After confirming that Wang Sui was the stabilizing force on the Eastern Front of the Northern Wilderness, Xu Fengnian appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was roiling with turbulent waves. This news was simply too earth-shattering, no less astonishing than learning that Qi Yanglong of the Shangyin Academy had entered the capital to become a regent minister.
As the Central Plains fell into chaos, countless heroes and talents were washed away by the tides of fate—some died for their country, some retreated into seclusion, some bore the infamy of serving two masters and entered the Liyang court, while many others simply vanished into obscurity, lost among the mountains, forests, and back alleys. Wang Mingyin, the eleventh-ranked martial artist in the world; Gu Dazu, the top general of Southern Tang; Su Su and Lu Xiufu, the exiled crown prince and minister of Western Shu who fled to the Northern Wilderness; and the sole surviving heir of the Han family from Jizhou, who became an outlaw in the Northern Wilderness—all met such fates. Had Xu Fengnian not stepped into the martial world and stirred the waters, they might have remained buried in obscurity, never again emerging into the public eye.
Wang Sui’s sudden reappearance after twenty years of seclusion was undoubtedly the most striking. Especially since he had chosen the Northern Wilderness, his presence would inevitably have a profound and far-reaching impact on the world’s balance of power. This dashing prince consort of Eastern Yue, one of the four legendary generals of the Spring and Autumn Era, was a master of warfare, renowned for defeating overwhelming odds with minimal forces. He was the embodiment of the “unorthodox” in the military doctrine of “Chu-Yue Unorthodox and Orthodox,” standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the great strategist Ye Baikui. In contrast, Xu Xiao, who had not yet been enfeoffed as a prince at the time, was primarily known for his invincible Xu family cavalry. His personal command skills could not compare to Ye Baikui or Wang Sui, a fact Xu Xiao never hid from his children. The “Butcher of Men,” who rarely praised his peers, never concealed his admiration for Wang Sui. Even Li Yishan admitted that if the self-righteous Ye Baikui, who always insisted on “righteous warfare,” had been replaced by Wang Sui—who excelled in ambushes, rapid maneuvers, and flexible use of cavalry and infantry—the Xu family army would never have been able to encircle the enemy at the Battle of Xileibi.
Wang Sui’s presence in the Northern Wilderness was undoubtedly a great misfortune. But within that misfortune lay a sliver of fortune—he was not on the Liang-Mang frontlines but instead tied down Gu Jian’s 300,000-strong Liao border army on the Eastern Front.
According to Liyang’s feudal laws, princes were forbidden from meeting privately. But even before that, during the existence of the Eastern Yue kingdom, there had been an amusing incident of “princes refusing to meet princes”—one was the son-in-law of a coastal city surnamed Wang, the other was the son-in-law of the Eastern Yue emperor, also surnamed Wang. Wang Xianzhi and Wang Sui—one a martial arts grandmaster who never concerned himself with courtly affairs, the other a powerful prince consort who reveled in both pleasure and authority—were as incompatible as fire and water, yet for some reason, their feud ran deep.
Seeing Xu Fengnian fall into silence with an increasingly grave expression, Jiang Ni said flatly, “During our travels in the Northern Wilderness years ago, Uncle Cao and I visited Wang Sui. Uncle Cao tried to persuade him to serve Great Chu, but he refused. Wang Sui said Eastern Yue’s defeat by Liyang was inevitable, not a failure of strategy. As for Eastern Yue’s destruction, he bore no lingering resentment. But losing to Gu Jian was his second greatest humiliation after his youthful defeat by Wang Xianzhi. He wanted to fight Gu Jian again, with equal forces and circumstances.”
Xu Fengnian muttered to himself, “Men in their sixties, still acting like children. Matters of state aren’t child’s play—today you punch me, tomorrow I kick you back.” Jiang Ni gave him a strange look. “Wang Sui mentioned you. After hearing you took up the sword, he made a bet with Uncle Cao—he wagered you’d become a grandmaster.”
Xu Fengnian grinned. “What’s there to bet about? Isn’t that obvious? Did your chess-playing uncle really take that bet? What was the wager?”
Jiang Ni huffed. “Uncle Cao didn’t say you wouldn’t become a grandmaster—he just placed your potential at his own level. But Wang Sui said you’d be able to fight Wang Xianzhi.”
Xu Fengnian rubbed his stubbled chin. “Wang Sui has sharp eyes. I’ll have to buy that old man a drink someday—just for his insight, I’ll toast him three cups.”
Jiang Ni, unusually amused, smirked. “Do you know why Wang Sui was so optimistic about you when you were barely at the first-tier Diamond realm?”
Xu Fengnian had no idea what went through the mind of that thousand-year-old turtle. “My looks?”
Jiang Ni looked as if struck by lightning, speechless with indignation.
Xu Fengnian gasped. “Wang Sui really judges people by appearances?”
Jiang Ni, thoroughly annoyed, refused to speak further.
Xu Fengnian began musing aloud. “Wang Sui came from a noble family, wild and reckless in his youth, only turning his life around after coming of age. He mastered eighteen weapons in just five years, especially excelling in swordsmanship—even Song Nianqing and Chai Qingshan of the Sword Pool praised him. In his youth, he was Eastern Yue’s most handsome man, nicknamed ‘Sandalwood Lord’ by noblewomen. Hah, seems we’re kindred spirits. No wonder, no wonder…”
Jiang Ni couldn’t resist kicking him. Xu Fengnian, anticipating it, turned and glared. Despite now being a sword immortal capable of soaring through the skies, her old habits kicked in, and she instinctively withdrew her foot. Xu Fengnian grumbled, “Who taught you this bad habit? Cao Changqing or Grand Preceptor Sun Xiji?”
Jiang Ni muttered coldly, “None of your business!”
Xu Fengnian rubbed his backside—that kick in the alley had ruined his carefully cultivated aura of a master. Suddenly, he sneered, “I heard there’s some young pretty boy in your Western Chu court, surnamed Song, with a reputation so grand even Tai’an City knows of his ‘jade-like complexion, graceful bearing, like a pine breeze, lofty yet unhurried.’ People with too much time on their hands claim he’s often mistaken for an immortal when traveling the countryside. Even Qi Yanglong sang his praises before Zhao Zhuan, saying his literary talent was unmatched among the younger generation—like plucking the pearl from the dragon’s palace while others only grasp scales. So now Liyang has the saying ‘Dragon’s Script, Phoenix’s Grace,’ referring to his writing and…”
Jiang Ni feigned ignorance, cutting him off. “I’ve heard of ‘Dragon’s Script’—Song Maolin, the youngest Hanlin academician in Great Chu’s history. If not for Uncle Cao, he’d also be the youngest chess advisor. But as for ‘Dragon’s Script, Phoenix’s Grace’ or ‘Northern Xu, Southern Song,’ or how his writing and someone’s looks complement each other—I know nothing about that.”
Xu Fengnian scoffed. “That pretty boy dares compare to me? I could take down a thousand Song Maolins single-handedly. So he wrote a passable proclamation—big deal. ‘Banished immortal’ my foot!”
Jiang Ni maintained her innocent expression. “Really? If I recall, Grand Preceptor Sun once said one of his proclamations was worth a hundred thousand soldiers.”
She began counting on her fingers. “Liyang’s Chief Minister Qi Yanglong praised his literary talent, calling it ‘banished immortal.’ The outspoken Tan Tanweng of the Secretariat said his imperial exam essays rivaled Sun Yin’s. Left Director of the Imperial Academy Yao Baifeng called him ‘learned and principled.’ Add Grand Preceptor Sun’s praise for his proclamations and Uncle Cao’s admission that his chess skills are only slightly inferior to Fan Changhou’s—that’s five of the ten most learned men in the world singing his praises. Let me think, there’s also…”
Xu Fengnian rolled his eyes. “Enough! That pretty boy’s only got a bit of fame among scholars. Now, what about your so-called ‘someone’?”
Jiang Ni deliberately looked around, avoiding his gaze. “Who? Where? I don’t see anyone.”
Xu Fengnian gently pressed his hand to her forehead, stopping her from shaking her head.
Jiang Ni swatted his hand away, disdainful. “Aren’t you bored, obsessing over some scholar from faraway Guangling? The Northern Wilderness’ million-strong army is pressing against Beiliang’s borders—don’t you have bigger things to worry about?”
Xu Fengnian gazed into her eyes and asked softly, “I heard most of your Western Chu court officials suggested that Song fellow and you…”
Jiang Ni cut him off again, her tone indifferent, as if discussing someone else’s affairs. “First, they proposed Kou Jianghuai, then Xie Xichui, and only then Song Maolin.”
Xu Fengnian’s expression darkened. “What’s Cao Changqing doing? If he’s too busy to protect you, Great Chu’s princess, why hasn’t he marched to Tai’an City’s gates? If he’s free, why can’t he silence a few courtly gossips? With this, he still dreams of restoring the kingdom?”
Jiang Ni shook her head. “Uncle Cao has done his best.”
Xu Fengnian hesitated, then fell silent.
Jiang Ni exhaled softly, gazing into the dimming streetlights. “So? Do we confront them head-on, or wait for them to come to us?”
Xu Fengnian instantly reverted to his carefree demeanor. “I’d built up quite the momentum earlier, but you kicked it all away. Let’s wait. Snow Lotus City isn’t that big—we’ve got about an hour.”
Jiang Ni frowned. “We’re not leaving? After running all this way, does it matter if we flee again?”
Xu Fengnian didn’t answer. He turned and walked back into the alley, Jiang Ni silently following. The Ma family’s young lady, Ma Shanggong, and the poor boy Hong Shuzhi were still there, as was the Central Plains swordsman, still clinging to hope for the snow lotus. Seeing the “senior” swordsman and the stunning swordswoman return, the middle-aged man’s expression grew complicated. He knew full well these two immortals were also after the snow lotus—fighting was impossible, begging unlikely to work. But thinking of the woman who relied on Liaodong ginseng to survive each month, he gritted his teeth and clasped his fists at Xu Fengnian. “Senior, could you spare the snow lotus? This unworthy one, Shao Mu, is willing to trade his life for it!”
Xu Fengnian blinked, then shook his head. “I need this snow lotus. No negotiations.”
Shao Mu’s face twisted in anguish. He closed his eyes, then opened them with resolve. “Then I must challenge you, senior!”
Xu Fengnian waved him off, smiling. “Wait until dawn. If I’m still here by then, you can trade your life for the snow lotus in Liu Huaixi’s mansion. If I’m gone, bargain with the boy—just help him visit the Ma family stronghold. With your second-tier minor grandmaster strength, handling a private fortress shouldn’t be hard.”
The oddly named girl mustered her courage to retort, “Our Ma family’s drillmaster, Wei Tieqiang, is famous in the martial world! His ‘Reed Leaf Spear’ is forged from refined iron, twelve feet long, with a thirteen-inch spearhead! I’ve seen him pierce three suits of armor in one thrust! And we have a cavalry unit swift as the wind! Even General Liu’s mansion in Snow Lotus City doesn’t dare underestimate us!”
Shao Mu chuckled dismissively.
Xu Fengnian, however, sat on the steps beside Shao Mu, grinning. “Sounds like your family’s quite formidable. Tell me—are your ancestors locals, or migrants from the Central Plains?”
The girl eyed him warily. “Why do you ask?”
When she refused to answer, Xu Fengnian dropped the subject and began meditating.
After a long hesitation, Shao Mu finally asked, “Senior, are you truly planning to face the Northern Wilderness’ Tuoba Pusa?”
Xu Fengnian nodded.
Even the battle-hardened Shao Mu gasped.
Anyone capable of fighting the Northern Wilderness’ God of War must at least be a first-tier Finger Mystic expert, possibly even touching the legendary Heavenly Phenom threshold!
Jiang Ni, disliking his pretentiousness, coldly exposed him. “They’ve already fought for over half a month—still no winner!”
Shao Mu’s eyes nearly popped out. He gulped.
Xu Fengnian smiled without comment.
Though isolated in Snow Lotus City for years, Shao Mu couldn’t fathom who in the martial world possessed such power. Could this unassuming “senior” be the Peach Blossom Sword God, Deng Tai’a? Among sword masters, Sword Pool’s Song Nianqing and Southeast’s top swordsman Chai Qingshan were too old, while the Tangxi Sword Immortal Lu Baijie wasn’t yet at that level. During his journey from the Central Plains, Shao Mu had heard of the Wu family’s Sword Crown, Wu Liuding, traveling with a female sword attendant. The old man killed earlier had also speculated about sword-nurturing and flying swords, but Shao Mu doubted Wu Liuding could reach Tuoba Pusa’s level in just a few years. Even the most prodigious talents needed life-and-death battles and guidance from top-tier grandmasters to ascend to the Martial Rankings—mere talent wasn’t enough.
Half an hour later, the girl dozed off, while the boy struggled to stay awake. Xu Fengnian raised his arm, and the six-year-old falcon Sixian swooped down from the night sky. Retrieving a slender bamboo tube’s message, Xu Fengnian sighed in relief.
Jiang Ni glanced at him questioningly.
Xu Fengnian beamed. “Xu Yanbing left everyone behind and rushed to Snow Lotus City alone. He’ll be here within half an hour.”
Jiang Ni nodded. “Then I’ll wait half an hour.”
Xu Fengnian shook his head. “No need. Since Xu Yanbing arrived earlier than expected, you can safely return to Guangling.”
He then turned to the boy and Shao Mu. “Hong Shuzhi, bring the snow lotus. I’ll fulfill your wish. Shao Mu, by dawn, I’ll get you Liu Huaixi’s snow lotus. After delivering it, head straight to Beiliang—report your name at any courier station in Youzhou or Lingzhou, and someone will bring you to me. Your life is mine now.”
The boy, half-ecstatic, half-nervous, blurted, “Really?”
Xu Fengnian nodded, sending the falcon back into the sky. “You’ve seen my swordsmanship.”
The boy leaped for joy, dashing inside to retrieve an iron case—ice-preserved snow lotus within. Xu Fengnian handed it to a puzzled Jiang Ni. “For you.”
He pointed at the cut on her neck, then his own cheek, grinning. “Snow lotus is the best beauty treatment for women.”
Before she could refuse, he added calmly, “Also, tell Cao Changqing not to worry—the Northern Liang cavalry knows some places very well.”
He winked. “If you don’t mind, tell that pretty boy Song: no matter how ‘jade-like’ or ‘immortal’ he is, I’ll beat him until even his parents won’t recognize him.”
Jiang Ni clutched the case, silent.
Xu Fengnian smiled. “Half an hour is nothing. I need to face Tuoba Pusa and Li Mibi alone—I’ll damage Tuoba’s mindset, giving me an edge next time. Don’t worry, if things go south, I can escape easily. I’ve been recuperating all this way—half an hour of cat-and-mouse is manageable.”
Jiang Ni remained silent.
Xu Fengnian teased, “What, reluctant to leave?”
Jiang Ni spat.
Xu Fengnian waved. “Go on.”
Her expression stiff, Jiang Ni turned. The Great Cold Sparrow flew from its purple sandalwood scabbard, hovering horizontally. She stepped onto it and vanished like a rainbow.
Shao Mu stood dumbfounded.
Another sword immortal?!
Since when did land-roaming sword immortals become so common in Liyang’s martial world?
The boy grinned at the girl. “See? A real immortal sister!”
The girl stomped on his foot, leaving him hopping in pain.
About half an incense stick’s time later, the girl, watching the man still gazing where the immortal had disappeared, whispered, “You lied to her, didn’t you?”
Xu Fengnian smiled, turning to Shao Mu. “Take the children to Snow Lotus Tower. Tell them I promised you a snow lotus—Madam Song will get it from Liu Huaixi at any cost. Then have the tower take care of them. Go out the back.”
As Shao Mu led the children away, the distant sound of hoofbeats echoed through the alley.
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