Chapter 24: Is It Truly a Joyous Occasion?

It was the final breath of late spring.

A delicate sailboat drifted by, its sails white, its hull slender. The sun was brilliant, and the lake water was a deep, crystalline blue.

On board lay a sword. It was not a famous blade, nor a priceless treasure, nor a weapon forged from tempered steel. It was merely a sword of iron, yet this iron sword had already become the greatest sword in the world. In the current martial arts world, its reputation was the most formidable and its notoriety the most deafening. The iron sword had no name, yet it was known far and wide.

Usually, whether a sword becomes famous depends on the history imbued within it. From the smelting and pouring to the final crafting, this sword took only two hours to make, and from the day it was forged until now, less than two months had passed. Yet, in that short time, it had already attained a history worthy of being remembered for a thousand years. Based on the way the martial arts world described it, one could fear that even a hundred or several hundred years from now, this iron sword would remain just as terrifying.

The sword left its scabbard.

The moment it was unsheathed, it transformed into a brilliant, magnificent, and beautiful radiance. Then, it shimmered and shifted, suddenly soaring high, ethereal and elusive. The light seemed distant, yet no one could be sure if it would be right before their eyes in the next instant. Its movements had almost transcended the limits of belief and imagination. It appeared miraculously, only to vanish just as miraculously. All these changes occurred in a single heartbeat. It was like a shooting star in flight, like a flash of lightning... When a flesh-and-blood person could unleash such a miracle, the miracle became a divine manifestation.

As the sword light faded, Ren Yi asked calmly, "Did you see that clearly?"

Qu Feiyan blinked, then shook her head.

Ren Yi said slowly, "You must first master the thousand variations of the 'One Thousand and One Forms of Cloud-Turning and Rain-Covering' before you can hope to merge them into 'one.' This final strike is the essence and the killing blow of the thousand forms, combined with the momentum, the lethality, and the absolute power I have realized in my swordsmanship, all forced out in a single stroke."

Qu Feiyan looked as though she understood but remained confused; she shook her head again.

Ren Yi said, "It does not matter if you do not understand. Just focus on practicing the thousand forms. As for that 'one,' you only need to record it carefully. Whether you can master it depends on you."

Qu Feiyan pouted. "Why did you suddenly decide to teach me martial arts?"

Ren Yi laughed. "I would hate for it to vanish along with me."

***

Qu Feiyan fell silent. Ren Yi walked to the bow of the boat and sat down. On a small table sat a seven-stringed zither, and beside it lay a music score—the *Smiling Proud Wanderer* score that Qu Feiyan had swiped from her two grandfathers.

Ren Yi flipped through the score, pressing his fingers onto the strings as instructed. Suddenly, a "zheng" rang out, and a melody echoed across the lake. At first, the playing was clumsy, the sound discordant, but slowly, the notes became fluid, then as natural as the wind and clouds.

The zither rang out sharply! Yet, within the melody lay an indescribable sense of melancholy—as if it were filled with extreme sorrow, or perhaps boundless, carefree detachment. Once the melody achieved its divine resonance, the heavens and earth seemed filled with a desolate, murderous chill, alongside a sense of unrestrained freedom. The golden sun in the sky dimmed, and the charm of the blue lake paled in comparison.

***

Several days later, Ren Yi and Qu Feiyan arrived in Luoyang by carriage. They had been invited; they had been living in leisure by Lake Lingao, practicing the zither and teaching the sword, but someone had sought them out.

It was a servant from the residence of Wang Yuanba, the "Invincible Golden Blade" and master of the Golden Blade School of Central China. The invitation stated that Wang wished to express his gratitude for Ren Yi’s vengeance on behalf of the Lin family and for his care of Lin Pingzhi, inviting him to be a guest at the Luoyang estate.

Qu Feiyan said, "Big Brother Ren, I don't think they have good intentions."

Inside the carriage, Ren Yi sipped his wine without replying. Qu Feiyan shut her mouth in boredom and looked out the window. Suddenly, she touched her chest; the sword manual she had recorded was hidden there. Over the past few days, the girl had been extremely careful with it, treating it like a precious treasure.

Before long, the carriage stopped. A booming voice rang out from outside: "Young Master Ren has accepted our invitation, and for me to have failed to greet you personally is truly a grave discourtesy!"

Descending from the carriage, they saw a man of about seventy, surrounded by servants, smiling at them. The man was ruddy-faced with a long white beard flowing down his chest; he looked old but robust. In his left hand, he clicked two golden spheres together. Usually, local gentry played with iron spheres, which was common enough, but his were made of gold. For some reason, the moment Ren Yi saw this man and his appearance, he felt an urge to strike him dead with a single blow.

Upon seeing Ren Yi, Wang Yuanba laughed again. "A brilliant young talent! Young Master Ren’s reputation has spread throughout the martial arts world. For these past few years, there hasn't been a day I haven't wished to meet you. Your presence at the Wang estate in Luoyang today is a great joy for my household."

Ren Yi smiled. "I hope it truly is a joy."

Wang Yuanba’s expression flickered, then vanished. He continued to smile, "Of course it is a joy. Bofen, Zhongqiang, come and meet Young Master Ren."

Wang Bofen and Wang Zhongqiang, his two sons, stepped out from the crowd and bowed in unison. "Young Master Ren, greetings!"

Ren Yi merely nodded slightly, and the two men's expressions darkened instantly.

Though a flicker of malice passed through Wang Yuanba's eyes, he continued, "And may I ask who this young lady is?"

The little girl said proudly, "My name is Qu Feiyan. I am my Big Brother's dear sister."

Wang Yuanba realized, "Ah, so it is Young Master Ren's sister. Right, let us go inside. My servants have already prepared a feast to welcome you both from your long journey."

Ren Yi nodded slightly, and Wang Yuanba gestured with a hollow hand, leading the way.

The Wang estate was grand and occupied a vast expanse of land; it seemed even more imposing than the mansions of any official in Luoyang. On the crimson gates, two large copper rings were polished so brightly they shone, free of even a speck of dust. Several burly men stood guard outside the gate; one look at their physique was enough to know they were not to be trifled with.

Entering the gates, the first thing that caught the eye was a large plaque hanging from the beam, inscribed with the four golden characters "Gallantry in Action," bearing the signature of the Governor of Henan. Servants hurried back and forth, appearing extremely busy. However, there were no women among them, only men in their thirties and forties. After Ren and Qu entered, they would occasionally cast furtive glances, but as soon as the girl caught them, they would immediately look away.

Qu Feiyan’s eyes darted around, and she tugged at the corner of Ren Yi’s robe. Ren Yi seemed unfazed, continuing his stride into the estate.

When they reached the main hall, the banquet was already laid out. The guests were not limited to Ren Yi and his companion; all the notable figures of the Luoyang martial arts scene were present. Wang Yuanba led them to the seats of honor, while Wang Bofen and Wang Zhongqiang excused themselves to attend to the other guests.

The massive hall held over a hundred guests. It should have been lively, but for some reason, the atmosphere was bizarrely stifling. Their laughter, their discussions, and their pleasantries all seemed hollow.

Ren Yi drank his wine and ate his food. Qu Feiyan did nothing, sitting there, observing and sizing up everyone at the table.