Chapter Twenty: The Momentum of a Sweeping Victory

Three Heroes Inn!

Gongsun Xi awoke from a beautiful dream. She poked her head out to look through the window, then glanced at her sleeping elder sister beside her. Her bright, lively eyes turned with a hint of mischief; she pressed a hand over her mouth, slipped quietly from beneath the covers, and tiptoed from the bed. Without making a sound, she dressed herself, just about to retrieve her sword and slip out the door, when a languid voice sounded behind her: "And where do you think you’re going?"

Gongsun Xi froze, turning her head slowly. She saw her elder sister, who had been like a mother to her since childhood, yawning and gazing at her with a half-amused, half-indulgent smile. Gongsun Xi flashed a sweet grin. "Where could I possibly be going? Just washing up and asking the innkeeper to prepare breakfast. You look so sleepy, Sis. Didn’t sleep well last night?"

Gongsun Xi spoke offhandedly, but Gongsun You’s cheeks flushed. Last night she had discussed swordplay and dance with Pei Min, losing all track of time. Though her conscience was clear, thinking now of how she’d chatted so freely with a man she’d only just met in the middle of the night, she couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed.

"Hey!" Gongsun Xi sensed something off, hurried over, and pressed her forehead to Gongsun You’s. "Winter’s nearly here—Sis, you’re not catching cold, are you? Your face is so red! Luckily, you’re not feverish!"

"Enough, enough!" Gongsun You pushed away her uninhibited little sister. "Aren’t you going to tell me what you were up to yesterday?"

Gongsun Xi pouted, sitting at the edge of the bed. "You already know what I did, so why ask?"

Gongsun You took her hand. "If you want to spar, you can spar with me. Why go out of your way to challenge strangers and stir up trouble?"

"I did not!" Gongsun Xi objected. "I just wanted to exchange a few moves. They’re the ones who looked down on me, thinking I’m just a frail girl. It’d be one thing if they simply refused, but they even mocked me. Such bad habits! If I don’t teach them a lesson, how will they learn there’s always someone stronger? Besides, I already know all your moves. The moment you raise your hand, I know exactly what you’ll do next—it’s like fighting my own reflection. There’s no fun in that. I’m telling you, sparring with strangers is much more exciting! You never know what they’ll do, what hidden skills they might have. Most well-known fighters aren’t all that impressive, but some have truly formidable signature techniques. Yesterday, I ran into someone who fought with a staff—he was amazing! He spun his iron staff into a whirling sphere, defending himself so tightly not even water could get through.

"Big Sis, you know our Sword of the Yue Maiden is too deadly. One wrong move and someone could be seriously hurt, so I always use a wooden sword. But his defense was so strong, and that iron staff packed a punch—if I attacked head-on, my sword would have snapped for sure. Guess how I beat him? I was stumped for a while, but then I had an idea. I picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at his staff. The stone knocked into the staff, creating the tiniest opening. I seized the moment, thrust my sword through the gap, and broke his defense. That’s how I won in the end…" As she spoke, her eyes shone with excitement; she gestured animatedly, utterly thrilled.

Gongsun You looked wordlessly at her beloved little sister, unable to understand why a young girl would be so fond of fighting and competition. She thought of Pei Min and his sword from the night before and advised, "The world is vast—there’s always someone stronger out there. I worry that if you continue like this, one day you’ll come to grief."

Gongsun Xi replied impatiently, "Sis, you’re wonderful, but you worry too much—always about nothing! We grew up together, you know my swordsmanship. What trouble could I possibly get into? So far, no one’s managed to beat me. Besides, I’m just sparring, it’s the process that matters. Winning and losing… well, it’s not unimportant, but if I can avoid losing, I’d rather not. And if I do lose, so what? I’ll just practice more and win it back next time!"

Gongsun You put on a stern face. "You’re full of sophistries—I can never out-argue you. But when we left home, you promised to do as I said. Today, you stay here at the inn—no wandering off."

"Fine, I won’t go. What’s the big deal?" Gongsun Xi huffed, folding her arms and tossing her head in a little fit of pique.

Gongsun You softened her voice. "I’m only thinking of you. This isn’t our hometown—out here, we’re strangers and can’t afford to be reckless."

Gongsun Xi snorted twice, now communicating only through her nose.

Gongsun You let her be, washed and dressed, ordered breakfast, and called Gongsun Xi to come eat.

Never one to quarrel with her own stomach, Gongsun Xi tucked into breakfast with gusto.

Gongsun You said, "I have a feeling something’s not right. Later, I’m going to see Wan’er—do you want to come with me?"

"No." Gongsun Xi snorted. "What’s so great about that girl? We’ve already escorted her all the way to Ji City—that’s more than enough to repay Uncle Wang’s kindness. Are we supposed to look after her for life?"

"Have it your way," Gongsun You replied, knowing that Wang Wan’s sharp tongue and Gongsun Xi’s temperament would never mix. She didn’t press. "I hope I’m just being paranoid, but the way the 'Treatise on Yue Yi' was leaked is suspicious. I don’t trust her second uncle—unless I see for myself, I won’t be at ease. Uncle Wang has only one daughter. We should help if we can… Remember, you’re not to go anywhere!"

Gongsun Xi pointed at the door. "Until you return, I won’t step across that threshold. Satisfied?"

Gongsun You smiled and nodded.

After breakfast, Gongsun You said her farewells and left the room.

Gongsun Xi, apparently bored, dove straight back under the covers.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Gongsun You’s silhouette flitted past the doorway.

Gongsun Xi sat up with a grin, muttering to herself, "She said not to step out the door, so I won’t. But if I leave by the window, that doesn’t count, does it?"

Once again, the martial world of Ji City was in for a nightmare!

Within just two days, a spirited and valiant young woman, armed with nothing but a wooden sword, had defeated more than ten of Ji City’s famous martial artists in succession. The four rising stars—Peng Yu, Ge Feng, Tao Tao, and Zhu Ze—were all utterly routed.

Of the city’s six great masters, one was away traveling, and the other five were all defeated.

The renowned master Ren Le, seeking to restore the reputation of Ji City’s martial world, personally issued a challenge to Gongsun Xi.

With thirty years of fame, Ren Le had experience and skill far beyond Gongsun Xi’s. By rights, his martial arts surpassed hers. Yet for a forty-five-year-old man to bully a girl not yet twenty was already a questionable act. He hoped for a quick victory, but Gongsun Xi fought back fiercely with the Sword of the Yue Maiden, exchanging over three hundred moves with him. Ren Le lost his composure, and Gongsun Xi seized the opportunity to turn the tables and snatch victory from defeat.

After this bout, the martial world of Ji City was utterly disgraced. The old masters, cherishing their reputations, thought it not worth their while to defeat a young girl, and if, like Ren Le, they slipped even once, it would cost them a lifetime’s honor—so they all avoided her. The ambitious younger generation found themselves no match for Gongsun Xi.

Thus, with only a wooden sword, Gongsun Xi swept through Ji City, her edge unchallenged, and no one dared cross her path.