The crowd of heroes cheered in unison, turning their heads towards the wide yellow earth road in front of the manor. In the deep night, over ten people approached with steady steps.
Jiang Ci stood on tiptoes to look. She saw the lead figure, his blue robe fluttering, a jade pendant hanging from the silk belt at his waist. He was tall and slender, with handsome features, eyes like bright stars, and an air of elegance and grace in his every move. His demeanor was refreshing and spirited.
As he drew closer, he smiled at the crowd. Though his gaze didn’t linger on any one person, everyone felt as if he was greeting them personally. Cries of “Alliance Leader,” “Marquis,” and “Minister” arose from all sides.
He arrived at the front of the manor and, with a light sweep of his long sleeves, bowed to Yi Han, saying, “Hall Master Yi, I, Pei, was delayed by urgent matters and arrived a step late. I hope Hall Master Yi will forgive me.”
Yi Han had been facing the manor gate, and when Pei Yan appeared, he turned slightly to the side. As Pei Yan stepped forward and bowed, Yi Han turned further but felt that Pei Yan’s movements made his sidestep seem somewhat constrained and unable to extend gracefully.
He inwardly took note, knowing that although the man before him was young, his martial arts cultivation surpassed that of his father. He smiled slightly and took a small step back with his right foot, using the momentum to cup his hands in greeting: “Alliance Leader Pei is too polite.”
“Hall Master Yi is too kind,” Pei Yan said with a smile. “I’ve been tied up with mundane affairs, busy negotiating the peace treaty with your country’s envoys these past few days. It so happens that your country’s envoy, Right Gentleman Jin, wanted to come and watch the battle between Hall Master and myself. We were slightly delayed on the way, and I hope Hall Master Yi will forgive us.”
Yi Han’s pupils contracted sharply. At this moment, several people behind Pei Yan walked into the light. One of them wore a light robe with official ribbons and had a thin face. He made eye contact with Yi Han and nodded slightly but didn’t speak. Servants had already brought over large chairs, and these few envoys from the Huan Kingdom sat down without ceremony.
In the tree, Jiang Ci shifted her position slightly and turned her head to look at that person.
The man had no choice but to explain further: “Yi Han, known as the Hall Master of First Grade Hall, is an important figure supporting the Second Prince of Huan Kingdom. This Right Gentleman Jin is a close confidant of the Crown Prince of Huan. Their internal politics are complex and ever-changing, no less so than our dynasty.”
He snorted lightly: “Pei Yan is indeed deep and cunning, planning each step carefully. Old feelings, favors, political enemies – he’s using everything that could disturb Yi Han’s state of mind. I must admire him for that!”
Jiang Ci’s gaze fixed on Pei Yan, who was courteously exchanging greetings with the various sect leaders, and she clicked her tongue in admiration: “What a Sword Marquis indeed! He certainly lives up to his reputation!”
He leaned back against the tree trunk, relaxing his body, and snorted coldly: “Pei Yan is famously cold-hearted and ruthless. Don’t let yourself be fooled by his good looks.”
Jiang Ci shook her head and said sarcastically: “You also have a handsome face and a heartless core. How can you criticize others?”
As the two were bickering, the commotion in front of the manor had settled down. Everyone had taken their seats, leaving only Pei Yan and Yi Han standing with their hands behind their backs in the center.
Pei Yan still had a smile at the corners of his mouth as he took the long sword handed to him by an attendant and said leisurely, “Hall Master Yi, please advise me!”
Yi Han didn’t reply, only lowering his head slightly. Just then, a gust of night wind swept up, causing his long robe to billow and flutter noisily. The hearts of the hundreds of people in front of the manor raced, everyone, staring intently, waiting to see this high-level duel that would affect the situation between the two countries.
“Wait!” A voice as cold as ice and snow rang out. Yi Han slowly raised his head to see Su Yan standing in front of him, holding a pipa in her arms.
Su Yan’s autumn-like eyes were deep with what seemed like sorrow and anger. She fixed her gaze on Yi Han and smiled sadly: “It’s been many years since we parted, is Master Yi well?”
Yi Han narrowed his eyes slightly and sighed softly, but didn’t answer.
Su Yan laughed coldly: “How dashing Master Yi used to be, with a silver tongue. How have you become a silent gourd today? However, Su Yan has something that must be told to Master Yi before your decisive battle. Su Yan doesn’t want Master Yi to go down to the Yellow Springs still unaware of the truth.” She took small steps to Yi Han’s side and whispered a few words in his ear.
Yi Han suddenly raised his head, but she had already turned away. Still in her stage costume but with her flower hairpin discarded, she threw down her pipa and laughed loudly: “Yi Han, you betrayed my sister, causing her to die with resentment. Tonight, she will be waiting for you in the Nine Springs below to settle old scores!” With a harsh laugh, she floated away.
Yi Han stood like wood for a long time, suppressing the tremendous waves in his heart. When he raised his head, he saw Pei Yan smiling at him. That smile seemed friendly, but his eyes were as cold as ice and as sharp as a blade.
He was, after all, a great master. Trying his best to forget what Su Yan had just told him, he didn’t say much. His energy soared to the heavens as he slightly raised his Autumn Water Sword, bursting forth a ball of sword light. His figure flashed suddenly as he attacked Pei Yan.
Pei Yan’s body was as light as a feather, suddenly floating backward. The long sword in his hand raised a rippling light, blocking Yi Han’s sword strike that came as fast as lightning.
With a clang, light burst forth. Pei Yan borrowed the force to retreat swiftly, like a great bird flying backward. Yi Han followed, his Autumn Water Sword undulating like waves, sweeping upwards from below, once again directly attacking Pei Yan’s chest.
Before the sword tip arrived, the sword wind howled fiercely. Pei Yan knew he couldn’t forcefully meet it, so he leaned back in mid-air to dodge. Turning defense into offense, his feet kicked out several times in succession, aiming for Yi Han’s Shan Zhong and Zi Gong acupoints on his chest, right under the sword light.
Yi Han lowered his stance and sank his waist, his wrist dipping down, the sword blade slashing towards Pei Yan’s right foot.
Pei Yan’s right foot suddenly twisted, stepping onto the blade of the Autumn Water Sword. Using the force, he floated away, his body spinning several times in the air, like a crane soaring to the heavens, avoiding the dense sword energy Yi Han had raised.
Under the moonlight, two figures – one gray, one blue – intertwined and spun. The gray figure was like a crane calling in clear skies, while the blue figure was like light traversing the starry night. Yi Han’s sword moves were outstanding and fierce, full of momentum, while Pei Yan was crisp and natural, with an underlying sense of steadiness, subtly giving people the impression of a composed demeanor capable of commanding thousands of troops.
After several exchanges, Yi Han suddenly let out a clear whistle. His sword light suddenly intensified, man and sword becoming one, like breaking waves, rushing towards Pei Yan who was still in mid-air and had not yet landed.
Pei Yan’s breath caught, feeling as if he was floating in turbulent waves. He sensed that Yi Han’s sword momentum was extremely fierce, yet not lacking in agility and unpredictability, truly both offensive and defensive. But he didn’t panic. His long sword suddenly changed from a thrust to a sweep, striking horizontally toward Yi Han’s side.
Yi Han heard Pei Yan’s sword humming loudly and knew that even if he could cleave into Pei Yan’s chest, he would inevitably be cut in half by the sword’s energy. Inwardly, he praised Pei Yan for this move that seemed to seek mutual destruction but was attacking the enemy’s weak point, treading dangerous ground as if it were flat.
He twisted his waist and soared into the sky. Suddenly, his long sword left his hand, spinning in the air and shooting towards the back of Pei Yan’s head.
Pei Yan heard it clearly and knew he couldn’t turn his sword to block behind him. He had no choice but to use the momentum of his previous sweep to lunge to the right. But he saw Yi Han, like a flower snake pouncing on a mouse, swiftly leaping into the air to catch the long sword, thrusting straight down. In a flash, the sword energy had already torn through the right sleeve of his robe that was horizontally across his waist and was about to pierce his right ribs.
He had practiced martial arts since childhood and knew that one day he would have to fight Yi Han to the death. Ten years ago, he had already sent spies to infiltrate the First Grade Hall, learning every word and action of Yi Han like the back of his hand. He had even investigated Yi Han’s past very thoroughly. He excelled at psychological warfare, which is why he invited Su Yan, persuaded Liu Feng to forge letters, and even provoked Right Gentleman Jin from the Huan Kingdom to come to watch the battle, all to gain the upper hand.
At this critical moment of life and death, he knew it was time to use all the efforts he had made earlier. As his body moved, his right foot dragged across the ground, coincidentally touching the pipa that Su Yan had thrown down earlier. Disordered notes rang out. Yi Han’s mind shook, and the matter Su Yan had told him flashed through his brain. In a moment of distraction, the tip of his sword trembled slightly, scraping past Pei Yan’s right ribs and plunging straight into the yellow earth.
Pei Yan turned rapidly, his long fingers gripping the violently vibrating long sword. It was as if a sky full of light was condensing in front of him.
Sword energy burst forth, illuminating Yi Han’s eyes. Yi Han’s eyes flashed, and just as he pulled out the Autumn Water Sword, Pei Yan’s long sword was already like a soaring dragon or a phoenix in flight, thunderously striking the space at his side.
Some sharp-eyed spectators on the sidelines saw clearly and were secretly puzzled as to why Pei Yan didn’t strike directly at Yi Han while the Autumn Water Sword was not yet withdrawn but instead struck at the space beside him. But then they saw Yi Han seemingly unable to stand steady, his figure swaying as he hurriedly brought his sword back to his side. With a booming sound, he let out a cold snort and lightly leaped a step to the left.
Pei Yan calmly withdrew his sword and stood with his hands behind his back. His eyes sparkled with spirit as he smiled at Yi Han without speaking.
Yi Han held his sword horizontally at his side and stood silently for a long time. A trail of crimson blood wound its way down the blade, dripping into the yellow earth.
Yi Han shook his head: “To think Alliance Leader Pei has already mastered ‘Feint East, Strike West’. I, Yi, admire you!” He suddenly threw his head back and laughed loudly. The Autumn Water Sword, accompanied by a dragon’s roar, shot like a meteor into a giant willow by the edge of Pingyue Lake, sinking to the hilt and causing the tree to shake violently.
A gray shadow flashed, and his figure disappeared at the end of the road. His desolate voice echoed in the air: “The Autumn Water Sword has departed, Yi Han is no longer a person of the jianghu. Thank you, Alliance Leader Pei, for your kindness!”
The crowd of heroes was stunned for a moment before erupting into thunderous cheers. The Huan Kingdom envoys were both secretly delighted and embarrassed as they were led into the manor by servants.
Amidst the cheers, Jiang Ci turned her head to look at the person beside her: “Pei Yan’s father died at Yi Han’s hands. Why didn’t he take Yi Han’s life?”
He laughed coldly: “Yi Han came to challenge the Central Plains martial arts world in his capacity as the Hall Master of First Grade Hall, representing the Huan Kingdom’s military. Since he has already discarded his sword and admitted defeat, Pei Yan cannot kill him, otherwise it would be seen as executing an envoy and deliberately provoking war. Moreover, Pei Yan wants to keep Yi Han alive to cause internal strife in the Huan Kingdom. How could he let a mere personal vendetta ruin his grand plans? In his heart, avenging his father is far less important than power and authority!”
Jiang Ci smiled: “You seem to understand Pei Yan quite well.”
He fell silent, his gaze fixed on the composed figure bowing with a smile in front of the manor, his eyes gradually turning sharp.
After a moment of clamor, Pei Yan stepped onto the stairs in front of the manor. With a slight raise of his right hand, the crowd fell silent.
His smile was very elegant, and though his voice wasn’t loud, everyone could hear him clearly: “I, Pei, though unworthy, have held the position of Alliance Leader for several years. However, I have failed to live up to this role, and in recent years, I have neglected alliance affairs due to being busy with government matters. I have truly let down my fellow martial artists and am no longer fit to hold this position of Alliance Leader.”
No one had expected him to say such words at the moment when he had defeated the world-renowned Yi Han and his prestige had reached its peak. For a moment, they all looked at each other in bewilderment.
In the tree, that person slowly sat up straight. Jiang Ci couldn’t help but glance at him. At this moment, his rigid face was hidden in the shadows of the leaves, leaving only his eyes, as brilliant as the Milky Way, staring at the person in front of the manor. His entire being exuded a bloodthirsty cruelty and coldness, with a hint of weariness towards all things and a violent desire to destroy everything for quick relief.
Then they heard Pei Yan continue: “Now that our dynasty and the Huan Kingdom have ceased hostilities, disciples from various sects serving in the military can temporarily return for rest and recuperation. This is an excellent opportunity for us in the martial arts world to select virtuous and capable leaders. I boldly resign from the position of Martial Arts Alliance Leader, allowing all of you to elect a new, worthy leader.”
Before everyone could react, he added: “I have also submitted a memorial and obtained the Emperor’s gracious approval. From today onwards, the imperial court will no longer appoint the Alliance Leader, nor will it interfere in martial arts affairs. I, Pei, am lacking in both talent and virtue. For many years, I have relied entirely on everyone’s support to carry on until now. I can no longer serve as Alliance Leader, so I have come to apologize to all of you.”
After speaking, he bowed to everyone in front of the manor, then walked to the various sect leaders and performed a deep bow.
Pei Yan’s words caused an uproar in front of the manor. No one had expected him to resign from the position of Alliance Leader, let alone that the imperial court would give up its control over the martial arts world that it had held for over a hundred years. But his words were still ringing in their ears, and they couldn’t help but believe. Those with keen minds even thought about how their sects could now compete for the position of Alliance Leader and thus command the martial arts world, secretly rejoicing.
Jiang Ci found the lively commotion in the courtyard quite interesting, but she saw one person step out from the crowd and approach Pei Yan, bowing and saying: “Alliance Leader, I, Yu, have something to say. I wonder if it’s appropriate to speak?”
Pei Yan smiled and returned the bow: “Great Hero Yu is highly respected and virtuous. I have always held you in high esteem. Please, speak freely.”
This Great Hero Yu was in his forties, tall and slender, with a thin face and three long strands of beard on his chin, giving him a scholarly and elegant appearance. Most of the people present recognized him as Yu Wenyi from Yujian Prefecture, known for his steady character and skill in mediating disputes. He was highly respected and known as the “Clear Breeze of Yujian.”
Yu Wenyi bowed again to the various sect leaders and said in a deep voice: “Minister Pei has good intentions, and the imperial court is sincere in letting go of control over the martial arts world. But I wonder if Minister Pei has considered that with your resignation and the court’s withdrawal, who will mediate the long-standing disputes in the martial arts world? How will the future Alliance Leader be chosen? If there’s any impropriety, it could lead to internal strife, and I fear the martial arts world will become troubled, with the sound of weapons never ceasing.”
As soon as he finished speaking, many level-headed individuals nodded in agreement, thinking about how with Pei Yan’s withdrawal, the martial arts world would become more turbulent, and they couldn’t help but feel worried.
Pei Yan smiled slightly: “I have already considered this point and have written to inform all the sect leaders in advance. The private discussion you had earlier in the manor was precisely about this matter. I believe that with the great wisdom of all the sect leaders, you have already deliberated on a feasible method and reached an agreement on various issues.”
The sect leaders either nodded or bowed. Master Huilu, the head of the Shaolin Temple, stepped forward and put his palms together: “Minister Pei had sent a letter in advance, and all the sect leaders have reached a consensus on this matter. Wenyi, you worry too much.”
Yu Wenyi, who was originally a lay disciple of Shaolin, quickly put his palms together and returned the gesture: “Wenyi was rash. Please forgive me, Master, and I also ask for Minister Pei’s pardon.” After speaking, he retreated into the crowd.
Another person stepped out from the crowd and said loudly: “If that’s the case, please tell us, Master, how will the new Alliance Leader be chosen?”
As soon as he said this, the crowd of heroes all echoed in agreement.
“Yes, tell us quickly.”
“That’s right, how will the new Alliance Leader be selected?”
Pei Yan smiled and stepped back, while Master Huilu walked to the front of the manor. He first chanted a Buddhist prayer, then said in a deep voice: “After joint deliberation by all sect leaders, it has been decided that on the tenth day of the eleventh month, a martial arts assembly will be held here at Changfeng Manor. Each sect will nominate one candidate, who will compete in three rounds testing virtue, wisdom, and martial arts. The final victor will become the next Martial Arts Alliance Leader. As for the specific details of the competition, the sect leaders will formulate detailed rules, which will be announced to the world when the time comes.”
The front of the manor immediately erupted in a cacophony of voices and discussions. Someone shouted: “Then for these three months, will Minister Pei continue to serve as Alliance Leader?”
Pei Yan’s expression remained relaxed as he stepped forward and cupped his hands: “I am busy with government affairs and no longer suitable to handle alliance matters. For these three months, Master Huilu will temporarily assume the role of Alliance Leader, and during this period, affairs will be jointly decided by all sect leaders.”
The corners of his lips curved slightly upward as he raised his right hand. Attendants brought forward jade platters, and he picked up a wine cup from one. Other attendants had already brought wine pots and cups, pouring wine for each sect leader. Those who were monks or women were offered clear water instead.
Pei Yan raised his wine cup and said in a clear voice: “From this moment on, I am no longer the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, but I am still willing to work with all of you, dedicating ourselves to the martial arts world, striving for justice and peace. Now, with this cup of wine or water, I show my sincerity!”
With that, he threw his head back and drained the cup in one gulp, then turned around gracefully, smiling at the sect leaders.
The sect leaders all hurriedly raised their cups, and the crowd also raised their cups in response, all about to drink.
“Wait, don’t drink!” A thunderous shout came through the air, and everyone’s cups stopped midair.