A Fine Blade for a Hero

As he spoke, he led everyone toward the main hall of the second courtyard, taking the opportunity to change the subject.

Back in the hall, Shen Jingchuan walked over to a side table and picked up the weapons he had prepared, laying them out one by one on the table—three long, thick-backed sabers and one delicate short sword.

"These are gifts I specially prepared for you."

He first picked up the short sword and offered it to Lin Qingyao, who was examining it curiously:

"Miss Lin, I found this short sword especially for you. It was made for a woman. See if it suits your hand."

Lin Qingyao hurriedly accepted it, her fingertips brushing the cool scabbard, her eyes full of delighted surprise. "Thank you, Young Master Shen."

Shen Jingchuan then turned to Lin Weiyuan and his sons, pointing at the three long sabers with a smile. "These three sabers are for the three of you. I don't know what style each of you prefers, so take your pick. Whichever one feels right in your hand is yours."

Lin Shan and Lin Yue exchanged a glance, but neither made a move. Both looked at Lin Weiyuan.

Lin Weiyuan did not refuse. He stepped forward, reached out, and picked up the saber in the middle, nodding slightly:

"This one will do."

Lin Weiyuan gripped the hilt and pushed the scabbard catch open with his thumb. With a sharp metallic ring, the long saber slid free.

As soon as the blade was fully revealed, a layer of cold light seemed to form out of thin air in the hall. He had spent half his life escorting caravans and handled eighty fine blades, if not a hundred, yet he had never seen a weapon of such quality.

The blade was as smooth and lustrous as an icebound pool, without the slightest trace of a forging hammer. Its edge was a line as fine as a hair, so even it looked as though a craftsman had measured it out to the finest fraction before drawing it. Cold light spread along the spine, and its sharpness seemed to rush at him.

He brushed his fingertip ever so lightly across the edge, and a faint drag caught at the pad of his finger. Only a blade honed to the utmost sharpness could feel like that. He hefted it again. It was weighty without dragging, its balance resting just at his wrist. He could raise it and slash without deliberately adding force, though it was a little light.

Uncontainable astonishment stirred in Lin Weiyuan's eyes. Only after a long moment did he speak in a deep voice:

"A fine saber! The craftsmanship is even more exquisite than the imperial military sabers I've seen."

Seeing their father make his choice, Lin Shan and Lin Yue each picked up a saber and drew it from its scabbard. After two clear metallic rings, the long blades stood side by side, their cold light illuminating the brothers' faces.

The straightforward Lin Yue immediately let out a low cry, turning the saber over and over in his hands. "Good heavens... the blade's so bright you can see your face in it! Our escort agency's treasured saber, compared to this...!"

Lin Shan was steadier, but he too could not resist repeatedly stroking the spine of the blade with his fingertips. He sighed:

"This saber was forged to perfection. There isn't even the slightest burr left from polishing. I truly don't know what kind of master smith could forge a blade like this."

Lin Qingyao stood to one side. She had still felt a faint envy and disappointment over the Whirlwind Horse, but when she saw how the father and sons reacted, she could no longer resist gripping the hilt of her short sword.

The short sword rang even more clearly as it left its scabbard. Its blade was slender and graceful, yet it did not look weak in the least. It was made of the same smooth, coldly gleaming steel, with a sharp, lustrous edge. The hilt was tightly wrapped and fit her hand, and its lighter weight suited the strength of her wrist.

She turned her wrist and traced a neat sword flourish. The blade flashed through the air in a cold arc, moving smoothly without the slightest resistance.

Most of the wistfulness she had felt over the horse vanished in an instant.

For someone who practiced martial arts, a fine weapon that suited the hand was a treasure to hold close to the heart.

The short sword was delicate and light, perfectly suited to her style of movement. The moment she held it in her hand, genuine delight welled up inside her.

Her fingertips brushed the cool blade, and when she looked up at Shen Jingchuan, she could not hide the sincerity in her voice:

"Young Master Shen, this gift is too precious. I really love it so much that I... truly can't bear to refuse it."

Lin Weiyuan ran his hand over the scabbard a couple of times before he was the first to come back to himself. He looked up at Shen Jingchuan, his tone somewhat solemn:

"Young Master Shen, I was so busy admiring the saber. Each of these weapons is an exceptional piece, worth a great deal. Your gift is far too generous. How could my sons and I presume to accept it?"

Lin Shan and his brother hurriedly put down their sabers and nodded in agreement. The straightforward Lin Yue scratched his head and said:

"That's right, Young Master Shen. These sabers really are excellent, but they're too precious. We can't accept them."

Though all three loved the sabers from the bottom of their hearts, and their reluctance showed in their eyes, they still refused to accept such a great favor for nothing.

Shen Jingchuan waved a hand, smiling casually:

"You're too polite, Uncle Lin. As the saying goes, a fine blade belongs with a hero. They wouldn't be of much use to me, but you travel the jianghu escorting caravans, so they're just what you need. I happened to get them only recently, so I suppose they were fated to come to you."

Seeing that the three still meant to refuse, he changed tack and said with a smile:

"Besides, I have a favor to ask. I've never had any exposure to martial arts since I was little, and I've always felt I should learn some skills to defend myself. I've always admired your martial skills. Uncle Lin, could you teach me? Just consider these my gifts for taking you as my master, offered in advance."

At those words, the brothers both looked at Lin Weiyuan. Lin Weiyuan pondered briefly, then nodded at once:

"What's so difficult about that? If you want to learn, I'll teach you. There's just one thing I have to say first: by the rules, the Lin Household's secret family arts cannot be taught to outsiders. I'm truly sorry.

"But I can teach you the Lin Household's basic introductory sword and spear techniques, as well as the fundamentals of holding a horse stance and training your strength. They'll be enough for a beginner like you to defend yourself. Just come find me at the escort agency every morning. I generally don't go out much."

Shen Jingchuan cupped his hands with a smile. "Thank you, Uncle Lin. Now you can accept them, can't you?"

The three exchanged glances, each seeing delight in the others' eyes. They stopped refusing, thanked Shen Jingchuan together, and carefully put their sabers away.

By the time they finished talking, dusk was already falling. Seeing that it was getting late, Shen Jingchuan instructed the servants outside to bring in the meal.

Before long, Xiaoyue came in carrying a gleaming copper pot. The charcoal beneath it burned fiercely, and the rich, red broth inside soon began bubbling. Its numbing spice mingled with the aroma of meat, making it enticing even before a taste.

"Is that a hot pot?" Lin Weiyuan smiled at the sight. "When we're escorting caravans in cold weather, we often eat this to warm ourselves too."

Shen Jingchuan gestured for them to take up their chopsticks. "Try it and see if it suits your tastes."

They swished slices of meat in the pot, dipped them in the prepared sauce, and put them in their mouths. All their eyes lit up.

The broth was savory, spicy, and rich, while the dipping sauce was salty and fragrant with a numbing kick. It had far more flavor than the hot pot they usually ate, and a single mouthful warmed them through.

Lin Yue ate without lifting his head, repeatedly saying how delicious it was.

After only a couple of bites, Shen Jingchuan took a few bottles of liquor from the side table and set them on the dining table.

The others' gazes fell on them, and they all froze.

The bottles were translucent from top to bottom, smooth and lustrous, as though each had been polished from a single piece of crystal. Even the clear liquor inside could be seen perfectly.

Lin Weiyuan picked up a bottle and hefted it, his fingertips pressed against its cool surface. He exclaimed:

"The bottle alone is a rare treasure! I've seen a glass bottle this clear only once, at a major merchant house in the Capital, and even that one wasn't this plain and even."

Shen Jingchuan unscrewed a cap and poured everyone a cup.

"This liquor is strong. Have a taste."

Lin Weiyuan raised his cup and sniffed it first. The fumes stung his nose, and his eyes lit up. He did not dare drain it, tipping back a little less than half the cup.

The liquor went down his throat, a fiery heat burning straight into his stomach. It was mellow and potent, yet left a clean aftertaste. He breathed out and slapped his thigh in praise:

"Good liquor! Strong enough! In all my years traveling north and south, I've never tasted anything with such a kick!"

Lin Yue also took a gulp. He choked and coughed twice, but grinned:

"Good heavens, that burns! But it hits the spot!"

Lin Qingyao raised her cup as well and took a small sip. Her brows drew together slightly, then smoothed out again.

Soon the hall was filled with steam, the aroma from the pot mingling with the scent of liquor. They ate and chatted, and the atmosphere grew much livelier.