Li Changjiang gave his ornate spear an effortless shake, shredding the fist shadows filling the sky.
Dong Ping's expression changed in midair, and he twisted back onto the raised platform.
Li Changjiang advanced with his spear, his face expressionless. Suddenly, a table and chairs slid sideways through the air, barring his path.
Seated at the table was a dignified, middle-aged swordsman in a wide-sleeved black robe, two white locks at his temples jutting skyward. With one hand resting on his sword and the other pouring himself a drink, he laughed with easy confidence. "Old water ghost, you're as unreasonable as ever. Showing up uninvited is one thing, but now you're ruining Brother Dong's big occasion. Do you really think you have the final say over the entire martial world? Want to shout, 'Those who obey me prosper, those who defy me perish,' while you're at it?"
This middle-aged swordsman was Liu Changfeng, the "Startling Swan Sword," master of Cloud Dream Manor.
Li Changjiang raised his eyes and regarded Liu Changfeng with the stillness of an ancient well. He smiled faintly. "Enemies truly never fail to cross paths, and snakes and rats never fail to share a hole. Old Dong's barely left home, and he's already crawled into bed with your Cloud Dream Manor?"
Liu Changfeng sneered. "And you still claim you don't believe that those who obey you prosper and those who defy you perish? Brother Dong was merely a hired hand working your fields at Chain Wharf, not a household slave who sold himself to your Li Family. Is he forbidden from having friends of his own? Besides, it's your conduct I can't stand, old water ghost. I have no quarrel with Brother Dong. Since he's willing to put righteousness before personal ties and leave darkness for the light,