"Hey... brother!"
The man spotted He An and greeted him with an animated expression. "Brother... need a hand? Oh... I left in such a hurry last time, I forgot to ask... what's your name?"
He An dodged Dugu Chong's elusive sword gleam and threw a punch, knocking away the Flying Sword circling before him and driving back the burly axe-wielder in the same motion. He glanced at the fellow greeting him so warmly nearby. It was Liu Chuang, who had taken five taels of silver and scampered off to buy wine. Momentarily speechless, He An answered irritably, "My name is He An!"
"Oh... He An. I'll remember that!"
Liu Chuang nodded like a chick pecking grain, then leaped onto a large rock and sat with his legs crossed. One straw sandal dangled from his foot as he swung it back and forth, watching the fight with relish.
"Not bad at all... Brother He, with that move just now, you could've killed that big oaf with one thrust. Couldn't bear to do it? You... can't be so softhearted. Let me tell you, in this godforsaken place, men die for wealth as birds die for food. If you don't kill him, he'll kill you..."
Liu Chuang chattered on, raising his vermilion wine gourd and tipping back his head for a swig. Then he declared smugly, "Brother He has fine skills and an even finer heart. When you get right down to it, doesn't that just prove what a good eye and good luck I have?"
The heavens rumbled, and another dazzling firework burst overhead. Watching countless meteors trail downward, Liu Chuang suddenly stood and looked up at the sky. "Looks like there's a big haul over there. Brother He, I'll go take a look. Wait for me to come back..."
Before his