Understanding the Ways of the World

The laughter in the sky had not yet faded when two men were already standing on the ground. The man on the left stood seven feet nine inches tall and looked to be around forty, though he was in truth nearing sixty. The sword intent around him shifted through countless transformations, hidden without being released.

Ouyang Qingcang hurried over. "Father!"

The man laughed. "Cang'er! Is this Nephew Liu?"

Ouyang Qingcang turned and took hold of Liu Yunshen. "Brother Liu, this is my father, the Frostblade Sword Alliance's sect master, Ouyang Zhenyue. My own father died early, so I was adopted by Father. He raised me all these years. His swordsmanship is divine—when he called himself second, no one dared call himself first... ah!"

"I am Ouyang Zhenyue!" Ouyang Zhenyue glared at his son, then looked toward Liu Yunshen.

"This junior pays respects to Senior!"

Ouyang Zhenyue supported Liu Yunshen by the arm. "Nephew Liu saved my son's life. From now on, dispense with all formalities—" He paused, studying the young man's eyes in silent astonishment. What powerful sword intent!

Gong Liefeng was chatting warmly with the eight-foot-five-inch middle-aged man on the left.

"Mount Dai Sword Pavilion, Gong Haoyue!" The burly middle-aged man smiled and clasped his hands, supporting Liu Yunshen once more as he laughed. "None of them will let Nephew Liu perform a full bow, so why should I be bound by worldly conventions? Come! Let us return to the sect!"

"Sect Masters, this is my Brother Zhao and Brother Hu!" Liu Yunshen pulled the two men forward.

The two respectfully dropped to their knees in salute. "We pay respects to the four Seniors!"

The men nodded slightly. Cai Tingyue was still the first to step forward with a smile, helping them up. "Quickly, rise!"

Gong Haoyue laughed. "Old Cai, you are still so good at currying favor!"

Cai Tingyue smiled. "Brother Gong only knows how to spout nonsense. The soil in Qin is cold and damp. If the children kneel too long, they might end up with cold legs!"

"Let us go! We can talk once we reach the sect."

Talking and laughing, the group headed toward the Four Swords Sect several dozen li away. Liu Yunshen noticed Lei Zhaoye's displeased expression. He deliberately slowed by a few steps and fell to the rear of the group, asking softly, "Brother Lei, what is wrong?"

"Nothing!" Lei Zhaoye changed his expression, his face filling with smiles.

When they returned to the sect, several hundred disciples stood in formation before the grand gates to welcome them.

"We pay respects to the Sect Masters!"

Liu Yunshen looked toward the towering pagoda a hundred zhang away, rising into the clouds, then gazed at the magnificent twin gate towers before him. Joy overflowed in his heart.

"Brother Lei, I never imagined the Four Swords Sect's grounds would be so grand!"

Lei Zhaoye merely smiled without answering.

"Brother Hu may not know this, but over a thousand years ago, our Four Swords Sect's main headquarters was even broader than it is now—" Gong Liefeng's smile gradually stiffened. Lei Zhaoye, Cai Yuelin, and Ouyang Qingcang all did the same.

Once they entered the sect, they discovered that the side halls on either side already showed signs of decay, while the rear garden was even more overgrown with weeds.

Liu Yunshen frowned, bitterness rising in his heart.

Cao Wuji's expression darkened as he rebuked the outer disciples. "Did I not tell you to clean the sect courtyard? Why is it still like this..."

"This disciple has failed in his duties. Please punish us, Martial Uncle!"

"Punish you? Punish you? Everyone has seen this already—what the hell good would punishment do!"

"Old Cao, stop scolding the disciples! We just moved here, and our days have been tight. None of this has been easy!" Gong Haoyue sighed.

The three Sect Masters and Cao Wuji first brought Liu Yunshen, Hu Lieshan, and Zhao Dingjiang to the guest quarters.

"You three must be tired from the journey. Stay here for tonight, and tomorrow we shall discuss Brothers Hu and Zhao joining the sect!" Cai Tingyue opened the door first, only for a wave of moldy stench to rush out from inside.

Hu Lieshan quickly sidestepped.

Cao Wuji was furious. He raised his palm to slap the disciple behind him across the face. Liu Yunshen reached out to stop him and smiled. "Senior Cao, this place is quite good!"

"How can this do?" Cao Wuji grabbed a broom and entered the room, sweeping every corner. Liu Yunshen followed him in, wiped the dust from the bed, and sat on it. Seemingly very satisfied, he rose with a smile. "This bed is even more comfortable than the ones my mother made!"

Cai Tingyue sighed, quietly gave instructions, then stepped forward with a smile. "Brother Liu, Brother Hu, Brother Zhao, stay at my place tonight! Let us go!"

"Brother Cai, there is truly no need!"

"How could we possibly accept that?"

Liu Yunshen sighed. "Do you know why I came to seek refuge with the Four Swords Sect?"

The three Sect Masters were taken aback.

Liu Yunshen drew the young men over. "I believe that one who dwells near vermilion turns red, while one who dwells near ink turns black. Brother Gong hates evil as if it were his enemy, Brother Lei is calm, steadfast, and righteous, Brother Cai is clever and capable, Brother Ouyang's courage shines upon all, and Miss Cao is kind and forthright. The Four Swords Sect must surely be a gathering place for worthy people, with heroic spirit sweeping in every direction."

Ouyang Zhenyue sighed. "You have seen us at our worst, young hero. Alas, the Four Swords Sect has declined to this point—there is not even a single intact guest room left!"

"What Liu values is not fine clothes and rich food. If I sought soaring success and power over a region, then when I fought Cao Huan, I would already have joined the Demon Sect! Why would I endure such hardship along the way, upholding righteousness and destroying evil?"

"That is right! Cao Huan tried to entice Brother Liu into joining the Demon Sect, but Brother Liu sternly refused him!" Gong Liefeng loudly praised.

"You Sect Masters truly need not take it to heart. The three of us brothers already have a place to settle down and make our stand in life. We are more than content!" Liu Yunshen's eyes were deep, like a crimson sun hanging high in the sky.

The three Sect Masters stepped forward in excitement and tightly clasped Liu Yunshen's hands. "Brother Liu speaks openly and straightforwardly! A true man indeed!"

"Brother Liu, this quilt is moldy. Sleep under mine!" Lei Zhaoye said with a smile, carrying over an autumn quilt.

Warmth filled the hearts of Liu Yunshen, Hu Lieshan, and Zhao Dingjiang, as though they had returned to Hu Family Village.

Within the estate where the Four Swords Sect's Nine Songs Sword Court stood, Sect Master Lei Zhouyue was practicing swordplay beside a medicinal field. His swordsmanship was ancient and upright, yet to an outsider it seemed to contain only two moves: Raising Sword and Falling Sword!

The sword rose in Raising Sword, and cleaved in Falling Sword. Though there were only two strokes, they were like yin and yang. Different positions, angles, strength, and speed produced infinite transformations. Once a sword rose and fell, it advanced without retreat! It was truly an invincible sword art beneath heaven!

"Father! Today is Brother Liu's first day in the sect, so why are you still here practicing swordsmanship?" Lei Zhaoye strode over, the word "complaint" practically written across his face.

The bald old man before him stood only seven feet tall, but his sword was likewise seven feet long. He was none other than the Nine Songs Sword Court's Sect Master, Lei Zhouyue!

Lei Zhouyue's martial arts stood on equal footing with Ouyang Zhenyue, the Frostblade Sword Alliance's Sect Master, among the Four Swords Sect. His swordsmanship was peerlessly formidable, and his skill in cultivating herbs and refining pills was likewise unmatched throughout the Nine Provinces. Yet he understood not the slightest thing about worldly dealings and only knew how to bury his head in work.

Seeing his son's complaint, he kept scratching his already bald head and smiled. "Isn't Father simply unable to get away? The medicinal field needs to be sprinkled with Stalactite Sweet Dew every day. It is only found in the rear mountain, and only the four proper hours of zi, wu, mao, and you are suitable. Once the hour passes..."

"Father, you are far too honest!" Lei Zhaoye lifted the teapot and poured tea for his father. "Every time you refine pills, you divide them equally among the other three sects. But our disciples are no fewer than those of any other sect! And whenever you gain an insight into swordsmanship, you always pass it along to the other Sect Masters at once, yet never teach your own martial brothers!"

Lei Zhouyue's face reddened. "Our Four Swords Sect has declined until now and has already lost its vitality. We should all the more... all the more stand united..."

"You stand united with them, but they may not do the same! The moment they met today, Martial Uncle Cai became sworn brothers with Brother Liu and lured him away!" Lei Zhaoye said bitterly, squatting on the ground.

Lei Zhouyue smiled. "All right! What does my son want Father to do..."

"Father, The Story of the Stone says it well: understanding the ways of the world is all learning; mastering human feelings is true literature. Your swordsmanship has been stuck at the seventh level for so long. Perhaps it has something to do with this!" Lei Zhaoye suddenly gave a sly smile.

Sure enough, a sword fanatic like Lei Zhouyue froze at once upon hearing someone discuss the Sword Dao, staring in shock at the sharp weapon hidden in those words. He slapped his thigh. "That is right! The reason I am stuck at this level is most likely exactly that. A sword is a weapon of slaughter, yet it exists only to end slaughter. Life means all living beings. I should make more friends among all living beings! I will go become sworn brothers too!"

"My father has truly gone mad!" Lei Zhaoye smiled bitterly and pulled his father up. "Come, quickly change your clothes and personally go meet Brother Liu! Hurry!"

"Hey, do not pull me. Let me have a sip of tea first!"

A short while later, Lei Zhouyue combed the last few strands of hair he had left atop his head, put on a black cloth cap, dressed in a straight-hemmed deep robe, and wore curled shoes. It was impossible to tell whether he was walking with his feet or carrying his feet with his legs as he awkwardly hobbled toward the guest room.

Lei Zhaoye could not help letting out a snort of laughter.

Lei Zhouyue smiled bitterly. "It is all my son's fault, making Father dress so awkwardly!"

"Father, when you greet them later, be natural and dignified. You are, after all, the master of a sect. You cannot be arrogant, but neither can you be humble!"

"Hey, I am not a three-year-old child! Go knock on the door!"

Lei Zhaoye knocked.

Hu Lieshan stretched lazily and walked out. Before Lei Zhouyue could even see him clearly, he clasped his hands in greeting!

Lei Zhaoye smiled bitterly. "Father, use a bowing salute!"

Lei Zhouyue snapped, "Does my son want Father to kowtow and kneel as well?"

"Not a kowtow—a bowing salute!" Lei Zhaoye stamped his feet in anxious frustration. Lei Zhouyue finally understood. Hu Lieshan could not help laughing as he clasped his hands. "You must be Senior Lei, Sect Master of the Nine Songs Sword Court! We are all people of the martial world, so let us not stand on so many ceremonies. I am Hu Lieshan!"

Lei Zhouyue was overjoyed. He clasped his hands, then turned to glare at his son. "See how straightforward he is!"

Lei Zhaoye smiled bitterly. Just then, Zhao Dingjiang emerged and immediately bent deeply at the waist in a long bow. Lei Zhouyue hurriedly returned the salute. "Nephew Liu!"

"Father, this is Brother Zhao, Zhao Dingjiang!" Lei Zhaoye was so anxious that sweat covered his forehead!

Lei Zhouyue flew into a rage, yanking off his black cloth cap, loosening his deep robe, and going barefoot. "It is all my son's fault! He has made Father neither fish nor fowl. Better to meet them in my true face!"

Zhao Dingjiang picked up Lei Zhouyue's clothes for him. "Senior, my brother has gone to play chess with Sect Master Cai. If Senior is looking for him, you may go to the Celestial Pivot Sword Hall!"

Lei Zhaoye's eyes turned as he asked, "Brother Zhao, Brother Hu, I can see that you both have a solid foundation. Would you be willing to learn swordsmanship from my father?"