Sword light slashed through the dusk as Qu Yong flew in on his sword. The Cangwu Sword's radiance faded in midair, and he lowered himself, landing steadily.
Seeing Fan Dazhi safe and sound, his brow relaxed. "Da Zhi, I'm glad you're all right!"
"Brother Qu!"
The man in straw sandals cried out in delight, bounded forward, and threw an arm around Qu Yong's shoulders with all the affection of a brother reunited after years apart. "Brother Qu, it's been so long! I've missed you dearly!"
"Senior Brother Liu Chuang."
Qu Yong gladly cupped his fists, a rare trace of warmth rising at the corners of his mouth. "I trust you've been well."
"Well, very well!"
Liu Chuang beamed and patted his chest. "I eat well and sleep well. When I get a craving, I drink; when my hands itch, I find someone to fight. Life couldn't be better! What brings you here, Brother Qu?"
He peered behind Qu Yong for a moment. "Huh? Brother He An didn't come with you?"
Qu Yong briefly recounted what had happened since they parted, from Jiu Shan's escape from the Knowledge and Practice Institute to their pursuit of Unknown Island's outposts, from Spirit Cave Mountain in Taicang to the Water Prison in Azure Dragon Town, and from Lu Xuanji's death to the battle just now.
Liu Chuang listened with shining eyes, now rubbing his hands, now stamping his feet, now cursing, "Damn it," and now sighing, "That was close."
Once Qu Yong finished, he hurriedly asked, "Brother Qu, where's the other fellow from Unknown Island? Let me capture him for you! Don't worry, Brother Qu, I, Liu Chuang, win people over with virtue. I'll shave his hair off too. I've learned how to shave heads clean now. Don't believe me? Look!"
He pointed at