Old Sun’s face was swollen high on one side, and a streak of blood he hadn't wiped clean still hung from the corner of his mouth.
Even so, the withered hand pressing down on Chen Zui’s wrist was surprisingly steady.
“Old Sun?”
Chen Zui’s brow furrowed slightly.
Old Sun shook his head and grinned, revealing a bloody gap where a tooth was missing.
“Forget it, let him go.”
“Why?” Chen Zui thought he had misheard.
“If you break one of his arms, he’ll be ruined for life. I see this youngster isn't very old. In his early twenties, right? About the same age as my eldest grandson. Young people are just full of vigor and don't know any better; giving him a lesson is enough. You have to give people a chance to turn over a new leaf. Why push someone to a dead end?”
Li Qing stared blankly at the old man he had slapped with a scabbard and whose fingers he had stepped on. His mind felt like it had been stuffed with paste, unable to process what was happening.
Old Sun let go of Chen Zui’s hand and sighed.
“In my life, I’ve never practiced martial arts for a day, nor have I ever held a sword. When I was young, I used an abacus in an accounting office; now that I'm old, I drink tea and listen to stories. I haven't left this Meiwu Town my whole life. But I’ve heard plenty of martial world stories.”
He looked at Chen Zui, then glanced at Li Qing, and spoke slowly.
“The great heroes those books talk about—which one of them didn't start as a reckless youth? Which one never made a mistake? Making a mistake isn't the problem; it's fine as long as you fix it. If you break his arm today, he’ll never have the chance to change, to become a true swordsman.”
Old Sun paused, his voice carrying a hint of self-deprecation but also a touch of solemnity.
“An old man like me will never have the chance to walk the martial world in this lifetime. But this kid is still young; his path in the martial world is still long.”
Chen Zui looked at Old Sun’s horribly swollen face and suddenly laughed out loud.
“Fine, fine. Since you’ve spoken up, Old Sun, what else can I say? I have to give you this face.”
Chen Zui withdrew his long spear and planted it on the ground with a thud.
He looked down at Li Qing. His gaze was still calm, but that suffocating pressure from before was gone.
“Kid, consider yourself lucky that Old Sun is pleading for you.”
Li Qing looked at Chen Zui, then at the old man whose face he had beaten swollen, who was now smiling kindly at him.
His throat felt like it was blocked by something, and he couldn't make a sound for a long time.
Zhao Hanqiu quickly cupped his fists from the side and bowed solemnly to Old Sun.
“Elder, I am Zhao Hanqiu of the Taixu Sword Sect. I apologize on behalf of my junior brother. The Taixu Sword Sect will remember today’s matter.”
Old Sun waved his hands hurriedly, looking a bit embarrassed.
“Oh, no need, no need. I’m just a senile old man, I’m not that precious...”
Zhao Hanqiu straightened up and turned to give Chen Zui a deep look.
“Young Hero Chen, we were presumptuous today. Until we meet again!”
“Alright, alright, enough talk.”
Chen Zui waved his hand, signaling them to scram.
Then he turned around, shouldered his long spear, and put an arm around Old Sun’s shoulder.
“Old Sun, with your face swollen like this, can you still drink?”
“Heh, who are you looking down on, kid? I might not be good at anything else, but this mouth of mine still works. I’ve never backed down from drinking!”
“Give it a rest. Last time you had two bowls and were snoring on the table.”
“That’s because I wasn't at my best! Today, I’ll make sure you see what a vast capacity for liquor looks like!”
The young man and the old man walked away together, arms over shoulders.
Zhao Hanqiu watched the two figures disappear around the street corner. After a long silence, he walked over to pick up the long sword that had been shaken loose by Chen Zui’s spear and returned it to its sheath.
He then picked up Meng Ping’s and Li Qing’s swords one by one.
“Senior Brother Zhao,” Li Qing said softly as he took his sword.
“Hmm?”
“That old... I mean, that elder. He said he’s never walked the martial world in his life.”
Li Qing lowered his head and stared blankly at the long sword in his hand, remaining silent for a long time.
Zhao Hanqiu didn't say anything, only reaching out to pat his shoulder gently.
At that moment, the wind blew from the ferry crossing.
It carried the warm, humid air unique to Jiangnan in March.
...
Dingxiang Tower.
Chen Zui and Old Sun arrived at their usual spot by the window on the second floor.
Two jars of wine, a plate of peanuts, and a plate of braised beef.
Chen Zui filled Old Sun’s cup to the brim, then picked up a bowl himself and clinked it against the other.
“Old Sun, a toast to you.”
“A toast to me for what?”
“To the fact that your martial world stories weren't heard in vain all these years.”
Chen Zui tilted his head back and downed a large gulp, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.
He looked out the window at the damp streets of Jiangnan in March, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
Old Sun laughed heartily upon hearing this and also drained a bowl.
However, as he set down the wine bowl, his movements paused slightly, and he also turned his head to look out the window.
“You’re leaving?”
The hand Chen Zui used to hold the wine bowl stopped in mid-air.
“Yeah.”
He didn't ask how Old Sun had figured it out. This old man, who had spent most of his life listening to martial world stories in tea houses, had eyes sharper than anyone’s.
Old Sun nodded. He didn't try to make him stay, nor did he say any other polite formalities.
He just poured himself another bowl of wine and raised it toward Chen Zui.
“When?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“Not going to say goodbye to Yun'niang and Xiao Shitou?”
Chen Zui was silent for a moment before shaking his head.
“No. Better to save them from shedding tears.”
Old Sun sighed, downed the wine in his bowl, and smacked his lips.
“True. You might be thick-skinned, kid, but you can’t stand seeing women and children cry.”
“You say that like you’ve seen it before.”
“I’ve lived for over sixty years; what kind of person haven't I seen?”
Chen Zui smiled. “You’ve lived for over sixty years, yet your tolerance for alcohol is even lower than mine.”
“Good lad! Today, the two of us will settle who the winner is.”
The two of them drank bowl after bowl, from morning until evening.
By now, the twilight outside had gradually deepened, and the mist on the river grew thicker.
A few cries of returning birds came from the distance, sounding exceptionally long in the damp air.
The waiter at Dingxiang Tower came up twice to add lamp oil. The dim yellow light swayed gently in the night wind, stretching their shadows long and short.
Old Sun was already drunk beyond consciousness.
He lay slumped on the table, mumbling incoherently.
“You kid... if you become a world-famous hero in the future... don't forget... don't forget you still have an old brother here in Meiwu Town...”
Chen Zui looked at Old Sun’s gray hair and said softly, “I won't forget.”
Old Sun didn't respond; he was already snoring.
Chen Zui stood up, draped his own outer robe over the old man, and gave the waiter a few instructions. After settling the bill, he walked down the stairs alone.
The night wind rushed at him, carrying the characteristic moisture of the Jiangnan water towns.
A few dog barks came from the distance, only to be quickly swallowed by the sound of flowing water.
He stood at the entrance of Dingxiang Tower.
Looking at this long street he could walk with his eyes closed without taking a wrong turn, looking at the shops whose lights had long since been extinguished, and looking at the few points of fishing fires reflected in the river, he felt a twinge of sadness in his heart.
Two months.
It wasn't long, yet it wasn't short either.
Long enough for wounds to heal, for meridians to widen, and for a passerby to become a neighbor.
Short enough that there hadn't been time to say a proper goodbye to everyone.
He returned to his lodgings, simply packed his bags, leaned the red-tasseled spear against the bedside, and lay down fully clothed.
Insects chirped outside the window; he had a dreamless night.
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