As the saying goes: "Human words are to be feared; the tongues of many can melt gold."
Azure Dragon King Lin Da shot Black Tortoise King Mo Chao a cold glare, just about to speak, when a sharp voice rang out from behind:
"What is there left to compare? The young hero has already bested you with nothing but his fists and palms. Must you still draw blades and brandish swords? If steel were truly drawn, would not the Hall Master of the Hall of Loyalty carve the four of you to pieces?"
The crowd turned.
A middle-aged woman in flowing purple silk approached with measured steps. It was none other than Cai Hong, Mistress of the Purple Heaven Sect.
The Four Sages of Xuanwu hurried forward to greet her.
With a faint smile, Cai Hong said, "The Hall of Loyalty is renowned throughout the martial world—who has not heard its name? And after the battle atop Purple Cloud Mountain, where Young Hero Li's peerless martial skill shook the Justice Alliance, his fame has already spread through jianghu. Yet today, the Four Sages of Xuanwu dared dream of defeating him four against one? How could they possibly have prevailed?"
Cai Hong, as Sect Mistress of the Purple Heaven Sect, was a woman of immense standing. Her public rebuke of the Four Sages—and open praise of the youth before her—won silent admiration from all the gathered heroes.
Hearing himself praised so directly by the sect mistress, Li Jian flushed at once.
He bowed and said, "The honored seniors of your sect's Four Sages of Xuanwu possess extraordinary skill. This junior is young and inexperienced. Today, by fortunate chance, I merely sought a few pointers from the four seniors. We exchanged martial skill in friendship. If I have given offense, I ask your indulgence."
At that moment, Situ Kong also stepped forward. With a cold laugh, he said loudly,
"This old man dares ask a word. Your sect has coveted the Crouching Dragon Blade and sent men repeatedly to seize it. Such conduct is hardly open or honorable."
The moment Situ Kong opened his mouth, the entire crowd was caught off guard.
Even Cai Hong had not expected Situ Kong to publicly shame the Purple Heaven Sect before so many witnesses.
She thought to herself that, since the blade could not be taken today, there was no reason to invite further trouble. Thus she smiled and said:
"Senior Situ, your martial skill is profound, and our sect has long admired it. Now that the Crouching Dragon Blade has returned to its rightful owner, this is surely cause for celebration. If misunderstandings have arisen between us, then let us resolve them. How about this? There is a town ahead. Let our sect host a banquet at an inn there and make amends for today's offense. What say you?"
Situ Kong, upon hearing this, cried out at once,
"No good! A banquet is never just a banquet—there is surely another scheme beneath it!"
He still remembered how the Western Sacred Cult had once used the very same trick.
As the saying goes: "Bitten once by a snake, one fears even a rope for ten years."
Cai Hong did not take offense.
After all, she had already offered a public apology and a banquet before the heroes of jianghu. That was sincerity enough to preserve her sect's dignity and silence gossip. To withdraw now was the wiser course.
So she cupped her hands and said, "Very well then. Senior Situ, Hall Master Li, young lady—our sect has caused much disturbance today. I ask your understanding. Mountains and rivers may divide us, but jianghu is small. Until we meet again."
With that, she turned and swept away with her followers like a passing wind.
Once the Purple Heaven Sect had gone, the gathered heroes gradually dispersed as well.
Li Jian and Tan Wei immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"This junior Li Jian, and Tan Wei, pay respects to Senior Situ."
Situ Kong waved them off. "Enough ceremony. Come. Wu Tong loves nothing more than treating people to food and drink. Let us find an inn first and eat."
The three mounted their horses and set off.
Li Jian yielded his horse to Situ Kong and rode together with Tan Wei on a single mount.
Seeing the young man and woman seated so closely, the "Madman of the West," Situ Kong, naturally understood they were a pair of lovers blessed by heaven.
He could not resist teasing them.
"Boy, your luck with women is truly enviable! To have such a lovely companion at your side—countless men of jianghu would be green with envy. You must have burned very fine incense in your last life! To roam the world with such a beauty beside you—what a happy fate!"
Li Jian could only give an awkward laugh.
"Senior, Wei-mei has agreed to accompany me in wandering the world. Such devotion is a kindness I, Li Jian, will never forget. In this life, I will never become a heartless man who betrays love. I cannot fail her."
Situ Kong turned to Tan Wei and burst into laughter.
"Little girl, this boy is deeply devoted to you indeed!"
Li Jian's heartfelt declaration filled Tan Wei with joy—but such open confession had taken her entirely by surprise.
She was still young, after all.
At once, she blushed deeply, her face blooming red as peach blossoms. Lowering her head, she sat in bashful silence, shy and flustered, like a flower bud too delicate to bloom.
Seeing her embarrassment, Li Jian quickly said, "Senior, please say no more. Wei-mei is already terribly embarrassed."
Situ Kong immediately panicked.
The girl is thin-skinned. My loose tongue has gone too far again. Crude, vulgar—no wonder people find me insufferable.
He hurriedly apologized.
"It is all my fault—my big mouth has offended the young lady. Please do not take offense, miss. I shall slap my own mouth to make amends."
As he spoke, he raised his hand and began striking himself across the mouth.
Startled, Tan Wei quickly cried out, "This has nothing to do with Senior—please stop hitting yourself!"
Only then did Situ Kong stop.
The three traveled on together, chatting freely along the road.
Situ Kong was lively in speech, and when he spoke of the strange tales and old scandals of the martial world, even Wu Tong knew less than he did. He was especially knowledgeable about the martial arts of Shaolin, the Luminous Faith, and the Fire Worship Sect, though he rarely praised anyone from those schools.
Yet whenever he spoke of Wu Tong and Drunken Beggar Fei Jin, his admiration overflowed. He praised them without reserve.
Li Jian and Tan Wei listened with delight and admiration.
By the time the three arrived at the inn, night had already fallen.
All three were ravenous.
No sooner had Li Jian entered the inn than he called at once for wine and dishes to be brought.
The innkeeper was attentive and eager to please, quickly ordering the waiters to prepare food and drink.
Before long, wine and steaming dishes were set upon the table.
Tan Wei filled Situ Kong's cup, then Li Jian's, and only afterward poured for herself.
Li Jian lifted his cup and said, "This is white liquor, Senior. Please have a taste and see what you think."
The three drank a cup together in one swallow.
Situ Kong smacked his lips and said, "Fragrant and mellow, clean and smooth, pure in taste and soft on the tongue. Excellent wine."
Tan Wei refilled Situ Kong's cup, then Li Jian's, and then her own.
Smiling, she said, "Life offers few chances to be drunk—let us not waste tonight."
Li Jian raised his cup.
"This junior and Wei-mei offer Senior another toast."
The three drained their cups again.
Tan Wei said, "Do not just drink—eat something as well."
As she spoke, she picked up a chicken leg and placed it into Situ Kong's bowl.
Situ Kong grinned.
"How can I accept such kindness? Wei'er is lovely as a flower and wise besides. A wife like this—you could search with a lantern and never find another!"
His wicked tongue, as always, refused to behave.
Li Jian, embarrassed, could only laugh awkwardly.
"Senior speaks truly. A wife like this could not be found even with a torch."
Tan Wei lowered her graceful neck, her face flushed with hidden embarrassment.
Then she muttered shyly, "If we are eating, then eat. Why so much nonsense?"
She knew Situ Kong meant no harm.
He simply delighted in teasing the two of them.