After several exchanges of swords, Shi Bu slumped to the ground.
He rose with the support of the two young men, all three pairs of eyes now filled with awe. This was one good thing about the people of the grassland tribes: if you defeated them in a way they respected, they would bear no grudge, but would acknowledge you as a reliable friend.
Hou Niao had spent many decades crossing swords with others in the Soul Realm. Fighting this way was practically cheating.
Shi Bu's dark face flushed crimson. Though he wanted to make his acquaintance, he was too clumsy with words to know where to begin, and found himself tongue-tied.
But Hou Niao was well versed in handling people and knew how to offer him a ladder down. "Is there someone named Shi Le in your clan?"
Shi Bu nodded hastily. The Shi Clan of the Golden Bloodline had its own respect for masters of the sword. "Yes. He's the nephew of the husband of the fifth aunt among the cousins of the third branch of my maternal grandfather's family. You know him?"
Hou Niao nodded. "We met once several decades ago. When you return, you can ask whether he still remembers this friend of his."
Those words instantly brought the two sides closer. Shi Bu said excitedly, "Brother Shi Le is the finest swordsman of our Golden Lineage. Had our guest mentioned him sooner, we would never have been so disrespectful..."
Hou Niao waved a hand. "Making friends through the sword is the true spirit of a swordsman. Who starts by pulling connections? It's somewhat inconvenient for me to visit him, so I'll have to ask you to pass word along, Brother Shi."
Shi Bu appeared steady by nature, but it was actually an act. Now that