against an enemy, his name is Ruan Jinghua. He is one of the renowned martial arts grandmasters in Western Shu. A great poet once praised his swordsmanship as having the 'might of a thousand cavalry sweeping over a ridge,' which is why he is known as the 'Thousand Cavalry Sword Immortal' in the martial arts world of Liyang's southwest."

The old sword immortal, who had barely regained his composure, nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood upon hearing the sarcastic term "disdained." His face turned ashen, and his lips trembled violently.

Xu Fengnian finally looked directly at the old man and asked with a smile, "Are you Ruan Jinghua? The one who abandoned scholarly pursuits for martial arts in his youth out of admiration for the Sword God Li Chungang, and who also penned that famous, widely circulated poem about swords, 'Three Feet'?"

The old man, a grandmaster of the sword who now seemed utterly drained of spirit, paused before slowly nodding.

Unexpectedly, Xu Fengnian said, "My apologies."

Ruan Jinghua found this utterly perplexing, and even Madam Song was confused. Xu Fengnian chuckled softly, "A senior sword master once said that your talent was mediocre and your swordsmanship wouldn't amount to much, but your poetry was exceptional. He believed Ruan Jinghua shouldn't practice the sword, but rather become a scholar dedicated to improving the world."

To the astonishment of the Lu siblings, Ruan Jinghua, after a moment of bewilderment, suddenly seemed possessed. Tears streamed down his face as he laughed and cried, resembling a dull schoolboy who, accustomed to daily beatings, was suddenly praised by his demanding teacher. He was also like an elderly scholar who had spent his life studying tirelessly but failed every examination, only to suddenly feel, "If I learn the Dao in the morning, I can die in the evening." Huang Chunyu, who wore purple like Xuanping of Huishan, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, noticed that the trio had already departed, yet Ruan Jinghua remained lost in his reverie, unable to pull himself away. He looked up and murmured, "Neither scabbard nor sheath, in a dark room, eternally bright. A three-foot wooden horse-ox, can break all earthly weapons. To know when rain will fall, its ringing sounds like a dragon's roar. Wielding my sword, I walk the world, a hundred devils flee at night. Flying over Guangling River, eight hundred flood dragons tremble. The world knows not what it seeks, that figure in green robes laughed aloud: If Heaven had not begotten me, Li Chungang, the Way of the Sword would be an eternal night!"

On the way to Liu Huaixi's room, Madam Song explained, "According to our intelligence, the wandering swordsman named Zhang Wuhou has secretly pledged allegiance to the new Yizhou General. The key figures of the Yizhou Lu clan and Jingwei Sword Mountain are also currently honored guests at the Yizhou Governor's Mansion. Coupled with Huang Chunyu's groundwork, it seems their trip to Snow Lotus City is aimed at winning over Liu Huaixi. Your Highness, do you wish to detain these people at Snow Lotus Pavilion?"

Xu Fengnian shook his head. "There's no immediate need to completely break ties with Western Shu. Snow Lotus Pavilion is, after all, too far from Beiliang, and Fan Xiaochai hasn't arrived yet. If we encounter a life-or-death situation, Fushui Bureau is too far to provide timely assistance. Gathering intelligence remains the primary mission of Snow Lotus Pavilion, as it always has been and always will be. The general trends in the northwest and southwest, and the waxing and waning of Beiliang and Shu, ultimately depend on hundreds of thousands of iron cavalry, swords, and spears. Fushui Bureau, including Snow Lotus Pavilion, by saving a single life or delivering one more piece of intelligence, might change the course of a battle, and consequently, influence the entire empire's destiny."

Madam Song softly said, "This servant's vision was too narrow."

Xu Fengnian paused, looking at Madam Song. He said helplessly, "Madam Song is an old acquaintance of my mother and Aunt Zhao. If you keep calling yourself 'this servant,' aren't you worried it will make me uneasy?"

Madam Song lowered her gaze slightly and smoothed her hair from her forehead, noncommittally.

Inside the room, Yu Qingling was brewing tea. Liu Huaixi waited patiently for it to reach the right temperature. As Madam Song and a young man with an unfamiliar face entered, Yu Qingling's tea was ready. Liu Huaixi remarked, "Madam Song, what perfect timing you have."

Madam Song took her seat, with Xu Fengnian standing "respectfully" behind her.

Liu Huaixi smiled and asked, "May I inquire who this young gentleman is?"

A fleeting, charming smile touched Madam Song's lips. She replied softly, "Young Master Xu is Meng Li's junior fellow disciple, and his martial skills are... exceptionally good."

The burly Liu Huaixi waved a large hand and laughed heartily, "In that case, please sit down and join us for tea. In my life, I respect scholars who are well-read, but those who truly appeal to me are the tough, no-nonsense martial artists. It's a pity that today I am the guest and Madam Song is the host. Snow Lotus Pavilion only offers tea, so I, Liu, can only dutifully drink tea. But based on Madam Song's praise of his excellent skills, Young Master, should you grace my humble abode another day, we must certainly share a hearty drink."

Liu Huaixi's informality held a unique and indescribable charm that easily won people over. This vigorous Western Region warlord possessed a swagger that didn't feel condescending. While it was rare for a governor to love his people like children, a general to share hardships with his soldiers, or a dignitary to treat talented subordinates with humility, astute inferiors could still sense, to varying degrees, the detachment brought by status disparities. The previous politeness and deference displayed by the Lu family scion, for example, clearly lacked Liu Huaixi's depth and genuine sincerity. When Liu Huaixi spoke to someone, his eyes met theirs, earnest and uninhibited, and every word he uttered seemed to come from the heart.

Seeing Xu Fengnian sit down confidently, Liu Huaixi's smile deepened. He then bartered with Madam Song, "Madam Song, Young Master Xu is a straightforward man. Even if you don't consider my humble request, could you, for Young Master Xu's sake, ask Miss Yu to bring two pots of good wine? For us rough-and-tumble types, large bowls of wine and big chunks of meat are better than being royalty with bells and cauldrons."

Yu Qingling gave an inquiring look, and Madam Song nodded. The former gracefully departed.

Liu Huaixi patted his stomach and laughed, "Madam Song, I, Liu, am not one for convoluted thoughts. I speak my mind directly. Let's get straight to the point and speak frankly. As for what happens after, whether it's a fight or a killing, or whether I get to drink Miss Yu's wine, that's up to Heaven. I came here with full sincerity, of course, otherwise I wouldn't be sitting here alone drinking tea. And yes, outside Snow Lotus Pavilion, I have two hundred of my brothers with me. I didn't intend to be stealthy; they're all out in the open for anyone to see. After all, I, Liu, am only a second-rank grandmaster, not capable of taking on your Snow Lotus Pavilion alone. Beyond that, I certainly wouldn't want to leave your mansion's women widowed."

Madam Song dismissed his words with a smile.

Liu Huaixi raised his cup, drained the tea, and continued, "My ambitions, Madam Song, anyone with a brain in Snow Lotus City can guess one or two. General Liu's residence, *heck*, I, Liu, of course want to be a real, recognized general. As long as someone gives me an official general title, making me a local emperor accountable to no one and deserving of the name, it doesn't matter if it's Beimang or Liyang, or the great Beiliang figure behind Madam Song, or Chen Zhibao, the White-Clad Military Sage and king with a different surname in Western Shu, or even Yan Chi King of Nanyang! If someone offers me a good enough price, I, Liu, would even be willing to take the fortune I've amassed over twenty years in Snow Lotus City and lead a few thousand brothers to the battlefield."

Madam Song smiled faintly. "When you're in someone else's territory, full of powerful figures, General Liu, aren't you afraid of being controlled? A few thousand men might be enough to dominate in Snow Lotus City, but once you leave home and enter an army, even in Western Shu, which has the fewest troops, it would be difficult for General Liu to speak as loudly as you do now."

Liu Huaixi rubbed his chin, laughing heartily. "That's why valuing oneself and raising one's price is one thing, but keeping one's eyes open and finding a good 'in-law' is another. Otherwise, I, Liu, wouldn't still be without a general's title today. To be honest, Huang Chunyu, who lives right here in Madam's Snow Lotus Pavilion, is just one of many factions trying to recruit me. Besides Western Shu's promise of a miscellaneous general's rank and command over three thousand troops, Nanyang offered an even higher price. Secret envoys from the Dragon Palace promised me the rank of Third-Rank Courageous Warrior General, one of the official generals of the Liyang court, and even pledged that once I arrived in Nanyang, I would immediately be given a provincial general's seat. Moreover, none of my brothers who leave Snow Lotus City would be disbanded; on the contrary, they'd add six thousand more troops for me. As for the Zhao family of Liyang, someone from the Western Shu Textile Bureau also visited my residence, but their offer was a bit stingy, not worth mentioning. However..."

Madam Song interjected, "The Northern Barbarians offered the highest price. Becoming a Great General of Beimang instantly is impossible, but at least a Myriad Man Commander, and perhaps they even promised you a governorship after sweeping through Beiliang and trampling the Central Plains. Then, with enough military merit, becoming a king with a different surname would be within reach. But General Liu is unsure of the outcome of the Beiliang-Beimang war, fearing Beiliang might bully the weak and fear the strong, and even more, fearing Beimang would make you a pawn, sending you to your death in Liuzhou or Lingzhou. Am I right?"

Liu Huaixi burst into laughter. "Madam Song, your insight is truly profound. I think you're more than capable of serving as a Vice Minister of War in Liyang!"

Liu Huaixi suddenly lowered his voice and narrowed his eyes, seemingly trying to hide his sharpness. "It is rumored that there is a Wutong Courtyard in Qingliang Mountain, where a female Hanlin scholar reviews documents for the young prince. Madam Song, you would also make an excellent female scholar in Beiliang."

Yu Qingling brought two pots of Beiliang's Green Ant Wine. This was not unusual; even in the capital, where there was strong animosity towards Beiliang, Green Ant Wine was once highly popular, especially among common folk. Its spicy, lingering flavor was well-liked, and its affordability and quality made it the undisputed favorite in Liyang's canal transport system. Yu Qingling placed three bowls on the table. After filling them, the fragrant aroma of the wine wafted through the air. Yu Qingling knew that although Madam Song rarely drank, her capacity for alcohol was astonishing. She could drink as if it were water, easily out-drinking two or three so-called drinking champions. Madam Song picked up a bowl, drained it in one gulp, and remained silent.

Liu Huaixi also tilted his head back, downing the bowl of Green Ant Wine in one go. As he reached out for more from Yu Qingling, he looked at Madam Song and chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Madam, I, Liu, believe I've been quite straightforward today. Can't Snow Lotus Pavilion also give me a straightforward answer?"

Xu Fengnian finally spoke, "General Liu is actually not very straightforward."

Liu Huaixi smiled, turning to look at the only man who, in over ten years, could make Madam Song willingly play a subordinate role. "Oh? What do you mean by that, Young Master?"

Xu Fengnian met his gaze and calmly said, "The two fights in the small alley northeast of Snow Lotus City yesterday. In the first, General Liu lost an adopted son capable of great things. In the second, General Liu himself watched from a tall building far away. Although you couldn't see clearly, and were unsure of the depth of my skills, you likely couldn't guess the identities of the two riders who entered the city late last night and left early this morning. However, it's evident that I am somewhat higher in cultivation than that Central Plains swordsman Shao Mu, than Meng Li outside the Snow Lotus Pavilion, and even than you, General Liu. The most important point is that you brought two hundred of your most elite men, rushing here aggressively, hoping to subdue without fighting. The reason you had your spy in Snow Lotus Pavilion send word to them to stand down before I entered the room is because you, Liu Huaixi, temporarily learned my true identity. That person, fearing my cultivation, probably didn't dare speak. They might have written 'King of Beiliang' on the table with tea, or perhaps 'Xu Fengnian,' right?"

Madam Song suddenly looked up, glaring at Yu Qingling.

The latter's face instantly turned pale.

Liu Huaixi put down his wine bowl, braced his hands on his thighs, then stood up, bowed deeply, and clasped his hands in greeting. "This commoner, Liu Huaixi, pays his respects to the King of Beiliang!"

Then Liu Huaixi raised his head and grinned, "To kill or to flay, Your Majesty may do as you please! But Liu Huaixi only asks for one thing: do not blame Miss Yu!"

Xu Fengnian took a small sip of his wine. Though it was late spring and still chilly, Liu Huaixi was soon drenched in sweat.

Xu Fengnian smiled. "General Liu, take your men and return to your residence first. This King needs to consider what price Beiliang will offer. Oh, and when you return, have someone send that snow lotus to Snow Lotus Pavilion."

Liu Huaixi kept his head down, bowing as he left the room.

Inside, Madam Song's face was icy cold. She seized the porcelain bowl still filled with Green Ant Wine and smashed it hard on Yu Qingling's head, who was kneeling on the floor. The wine seeped into Yu Qingling's dark hair, mixing with the blood from her head.

Madam Song was about to kneel herself but found she couldn't rise from her chair. Xu Fengnian smiled faintly. "It's not to comfort Madam Song, but what happened today is not a bad thing."

Madam Song glanced at Yu Qingling, gritting her teeth. "According to Fushui Bureau's rules, as Yu Qingling's guide, I, Song Huanghuang, should face no less than the penalty of severing an arm!"

Yu Qingling banged her forehead on the ground, heartbroken. "Madam, I deserve to die! Your Majesty, please do not punish Madam. Yu Qingling is willing to die to atone for my sin!"

Xu Fengnian sneered, "Yu Qingling, Liu Huaixi pleaded for you, and you plead for Madam Song. Both are pleas. But do you believe that you are truly sincere, while Liu Huaixi's is a deeply calculating act of self-preservation? It appears manly, but it's actually a ruthless person's best move, made purely out of instinct. Perhaps you'll ask why I can see through it, and think that I, Xu Fengnian, am slandering Liu Huaixi, who has always been open and aboveboard, even in his wrongdoings."

Xu Fengnian gave a self-deprecating smile. "If I had to give a reason, I could only explain it by saying that I myself am also a person of cold disposition. Bad people always see bad people more accurately. I could have forced Liu Huaixi to kill you to save himself, but at the moment of your intense emotional upheaval, Liu Huaixi was also certain that I wouldn't easily kill him. He just put on an act for you, making himself appear vulnerable, and you would only become more devoted to him, perhaps even biting your tongue to commit suicide cleanly right then and there."

A sliver of doubt briefly entered Yu Qingling's heart, but she quickly looked up, her eyes resolute. "No, he wouldn't!"

Xu Fengnian wiped the rim of a wine bowl with his sleeve and handed it to Madam Song. He then picked up the wine jar himself and took a swig. He said calmly, "Actually, whether Liu Huaixi kills or not is a minor matter, because who Liu Huaixi pledges allegiance to is not something he can decide. Before my appearance, he could only choose to rely on Western Shu. This fellow is full of lies, a mix of truth and falsehoods. For example, he said that Western Shu and Nanyang's offers were true, but that the Liyang court's Textile Bureau offered the least appealing terms was false. The reason he didn't agree to it was because Liu Huaixi knew it was a pie in the sky, and no matter how big the pie, he wouldn't get to eat it. The Western Shu forces under Chen Zhibao might tolerate a General Liu in Snow Lotus City who rules his own small territory, letting him enjoy himself on the border, but they would absolutely not allow Liu Huaixi to take his men anywhere. The moment he dared to leave Snow Lotus City, he would be doomed to die. So Liu Huaixi's true desired allegiance was to Beimang, whom he considered destined to win. That's why he was waiting—he would only make his move after Beimang conquered Tiger Head City and invaded Beiliang territory. If, by some chance, Beimang suffered a defeat, he would then settle for the next best thing and turn to Western Shu. Chen Zhibao would disdain a person like him and the few thousand scattered, undisciplined troops he brought, and would undoubtedly break up his forces. Of course, this was Liu Huaixi's plan before he met me. After tonight, he has an urgent predicament. He will certainly be eager to make a grand show of loyalty to Beiliang, whose prospects he doesn't actually favor, while secretly and frantically contacting Western Shu. If you don't believe me, I can have Madam Song send you personally to monitor Liu Huaixi's dealings with Western Shu. At that point, you will surely be greatly disappointed in Liu Huaixi."

Xu Fengnian suddenly smiled. "But you, Yu Qingling, will certainly be unable to resist seeking out Liu Huaixi during your surveillance. A few words from him, and you'll soften again. I don't blame you; Fushui Bureau and espionage mean nothing compared to the person one loves."

Yu Qingling lowered her head again, biting her lip tightly.

Life is short, and love is enduring.

Xu Fengnian stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the night view of Snow Lotus City, which was vibrant with song and dance, like a secluded paradise. "It must have been difficult for Liu Huaixi to resist taking you. Did he personally promise you that he would only marry you officially before taking you to the bridal chamber?"

Yu Qingling finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

Madam Song had Meng Li from outside escort Yu Qingling away and place her under strict confinement. She then came to Xu Fengnian's side, giving a wry smile. "I've made Your Highness laugh and disappointed you."

Xu Fengnian shook his head without speaking.

Madam Song's smile was strained, and she no longer referred to herself as "this servant." "I'm very curious, Your Highness, why are you so tolerant of Yu Qingling? If I were in charge, I would have been ruthless enough to kill her and be done with it."

Xu Fengnian leaned against the window frame, smiling faintly. "It's very simple. My mother once told me that the world is harsh, and it's even harder for women to live, especially beautiful women, who often cannot control their own destinies. So, my mother wanted me, when I grew up, to not bully them if I could avoid it, and to treat them kindly whenever possible."

Madam Song gazed at the young man, her smile gentle. "What a pity that I, Song Huanghuang, was born more than ten years too early."

Xu Fengnian turned his head and blinked, asking, "Madam, aren't you only twenty this year?"

Madam Song, despite her excellent drinking capacity, felt as if she had consumed a thousand cups of strong wine. Her cheeks flushed. "Is that so? But I was already sixteen when I first took the young lady to see the Great General and the Princess Consort."

Xu Fengnian smiled.

They both leaned against the window frame. After a long while, Madam Song softly said, "This moment is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Young Master Xu, are you going to rest? Do you need someone to attend to you?"

Xu Fengnian replied earnestly, "My bed is a bit small."

Madam Song scoffed, straightened up, turned to leave, and quipped, "It's not that he doesn't like older women preying on younger men. 'Looks twenty years old,' he says—who's he trying to fool!"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "When you get a chance, go back to Beiliang. My sister would be very happy."

She paused, as if letting out a sigh, then shook her head and left the room.

Xu Fengnian retrieved the wine jar from the table, leaned against the window, and gazed at the brightly lit Snow Lotus City. After he had drunk most of it, there was a knock at the door. He turned and said, "Come in."

The swordsman Shao Mu and the young brother and sister who had sought refuge in Snow Lotus Pavilion entered the room together. Shao Mu clasped his hands and said, "Young Master, I have received the snow lotus. In six months at the latest, I will go to Beiliang to serve you."

Xu Fengnian nodded and smiled, "I trust you."

The young lady, Ma Jiabao's daughter, bravely asked, "Hey, Senior Sword Immortal, did you defeat that Tuoba Pusa?"

Xu Fengnian joked, "After the fight, I vomited several pounds of blood. What do you think, did I win?"

The girl exclaimed, "That bad?!"

The boy carefully added, "Uncle Shao said that Senior's opponent is the second most powerful expert in the world, Beimang's Military God! It's not shameful if Senior Sword Immortal accidentally lost."

Xu Fengnian looked at Shao Mu, who was filled with gratitude towards him. "I'm leaving Snow Lotus City very early tomorrow. I'll trouble you to make a trip to Ma Jiabao's fortress. You can bring Meng Li from Snow Lotus Pavilion; he's also a second-rank grandmaster."

Shao Mu hummed in agreement, not refusing.

The boy suddenly blushed and asked, "Senior Sword Immortal, that heartless old man likes to lie. Could you tell me the truth? If I practice martial arts, can I really become a master? If I don't amount to anything in martial arts, I'll just be an honest lotus picker in the future."

Xu Fengnian smiled. "You, your aptitude isn't great, but your luck shouldn't be bad. Otherwise, you wouldn't have met that old man, Shao Mu, and most importantly, me. So, I have a suggestion for you. Want to hear it?"

The boy nodded vigorously like a chick pecking at rice.

The girl rolled her eyes. "Show some ambition!"

Xu Fengnian said, "I have a brother who, before he became a top swordsman, wandered the martial world alone. You can ask Uncle Shao to take you on a journey through the Central Plains martial world. If you find it boring with just one person, then just elope with Miss Ma beside you."

The boy was flustered, both yearning and nervous, and grinned foolishly at the girl.

The girl pointed at Xu Fengnian and angrily said, "Is there any Senior Sword Immortal who acts like a negligent boss and a troublemaker? Hong Shuzhi can wander the martial world, fine, but if he follows you, you have to teach him swordplay!"

Xu Fengnian teased, "Oh, not even married yet, and you're already planning for him?"

The girl jutted out her neck and retorted playfully, "Just say whether you agree or not!"

Shao Mu rubbed the boy's head, then, with a smile in his eyes, feigned a glare at the girl. "What's wrong, girl Ma, do you look down on Uncle Shao's martial arts? Although Uncle Shao can't compare to Senior, in Snow Lotus City, I can fight Liu Huaixi for hundreds of rounds. In the one province and six prefectures of Uncle Shao's Central Plains hometown, sons of fourth and fifth-rank local officials want to become my disciples, and I wouldn't even agree. Girl Ma, you have to eat your food one bite at a time. Don't try to eat yourself into a fat lump all at once. Then it won won't be you looking down on Uncle Shao; it'll be Hong Shuzhi not wanting you anymore."

The girl, who clearly felt closer to Shao Mu than to the often bloody-handed Xu Fengnian, blushed deeply and said, "Uncle Shao, you're not a good person either! If Hong Shuzhi follows you, he'll turn bad sooner or later. I don't trust it."

The girl stomped her foot, pulled Hong Shuzhi, and ran out of the room, beginning to discuss how they would elope and wander the martial world together.

Shao Mu clasped his hands in farewell, sincerely saying, "Senior, take care!"

Xu Fengnian hesitated, then smiled. "I'm not some senior. I'm younger than you."

Shao Mu paused, then said, "Senior is very... humorous."

As Shao Mu stepped out of the room, two women entered right behind him.

They were the Purple Bamboo Immortal Huang Chunyu and the arrogant Lu clan daughter who couldn't control her mouth.

Xu Fengnian felt a bit self-deprecating. Had he become a busy courtesan in a popular brothel?

The Lu clan daughter, who had changed back into women's attire, angrily demanded, "You shattered Zhang Wuhou's meridians, completely crippling his martial arts and making him wish he were dead. Aren't you afraid of retaliation?!"

Xu Fengnian ignored the woman, who was as lacking in sense as she was in bosom, and looked at Huang Chunyu from Jingwei Sword Mountain. "Is there something you need?"

Compared to the arrogant and condescending Lu clan daughter, Huang Chunyu naturally had more experience in the martial arts world and in social etiquette. She didn't put on a carefree martial artist's airs but performed a graceful curtsy like a gentle and virtuous woman. After straightening her slender waist, she said softly with an apologetic tone, "Grandpa Ruan has already left Snow Lotus City. He said he wants to re-travel the world with his sword, following in the footsteps of a certain senior from back then. Grandpa Ruan asked me to tell Young Master that he has no regrets in this life."

"He also said that he knows Young Master's identity but will absolutely not reveal a single word. Grandpa Ruan finally said that in his lifetime, he will certainly write a timeless masterpiece for Young Master as well."

Xu Fengnian leaned against the window frame, a hint of kindness in his eyes. "Very well."

Huang Chunyu's eyelashes seemed to flow like autumn water as she gracefully explained, "Of Western Shu's Ten Scenic Sights, our Jingwei Sword Mountain, both on and off the mountain, accounts for nearly half: Bamboo Sea, Laojun Pavilion, Lingyun Stone Buddha, and Moon-Glow Treasure Cauldron. If Young Master ever passes through Western Shu in the future, I hope you will come to Jingwei Sword Mountain to admire the scenery. If you don't mind, I can guide you then."

Xu Fengnian smiled. "If I have the opportunity to go to Western Shu in the future, and if I still have the leisure to simply admire the scenery, then I will certainly visit Jingwei Sword Mountain."

Huang Chunyu's smile was innocent and naive, making it hard to imagine she was the renowned 'Cold Beauty' of the Western Shu martial world. Xu Fengnian casually remarked, "I once traveled far and only visited Mount Qingcheng, unfortunately missing your Jingwei Sword Mountain in northern Shu. May I presumptuously ask if your Jingwei Sword Mountain's patriarch is still alive? I only know that the elder went into secluded cultivation to comprehend the sword many years ago, and there has been no news of him in the martial world all these years."

Regarding a sect's secrets, Huang Chunyu's expression became somewhat troubled. For a top-tier sect, the number of members was secondary; what truly mattered was whether there were first-rate masters, and how many. Therefore, whether Jingwei Sword Mountain's patriarch had died or was still in seclusion made a world of difference. A martial arts grandmaster like Old Ancestor Du of the Sword Sect, who was able to fight Li Chungang to a stalemate during the latter's sword-testing journey in Shu years ago, was an extremely rare existence in all of Western Shu. To claim to have surpassed the Sword God Li of that era would be wishful thinking; even a draw was too much to hope for. If the current Central Plains martial world was a scene of heroes rising, then back then, Li Chungang alone was the Way of the Sword, the martial world, and all its glory.

Xu Fengnian did not press the issue. He smiled and said, "If he is no longer alive, please pour a cup of wine as an offering for Old Senior Du on my behalf. If the old senior is still alive, please also convey a message for me, Miss Huang: The two forms he composed in his prime, 'Drawing the Heavenly River' and 'Washing the Armor,' from his 'Magnificent Sword Qi Sutra,' are quite magnificent."

Huang Chunyu nodded with a graceful and compliant demeanor.

The Lu clan daughter, who had been ignored, pointed at Xu Fengnian and angrily demanded, "Do you take me for a blind person? Do you know who I am?!"

Xu Fengnian retorted, "Are you Empress Yan Dongwu? Or Xuanyuan Qingfeng of Huishan? Or perhaps Chen Yu?"

Then, Xu Fengnian said coldly, "If not, then get out!"

She lunged at Xu Fengnian, flailing her arms and shouting, "I'll bite you to death!" Huang Chunyu quickly excused herself, wrapped her arms around the reckless girl's waist, and swiftly led her out of the room.

As Huang Chunyu stepped over the threshold, she suddenly turned and smiled. "Young Master, I almost forgot to tell you, Grandpa Ruan said he has already decided on the poem's name. It's called!"