Chapter 104: The Return

"Di Qing of the Flying Sword Sect, is it..."

The guest pondered for a moment before speaking again. "Aside from that, is there anything else?"

"Well, there's the rising young hero, 'Iron Hand' Liu Mingyuan, who has broken through to the Internal Realm, now hailed as the finest martial artist of the younger generation. Then, there's the passing of the old Emperor a few days ago; the Fourth Prince has now ascended the throne. As for the Crocodile Sect, once a major power in the martial world, they have declined so sharply in recent years that they’ve dropped out of the top forty orthodox factions. Even the Seven-Three Gate has officially revoked the Crocodile Sect's status as a subordinate branch. Oh, and in the eastern Waterflow Prefecture, someone discovered the martial legacy of an ancient master. Most of the martial artists from the surrounding prefectures have flocked there to fight for it..."

The waiter recited the recent major events of the Jianghu as if he were counting his own family treasures. Although he possessed no martial arts skills himself, as a tavern waiter, he often learned of these affairs from travelers coming and going from all corners of the land, making him a peripheral figure in the vast circle of the martial arts world.

"Has anything happened at Pine-Jade Mountain in recent years?" The guest interrupted the chattering waiter.

"Pine-Jade Mountain? Aside from that wedding chaos caused by the Seven-Three Gate a few years back, nothing much. Though, I have heard folks from the mountain saying that Alliance Master Hai’s son-in-law hasn't shown his face for a very long time. The Alliance Master even sent people to look for him once, but it all came to nothing in the end," the waiter said, scratching his head.

"..."

"Alright, that’s all." After a moment of silence, the guest shook his head, signaling that the waiter could leave.

"Understood. Enjoy your meal, sir." The waiter nodded with a smile, clutching the silver in his pocket, and hurried away, beaming. It was a big tip; with this money, he was one step closer to his dream of taking a wife.

"Wait, waiter." The guest suddenly called out to the man just as he was about to leave. "I see you know quite a bit about the Jianghu. Have you ever considered practicing martial arts to truly step into that world and become a martial artist?" The guest swirled the wine cup in his hand.

"Oh, sir, what are you saying? Someone like me? Listening to the tales of heroes coming and going at the tavern and bragging a bit in front of others is one thing, but as for practicing martial arts and becoming a warrior, that’s a bit too much for me."

"After all these years, I know my own worth. A man like you clearly looks like someone destined for great things. For someone like me, living a safe and peaceful life is more important than anything else. The killing and fighting of the Jianghu just isn't for me. My mother is counting on me to marry and continue the family line. Once you enter the Jianghu, you are no longer the master of your own fate." The waiter waved his hands dismissively as he replied.

"..."

The guest flicked his finger, and an object flew into the waiter's hand.

"Eh... ah..."

The waiter looked at the object in his hand in surprise. It was a silver ingot.

"A reward for your future wedding."

Hearing this, the waiter thanked him profusely, over and over again.

"Go."

The guest waved his hand, and the waiter understood and took his leave.

"'Once you enter the Jianghu, you are no longer the master of your own fate...' That is, indeed, the truth."

The guest took a sip of wine and ate a few bites of his meal. Immediately after, he placed a silver ingot on the table, stood up, and departed.

Pine-Jade Mountain.

"Who goes there?"

The two guards at the foot of the mountain blocked a figure in a black robe who was walking toward the mountain.

"Go inform Hai Yuanyi that I wish to see him."

The figure in the black robe removed his hood, revealing the face beneath.

"Son... son... son-in-law?"

While one guard was stunned, the other clearly recognized who had arrived. The man was none other than Wang Lu, who had been missing from Pine-Jade Mountain for a long time. His appearance and temperament had not changed in the slightest over the past three years; the only difference was a small, sword-shaped red mark in the center of his forehead.

"Right, right away! I'll go at once!" The guard nodded hurriedly and then strode quickly toward the mountain.

"Son-in-law, would you like to wait here, or shall we head up?" the other guard asked with a fawning tone. Although in the eyes of everyone on Pine-Jade Mountain, Wang Lu was someone who had lost all his martial arts and had no future, the only ones qualified to look down on him were the top brass. To the bottom-tier guards, Wang Lu was still a formidable figure.

"To the mountain."

As Wang Lu spoke, he began his ascent, walking step by step up the path. The guard watching his back signaled to the side, and a group of guards emerged from both sides, flanking Wang Lu. It looked like an escort, but it was really surveillance.

At the summit of Pine-Jade Mountain.

Di Qing, who had recently made waves in the Jianghu by rebuilding the Flying Sword Sect, was currently in conversation with Hai Yuanyi.

"Are you certain?" Hai Yuanyi looked at the servant who had just whispered in his ear, his expression grave.

"The son-in-law has already ascended the mountain, and the Pine-Jade Army is escorting him," the servant nodded.

"Is there a pressing matter, Alliance Master Hai?" Di Qing asked, looking at Hai Yuanyi. One could not tell from his face that Hai Yuanyi had once imprisoned him.

"It is merely my useless son-in-law returning," Hai Yuanyi said, his face projecting an unforced authority. "Would you like to join me, Sect Leader Di?" Hai Yuanyi stood up and extended the invitation.

"Very well. As his former senior brother, I should go and see my dear junior brother as well," Di Qing replied with a smile as he stood up.

On Pine-Jade Mountain, people whispered and pointed in astonishment as Wang Lu walked by, their heads tilted toward one another. Wang Lu remained unmoved by their gazes. He reached a plaza on the mountain where Hai Yuanyi and Di Qing stood waiting.

Wang Lu glanced first at the smiling Di Qing, then shifted his gaze to Hai Yuanyi.

"Wang Lu, to think you still knew how to return!"

"Do you have any idea how much Yuan'er has suffered for you over these past three years!" Hai Yuanyi shouted at him.

"Junior Brother Wang Lu, if I may speak plainly, a hero like Lady Hai Yuan'er has spent these three years pining for you, neither eating nor sleeping. Isn't that a bit too heartless of you?" Di Qing added, shaking his head with a smile.

Hai Yuan'er...

Wang Lu was silent for a moment.

"Hand over your position as the Alliance Master of the Orthodox Martial Arts to me, and I will not kill you today." Wang Lu looked at Hai Yuanyi, his face expressionless.

"Not kill me?!" Hai Yuanyi laughed in anger. "To dare utter such treasonous words! It seems I must teach you today what it means to follow the rules!"

Facing the furious Hai Yuanyi, Wang Lu said nothing more. He simply drew the long sword at his waist.

On Pine-Jade Mountain, ten thousand swords hummed in unison.