Chapter Sixteen: Gongsun You

The skill of using four ounces to move a thousand pounds in the art of Tai Chi is not an infallible technique. If one does not grasp its intricacies and merely seeks to break it with brute force, unless one truly possesses unrivaled strength like that of a legendary overlord, the greater your force, the more you suffer before the subtle power of Tai Chi. Jiang Fan, having put all his strength into this move, ended up losing even more miserably, unable to control himself.

This failed attempt sobered Jiang Fan; regret gnawed at him. He had hoped to find an easy target, only to kick against a steel plate far harder than iron. To advance would be self-inflicted humiliation; to retreat would be to lose face, and even with his cunning, Jiang Fan was momentarily at a loss.

Pei Min saw Jiang Fan’s furious expression and hesitation. Without bothering with him, he took two quick steps to the side of the woman with the wooden sword. With a slanting sword gesture, he drew a semicircle, the blade resting gently atop Wang Hu’s saber. This time, he did not merely defend; he borrowed and redirected force, dissolving and countering, guiding Wang Hu’s blade toward Jiang Fan, adding a touch of his own strength.

Wang Hu had never encountered such strange martial arts. Caught off guard, his force was completely manipulated, and he struck fiercely at Jiang Fan. Jiang Fan was startled, but his skill was considerable and his reactions swift. Though surprised, he did not panic; he calmly raised his spear to block.

Both were powerful fighters; when blade met spear, sparks flew, and their arms were momentarily numb. Wang Hu, whose temperament was volatile, was already driven to near frenzy, but the fact that he had just attacked his longtime friend jolted him back to clarity.

The two brothers looked into each other’s eyes, each feeling a desperate urge to bash their head against a wall, sharing the same misery.

Pei Min sheathed his sword and turned to the beauty beside him. “Let’s go.”

The woman with the wooden sword sighed softly, nodded, and made a slight bow to Wang Hu, Jiang Fan, and the entrance of the martial arts hall, then walked away with Pei Min toward the street.

Watching the two figures recede, no one dared to call after them.

A hush settled over the crowd, then whispers arose:

“Who is that young man? Is he using sorcery?”

“I think it’s sorcery—what kind of swordplay moves so slowly?”

“Heavens, what’s happening in Ji City? Where are all these masters coming from? Each one is more formidable than the last, and younger too… They all seem to favor wooden swords. Even Jiang Bo’s bodyguards were beaten by people wielding wooden swords, weren’t they?”

“The Sword Ape was defeated without a chance to fight back, the Broadsword King was toyed with, and now even Jiang Fan has been bested. The martial world of Youzhou is about to change!”

Pei Min, oblivious to the gossip behind him, was wholly captivated by the beauty at his side. It was not just her looks; there was a sense of mutual understanding, as if they were kindred spirits.

Having left the street, Pei Min was pondering how to strike up a conversation when the woman stopped first, bowed gracefully, and said, “Gongsun You thanks you, sir, for your assistance. I am ashamed to have involved you without cause. I have urgent matters and hope you will leave your name and address. When things are settled, I will personally come to thank you.”

Pei Min regarded the courteous Gongsun You, finding it hard to believe she was the same person who had stirred up trouble at the Sword Pavilion. He quickly returned her bow. “Miss Gongsun, you are too polite. Your demeanor is so proper and refined that even the daughters of noble families might not compare. Moreover, I understand your swordplay—it is extraordinary, the most exquisite and cunning technique I have ever encountered. Yet you used such a terrifyingly aggressive sword style for defense, showing you had no intention of fighting them; you were forced to draw your sword by their relentless aggression. From your manner and your sword, I am certain those accusations are baseless. A group of men targeting you without reason—it’s excessive.”

A trace of pleasure flashed in Gongsun You’s eyes, though mixed with a bitter smile. “I do not blame them; it is not entirely groundless. Their anger does have cause.”

Pei Min was bewildered.

Gongsun You hesitated before continuing, “Since you have helped me, I will not conceal the truth. I have a younger sister who looks exactly like me. She is not bad by nature, but strong-willed. They must have mistaken me for her.”

Pei Min scrutinized Gongsun You, incredulous. “Exactly alike?”

Gongsun You nodded. “Except for a slight difference in our voices, there is almost no distinction. The uncle next door, who has watched us grow for thirteen years, still confuses us; how could others not?”

Pei Min suddenly understood: someone had swaggered in at noon to cause trouble, then returned in the evening to apologize, and those unaware of the details were bound to be furious. He laughed, “So that’s it! No wonder they say you pretended to apologize while actually showing off. The misunderstanding—it's not even the same person! I can’t blame them for doubting; even now, I find your explanation hard to believe. Until I see your sister myself, I reserve a bit of skepticism.”

Gongsun You was puzzled.

Pei Min smiled and explained, “I mean no disrespect, just being honest. Miss Gongsun, your beauty is so pure and exquisite, like a celestial maiden—a true masterpiece of heaven. I find it hard to believe there exists another face identical to yours. Unless I see it with my own eyes, I dare not believe.”

At his words, Gongsun You’s cheeks flushed, her elegance reminiscent of a dewy daffodil at dawn. She felt a mix of secret delight and mild annoyance, but knowing Pei Min meant no offense, she merely nodded. “You flatter me.”

Pei Min did not pursue this topic further, lest he be taken for a frivolous man, and changed the subject. “Miss Gongsun, is your urgent matter the search for your sister? If you don’t mind, I can help. I know Ji City inside out; with me, your search will be much easier. Besides, night is approaching, and Ji City has a curfew. Without my assistance, you would struggle to move about after dark.” Realizing he was being overly forward and seeing Gongsun You’s suspicion, he quickly explained, “My name is Pei Min. Please don’t worry. I help you because I also have a favor to ask. I heard that a few days ago, a pair of siblings used dazzling sword techniques and two wooden swords to defeat more than twenty bodyguards hired by Jiang Bo. Your swordsmanship is superb, your footwork graceful, and with your sister, two women with wooden swords—it cannot be mere coincidence. As for why people think you are brothers and not sisters, perhaps you dressed as men for convenience, or your outfits are unisex, and the witnesses only saw you from afar. Jiang Bo is involved in something I cannot disclose, but it is serious. I have no clues yet and hope to learn something about him from you; it might help me.”