Though Xiao Jiuli, Yang Yin, and the other disciples of the Sword Saint Sect had not used their lightness techniques, they moved swiftly, soon leaving the tea stall far behind.
Yang Yin curled his lip, his boyish face still full of defiance.
Xiao Jiuli glanced at him and said mildly, "What is it? Yin'er, do you resent me for scolding you just now?"
"I wouldn't dare." Yang Yin turned his head away sulkily and muttered, "I just couldn't stand those people singing the praises of that Myriad Calamities Daoist. Hmph! Who do they think they are? How could they possibly understand how powerful our master is?"
"If Master chose to act, he could sweep the martial world clean with a single stroke of his sword. No one under heaven could match him."
Yang Yin's eyes shone with reverence.
Seeing him like this, Xiao Jiuli found it difficult to say anything. Another white-robed swordsman smiled instead and interjected, "Junior Brother, they're nothing but a bunch of ignorant brutes, the dregs of society. What would they know about true masters? Stooping to their level would only sully your reputation as the Child Sword."
"Senior Brother Yu, is that so?" Flattered by the praise, Yang Yin scratched his head.
"Of course." Senior Brother Yu nodded, then turned to Xiao Jiuli and changed the subject. "Senior Brother Xiao, speaking of which, Junior Brother Yuwen has been away from our party for three days and still hasn't returned. Could something have happened to him?"
Xiao Jiuli frowned slightly, seemingly a little annoyed as well, but soon shook his head.
"Junior Brother Yuwen is the crown prince of the King of Wu-Yue. His status is exalted, his martial arts are formidable, and he has experts from the Wu-Yue Kingdom assisting him. What could possibly happen to