Worldly Wisdom

Lei Zhaoye, Liu Yunshen, and the others traveled at great speed. In barely half a day, they encountered the party sent by the Four Swords Sect to receive them. The hundred-odd Qin cavalrymen escorting them immediately turned back.

"Brother Lei, Brother Zhao, and Brother Hu..." Liu Yunshen said hesitantly, his brows faintly drawn together. Gong Liefeng thumped his chest. "Rest easy, Worthy Brother Liu. Your business is my business. Once we return, I'll immediately speak to Father and have Brothers Zhao and Hu join the sect. They can choose whichever branch they wish to enter!"

Liu Yunshen smiled. "Rest easy, Brother Liu! We'll definitely satisfy you!"

"You really are something. Just a few days ago, you were calling each other 'worthy brother' so affectionately, and now you've changed to 'elder brother'!" Cao Langao covered her lips and smiled. Ouyang Qingcang burst into laughter. "Calling him elder brother is affectionate too! Junior Sister Cao, you really don't know how to talk!"

"That's right! That's right! These past few days, someone's been thinking every day about her dear, dear senior brother, so happy she's become incoherent... Ow! Hahahaha! Mercy! Mercy! I'm dying! It tickles me to death!"

Gong Liefeng seized Cai Yuelin in a hold while Cao Langao smiled and tickled him. The young people around them laughed and watched the fun.

Liu Yunshen stepped forward with a smile to dissuade them. "Brother Cai's mouth may be a little loose, but don't tickle him too badly!"

"Rest easy, Worthy Brother Liu. This little rascal is thick-skinned and tough; he won't break!" Gong Liefeng laughed loudly, tightening his arms, while Cao Langao showed even less mercy. At Cai Yuelin's armpits, she unleashed the sword technique Nine Turns of the Wind—a surge of hard force turned into soft force, and before the soft force had even used half a move, it shifted back into hard force! Impossible to guard against!

"Hahahaha! Go ahead, do your worst—I won't confess even if I die... Haha!" Cai Yuelin laughed until he could barely catch his breath. Fearing that he could not bear it, Lei Zhaoye and Gong Liefeng finally eased off. Cai Yuelin clutched his armpits tightly and watched Gong Liefeng and Cao Langao warily.

"This bastard's mouth is filthy to the bone!" Ouyang Qingcang laughed so hard his stomach hurt. Just then, two vast auras descended from the sky!

"Oh no! Could it be the Demon Sect again?!"

"No! Those two auras are at least at the peak of the Third Realm!"

Everyone looked up in terror. Liu Yunshen released his 'domain,' and two figures came whistling down from several dozen zhang above!

"The newcomers possess astounding cultivation! But they don't seem to harbor any killing intent!"

Cai Yuelin and Cao Langao bounced with joy and rushed over!

"Father!"

"Father! Why have you come?"

"Lanlan! Let Father have a look. Mm, you've grown thinner. Feng'er, did you take good care of my children along the way?" The middle-aged man in front was named Cao Wuji. He stood eight chi five cun tall, broad-shouldered and broad-backed, with a straight, imposing build. His dark square face bore sword-like brows and wide tiger eyes, and his gaze upon his daughter was brimming with affection.

Gong Liefeng stepped forward with a smile. "Martial Uncle!"

Cao Langao took hold of her father. "Father, let me introduce you. This is Senior Brother Liu. Your daughter encountered the Demon Sect and nearly... It was Senior Brother Liu who saved me!"

Cao Wuji was greatly alarmed. "The Demon Sect? Was Lan'er hurt?"

Cao Langao shook her head. Suddenly feeling a pang of unease, she looked toward Gong Liefeng again.

Gong Liefeng laughed, made a face, and silently mouthed, How could I be so petty as to be jealous of Worthy Brother Liu?

Cao Langao's face flushed crimson.

"What a handsome young lad!" Cao Wuji looked at his daughter, then at Liu Yunshen. While inwardly astonished, he also felt somewhat annoyed. Pulling his daughter aside, he raised his voice slightly. "My child, have you changed your affections?"

Cao Langao was shocked. "Father! What do you mean by that?"

Cao Wuji spoke earnestly. "My child, Feng'er is deeply devoted to you. The two of you were betrothed before birth. One must act with faith and honor. Even if Nephew Liu is handsome, you still..." As Cao Wuji spoke, he suddenly noticed utter silence behind him. When he turned around, he saw the young people all staring at him with suppressed laughter.

"Oh, Father! Where did your thoughts wander off to?! Your daughter sees Brother Liu as her dearest elder brother!" Cao Langao's face turned red as she stomped her feet in anxious embarrassment!

Cao Wuji was overjoyed. Stroking his old face, red as a monkey's backside, he stepped forward to exchange greetings with Liu Yunshen. Yet Cai Yuelin's father, Cai Tingyue, the master of the Celestial Pivot Sword Hall, had already gotten there first and begun speaking with Liu Yunshen.

"Father! Father! This is Brother Liu! Brother Liu is incredible—he fought that Cao Huan of the Demon Sect alone for several hundred exchanges without either gaining the upper hand!" Cai Yuelin tugged Cai Tingyue along as he chattered excitedly, then looked at Liu Yunshen. "Brother Liu, this is my father. My father is gentle and approachable. No one in the sect fails to respect him, and the disciples tell him everything. If you have any worries or difficulties, just come to my father! He'll definitely help you!"

Cai Tingyue was slightly plump and of above-average height, with a round face and a kindly, amiable expression.

"Greetings, Senior..." Liu Yunshen was about to perform a formal salute when Cai Tingyue smilingly supported his arm and studied him closely. "Young hero, you look very familiar. Have we met somewhere before?"

"This junior has never traveled far from home, so it should be..." Before Liu Yunshen could finish, Cai Tingyue gave a surprised cry. "Hu Family Village. Young hero, are you from Hu Family Village?"

"That's right! Could it be that you are as well, Senior?" Liu Yunshen was overjoyed. Cai Tingyue smiled. "Several years ago, this old man went out on business and passed through Hu Family Village. I was thirsty and exhausted then, yet your honored mother used her only chicken to entertain me. Times have changed, and I never expected we would meet here today. What a fate!"

"Senior..."

"Old Cai and this young hero are quite kindred spirits. How about this? I have a few more years on you, so you may call me Brother Cai, while I call you Worthy Brother! No need to decline! It's settled!" Cai Tingyue was already over fifty, yet he tightly clasped Liu Yunshen's hand.

Liu Yunshen smiled ruefully. "Then I shall comply rather than stand on ceremony, Brother Cai!"

"That's more like it!" Cai Tingyue was delighted. Cai Yuelin pulled a long face. "Father, if you and Brother Liu become sworn brothers, wouldn't your son be lowered by a whole generation for nothing?"

Cai Tingyue laughed heartily. Liu Yunshen took Cai Yuelin's hand. "Brother Cai, let us address one another as we please. I will always be your Brother Liu!"

Cai Yuelin happily held onto Liu Yunshen's arm. Lei Zhaoye was deeply disdainful, forcing a smile across half his face.

"Brother Lei, do you seem unwell?" Zhao Dingjiang handed him a waterskin. Lei Zhaoye took it with a smile and drank deeply. "No. It's only that the journey has been tiring, and the closer one gets to home, the more timid one becomes. I miss my father somewhat."

At those words, Zhao Dingjiang and Hu Lieshan's eyes reddened. They wiped at the corners of their eyes, then lifted their heads and forced smiles. Lei Zhaoye said solemnly, "Brother Zhao, Brother Hu, rest easy. We will never forget how Zhu Xun set fire to the village. When we find the chance, we'll finish off that unrepentant villain and the lackeys who aid his tyranny!"

"Many thanks, Brother Lei!"

"Brother Lei speaks swiftly and frankly! Hu Two thanks you in advance!" Hu Lieshan was overjoyed and gripped Lei Zhaoye's arm.

"Brother Liu, this is my father." Cao Langao hurried forward, took Liu Yunshen's arm, then let go and stood beside Gong Liefeng. Tilting her head toward him, she lightly tugged at his lapel.

Gong Liefeng looked puzzled. "Junior Sister, what is it?"

Cao Langao was so vexed that she turned her head away and ignored him.

Cao Wuji strode forward with a laugh. "Sect Master Cai, you've already acknowledged a brother. Now it should be my turn to exchange greetings with Nephew Liu, shouldn't it?"

"Greetings, Senior Cao!"

Cao Wuji also pulled him upright. "You saved my daughter. I cannot accept such a grand bow!" Cao Wuji carefully examined the youth. At first, he had disliked how overly handsome he was, but upon seeing those eyes holding fierce, powerful sword intent, he felt a profound sense of kinship. "A hero truly emerges in youth. When we old fellows were his age, we did not possess sword intent this strong!"

"Father!" Cao Langao tugged Gong Liefeng, and only then did Gong Liefeng understand. He quickly stepped forward. "Worthy Brother Liu, the sect cannot be left unattended, so Senior Uncle Cai and Martial Uncle Cao came alone. The other three sect masters are still waiting in the sect. Let us head there quickly!"

Another burst of laughter rang out from the sky. "Why make our nephew come to us? The two of us should be the ones welcoming him!"