Why do I have so many masters?

Yuchi Jie listened to the endless debates of the diners in the tavern, all discussing idle tales of those ranked highly in the martial world, and felt somewhat bored. He fiddled with his teacup as he looked toward Wang Anfeng and said with a smile:

"Anfeng, you're only ranked thirteenth on the deputy sword list, don't you have any thoughts about it?"

Wang Anfeng replied succinctly:

"I am unworthy."

Yuchi Jie felt this attitude was indeed dull, banged the table upon hearing it, and widened his eyes as he exclaimed:

"Only thirteenth!"

"Not even in the top ten, don't you think that's too low?"

Then he squinted and coaxed gently:

"Don't you want to push your ranking a bit higher?"

"I have a way..."

Lao Lu secretly rolled his eyes and inexplicably felt that his young master resembled those sleazy traffickers in the alleys who, after pulling someone aside, would whisk out a Spring Palace Picture from their bosom.

Still too low?

The ones determining the ranks on the Sword List were all old predecessors in Jianghu, respected for their virtue and reputation. They purely ranked based on displayed battle achievements—how many swordsmen in Jianghu are there, after all?

Hitting the list was already quite impressive.

The young man in front of him had always displayed extraordinary demeanor whenever he made a move. The indigo Sword Gang he wielded was something he had never heard of before, and even from a distance, one could feel a faint sting just by looking at it.

What's more, after numerous battles along the way, he had never seen Wang Anfeng at a disadvantage in terms of disassembling moves. Even the Great Swordsman, a top-tier master in Jianghu who wielded the Jue Que Sword, could only force him back with aggressive sword momentum, unable to advance even half a step during exchanges.

Yet, with Wang Anfeng's skills, in the eyes of those old gentlemen who rated the Sword and Saber List, he could only just manage to rank thirteenth.

And if the thirteenth position had such flair, then what kind of demeanor did those ranked higher possess? Surely those truly within the top twelve of the Sword List must be akin to immortals?

Yuchi Jie, fearing the situation was no ordinary matter, slapped the table again and said:

"Blade Madman, ranking seventh on the deputy saber list, happens to be in Wanling City. Why don't you seek him out for a challenge? It would be good for cultivating friendship, right?"

"If you could defeat Blade Madman, wouldn't it be like slapping the Wanling City Commandant in the face? That indeed would be a wonderfully spectacular feat. Wouldn't it be splendid?"

Wang Anfeng treated him like air, not bothering to respond.

Yuchi Jie took a few sips of wine, unbothered by the lack of response, and shamelessly chuckled:

"Since ancient times, there has been no first in literature, no second in martial arts. Martial artists are full of vigorous spirit, but it's a pity that we don't know who exactly ranks this Sword and Saber List; certainly, many in Jianghu would want to personally visit these venerable gentlemen and reason with them thoroughly."

"But then, that would make the list meaningless."

"I just noticed that those on the Sword List must at least have Fourth Rank Inner Strength as a foundation, and even the worst on the deputy list boasts Sixth Rank proficiency. I really wonder how they train."

"Thinking again, this list is purely based on combat achievements. Considering even a senior like Gong Yu isn't ranked, it really shows how many people in Jianghu have cultivated their martial arts to extremely profound levels from a young age, and compared to them, I don't even feel like practicing martial arts anymore."

"If I don't practice, at least I can say this young master hasn't exerted himself enough, but if I were to earnestly practice martial arts, yet still couldn't even catch up to your shadows, that would be truly unbearable."

Lv Baiping asked: "Can you catch up?"

Yuchi Jie said with self-mockery: "I most likely cannot."

As the conversation touched on the beauties on the supreme beauty list, Yuchi Jie drank a glass of wine and turned to Wang Anfeng with a smile, saying: "I heard that you once loudly mentioned Xue Family's Qinshuang before the new year. How do you feel about that particular person?"

Wang Anfeng quietly replied:

"The best."

Yuchi Jie grinned.

He suddenly felt he had lost his appetite, a fullness suffusing his stomach.

He opened his folding fan with a flick of his wrist and gave it a couple shakes before saying:

"Since you already have someone on your mind, would you mind having one more?"

"Not to overstate it, but with your martial arts and looks, combined with this young master's talents and silver, success is assured wherever you go in Jianghu. Wouldn't you enjoy the addition of a beautiful companion? How about snatching a concubine from Jianghu to bring back?"

"I remember the renowned Oiran, Zhu Yunmeng of Jiangnan, is currently in Wanling City. When she was younger, her debut song captivated all the literati and martial heroes of Jiangnan Road."

"What do you think? Fancy joining me to meet this great beauty?"

Wang Anfeng raised his eyes, replied succinctly, and said simply: "As you please."

Yuchi Jie laughed heartily, saying:

"I'm just going for the songs; it's you who has inappropriate thoughts, really envisaging all sorts of ideas."

With that, he gently shook his folding fan, stood up, and called Lao Lu, who was standing behind, to join him. He claimed he was taking Lao Lu to hear what the top-ranked singer on Jiangnan Road sounded like.

To see if it truly lives up to those noble youths who, even if they go back with swollen faces from feigned wealth, still want to flaunt their generous manner in taverns.

Lao Lu bowed to Gong Yu and Wang Anfeng with a solemn face and followed him out.

Lin Qiaofu stuck out her tongue and chuckled secretly:

"Master Yuchi's silver is all managed by Uncle Lao Lu. Seeing Uncle's expression, he must be in agony over the spending."

Lv Baiping agreed wholeheartedly and added:

"If it were me, I'd definitely be unable to resist thrashing him by now. Spending so lavishly, does he really think silver grows on trees?"