Dark clouds covered the moon. Before one wall inside Half-Step Hall, a full twenty-four oil lamps were lit, illuminating the weapons on this wall until they gleamed golden and dazzlingly brilliant.

Wang Li stood alone before that wall, lowering his head to study the ground beneath his feet.

On the smooth bluestone bricks, besides the white marks knocked out when the golden gan and ge fell that night, there were also brown bloodstains in the crevices that couldn’t be wiped away.

Only later did he learn what happened after he left that night. That young Superior Minister was actually called out using his name and ambushed here, nearly lying here forever, never to wake again.

Though Wang Li hadn’t witnessed it personally, just imagining it made that scene heart-wrenching.

He held no prejudice against that young Superior Minister. The earlier quarrel was just because he couldn’t think how to strike up conversation and bungled it. Compared to those generals unable to capture an inch of Zhao territory, he truly admired how this young Superior Minister could make over ten Zhao cities change masters through mere conversation.

Moreover, after that night’s incident, though the culprit wasn’t identified, that young Superior Minister didn’t pursue his responsibility either. Otherwise, how could he still stand here unscathed?

And today, people in the palace were also given gag orders—no one permitted to discuss this matter again. Even his grandfather’s use of the stratagem of sowing discord, Superintendent of Trials Li Si submitted a memorial, and His Majesty the King of Qin approved it, completely vindicating this matter.

With this order issued, no one dared gossip behind his back anymore. And Gu Cun, the eldest prince’s most capable eunuch, specially explained to him that this was a favor that young Superior Minister obtained for him by playing a game of Go with the eldest prince.

This kind of repayment, compared to his helpless bystander observation when the other suffered ostracism and bullying that day, made him utterly ashamed.

So tonight, after returning to his room and discovering someone had placed a mysterious jade wrapped in silk on his table, he came to Half-Step Hall without any hesitation.

On this jade and silk were written about ten characters—”Turn gan and ge into jade and silk—dare you meet at Half-Step Hall?” Just as he’d heard, the night the young Superior Minister was tricked, the same method was used.

Wang Li touched the jade stone warmed in his bosom with one hand while tightly gripping the crescent moon halberd in his palm with the other. Since the other dared invite him to meet, he naturally wouldn’t shrink back.

He would definitely make the other repay that person’s suffering! Return it manifold!

When the green-robed youth pulled open Half-Step Hall’s door, what he saw was Wang Li’s face full of killing intent. He couldn’t help but freeze.

Unexpectedly, this Wang Li looked down on him so much.

Should he modify his original plan?

Before the green-robed youth could say anything, Wang Li darkened his face, pulled out the mysterious jade and silk from his bosom, and asked stiffly, “Did you give me this?”

The green-robed youth nodded matter-of-factly. Being rather lazy and not wanting to keep others’ things, he’d directly had Caiwei transfer that night’s mysterious jade and silk to Wang Li’s side. Conveniently, the message on it could be reused—saving effort and ink. But seeing Wang Li’s expression caught between crying and laughing, he quickly realized this was a misunderstanding.

Wang Li carefully put away the mysterious jade and silk. Though from these two items he couldn’t investigate who the culprit was—the mysterious jade and silk were the most ordinary things—this was still something passed from the young Superior Minister’s hands. Wang Li stored it even more carefully.

But after putting things away, the two faced each other silently, momentarily speechless. The atmosphere was incomparably awkward.

Wang Li coughed lightly, slightly raising his chin, asking in an odd tone, “You invited me here—how do you want to turn gan and ge into jade and silk?” Having grown up in military camps since childhood, his father feared spoiling him into an overbearing personality, so he liked speaking sarcastically to him. This directly caused Wang Li’s strange personality—speaking even more unrestrained. After growing up, he basically had no friends who liked playing with him because no one could stand his temper.

If it were someone else, they’d long ago think he was deliberately provoking. But the green-robed youth seemed not to hear the ridicule in his words. He pointed at the crescent moon halberd in his hands and said flatly, “Very simple. We fight once. I win—you owe me three things. I lose—I’ll treat the whole matter as if it never happened. We’re even.”

Wang Li nearly choked on his own saliva. What did this young Superior Minister say? Looking at the other’s thin frame, Wang Li suspected he could knock him over with just a little force, much less fight. But not taking such an advantage would make him a fool. Wang Li curved his lips upward, already certain the other was finding an excuse to reconcile with him. “You’re sure?”

“Sure.” The green-robed youth nodded slightly, his lustrous white face shining brilliantly under the flickering lamplight all around. Only then did Wang Li discover the other’s long hair was tied back, revealing a smooth forehead. What he wore wasn’t his usual long robe but a green military uniform. The narrow cuffs and fitted cut made his form appear even more thin. Obviously, he carried no weapons.

“Then what will you use to fight me?” Wang Li thought about it and felt that bare-handed fighting would probably be bad—if he accidentally injured somewhere, it would be another troublesome matter. Using weapons, he could stop at the right point—just knocking away the other’s weapon would count as winning.

The young Superior Minister looked around. Half-Step Hall’s surroundings held many weapon racks displaying various weapons. Under lamplight’s reflection, they emanated sharp edges, carrying an atmosphere of solemn killing intent. But the youth directly walked toward that brilliantly golden wall, easily reaching out to take down the foremost golden gan.

“Since this matter originated from this object, let’s use this object to conclude it.” The youth said so.

Wang Li’s eyes nearly bulged out. That golden gan was entirely made of gold—purely a decorative ritual implement. Moreover, its weight was about three times that of iron products of the same volume! That night he didn’t rehang the fallen golden gan and ge on the wall also because lifting it alone was too tiring. Yet this youth was so relaxed—he almost doubted the golden gan on the wall was a replica!

But whether it was a replica or not, fighting once would reveal the truth.

Wang Li’s warlike nature was completely aroused. The other chose a defensive implement while he used the military’s newly developed weapon, the crescent moon halberd. This contest was unequal from the start. But Wang Li didn’t care. Anyway, the other actively requested it. Seeking benevolence and obtaining benevolence—he only needed to satisfy the other. However, Wang Li also knew he took great advantage. Secretly resolving to only use his right hand in battle—but no need to say that aloud.

Seeing the other had already assumed a fighting stance, Wang Li immediately grasped the crescent moon halberd and thrust toward the other with full momentum.

“Clang!” The genuine sound of metal clashing resonated throughout Half-Step Hall, faint echoes even returning.

The crescent moon halberd left a considerable dent on the golden gan, verifying this golden gan was truly forged from pure gold. Wang Li’s pupils contracted, but his expression became even more resolute. The crescent moon halberd stuck in the golden gan smoothly slashed toward the green-robed youth’s neck.

The halberd developed from the ge. This could be seen from the Chinese character forms—just like shield and gan were also thus. Halberds had both straight and horizontal blades. Wang Li’s crescent moon halberd was cross-shaped, capable of hooking, pecking, thrusting, and slashing attack methods. Moreover, unlike swords and spears, because halberds were too heavy, they didn’t need to dance out blade shadows or fancy spear techniques. Each thrust and horizontal slash had no flourish—each peck and hook was solid attack.

So in the late Warring States period when transforming from war chariots to cavalry, halberds were the best weapons for mounted warfare. Though Wang Li couldn’t practice mounted halberd techniques in the palace, he’d practiced ground halberd use quite skillfully. Though not reaching perfection, he felt it sufficient for dealing with this frail young Superior Minister before him. Of course, he still held back—wouldn’t truly slash the other.

But though he thought excellently, this slash didn’t even touch the other’s garment corner. The youth was like a phantom, soundlessly dodging away instantly. The wind raised by this crescent moon halberd slash extinguished four oil lamps. Other oil lamp flames also swayed violently accordingly. Half-Step Hall’s lighting flickered bright and dark, stretching both their shadows long and short, adding several degrees of tense atmosphere.

After two consecutive misses, Wang Li had no frustration. Instead, his eyes brightened, arousing competitive spirit as his right hand grasped the halberd and continued pressing forward.

After entering the palace, he always practiced martial arts alone, finding no one to spar with—long ago bored until his whole body itched. Now finally having someone accompany him for several moves, Wang Li even prayed this young Superior Minister could hold out a while longer so he could satisfy his craving. But after several moves, he also understood why the other chose the golden gan defensive implement. He didn’t know where this youth learned a set of lightness skills—always a tiny bit faster than his attacks, exactly positioning the golden gan at his inevitable attack points.

The “clang clang” sounds of metal clashing were endless. From Wang Li’s initial cautious probing to finally bold and refreshing attacks, he’d long forgotten original constraints. Before long, single-handed halberd became double-handed halberd. A complete halberd technique set demonstrated to the extreme from beginning to end—charging chop, straight thrust, level hook, return peck, horizontal slash, downward hack, upward strike, intercepting slash…

The two didn’t roam within Half-Step Hall but only attacked and defended in this small circle of lit oil lamps. From start to finish, Wang Li controlled active attacks while the green-robed youth held the golden gan defending. Wang Li attacked with momentary excitement, also unable to restrain himself. Oil lamps extinguished one by one in the whistling sounds raised by the crescent moon halberd. Half-Step Hall’s lighting grew increasingly dim. When he came back to himself, he discovered only one outermost oil lamp still stubbornly flickering its flame.

Sweat drenched his entire body. Wang Li’s upward strike move exhausted itself. Just wanting to change to return peck, he felt his palm slip. Inwardly crying “trouble,” because sweating made his palm slippery—he could no longer grip the crescent moon halberd. It flew straight from his hand smashing toward the young Superior Minister.

Because this happened suddenly, the crescent moon halberd came fiercely. Even the golden gan might not block it. The young Superior Minister immediately dodged sideways. The halberd blade carved a wound across his cheek, finally smashing hard into the wall.

Wang Li was still staring dumbfounded when he felt his feet swept horizontally. Unable to stand, he knelt on one knee. The heavy golden gan pressed against his neck side, nearly preventing him from straightening his entire body.

What exactly was this youth’s background? Actually holding this heavy golden gan accompanying him fighting so long?

Wang Li struggled to raise his head, just in time to see the youth’s lips curve into a faint smile. That wound on his face side slowly dripped blood, sliding right to his lip corner, dyeing red those two lips originally extremely pale in color.

“Hiss—” The last oil lamp, due to wind raised by the crescent moon halberd, finally couldn’t hold on and extinguished.

Half-Step Hall plunged into darkness. But Wang Li’s vision froze on that smile that amazed him to trembling, momentarily stunned.

“I won.” In darkness, the youth’s voice was hoarse, carrying indescribable exhaustion. Obviously, the recent contest exhausted his full strength too.

“Once a word is spoken, four horses cannot catch it.” Wang Li spoke slowly, word by word. His breathing was also unsteady, but he answered willingly. “I owe you three things.”

“Very good.” The youth satisfactorily withdrew the golden gan from Wang Li’s body.

Without suppression, Wang Li stood up, planning to retrieve his crescent moon halberd. After calming down, countless questions filled his belly. This young Superior Minister’s movements were so agile—how could he not dodge that night’s ambush? Conspiracy-theorizing Wang Li again began various suspicions. Was he calculated against?

“Clang! Bang!”

Sounds of tripping echoed in Half-Step Hall. Wang Li tilted his head for a glance, suddenly feeling he’d found the young Superior Minister’s weakness.

Unable to see in darkness or something…

“Need me to help you up?” Wang Li retrieved his crescent moon halberd from the wall corner in quite good mood. “This counts as doing one thing for you!”

“No need.” The youth snorted coldly, casually placing the golden gan by the wall, groping around and stumbling away.

Wang Li pulled out the mysterious jade and silk from his bosom, rubbing it twice in his hands, his handsome face crawling with smiles.

Father, this counts as… making a friend, right?