It was a bright March day, the sunlight warm and the spring breeze gently caressing the face with a hint of lingering chill.
The sky was as blue as a gemstone, and white clouds drifted lazily, unfolding like a magnificent painting before everyone's eyes.
Wudu, in the Holy Dynasty.
Like a radiant pearl, this city stood as the very center of the martial world. This year's Martial Arts Tournament was about to be grandly held here, drawing heroes and gallants from all corners of the land.
The streets of Wudu were exceptionally bustling, a ceaseless flow of carriages and horse-drawn carts weaving through a sea of pedestrians. Hawkers cried out their wares in wave after wave of vibrant, enthusiastic calls. The stalls on both sides of the street were laden with all manner of goods, a dazzling array that left one's head spinning.
Aside from the steady stream of local residents, an endless influx of martial artists had been pouring into the city over the past couple of days. Clad in diverse attire and bearing various weapons, they wore expressions of excitement and anticipation.
Right in the heart of this bustling street stood a tavern, which was already packed to capacity.
The upcoming Martial Arts Tournament had brought the innkeeper a fortune in business, and he couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear.
Some people were willing to pay any price to make a name for themselves in a single battle, while others had come for profit, hoping to strike it rich amidst this grand event.
"I hear that the master of Heavenly Sword Villa has announced once again that he won't be attending this year's Martial Arts Tournament."
Inside the tavern, strangers from the jianghu shared drinks and meat with grand abandon, talking loudly and freely.
"What's there to attend? Heavenly Sword Villa put out the word long ago—the Martial Arts Tournament is only ever fighting for second place in the world," a martial artist said loudly, responding to the previous speaker as he drank.
"Hiss..."
"Utterly arrogant!"
Gasps of astonishment echoed through the tavern.
"Well, to be fair, they aren't entirely wrong, you know," a swordsman slammed his treasured blade down onto the table, drawing everyone's attention to himself.
"Brother, how do you figure that?" another man sitting at the same table asked, pouring the swordsman a bowl of wine as he spoke.
Relishing the moment in the spotlight, the swordsman took his time before speaking, "The Martial Arts Tournament is held every two years. Do you know what happened when Liu Bo, the champion of the last tournament, went to challenge Master Baili?"
Keeping everyone on tenterhooks, the swordsman drained his bowl of wine in one gulp.
"Damn you! Stop stalling and spit it out!"
"Bloody hell, don't make me get down on my knees and beg!"
The patrons of the tavern grew agitated.
The swordsman hurriedly stood up to help steady the burly man who looked like he really might drop to his knees on the spot, then slowly raised two fingers. "Master Baili threw just two strikes. With the first, he shattered the fellow's Defeating Wind Palm; with the second, he sliced off his right hand."
"Hiss..."
"Terrifying!"
The people in the tavern let out gasps of amazement, but another voice chimed in: "Wait a minute, if I recall correctly, didn't that Liu Bo's palm technique go by the name of Chasing Wind Palm?"
The swordsman's lips curled into a smile. Taking his time, he refilled his own bowl with wine.
The burly man on the edge of his seat grew frantic, making a move to drop to his knees before the swordsman once more. Startled, the swordsman's hand shook, splashing wine all over himself. "Master Baili's given name happens to be Baili Chengfeng. Before Liu Bo went to challenge him, he specifically changed the name of his palm technique because he thought 'Defeating Wind Palm' sounded much more auspicious."
"Hiss..."
"What a disgrace to his master's sect!"
In the corner of the tavern, an old man with a white beard silently shed tears.
......
"Hey, you in front! Stop right there!"
Along the post road, a young maiden in exotic attire with braided pigtails and a full set of silver ornaments shouted loudly at the man in hemp robes walking ahead of her, a long saber tucked into his belt.
The hemp-robed man slowly turned around, revealing that he stood with his arms crossed over his chest. Aside from the saber at his waist, he held another one in his right hand. At a glance, he was tall and lean, with long limbs, and his gaze was deep, unfathomable, and sharp.
The man stopped in his tracks, watching the peculiar young woman in that exact posture.
Seeing him stop, the girl trotted all the way up to him. The silver ornaments on her clothing gleamed in the sunlight, chiming with crisp, clear sounds. Standing before him, though much shorter than he was, she still put on a menacing, aggressive front, jabbing a finger at him. "Are you deaf? Why didn't you answer me when I've been shouting at you for ages?"
The man found her appearance rather amusing. He looked the young woman over carefully; beneath her exotic attire, she resembled a snow lotus just beginning to bloom—budding, graceful, and green, possessing a genuine liveliness and charm. "Are you from Miaojiang?"
"What about it? You guessed right, do you want a prize?" Xia Yun said, putting her hands on her hips with a huff. "Hey, I'm asking you, how much longer until we reach Wudu?"
Seeing the girl deliberately put on such a fierce act, the man found it increasingly interesting and could barely hold back his smile. "Well, the next city is it. I'm heading to Wudu myself, so if you're not scared, you can walk along with me."
With that, the man deliberately shook the long saber in his hand, then turned and continued walking forward along the post road. Glancing back out of the corner of his eye, he saw the girl follow without the slightest hesitation.
"Hey, are you going to the Martial Arts Tournament too? You don't look much like an expert, judging by your looks."
Hearing the girl's suspicious tone, the man didn't stop walking, merely turning his head slightly to glance at her. He realized this girl was remarkably carefree and entirely lacking in vigilance, walking right alongside his sword-bearing side. "What? Are you here to participate as well?"
Xia Yun proudly lifted her chin. "I'm not here for all that fighting and killing—what's the fun in that? I'm here to take a master!"
The man grew even more curious. "Oh? Who are you hoping to take as a master? Enough to make you run all the way here from Miaojiang."
"Baili Chengfeng!"
Seeing how proud the girl looked, the man couldn't help asking, "What? Has he agreed?"
"Not yet, but nobody is going to turn down me, Yunyun!" Xia Yun hummed confidently twice.
"Xia Yun?" the man ventured to ask.
"How do you know?" Xia Yun blinked her big eyes in bewilderment.
Glancing down at the Xia clan sash tied around Xia Yun's waist, the man smiled and replied, "Of course I guessed. I'd heard long ago that a young swordswoman named Xia Yun had emerged from Miaojiang. So it turns out to be you! True to your reputation, you are indeed a peerless beauty not to be underestimated."
Upon hearing this, Xia Yun immediately assumed the pose of a cold, aloof martial arts heroine and let out a soft huff. "Naturally."
"Hahahaha, wipe that smile off the corner of your mouth first." The man finally failed to hold back his laughter. "Why on earth do you want to take Baili Chengfeng as your master? Heavenly Sword Villa uses swords, and your people in Miaojiang deal in poisons—the two styles don't mix at all."Back then, Chen Xiaofei came right to our doorstep and beat up all of my clansmen. Such humiliation is simply detestable!" Xia Yun clenched her fists and said viciously, "I heard he even hacked his way all the way to Heavenly Sword Villa, but thankfully he was finally put in his place by my master, Baili Chengfeng! It was so satisfying. I haven't heard a peep out of him in years, so he was probably..." Xia Yun made a throat-slitting gesture.
Xia Yun burst out laughing. "Hahaha, serving him right for being so arrogant when he came knocking! Look at him getting his retribution now! That's why I've decided to give Baili Chengfeng the privilege of taking me as his disciple."
The man laughed right along with Xia Yun.
"By the way, I haven't asked your name yet," Xia Yun said, wiping a tear of laughter from the corner of her eye.
"Chen Xiaofei."