Peace Order

Xue Shuangtao also recognized this young man.

It was that year, before the Central State inspection tour, when she went to the Academy as promised and met a pair of traveling merchants, father and son. She smiled and said, "Is that... Little Shitou?"

When Shi Yisong was young, he followed his father on the trade routes. At that time he first met Li Guanyi, who was going to the Central State together with Kuang the Swordsman. Later they parted ways, and when he left the Central State, he encountered the Xue Family’s Trading Team which was then heading there. He formed good ties with both Li Guanyi and Xue Shuangtao.

Meeting again this time, Shi Yisong was overjoyed and said, "So it’s you two. Hahaha, I thought I’d never have the chance to see you again. Come, come, have a seat!"

Shi Yisong stood up, fetched two stools, and called over the people in the caravan who sold snacks to bring food. First he spread oiled paper on the table, then laid out all the food upon it.

They idly spoke of the past, each recounting old stories.

As they chatted, Shi Yisong briefly spoke of his own experiences—nothing more than struggling to survive amidst the years of war. Now, with the Unification of the World, relying on his Martial arts he took to the trade routes again. Since there were no more wars on any front, he was doing even better than his father’s generation once did.

He asked whether the old green-robed man who had once given him a few pointers in swordsmanship was still well.

Only to learn that the green-robed old man had already passed on. His face dimmed involuntarily as he said, "All my Martial skills were guided by that senior and Taoist Li. Back then I didn’t think much of it, but later, as I kept cultivating and my Martial skills gradually improved, I finally realized what a great opportunity that day had been."

"Since that senior has passed on, I should go and offer a stick of incense."

He then looked at the approaching Xue Shuangtao and Li Guanyi, and asked in puzzlement, "You two are...?"

His gaze swept over the two of them, and suddenly a knowing smile appeared:

"Back then, Manager Xue led the caravan to search for Taoist Li."

"Now it seems that over these ten-plus years, Manager Xue’s caravan has finally caught up with Taoist Li."

Xue Shuangtao was slightly taken aback and was about to say something.

Li Guanyi gently took the woman’s wrist, a faint smile at his lips, and said:

"Yes."

Shi Yisong laughed loudly. Though only of age, he had roamed the chaotic world, and had the bold and unrestrained air of a knight of the Martial World. There at that simple stall he drank freely. Suddenly thinking of something, he drew the two swords at his waist and placed them on the table.

One was a wooden sword, with the character "Li" carved upon it.

The other was a fine sword forged with superior craftsmanship, bearing the character "Xue."

Shi Yisong smiled and said, "These are the swords you two gave me when I was young. Now, after more than ten years apart, we meet again. Let these two swords be my gift to you."

"Back then, Manager Xue did not see Taoist Li."

"Today, you two have come together."

"Even for someone like me, a man of the Martial World’s caravans, this is a joyful and satisfying thing to see. Only today, seeing old friends once more, do I truly feel that these past ten-odd years of Golden Age and Taiping were not false words."

Li Guanyi and Xue Shuangtao exchanged a glance.

Each took up one sword.

In Li Guanyi’s hand was the fine steel sword bearing the character "Xue," which the young lady Manager had given him back then.

Xue Shuangtao, however, took up the willow-wood sword carved with the character "Li," which the Ranger Taoist had personally inscribed in those days.

After ten-odd years of Martial World night rain, it was as if they were receiving from an old friend’s hand the tokens they had once exchanged. Shi Yisong rose, drank with a smile, then folded his hands and gave a deep bow, laughing loudly: "Today, I celebrate my old friends!"

"Taoist Li, Mrs. Li, may the love between you run as deep as the sea, and may you share a hundred years of harmony!"

"When we meet again someday, I hope I’ll get to see your children."

"And I also hope that by then my Martial skills will have improved a bit, so I can carve a wooden sword to give you. It won’t count as any sort of Martial treasure, just a keepsake from an old friend."

They shared good wine.

Old friends of the Martial World meet by fate, and part at ease.

Xue Shuangtao drank the wine.

It was but thin wine of the Martial World, yet though the wine does not inebriate, people themselves become drunk.

Suddenly the thoughts of her youth stirred again, and she went to play about in the trees. Just then the wind blew the clouds apart. The woman spread her arms, her green robe swaying slightly in the wind like a youthful kite. She stepped onto a slender branch, turned, and looked at the young man standing below.

"Hey, Li Guanyi."

And so, it was the young Miss calling out:

"When will you marry me?"

And it was also the young Pharmacist, head tilted up, answering with solemn seriousness:

"Today is just right."

Xue Shuangtao chuckled softly. This time there was no rain to make her footing slippery. She simply spread her arms and jumped down. The hem of her green robe fluttered in the wind like a butterfly. Li Guanyi opened his arms and caught the woman in his embrace.

Their hair tips brushed against each other.

Their temples touched and lingered.

With a smile in her eyes, the woman gently kissed his temple, her breath fragrant as orchids:

"Husband."

Li Guanyi held her, his expression gentle. Yet in this moment of such beauty, Xue Shuangtao suddenly seemed to awaken and said, "...It’s already late today. If we rush back to the palace now, will we be too late?"

Li Guanyi smiled faintly and said, "We won’t be late."

Xue Shuangtao tilted her head slightly.

Li Guanyi said, "Back then, there was still one ’old friend’ who owed me a promise."

With a sweep of Li Guanyi’s sleeve, a sword appeared in his hand. The Chi Xiao Sword cried out several times, turning into a streak of red-golden light that shot toward the sky, shaking the four directions. Faintly, a Dragon Roar was already rising.

......

Qin Palace—

Lights blazed everywhere; one could say that every corner was filled with a sense of lively bustle. Civil and military officials and the heroes of the age were all gathered here, both to reunite and to congratulate Your Majesty on the grand wedding, to celebrate the marriage of the emperor and empress.

All the various rites were already in place.

Solemn and dignified, this could be called the greatest event since the founding of the state.

The guests were seated in rows, all of them mighty figures. Vessels and implements were arrayed in full; the great nation’s ceremonial order resounded with bells and tripods, majesty and solemnity in the sound itself. Yet beside them stood the Historian, and the ritual officials, grave and proper—except, except!