Having finished discussing the Loulan treasure, Wang Yu naturally asked why Fang Shaobai and his companions had come to the Western Regions.
Fang Shaobai scratched his cheek. "We three aren't the only ones entering the Western Regions this time. Another group representing four sects, led by Brother Liu, is traveling through the Xingxiu Sea."
Niu Zilian could not help asking, "All Seven Great Sword Sects are here?"
Meng Wei nodded. "Indeed. One sword from each of the Seven Great Sword Sects—seven swords ascend Mount Tianshan!"
"Mount Tianshan?" Ma Bojun sucked in a breath of cold air. "Are you going to challenge the Sword Fiend, Ye Tianlin?"
Shen Zhijun nearly stumbled. "We don't have that kind of skill!"
The Sword Fiend, Ye Tianlin—founder of the Tianshan Sect and one of the world's Five Renowned Swords—was extraordinarily advanced in age, senior in standing, and supreme in martial arts.
Seventy years ago, he had swept through the Seven Great Sword Sects of the Central Plains without defeat. Sixty years ago, he traveled far to Mount Tianshan to establish his sect. Though the sect was relatively young and its disciples rarely set foot in the Central Plains, every appearance caused a stir. His commanding prestige had kept the title of Sword Fiend unblemished for a full sixty-year cycle.
"Ye Tianlin must be nearly a hundred years old by now, isn't he?" Ma Bojun asked curiously.
"On the twentieth day of the tenth month this year, Senior Ye will celebrate his hundredth birthday," Fang Shaobai said.
Niu Zilian caught on. "So you're going to congratulate him on his longevity?"
Meng Wei and Shen Zhijun both grimaced. Fang Shaobai nodded, then shook his head. "It is a birthday greeting, but also a sword contest."
"A sword contest?" Everyone exchanged glances.
Although the Sword Fiend Ye Tianlin had been renowned across the martial world for over seventy years and the Tianshan Sect commanded fame across the Northwest and far beyond, the Seven Great Sword Sects possessed centuries of heritage. Taken individually, each was an overlord in its own domain, to say nothing of their collective standing.
It could be said that setting Ye Tianlin aside, any single one of the Seven Great Sword Sects was stronger than the Tianshan Sect.
Yet while the Tianshan Sect had Ye Tianlin, its founding ancestor, still alive, the Seven Great Sword Sects also had Sword Saint Liu Suifeng—another of the Five Renowned Swords—so they were not inferior in top-tier combat power.
As for sect strength, the Seven Great Sword Sects were situated in the Central Plains, each ruling a domain, blessed with an unending stream of talent, while the Tianshan Sect was far off in the harsh Western Regions, with few disciples.
Under such circumstances, why would the Seven Great Sword Sects each send their chief disciple up Mount Tianshan to compete?
Fang Shaobai nodded. "Every ten years, disciples from the seven sects go to Mount Tianshan to compete with their swords and win back the side swords of our former sect masters."
Everyone stared in bewilderment.
Meng Wei scratched his head as well, muttering, "Actually, I think it's a bit unfair. Why must it be restricted to a specific year? Shouldn't it be enough as long as you go before turning thirty?"
Shen Zhijun said blandly, "You speak as if you could become a Grandmaster before thirty."
Meng Wei snorted. "I can't, but Brother Fang might. That way, at least two of our sects would win."
Fang Shaobai shook his head. "The ten-year limit was originally intended as a spur from the Seven Great Sword Sects to themselves. When Senior Ye climbed our mountains to challenge us back then, he was actually only twenty-five."
Meng Wei fell silent. He merely downed a bowl of wine in gloom, having lost his earlier high spirits. "A pity my talent is lacking. I haven't even reached Xiantian."
Hearing this, Zhao Lü grinned. "Brother Meng, you defeated the Three Fiends with a single sword and broke seven strongholds in two days, roaming the land to champion justice. Why be so modest?"
The Shuntian Army had risen in the Henan Circuit, adjacent to the Wanghai Circuit where the Laoshan Sect was located, so Zhao Lü had heard of Meng Wei, who was the chief disciple of the Laoshan Sect's current generation.
If someone like him claimed to lack talent, very few in the world could be considered talented.
Though Fang Shaobai had not gone into detail, everyone gathered the general idea. After all, the Sword Fiend had been famous for sixty or seventy years, and tales of his legends had spread across the jianghu long ago.
The most famous among them was how, before turning thirty, he had defeated every champion across the Seven Great Sword Sects with a single sword, making his name as the Sword Fiend.
Previously, people only knew Ye Tianlin had won, but now it seemed those duels had stakes attached.
The side swords of the sect masters!
Everyone exchanged glances, realizing that since Fang Shaobai and the others made no deliberate effort to conceal it, the news was not an absolute secret. Yet for seventy years, such explosive news had never leaked out.
There was only one truth!
Namely, everyone who knew had refrained from gossiping about it. After all, a sect master's personal sword was the face and dignity of a sect. The Seven Great Sword Sects themselves could claim not to mind and use the loss as internal motivation, but outsiders could not make careless remarks.
Especially since this was not a single sect, but the collective Seven Great Sword Sects.
Spreading the word recklessly would hardly earn gratitude from the Tianshan Sect far in the Western Regions, while the Seven Great Sword Sects were colossi of the Central Plains. Heaven only knew whether they truly didn't care!
After all, the Seven Great Sword Sects were not lacking in Xiantian experts, nor even martial grandmasters.
"Drink, drink!" Niu Zilian raised his cup, then said to Song Chengyue, "I am also relieved to see Brother Song return to the Northwest. Your esteemed father and I hailed from the same home prefecture; though we never met, our spirits were attuned. He was wronged and murdered by the Emperor, and I could not bear to see his lineage severed. The Shuntian Army is engaged in a business of losing heads, with success or failure uncertain. Brother Song joining us would indeed have been far too dangerous. Going to the Northwestern Army can also cause trouble for the Emperor; the Prince of Zhenxi's advice was exceedingly thorough."
Song Chengyue raised his cup. "Thank you for your understanding, Military Strategist. I am grateful you do not view me as a deserter."
Duan Rui and Song Yuanjing raised their cups as well. "Who knows, we may need to head to the Northwest in the future to ask Brother Song and your sister for help!"
Song Chengyue raised his cup in return. "I will not refuse!"
Song Qingchuan had stayed behind her brother the entire journey, speaking little. Now she also raised her cup. "Uncle Duan, Uncle Song, you must come!"
With that, she turned toward Wang Yu, stealing a glance at him from the corner of her eyes before subconsciously glancing at Li Yunxiu and Qianqian. Her lips quivered slightly. "The Prince of Zhenxi... and both consorts are also welcome."
Li Yunxiu pursed her lips, while Qianqian wore a faint, ambiguous smile.
Wang Yu laughed it off. "As long as General Wang doesn't mind, I can visit anytime, haha!"
Fang Shaobai seemed to recall something and raised an eyebrow. "Brother Zhao, now that the business with the Loulan treasure is settled, are you in a hurry to return to Longshan Prefecture?"
Wang Yu looked at Fang Shaobai. "Certainly not."
"Since you're not in a rush, Brother Zhao might as well come with me to Mount Tianshan," Fang Shaobai invited. "During this sword contest on Mount Tianshan, all of us will take part. Since Brother Zhao also practices swordsmanship, why not join us to pay respects to the mountain, observe the ceremony, and enjoy the excitement?"
Fang Shaobai put it politely, but he was actually offering Wang Yu a chance to observe the sword duels and broaden his horizons.
The decennial sword duel between the Seven Great Sword Sects and the Tianshan Sect could undoubtedly be called a grand event in the martial world, and by no means did just anyone qualify to ascend the mountain and observe.
Without sufficient status and martial arts, see if the Tianshan Sect would even let you through their doors!
It was only because Fang Shaobai invited him; otherwise, given the Tianshan Sect's domineering conduct in the Western Regions, they might not even show courtesy to Wang Yu, the Prince of Zhenxi.
"Sounds great!" Wang Yu immediately nodded.
Besides the Tianshan Sect, Mount Tianshan also had Tianshan snow lotuses—rare treasures of the world. Baolun Monastery had plucked a single snow lotus and refined it into two Snow Lotus Jade Marrow Pills, which had been of immense help to him.
If he could pluck one on Mount Tianshan and consume it, could he step directly into the Xiantian realm?
Wang Yu looked at Qianqian. "Are you going?"
Qianqian took Wang Yu's arm. "Wherever Brother Yu goes, Qianqian goes."
Wang Yu looked toward Li Yunxiu, who gave a faint smile. "I have long heard of Mount Tianshan's grandeur. Such an opportunity is rare, and I don't want to miss it either."
Mount Tianshan was in the northwest of the Western Regions, far removed from the Central Plains. Who knew why Ye Tianlin had built his sect here? Could it be for the Tianshan snow lotus?
Fang Shaobai had only invited Wang Yu. While Wang Yu brought along his two wives, it was inconvenient to bring anyone else, not to mention that this was a martial arts clash where bringing too large an entourage would be unseemly.
Having witnessed Wang Yu's lightness skill and swordsmanship, and with Qianqian, a Xiantian expert, by his side, Zhao Shan and Zhao He had no worries at all. They accepted Wang Yu's orders to escort the treasure back to the prince's manor first; military and administrative affairs would continue to be handled by Zhao Rong until they returned.
Wang Yu then asked Ma Bojun to oversee the rear guard and escort the Loulan treasure back to the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor. Naturally, everyone present received a share, and two wagons of treasure were given to White Horse Manor. Ma Bojun naturally would not refuse, so he led Zhao Shan and Zhao He, along with the manor guards and three hundred Iron Eagle Cavalry, on their return journey.
The Shuntian Army also packed their gear, disguising the remaining treasure under Western Regions medicinal herbs and Persian rugs, and once again raised the banners of Flying Tiger Escort Agency and Tiancheng Escort Agency, setting off in grand fashion toward Yumen Pass.
Wang Yu, together with Li Yunxiu and Qianqian, kept over a dozen fine horses to rotate mounts, giving three of them to Fang Shaobai and his companions. "Did you not ride horses when you came west past Yumen Pass?"
"We move faster than horses," Fang Shaobai answered as he swung into the saddle. "And we don't have to prepare dry rations and water for the horses either."
"Though having them is certainly better than not." Meng Wei also mounted a dapple-gray steed and praised, "Fine horse!"
The battle against the Black Qiang cavalry had not only preserved the Loulan treasure but also yielded over a hundred steppe steeds—a truly bountiful haul.
Shen Zhijun settled lightly onto his horse's back, cupping his hands in thanks. "Many thanks, Prince of Zhenxi."
"Don't mention it." Wang Yu waved a hand. "When traveling abroad, don't use official titles."
Shen Zhijun broke into a smile. "Brother Zhao."
Wang Yu chuckled, looked up at the sky, and asked Fang Shaobai, "Which way do we go?"
Fang Shaobai unfolded a map. "We agreed to meet Brother Liu and the others in the Cheshi royal capital. We'll head northwest and rest tonight at Luohe Fair on the border of Loulan."
The group spurred their horses northwest, soon drawing close to the Ancient City of Loulan they had left earlier. Clouds of dust billowed south of the ancient city; several factions were actually locked in a melee. Though each side was not large in numbers, the fighting was fiercely spirited.
Li Yunxiu knitted her brows and looked over. "There are Loulan cavalry, remnants of the Mount Qi bandits, and some people with linen wraps around their heads wielding scimitars—Western Regions horse bandits!"
The corners of Qianqian's mouth curved slightly as she chuckled and shook her head. "How pathetic. Coming to blows over the bait the Shuntian Army left behind."
Meng Wei's eyes gleamed brightly. "Great Bandits of Mount Qi? Western Regions horse bandits?"
Shen Zhijun smiled. "Since we have crossed paths with them, let us rid the people of the Northwest of this scourge."
Fang Shaobai laughed, dismounted, and leaped forward, kicking up a yellow dragon of sand and dust as he swept toward the battlefield. Meng Wei and Shen Zhijun drew their longswords and followed.
Now this was wuxia!
Wang Yu felt his blood start to boil. With a hearty laugh, his Kangwei Sword cleared its scabbard. His figure floated down like a swallow before bursting forward in an explosive sprint. Moving second yet arriving first, he overtook Meng Wei and Shen Zhijun, crashing into the throng of bandits alongside Fang Shaobai.
Four men, four swords, carving four lines—invincible!
Chapter 68