Yingcheng, the capital of Ling Prefecture, was the most prosperous city in Jiangdong. It had Yan Yu Mountain with its endless songs and dances, Yue Lake with its scenery that was always charming whether in heavy or light makeup, and the ten-mile Tiuxiu River flowing with fragrant makeup. There was the famous restaurant Louwai Lou, known for its aroma of wine and delicacies that filled half the city. It also had Puxian Retreat, where incense burned continuously, Woxin Temple, where people lived in straw huts and studied the Huangting Scripture, the renowned Shuluyuan Academy across Jiangdong, the righteous Yuhe Men, and numerous aristocratic families with legacies spanning thousands of years.
This city ranked second only to Guangling, the capital of Jiangzhou, in terms of scenic spots, and was acclaimed for its extraordinary beauty across the land.
It was a typical Jiangdong city, with waterways crisscrossing in all directions, and was praised for its intricate network of three vertical and four horizontal rivers. Boating along the river, one could see willows drooping along both banks, their reflections rippling on the water, highlighting white walls, black-tiled roofs, and greenish bronze door rings, presenting a breathtaking view.
Even though it was winter and bitterly cold, making the scenery less appealing, the approaching festival brought lanterns and decorations along both banks. The dazzling lights, combined with their reflections in the water, looked like stars falling from the sky, creating a unique beauty.
Meng Qi, dressed in black martial attire with a long sword at his waist, sat on a small boat. In front of him was an elderly man with gray hair rowing the boat. On either side were luxurious pleasure boats, some drifting downstream, others rowing upstream. Laughter from women, the soft sounds of stringed instruments, and the noise of drinking games occasionally floated through the air, along with a faint fragrance of cosmetics, creating a scene of endless night revelry.
This was the ten-mile Tiuxiu River, a place of infinite charm and elegance!
Meng Qi curiously looked around, occasionally glancing beyond the pleasure boats at the houses on the shore, appreciating the unique charm of this water town.
From time to time, large boats passed by, with martial heroes leaning on railings, holding beauties in their arms, too absorbed to spare even a glance downward, allowing Meng Qi to enjoy a rare tranquility amid the bustling scenery.
“Old man, I’m visiting Yingcheng for the first time. Are there any must-see places here?” Meng Qi sat in the middle of the small boat, smiling as he spoke to the old boatman.
The old boatman chuckled and replied, “That depends on what interests you. If you respect the Buddha, you must visit Puxian Retreat, where the monks possess great spiritual powers and compassion. If you admire the Primordial Unity and enjoy a carefree life, you should climb Beishan early in the morning and enjoy a pot of tea at Woxin Temple—what a delightful experience!”
“Old man, I must say, your words are so eloquent and refined. People often say that Jiangdong is rich in culture, and today I finally believe it.” Meng Qi was initially surprised, then smiled.
The boatman’s speech sounded like that of a well-read scholar.
The old boatman chuckled self-deprecatingly, “I just studied at Shuluyuan for a few years when I was young. If you respect the words of sages, Shuluyuan is also a good place to visit. In ancient times, a sage once lectured there, leaving behind profound teachings. Before Shuluyuan declined, it was always considered a sacred Confucian site alongside the Wang family of Zhou Prefecture.”
“Hearing the words of sages gives me a headache,” Meng Qi teased with a smile, “but I do have a passion for food.”
“Then you must visit Louwai Lou! The beggar chicken, Yue Lake vinegar fish, and Yan Yu rice wine are all famous delicacies across the land. Even if they don’t suit your taste, trying them will surely give you something to talk about.” The old boatman enthusiastically introduced various delicacies found in the streets and alleys, speaking with great enthusiasm.
After a while, he finally noticed Meng Qi’s continuous smile without any sign of impatience.
“You must be a martial hero from the jianghu,” he remarked, glancing at the long sword at Meng Qi’s waist.
“Old man, you have a sharp eye,” Meng Qi exaggeratedly praised him, his smile never fading.
Sighing, the old boatman said, “I’ve lived half my life, but I’ve never met a martial hero like you before.”
“What do you mean?” Meng Qi sensed the compliment and immediately straightened up, listening attentively with a slightly restrained smile.
“Not to mention the masters of external scenery, other martial heroes are sometimes arrogant and refuse to look at others with respect, some are coarse, thinking that vulgar language is a sign of boldness, some are indifferent and cold, unmoved by ordinary matters, and some are refined and courteous. There are so many types. But a martial hero like you, who is genuinely amiable and always smiling, is truly rare.” The old boatman spoke from the heart.
Since boarding the boat, he had noticed that this young man always smiled. Sometimes he smiled at the beautiful scenery and the bustling world, sometimes at interesting topics, sometimes with a teasing humor. Being with him brought joy.
“Haha, my master always said I was too playful,” Meng Qi laughed sincerely after receiving the compliment.
At that moment, the sound of music and laughter reached their ears. Looking up, they saw a pleasure boat passing by. Several young men dressed as martial heroes were playing a blindfolded game with courtesans, using their sharp hearing to win repeatedly, drawing flirtatious shrieks.
“Who would have thought that with the festival approaching and the bitter cold, Yingcheng would still be so lively, filled with martial artists…” Meng Qi scoffed slightly.
The old boatman replied, “It’s only this year, not usually like this. He Jiu, the number one on the Human Rankings known as the ‘Invisible Sword,’ has hosted a banquet at Xingyun Manor, inviting other top martial heroes. This has recently caused a sensation in the martial world. Naturally, many young martial heroes and heroines have come to join the fun. Even if they can only watch a battle, they can still gain valuable insights. Look, those on the boats are some of them.”
He nodded toward the boat.
“Hehe, I never expected the Feast of Rising Clouds to attract so much attention,” Meng Qi remarked with a hint of vanity.
“Of course, stepping into the open world is an entirely different realm—soaring through the skies, traversing the earth, reigning over territories. Rarely does one still travel by horse or wander the rivers and lakes, as such scenes are seldom witnessed by ordinary folk. Even those who have attained enlightenment may have little exposure to it. Thus, the competition for the Human Ranking is the true grand event of the martial world, captivating nearly nine out of ten martial practitioners.” Born in an era where martial arts flourished, even the old boatman couldn’t help but show a spark of interest when mentioning the martial world and the Human Ranking.
He coughed lightly, then dipped the oars into the water, creating ripples: “I’ve always heard about how extraordinary those outdoor scene masters are, and I’ve long understood they’re not like ordinary people.”
Huff… So this is how ordinary people view the Outer Scene… Meng Qi was momentarily dazed, his gaze still fixed on the distant pleasure boat.
On the deck of the grand ship, a young man in a purple robe, reeling from the effects of wine, rushed to the railing and vomited over the side. By chance, he noticed Meng Qi staring at him. Fueled by drunken bravado, he shouted angrily, “What are you looking at? If you’ve got the guts, charter your own boat! Go stare at your mother instead!”
Meng Qi smiled and remained silent, letting him rant and rave.
The old boatman took a light breath and said, “Young man, you’re truly different from the usual martial heroes. If it were them, pride would matter most, and a fight would be unavoidable by now.”
What great composure!
Meng Qi smiled and said, “As a human, if a stray dog barks at you, you can’t just bark back or bite it in return, can you?”
“That makes perfect sense. Why stoop to the level of a stray dog? That’s the mark of a true master.” The old boatman suddenly understood, feeling it was a fitting analogy.
Hearing this, Meng Qi nodded with a serious expression and said, “That’s why I always pick up a brick and throw it at them from a distance.”
“Ah…” The old boatman was at a loss, his expression blank.
At this moment, the two boats had already drifted apart. Suddenly, Meng Qi flicked his finger, sending a small piece of wood flying through the air. It landed precisely in front of the man in the purple robe, allowing him to step onto it at just the right moment.
Thud! The man in the purple robe fell flat on his back, and his stream of curses abruptly ceased.
“That’s it.” Meng Qi beamed with a bright smile, showing eight pearly white teeth.
The old boatman opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing, having no words left to respond.
The man in the purple robe struggled to his feet, gesturing animatedly as he recounted his harrowing ordeal to his companions. The young heroes, their faces flushed with both alcohol and indignation, felt utterly humiliated. They hastily urged the madam to order the boatman to change course and pursue the small boat ahead, determined to teach the other party a brutal lesson.
Seeing this scene, the old boatman felt slightly flustered, but upon noticing Meng Qi’s composed and smiling demeanor, he quickly regained his composure.
The large ship, taking advantage of its sails and the favorable wind, quickly closed in on the small boat. Several young masters, their blood boiling with excitement, rolled up their sleeves and prepared to leap across the river.
At that moment, the small boat passed under a stone arch bridge, where a few people were walking across.
One of them was dressed in tight black attire, carrying a long blade. His features were square and unremarkable, yet his demeanor exuded a rugged, martial vigor—like an unsheathed sword.
Meng Qi paid no attention to the young masters behind him. His gaze swept over the people on the bridge and suddenly froze—so powerful!
The flow of energy pulled at him, and the man with the raised blade suddenly turned his head, locking eyes with Meng Qi. In each other’s pupils, their reflections were mirrored.
“Blade Qi River” Yan Chong?
“Mad Blade” Su Meng?
It was as if invisible blades clashed between their gazes. Behind Meng Qi, the river surged with a loud crash, sending towering waves that slammed against the ship.
Meng Qi smiled faintly and cupped his hands in salute.
Yan Chong nodded and said in a tone befitting an equal opponent, “See you at Xingyun Manor.”
After speaking, he turned his head, roused his dazed companion, and stepped down from the stone arch bridge.
His companions, both men and women, kept turning their heads, all with looks of astonishment in their eyes.
Is this “Mad Blade” Su Meng?
Several drunken young masters were instantly sobered up by the splash of water. Recalling the earlier standoff between the two men, their hair stood on end, and they hastily ordered the madam to turn the boat around.
“You truly are a master,” the old boatman sighed in admiration.
Meng Qi modestly accepted the praise and was about to speak when he suddenly sensed something. He turned his head to look at another pleasure boat drifting downstream.
This ordinary-looking ship had no distinctive features. Currently, it was brightly lit, with curtains drawn back in one of its rooms, revealing the person inside.
She was dressed in a plain white dress, ethereal and breathtakingly beautiful. Her deep, enigmatic eyes reflected the flickering lights, as if holding a starry sky within them—radiant and captivating, seemingly tender yet smiling.
Gu Demoness Gu Xiaosang!
How dare she come?
Gu Xiaosang looked at Meng Qi with a smile, standing beside a little girl who was a few years old. The child had a chubby face, delicate features like carved jade, and was wrapped in a red cotton-padded jacket.
The warship was moving swiftly downstream, and the two vessels were about to pass each other in the blink of an eye. Meng Qi was ready to shout at the top of his lungs, “Gu Xiaosang, the bewitching demoness, is here!”
At that moment, Gu Xiaosang tugged at the little girl.
She immediately looked at Meng Qi and called out crisply, “Dad!”
Meng Qi’s mouth hung open, completely forgetting what he had intended to shout.
The warship blended into the river of boats ahead and disappeared from sight. The old boatman rowed the oar, completely unaware of what had just happened. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed the young man standing there dumbstruck.
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