Four Out of Three

Lin Junbi had not expected Pang Yuanji to be such a blabbermouth. The other sword cultivators of the Yin Guan lineage all knew he was leaving.

At dawn that day, Lin Junbi simply packed his bundle, took one last walk around the Summer Palace, then returned to the main hall and looked over the tables one by one.

For Dao Cultivators who knew nothing of the cold and heat below the mountain, a few short years were no more than the flick of a finger. Yet Lin Junbi felt as though he had had an immensely long dream here, and found himself somewhat reluctant to wake from it.

Lin Junbi shook his head and gathered his thoughts. Leaving without saying goodbye seemed fine too.

Unexpectedly, sword cultivators arrived one after another on their flying swords. Other than the young Yin Guan, everyone was present. Even Guo Zhujiu had brought a gong and drum.

Lin Junbi straightened his lapels and bowed to thank them all.

It was custom for the Sword Qi Great Wall to drink when seeing off a friend. The group went to Second Shopkeeper's tavern for drinks. It was early morning, so there were still seats. Everyone drank lightly; farewell wine was rarely for wild drinking, merely enough to mark the occasion. Lin Junbi asked Diezhang, the chief shopkeeper, for a Peace Talisman. The White Clad Young Man, already a Golden Core sword cultivator, wrote: "Lin Junbi drank this wine; breaking through three realms in three years, that is all." He personally hung it upon the wall.

Wooden plaques stood alongside wooden plaques, as though they too had joined the ranks of sword cultivators.

Gu Jianlong spoke a fair word. "Junbi's words truly carry the style of the Yin Guan. Those two words, 'that is all,' are wonderfully