"The rumors were true, but Zhang Sanlang, how did you get back so easily?"
Arriving at the quarters in Jiangning City, Li Qingchen spotted Zhang Xing from a distance, sunning himself beneath the veranda and chatting with everyone, and came over to ask in surprise.
"We were simply making friends through literature. Once our talk of lofty mountains and flowing waters made us kindred spirits, we deepened our acquaintance, and naturally, I came back." Zhang Xing rose and answered earnestly.
"What actually happened?" Bai Yousi, who had dismounted behind him, entered the courtyard and asked coldly.
"What actually happened..." Zhang Xing's expression relaxed. "Actually, that sworn brother of mine has spent forty years living as a wastrel, yet still can't escape the arrogance and ignorance of a scion of a great clan. Through decades of his homeland's downfall, all he did was hide abroad. In his heart, he understands what's at stake, but his mouth and actions don't. All I can say is that when his temper flares, he's rather like me in some respects. He seized me in a fit of anger, but he actually knew that, with the situation as it was, his return couldn't change anything, so he knew he was riding a tiger he couldn't dismount... And while he couldn't dismount his tiger, wasn't I intent on staying alive myself? We needed each other and propped each other up. After dawn, we took the opportunity to discuss a little poetry and prose and flatter each other, giving ourselves each a step to climb down by, and that settled it."
"So that was it."
Everyone understood.
"If that's the case, I'll go cut him down with one stroke right now." Bai Yousi let out a long breath. "Save him getting in our way again."
"Please calm down,