Chapter Seventeen: Few Dare to Cross Him

Pei Min carried the memories of two lifetimes, essentially possessing the wisdom and insight of two people, making his thoughts especially delicate. The news he overheard in the tavern might not be useful to him, but since it related to the subject of his investigation, he made a point to remember the two brothers who could take on ten men and wielded wooden swords.

At the entrance of the Sword Pavilion, Pei Min had seen Gongsun You fighting with a wooden sword. At the time, he hadn’t given it much thought, assuming it was mere coincidence. However, when Gongsun You mentioned she had a twin sister, and the news from the tavern was that Yuan Hao had been defeated by a young woman wielding a wooden sword, the pieces began to fit.

Two people, two wooden swords, both possessing exquisite swordsmanship—so many coincidences entwined could no longer be considered chance.

Pei Min was convinced that Gongsun You and her sister were the very two who, days earlier, had defeated Jiang Bo’s escorts on the official road leading to Ji City.

Gongsun You did not respond, tacitly acknowledging Pei Min’s deduction.

She pondered briefly and said, “Let’s return to the inn first. I’ve been searching for some time and was delayed at the martial academy. Perhaps my sister has already returned to the inn. We can talk about other things once I’ve confirmed she’s safe.”

Pei Min had no objection.

Worried about her sister, Gongsun You hurried toward the modest inn where they were lodging.

Following her for about a mile, Pei Min arrived at a simple, unadorned little inn, its name surprisingly inventive: Three Heroes Inn.

Ji City, in the era of the Three Kingdoms, was Gongsun Zan’s stronghold, and Liu, Guan, and Zhang had spent time under his roof. Could it be that these heroes once lodged here?

Looking at the inn’s name, Pei Min mused maliciously.

Upon entering, the counter stood to the right. It was already late, and the innkeeper was calculating the day’s earnings, the abacus clattering noisily.

As soon as Gongsun You entered, she asked whether her sister had returned.

The innkeeper was momentarily stunned at the sight of Gongsun You; regaining his composure, he replied, “She returned some time ago. Just now, your—no, your sister ordered some dishes and asked me to keep them warm in the pot for you. Shall I bring them up now?”

Relief washed over Gongsun You, the heavy stone in her heart finally settling. With a smile, she said, “Please, and see what ingredients you have left. Kindly add a couple of small dishes and bring a good jug of wine.”

The innkeeper hesitated for a moment, but seeing Gongsun You’s polite and gracious manner, he inexplicably agreed, “Alright, all the staff have gone home. I’ll have my wife cook for you personally.”

Gongsun You nodded, “Thank you, innkeeper!” Turning to Pei Min, she said, “I’ll go to the room and check. I won’t rest easy until I see her myself. Excuse me for a moment.”

“Certainly!” Pei Min made a gesture of invitation, and once Gongsun You had gone upstairs, he quietly asked the innkeeper, “Is there really a sister who looks exactly like Miss Gongsun?”

The innkeeper rubbed his forehead, “I’ve lived half my life and seen plenty of twins, brothers and sisters, but there’s always some difference. These sisters truly seem cast from the same mold, not a bit of difference. Looking at them makes my head spin.”

It wasn’t that Pei Min didn’t believe Gongsun You, but as the innkeeper said, it was hard to accept that such a beautiful girl could exist twice in the world.

He found a quiet seat in the hall and waited.

Before long, Gongsun You descended softly from upstairs, and as she approached, she smiled helplessly, “All is well. That girl must have run quite a distance—she’s exhausted and fast asleep.”

Pei Min laughed, “With your sword skill, I imagine your sister is no less talented. Miss Gongsun, you needn’t worry. She was able to overwhelm the Quick Sword Ape without giving him a chance to fight back. In Ji City, among those under thirty, no one is her equal. As for the renowned masters above that age, few could confidently defeat her, and those who could wouldn’t be inclined to challenge her due to seniority.”

Gongsun You sighed softly, “It’s precisely because of this that one must worry. The martial world is dangerous, and people’s hearts unpredictable. Not everyone can accept being bested by a junior. Unable to fight her openly, they may strike in secret. My sister is inexperienced—how could she defend herself? Enough of that. Tomorrow, I’ll keep a close eye on her and not let her out.”

Family matters between sisters were not Pei Min’s concern, especially since he and Gongsun You had only just met and were not familiar enough to intrude.

Gongsun You seemed to realize this and stopped discussing her sister. Just then, the innkeeper and his wife arrived together, bringing the wine and dishes. She poured two cups, saying, “Young Master Pei, you helped me out today. Allow me to toast you in gratitude.”

Seeing her drain the cup in one gulp, Pei Min matched her, raising his own cup and downing it in one go.

Pei Min guessed that Gongsun You, searching for her sister all day, had eaten little. He didn’t rush to discuss business, instead letting her eat to satisfy her hunger.

Gongsun You was indeed famished, exchanging cups and quickly eating, yet her speed did not diminish her elegance.

Pei Min had already eaten his fill at the tavern, but with a beauty before him, he accompanied her regardless.

After several rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes, when they had nearly finished, Pei Min once more broached the subject of Jiang Bo.

Gongsun You said, “Young Master Pei, you must be a scholar, I presume you know Wang Xizhi? Have you heard of his ‘Discourse on Yue Yi’?”

“Of course!” Pei Min replied without hesitation. Wang Xizhi, known as the Sage of Calligraphy, mastered clerical, cursive, regular, and running scripts, setting the standard for centuries. As a student of literature, Pei Min couldn’t possibly be ignorant of him. As for ‘Discourse on Yue Yi,’ he had heard of it as well, “It is one of Wang Xizhi’s most famous works. Our dynasty’s renowned calligrapher Chu Suiliang, in his ‘Catalogue of Wang Xizhi’s Works,’ listed ‘Discourse on Yue Yi’ as the premier work of Wang’s regular script, its value immeasurable. I’ve heard that the Emperor Taizong greatly revered Wang Xizhi and collected many of his authentic works, and ‘Discourse on Yue Yi’ was among them.”

Gongsun You nodded, “It is true that ‘Discourse on Yue Yi’ ended up with Emperor Taizong, though the means by which he obtained it were not entirely honorable. In Chang’an, during the Shenlong era, Princess Taiping and Princess Anle borrowed ‘Discourse on Yue Yi’ to make a copy and it was stolen, causing a considerable stir. The family who stole it were the original owners of the piece. To avoid danger, they went into hiding in Linying. Years later, only a single young woman remained of that family. Her parents were benefactors to ours, and before their deaths, entrusted us to escort their daughter to Ji City to seek her maternal uncle. Somehow, word of ‘Discourse on Yue Yi’ reached Jiang Bo, and when stealing it failed, they attempted to seize it by force. My sister and I joined hands to drive them off. That is the extent of our feud with Jiang Bo. Does this help you, Young Master Pei?”

Pei Min shook his head, smiling, “At the very least, I now know what kind of man he is.”

Gongsun You caught the undertone in his words and, after a moment’s thought, said, “I don’t know what business brings you here, but let me offer a word of advice: it’s best not to provoke Jiang Bo. The people behind him—let alone you—even within the entire Tang dynasty, few would dare cross them.”