When General Liu Jishu and the others left the courtyard, Xu Fengnian had the guards outside summon the two prisoners. The Princess of Hongyan was elsewhere, devouring her meal voraciously. When she finally entered the courtyard unwillingly, her clothes were still ragged, though her mouth was smeared with grease. She even let out a loud belch as she stepped across the threshold. This intrigued the young cavalryman from Liu’s army who still wore armor and carried bow and sword; apparently, he had found it curious that a woman like her could also be so utterly human.
There remained a small portion of green-ant wine in a jar on the table, obviously left behind by Liu Jishu and his men as an act of restraint. Xu Fengnian picked up a bowl and gestured toward several stone benches. The Princess of Hongyan plopped herself down without hesitation, while the young knight, who increasingly regarded Xu Fengnian with reverence bordering on worship, remained standing respectfully.
The princess glanced at the wine jar and bowls on the table, instinctively sniffing the air. With so many troubles already, she decided to pour herself a bowl. She had tasted green-ant wine before in Daomaguan, even in the royal court of the southern capital. Previously, she hadn’t thought much of it, but today, the fiery trail from tongue to throat and down to her stomach brought a sudden warmth to her entire being. Satiated and warm—she finally felt complete. Her gaze toward Xu Fengnian grew more defiant. She knew that Xu Fengnian had denied her the chance to die by her own hand. If she wanted to die now, it would be far more difficult than choosing to live. Of course, this wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Before entering Hutou City, she had imagined countless cruel and humiliating ways Xu Fengnian might use to degrade her, the Princess of Hongyan. Yet, so far, although her situation was indeed dire, it was still within her capacity to endure.
She tilted her head back and drained the bowl in one large gulp, wiping her lips with a sultry smile as she said, “So, Your Highness, are you planning to have me warm your bed? Then why not let me change into something clean?”
Xu Fengnian countered, “Do I need to hand you a mirror so you can see what a mess you are right now?”
The princess flushed with anger, about to throw the wine bowl in a fit of rage, but she quickly restrained the impulse. In silence, she poured herself another bowl. Every bowl she could grab was one more than she deserved.
Xu Fengnian ignored the fallen phoenix and turned his attention to the young cavalryman who had introduced himself as Qifu Longguan. He said, “You have great talent in martial arts. That’s why I spared your life.”
There was another reason Xu Fengnian didn’t voice aloud: in Qifu Longguan’s eyes, he could detect none of the hatred even someone like the Princess of Hongyan, an outsider, would naturally harbor. While a person might conceal their expressions and glances, their internal energy flow was completely transparent to Xu Fengnian. The fluctuations of this energy were directly linked to emotions such as joy and anger. This suggested that Qifu Longguan, this unpolished gem, might have a promising future on the martial path. The most crucial reason, however, was Xu Fengnian’s hope that someone like Qifu could one day counterbalance his disciple Yudi Long, the youngest of his apprentices yet the eldest in title. Unlike the clearly defined characters of Wangsheng and Lvyunchang, Yudi was unpredictable. Xu Fengnian did not wish for the future martial world to produce another Xuanyuan Daban under his watch. Qifu Longguan, seemingly picked up like a stray cat or dog from the roadside, was not the most naturally gifted in Xu Fengnian’s eyes, but he was the most intriguing. Like Jiang Ni and the charcoal-selling girl from the Nanhai Guanyin Sect, he was a “swordsman in the making.” Others like Hong Xixiang and Zhao Ningshen from Longhu Mountain were reincarnations of immortals, known as Bodhi seeds, akin to the Buddhist concept of reincarnated living Buddhas. Qifu, however, was a hybrid of sorts—touching on many aspects but never fully embodying any single one. This made him strangely compatible with Xu Fengnian’s own martial journey, which was a blend of various styles forged into one. Moreover, during that battle, Qifu had truly perceived the “slim gap” in Xu Fengnian’s breathing, the momentary divide between a celestial being and a mortal.
In the present world, only a handful of people could claim such perception—this unknown soldier was among them.
Qifu Longguan was only eighteen, yet already a member of Liu Gui’s elite cavalry. Consider that Gu Jiantang, the greatest swordsman alive, might not have been as accomplished at that age, and Xu Fengnian himself had been even less so back then.
Qifu was visibly nervous, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke, “Your Highness of Beiliang, I’ve been an orphan since childhood, just trying to survive wherever there was food. If Your Highness doubts me, let me join the Beiliang border forces, even as an infantryman. I won’t hesitate to kill Beiman soldiers.”
At this moment, the princess sneered mockingly, stoking the flames, “An orphan? Perhaps your parents were trampled to death by Beiliang’s iron cavalry? Remember, revenge taken after ten years is still justice.”
Qifu, though lacking the scheming nature of the princess, was far from foolish. Unable to contain himself, he snapped, “Wench! You talk such nonsense!”
His eyes red with rage, he continued, “My parents were beaten to death by bastards like you, the rich and powerful of the Southern Court!”
The princess exploded in fury, “Southern Court? What’s the Southern Court but a watchdog for the Yelü clan! I am Yelü Hongcai, a princess of the royal court, someone you lowly wretches could never even approach within a hundred paces!”
Qifu’s breath quickened, his chest heaving as he strode forward and slapped the woman across the face.
But the princess was no fool. She ducked, stepped back, and quickly darted behind Xu Fengnian, smirking triumphantly, “Haha, missed me! Look at you—what a loser. No wonder you can’t avenge your parents. Oh, maybe you were even serving those Southern Court bastards all along!”
Qifu suddenly calmed, his gaze fixed coldly on the woman.
A chill ran through Yelü Hongcai’s bones. Carefully, she retrieved the wine bowl and poured herself another round of green-ant wine.
At that moment, a soft knock came at the door.
Xu Fengnian poured two bowls of wine and said quietly, “Senior Dantai, please come in.”
When the unexpected guest entered and sat down, Xu Fengnian handed her a bowl of wine. She accepted it without ceremony, took a sip, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
Yelü Hongcai gazed at the tall woman with curiosity.
Every movement exuded the aura of a true master, a graceful and effortless elegance.
Xu Fengnian smiled and asked, “How did Senior know I was in Hutou City?”
Dantai Pingjing replied calmly, “My master once told me that when celestial beings look down upon the mortal world, it is like us watching fireflies on a summer night. Most flicker and vanish, but a few shine particularly bright, and at times, their brilliance rivals the stars.”
Xu Fengnian immediately understood. Presumably, during the earlier ambush of four hundred riders, his energy fluctuations had left traces that this master of energy arts, skilled in observing omens, had followed, leading her to lie in wait near Hutou City. According to Dantai Pingjing—or rather, according to her master’s teachings—the greatest martial experts were still merely mortals in the eyes of the celestial immortals. However, masters like Tuoba Pusa and Cao Changqing emitted lights so bright they naturally attracted the attention of practitioners like the energy arts sects, who sought to uphold heavenly justice and mend the cosmic laws.
Xu Fengnian asked, “So can we say that cultivating the Dao is like trying to rival the moon with a speck of light?”
Dantai Pingjing shook her head, “My master said that even after attaining the Dao, one is merely a drop of water returning to the sea. The Yellow River flows from the heavens? No, it flows from the sea. Hence, it flows endlessly into the sea? No.”
Xu Fengnian teased, “Did your master always speak in such cryptic, meaningful ways?”
Dantai Pingjing smiled slightly, as if to show respect for her teacher’s memory.
Xu Fengnian turned his gaze to the princess, who was trying to pour herself another bowl of wine. She quickly withdrew her hand, embarrassed.
Xu Fengnian pointed toward the courtyard gate. Qifu Longguan left first, followed shortly by the princess, who waited until she thought he was far away before sneaking out the gate.
But soon came a sharp, clear “slap,” followed by the princess’s furious scream.
Dantai Pingjing murmured softly, “Your Highness has excellent judgment.”
Xu Fengnian asked in confusion, “Why do you say that?”
She took another sip of wine, “Both of them carry fortune in their auras. They are worth Your Highness’s careful cultivation.”
“Fortune?” Xu Fengnian scoffed.
Dantai Pingjing remained composed, “When one’s luck is too good, it becomes fortune. For ordinary people, how many lives would they need to survive an encounter with a martial expert capable of mass slaughter?”
Xu Fengnian was about to speak when Dantai Pingjing shook her head, “You may have your reasons, but that doesn’t change the fact that they are still alive.”
She continued, “As agreed beforehand, my Guanyin Sect will remain stationed between Huaiyang Pass to the south and Qinghe Pass to the north. We will do our best to gather favorable fortune for Beiliang. However, our final decision to stay or leave will not be dictated by the Beiliang border forces.”
Xu Fengnian nodded, “Of course.”
She asked directly, “And if Your Highness meets an unfortunate end?”
Xu Fengnian sighed helplessly, “Rest assured, if that day comes, I will give everything to that charcoal-selling girl before I die.”
Dantai Pingjing held her wine bowl aloft and asked solemnly, “With a great battle looming, is it not inauspicious for us to speak of such things?”
Xu Fengnian smiled at the woman who seemed utterly detached from worldly affairs and replied, “What do you think?”
Dantai Pingjing rested one arm on the stone table, holding her wine bowl with the other, gazing up at the starry sky.
Xu Fengnian, his heart at peace, closed his eyes and slowly took a sip of wine.
The two exchanged words casually, their gazes never meeting.
“The Beiman army’s forces at the border are nearing their geographical limit, yet they still have reserves ready to launch another wave of attacks from the northern grasslands. Facing an enemy that should be resisted by the entire Liyang Dynasty, are you not worried about Liuzhou, which has no natural defenses to rely on?”
“Of course I am. It’s like how Xu Xiao watched me travel to Zhongyuan and Beiman back then.”
“Whether to strike Liangzhou, Liuzhou, or Youzhou first, each has its advantages and disadvantages for Beiman. What do you think?”
“It doesn’t really matter which they strike first. My father Xu Xiao, my teacher Li Yishan, Yuan Zuozong, Chu Lushan, Yan Wennuan, Chen Yunchui He Zhonghu, and even men like Liu Jishu in Hutou City—they’ve all done everything they could for Beiliang. Perhaps surprisingly, I now believe Beiliang might truly hold its ground. But I won’t know who will fall in battle next. And I don’t want to know.”
“Then why hasn’t Tuoba Pusa appeared at the border?”
“It’s like how the emperor insists on keeping Gu Jiantang in the north instead of sending him to Guangling. He is the dynasty’s final secret weapon. When the old queen and the Imperial Tutor finally need Tuoba Pusa to act personally, that will mean the situation has truly slipped beyond their control. Until then, they remain confident in their victory.”
Dantai Pingjing suddenly asked an unrelated question, “Why didn’t you kill that Beiman princess?”
Xu Fengnian chuckled bitterly, fell silent for a moment, and then gazed at the starry sky alongside her, “Certainly not because I like her. It’s just that she reminds me of someone I miss dearly—someone who also wore a Marten forehead covering, someone with a terrible reputation, someone with a fiery temper. I can kill her but choose not to, just to let her understand how hard it is to stay alive.”
Dantai Pingjing poured the last of the wine into her bowl and drank it all in one go, “Who is it that you truly care about?”
Xu Fengnian extended a finger, pointing at the stars above, his voice soft, “My eldest sister, she’s up there.”
After a long while, Xu Fengnian returned to his senses and couldn’t help but sigh, shaking his head.
The mighty and revered first master of the dynasty’s energy arts sect had not only fallen asleep from intoxication but was now softly snoring with her head on the table.
How perceptive Xu Fengnian was. Looking at her, he murmured, “You must be missing your master, aren’t you?”
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