Chapter 926: 有杀气

The unexpected liveliness of Beian Town was, however, not entirely without reason. A martial arts debate was scheduled to take place at Wudang Mountain during the upcoming autumn and winter, a clear magnet for many martial artists and heroes from the jianghu. Anyone with discernment knew that Northern Liang intended to help Wudang Mountain overpower Dragon Tiger Mountain. This strategy, aimed at capitalizing on another's weakness, was conceived by Song Dongming, the Deputy Strategic Commissioner.

The two remaining elders of Wudang, Chen Yao and Yu Xingrui, were not entirely in agreement. Chen Yao preferred not to draw such attention, as the constant flow of worshippers on the mountain already kept him overwhelmed. However, the chivalrous and forthright Yu Xingrui was determined to hold the event, leaving Chen Yao no choice but to concede to his strong-willed junior brother. Ultimately, Chen Yao's compliance wasn't due to subtle hints from Qingliang Mountain, nor was it because he couldn't refuse Yu Xingrui, who had, after all, nurtured an exceptional disciple in the current sect leader, Li Yufu. It was the four characters inscribed on the mountain gate archway that swayed him: "Wudang Shall Flourish." Furthermore, a single statement from Li Yufu completely put Chen Yao at ease: "When the mountain is empty, I cultivate tranquility. When the mountain is crowded with people, I also cultivate tranquility."

Compared to the previous grand exodus of righteous jianghu figures to the Western Regions, initiated by the Purple-Clad of Huishan, this Wudang martial arts debate promised to be even grander. Huang Fangfo, the true authority of Great Snow Plateau, had already spread word throughout the Central Plains jianghu that all guest retainers from Huishan would attend Wudang. Kuiaxue Mountain Villa and Youyan Mountain Villa almost simultaneously assented, followed closely by Dragon Palace and Jiagu Platform. The young banished immortal from Taibai Sword Sect, whose fame was unparalleled, even declared his intention to debate with Wudang Sect Leader Li Yufu at Zixu Palace, and to engage Northern Liang King Xu Fengnian in a martial arts contest at the peak of Lesser Lotus Peak!

With the addition of Northern Liang's local Fish Dragon Gang, seven of the Ten Great Sects and Gangs of Liyang had confirmed their participation in the Wudang martial arts debate. Dongyue Sword Pool and Jincuo Saber Manor remained silent. As for the remaining Chun Tie Herb Pavilion, given the widely known animosity between Northern Liang and Western Shu, it was highly unlikely that Xie Xie, who had twice topped the Rouge Rankings, would join in an event that would only benefit others.

Among the Twelve Luminaries of Xiangfu, derived from the Thirteen Jia of Spring and Autumn, Xuanyuan Qingfeng stood out, single-handedly claiming three luminaries. Nearly all of the remaining nine were on the move. Three of the Four Sages, including the Music Sage of Jiagu Platform, were also expected at Wudang Mountain. At least half of the Ten Great Wandering Immortals and Ten Great Young Masters of the jianghu were certain to appear at this grand event.

Indeed, the less established Kuiaxue Mountain Villa, Youyan Mountain Villa, Taibai Sword Sect, and Jiagu Platform needed to make their presence known. Taibai Sword Sect, in particular, which relied solely on one individual to carry its prestige, most urgently needed to prove itself to the Liyang jianghu. The young sect leader, hailed as the third greatest sword master of the past century, had garnered countless accolades for Taibai Sword Sect after issuing a truly audacious challenge to the young feudal king. It was said that many renowned female martial artists and 'fairies' of the jianghu, who greatly admired this banished immortal, had openly expressed their support for him. Their sentiments were largely identical: even if this martial arts debate ended in failure, with his astonishing talent, peerless swordsmanship foundation, and rapid advancement, he would, in at most ten years, be able to pull that young feudal king from his throne as a Grandmaster of martial arts.

Just as Xu Fengnian was about to raise his cup for a sip of Green Ant Wine, he saw a bowing inn attendant leading two people towards him. Before the visibly awkward attendant could speak, Xu Fengnian smiled and said, "Table sharing, right? No problem."

The two took their seats. The old man had an unremarkable appearance and smiled at Xu Fengnian before sitting opposite him. The woman, wearing a veiled hat and black clothes, had two sabers with heavily worn scabbards hanging from her waist. They weren't positioned on both sides, but rather crossed and stacked on her right hip. Their blades were longer than ordinary sabers. The woman sat on the bench between the old man and Xu Fengnian, facing the window. She took off her veiled hat and placed it on the table, revealing a spirited and heroic face. Her beauty wasn't of the kind that could topple nations, but it was certainly 'extraordinary,' capable of making observers forget worldly concerns. It was the kind of face that, once seen, was hard to forget, and her aura was particularly sharp yet not overbearing.

Xu Fengnian smiled and said, "Good deeds truly bring good rewards."

The young woman showed no unusual expression upon hearing this, not even a flicker of a frown. She didn't glance suspiciously at this stranger who might have been a flirt. Instead, she turned her head and looked him directly in the eye. After meeting the young man's gaze, she offered a slight smile and said, "Thank you." Both she and he possessed clear eyes.

The old man let out a hearty laugh. Compared to the young woman, who was likely his granddaughter, he was clearly more talkative. "Meeting is destiny," he said. "Young sir, judging by your accent, are you from Liangzhou?"

Xu Fengnian nodded. "My ancestors are from Jinzhou in Liaodong, but my family settled in Northern Liang a long time ago."

The old man cheerfully said, "My surname is Tong. I'm barely a half-baked jianghu figure. You can call me Old Brother Tong, or if you don't mind the formality, Uncle Tong is fine too."

Xu Fengnian smiled, "I'll stick with Old Brother Tong. Calling you 'Boss Tong' feels too distant, and the generational gap would make conversation awkward. By the way, my surname is Xu."

The old man nodded vigorously. "That's music to my ears! I'll be able to eat two extra bowls of rice later." He soon wrinkled his face and sighed, "I never expected expenses in your Northern Liang to be so high. It's only been a few days, and my pockets are almost empty. Otherwise, I would have gone to the third floor for drinks and meat long ago."

Xu Fengnian smiled slightly, "As long as you're full."

The old man paused, then gave a thumbs-up. "Brother Xu, those words have substance! You're clearly a well-read and educated person!"

Xu Fengnian chuckled to himself. For so many years, few had ever praised him for his learning. Of course, the universally known 'Xu family sycophants' like Chu Lushan and Li Gongde didn't count. Looking back at the old man before him, his eyes were remarkably sincere. Xu Fengnian quickly poured a cup of wine for the old man. He glanced at the young woman, who shook her head, so Xu Fengnian didn't pour any for her.

The old man said with a wry face, "Unlike my granddaughter, asking her to learn needlework is like asking for her life. She insists on practicing with sabers, and she's even practiced away any potential partners. She's almost thirty, a 'spinster' back in our hometown. At her age, she'd not only be a mother but could be holding grandchildren in a few more years. Brother Xu, how can I not worry?"

Xu Fengnian suppressed a laugh, though of course, he couldn't say anything in front of the woman. The young woman with the two sabers seemed a little helpless. She clearly had no way to counter her grandfather's inherent enthusiasm. The old man carefully glanced at his granddaughter, sighed, took a sip of wine, and quietly said, "Using another's wine cup to drown my own sorrows." The young woman remained impassive.

As the old man claimed, his pockets were indeed shallow; he was even worse off than Xu Fengnian, who had ordered two dishes. Although he also ordered two dishes, their price difference was significant. Fortunately, Xu Fengnian kept encouraging him to drink, and the old man's spirits were high. However, the old man's tolerance for alcohol was poor, and his drinking etiquette wasn't great either.

After only half a pot of Green Ant Wine, he was already drunk: red-faced, loud-voiced, spitting as he spoke. He also had a habit of quoting classics, occasionally uttering grand, empty words that left his listeners bewildered. "Let's drink fine wine with the youth, and hunt on the Western hills, Brother Xu. Having drunk with you today, this trip to Northern Liang hasn't been in vain." "Brother Xu, though I have no great abilities—I'm no scholar and my martial arts are mediocre—I've always believed in retribution: that saving ants can lead to becoming a top scholar, and burying snakes can bring the honor of a prime minister. Do you believe it?" "The poor and humble have nothing, and at death, shed the character for 'disgust.' The rich and noble have everything, and at death, bear the character for 'attachment.' Who wins or loses in this life? I imagine Yama, who sits high in his hall reviewing the ledger of life and death, would only laugh heartily, wouldn't he, Brother Xu? Is that not the truth?"

Xu Fengnian finally understood: Old Brother Tong had indeed read a few books, but his words were often disjointed and nonsensical, simply memorized without true comprehension. Still, they weren't entirely meaningless. With one foot on the bench, the old man was only a step away from pulling Xu Fengnian into a drinking game. "Brother Xu, don't think I'm drunk, I'm not!"

Xu Fengnian could only laugh and say, "Absolutely, even if I get drunk, Old Brother Tong won't." The young woman simply sat upright, calmly picking up food with her chopsticks and chewing slowly.

The old man suddenly looked out the window and sighed with emotion, "The old saying goes: 'Scholars from the South, generals from the North, and the yellow earth of the Northwest buries emperors.' Your Northern Liang, despite having the richest soil under heaven, cannot produce the most bountiful harvests. Fortunately, it has at least nurtured an invincible Northern Liang Iron Cavalry, which hasn't let this land down."

Xu Fengnian followed the old man's gaze to the brightly lit street, remaining silent.

The old man withdrew his gaze and suddenly slammed the table. "I'm just a jianghu roughneck, battles on the field aren't my concern, nor can I influence them. Brother Xu, we're practically family now, so don't take offense when I say this, but along the way, I've really come to despise your Northern Liang's Fish Dragon Gang. One of the Ten Great Gangs? A den of vipers! I don't understand it. Just like the Dragon Palace in Southern Jiang is merely a courtyard given by Prince Yan Chi to Nalan Youci, how is this Fish Dragon Gang any better for Qingliang Mountain? It's nothing more than the young feudal king Xu's second Listening Tide Lake. Ha, twenty to thirty thousand gang members, what's the difference between them and the ten thousand carp raised by Qingliang Mountain? Of course, Jiagu Platform in Jiangnan Prefecture is just as bad. It's said to be something concocted by Yu Jiankang's eldest grandson, the Grand Pillar State. Heaven knows if that Liu Hunxian, who seems so detached from worldly affairs, isn't just a mistress of some powerful eunuch's son?"

The old man looked down at the wine in his cup, a touch of melancholy in his eyes. "Even a sect like Dongyue Sword Pool, with centuries of history, why did Song Nianqing die? And why did Chai Qingshan appear on the walls of Taian City? Brother Xu, you are still young, unlike an old man like me who has lived for so long. There are many things you probably won't understand. In those decades when Wang Xianzhi held sway over Wudi City—or rather, over the entire jianghu—the jianghu was not like this. Even Dragon Tiger Mountain, which had the closest and deepest ties with the imperial court in its early years, was like a 'mountain king' or a Feather-Clad Minister, able to look down on marquises and dukes. Not to mention the white-robed monk of Liangchan Temple, whom the old Liyang emperor personally received back then."

The old man repeatedly murmured, "The jianghu back then, it wasn't like this." He finally drained the last half-cup of wine, then looked at Xu Fengnian with a vacant expression and said bitterly, "How could Wang Xianzhi lose to your young feudal king? How could he die? Wang Xianzhi shouldn't have died, couldn't have died! His death has changed the jianghu."

Xu Fengnian had previously suspected that this old man, surnamed Tong, recognized him, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Words, expressions, and even gazes could be perfectly concealed, but the inner qi of any martial artist, unless they had reached the realm of a Land Immortal, was fully transparent to Xu Fengnian. Conversely, Xu Fengnian deliberately restrained his aura; even a master at the Celestial Phenomenon realm might not be able to detect any traces of it.

The old man sighed heavily and grinned. "I'm an old jianghu hand, after all. I know Brother Xu's background isn't simple; otherwise, you wouldn't dare openly wear a Northern Liang saber and wander around. If I'm not mistaken, young brother, you must come from a prominent military family in Liangzhou, right?"

Xu Fengnian nodded with a smile. "Prominent enough."

The old man chuckled, "Those things don't matter. Drink up, drink up! There's no more wine on the table, how about another pot for your old brother?"

Xu Fengnian immediately waved and called the inn attendant, ordering two more pots of Green Ant Wine. The attendant rolled his eyes behind Xu Fengnian's back and reluctantly went to fetch the wine. *Damn it, you two old and young beggars, you barely ordered any dishes that cost money, but you're really getting addicted to the free Green Ant Wine?*

Unknowingly, this pair, who had strangely ended up at the same table and were now calling each other brothers, had already consumed five pots of Green Ant Wine. Green Ant Wine was renowned as a potent spirit that could scald one's throat and burn one's intestines.

So the young woman gently reminded him, "Grandfather, that's enough. This wine has quite a kick."

The old man's vision was blurry, and he swayed. He chuckled, "It's rare for Grandfather to have such a satisfying drink. You never drink, so you don't know that only fine wine is the most refreshing medicine in the world. Otherwise, why would the ancients say that fame and fortune are stronger than wine, intoxicating people to an eternal slumber?" Then the old man clinked glasses with Xu Fengnian and took another big gulp with a slurp.

Earlier, the old man had been swaying his cup all over the place, and Xu Fengnian had only just managed to clink glasses. However, compared to when he'd finished the second pot, the old man's speech was much clearer now; he seemed to have sobered up from his stupor. The old man revealed a meaningful smile, raised an eyebrow at Xu Fengnian, and for the first time used the address 'Young Master Xu,' asking, "What do you think of my granddaughter?"

Xu Fengnian was speechless. So, he was planning to play matchmaker randomly? The old man seemed to have truly sobered up. The young woman took a deep breath, then held it, keeping her gaze fixed on the tip of her nose.

The old man sighed, "Don't be nervous. My eyes may be old, but they're not blurry. Although you, young man, would be an excellent match for many women in this world, unfortunately, you are not the kind of man my granddaughter would like." The old man's eyes grew brighter. He twirled his wine cup with two fingers and murmured to himself, "When I was as young as you, I loved wandering the jianghu, and so I was fortunate enough to meet many old figures. Some were great personages, like dragons: Sword God Li Chungang, the Green-Robed of Fengdu, Liu Yingong the Herald of Spring, and so on. I also met many minor figures from the jianghu marketplaces whose names I can't even recall now. But no matter what, the jianghu people of that time genuinely believed in the old rules that modern people consider pedantic and laughable. They would keep a promise worth a thousand gold, and they valued chivalry over life and death. That's why I don't like your Northern Liang's Fish Dragon Gang, nor do I like the current Liyang jianghu. Today's jianghu is just stagnant water at the foot of the imperial court. Even with more Land Immortals, it's incredibly dull. After all, jianghu people are meant to *walk* the jianghu, not just *watch* or *listen* to it."

At this point, the old man looked kindly at his granddaughter. "But if she likes it, then it's fine." He smiled. "If I had to pick what I dislike the most, it would still be the Xu family of Northern Liang."

Xu Fengnian's expression remained unchanged as he lowered his head and took a small sip of wine.

The outspoken old man said with a tinge of sadness, "Twenty years ago, the Liyang jianghu dared not speak of integrity before the Xu family's iron cavalry; it was trampled inch by inch by their hooves. Now, that butcher has finally gone to meet Yama, yet the Liyang jianghu still dares not call itself masters in front of the Xu family. This jianghu, it seems, has truly regressed. Back then, Xu Xiao the Butcher at least relied on his invincible iron cavalry to conquer the jianghu, but now, Xu Xiao's eldest legitimate son, he alone is enough to make the entire jianghu drink a big pot of trouble."

Xu Fengnian raised his wine cup. "Old Brother, come, I'll toast you."

The old man, who had originally intended to stop drinking, hesitated for a moment but still poured a full cup of Green Ant Wine. He asked with a smile, "Why is that? What, young brother, you're surnamed Xu? Are you related to the Northern Liang King's residence at Qingliang Mountain?"

Xu Fengnian narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Because Green Ant Wine is free in this inn."

The old man's mouth twitched. "What? No money for wine?"

Xu Fengnian nodded, "The food is outrageously expensive, and they won't deduct a single penny, but only Green Ant Wine doesn't cost a single copper coin."

The young woman suppressed a laugh.

The old man froze on the spot, then suddenly snapped back to reality and roared, "Waiter, bring two more pots of Green Ant Wine!"

Xu Fengnian suppressed his laughter. "Old Brother Tong, I truly can't drink anymore."

The old man glared at him, huffing, "You rascal, don't call me Old Brother Tong, call me Uncle Tong!"

Suddenly, the young woman reached out and pressed the hilt of a saber at her waist. She said in a deep voice, "Upstairs, there's killing intent!"

For a moment, Xu Fengnian's expression was strange. The young woman assumed that this ordinary-looking young master from Liangzhou hadn't taken her words seriously. Considering that he had drunk so many pots of Green Ant Wine with her grandfather, she uncharacteristically continued to warn him, "Young Master Xu, there are many masters on the third floor. At least four or five powerful and grand qi energies can be sensed. If these grandmasters, who are strong enough to reach the First Rank, engage in a fight, I might not be able to protect you."

How could Xu Fengnian not know the situation upstairs? Cheng Baishuang, the foremost figure in Southern Jiang; Mao Shulang, a grandmaster of saber arts; Ji Liuan, chief guest elder of Dragon Palace; Wei Miao, the top master of Nanzhao; and Xue Songguan, the blind zither player. That was already five.

The reason for Xu Fengnian's strange expression was that the young woman's phrase 'there's killing intent' reminded him of two catchphrases he had heard countless times: "There's killing intent in my crotch," and "My crotch is quite melancholic." Whenever two greenhorn jianghu wanderers unfastened their belts to urinate together, they would compete to see whose 'killing intent' was stronger. Late at night, tossing and turning, or upon waking in the morning, someone would glance down and mutter, "Brother, I'm truly sorry, your elder brother is useless, just bear with it a little longer." He also recalled the time when that fellow, pretending to be a fortune-teller with him to swindle money, secretly threw a 'lowest' fortune stick into the divination cylinder—one that read, "Fear not being shattered to pieces, but desire to leave integrity in the human world." A young maiden, led by an elder to draw a fortune for her marriage, picked it. The result... was predictable. However, that young maiden's appearance at the time was truly breathtaking and captivating.

Xu Fengnian instinctively looked out the window, unaware that his lips were curled into a warm smile. By the time Xu Fengnian snapped back to reality, a loud roar had already erupted from the third floor.

Xu Fengnian stood up. "Uncle Tong, Miss Tong, I have friends on the third floor; I should go check on them." He had long since guessed the woman's identity: Tong Shanquan, the true master of saber arts among contemporary women, and the manor lord of Jincuo Saber Manor within Nanzhao. Her martial arts style was identical to that of Lin Ya, the grandmaster of fist arts from Wudi City. Therefore, the two sabers stacked on her right hip were the sixth and ninth most important weapons among all sabers in the world: Wude and Tianbao.

The old man's expression grew serious. "Since that's the case, let my granddaughter accompany you."

Xu Fengnian shook his head and smiled. "I appreciate your kind offer, Uncle Tong. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

The old man was about to speak further when he suddenly noticed his granddaughter tugging his sleeve. He looked down, and she shook her head. Though the old man didn't understand the underlying reason, he still worriedly said, "Be extremely careful. If anything goes wrong, just give a shout."

A chance encounter, yet life and death were taken lightly for a newfound bond. Perhaps, this was the jianghu of the old man's generation.

Xu Fengnian had only taken two steps when he turned, clasped his hands in a sudden salute, and smiled. "That last cup of wine was a toast from my father to Old Mr. Tong. If he could have heard you himself, he would have gladly drunk not just five pots of Green Ant Wine, but ten or twenty, to enjoy himself thoroughly with you."

After Xu Fengnian left, the old man was bewildered and asked in confusion, "Girl, what did Grandfather just say?"

She replied gravely, "I forgot."

The old man, his head still inevitably a bit hazy, shook his head and decided not to dwell on it. He smiled and said, "Girl, your grandfather has figured it out." She was a little curious. The old man said seriously, "This young man is extraordinary!"

The woman, who, alongside the young banished immortal of Taibai Sword Sect, was known as one of the 'Two Jianghu Prodigies,' took a deep breath, pursed her lips, and remained silent. Just as she was feeling utterly disheartened, the old man, with a flair for the dramatic, blurted out, "That young man, he is Xu Fengnian, the King of Northern Liang!"

She was profoundly shocked.

The old man took a small sip, then chuckled. *Silly girl, you actually believed that?*