Side Story - Dust and Swamp

People in the martial arts world say that Chen Ze of the Hundred Birds Gang is an eccentric.

He always loved to practice his sword in the snow, his white clothes shining brighter than the snow itself, his sword flashing coldly, every move exuding an inhuman chill.

Occasionally, when he sheathes his sword, he will gaze at the face reflected on the blade for a moment, then casually utter a remark.

"Tsk, he's handsome again."

The gang members were already used to his behavior, but Zui Qingfeng couldn't help but retort to him once.

"Your skin is probably thicker than the walls of the Alliance Leader's mansion."

Chen Ze didn't even lift his eyelids, his fingertips tracing the blade.

Jealousy makes people ugly.

Zui Qingfeng: "..."

(Silently, he squeezed the pipe until it cracked)

Chen Ze does have some quirks.

For example, he washes his face three times with spring water every morning, saying that he is "afraid that the foul air will taint his face."

For example, he would never drink with others, because he was "afraid of catching stupidity."

The most outrageous thing was that at a gang celebration banquet, Jianyu excitedly poured him a glass of wine.

But then Chen Ze took out a silver needle from his sleeve, slowly tested it for poison, checked the clarity of the wine in the moonlight, and finally smelled its aroma.

"Barely good enough for me."

He tilted his head back and drank it all, leaving the fried fish dumbfounded.

The eldest brother complained about it privately.

"This isn't caution, it's downright abnormal!"

Dust swirled as he gently stroked the sword tassel, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Ordinary people don't understand, this is called... class."

One winter night, Chenze sat alone on the rooftop watching the snow.

Zui Qingfeng came up carrying a wine pot. It was rare for him not to smoke. Since quitting smoking, he had been irritable.

"Why are you pretending to be so profound?"

A drunken breeze tossed aside the wine jug.

Chen Ze didn't catch it, letting the wine pot smash onto the tile and roll away.

He gazed at the snow-covered mountains in the distance and suddenly spoke.

"I wasn't good-looking when I was a child."

Drunk in the breeze, she raised an eyebrow.

"...Have you taken the wrong medicine?"

"When I was eight years old, I was almost sold to a theatrical troupe."

Chen Ze ran his fingertip across his brow bone, where there was a very shallow scar.

"The troupe leader said that my face is only fit to play ugly roles."

The snow fell silently.

Zui Qingfeng was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"So now you..."

So now,

Chen Ze stood up, snowflakes sliding down his shoulders.

"Let everyone in the world remember this: Chen Ze's sword is the fastest sword in the world; Chen Ze's face is the most handsome face in the world."

As he spoke, the moonlight shone on his profile, making the scar glow and revealing a breathtakingly handsome feature.

Zui Qingfeng tilted his head back and took a swig of wine.

"……abnormal."

Chen Ze chuckled softly: "Likewise."

The next morning, Gou Dan left a string of chicken claw prints on the snow in the yard, which crookedly spelled out "Chen Ze is a pig".

Chen Ze drew his sword to chop the chicken, but was stopped by Jian Yu.

"No way! The Alliance Leader is coming today. Aren't you most concerned about your image?"

Chen Ze sheathed his sword, took out a bronze mirror with a cold face, looked at himself, and suddenly curled his lips into a smile.

"Never mind, I'm in a good mood today."

In the distance, the leader's carriage had arrived at the foot of the mountain.

Shiyun's melodious zither music began to play, Xijiang was brewing tea, and the eldest brother was busily tidying up the colorful headgear.

Zui Qingfeng, with a mint leaf in his mouth, gestured with his chin towards Chen Ze.

"Hey, you really do look quite presentable today."

Dust brushed against the sword tassel, and the snow-white sleeves fluttered in the wind.

"When has this general ever not been like this?"