The old man paused, nodded, and agreed:
"Alright."
He then lifted the curtain of the carriage. Li Yinxiang was the first to leap up and then helped her friend aboard. However, the distracted swordsman did not board the carriage until the old man softly called out to him. Only then did he seem to regain his senses. With a bitter smile, he said:
"You two young ladies go on ahead. With the old gentleman here, there is no need to worry. Today... I’m so embarrassed today that I can’t bear the heavy responsibility anymore. Please ask Lady Li to inform Master Sima that Zhao’s skills are inferior, and I ask him to seek soone more capable..."
After saying this, he cupped his hands, turned, and quickly walked away.
His movent technique was quite outstanding among the martial artists in their thirties in the Northwest. At that mont, he was like a wisp of smoke, quickly blending into the crowd and disappearing from sight.
His actions were decisive, giving the three of them no chance to persuade him to stay. It seed that along the way, his mind was preoccupied with this matter.
Li Yinxiang, unable to extend her right hand, could only let it fall helplessly and said:
"Why does he need to go to such lengths? I haven’t said anything. There are so many martial artists in the world; who hasn’t lost a few tis? I thought Mr. Zhao wouldn’t be so stuck up, yet he takes a single defeat so seriously..."
The girl beside her thought for a mont and said:
"He’s a martial artist, isn’t he? And everyone has high expectations of Mr. Zhao, thinking that even though he’s young, he’s already passed through Longn and might one day reach the realm of a Fourth Rank Grandmaster."
"Even in major sects within the Jianghu, a Fifth Rank is already an elder with real power. If one reaches the Fourth Rank, they could support a noble clan’s rapid rise in Xiong City. One might even say they are a walking noble clan themselves, quickly attracting many followers if they wish."
The old man let down the thick curtain, blocking the cold wind.
The carriage slowly moved forward, not too slow, and very steady. Li Yinxiang placed the jade plaque on the small table in the carriage and stretched comfortably, saying:
"But if he takes it seriously, that’s good. My elder brother always says that a man should know sha to awaken courage, and not to be ashad either. If Mr. Zhao can improve his sword skills because of this, it would indeed be a blessing in disguise."
The girl beside her saw her lazy deanor, yet playing with the jade plaque, and couldn’t help but laugh, "You’ve always enjoyed the Biographies of Wandering Heroes, and lately you love reading tales of swordsn. This ti, you must have gotten your wish, right?"
Li Yinxiang frowned and said, "No... not necessarily. He’s different from the heroes in the stories... very different."
The girl beside her curiously asked, "Different? How so?"
Li Yinxiang seed to have a thousand thoughts swirling in her mind. She parted her lips but couldn’t utter a word. She could only lean back in defeat and say, "I can’t explain it, but if you et him and talk to him, you’ll definitely understand."
The girl beside her smiled with pursed lips and said:
"It can only be understood, not explained?"
Li Yinxiang clapped her hands and laughed:
"That’s exactly it!"
The two girls’ laughter didn’t carry out of the carriage at all. The black-clothed old man sat cross-legged at the front, directing the speed and direction of the carriage with a solemn and ticulous expression.
The two azure horses pulling the carriage gradually seed to produce faint clouds beneath their hooves. The carriage went faster but remained steady, with almost no noticeable bumps. First, they escorted the girl back to her ho before heading to Li Yinxiang’s residence.
Though not luxurious or extravagant, the house had its own heavy and grand aura, like a fierce tiger lying on a rock. Before the gate, iron halberds stood every five steps, twelve in total, their tips pointing to the sky, adding a sense of solemnity.
Before this, the gates had already been opened. The carriage steadily moved forward, slowed down after entering, and continued for a while before finally stopping.
The old man dismounted, bowed slightly, and extended his right arm. Li Yinxiang lifted her hand to support the old man’s arm and hopped off the carriage.
Although she couldn’t eat the much-anticipated delicacies of the Western Regions, her spirits were still quite high. With her hands behind her back, she bounced lightly forward, humming a tune.
When she lifted her hand to push open the door, she noticed the maid beside her kept signaling her with her eyes. She was montarily puzzled and didn’t imdiately react. The maid, getting anxious, softly whispered two words. Li Yinxiang’s face turned slightly pale. She turned to leave but made so noise in her haste.
A warm voice suddenly ca from inside the house:
"Is that Yinxiang?"
"I’ve been waiting here for you so long!"
Before the words even settled, soone had pushed open the door from inside. It was a fairly handso young man, his face full of warm familiarity, smiling and saying, "Oh, I thought I’d have to wait a couple of hours here today, but didn’t expect you to return so soon, cousin?"
"This ti, I’ve found many new storybooks, especially new tales of swordsn. I’m sure you’ll love them..."
Li Yinxiang’s smile was flawless.
The young man mistook it for encouragent, growing even more pleased with himself as he led Li Yinxiang inside. Before she could even sit down, he began enthusiastically talking about recent Jianghu stories he’d collected, so excited that Li Yinxiang could barely stop him as he carried on for quite so ti.
Stories of brightly dressed riders who drew their blades and killed for a promise.
Commanding hordes of fellow heroes in facing adversaries, wielding reputation and status.
And naturally, the triumph of good over evil, the return of the valiant youth, rewarded with a maiden’s heart or great wealth, dominating an area where none dare disrespect him, with everyone aware of his deeds.
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