Chapter 43: The True Essence of the Hodgepodge Sword Technique

When Gongsun You and Gongsun Xi’s gazes landed on him, Pei Min smiled and said, “Earlier, Miss Xi’s words gave me an idea. You wanted ‘The Treatise of Yue Yi’ only to return it to its rightful owner, not because of the poison—your involvement with the poison was incidental. Since it was unintentional, the one most fearful of exposure isn’t you, but Jiang Bo. He’s the one who least wants things to escalate. As long as I make a show of stirring up trouble, Jiang Bo will surely back down.”

Gongsun You spoke hesitantly, “I fear, Young Master Pei, you might not have the power to do so.”

Pei Min replied confidently, “At present, it’s true I don’t wield such power, but I can borrow it. I may not have it, but the Grand Marshal does. Once I borrow his influence, it becomes mine. There’s a saying—the fox borrows the tiger’s might. Tell me where Jiang Bo lives, and tomorrow I’ll borrow the tiger’s power, raise a ruckus at his residence, force him to admit defeat and swallow his own bitter fruit, so he won’t dare trouble you again.”

Gongsun You had no other choice, and offered a respectful salute. “Many thanks for your kindness, Young Master Pei. Please be cautious—Jiang Bo still has some formidable men at his side, especially one who wields a blade. You must be careful.”

Pei Min recalled the black-clad man from that night, whose blade was executed with near-supernatural skill, and a look of eagerness shone in his eyes.

This was no place to linger. Pei Min knew every extra moment would distract the sisters further. After obtaining Jiang Bo’s address, he took his leave.

As Pei Min’s figure vanished, Gongsun Xi circled Gongsun You twice, letting out mischievous giggles. “Big sister, you lied to me!”

Gongsun You pushed her. “You’re the only one who ever tricks me! I wouldn’t lie to you.”

Gongsun Xi retorted, “I didn’t trick you. I said I wouldn’t go out the door, and I didn’t. I went out through the window—it’s called going out the window, not the door. Besides, if I hadn’t gone out to challenge people and wandered to South Street, learned where the Li mansion was, we wouldn’t have found this place to hide. It’s all thanks to me… It’s my achievement.”

“Yes, yes!” Gongsun You laughed. “It’s all your achievement! Including us running and hiding everywhere—it’s your achievement, too.”

Fuming, Gongsun Xi rammed her head against Gongsun You’s chest. “You bully me, you bully me…”

After a while of playful scuffling, Gongsun Xi grew pensive. “He’ll be all right, won’t he?”

“He will!” Gongsun You’s face showed a trace of worry, but she reassured herself. “With his swordsmanship, he’ll be fine.”

Gongsun Xi recalled their earlier sparring. “His swordplay seems even sharper now—he’s using our Sword of the Yue Maiden. Tell me honestly, big sister, you didn’t teach him the Yue Maiden Sword?”

Pei Min had used a set of Yue Maiden Sword techniques to completely overwhelm Li Wuyi, forcing him to a desperate, life-for-life exchange. Even so, Pei Min defeated and captured Li Wuyi.

This episode had been witnessed by soldiers present that night, as well as martial artists lodging at Li Wuyi’s mansion. Pei Min had first defeated the proud Gongsun Xi and then the renowned Li Wuyi. Defeating Gongsun Xi earned him recognition from the Jicheng martial world; defeating Li Wuyi earned him the respect of the entire Youzhou. To the world, his signature sword technique was the ancient Yue Maiden Sword from the Spring and Autumn period.

The inn where Gongsun You and Gongsun Xi stayed was among the sources of these rumors, and they had heard such tales themselves.

Gongsun You merely glanced at Gongsun Xi and smiled, but Gongsun Xi herself was dissatisfied. The Yue Maiden Sword was her crowning skill—how could it belong to Pei Min? Even if he learned it, it must have been from her; she should be his teacher. Yet she found it hard to believe Pei Min could master her swordplay after just one bout. She had asked about it before.

Gongsun You had answered that she hadn’t taught him, and now, seeing her relationship with Pei Min was more intimate than Gongsun Xi had imagined, she doubted again and asked.

Gongsun You shook her head and laughed, “Even if I wanted to teach him, he wouldn’t learn. He may not even value our Yue Maiden Sword.”

“That’s impossible!” Gongsun Xi argued. “His swordplay is such a mishmash—how could it compare to our Yue Maiden Sword? Big sister, you’re too biased. His mishmash sword style is full of messy, useless moves. Compared to our Yue Maiden Sword, it’s like the moon in the sky versus fireflies in the fields. He only excels because of his skill; if anyone else used his moves, I’d make them cry for their mother.”

As a devoted admirer of the Yue Maiden Sword, Gongsun Xi wouldn’t believe there existed a sword art more formidable.

Gongsun You recalled her conversation with Pei Min that night. “Never underestimate Young Master Pei’s mishmash swordplay. Right now, he’s only at the entry stage—it’s far from complete. Think: he’s already so skilled now. If he succeeds, who could be his equal?”

Gongsun Xi looked bewildered.

Gongsun You continued, “Young Master Pei differs from us. We lack a master, but our sword manuals serve as our teachers, letting us learn the wisdom of our predecessors and master sword techniques. Pei Min truly had no teacher. He watched others practice, memorized myriad moves of all kinds, taught himself, and achieved what he has today. The more he saw, the more he learned—some techniques were exquisite, some useless, some even superfluous. He discarded the useless moves and combined the useful ones into his so-called mishmash sword style. When he said the Yue Maiden Sword would become part of his mishmash style, it meant he’s always learning new, useful moves and abandoning lesser ones. He’s not yet twenty, so his experience is limited, and his swordplay is full of simple techniques. But ten, twenty years from now, the more opponents he faces, the more he’ll learn. He’ll refine, select the finest, and his mishmash sword style—by then, will ‘mishmash’ even suffice to describe it?”

Gongsun Xi was left dumbfounded. “How could a normal person do that?”

Gongsun You smiled softly. “How could a normal person defeat you so thoroughly? How could a normal person give you a few pointers and make your sword skills progress so rapidly?”

Gongsun Xi jumped up, “I wasn’t really defeated…” She paused, muttered softly, “Never thought his mishmash swordplay could be so formidable.” Her captivating eyes shimmered with newfound brilliance.

**********

Noon the next day.

Pei Min, alone with his sword, arrived at Jiang Bo’s villa in Jicheng, Maple Leaf Court. Today, he had shed his usual scholar’s robes and donned a sky-blue warrior’s outfit. He raised his fist and knocked firmly on the grand doors.