Zhou Tai had sharp eyes. He had long noticed the long sword on Four Unlike beside the black horse, and he cupped his hands with a smile. "Brother Ren, one look tells me you are a model among our kind. Not only are you learned enough to fill five carts, you are even an expert in the swordsmanship world."
Hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua hurriedly answered modestly, "The Six Arts are required studies for a gentleman. I merely dared not fall behind others, so I have only dabbled in them a little."
Yet from Zhang Xiaohua's expression, where was there any trace of modesty? Even someone puffed up with pride would be no more than this.
Zhou Tai and Yuan Guoliang exchanged a glance and nearly laughed aloud. No matter how high a frail scholar's swordsmanship was, they would not necessarily take it seriously. Seeing the scholar comport himself this way only further confirmed his identity. Yuan Guoliang could not help asking, "But Brother Ren, this long sword of yours appears to be only a sword blank. When you have time, why not come to our Jingbo Lake? I can find a renowned Sword Forger from my gang to sharpen its edge for you."
Upon hearing that, Zhou Tai secretly cursed. He hurriedly said, "Brother Ren, Jingbo Lake is rather far away. When you have time, why not visit our Flying Fish Gang instead? Our gang has Drunken Cherry Island, whose scenery is most exquisite—even more splendid than this entire grove of peach trees."
Before the two had even asked him to serve as witness, they had already begun trying to bribe him with their words. Zhang Xiaohua found it truly amusing. He frowned slightly and said, "A sword blank? You two have misjudged it. That is merely this humble scholar's