News of the city lord's tournament had finally gone public. Although it had long been no secret, the residents of Jade City still made quite a fuss over it, repeatedly debating its pros and cons. The sages caught up in the excitement churned out one prophecy after another, setting off a string of wagers.
Along with the news, the name Pang Jing, a man from the Central Plains, became widely known. Based on his conduct over the past few days, Jade City had given him a nickname that could be interpreted any way one pleased: the Wind Marshal. In a flattering sense, it described his energetic, whirlwind manner. Another interpretation was that the Central Plains had sent a madman to pacify the Western Regions.
Pang Jing certainly had no love for convention. He might receive important figures with arrogant indifference, or personally venture into the most remote alley to meet some nobody no one had ever heard of. He might even act on a sudden whim and set out for the Four Truths Blue Lotus in the middle of the night, keeping watch outside its gates until dawn. Before the astonished monks could come out to welcome him, he would already have returned to the city.
When Pang Jing heard about the nickname "Wind Marshal," he rather liked it and gave it a fresh interpretation himself. "I am the wind—the great wind, the gale. Wherever I pass, things must change."
Hearing this, experienced old merchants immediately grew more cautious. They began burying their wealth and moving their families elsewhere. On the whole, however, the pleasure-loving residents of Jade City welcomed this exuberant man from the Central Plains. Their only regret was that Pang Jing had no taste for women or fine wine, and took no part in gambling, leaving those