Huang Yaoshi!

The Azure-robed Man leaped onto the courtyard wall and swept his sharp gaze around, first taking in the layout of the yard.

Seeing that it had a main house and side rooms, the Azure-robed Man focused his eyesight and peered through the open doors and windows of the main house and eastern wing. Both rooms showed signs of habitation, and he relaxed slightly, knowing that Rong'er had at least not shared a room with that "Lu Chen."

Only then did he look beneath the large tree in the courtyard, where Rong'er was sitting across from a black-clad youth of eighteen or nineteen at a stone table, eating and drinking merrily.

Another glance at the dishes on the table showed that, though the meal was nearly finished, he could still vaguely tell that every dish was one of Rong'er's specialties.

The thought of his precious Rong'er cooking for a second man besides himself made a flash of icy killing intent pass through the Azure-robed Man's already sharp eyes.

But before he could decide how to act without angering Rong'er, he heard Huang Rong say with a grin:

"Quick, sing me some grand and heroic song. Maybe while I'm listening, I'll come up with an even better nickname."

The youth named Lu Chen answered with a "Sure," grabbed the Wooden Sword, and went to the open space in the courtyard. As he danced with the sword, he sang in a bold, stirring voice:

"Light fur cloak, long sword, fierce steed, wild song, loyal heart and righteous courage shake the mountains and rivers..."

The song truly was bold and heroic, and its melody was completely unlike the soft, decadent tunes currently popular in Jiangnan. It was refreshing and invigorating, but...

What tune pattern had these lyrics been written to?

Why had he never heard it before?

As the Azure-robed Man wondered, Lu Chen continued singing while wielding his sword:

"What a Jianghu traveler, coming and going with wind and clouds, daring to stand shoulder to shoulder with emperors..."

At that line, the Azure-robed Man's eyes lit up. Though the lyrics did not fit any tune pattern, the spirit within them struck straight at his heart. He immediately restrained himself and continued listening.

At the same time, he noticed that the youth's sword dance seemed rather extraordinary. The moves were clearly nothing more than the most ordinary Maiden of Yue Swordplay, yet its bearing was surprisingly imposing.

Lu Chen continued singing, while Huang Rong watched him with smiling eyes. She picked up the Wooden Sword and tapped it against the table to keep time for him:

"Tender heart, iron bones, a promise worth a thousand gold; before and after life, waves rise in mist... What wealth and rank are drifting clouds to me? Where sword light flashes, it weeps and sings..."

A Jianghu traveler, coming and going with wind and clouds, daring to stand shoulder to shoulder with emperors.

What are wealth and rank, like drifting clouds, to me? Where sword light flashes, it weeps and sings.

The Azure-robed Man savored those two lines. Though cruder than the poetry of the age, the more he considered the spirit within them, the more grand and stirring they seemed. They perfectly captured the carefree boldness of people like himself, who regarded fame and fortune as filth and imperial power and wealth as nothing.

Lu Chen's sword dance grew increasingly fierce, faintly taking on the air of clashing weapons, charging steeds, and battlefields stretched in every direction.

The Azure-robed Man knew that the Maiden of Yue Swordplay, widely spread throughout the Wu-Yue Land, had originally been passed down among the armored soldiers of the Spring and Autumn Yue Kingdom. It ought to have possessed the spirit of iron and blood on the battlefield.

Yet over the long years, too much of the swordplay had been lost. Later generations had continuously filled in and expanded upon it, and it had gradually evolved into an ordinary Jianghu sword art, with nothing left to do with warfare.

Yet this Lu Chen's sword dance faintly carried traces of that ancient battlefield style...

Had he comprehended it himself?

As he pondered, Lu Chen's song became even more impassioned along with the rising force of his sword dance:

"One heartful of blood, flowing without end—the true colors of a hero; two feet, treading across deserts and rivers; three sighs, sigh, sigh, only for homeland and native land; people of all corners pass down this song of noble spirit..."

Listening to that impassioned song, watching the fierce sword dance that seemed to contend upon a battlefield, then seeing Huang Rong's bright eyes gleaming and the smile at her lips as she stared unblinkingly at the youth—

The Azure-robed Man's gaze remained sharp, but much of his killing intent had faded.

Songs gave voice to one's aspirations.

This youth with the ill-omened name had quite the bearing and an uncommon breadth of heart.

But...

Anyone could speak fine words. Cao Cao had written, "For a thousand li, no cock crowed; white bones lay exposed in the wild. Of a hundred common folk, only one remained; the thought of it tore at one's heart." But had he hesitated when ordering cities massacred?

Was this youth merely making grand boasts to bewitch people, or did he truly possess noble bearing and uncommon mettle?

For now, he would watch.

If he proved to be nothing but a loudmouthed braggart...

The sword dance ended, and the song fell silent. Huang Rong clapped and cheered repeatedly. Lu Chen smiled at Huang Rong and was about to speak when the corner of his eye caught sight of the courtyard wall, and he froze.

Seeing that something was wrong with his expression, Huang Rong turned to follow his gaze. When she saw the Azure-robed Man standing silently atop the wall, she too froze, then immediately cried out in delight:

"Father!"

She sprang up and ran toward the Azure-robed Man.

The Azure-robed Man floated down from the wall and gently embraced Huang Rong as she threw herself into his arms.

Lu Chen stood in the courtyard, watching Huang Rong nestled in the Azure-robed Man's arms, chattering away with a bright smile. He could not help feeling a little nervous.

There was no doubt that the tall, lean figure in azure robes, whose face appeared wooden and stiff, was Huang Rong's father—the famed Lord of Peach Blossom Island, one of the Five Greats, the Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi!

Huang Yaoshi was wicked to the core and especially skilled at breaking people's legs. Seeing Rong'er and me together, would he lose his temper and beat me up?

It wasn't as though he feared a beating. After all, he had already learned swordsmanship, unlocked "Sword One," and could return at any time. But what he had promised Rong'er...

And why had Huang Yaoshi found them so soon?

At that moment, Huang Rong asked the same question:

"Father, how did you find me? And what happened to your face...?"

"Father was wearing a mask."

Huang Yaoshi looked at his daughter with smiling, indulgent eyes. He peeled off the thin mask on his face, light as cicada wings, revealing a lean and handsome face. His expression looked quite loving, but Lu Chen knew that such affection was meant for Huang Rong alone.

"As for how I found you... You little girl, after sneaking away a month ago, traveled from Peach Blossom Island to Shaoxing Prefecture without changing ships even once. After arriving in Shaoxing Prefecture City, you frequently visited the markets to buy supplies, fought with people in the streets, and today even led someone to defeat every martial arts school in the city... You left so many traces behind. If Father still could not find you, would that not make the title of one of the Five Greats a joke?"

Upon hearing Huang Yaoshi say that, Lu Chen understood at once.

Ever since Huang Rong had met him at sea, she had not disguised herself as a little beggar or smeared her face black to roam about. She had kept her original appearance the whole time, her journey had been fairly simple, and she had remained in Shaoxing Prefecture City for nearly a month. With Huang Yaoshi's abilities, it was only natural that he had found her.

Huang Rong had quarreled bitterly with her father and run away in a fit of anger. A month had passed, and her anger had long since faded. Now that she saw her father again, she was naturally overjoyed. After snuggling in his arms and acting spoiled for a while, she beckoned Lu Chen over.

"Lu Chen, come meet my father! My father is amazing. His martial arts are the best in the world!"

Well, although Huang Yaoshi had never claimed that his martial arts were the best in the world, in Huang Rong's heart, her father was definitely the strongest.

"Your father is not yet the best in the world. There are still three others of equal fame..."

As Huang Yaoshi reminded his daughter, Lu Chen had already taken a deep breath, suppressed his slight nervousness, and walked over with steady steps. He clasped his hands and bowed to Huang Yaoshi.

"This junior, Lu Chen, pays respects to Senior Huang."

Huang Yaoshi's smile vanished, and the kindness on his face disappeared in an instant. He gave Lu Chen a cool, detached glance and said blandly:

"You are the 'Heavenly Outer Sword God,' Lu Chen?"

"..."

Lu Chen's mouth twitched slightly. Just as he was about to explain, Huang Rong spoke first:

"That's the nickname I gave him! Lu Chen is so modest that he thinks he isn't worthy of it and firmly refuses to accept it. But Rong'er thinks that sooner or later, he'll be worthy of that nickname!"

Was she really so eager to speak up for him?

Huang Yaoshi's eye twitched. He dearly wanted to glare at his daughter, but he had only recently provoked her into running away in anger and did not dare anger Rong'er again. He could only shoot Lu Chen a covert glare and say blandly:

"What ability does he have to dare use such a nickname?"

Huang Rong giggled.

"Lu Chen is a born swordsman. He has practiced the sword for less than a month, yet he has already used the Maiden of Yue Swordplay he learned from martial arts schools to cultivate Internal Energy from the outside in. He even trained this utterly ordinary sword art until it gained a spirit of its own!"

After a brief pause, she smiled, lifted her chin slightly, her bright eyes sparkling as she said with immense pride:

"Most importantly, he is an uncut jade I discovered myself. I taught him his basic sword forms hand by hand. I learned the Maiden of Yue Sword first, then passed it on to him. I'm the one who introduced him to swordsmanship!"