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    Edict of Peace 119

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    Chapter 119: The First Meeting of the Luan and Feng, Young and Old Heroes!

    Li Zhaowen, upon hearing the name Li Guanyi, paused for a moment, a slight hesitation. Then, looking at the young man with a sword at his waist, reaching out to pick lotus pods, she recalled their two previous encounters—a man of both literary and martial prowess, unrestrained and free-spirited.

    Li Zhaowen suddenly burst into laughter, her laughter as unrestrained as Li Guanyi’s earlier declaration about paying for the wine. She extended her jade-like hand, pointing at Li Guanyi repeatedly, saying, “Hahaha, Li Guanyi, Li Guanyi!”

    It was truly exhilarating.

    The slightly intoxicated young man picked up the wine jar, asking, “Li Zhaowen, what are you laughing at?!”

    Li Zhaowen replied, “What a good name!”

    She immediately realized that she hadn’t mentioned the Ying Country State Duke’s Mansion second young master’s name in her letter. Changsun Wuchou was her subordinate and would never discuss her family’s true names. The slightly tipsy young man before her was probably in the same situation as she once was—knowing the Second Young Master but not Li Zhaowen.

    Li Zhaowen opened her folding fan, concealing a playful smile at the corner of her mouth. A smile played on her lips, her heart thinking:

    Let’s give you a fright this time, but I’ll surely give you another one in the future. Only then will it be even, fair.

    Her nature was always proud, and being young, she was like a sharp sword, unwilling to suffer any loss.

    So she said, “Heaven and earth encompass myriad things, and I observe the one (Guanyi).”

    “Brother Li’s name has quite a Daoist resonance.”

    Li Guanyi smiled and said, “Yours is quite good too, Zhaowen. ‘Zhao’ meaning brilliant and bright as the great sun; ‘Wen’ meaning to govern the heavens and earth. Your name has great ambition.”

    Li Zhaowen casually responded, “It’s just a name, given by my parents.”

    “I didn’t expect that, seeing you in the Daoist temple that day, simply dressed, without jade pendants, I thought you came from an ordinary background. But now, seeing you in a ceremonial robe with a jade belt, amongst the capital’s military elite…I clearly didn’t recognize Mount Tai that day.” (A common idiom implying failing to recognize someone’s true identity and importance).

    Li Guanyi took a sip of wine and said, “That’s not entirely wrong.”

    “These clothes are merely a gift from His Majesty.”

    “But you, brother, have extraordinary ambition, worthy of being a hero.”

    Li Zhaowen was slightly surprised, puzzled.

    But Li Guanyi wasn’t lying.

    Li Zhaowen usually hunted and traveled, everyone knew her identity and treated her with great respect, praising her talent and martial arts. But this young man didn’t know she was the second young master of the Ying Country State Duke’s Mansion, yet he called her a hero. Li Zhaowen’s heart felt lighter.

    Li Guanyi looked at the young man before him.

    Just like the first time they met, a green luan (Qilin) leading the way, encountering a phoenix— he met Li Zhaowen.

    Now they were sitting at the head of a covered boat, with a green luan and a red phoenix dancing at the stern.

    Except for his special circumstances…

    At this age to possess a Law Physique…it must be the innate Law Physique that Old Master Xue mentioned.

    Such a physique is rarely seen in a hundred years, coupled with such bearing and talent, if he’s not a future hero, then how many in the world deserve to be called heroes?

    Li Zhaowen smiled and said, “This humble one is merely the child of a merchant, not worthy of being called a hero.”

    Li Guanyi laughed, “Is heroism determined by bloodline?”

    He raised his sword, pointing towards the sky, and said, “Kings, princes, and ministers—are they born with such status?” (A famous quote questioning the legitimacy of inherited power).

    A gleam shone in Li Zhaowen’s eyes as she praised, “What an ambition!”

    Then she teased him, “But with such ambition and martial arts, Brother, you seem like someone who will end up in jail.” Li Guanyi also laughed. Li Zhaowen smiled, “However, Brother, that one sentence made me feel very happy.”

    Li Guanyi asked why.

    Li Zhaowen smiled, pointing at him, her brows raised, calm and composed, saying, “To be considered a young hero by me, and to be called heroic and talented in return—isn’t this double the joy?”

    Li Guanyi burst into laughter.

    The young man before him was dashing and spirited, his brows flying, his words sincere and comfortable to hear.

    Li Zhaowen held a smile.

    It was rare for her to meet someone of her age who didn’t care about her family background and abilities. Moreover, someone who didn’t flatter her parents yet praised her personal bravery and talent. Her mood was incredibly buoyant. Seeing Li Guanyi picking lotus pods, Li Zhaowen, hailing from Longxi in the northwest, unfamiliar with these Jiangnan things, said:

    “Are the lotus seeds ripe now?”

    Li Guanyi picked one and tossed it to Li Zhaowen.

    “Normally, they are only ready to eat in midsummer, but the sun has been strong these past two years. Some ripen early. With experience, you can pick out some ripe lotus pods. Don’t eat the lotus heart, it’s very bitter.”

    “But it can be brewed into tea. Extremely bitter, but excellent for clearing heat.”

    Li Zhaowen ate one, and indeed, the taste was quite fresh and tender. Neither the lotus pods she raised herself in the lake she had dug in Longxi nor those delivered by fast horse were as good as freshly picked ones. She thought for a moment, and said, “Have they only recently ripened this way?”

    Li Guanyi said, “I heard it’s only been these past few years that they ripen early.”

    Li Zhaowen said, “No wonder.”

    She tossed a lotus seed into her mouth, eating while casually saying:

    “I heard that Ying Country’s Grand Historian submitted a report saying that ‘the daytime is getting longer’.”

    “In the first year of the new calendar, the shadow cast at the winter solstice was one zhang, two feet, seven inches, and two fen longer; since then, it has gradually shortened, and seventeen years later, it is three inches and seven fen shorter than before. When the sun is closest to the earth, the shadow is short, and the day is long; when it is farthest, the shadow is long, and the day is short; traveling the inner path, it is closest; traveling the outer path, it is farthest.”

    “The daytime lengthening is an auspicious sign, with more sunlight.”

    “According to the astrology, Chen Kingdom’s Yuanming Bao records ‘the sun and moon rise from the inner path, Xuanji maintains its constancy.’ The Jingfang Bie Dui of the Zhongzhou Imperial Observatory says, ‘During times of peace, the sun travels the upper path; during times of prosperity, it travels the middle path; during times of hegemony, it travels the lower path.'”

    “The Imperial Observatories of various countries all say it is a great omen, that the world is about to be pacified.”

    “It says, ‘May we humbly receive the auspiciousness, and express gratitude to the celestial grace, the shortening of the shadow and lengthening of the day, a phenomenon unseen in ancient times.’ It looks like these astrologers’ predictions can be applied to us ordinary people—it’s not a meaningless doctrine.”

    Li Guanyi fell into thought, deciding to eat a lotus pod. The young man spoke calmly, going from lotus pods to celestial phenomena, astrology, and the courts of various countries. Compared to him, Li Guanyi felt like a mere martial artist.

    Li Zhaowen habitually asked, “What do you think, Brother?”

    Li Guanyi grinned. He wanted to say, “Let’s go get some more lotus pods by the bridge,” but after thinking, he answered, “It’s just a celestial omen. Every country wants to claim this omen for themselves, to seize the moral high ground and inspire their people.”

    “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”

    “A stable and strong army is more valuable than thousands of gold.”

    Li Zhaowen was surprised and delighted, saying:

    “My parents gave me life; only you understand my heart!”

    The moon was in the sky, the starlight reflected on the water. On the covered boat, the young man picked lotus pods, Li Guanyi asking about the taste.

    Li Zhaowen praised, “Delicious, but it’s a pity.”

    “If only we could eat freshly picked lotus pods every summer, how wonderful it would be.”

    If only I could come here whenever I wished.

    Her eyes looked at the starry river, she couldn’t help but think about the feeling of riding a Longxi warhorse, traversing the green stone slabs of Jiangnan. She saw the young man leaning against the bow, eating lotus seeds and drinking wine, so carefree and relaxed, she couldn’t help but smile. Remembering the young man’s earlier display of martial skill.

    Smiling slightly, she said, “Brother, let me have a sip of your wine.”

    Li Zhaowen stepped forward, one hand lightly brushing against a vital acupoint on Li Guanyi’s waist, the other holding her folding fan like a short weapon, going for Li Guanyi’s wrist. The covered boat dipped slightly, creating ripples. Li Guanyi turned to avoid her, having been beaten countless times by General Xue.

    Ignoring the acupoint on his waist, he merely swayed the wine jar, pushing away Li Zhaowen’s hand and folding fan.

    The girl’s acupoint-striking technique swept across Li Guanyi’s waist, but she only felt a surge of energy as if she’d swept across steel. This energy didn’t break through his physique, much less cut off his meridians. She was surprised, but the next moment, her folding fan swept out.

    Relying on his higher cultivation level and a mysterious short weapon technique, Li Guanyi tilted his head and avoided the blow. The folding fan grazed Li Guanyi’s neck, and Li Zhaowen had already grabbed the wine jar, changing her footing and creating distance.

    Li Guanyi steadied himself, looking at the richly dressed young master and said with a slight smile:

    “Brother, isn’t it a pity to drink alone?”

    “How about we drink together?”

    She released her hand, tossed the wine jar, and didn’t drink it as boldly as Yu Qianfeng. Raising her brows, she poured the wine from Li Guanyi’s jar into her mouth. The wine described an arc in the air before landing in her mouth. Her brows were raised, and she was full of spirit.

    Li Zhaowen’s face was fair and jade-like, with a pair of phoenix eyes, full of life.

    Li Guanyi laughed and tried to grab the wine jar.

    Li Zhaowen parried, her movements graceful and elegant as she created distance.

    The moon was full over the river, the flower boats were densely packed. The scene of two young men fighting over a wine jar on this covered boat was witnessed by many. The people on the flower boats leaned against the railings, laughing as they watched them spar.

    One had a solid body, with golden muscles and jade bones; the other had an innate Law Physique.

    Neither used any energy-releasing techniques, only pure exchanges of moves.

    After finishing the last of the wine, Li Zhaowen had a slightly drunken expression.

    This wine was truly excellent!

    Wuchou had excellent taste; it was far superior to the cellar reserves of the State Duke’s Mansion. Li Zhaowen looked around and said, “Brother, we should go. Continuing will attract too much attention.”

    She suddenly stood up, light and quick on her feet, lightly stepping on the water, causing ripples.

    Her body floated like a gust of wind, unrestrained and瀟洒.

    Li Guanyi leaped up, kicking the covered boat gently, returning it to its original position. He then tied it to the nearby post to prevent it from drifting away.

    Then he leaped up. His movements were solely those of a soldier, lacking the skill to walk on water, so he landed on a flower boat, apologizing loudly while running swiftly across the connected boats.

    Li Zhaowen’s posture was graceful and elegant, but her speed was slower.

    Li Guanyi simply charged forward, seemingly ordinary but moving extremely fast.

    Li Zhaowen slowed down, and the two arrived at the opposite bank together. A river flowed through Jiangzhou City, dividing the city into bustling and quiet halves. On the other side of the river, the lights were bright, while the other side was quiet and desolate.

    Li Zhaowen stood firm when she heard a rush of wind. The young man in the ceremonial robe had already arrived.

    Li Zhaowen turned, using her folding fan to sweep across him, while the young man countered by seizing her wrist.

    They faced each other, exerting force, then burst into laughter together.

    Li Zhaowen stepped back two steps, her folding fan resting on her back, her brows raised, very happy, smiling and saying, “Excellent! You are exceptionally skilled in both literature and martial arts. Today is exhilarating. At my age, I rarely experience such joy.”

    Li Guanyi also said, “You’re not bad either.”

    Li Zhaowen couldn’t help but laugh.

    No one in Ying Country had ever dared to speak to her like this.

    Her brows were raised, her interest in conversation high, but she still had things to do at Changfeng Tower. Feeling slightly regretful, even though it was the first time she had abandoned the identity of the Second Young Master of the State Duke’s Mansion so freely, she was very relaxed.

    She took Li Guanyi’s arm and said:

    “This evening’s encounter was delightful. It’s a pity that it’s already late, and we’re probably going to be late, but it doesn’t matter.”

    “We’ll meet again sometime.”

    Li Guanyi said casually, “Then, you’ll have to tell me your true origins.”

    Li Guanyi said, “A child of Jiangnan Chen Country would not be ignorant of how to eat lotus pods.”

    “Good!”

    Li Zhaowen’s lips curved into a slight smile. She opened her folding fan, concealing her smiling lips, revealing only her spirited eyes. Then she turned, her folding fan on her back, and left gracefully.

    Her coming was lively, her departure was as lively, she carried herself with great demeanor.

    Then she turned into a small alley.

    Li Zhaowen looked back. He didn’t chase her, so she laughed silently, clutching her stomach.

    Then, with her folding fan on her back, her steps light, she skipped forward alone.

    After Li Guanyi’s unexpected encounter, his slight intoxication dissipated. He made his way towards the Xue family residence. While preparing to cross the bridge, encountering brightly lit streets, he was stopped by a slightly older wealthy merchant.

    The merchant was the one who had first applauded Li Guanyi’s recitation of the poem.

    Sitting on a rather large boat, he smiled and said, “Young brother, if you’re going across the river, come aboard.”

    Li Guanyi thought that crossing the bridge would require a long detour, so he nodded.

    “I apologize for disturbing you, sir.”

    He placed one hand on the stone railing, then turned and leaped, gracefully landing on the boat. It was nearing summer, and the lotus pods were ripe, yet the old merchant wore a large cloak, clearly unwell. He had the boat move, inviting Li Guanyi to sit down and offering him some wine-clearing soup.

    Li Guanyi thanked him. The old man smiled, “I’m also from Jiangnan, but I’ve been doing business elsewhere. I’ve heard that my younger brother’s business has encountered problems, so I’ve returned.”

    “Hearing your poems, I’m reminded of my youth.”

    “At that time, I was also full of spirit and ambition, but thinking about it, the meaning of ‘The whale drinks but hasn’t swallowed the sea, the sword’s energy already spans autumn,’ seems not to have ended. Since I’m sending you to the other side, would you be willing to tell me the rest of the poem?”

    Li Guanyi said, “I encountered a man with the spirit of a dragon who recited this to me during my travels. If you’d like to hear the rest, naturally, there’s no problem.”

    He picked up a brush and wrote the remaining lines for the old man.

    The wealthy merchant wasn’t that old, his brows were strong, but his hair was completely white, his shoulders broad, sitting there like a mountain. He read the words and then recited: “Who remembers the hero’s aging? Not the insignificant fame and fortune, decisions remain long pending. This matter is difficult to explain, tomorrow let’s shake off this concern.”

    Li Guanyi then wrote the second half of the youthful and chivalrous poem.

    “This was from another old man.”

    The old merchant read this part, lowered his gaze for a while, and quietly recited the last few lines:

    “Not requesting a long rein, to capture the seed of celestial pride, sword roars in the western wind.”

    “Regret climbing mountains and approaching water, hand resting on the seven-stringed zither, watching the returning geese…”

    He recited these lines, not knowing whether he was thinking of someone or of himself. His eyes were slightly red, as if he was choked with emotion. A man of his age, yet he showed such emotion before Li Guanyi, a young man, such genuine emotion. The old man sighed,

    “You must find this laughable, but I’m just thinking of my youthful experiences with friends.”

    “When we were young, we were like you. But later, things turned difficult; friends turned against each other, and people of my age, many old friends have passed away, leaving me alone.”

    The old man stopped talking about these things and just talked about how Jiangnan was in the past.

    He had also fought with his friends, You young people don’t fight hard enough.

    Benches don’t work; you need solid red bricks fired in intense flames.

    He had the boat move, sending Li Guanyi back. The boat docked, and the old man, under the lamplight, wearing a dark cloak, watched the young man leave. Looking at the poem, he softly said, “They’re good verses, the first half reflects them, as well as us.”

    “The second half is truly us.”

    He paused, then said, “Well…not quite, you won’t grow old, you’ll forever remain in the first half, full of youthful ambition.”

    “Only I am growing old.”

    “Yes, we were once young, once unrestrained, yes…”

    “But who says, that heroes are old, that they can no longer take up a long rein, and capture the seed of celestial pride.”

    The old man stood silently, behind him were bright lights, he wore a dark cloak.

    He turned and walked, his gait uneven.

    He was an old, limping man who had returned to Jiangnan.
    (End of Chapter)

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