The sun had just risen. It was late autumn, and the maples beside the ancient road had already turned red. A west wind swept by, rustling the leaves. Several wild chrysanthemums on the ground swayed with the breeze, the dew on their petals like a lover's tears at parting. It trickled down gently, then fell slowly to the earth. The wind passing through the woods sounded almost like a sob.
Yun Zaitian sat in a wooden chair, a faint smile on the face that was usually so stern. As the master of Cloud Sun Manor, one of the two great powers in Cloud Sun City, he would normally still be lying in bed at this hour, waiting for someone to bring him breakfast. He was getting old; he ought to enjoy a little more comfort. It had become a habit over the years.
He was also a man of exquisite taste. Even the wooden chair he sat in had been specially made for him by the city's most skilled craftsman, at a cost of eighty-three taels of silver. Sitting in it, he fit as perfectly as a treasured sword in its scabbard.
He had come here so early today, and had set aside his usual stern manner, because someone else sat across from him. The young man looked no older than sixteen or seventeen, with delicate features and an air of youthful shyness. But Yun Zaitian would never dare underestimate him. Just yesterday, he had witnessed the skill of this young man, who seemed so innocent and shy.
The young man smiled. "Chihuo came here this time on Second Master's orders, with two tasks. One is to take this item from the Golden Sword Gang back with me. The other is to check the accounts and see how last year's business went. I may cause some offense in the process, so I hope Manor Master Yun will forgive me."
Yun Zaitian laughed heartily. "That's only right. You're too polite, Nephew Yan. Someone, bring the account books." Yet inwardly he muttered, These Thirteen Guardians are young experts Second Brother Ping has recently trained. Seeing them yesterday, I could tell they were truly formidable. But Yan Chihuo is first among the Thirteen Guardians, and he's been famous for nearly ten years. Could he really have started working for Second Brother when he was only six or seven?
Just then, an accountant brought over the ledgers. The young man named Yan Chihuo accepted them, but didn't open them. Instead, he turned to the burly man behind Yun Zaitian on the left, whose back bore a massive axe and whose muscles bulged across his body. "Where was the Third Manor Master on the thirteenth of the fourth month?"
This burly man was the Third Manor Master of Cloud Sun Manor, Du Ming, and one of the most prominent figures in Cloud Sun City. For years, no one had dared speak to him like that.
A surge of anger rose in his heart, but he did not dare give vent to it. "A new girl named Xiao Tao had just arrived at Yihong Brothel. I went to patronize the place that day." He paused, then added, "When Steward Tie was ambushed outside Cloud Sun City while escorting those hundred thousand taels of silver, Big Brother Yun investigated every person in Cloud Sun Manor thoroughly. I reported the matter to him that very day."
Yan Chihuo ignored the remark and said, "I've long heard that the Third Manor Master's Twenty-Eight-Style Gale Axe Technique blends swordsmanship into the axe work, combining weight and grace. It's truly a marvel of the martial world."
Du Ming was taken aback when he changed the subject. Why is this brat bringing up the past again? But he said aloud, "Young Master Yan flatters me."
Yan Chihuo continued, "I saw the Third Manor Master's skills with my own eyes yesterday. They were indeed extraordinary. The Twenty-Eight-Style Gale Axe Technique really does bear traces of swordsmanship. From that, it's clear that the Third Manor Master's swordsmanship is also quite impressive."
Du Ming did not understand what he meant, but his heart stirred slightly. "Young Master Yan, you praise me too highly. How could my few crude tricks possibly meet your standards? It was only after seeing you yesterday that I learned what true swordsmanship looks like."
Yan Chihuo waved his hands repeatedly. "Yesterday, it was Manor Master Yun, the Second Manor Master, and the Third Manor Master who displayed their might. I merely took advantage of a moment when they were unprepared. It was just luck, nothing worth mentioning, nothing worth mentioning."
Just then, a scholar in his fifties beside Du Ming said, "Gao Bing, the Golden Sword Gang's leader, is hailed as the swiftest swordsman in East Cloud. He has been famous for more than thirty years, and his Forty-Nine-Style Soul-Chasing Life-Taking Sword has never met its match. He also wears Black Silkworm Armor, which turns blades and spears aside, and four bodyguards who never leave his side—the Four Vajras, all first-rate experts of this age. Yet none of them could withstand a single sword from Young Master. You've certainly opened my eyes."
Yun Zaitian added, "Gao Bing has never gotten along with our Tiger Roar Manor. He wouldn't even grant Ping Fei—Second Brother Ping—the courtesy of his face, and he's always been terribly conceited. Over the past eighteen years, seventy-eight groups totaling two hundred and sixty-eight assassins have tried to kill him. Only thirteen reached him, and not one could withstand a single sword. Among them was Cao Fei, once the foremost swordsman of the seven southern provinces. With so many people failing, how did Nephew Yan happen to be so lucky?"
The Ping Fei he referred to as Second Brother Ping was his sworn brother, the master of Tiger Roar Manor and one of the top experts in the East Cloud Kingdom. Cloud Sun Manor was, in truth, an outer force of Tiger Roar Manor.
As he spoke, his thoughts drifted back to yesterday. The Golden Sword Gang's leader, Gao Fei, had somehow obtained a treasure, drawing Ping Fei's attention. He had sent Yan Chihuo, the First Guardian of the Thirteen Guardians, Zhou Fang, the Fourth Guardian, and Qu Wuxing, the Seventh Guardian, to seize it. Cloud Sun Manor had been ordered to follow their commands as well.
A fierce battle had erupted that day. Yan Chihuo had disguised himself as a member of the Golden Sword Gang, so Yun Zaitian had not seen his true face. Yan Chihuo had moved like a phantom, evading every attack with uncanny ease. No one had been able to withstand a single stroke of his sword, and the scene had been left in utter shock.
Thinking of it now, Yun Zaitian shuddered despite having witnessed more than his share of brutal fighting. Just then, he heard Yan Chihuo say, "Throughout the East Cloud Kingdom, everyone with ears has heard of you, Manor Master Yun—even pots and jars, I'm sure. Back in the day, you alone slew the Seven Fiends and wiped out all three hundred and sixty-seven men of Clear Wind Stronghold in a single night. We juniors have always held that might in our hearts. You're giving me far too much credit."
Yun Zaitian managed a dry laugh and offered a few words of modest thanks.
Yan Chihuo then said, "Zhou Fang, go bring Xiao Tao here."
At once, a young man of twenty-seven or twenty-eight, who looked as though nothing in the world could bother him, answered, "Yes!"
Du Ming's heart tightened. "Xiao Tao was bought out of her contract last month. She's already left Cloud Sun City."
Zhou Fang acted as if he hadn't heard him and walked straight toward the rear rooms. A short while later, he returned with a woman dressed in pink. She was beautiful and looked only sixteen or seventeen, but her clothes were stained with blood. She had clearly endured a brutal interrogation.
Du Ming stared in surprise. It was indeed Xiao Tao.
"Miss Xiao Tao hasn't said anything," Yan Chihuo said, "but I'll put on a good show for everyone." With that, he reached back and tore. Rrrip! A piece of Xiao Tao's bodice came away, revealing her red undergarment and snowy-white skin.
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