Pei Ye paused. "My learning is a jumble. I have no master."
"...Oh."
But just then, both of them noticed strange waves beginning to ripple through the sea of people opposite them.
No sword debate was underway, yet a commotion was spreading rapidly. Those in front received something, then looked around with startled cries and questions, while those behind craned their necks and kept asking, only to give the same startled cries once they received an answer.
Amid this confusion, small booklets of identical make could be glimpsed passing from hand to hand. Those who received them frowned as they read, while others pointed things out to their companions in astonishment.
"What are those?" Pei Ye craned his neck curiously.
Ren Zixin was frowning deeply too. She shook her head blankly, while the elderly man surnamed Wei from the Flying Swallow Sword Gate beside them said slowly, "The Immortal Platform's Feather-Tied Book."
"Hm?"
Elder Wei looked over. "A booklet published by the Immortal Platform to circulate certain matters through the Jianghu, in hopes of informing everyone."
"Martial Uncle, what sort of matters?" Ren Zixin asked curiously.
"All sorts. Sometimes it exposes crimes, sometimes it announces secrets, sometimes it offers reminders, sometimes warnings. Generally, it's well worth reading. The Jianghu has been taking it more and more seriously these past few years."
Pei Ye nodded with a little dawning understanding, while Ren Zixin tilted her head. "Ah, we have them over here too."
They did indeed. The wave had reached this section of the crowd as well. People passed the booklets along, and soon they reached the Flying Swallow Sword Gate. Ren Zixin handed him a cool booklet.
Palm-sized and only a few thin pages long, it could hardly be called exquisite. Rather, it was exceedingly plain, almost nothing but black