The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, Part Three (Newly Revised)

As the sword-testing tournament progressed into its second half, Li Letian made a strong run into the top four, and his popularity soared.

He used a sword technique that Zhao Zheng had never seen before, and he couldn't determine its school. Occasionally, Zhao Zheng felt that Li Letian didn't seem to be wielding a sword.

Li Letian clearly carried two swords, but so far, the sword on his back had never been drawn. Zhao Zheng could tell at a glance that he was not a swordsman who could wield two swords; perhaps that sword was just for intimidation, or perhaps it was just a precaution.

Lost in thought, He Zi'an lifted the curtain of the tent door and entered. He had also made it into the top four, and tomorrow's battle would determine his future, concerning whether he could enter the final stage of the competition for the position of leader.

Inside the tent, besides him and Zhao Zheng, there were three other people sitting: Chen Changgui from the Chen family of Wenqu City, and the two elders who were the heads of the Bai and Qiu families.

The waiter served fruit, poured wine, and then respectfully withdrew.

Zhao Zheng looked at He Zi'an and Chen Changgui, who were closer to him. "Thank you all for your hard work at this conference." Zhao Zheng raised his glass: "I wish you both great success."

The two elderly people looked at He Zi'an with a hint of resentment in their eyes. If it weren't for the changes in Longting Town, the He family would never have been able to stand on equal footing with them.

The five men drank the strong liquor in their bowls.

"Please rest assured, Prime Minister," Chen Changgui said obsequiously, "As long as Young Master He is shortlisted tomorrow, I will instruct Li Letian to relinquish his position as leader of the alliance."

Zhao Zheng remained noncommittal, then laughed and praised, "Talented horses are common, but discerning judges are rare. Young Master Chen's ability to recognize and utilize talent is a blessing to our dynasty."

"You flatter me, Prime Minister," Chen Changgui quickly replied. "This Li Letian is just a small blacksmith in the city, nothing special. My brother invited him here only to share the burden for you, Prime Minister, and to provide some insurance."

“He’s very popular right now.” Zhao Zheng then turned to He Zi’an. “Young Master He, did you hear that? Young Master Chen said he would step down for you. Glorifying your family is just around the corner, so you absolutely cannot slack off tomorrow.”

He Zian immediately stood up, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Please rest assured, Prime Minister, I have watched quite a bit of the competition between Du Taibai and Li Letian, and I am confident that I can defeat them."

"Look at you, Young Master Chen already said he would let you have your way." Zhao Zheng smiled at him, then turned to Chen Changgui: "That's how people in the martial world are, no one is willing to submit to anyone else. Young Master Chen, don't take it to heart."

"It was my fault for speaking out of turn. Since he was chosen by the Prime Minister, he must have exceptional qualities." Chen Changgui said apologetically, raising his freshly filled wine bowl to He Zi'an.

"I apologize to Young Hero He and wish him the best of luck in winning the championship. I will drink this bowl to the last drop."

After saying that, Chen Changgui tilted his head back, and the strong liquor gurgled down his neck and into his body.

*

Xiangyu squatted by the mountain path. A fluffy squirrel nimbly twisted its body, climbing up the trunk of a pine tree.

The pine tree's roots grow into the crevices of the rocks, reaching outwards from the mountainside. Its entire canopy juts out over five thousand feet into the air. Beyond the canopy, the gaze continues forward: there are two sheer cliff faces.

Snow, frozen rainwater, still clung to the rocks on the cliff face. At the base of the cliff was a winding stream that stretched endlessly towards Wenqu City, thousands of miles away.

Even here, through the wide gaps in the cliff face, one could still see the city she had visited several times. Pei Jiangxi tightened the straps of her basket and swayed as she walked towards the towering pine tree.

A tinkling sound came from the basket.

"Long time no see."

Xiang Yu looked over and seemed to see again the figure carrying ten thousand swords and halberds on his back. In a flash, he was back on Xieyue Mountain.

No matter how many times I see her, that memory still comes to mind.

"This is the third time I've met you," Xiangyu said calmly.

Pei Jiangxi tilted her head and asked with a smile, "Is this the third time?"

Xiang Yu was somewhat disappointed. He pouted and said, "You've already forgotten about Xieyue Mountain, haven't you?"

“Of course not,” Pei Jiangxi said crisply, “You’re that little crying monk.”

Pei Jiangxi reached out to grab Xiang Yu's hair. He instinctively tried to dodge, but ultimately remained standing.

"Don't think I won't recognize you just because you have hair," Pei Jiangxi said with a smile. "You're better than other beggars; you're not slovenly."

"I should return the straw hat to you."

“Okay.” Pei Jiangxi put down the basket, which contained half a basket of swords. She rubbed her shoulders and twisted her neck.

The veins on his neck were faintly visible, and beads of sweat trickled down the barely perceptible blue lines.

"When will you invite me to your place?" Pei Jiangxi asked playfully.

Xiang Yu licked his lips, about to speak. Pei Jiangxi grabbed his arm, looked into the distance, and said, "Quick, introduce me to your gang leader."

Xiang Yu followed her gaze. Du Taibai was walking down from the mountaintop, towards the camp halfway up the mountain, his eyes fixed on Xiang Yu and Pei Jiangxi.

"Master," Xiang Yu called out, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Greetings, Chief Du," Pei Jiangxi said excitedly. "I'm getting goosebumps. You look completely different from how you appear on the testing platform."

Du Taibai looked at Pei Jiangxi with a strange expression, as if he couldn't believe his eyes. He glanced at Pei Jiangxi, then turned to look at Xiang Yu.

"I met this girl once before."

“Yes,” Pei Jiangxi said, “We met at Xieyue Mountain, and this time I came specifically to deliver swords to the brothers of the Beggars’ Sect.”

After saying that, Pei Jiangxi casually took out a handful from her basket and handed it to Du Taibai.

Du Taibai took the sword, his eye twitching. "Is it at Xieyue Mountain?" he asked Xiangyu.

Xiang Yu nodded, not understanding what Du Taibai wanted to verify.

"Don't you think she resembles a person?" Du Taibai asked.

Xiang Yu then began to carefully examine Pei Jiangxi.

"Miss, please forgive my rudeness," Du Taibai said apologetically. "Perhaps you have seen the portrait of the goddess of Heian-in?"

"The goddess of Heian-in?"

"Yes, the goddess of Heian-in."

"The goddess of Ping'an Temple!" Xiangyu exclaimed in realization.

*

The Chen family's camp was bustling with activity. In the martial arts training ground that Chen Changgui had fenced off for Li Letian, swords flashed and clashed.

At the center of the venue is Li Letian, who overcame numerous challenges at the conference and is also the dark horse of this year's event.

"Are noble families born with a special destiny?" This was the slogan Chen Changji gave him.

By this stage of the trial, Li Letian's reputation had reached a level that was difficult for ordinary people to attain. Bearing even greater expectations, something that had long been mired in hardship was beginning to stir.

The swordsmen from the Chen family were not the only ones sparring with Li Letian in the training ground.

The one leaning against the fence, shirtless, was the swordsman from the Pang family in the north. The Pang family's young master had already been eliminated long ago.

The one sitting on the ground, panting heavily, was the sword attendant of the Wei family in the southwest. The young master of the Wei family had also been eliminated early on.

There was also the one who had just been defeated by Li Letian, the one who was slowly walking around the fence, taking off his shirt to wipe his sweat, the one who was so exhausted that he lay on the ground looking up at the sky, and the one who was hugging his arms and loudly correcting Li Letian's movements. These people all had one thing in common: their master had been eliminated, but their hopes had not been shattered.

They came from the east, from the south, from the west, from the north. From every place.

Some were bold and heroic, while others were reserved and calm. They spoke with different accents, but the sweat they shed was all for the same destination, and the swords they held were all pointing in the same direction.

Not only them, but also swordsmen from the Bai and Qiu families were present in the arena.

The Bai and Qiu families will not allow a fourth family to join this game.

Li Letian, standing in the center of the training ground, was sweating profusely. His swordsmanship was becoming increasingly refined.

"We've got this in the bag." Chen Changgui walked confidently toward his brother's tent, his hands behind his back.

He lifted the curtain, and in the center of the tent stood a long pole, from which hung a long scroll painting. As Chen Changgui walked, the true appearance of the painting gradually became apparent.

Chen Changji stared blankly at the painting, not even reacting when his elder brother came in.

It was long, black hair, as dark as night. The woman nodded, her broken expression seeming to tell of a sorrow that could only be uttered in the night.

"This is the goddess of Heian-in Temple."

"They look so alike."

Chen Changgui patted his younger brother's shoulder. "We'll win," he said.

The younger brother looked up at his older brother, whose eyes radiated endless determination and tenderness.

Chen Changji looked at the portrait again, and the woman in the portrait seemed to be looking at him as well.

“I can’t stop,” she said.

"We will win," Chen Changji replied.

*

"I wish I were truly a goddess," Pei Jiangxi said with a smile.

“Some of the brothers in the gang also brought portraits up the mountain,” Xiangyu volunteered. “I’ll get one for the girl later.”

Pei Jiangxi grabbed the basket and said, "These are all swords from Sword Casting City, of reliable quality. And the prices are fair to all, young and old."

The two men awoke from their memories.

“I will deliver the weapon on behalf of the goddess,” Pei Jiangxi said, puffing out her chest and raising her head, “and wish the leader a resounding victory.”

Du Taibai paused slightly as he watched her amusing expression, then burst into laughter.

Through the gap between the two men, Pei Jiangxi caught a glimpse of Wang Boyu heading up the mountain.

*

"Brother Zian, you've gone mad!"

Su Yishan went out early in the morning to spar with others, and as soon as he returned, he heard Xin Ruien sighing.

"What's wrong?" Su Yishan put the three brand-new swords against the table, pointed to them and said, "These are the swords I just bought, from the Sword Forging City."

Xin Ruien didn't care about anything else. She pulled Su Yishan over and recounted to him what had happened in Zhao Zheng's tent that morning.

"The Prime Minister just wants to help you, so just agree. Why be so reckless?"

“I think I can beat Li Letian,” He Zi’an said with a mix of confidence and grievance.

“It’s not that I think you can’t beat him,” Xin Ruien quickly reassured her, “but even a small risk is still a risk. If someone is willing to step in, why refuse?”

“Li Letian is indeed exceptional,” Su Yishan nodded and said. “He will definitely make it to the final competition; that Xinming Sword Sect disciple is no match for him.”

“Brother Yishan, even you…” He Zian, sitting on the bench, lowered his head in frustration.

“It was my fault.” Xin Ruien squatted down beside him, took his hand and said, “Things have already come to this, I shouldn’t have said so much.”

"Can I win?" He Zi'an hesitated, raising his eyes to look at Xin Rui'en.

Shin Ye-eun's heart melted instantly. "You can still win, right? There's still 'Shattered Star,' isn't there? I've always believed in you."

He Zian and Su Yishan looked together at the sword box placed at the other end of the tent.

“You have Brother Yishan behind you, you have me, you have the entire He family.” Xin Ruien gripped his right hand tightly with both hands and said firmly, “We can win.”