Two weary travelers arrived at the Magistrate's Office—both scarcely out of their youth, graceful and poised like towering cedars and pines, each bearing an exquisite, noble presence. Upon hearing they came to visit Mr. Cui, the gatekeeper did not inquire further about their identities, promptly ushering them into the official residence and leading them to the annex where Mr. Cui was temporarily staying. He knocked gently on the door before respectfully taking his leave.
The one who opened was none other than the gentleman representing Confucianism here to seek a talisman of protection—a man once celebrated as the prodigy scholar "He Bi Lang" in his youth and regarded as the undisputed heir to the leadership of Guanhu Academy. Upon seeing the two young men, he was both pleasantly surprised and intrigued. Fixing his gaze on the youth leaning against the doorframe, he smiled and asked, "Ba Qiao, who is this companion at your side?"
The young man called Ba Qiao grinned mischievously, "This fellow is a scion of the Chen family from Longwei Commandery in the Great Yong dynasty. Cui, just call him Songfeng. He's never cared for beauty or wine but has a peculiar obsession with inkstones. Hearing there were some ancient quarries by the local stream, he wanted to try his luck. He also brought along a distant cousin who came with us—if not for her, Songfeng and I would've arrived days earlier. She dislikes mingling, so she went to explore the town on her own. Alas, what a pity! On the way here, I heard a prince of the Sui dynasty had stumbled upon a tremendous fortune—a golden dragon carp. The thought made me green with envy, and now look at my eyes, bloodshot, isn't that so?" The youth nudged his head toward the Confucian gentleman, who chuckled and gently pushed the head away, cautioning, "Liu Ba Qiao, since you've already delayed your journey, why waste more time here? When did the style of Fenglei Garden become so lax?"
The Chen scion from Longwei Commandery wore a sheepish smile, "There was an unexpected skirmish on the way here. Ba Qiao was struck in a vital meridian of the sword cultivation chamber, forcing him to transfer his sword's life force to his Mingtang acupoint. Were it not for my lack of skill burdening him, he wouldn't have been injured."
Liu Ba Qiao laughed heartily, "Just a few sneaky rogue cultivators, relying on trickery to barely wound me. Those souls are already mine—hardly worth mentioning! Had I not been rushing, I'd have erected graves and epitaphs for them, proclaiming their deaths beneath Liu Ba Qiao's sword on this very day, turning the site into a landmark once I become the greatest swordsman, wouldn't you agree?"
The Confucian gentleman, long acquainted with this impetuous prodigy of Fenglei Garden, led the two inside the courtyard. Liu Ba Qiao suddenly lowered his voice, "Cui, tell me honestly—is this world about to collapse? Is that exiled Mr. Qi from the Cliffside Academy truly bent on defying Heaven?"
Mr. Cui remained silent. Liu Ba Qiao chuckled and pointed to him, "I understand now."
The gentleman replied casually, "Songfeng, I visited Mr. Qi at the academy earlier. He spoke of self-cultivation with a sense of urgency, lamenting 'Time waits for no one.'"
The Confucian ideal—cultivating oneself, managing one's family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world—was truncated here, for the seed of a sage from the Cui clan stopped at self-cultivation. Chen Songfeng at first thought it mere scholarly politeness, but a spark in the man's eyes made him realize the gravity. Bowing respectfully, he said, "Mr. Cui, I shall seek out my distant cousin and return to learn statecraft from you."
Notably, Songfeng omitted the "family management" step, mentioning only governance. He hurried away. Cui sighed and sat with Liu Ba Qiao by the stone table.
Ba Qiao, crossing his legs boldly, said bluntly, "Songfeng is clever, but his manners leave much to be desired. He could have stayed to chat before rushing off to petition for the ancestral locust leaves. Does he really believe those leaves, coveted by so few great clans on Dongbaoping Continent besides the Chen family of Longwei Commandery, will fall into the hands of common townsfolk?"
The Chen family of Dongbaoping Continent, especially the Longwei branch, though quiet for long, remained a towering aristocratic house that once bred formidable heroes. Even the thriving Fenglei Garden dared not underestimate them, which is why someone like Liu Ba Qiao considered Songfeng almost a half-ally.
Cui asked curiously, "Did you come seeking Master Ruan's help to forge your sword?"
Liu Ba Qiao hesitated, speaking vaguely. Roughly, he meant to do a favor for the sect, which if successful, would earn Fenglei Garden's plea to Ruan for sword forging. What exactly that favor entailed, he found hard to express.
Cui added, "Did you know the Zhengyang Mountain sect sent visitors—master and servant?"
Liu Ba Qiao blinked, shocked, "I never heard. Who came from Zhengyang Mountain?"
Closing his eyes, the notoriously arrogant Fenglei swordsman clasped his hands, murmuring prayers, "Please let it not be the enchanting Immortal Su. If she appears, I won't know whether to draw my sword or not. One look from her, and I'll be undone—how could I bear to unleash my flying sword?"
The scholar sighed, "Relax. It's not your beloved Immortal Su, but the White Ape guardian escorting the precious granddaughter of Tao Kui, the Pure Yang Sword Ancestor of Zhengyang Mountain."
"Old Cui, you're my lucky star! As long as it's not Immortal Su, all's well!" Liu Ba Qiao sprang up, laughing boisterously, "What's there to fear from some old beast? We of Fenglei Garden fear no one—least of all Zhengyang Mountain!"
Cui hesitated, "Fenglei Garden and Zhengyang Mountain share the same origins in swordsmanship. Why can't they resolve their feud?"
Ba Qiao's laughter faded as he spoke gravely, "Cui Minghuang, when you reach Fenglei Garden, not a word of this must leave your lips."
Cui sighed deeply. Fenglei Garden and Zhengyang Mountain—from the founding sword immortals to their youngest disciples—needed no words; upon meeting, they drew swords instantly.
Suddenly, the gatekeeper and an elderly steward hurriedly arrived outside the courtyard. Cui Minghuang and Liu Ba Qiao rose simultaneously. The steward entered, bowed, and reported, "Mr. Cui, news just arrived—Zhengyang Mountain has taken action against a youth named Liu Xianyang."
Liu Ba Qiao's eyes blazed, "Which Liu Xianyang?"
The steward, respectful to Mr. Cui but unconcerned with the young swordsman, answered calmly, "Our town has only one Liu Xianyang."
Liu Ba Qiao's face darkened, sneering, "Zhengyang Mountain is truly oppressive!"
Cui remained composed, "Did Mr. Qi intervene?"
The steward shook his head, "Not yet. The youth was taken to Master Ruan's sword shop. Even if alive, he barely clings to life—witnesses say his chest was crushed by a single punch. How could he survive?"
Cui smiled faintly, "Thank you, sir, for informing me."
The steward bowed again, "My duty. Apologies for the intrusion."
After they left, Cui watched Liu Ba Qiao slump back onto the stone bench, puzzled. "Did you come here specifically for that youth?"
Liu Ba Qiao's expression darkened, "Partly. Things will get complicated—very complicated."
"More than a feud between Fenglei Garden and Zhengyang Mountain?"
Ba Qiao nodded, "Far more."
Cui folded his arms quietly, "The tree wishes for stillness, but the wind will not cease. It seems I must retrieve that square Zhen Gui, even if Mr. Qi mistakes me for betraying Guanhu Academy."
Rising, Cui declared, "I shall visit the academy. I'll be back soon."
Leaving the official residence on Fulu Street, he paused beneath the "Act with Righteousness" plaque at the Shierjiao Archway. Shielding his eyes from the sun, hesitation gripped him. Then, unexpectedly, he turned back toward the Magistrate's Office.
Elsewhere on Fulu Street, a robust, white-haired elder led a porcelain-faced young girl—not into the Lu family mansion, but toward the Li residence. Awaiting them at the door, someone ushered them inside. In the grand hall beneath the "Ganlu Hall" plaque, a dignified elder rose to greet them with a respectful bow.
"Li Hong greets Elder Ape."
The Mountain-moving Old Ape of Zhengyang Mountain nodded briefly, releasing the girl's hand and speaking softly, "Miss, I will await you at the mountain summit."
The girl sat silently on the threshold, pouting. The Li family patriarch reassured her quietly, "Rest assured, Elder, the Li family will ensure Miss Tao's safe passage from this town."
The Old Ape grunted in agreement. "I owe your family a debt of gratitude for aiding the Miss. Allow me to speak with her."
The elder then left the hall and ordered all clan members to keep a hundred paces from Ganlu Hall.
Sitting on the threshold, he contemplated before speaking, "Miss, some words were not meant for you, but now that events have unfolded, it is pointless to withhold. This trip to the town is merely a stepping stone on your path to greatness."
The girl's eyes glittered with a fire unseen before. "I understand."
The elder nodded, "Good. Though you carry the Pure Yang Sword Ancestor's bloodline, your spirit must also be forged like steel—pure, unyielding."
Outside, the wind stirred. The sun shone brighter, but shadows lengthened. The fate of many now hung in delicate balance—ready to be shattered or reborn by the will of a few.