"All right, I won't take yours for nothing. I'll give you a fine military saber. It was specially made by the Imperial Court Foundry. A splendid weapon, splendid!" Zhao Zilong slapped the table, his heroic spirit soaring to the clouds.
"Lord Zhao, you'd better not bring up sabers," Yang Yun said, shaking his head.
"What? Is my saber no good? It's top-quality goods." Zhao Zilong stared in surprise.
"Even His Lordship's personal guards use better sabers than yours," Yang Yun said.
"Impossible! My saber is razor-sharp. How could a mere personal guard have a saber of this caliber?" Zhao Zilong snorted.
"Ah, Zhao Du, come here," Tang Wen called.
Zhao Du cupped his fist and strode in from the doorway.
"Let Lord Zhao have a look at your saber," Tang Wen said.
Zhao Du took off his saber and offered it to Zhao Zilong with both hands. Zhao Zilong accepted it and drew it from its sheath. Cold light shimmered along the blade, leaving him momentarily stunned.
He ran a hand over it and channeled his power. At once, a half-foot length of blade qi sprang forth.
It extended and withdrew in a controlled rhythm. Zhao Zilong slashed at the tea table beside him. With a sharp scrape, a corner fell away, the cut level and smooth as a mirror.
"A fine saber. A truly fine saber," Zhao Zhilong could not help sighing.
He sprang to his feet and leaped into an open space. With a mighty roar, blade qi surged forth as he slashed at a stone on the ground.
Crack! The stone split open, its cut surface smooth as a mirror.
"A treasure of a saber. A true treasure." Wonder filled Zhao Zhilong's face as he handed the saber back to Zhao Du.
"Well? How does it compare