"Yes." A middle-aged woman standing behind her suppressed a laugh and turned to a maid in purple beside her, saying, "Xiao Wan, didn't you hear Madam say she was hungry? Hurry up and go to the kitchen. A bowl of porridge might not be enough. Remember to get some more layered cakes."
Before he could finish speaking, he couldn't help but chuckle.
Feng Chenxi, listening in the side hall, couldn't help but smile. This Madam Xiao was known for her bad temper, but now it seemed she was quite wary of her husband. The others, such as Uncle Cai and Yu Cui, were clearly aware of this weakness.
Gong Feicui glared at Yu Cui with resentment and cursed, "You wretched girl, why didn't you just find a husband and get married early like your sister!"
Yu Cui smiled and replied, "That's because my sister isn't as fortunate as I am; she can't stay by the young lady's side forever."
Gong Feicui spat and said, "You still know I'm your young lady? Every time, you've sided with that bastard and not with me..."
"Bastard?" someone suddenly chimed in. "That sounds like a familiar title. Are they talking about me?"
In the side hall, Feng Chenxi was suddenly jolted: What a captivating voice! So mellow, like drinking fine wine; so clear, like listening to stringed instruments; so gentle, like bathing in a spring breeze... It was like time striking the strings of youth, instantly touching her heart.
"City Lord."
"Son-in-law."
"father."
A chorus of greetings rang out from outside, and Feng Chenxi slowly rose from her chair. In truth, even without hearing those greetings, she knew: it was him, only him, it could only be him… the man she had been waiting for until now but had never seen—Xiao Zuo.
The number one martial arts master
I suddenly felt a little nervous.
Since I can remember, the story I've heard the most is about this person. Every month, a disciple from Yinshan would come to Fengyouxi, where their master resided, to report on the happenings in the martial arts world. Each time, their master would end by asking, "What has Xiao Zuo been up to lately?" She wasn't necessarily overjoyed when she heard news of him, but she felt a sense of loss when she didn't.
My master was aloof and rarely showed her emotions, and her obvious attention to this person had intrigued me for a long time. Until one time, when she was drunk, she took my hand and murmured, "Since the wind has come, why did the flute also come..."
That night, I learned the whole story and my master's complex feelings towards Xiao Zuo—he was the only opponent in the world who had ever defeated her, and while she resented him, she also felt an inexplicable admiration for him. (For the story of Xiao Zuo, Gong Feicui, and Feng Qiansu, please see the prequel "The Wind and Smoke".)
Therefore, in my eighteen years of life, Xiao Zuo is the only person who has ever piqued my curiosity. I have imagined more than once what this man, whom my master could never forget and who was known as the number one martial artist in the martial arts world, really looked like.
Now, he is right outside, separated from me only by a curtain, but I suddenly feel a little nervous. Standing in front of the curtain, I don't know if I should go out and meet him rashly.
While hesitating, he overheard Mr. and Mrs. Xiao laughing and talking outside. Then, Uncle Cai's voice broke in: "Lord, Madam, there is a young lady waiting in the side hall for quite some time. Shall we meet her first?"
"Oh, sister! How could I have forgotten about you!" It was Xiao Nuo's voice, and she sounded like she was running towards me.
My breathing quickened; I was about to see him… I was finally going to see him.
"Noel, which sister? Why are you running so fast..."
Gong Feicui was still calling out when the curtain in front of me was suddenly lifted. I took a deep breath and looked up to see a pair of unfathomable pupils.
Those were strange eyes, at first glance like a calm lake, but deep inside seemed to hide countless whirlpools, as if they would suck people in if they weren't careful... I quickly looked away and instead looked at the owner of those eyes.
He is no longer young, but his elegant and refined demeanor, as graceful as flowing clouds and as unrestrained as autumn water, is enough to make people forget his age.
Xiao Zuo!
Only Xiao Zuo could possess such elegance, or rather, only such elegance could match such a legendary figure.
I stared at him blankly, and he just smiled back at me. For a moment, neither of us spoke.
After a moment, Gong Feicui spoke first: "This young lady is..."
I snapped out of my daze, took a few steps forward, and was about to introduce myself when Xiao Nuo interrupted, "Mother, this sister is called Feng Chenxi. Uncle Jin said she is a 'disciple of an old friend.'" As he spoke, he took out the handkerchief that Jin Yidou had entrusted to him for safekeeping.
Gong Feicui took it, and her expression changed after just one glance. She quickly looked up at Xiao Zuo and said, "You, you see! It is..."
Xiao Zuo simply looked at me and smiled, "Thirty years have passed, Chief Steward Feng... how is your master?"
He knew my origins without even seeing the handkerchief, which clearly indicates that there must be a faster way of communication between Baili City and Baili Inn, allowing him to know everything long ago.
I bowed to him and replied, "My teacher has always been frail and weak, and her health has never been very good. However, she often said that as long as one keeps a broad mind, one can live a peaceful and healthy life."
"She really said that?" A strange light flashed in Gong Feicui's eyes, which were as bright as stars.
"Yes," I said calmly. "My master also said that victory and defeat are all determined by fate, and there is nothing to worry about."
Gong Feicui fell silent. After a long while, she suddenly raised her head and looked at Xiao Zuo hesitantly, saying, "Are you still going to take her to that place? For Sister Qiansu's sake, could you... make an exception?"
"No." Xiao Zuo put his hand on her shoulder and patted it gently. "You eat first, we'll be right back."
Then he turned to me and said, "Come with me."
After speaking, she turned and walked away first. I was taken aback, so I could only nod to Gong Feicui and follow her. I heard Xiao Nuo say behind me, "Mother, where is Father taking this sister?"
Uncle Cai eagerly said, "This old servant bets they went to Xianjianlin. Here's a wager of ten taels."
"...Uncle Cai, you're here again..."
Passing through the covered walkway, the houses are built against the mountain, and in the swirling morning mist, it feels like walking on the edge of water and sky. The gravel path is charming, with different colors pieced together to form different patterns, and low shrubs planted on both sides, lush and verdant. Ahead of the path is an archway, unlocked, only tied with a knot of red silk thread. But when I reached the door, I found that the knot was extremely complicated and difficult to untie. At the same time, I saw a plaque hanging above the door, which read "Xianjianlin" (Rare Forest).
As Cai Bo guessed, Xiao Zuo brought me here. But what secrets lie hidden here?
Xiao Zuo reached out and untied the red knot, his fingers deft and skillful, with a unique rhythm, almost like a dance. But as soon as he untied it, he tied it back up even faster, then turned and said, "You do it."
I paused for a moment, hesitated, and stepped forward. I stared at the knot for a long time, then closed my eyes and recalled the actions and steps he had taken to untie it. When I opened my eyes again, the knot had been untied.
Xiao Zuo's eyes showed appreciation, and he smiled and said, "Very good."
He pushed open the door, and the ebony archway swung open, revealing a verdant expanse—a bamboo forest. Goodbye, bamboo forest.
Frost and dew condensed on the bamboo leaves, and the world was utterly serene, as if one could hear even the sound of the dewdrops sliding to the ground. On some of the bamboo stalks, many weapons were stuck or hung, most of them worn and dilapidated from the erosion of wind and rain.
Xiao Zuo walked to a bamboo pole and pulled out the sword stuck in it. Among all the exposed weapons, only this sword's blade remained as bright and clear as still water, without the slightest trace of rust.
I couldn't help but sigh, "The moon rises above the water, who is the hero... I never imagined that the Sinking Sword, which was famous all over the world fifteen years ago but suddenly disappeared, would be lost here."
Xiao Zuo's eyes flashed as he said, "It's called the Forest of Rare Swords, but it's also the Forest of Sword Unsheathing. Since Mr. Kang Yong refuses to unsheathe his sword, I can only ask him to leave it here forever." He raised his arm, and the sinking sword drew a dazzling light like a shooting star before being inserted back into the bamboo.
Along the way, all he saw were famous weapons and weapons, each with its own legend in the martial arts world. But Xiao Zuo let them be exposed to the elements, showing them no care whatsoever.
Seeing that I looked strange, Xiao Zuo asked, "Are you feeling sorry for these swords?"
"No. They are not my swords."
"You only care about your own sword?"
"good."
“You are a born swordsman,” Xiao Zuo smiled.
Amidst laughter, he led me to a small hut. It was a true hut, less than five steps long and wide, even larger than the carriage I had come from.
Xiao Zuo flicked the bamboo beside the house, and the door opened immediately. The house was empty. Xiao Zuo flicked the bamboo again, and with a sound, the floorboards slid open, revealing an entrance to a tunnel.
Going down the steps, there was a long stone path. A chill hit me, as if I were in an ice cellar, and then the floorboards slammed shut behind me.
Xiao Zuo brought me to such a secluded place. He clearly knows I have a photographic memory. Isn't he afraid that I have ulterior motives?
At the end of the stone path was a stone gate. Xiao Zuo pushed the gate open from right to left. When I walked in, I casually touched the stone gate and found that it was more than a foot thick. Even with 20% of my strength, it did not budge.
Along the way, there were three obstacles: the first was the red rope, the second the bamboo branch, and the third the stone gate. To get here by passing through all three was indeed no easy feat.
Inside the door, crystal lamps were embedded in the stone walls, their light all focused on one spot—a sword lay horizontally on a carved sandalwood table. The scabbard was as black as ink, with a purple-gold hilt. Though unsheathed, the sword's aura was already intense; I felt a chill run down my spine, and my breath caught in my throat.
Xiao Zuo stared intently at the sword, his eyes shining even brighter, and said, word by word, "You are as knowledgeable as your master, with an excellent memory, and you know everything about the martial world. Do you know what kind of sword this is?"
I smiled slightly and said, "Lord Xiao has been practicing swordsmanship since childhood and later became famous for it. It has been more than 30 years now. If someone said that you are not a true swordsman, I'm afraid no one would believe it, right?"
Xiao Zuo laughed and said, "I'm afraid even I don't believe it."
"True swordsmen only love their own swords, don't they?"
"This is a common problem among swordsmen."
"So..." I concluded calmly, "This sword is undoubtedly the Jinghong Sword."
Xiao Zuo abandoned so many famous swords in the wilderness without a second thought, yet he regarded this sword as a priceless treasure, employing three layers of protective mechanisms to safeguard it, demonstrating its immense importance. A swordsman would only cherish his own sword so much—I'm absolutely certain I'm not wrong.
Xiao Zuo laughed again and said, "Then, do you know what kind of sword the Jinghong Sword is?"
"Forged by the Chu swordsman Situ Guang on his deathbed, this sword is three feet four inches long. On the day it was completed, its murderous aura startled wild geese, hence its name, 'Startled Goose.' It is an ancient and famous sword, naturally extraordinary. However, this sword is too sharp and overtly aggressive. Only a peerless master could wield it and instead be devoured by it." I smiled and said, "But the city lord need not worry about this. Thirty years ago, you escorted Miss Gong and the gilded silver vase with three-pronged vajra pattern to Baili City. You drew your sword three times, all to protect the beauties, thus creating a legendary tale in the martial arts world. Later, you wielded this sword throughout the martial arts world, unmatched by any opponent, and were hailed as the number one sword in the world. Only such a sword is worthy of the city lord, and only a master like the city lord can wield this sword."
Xiao Zuo stared at me for a long time before slowly saying, "Why don't you take the sword down and examine it carefully?"
There seemed to be a hidden meaning in his words, so I did as he said, gripped the hilt of the sword and drew it out, and my expression changed drastically—the sword was broken!
It was a broken sword, with only one-third of the blade remaining, and the break was extremely smooth.
I looked at the broken sword and smiled wryly: "Next time before judging a sword, I'll remember to examine the blade first. This... was it caused by internal force?"
"yes."
I let out a long sigh and murmured, "Lord Xiao truly has superb skills and methods, it's just a pity about this fine sword..."
Xiao Zuo said leisurely, "This sword does not belong to you, young lady, so why regret it?"
“I’m not lamenting the loss of the Jinghong Sword,” I said, looking at him. “I’m lamenting the loss of you.”
"oh?"
I smiled and said slowly, "Though the sword is broken, the person remains—Lord Xiao is exceptionally wise; surely you can't even grasp this simple truth?"
Xiao Zuo's expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, "I have already broken my sword to show my resolve, so why is Miss Feng still pressing me so hard?"
"Chenxi wouldn't dare," I replied. "Moreover, Your Excellency has gone so far as to break your sword in order to stay away from the troubles of the martial world. Clearly, you have made up your mind. Not to mention Chenxi, even the most influential person in the martial world today would probably not be able to change Lord Xiao's mind."
Xiao Zuo smiled and said, "Three months ago, when Master Deyuan of Shaolin saw this broken sword, he sighed and left without saying a word."
I put the sword back on the shelf and said, "Master Deyuan is a highly respected monk of our time. For him to personally come down from Shaolin to visit us, there must be some big trouble ahead."
“Not bad.” Xiao Zuo sighed. “To be honest, what I fear most in my life is trouble, but trouble always seems to come knocking on my door.”
No wonder Gong Feicui asked him if he could make an exception for me for the sake of our master; it turns out she thought I was also here to ask Xiao Zuo to come out of seclusion. I smiled and said, "Lord Xiao, please don't misunderstand. Chenxi has come here not to cause you trouble, but to—solve your troubles."
"Solve my problem?" Xiao Zuo seemed quite surprised.
"I wonder if the city lord would be interested in making a bet with me? A bet would be trouble for you."
Xiao Zuo's eyes flickered as he said, "Very interesting, please continue."
I said leisurely, "Everyone knows that Lord Xiao is hailed as the number one martial artist in the world today, with unparalleled talent and swordsmanship. Unfortunately, nothing in this world is perfect. He just happened to have a son who is mentally challenged, causing him headaches for seventeen years..."
Xiao Zuo smiled bitterly: "Nuo'er, he just... doesn't understand the simplest principles the most."
I continued with a stern face, "But I have a way to make Young Master Xiao no different from an ordinary person within a month. If I succeed, please grant me one request, Lord, and accompany me on my journey to Yinshan."
Xiao Zuo said calmly, "What if you can't do it?"