The young man with the saber had strayed from the group, and the Fish Dragon Gang’s elite warriors naturally viewed his behavior as the affected mannerisms of an official’s retinue—two words: pretentious.
Some of the younger members of the gang had initially worried that this handsome youth might catch the eye of Miss Liu, which would have been a humiliating blow to those who had long enjoyed the advantage of proximity. Naturally, they were wary and even wished to bind him hand and foot. But when they saw that Liu Niroong remained indifferent, they felt relieved. The earlier resentment and malicious gossip about the saber-wielding youth gradually faded. After all, it takes two to quarrel, and besides, constantly teasing him would have made them seem petty and narrow-minded. Fortunately, the young man who claimed to be surnamed Xu did not act high-handedly or abuse his position, so the two groups maintained a peaceful coexistence. Thus, they arrived at Damaguan Pass, the border between Beiliang and Beiman. Built against the mountains, this strategic pass lay on a vital route between north and south. Its plaque bore calligraphy by Song Zhiqiu, a renowned contemporary calligrapher. Merchants bustled back and forth, and the markets on either side of the city gate were lively and thriving. Compared to most border cities, Damaguan had little martial tension and far less grimness.
There was an old city wall foundation made of rough stones and cobbles, its cracks filled with moss, its surface littered with broken tiles. Many children from nearby homes chased and played atop it. A burly man in a blue cotton robe and a red sash at his waist carried a massive blade, much lighter than the standard cavalry saber used by soldiers. The tip of the blade dragged along the ground as he strode onto the foundation. With a cold snort, he plunged the blade into the earth, crossed his arms, and stood there menacingly.
The adults hurriedly steered their children away from the towering figure, but one mischievous child wriggled like an eel. The child’s mother, in her early twenties, had surprisingly smooth skin despite the rough winds and sands of the borderlands. Slender-waisted and small-footed, she struggled to catch up with her mischievous son. Laughter rippled through the merchants and travelers gathered at the base of the foundation. A group of older, unmarried ruffians with nothing better to do sat together chewing red dates, spitting out pits and teasing the young woman, who blushed furiously. As the child passed the saber-wielding giant, he reached out to touch the blade, emboldened by youthful recklessness. But the man glared fiercely, freezing the child in place, who then burst into tears. The woman in the plain jacket rushed to embrace him, casting a gentle, apologetic glance at the man, too timid to speak.
The dark-faced man in his thirties unexpectedly flushed slightly, perhaps a novice with a subtle sensitivity. Seeing the young woman’s fresh beauty, the stern image he had painstakingly cultivated crumbled instantly. The rowdy onlookers jeered even louder.
This ruined foundation saw martial contests every ten days or so. Though the woman was from a decent household, having lived near Damaguan for years, she had seen many such spectacles and was not overly afraid of the rough men who drew swords at the slightest provocation. Beiliang was harsh and barren compared to the fertile Jiangnan plains. To survive here, one had to scrape a living from the heavens. The people were simple yet fiercely martial. The authorities did not ban private duels among martial artists, but injuring a single civilian meant conscription into the army, and injuring three or more meant execution on the spot. Without hundreds of taels to bribe the soldiers, one could not hope to survive. In these times, how many so-called martial artists with only superficial skills and a few taels in their pockets dared to claim they had roamed the jianghu? With his mother’s support, the child wiped his tear-streaked face and stuck out his tongue at the giant. The man, about to face a challenger, scratched his head helplessly, clearly not a vicious man. The child had even tried to kick the stingy black brute but was quickly pulled away by his mother, who gently scolded him.
Though the dark-faced giant seemed to look straight ahead, his eyes stole glances at the woman’s rounded rear as she bent slightly. His Adam’s apple bobbed. Though small and delicate, her body was clad in clean, well-washed clothes. The fabric strained slightly over her shapely hips, revealing a tantalizing view. But the saber-wielding man harbored no ill intent. Though skilled, he despised the vile acts of flower-plucking villains. As for abducting women, he was but a drifting wanderer with no backing or resources to pull off such a feat. And as for visiting courtesans, without money, how could he? Today, he had arranged a duel with a swordsman of some repute along the border, hoping to earn a reputation with his saber, enough to catch the eye of some wealthy patron and secure a position as a guard or martial instructor.
Xiao Qiang went to show the travel documents to the border commander, knowing that while the king of hell might be easy to deal with, the little demons were a headache. It would take time to pass through. This task should have fallen to Liu Niroong, but her alluring appearance could easily cause complications. Xiao Qiang didn’t mind sparing her the experience of navigating such social intricacies. If anything happened to the cart of goods, the Fish Dragon Gang could Reluctantly compensate, but offending that nobleman’s son would be a serious blow. Thus, he decided not to let Liu Niroong appear. With the official documents and a private letter, he hoped a generous bribe would ensure a smooth departure. Liu Niroong, accompanied by a few attendants, wandered about, agreeing to meet her master Xiao Qiang at the city gate in half an hour. She hoped to recruit one or two martial artists into the gang during this trip. If she truly wished to take over the Fish Dragon Gang, she needed her own loyal followers. Without them, she would always be constrained and unable to assert herself.
She and six or seven young members of the Fish Dragon Gang followed the crowd to the foundation. Several local ruffians who tried to get close were gently shoved aside by her guards, who used just enough skill to make them back off. After all, this was not Lanzhou, and provoking someone formidable could bring disaster. Who would give face to an unknown gang like the Fish Dragon? How vast was the current jianghu? Even half-hearted martial artists could rattle off countless sects, gangs, temples, villages, islands, forts, and palaces. To name just Lanzhou, over forty groups had recognizable names. To put it bluntly, coming up with a good name was harder than climbing to the heavens. The Fish Dragon Gang had merely been fortunate to claim its name early on, avoiding the vulgar monikers so common in the martial world. Outside Lanzhou, there were probably at least eight or ten gangs with the same name.
A loud cheer erupted, and Liu Niroong turned to see a swordsman in snow-white robes leaping gracefully from shoulder to shoulder across the crowd, his demeanor ethereal. The swordsman, showing off his skill, aimed for Liu Niroong’s direction. She could not tolerate the humiliation of someone stepping over her head, so she drew her sword slightly, her eyes sharp. The swordsman, with a face like peach blossoms, narrowed his eyes, sensing her sharp aura. He veered slightly, leapt onto the foundation from the shoulders of nearby spectators, and landed with the grace of a jade tree in the wind.
Such an entrance required real skill. The jianghu was full of hidden masters, and stepping on the wrong shoulder could lead to a humiliating fall. Once on the foundation, the duel followed strict martial etiquette. Both parties had to loudly declare their names and either insult or praise each other. Then, they could not immediately begin the fight but had to state that the duel was at their own risk, with no blame for any injuries or deaths. If it was a fight to the death, a respected elder had to witness and ensure both parties signed a life-and-death agreement. Even then, the duel wasn’t guaranteed to proceed smoothly. Unless the fighters were truly indifferent to fame and fortune, they had to wait for the gambling houses to collect their bets before beginning. After all, many duels ended within a few minutes, leaving little time for spectators to enjoy. Thus, the gambling houses often hired people to cheer loudly, especially for lackluster matches. The worst fate was to be booed by the crowd—a disgrace that could haunt a martial artist for life. Even now, a once-mighty gang leader in Beiliang was still mocked for a humiliating debut in his early days.
Many locals brought long benches and settled in with their families to watch the spectacle. Vendors with dozens of skewers of tanghulu weaved through the crowd, and children clamored for their parents to buy them. The foundation was alive with noise and excitement. Liu Niroong remained vigilant, scanning the crowd. The Fish Dragon Gang had not been well-received by other gangs in Lanzhou in recent years. Her master, Xiao Qiang, known for his deadly skills and the nickname “Double Swallow,” had made many enemies. Without the protection of Liu Elder, the former gang leader, there might be those seeking revenge. In Lanzhou, even the biggest businesses had limits, and dozens of sects and factions vied for dominance. At this critical juncture of the Fish Dragon Gang’s resurgence, not only rival gangs feared its growth, but even larger organizations sought to undermine it. Liu Niroong knew she could no longer afford to be arrogant and had to tread carefully.
A few groups of strangers nearby made her uneasy. One was a group of merchants who had submitted travel documents at the city gate alongside the Fish Dragon Gang. While the Fish Dragon Gang’s trade in expensive goods like cosmetics was impressive, the real Master were the salt and iron smugglers who operated in shadows. Discovery meant ruin, no matter how powerful the officials backing them. Even high-ranking officials of the third or fourth rank could be executed if caught by the Beiliang army. Then there were the horse traders, buying steeds from Beiman. Whether they sold to the Beiliang military or private buyers, it was a dangerous business, requiring connections on both sides of the border. The group near Liu Niroong, dressed as merchants, were clearly martial experts in disguise. Another group openly pointed and whispered about her without bothering to hide.
Liu Niroong whispered, “Be careful. Don’t just watch the fight on the stage.”
The young members of the Fish Dragon Gang nodded silently.
Suddenly, Liu Niroong noticed a young man squatting on a mud wall connected to the mountain, eating a skewer of tanghulu. He chewed absentmindedly, not watching the fight on the foundation like everyone else but gazing at the city wall of Damaguan. She paused, half-smiling, half-sorry. This fellow had a leisurely air, showing none of the roughness of a typical martial artist. How had the General’s Mansion sent such a person to “escort” them? She had no time to ponder the young man’s identity and turned her attention back to the fight on the foundation. She had to admit the saber-wielding man was incredibly strong, wielding a forty-pound blade with only flashes of steel visible. The swordsman in white was equally skilled, moving calmly beneath the saber’s onslaught, his swordplay elegant and restrained, clearly holding back. His skill was at least on par with her master, Xiao Qiang, sparking Liu Niroong’s interest in recruiting him.
On the mud wall was, of course, our Prince Xu Fengnian.
The skewers of tanghulu were sweet and sour, the syrup thick and golden, though cheap and coarse, it had its own charm. The candy was crisp and not greasy, each hawthorn berry crunching satisfyingly between his teeth. As he finished the last berry on the skewer, he noticed a small child squatting beside him, staring intently. It was the same mischievous boy from earlier, who had dared to touch the saber. The boy’s family seemed modest, but he was clean, unlike most poor children. When he saw the Prince turn, the boy quickly pretended to watch the fight on the foundation. Xu Fengnian smiled, bit off the last candy, discarded the skewer, and handed the boy another untouched skewer. The boy hesitated, his eyes darting toward the tempting treat, swallowing hard. He had good manners and didn’t usually ask strangers for things, so he shyly shook his head, his cheeks blushing, showing two little tiger teeth.
After a moment of hesitation, the boy finally gathered his courage, turned to face the Prince fully, his eyes wide with anticipation.
Xu Fengnian looked puzzled.
The boy pointed at the Prince’s Chunlei sword hanging at his waist.
Clearly, in the boy’s eyes, no matter how tempting the tanghulu was, it couldn’t compare to touching a real sword.
Which child doesn’t dream of the jianghu?
Xu Fengnian smiled and generously handed the boy his sword.
The boy’s eyes sparkled with unrestrained joy as he carefully took the surprisingly light Chunlei sword in both hands.
In that simple moment, he had embraced the jianghu.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage