Wuxia: Drinking with Spring Breeze

There’s an old saying: it’s always hardest at the beginning.

Take the Jujing Gang, for instance, which faced hardships no sooner than it was established.

The Jujing Gang’s main hall, meticulously decorated by Dong Ping, had fallen and become a part of Lianhuan Fort.

Li Jincheng brought forth his leadership spirit, swiftly commanding the people of Lianhuan Fort to clean the place and set up the banquet anew.

The intrigued crowd from various walks of life retook their seats without restraint, continuing the lively feast.

With talk of expanding influence on the left.

And achieving great success on the right.

Their fortunate phrases were as coincidental as actual coincidences...

Inside the great hall of the Jujing Gang, Yang Ge, his wounds now bandaged, supported himself on a chair and leisurely took the seat of honor to his right.

Yang Tiansheng, now free-handed, didn’t even greet him before grabbing the Cold Moon Divine Weapon at his side, pulling it out, and gently caressing the shiny blade like an infatuated fool...

Yang Ge glanced at him sideways and teased, "If you would give up the sword for the blade, I’d give this one to you!"

Yang Tiansheng sheathed the blade immediately and retorted resentfully, "To have the Cold Moon Divine Weapon in your possession is truly pearls cast before swine. Do you even understand what a ’Divine Weapon’ is?"

Yang Ge smiled and responded, "It is only a ’Divine Weapon’ if you don’t think of it as one. If you regard it as a ’Divine Weapon,’ then it becomes a hindrance."

Yang Tiansheng slapped him on his injured shoulder and said, "Don’t try to outsmart me, I know very well this is a treasure coveted by everyone in the martial world... You bumpkin, you have no idea how prestigious it is to carry a Divine Weapon out in the martial world!"

Yang Ge grimaced and sucked in a breath as he half-jokingly cursed, "You scoundrel, wait till my wounds heal; I’ll beat you eight times a day!"

Yang Tiansheng chuckled and replied, "This young master will retreat to concentrate on refining spirit and energy as soon as I get home. I won’t emerge until I achieve true refinement. Next time we meet, who knows who will be beating whom!"

Yang Ge chuckled softly.

Atop the hall, Yang Yinghao and Li Changjiang, sitting on either side of the table, watched the two playfully bicker, each with a trace of a smile on their lips.

Li Changjiang said, "Ah, to be young is wonderful indeed!"

Yang Yinghao replied, "Who would say otherwise!"

Li Changjiang lamented, "It’s a pity, my son has high aspirations but lacks ability, always overestimating his capabilities and thus unable to make friends like them."

Yang Yinghao modestly said, "Brother Li is being too humble; your son may show frivolousness outside, yet he harbors fine qualities within. With some experience, he’s sure to surpass the older generation. If Brother Li doesn’t mind, our families should visit one another more often."

Li Changjiang, smiling and bowing with clenched fists, said, "Brother Yang honors him too highly, and I’ll thank you on his behalf in advance."

Yang Yinghao returned the gesture, "We are all children of the martial world, meant to help each other. There’s no place for thankfulness between us; it is too formal."

Li Changjiang affirmed, "Indeed, indeed… Jin Cheng."

He called out loudly.

Li Jincheng, who was attending to guests in the courtyard, entered swiftly and bowed with respect yet relaxed, "Father, you called me."

Li Changjiang pointed at Yang Yinghao across and said, "Meet your Uncle Yang and your two elder cousins."

Upon hearing this, Li Jincheng bowed and respectfully saluted: "Uncle Yang, I, Li Jincheng, pay my respects."

Yang Yinghao smiled and gestured, "Nephew, please rise. When you’re free, do visit Fengyang for a few days. Your aunt’s cooking is second to none!"

Li Jincheng bowed again, his response cheerful, "I will surely visit sometime soon and hope Uncle will not find me too bothersome."

Yang Yinghao waved his hand, "Let’s drop the formalities, we’re all part of the martial world."

Li Jincheng nodded with a smile and then turned to bow to Yang Ge and Yang Yinghao at his right, "Younger brother pays respect to the elder brothers. If I have been offensive in the past, I hope you both can be magnanimous."

Perhaps it was because of his father Li Changjiang’s presence, or perhaps he had matured since Dong Ping’s breaking through the fort.

Yang Ge thought the Li Jincheng standing before him seemed much more serene and composed than when they had first met on the Bian River.

Yang Ge paused to think and then returned the salute, "You are too polite, Brother Li. I have yet to thank you for your decisive assistance previously… Also, I am truly sorry about your three uncles and sixth uncle. Please offer incense on my behalf, and once I find the time, I will personally pay respects to these two heroes."

Li Jincheng smiled humbly, "If thanks are due, it’s Lianhuan Fort that should be thanking you, Brother Yang, for your help today. Without your noble act, our fort today would have faced unpredictable fortunes. As for your uncles, Brother Yang, don’t weigh it too heavily on your heart. We in the martial world live by the sword, and both lived substantial lives in the gray areas of the martial world. Dying in a way that helped you with such a significant matter, they would surely rest with smiles knowing from beyond… Moreover, while he was still alive, your sixth uncle often reminisced about the bout with you on the Bian River, always mentioning you with great respect; it was this sentiment that drove him to a fight to the death without retreat."

Yang Ge listened intently, his lips pursed unconsciously as he let out a sigh and stated gravely, "There will be an explanation for this matter. Those from the Tianhe Sword Sect who were involved will not escape this!"

Li Jincheng smiled, "Brother Yang is a man of great deeds, such trivial matters don’t befit your concern. Our three uncles and sixth uncle were after all the masters of our fort. The Tianhe Sword Sect, having started this, will certainly see us through to the end…"

Yang Ge was about to decline, but Yang Yinghao interjected from above, "What nephew Jin Cheng said is right. That day, an old man from the Tianhe Sword Sect tried to strike a fatal blow to this youngster, clearly disregarding the Yang Family of Fengyang. There’s no need for Brother Yang to concern himself anymore, I will make a trip to Mount Lu and have a proper talk with them!"

Yang Ge still wanted to decline, but remembering that his current trip to the capital might end with him unable to leave, he hesitated.