"What?"
"That was not an act of chivalry."
"..." Zhang Jingbi froze.
"Keeping yourself safe, fearing the strong and weighing the gains... that is not an act of chivalry." Pei Ye steadied his shoulder.
In truth, Zhang Jingbi had not taken in Pei Ye's instruction on the Sword Dao, but those words offered another kind of support, making the youth straighten his neck. Even when he finally left the pool and returned to his seat, he held himself tall.
Pei Ye likewise carried his sword back to the seven seats beside the pool.
No one greeted him when he sat down this time. Only after a while did He Yaoyao beside him squeeze out, "Young Hero Pei Ye, what you said wasn't right."
Pei Ye paused and looked at the woman in the Yellow Skirt. "True Disciple He, how was it wrong?"
He Yaoyao looked troubled. After hesitating for a while, she said quietly, "Actually, there was nothing wrong with how True Disciple Zhang Jingbi used the final move of 'Phoenix Mountain Cry,' because it leads into another sword technique. You-you must never have read Kongtong's sword theory, to say his use of it was superfluous..."
Her voice grew softer, and she hurriedly added, "Of course, Young Hero Pei, your skill is very high, and all your other remarks were very insightful."
Pei Ye was silent for a moment. "True Disciple He."
"Yes?"
"Let's be friends."
"...Huh?" He Yaoyao stared, a little hurt. "Weren't we friends already?"
Up on the pavilion, silence likewise lingered for a long time.
After a while, someone whispered, "If Yunlang doesn't like Young Hero Pei Ye, then I won't like Yunlang anymore."
"Exactly. He even forbade Young Hero Pei Ye from going to Yunlang... as if Young Hero Pei Ye cared to go."
"Young