Chapter 341 – Unwelcome Guests
Thus, the wandering trio settled down in Xuanfeng Valley. Chi Nanwei had come to ask Ye Beizhi how long he planned to stay, feeling that living with other people would invite gossip. Ye Beizhi couldn’t answer her question for he didn’t know how long they had to stay either—it all depended on how long the war would last.
Having struggled on battlefields for many years, he knew war all too well. He had a hunch that this invasion wasn’t just another yearly skirmish—it could very well lead to the fall of an entire nation. If his hunch proved true, then this would be the safest place in all of the Central Plains. Any farther, and they would have to take to the sea.
If possible, Ye Beizhi didn’t want to keep dragging Chi Nanwei along in such an unstable life. He had even, on occasion, thought about finding a place far from the jianghu and its chaos, to settle down with her to live a life with simple wine, coarse tea, and a few acres of good farmland.
Even though Chi Nanwei didn’t receive a clear answer, her home was wherever Ye Beizhi was.
Compared to Ye Beizhi’s longing and Chi Nanwei’s acceptance of fate, Fang Dingwu’s days had been far more fulfilling of late.
Ever since Fang Dingwu arrived at Xuanfeng Valley, he didn't waste a single day. To those in the jianghu, Xuanfeng Valley was a prestigious sect; to those who practiced the blade, it was sacred ground.
Fang Dingwu had trained with dual blades since childhood. In the first few days, he would rise early and rush to the training ground of Xuanfeng Valley to watch the disciples practice. There were no fixed forms to their blade training—some used short blades, others curved sabers, some wielded broad-backed knives, and some even used throwing knives.
In Xuanfeng Valley, as long as it was a blade, they knew how to wield it. To Fang Dingwu, this place was basically a holy site. Unable to resist the itch, he would often step forward to spar with the disciples. The disciples, knowing he was a guest of the Valley Master, gladly agreed. They exchanged blows with restraint, having wins and losses on both sides.
All in all, Fang Dingwu still had more wins than losses among the disciples—not because his techniques were particularly refined, but because he had practiced the blade for many years and roamed the jianghu for just as long. His experience gave him an edge. If it came down purely to skill with the blade, he still fell short of those disciples. It was only his seasoned instincts that carried him through.
Fang Dingwu was well aware of this himself, so he shamelessly went to find Ye Beizhi one day.
Ye Beizhi was sitting in the courtyard oiling his blade when he noticed Fang Dingwu staring intently at him without looking away for quite some time. Feeling uneasy under the gaze, he hesitantly asked, "Need something?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Fang Dingwu nodded eagerly.