Chapter 61: Jianghu Affairs Are Also Mankind’s Affairs

The third day of the Great Liujiang Gathering was also the final day of the martial arts competition. Song You did not go to the pavilion halfway up the mountain. Instead, he accepted the enthusiastic invitation of Heroine Wu and went with her to observe the event from the center of Swallow Immortal Terrace.

This spot, at the edge of the yin-yang symbol, was exclusively reserved for Xishan Sect. The martial arts competition took place on the yin-yang symbol in front of them, so they had a clear view, and even the wind from punches and sword slashes could brush past their heads.

Xishan Sect arrived with dozens of skilled fighters. Daoism was popular in Yizhou, so Xishan Sect maintained good relations with several Daoist temples on Qingcheng Mountain. Song You, being a Daoist and a native of Yizhou, was greeted by the sect leader and Heroine Wu’s master. They exchanged a few words with him about Qingcheng Mountain and its temples before taking their seats.

There weren’t many chairs, and most were occupied by the leaders and elders of various major sects and other distinguished guests. Those with lesser standing either stood at the back or sat on the ground in the front, as formality was not a concern. Heroine Wu sat cross-legged on the ground at the very front, and as her guest, Song You sat beside her. A calico cat sat obediently, grooming itself.

Behind them, faint conversations could be heard.

“Look! Another swallow!”

“There’s always been just one. It’s probably the same one from yesterday and the day before. It has come back again today.”

“This swallow is unusual.”

“I think so too...”

Hearing this, Song You also looked up. Today was another cloudy day, with the sky smeared with random brushstrokes of deep and light gray, as if someone had lazily painted it with a wet brush. A black and white swallow flew freely across this painting, bringing the sky to life as if it were the finishing touch to that painting.

Song You smiled and continued watching the competition ahead. Today’s matches were indeed more exciting than the previous days. The fighters were either top-notch disciples from various major sects, or cocky and ignorant young upstarts. Heroine Wu explained that some were unaffiliated but highly skilled, joining in for fun with hidden identities. They were likely with the government or had military backgrounds.

The stage was so close that Song You and the cat often worried about being accidentally injured during the fights. However, everyone was careful. Knowing that stepping out of the yin-yang symbol meant defeat, no one wanted to leave so easily.

To help him understand, Heroine Wu whispered explanations to Song You, vividly showcasing the enthusiasm and frankness of the people of the

jianghu

and Yizhou.

“The elder from the Jindao Sect is a master of the machete. He once earned the respect of the entire

jianghu

. Though he’s older now and not as agile, his experience in combat has only grown. Opposite him is Shu Yifan, whose background is unknown. He’s fought the most in these three days and hasn’t lost yet. From his swordsmanship, I’d say he’s unmatched among the younger generation in the

jianghu

.”

Song You looked ahead. While the connoisseur recognized the artistry, the layman simply enjoyed the show. Sometimes, it was more fun to simply enjoy the show, and he was here to have fun.

“Earlier, there was a young man whose skills impressed me. You mentioned he was a disciple of the largest sect in the

jianghu

,” Song You remarked.

“Xi Yiji from the Yunhe Sect?” Heroine Wu asked.

“Yes.” Song You nodded and looked at the young swordsman ahead. “How do they compare?”

“The Yunhe Sect is the disgrace of the

jianghu

,” Heroine Wu whispered.

“Oh?” Song You was puzzled.

“That Xi Yiji seemed to win easily because he picked weak opponents to look impressive,” Heroine Wu remarked.

“I see,” Song You said.

“He’s not even worth discussing,” Heroine Wu said.

“And the two on stage?” Song You asked.

“It’s hard to say.” Heroine Wu observed the fight ahead. “Youngsters have quick reflexes, great physical strength, powerful bursts of energy, and good stamina. Middle-aged fighters may have declined in those areas, but their experience and refined skills make up for it. From what I see, chances are probably 60-40 in favor of Shu Yifan.”

“Impressive...” Song You remarked.

Just as she finished speaking, the two on stage bowed and began their fight. The sound of blade and sword clashing filled the air. Both fighters were agile, their movements dazzling.

The elder wielding the machete struck with immense force, each swing carrying the power to cleave mountains and split rivers, and his attacks were continuous and unrelenting. The swordsman's movements were as swift as lightning, as agile as the swallow in the sky, yet each thrust of his sword was equally fierce and sharp.

The crowd outside cheered continuously. As Heroine Wu predicted, the young swordsman quickly gained the upper hand.

Clang!

The sword struck the machete. Using his force in a clever manner to disarm the elder, the young swordsman sent the heavy golden machete spinning high into the air and flying toward the audience, startling the nearby swallow.

“

Whoa!”

The crowd quickly moved aside. The machete, making a loud noise, descended toward where Song You and Heroine Wu sat.

Swish!

Heroine Wu instantly rose, ready to draw her sword to catch the flying machete. The young swordsman also left the yin-yang symbol and rushed over, intending to deflect the machete. Unexpectedly, a faster figure intervened.

It was the swallow. Startled and off course, it darted back with lightning speed and collided with the machete. The swallow's swift and graceful agility was evident. But when it collided heavily with the golden machete, it forcefully knocked the machete off its course.

The golden machete then fell toward the leader of the Xishan Sect. Sitting calmly on the bamboo chair, he caught it effortlessly and glanced at the swallow before he tossed the machete back to the elder of the Jindao Sect with a smile.

“You’re not as strong as before anymore.”

The elder from the Jindao Sect, looking slightly embarrassed, smiled and shook his head. “Indeed, I'm old now. I’m no match for the young.”

The swordsman respectfully bowed. The audience was either amazed by the swallow’s timely intervention or the fact that a once-renowned master of the

jianghu

could be so easily defeated by an unknown young swordsman. Few noticed Song You cupping his hand to the sky, thanking the swallow, though the intervention hadn’t been necessary.

Heroine Wu reassured Song You, “Don't worry, even without the swallow, the machete wouldn’t have hit you.”

“Of course,” he replied.

“Look, Shu Yifan still hasn't stepped off the stage,” Heroine Wu said and glanced up. She knew the event was likely not a coincidence but had seen enough strange things in the

jianghu

to not ask too many questions. The cat beside them could breathe fire, after all. Their acquaintance was still shallow, so there was no need to inquire about everything. So, she quickly turned her attention back to the front.

The young swordsman remained on stage and politely invited challenges from all directions, seeking further opponents. Though his tone was courteous, it did not hide his sharpness. However, no one stepped forward.

Heroine Wu explained, “Typically, young fighters challenge each other while seniors fight among themselves. Like just now, when the elder from the Jindao Sect went on stage, we juniors couldn't rush up unless specifically called. Otherwise, we'd get scolded. That guy’s not following the rules.

“Now, no young fighters dare face him, because they fear defeat. The seniors are unwilling as well because they are even more afraid of losing.”

“Indeed, the young have the advantage.” Song You observed the crowd.

This was a world filled with spiritual qi, where everyone possessed innate spirituality. Thus, even without cultivating Daoist techniques, those in the

jianghu

who spent their lives honing their martial arts skills, strengthening their bodies, and refining their qi and lifeforce could achieve significant accomplishments.

But as they aged, their qi and physical strength would gradually decline, though not as drastically as in Song You’s world in his previous life.

According to Heroine Wu, both middle-aged martial artists and young ones had their own advantages, and their overall combat power was similar. This indicated that the decline was not significant and could be compensated for by increased experience and skills.

In old age, they still could not compare to the young. However, the elders had their own rules, and respect for elders was a

jianghu

rule. Unable to find opponents, the young swordsman reluctantly left. Two more fighters took the stage, and Heroine Wu continued her explanations. Song You listened attentively, finding her commentary more fascinating than the fight itself.

Soon, it was time to conclude. There was no ultimate master stepping forward for a final duel to conclude with a spectacular finale. The martial arts competition of the Great Liujiang Gathering ended just like that.

Heroine Wu explained that even the top masters in the

jianghu

had mixed results and were often matched against each other. The outcome could depend on their condition, performance, or even luck, making it hard to rank them definitively.

And the martial arts masters of the

jianghu

each had their own influence and territories, whether in Yizhou or Xuzhou, or in the North or South. Northerners found it difficult to admit that their renowned heroes were not as good as those from the South, and Southerners would never acknowledge that their childhood legends were inferior to those from the North. That was generally how it was.

Some who were reputed to be great were actually not very skilled. However, they were all famous figures in

jianghu

. Having reached this level with significant family assets and businesses to manage, they had many considerations and rarely exposed one another's weaknesses.

Some renowned

jianghu

figures were more famous for their wealth and virtues than their martial prowess. For example, Mr. Sha was known for his generosity and righteousness. Whenever a

jianghu

person sought refuge with him, they were treated to fine food and drink.

Whenever a

jianghu

person encountered difficulties, he spared no effort in helping them out, whether it was treating injuries or illnesses. He even personally brewed medicine for them.

If you happened to pass by his house and knocked on his door, even if he had never met you before or if you were a nobody in the

jianghu

, he would treat you like an honored guest.

Before you left, he would ensure you were well provisioned for your journey, seeing you off for a distance of ten Li with generosity that earned him more respect than many leaders of major sects in the

jianghu

. He represented the good side of the world.

Song You found these stories more intriguing than the fights.

“The competition has ended, and it’s time for Lady Calico and me to leave. Thank you for the invitation and the detailed explanations, heroine. I've gained a lot from this glimpse into the

jianghu

.” Song You then stood up and bowed to her.

“I've said it many times, in the

jianghu

, we become friends upon meeting. We’ve met several times, so no need to be so formal,” Heroine Wu replied cheerfully.

“Next time, for sure,” Song You said.

“Where are you staying?”

“A Daoist temple outside the city.”

“That’s good. It must be better than living in the city, “ Heroine Wu remarked.

“Indeed, it’s peaceful.”

“When do you plan to leave Anqing?” “In a few days.”

“Where will you go next?”

“First, I'll tour Xuzhou. As for after that, I am embarrassed to say that I haven't planned yet,” Song You admitted.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

“You’re quite carefree, taking it one step at a time!”

“And you, Heroine Wu? Returning to Yizhou?”

“The Great Liujiang Gathering isn’t over yet. I’ll leave the day after tomorrow, but I am not going back to Yizhou. I won't be traveling with my master and the others. Hehe, anyway, our time together is almost at its end,” Heroine Wu said with a grin. “But in the

jianghu

, it's normal to constantly meet and part ways with someone. Don't be like those scholars, fussing over every little thing.”

“Heroine Wu, you’re indeed a free spirit,” Song You remarked.

“Join us for a meal tonight?”

“I’d love to, but tonight I have other plans.”

“Oh, what is it?”

“Yesterday after the rain cleared, a Daoist friend from the temple went up the mountain to search for mushrooms and actually found quite a few. When I left this morning, he reminded me to return early to eat the mushrooms,” Song You expressed apologetically.

“If I don't go back, they'll probably be waiting anxiously at the temple. During this time, I've been well taken care of by the temple owner and Daoist friends. How could I disappoint them like this?”

Heroine Wu nodded. “I understand.”

“Let’s meet another day.”

“I'll see you in the city tomorrow. Come around noon to the inn near the north city gate where I'm staying. I'll treat you to meat and wine as a farewell,” she proposed straightforwardly. “Considering the vastness of the

jianghu

, after I leave this city, we will likely never see each other ever again.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Go on, then.” Heroine Wu waved her hand, truly carefree.