Chapter Twenty-One: The Swordmaster

The contest for the wine began anew. The earlier participants rushed forward in a frenzy, giving those who came after an opportunity. With a leap, some used the bodies of those ahead as stepping stones. It was surprisingly effective—one man vaulted over the backs of others and nearly touched the wine jar, only to be dragged down by someone behind. The spectators below watched with bated breath, feeling as if they themselves were competing. Whenever someone was close to victory, they grew anxious and congratulated, only to lament when the attempt failed. An hour passed, and the wine jar still stood firmly atop the platform, untouched by any save Taiyi.

Taiyi wiped the sweat from his brow. He was more anxious than anyone, thinking, "Why hasn't he arrived yet?"

"You youngsters, I've grown tired just watching from the sidelines. Let me try," declared a middle-aged swordsman from amidst the crowd. All eyes turned to him. He was muscular, wielded a large saber, had a wine flask at his waist, and a deep scar on his face that made him look especially fierce. The spectators recoiled in fear, clearing a path so Taiyi could finally see his face clearly. With relief, he smiled and said to Ye Sansi, "Brother Sansi, did you see that man? If he tries to take the wine, you can stop him."

Ye Sansi cracked his knuckles and grinned, "Alright, I've been itching to join in after watching for so long."

The swordsman said, "Move aside, all of you. I don't want any of you getting hurt." As he gathered his true energy, those nearby staggered and stepped back. The competitors knew he was formidable and hurriedly made way.

He approached the platform. Despite his burly appearance, he leapt lightly onto it in one fluid motion without using anyone for leverage.

Ye Sansi followed, but his lightness skill was lacking. He could only ascend the side of the platform using the Burning Step, Feather Capture technique. The swordsman, unaware, reached for the wine jar, but Sansi arrived just in time. With the seventy-two moves of the Burning Step, Feather Capture, he moved before the swordsman and snatched the wine right under his nose.

The swordsman laughed, "Ha! Clever boy, stealing my wine when I wasn't paying attention?" He stepped toward Ye Sansi, confident of victory, but Sansi's footwork was even more exquisite. In a flash, he sidestepped, leaving the swordsman grasping at air.

The swordsman thought, "What kind of technique is this? It's so refined, even my Burning Step, Feather Capture can't compare." He asked, "Hey, boy, what footwork is that? It's incredible."

Ye Sansi patted his chest and replied, "It's the Burning Step, Feather Capture! Ha, scared you, didn't I?"

Below, Liu Lingshuang grew anxious, patting Li Taiyi and saying, "Taiyi, do you think Sansi will be alright? That man is fierce—if Sansi gets hurt, it won't be good."

Taiyi laughed, "Lingshuang, don't worry. Since Brother Sansi used the Burning Step, Feather Capture, the swordsman will be careful. Ha!"

The swordsman was puzzled, "Burning Step, Feather Capture? I see some resemblance, but it's even more refined. It can't be just that."

Ye Sansi smiled, "The Burning Step, Feather Capture is thirty-six steps. I simply turned it into seventy-two."

The swordsman pondered, "That actually makes sense. No wonder the technique seems familiar yet strange. Since he knows Burning Step, Feather Capture, he must be Taiyi's friend. I should have some fun with him."

He moved closer to Sansi and reached for the wine. His palm adhered to the jar, and when Sansi tried to move away, the swordsman's grip seemed to stick. He shifted his energy, and the jar slipped from Sansi's hand. Sansi tried again, but the swordsman's technique was as elusive as his footwork—the wine jar spun around him, always out of Sansi's reach.

"Boy, this is the Nirvana Flame Hand. It requires coordinating fingers and palm, harder to master than Burning Step, Feather Capture. With this technique, you can retrieve objects from fire unharmed."

As the swordsman explained, Ye Sansi observed the movements of the Nirvana Flame Hand. Before the swordsman could react, Sansi suddenly seized the wine jar using the same technique. The swordsman exclaimed, "Taiyi really teaches everything—even Nirvana Flame Hand! With so many watching, if I lose, I'll be humiliated. Besides, I must have this fine wine. I can't hurt the boy, but I should show some skill."

The swordsman drew his saber. Liu Lingshuang grew worried, "What now? He's drawn his blade—could Sansi be in danger?" She called out, "Sansi, come down!"

The noise below drowned out her voice. Sansi saw the blade and refused to show weakness. He pointed to his chest, then to the sky. The Sky Fury Sword emerged, and as he wielded it, the swordsman recoiled in fear, thinking, "Sky Fury? That's a fierce sword. If the boy doesn't hold back, I could be in real trouble. I'd better leave—he's Taiyi's friend, after all, and the wine will come to me sooner or later."

The swordsman shouted, "Boy, I don't want to fight you. If you get hurt, it wouldn't be good. I'll take my leave." With that, he leaped down.

In the crowd, he shouted, "Brat! Brat! Come out!" Taiyi hurried over, grabbed him, and laughed, "Old man, I'm right here. Come with me."

The steward and Chief Yuan arranged the rewards, and the swordsman, dragged by Taiyi, entered the Lin residence with the others following behind. In the main hall, the swordsman said, "Brat, how are you here?"

Taiyi scratched his head and smiled, introducing everyone, "Old man, this is Ye Sansi. This is Magistrate Lin Youzhi. This is Liu Lingshuang. And this is Lin Nian'er." He continued, "This is my father, Qi Fei."

Liu Lingshuang stepped forward and bowed, "Uncle Qi, do you recognize me?"

Qi Fei looked closely, "You... you look familiar. Are you Liu... Lingshuang?"

"Uncle Qi, that's right."

"Ha ha ha! Brother Liu's daughter has grown so big. You and your mother are like peas in a pod—just as beautiful."

"Ha ha ha, Uncle Qi, your praise embarrasses me."

Qi Fei paused, then exclaimed, "What? Ye... Ye... Ye Sansi? That sword is indeed Sky Fury!"

"Uncle Qi, you know Sansi?"

Qi Fei nodded and asked Ye Sansi, "Are you from Mount Buyun? Is your father Ye...?"

Ye Sansi hurriedly asked, "Ye what? Do you know my father's name?"

Qi Fei laughed heartily, "Ye what? I don't know—I was just trying to get closer, ha!"

He seized the wine from Ye Sansi, found a seat, and began to drink. After a few gulps, he wiped his mouth and said, "It's good wine, but not truly unparalleled."

Taiyi said, "Old man, having wine is good enough. Why ask for unmatched quality?" Qi Fei pouted and continued drinking. Ye Sansi sat next to him, saying, "Don't drink like that—you're wasting it. Half you drink, half you spill. Give me some." Qi Fei passed the jar, and Sansi drank a few gulps, coughing, "Good, good!"

"Let me have some more." "Me too." "Don't finish it all—leave some for us." "Ha ha ha, it's delicious."

Lin Youzhi beckoned the others to join; they hadn't seen the earlier commotion. He asked Li Taiyi, "Young hero Li, your plan is to invite your father to help rid Qingyang City of its bandits?" Taiyi nodded.

Liu Lingshuang chimed in, "Uncle Lin, rest assured. Uncle Qi is a swordsman unmatched in the world—few can rival him. A few monsters are nothing for him."

Li Taiyi smiled, "Lingshuang, you seem to know my father well."

Liu Lingshuang replied, "Of course! Swordsman Qi Fei—who in the world doesn't know him? By the way, Uncle Qi's surname is Qi, but Taiyi, why is yours Li?"

Taiyi explained, "I was adopted by my father as a child. He always said my name was Li Taiyi, and that's what I've been called since then."

Lin Youzhi bowed, "I'll rely on your esteemed father to handle Qingyang's bandit problem." Taiyi returned the gesture, "You're too kind, Magistrate."

Liu Lingshuang glanced back to see Qi Fei and Ye Sansi chatting away, the wine jar rolling empty on the floor. Seeing Taiyi approach, Qi Fei waved him over, "Come, brat. This is my worthy brother Ye. From now on, call him Uncle Ye."

"Uncle Ye?" Liu Lingshuang whispered to Taiyi, "So Uncle Qi is so carefree? What now—Sansi is a generation above us." Taiyi whispered back, "Once my father deals with the bandits, I'll have him leave. Generational titles don't matter—Sansi doesn't know, ha!"

Ye Sansi laughed, "Lingshuang, Taiyi, this wine-water is really good. After half a jar, I'm a bit dizzy." Lin Youzhi said, "Young hero Ye, you handle your wine well. Though it's not the finest in the world, it's a treasured vintage I've kept for years. Most would be drunk after a cup, but you and Swordsman Qi have each drunk half a jar and show no signs of intoxication. Your tolerance is remarkable. It's almost noon—lunch should be ready. Why not head to the dining hall and eat and drink together?"

Qi Fei put his arm around Ye Sansi, "Brother, let's drink more—not leaving till we're drunk!"

"Alright!"

In the dining hall, everyone sat. Taiyi asked Qi Fei, "Old man, when did you arrive? You love good wine so much—how did you resist joining the contest?"

Qi Fei chuckled, "I arrived half an hour ago. Heard early that Magistrate Lin Youzhi had some fine wine, so I hurried over. Thought I was late, but saw those kids competing for the wine. Their skills were lacking, so I just watched."

Li Taiyi pointed at Ye Sansi, "Old man, what do you think of Brother Sansi—no, Uncle Ye's martial arts?"

Qi Fei thought carefully, then gave Taiyi a firm slap on the head, "Brat, you barely know your own skills and you teach your Uncle Ye. His Burning Step, Feather Capture and Nirvana Flame Hand are much better than yours."

Li Taiyi said proudly, "Old man, your footwork isn't as good as Uncle Ye's seventy-two-step method, is it?"

Qi Fei pouted, "Those seventy-two steps are marvelous. Brother, did you invent them?"

Before Ye Sansi could reply, Li Taiyi excitedly interrupted, "Of course! And I didn't teach him Nirvana Flame Hand—he figured it out while sparring with you. Plus, he turned his footwork into swordplay, creating thirteen Burning Swords. It's very refined and powerful."

"Oh? Really? Brother Ye, your talent is so high. After lunch, I must see your sword moves."

"Alright!"

As they spoke, the food and wine were served. The ingredients had been carefully chosen, making today's meal especially sumptuous. Qi Fei filled a bowl with wine and handed it to Ye Sansi. Liu Lingshuang protested, "Uncle Qi, it's Sansi's first time drinking—don't let him have too much."

Qi Fei replied, "Brother Ye's tolerance is no less than mine. He won't get drunk." Ye Sansi agreed, "Yes, I won't."

Liu Lingshuang snorted and slapped the table so hard the bowls and plates jumped. Ye Sansi quickly bowed, "Big brother, I truly can't handle much wine. Let's leave it at this for now—I'll drink with you another time."

Qi Fei said, "Alright." Then he whispered in Ye Sansi's ear, "Your wife is fierce. You'll suffer later. What's wrong with a man drinking a bit? Why let a woman control you?"

Lin Youzhi bowed to Qi Fei, "Swordsman Qi, I have a favor to ask—"

"It's about the monsters outside the city, isn't it?"

"How did you know, Swordsman Qi?"

"I sensed it when I entered the city—such strong demonic aura means a powerful monster. But strangely, once inside, the city felt peaceful. Don't worry, leave the monster to me."

"Thank you, Swordsman Qi. I have prepared one hundred taels of gold for you." With that, two men carried in a chest and opened it, revealing gleaming gold.

Qi Fei filled his bowl with fine wine and drank it all in one gulp.