There were masters among them!
In that instant, Aiko, whose expression had turned strange at Fu Qian's explanation of the code phrase, whipped around toward the voice. Shock flashed across her face a second later.
Partly, of course, it was because someone had actually answered. But even more startling was the fact that she hadn't sensed this person's response at all.
He was an old gentleman even shorter than Jining, stepping out from behind the door in almost the same pose.
He even had the same youthful face and brown hair, though his look was considerably more flamboyant.
His gorgeous, bright-red robe made him look all the more spirited.
But what really gave him a spirited air was the black iron crescent blade in his hand.
Its handle was very short, and its blade curved in an exaggerated arc. It even had a palm-length spike forged onto it.
With its golden embellishments, the whole thing looked heavy and fearsome, like a lamp bracket torn off a wall.
Old Master Li really was carefree and unrestrained, making a weapon out of whatever happened to be at hand.
Having confirmed that it really was a lamp bracket torn off the wall, Fu Qian couldn't help admiring this realm in which anything and everything could become a sword—even as a swordsman himself.
He'd seen that look countless times along the way, but in the old gentleman's hand, it was easy to forget what the thing had originally been and instead feel the destructive power it held.
It was obvious: first, this was a sword master; second, because of the banquet, he probably hadn't brought a weapon suited to his hand.
"Li He."
By the time Fu Qian finished admiring the weapon, the newcomer had walked up and greeted them with a smile.
However,