Chapter Thirty-One: The Real Show Begins

Qiao Huangyun emerged from the tent carrying a heap of things in his arms.

Chen Tu and Zhou Luer were warming themselves beside a brazier outside the tent.

Chen Tu, who prized cleanliness above all else, naturally found Zhou Luer especially distasteful. But Gu Liubai had already made the arrangements: tonight, they would all have Qiao Huangyun alter their appearances. Those who had never formally shown themselves at Black Shawa could go later, but men like Chen Tu and Zhou Luer had to be disguised first.

When Qiao Huangyun said that Pei Yunque had actually arranged those several matters for Gu Liubai, Chen Tu’s face turned dark enough that no disguise was needed.

“Were they old acquaintances? Otherwise, how could this have happened?” he asked, frowning fiercely as he tried to coax the answer he wanted from the skinny monkey beside him.

Zhou Luer merely grinned. “How could Fifteenth Brother have known her before?”

Chen Tu’s spirits sank at once. Then he suddenly understood that even if Gu Liubai had known Pei Yunque before, this was still something ordinary people could never accomplish.

A spy planted by the frontier army had somehow managed to contact the Second Young Lady of the Pei family directly—and even make her work for him?

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

“It’s all right. Going to Chang’an to slaughter pigs isn’t so bad. At least you’ll never lack pork-head meat,” Zhou Luer said consolingly, patting Chen Tu on the shoulder with the hand he had just used to wipe his nose.

Chen Tu flew into a rage, then looked bewildered. “What do you mean, Zhou Luer, by saying I should go to Chang’an to slaughter pigs?”

Zhou Luer answered with a grin, “Fifteenth Brother said that all of us would be put to great use once we reached Chang’an. But if you turn out to be useless there, slaughtering pigs would still be a decent livelihood.”

“Me? Slaughter pigs? You’re all going to be put to great use, which means Gu Fifteen thinks I’m even less useful than a skinny monkey like you?” Chen Tu was so furious that he began to laugh.

Xu Tuibei stood not far away.

He remained there quietly, his hands clasped behind his back.

After learning that Gu Liubai had met Pei Yunque and that the two had gotten along well, the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally settled.

Gu Fifteen, Gu Fifteen—you really can do what you say.

It was bitterly cold outside the tent.

Yet the heart that had fallen back into place burned hot.

He could not even remember how many years it had been since he had stood with his hands behind his back like this, gazing at the distant stars.

All these years, whether at Yang Pass or Black Shawa, if he could sit, he would not stand; if he could lie down, he would never sit.

Perhaps in the end, he really would rot away here.

But now a monster like Gu Fifteen had appeared, and a noble benefactor like Pei Yunque had arrived.

From this night onward, perhaps he could stand up again.

He seemed somewhat dazed.

When Zhou Luer mentioned Chang’an and slaughtering pigs, Xu Tuibei saw a star in the distance turn red, as red as pig’s blood.

But when he focused his eyes again, nothing seemed out of place.

Perhaps it was because he had thought of Chang’an, which he was gradually forgetting, and his eyes had reddened without his realizing it.

The two officials from the Astronomical Office were sleeping soundly. Naturally, they saw nothing unusual in the night sky.

“Gu Fifteen is one hell of a bastard. He really has something.”

Pei Yunque could make many young talents tremble with fear. That was certainly not because she was frighteningly stupid. Before returning to the relay station and sitting down, she had already understood Gu Liubai’s cunning.

But the two sword intents that night—the silent killing intent that arrived as quietly as hidden fragrance, nourishing all things without a sound—and Yin Shiniang’s bearing had truly been like strong wine to her.

Whether Feng Shuqing deserved to be called a true grand swordmaster no longer mattered to her in the slightest.

What mattered was that this battle had broadened her horizons!

At this level, swordmasters did not compete by recklessly forcing their true energy against one another. It was a refined battle fought within a few inches, with life and death separated by no more than a hair.

With such formidable cultivation in true energy on both sides, they had not, as she had imagined, unleashed their power and bombarded each other like giant elephants trampling across the land.

So that was not how true energy was meant to be used!

Her several friends in Chang’an certainly had no idea of this.

Without realizing it, she had already risen above them.

They would not even be able to brag in front of her.

Heh heh!

Savoring the flavor of that battle and thinking of how Gu Liubai had used her, she felt not the slightest anger.

She merely thought that she might as well take pity on the lonely young man.

Besides, she had always been magnanimous.

Pei Yunque remained wide awake until deep into the night.

At noon the next day, all the officials from the Court of Imperial Studs and the Ministry of War would arrive at Black Shawa, and the Xie family’s grand spectacle would begin.

By then, she ought to be able to see Gu Liubai and Yin Shiniang again.

…

Morning came.

Xu Tuibei met with Gu Liubai.

“No movement from Egret Grass Relay Station?”

“None. According to the information I gathered, Xie Wan has not left Egret Grass Relay Station either.”

Besides Xu Tuibei, Gu Liubai had also managed to inquire into what was happening there. The information they received was identical: Xie Wan had not left Egret Grass Relay Station.

Did Xie Wan truly have no desire to witness a battle between grand swordmasters with his own eyes?

Or had he known from the beginning that this was merely a show arranged by Gu Liubai, and therefore had no interest in coming to join the excitement?

“Gu Fifteen…”

“Hmm?”

Just as Gu Liubai was wondering whether he should go to Pei Yunque and find out more about Xie Wan, Xu Tuibei’s expression once again turned solemn.

“Why didn’t you have Pei Yunque prepare travel permits for you?”

“The people around her are like playmates. They can indulge her whims and let her cause trouble, but the elders of her family will not,” Gu Liubai explained calmly. “Even if she is cautious enough, she is still using the power of the Pei family. We would remain under the Pei family’s watch the entire time.”

Xu Tuibei nodded. “So there must be someone formidable from the Pei family hidden inside Black Shawa—someone even she may not know about.”

Gu Liubai smiled faintly. “If you think it necessary, find him. You must understand that this may have a great deal to do with us, but it has little to do with you. Even if I manage to have Pei Yunque transferred back inside the pass, the Pei family’s hidden force will not interfere with her. To them, this is only a minor matter.”

Xu Tuibei understood that Gu Liubai meant well.

It was like a mouse trying to investigate a cat—extremely dangerous.

But after hesitating briefly, he still made up his mind.

“I’ll see whether I can uncover him.”

Gu Liubai was not surprised in the slightest.

Xu Tuibei was clever enough, capable enough, and loyal enough.

Otherwise, so many people here would never have been willing to risk their lives for him.

He had merely been short of luck all these years.

“Are you really confident you can keep Pei Yunque’s appetite whetted?” Xu Tuibei asked seriously before dusting himself off and leaving.

Gu Liubai gave him an utterly affirmative look. “Any random member of the Y mountainous swarm would be enough to keep her hooked for a long time.”

The sun climbed into the sky.

The two officials from the Astronomical Office awoke in a daze.

Their prediction had been accurate. It was a bright and beautiful day.

Pei Yunque, however, was not in a particularly pleasant mood.

She found it difficult to settle her thoughts.

She knew that a true grand swordmaster and someone very close to that level would perform a battle today, but she had no idea when the show would begin.

Black Shawa quickly grew noisy.

Large numbers of well-fed, muscular warhorses were driven in from the surrounding pastures and brought into several stables within the city, where they awaited inspection by officials from the Court of Imperial Studs and the Ministry of War.

A raised platform had already been built in the city.

Priests from several nearby tribes would first conduct a ritual, praying for abundant grasslands the following year and even finer warhorses.

The air became foul. By the time the entire city reeked of horse manure, several hundred cavalrymen and officials had already arrived from the direction of Yang Pass.

Feng Shuqing’s sword case had been shattered. He wrapped his long sword in a piece of coarse cloth, grasped it in his hand, and slowly walked toward the platform.

At the same time, a middle-aged official appeared before Gu Liubai and Yin Shiniang.

The official bowed courteously to them. A mild smile hung on his face, but when he spoke softly to Yin Shiniang, his tone was icy.

“If you do not wish to implicate the people in this city who work for you, and if you want them to remain alive and well, then fight a sword duel against our man. Also, before the duel begins, paint your eye rings white.”

Yin Shiniang’s complexion was somewhat yellow at the moment, and the skin around both her eyes was black.

Qiao Huangyun’s disguising skills were exceptionally fine. Even at close range, no one could possibly tell that her dark eye rings were fake.

Unfortunately, he now had to remove them again.

“The master of the Frost Sword is in the city!”

“Feng Shuqing of Listening Tide Sword Academy is going to fight the master of the Frost Sword!”

No one knew where the news had come from. By the time Yin Shiniang emerged from the tent beside the deserted granary, the entire city of Black Shawa had already been swept up by the astonishing announcement.

There were three thousand frontier soldiers in Black Shawa that day, along with more than two thousand others of various kinds.

At least half of those three thousand soldiers had heard their commanders boast about the Frost Sword’s reputation. They all knew that he was an extraordinary grand swordmaster, someone whom even the people of Chang’an might never have the chance to see.

And now a swordmaster qualified to challenge him was going to do so here?

Anyone who witnessed this battle could boast about it for the rest of his life, could he not?

No further encouragement was needed. Black Shawa instantly fell into an atmosphere of celebration.

The people of the Great Tang loved poetry, because it represented learning and talent.

They loved the sword, because the people of the Great Tang revered courage and admired elegance.

Of all weapons, none other could make killing appear noble and graceful.

And a grand swordmaster was someone who had pushed the art of the sword to its absolute limit.

Even the officials who carried imperial orders and bore enormous responsibilities merely instructed their men to guard the stables carefully, then tacitly allowed the two combatants to use the platform that had already been built.

The emperor was far away, and the heavens were high.

To witness a sword duel of this level, the hardships of the journey were worth enduring.

“That damned bastard. He didn’t even come to invite me.”

Pei Yunque had known the duel would take place on that platform as soon as she saw it, but she was deeply dissatisfied that Gu Liubai had not come personally to escort her there.

She decided to scold the bastard to his face once again.

“Do not try any tricks. Give these honored officials a duel impressive enough that they can return to Chang’an and boast about it with shining eyes,” the middle-aged official said. He followed behind Yin Shiniang with his head slightly lowered, appearing respectful, yet still reminding her uneasily, “So long as you accomplish that, we will allow them to leave alive.”

His voice was chilling.

But all his attention was fixed on Yin Shiniang, and he failed to notice the even colder gaze of Xu Tuibei, who was sitting on the ground and basking in the sunlight.

Gu Liubai had of course noticed the fat man.

He sighed inwardly.

That middle-aged official probably did not have much time left to live.

Xu Tuibei could tolerate the powerful and privileged driving him to a place like this. He could even tolerate people far inferior to him being promoted and ennobled.

But now that he had reached Black Shawa, a place from which there was no retreat, this city was like his final nest.

He could not tolerate those great personages still threatening people in his nest with the lives of him and his brothers.

Before leaving this place, a man like that would undoubtedly become the finest target for him to vent his fury upon.

Chen Tu had been disguised until even he could no longer recognize himself.

He had become an elegant scholar, the sort of man anyone would mistake for a great poet accompanying the officials from Chang’an.

But there was one thing Chen Tu could not understand: why had Gu Liubai not asked Qiao Huangyun to disguise him as well?

Why was he swaggering through the streets as openly as ever?

Was he afraid that people would fail to remember his face—or perhaps fail to remember those eyes of his?