Friendly exchange
The Hundred Birds Gang has been bored out of their minds lately.
The eldest brother, along with Jianyu and Gou Dan, went off to some mountain to raid bird nests.
It is said that Zui Qingfeng has found new tobacco and spends all day holed up in his room puffing away.
Shiyun and Xijiang traveled south together to collect folk songs, saying they wanted to find lost ancient musical scores.
Even the most diligent Qing Ning carried his flute, saying he wanted to go near Yanmen Pass to listen to the sound of the wind.
The guild was deserted, with only Chen Ze remaining.
He didn't feel lonely and continued to practice his sword in the courtyard every day.
Practice when you wake up, practice when you set off, and practice even under the moonlight.
The sound of a sword slicing through the air became the only sound the Hundred Birds Gang had heard in recent days.
On this day, on a whim, he flicked the tip of his sword and precisely split a fallen leaf in two.
"Boring."
He sheathed his sword and decided to go out for a walk.
Without a destination, following the official road, I unknowingly arrived at Yanmen Pass.
The wind and sand were even stronger beyond the Great Wall, making his clothes flutter loudly, but also broadening his mind.
Just as he was engrossed in his work, a clear and melodious sword cry suddenly rang in his ears.
It was not a sound of killing, but a pure challenge with a probing undertone.
Chen Ze paused, looking in the direction of the sound.
Not far away, on an open ground, stood a young man dressed in indigo clothing, holding a sword with a slight tremor at the tip, pointing it directly at him.
The young man had clear, bright eyes and a friendly yet sharp smile on his lips.
"Brother, your gait is excellent, landing silently and with a long, steady breath. You must be a master."
The young man spoke, his voice cheerful and clear.
"My name is Shangguan Chenxi. May I ask if you would be so kind as to teach me a few moves?"
Chen Ze's gaze swept over the sword in the other's hand. The sword's blade was as clear as autumn water, obviously not an ordinary item.
What's even more remarkable is that the pure passion for martial arts in the other person's eyes is exactly the same as his.
"Dust and Swamp".
He spoke succinctly, without drawing his sword, but simply pointing the scabbard diagonally forward.
"please."
Without a word, the two figures instantly clashed.
There was no murderous intent, only the clash and exchange of sword techniques.
Shangguan Chenxi's swordsmanship is agile and unpredictable, like a spring breeze rustling willows.
Chen Ze's sword is cold and precise, like a cold star on a winter night, always intercepting the opponent's attack at seemingly impossible points.
For a moment, only the crisp sound of metal clashing and the rustling of sand and dust being stirred up by the whistling of swords could be heard on the open ground.
The two fought faster and faster, their figures intertwined, and their swords flashed in a dazzling display.
After a hundred moves, Chen Ze still had the upper hand.
"happy!"
Shangguan Chenxi was the first to withdraw her sword and retreat, her forehead already beaded with sweat, but her eyes shone even brighter.
"It's been a long time since I've fought so exhilaratingly! Brother Chenze, what excellent swordsmanship!"
Chen Ze slowly withdrew his stance, a rare hint of pleasure appearing on his usually cold and stern face.
"You're not bad either."
The two exchanged a smile, clearly appreciating each other's talents.
They found a sheltered boulder to sit on, and Shangguan Chenxi took a water pouch from her waist and handed it to him.
"Brother Chenze doesn't seem to be a local. Is he also here to travel around Yanmen Pass?"
"Yeah. I just came out for a walk during my free time in the gang."
Chen Ze took it, drank a sip, and found it to be clear, cool spring water.
"A gang?"
Shangguan Chenxi's eyes brightened slightly.
Where do you hold your esteemed position, sir?
"The Hundred Birds Gang".
"A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix? Is that the gang leader... uh, the rather unique Hundred Birds Gang?"
Shangguan Chenxi smiled, clearly having heard of the boss's reputation.
Chen Ze smiled slightly: "Exactly."
"That's really interesting."
Shangguan Chenxi smiled, but the smile gradually took on a complex meaning, as if it were a mixture of nostalgia and bitterness.
"Unlike the gang I used to be in..."
Chen Ze glanced at him sideways but did not urge him.
Shangguan Chenxi remained silent for a moment, gazing at the desolate Gobi Desert in the distance, and slowly spoke.
"My original gang was called Shunhuo Nuan."
"The name sounds warm, but it's full of upsetting things."
"When treacherous officials are in power, small cliques suppress others at every turn."
"Several like-minded friends wanted to work together to accomplish something, but they were betrayed, ostracized, and suppressed by a villain..."
"In the end, disheartened, I had no choice but to leave."
He spoke calmly, but the fingers gripping the water pouch tightened slightly, revealing that the pain he endured was no exaggeration.
After Shangguan Chenxi finished speaking, she laughed self-deprecatingly, swallowed the bitterness with her saliva, tilted her head back and gulped down a mouthful of water, as if to wash away the resentment.
He gazed at the vast expanse where heaven and earth met in the distance and said softly.
"Sometimes I feel that all a gang needs is a group of like-minded people who can entrust their backs to each other with peace of mind."
"We can drink and eat meat together, and we can also draw our swords to fight enemies together. We don't need to be on guard against arrows from our own people all day long, and we don't need to worry about those insignificant merits and empty fame."
He turned to look at Chen Ze, who had been listening silently beside him, and asked.
"Brother Chenze, your Hundred Birds Gang... surely isn't like this?"
"Judging from your character, you are upright and honest, not the kind of person who would associate with petty and despicable people."
Chen Ze turned his gaze from the distant horizon to the sword in his hand.
The scabbard was ancient yet remarkably well-preserved. He unconsciously ran his fingertips over the cool scabbard, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke.
"The name of a gang is just a shell."
He said slowly, "What matters is the kind of person inside the shell."
He raised his eyes and looked at Shangguan Chenxi. Those eyes, which were always sharp as swords, now reflected the setting sun and showed a faint, almost soft light.
"The Hundred Birds Gang isn't very strong. Gang leader..."
He paused, seemingly thinking about how to describe the boss.
"...He is quick-witted and often gets into trouble. The gang members are also eccentric in their own way, noisy and sometimes annoying."
He spoke in a flat tone, even with a hint of disdain, but Shangguan Chenxi keenly sensed a subtle, almost indulgent warmth beneath his cold and hard tone.
"but,"
Chen Ze's tone shifted slightly, becoming firm.
There is no betrayal there. You can share drinks and fight together. If you win, someone will give you a high five; if you lose, someone will help you up. You don't have to be perfect, just have a clear conscience.
"Like this?"
Shangguan Chenxi pointed to the spot where they had just sparred, her eyes lighting up.
"Um."
Chen Ze nodded. "The sword points where it should. People protect those they should protect. Simple, clean."
He looked at Shangguan Chenxi, his tone calm yet carrying a powerful persuasive force.
“If a gang loses its purity, it is nothing but a filthy quagmire. It is better to cut it off with a sword and find another phoenix tree to perch on.”
"clean……"
Shangguan Chenxi murmured the word repeatedly, and the gloom in her eyes caused by memories was gradually dispelled by these words.
He recalled the sparring session he had just had, purely out of passion for martial arts, which was exhilarating and focused entirely on the task at hand.
That was the chivalrous spirit he had initially longed for.
He suddenly stood up, a surge of pride welling up inside him, his previous hesitation and concerns completely swept away by Chen Ze's words.
He laughed loudly.
"I was narrow-minded. Now that I've left the mire, why should I still be bothered by its filth? It's only satisfying to sever ties with the past with the sword in my hand!"
The knot in his heart suddenly cleared, and the hidden pain caused by the betrayal transformed into an even more vigorous fighting spirit.
It wasn't just about venting anger; it was also about putting an end to that unpleasant past with a clean and decisive sparring match.
Shangguan Chenxi's eyes were burning.
Seeing his renewed fighting spirit, Chen Ze didn't say much. He simply stood up nimbly and lightly played the Friend-summoning flute.
In the martial arts world, gangs are like another home, and being hurt by that home is the most heartbreaking thing.
"There are petty scoundrels everywhere."
"If you can't calm down, then fight back."
"...but not just you."
Chen Ze stood up, his gaze sweeping over the majestic city walls of Yanmen Pass.
"Wait a moment."
The flute's sound, though not loud, was extremely penetrating, drifting gently into the sandstorm following a specific rhythm.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a figure in cyan robes rushed forward like a gust of wind, moving with graceful ease; it was none other than Qing Ning.
"Oh, what a rare guest!"
Qing Ning landed with a smile, her gaze shifting between Chen Ze and Shangguan Chenxi.
"I was just hearing a wonderful sound of wind when you interrupted me with your death-bringing flute."
"Brother Chenze actually used this Friend-Summoning Flute on his own initiative... And who is this gentleman?"
"Shangguan Chenxi".
Chen Ze explained.
Qing Ning's carefree smile faded slightly as she looked at Shangguan Chenxi and clasped her hands in a fist salute.
"Green Lime. Brother, have you been wronged?"
Shangguan Chenxi hurriedly returned the greeting, but was filled with doubt and uncertainty, wondering what Chen Ze intended to do.
A glint of interest flashed in Qing Ning's eyes.
"Finding a fight? That's my specialty! I'm itching for a fight."
"lead the way."
Chen Ze's words are concise and to the point.
Shunhuonuan's gang headquarters was located in a bustling market town inside Yanmen Pass, with vermilion gates and high walls, quite impressive.
The three of them went straight to the gate.
The gatekeepers, seeing the extraordinary aura of the newcomers, especially Shangguan Chenxi whom they recognized, immediately became vigilant.
"Shangguan Chenxi? You dare to come back? And with backup?"
Shangguan Chenxi laughed in exasperation.
"You can't even talk about what's going on behind your back?"
The man ran away with a flushed face, feeling guilty and not wanting to argue with him any further.
"I'll call the gang leader right now to make you apologize!"
Chen Ze bowed slightly to the others.
"Chen Ze, a member of the Hundred Birds Gang, has come to pay a visit with his friends."
"What are you visiting? You're not welcome here!" another disciple shouted, attracting the attention of more people in the courtyard.
Several members who had previously ostracized Shangguan Chenxi came out upon hearing the commotion, the leader of whom had an arrogant expression.
"Oh, who do we have here? It's just a stray dog who's found a backer and is back to cause trouble? What a joke!"
Qing Ning picked at her ear and said lazily.
"We've heard too many jokes, but it's better to have some real action. We've heard that your gang has many masters, so we've come here as a few country folk to learn a few moves and have a friendly exchange."
The phrase "exchanging ideas" carries a profound meaning.
"Arrogant! Take him down!" the leader roared.
A chaotic battle immediately broke out.
However, the match was almost entirely one-sided.
Without drawing his sword, Chen Ze used only the scabbard to point, deflect, sweep, and press, sending the charging men staggering about. His exquisite swordsmanship was truly breathtaking.
Qing Ning did not use a zither, but only a flute instead of a sword. Her movements were like a ghost, weaving through the crowd. The flute was used to strike people's wrists and ankles, causing the disciples to grimace in pain and drop their weapons.
When the gang leader arrived, he just watched with great impatience as his gang members threw a tantrum.
Shangguan Chenxi also joined the battle, wielding his sword. He had been holding back his anger for a long time, and now that he had a reliable companion by his side, his swordplay became even more fierce.
He specifically targeted those few who had betrayed him in the past. Although he didn't kill them, he still managed to beat them so badly that they fled in terror and were left in a sorry state.
Those so-called experts like Shun Huo Nuan were utterly no match for the four's seamless teamwork and absolute strength.
In no time, a group of people lay on the ground, groaning incessantly.
The previously arrogant member was now deathly pale, unable to move as Chen Ze's sword sheath pointed at his throat.
Chen Ze looked at him coldly, then swept his gaze over all the members of Shunhuo Nuan present. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.
"The world of martial arts is a long and winding road. We make friends through martial arts and win people over with virtue. Those who betray their promises and abandon their principles may gain power for a time, but it will not last long."
Lime added with a smile.
"Next time we spar, it won't just be a matter of stretching our muscles."
Shangguan Chenxi sheathed her sword, the pent-up anger in her chest vanished, and she felt incredibly refreshed.
He cupped his hands in greeting to his former colleagues, whose faces were ashen, his smile still kind but tinged with a hint of aloofness.
"Thank you all for your past teachings. I will remember them. Farewell."
The three of them didn't look any further at the mess behind them and turned to leave.
Qing Ning teased with a smile.
"Now our gang is infamous. The boss will be ecstatic when he gets back."
Shangguan Chenxi solemnly clasped her hands in a respectful greeting to Chen Ze and Qing Ning.
"I will never forget your kindness today."
Chen Ze looked at Shangguan Chenxi and suddenly said.
"Though the Hundred Birds Gang is small, it still has its own phoenix tree."
Shangguan Chenxi was taken aback, but then realized that this was an invitation for him to join, and a sincere and bright smile bloomed on his face.
"Okay, please guide me in the future."
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