Chapter 7: The weather's turned cold; put on a yellow robe

Practicing swordplay, blind guy? And you dare to scold the emperor?

You found it amusing and blurted it out.

Impolite, ignorant.

The blind youth stood arrogantly, dismissing your words with contempt.

You weren't angry at his words, because he was the first person you'd met who dared to scold the emperor.

You felt you got along well with him.

How about we have a match?

The blind boy proposed a sword duel with you, saying, "You can insult me, but you must not insult my sword."

You laughed.

Although your martial talent is ordinary, you have received teachings from various martial masters, embodying the power of the Three Teachings, far beyond an ordinary person.

"Come!" You still agreed to the blind boy's request.

You had a match.

The blind boy lost, and lost badly.

Because he knew no swordsmanship, only a single move: draw and cut.

How about I teach you some powerful swordsmanship?

Yet you still admired the blind boy; in your eyes, background, wealth, martial power and influence didn't matter—daring to scold the emperor was true character.

Fancy flashy stuff, I won't learn it.

The blind boy refused you.

He said, "My draw-and-cut is the strongest; to kill or defeat an enemy, only one sword strike is needed."

It's hopeless.

You found it hilarious and prepared to leave.

Wait!

The blind boy called you back and repeated, "You can insult me, but you must not insult my sword."

If you're capable, go kill the dog emperor with one sword.

You snorted in contempt.

You argued back and forth.

He said he wanted to prove himself, and eventually you decided to travel the jianghu together; you didn't reject becoming friends with someone who dared to scold the dog emperor.

On your travels, you together admired women's long legs, stole sweet potatoes, and fought bandits.

Your personalities clicked well.

You and the blind boy became close friends.

When passing through the prefectural city, the blind boy said, "We've stolen so much money; how about we go to the best restaurant in the city for a big feast?"

Sure.

Actually, you weren't interested in the restaurant's food, since it was just the usual fare from the prince's mansion; you preferred the atmosphere of the jianghu market.

Arriving at the prefectural city, you saw a gang bullying a woman.

Accustomed to chivalry, the blind boy couldn't stand it, stepped in to help, and ended up getting beaten badly.

You intervened and rescued them.

After rescuing the woman and driving off the gang, you and the blind boy went to the largest restaurant in the prefectural city to eat.

When the dishes arrived, you feasted heartily and filled your bellies.

As you went downstairs, a person blocked your path; judging by his attire, he was a rich young master, though the blind boy couldn't see him.

Seeing your shabby appearance, that rich young master's face broke into a mocking smile.

The rich young master said, "Two young heroes, I saw you upholding justice outside the restaurant earlier; I admire you and wish to befriend you."

The blind boy waved his hand, "It's nothing."

You said nothing, pretending not to understand.

The rich young master added, "Two young heroes, I heard those men are the prefect's lackeys; you'd better be careful."

The blind boy snorted, "Jiangnan Prefect Cao Bei?"

The rich young master asked, "Young hero, are you not afraid?"

"Why should I be afraid?" the blind boy struck that arrogant pose again, "The most disgusting lackey under the dog emperor is this Cao Bei."

The rich young master first froze, then his mocking smile grew deeper.

"Then what do you think of the Jiangnan Prefect's son, Cao Shaoquan?"

"Cao Bei is a disgusting lackey, and Cao Shaoquan is a beast among beasts."

The blind boy burst out cursing.

You, who had been silently observing, saw through the rich young master's identity—he was indeed the Jiangnan Prefect's son, Cao Shaoquan, the beast among beasts that the blind boy had spoken of.

You reflected inwardly that it was a miracle the blind boy had survived to this day.

That night, after leaving the prefectural city, you were ambushed.

You struck again, subdued the assassins, and told the blind boy the truth of what had happened that day.

"I have no regrets!"

The blind boy said, "If it happened again, I would still do the same."

You had never seen anyone more stubborn than the blind boy; no wonder he dared to scold the emperor.

In the 31st year of the Chang'an Calendar, you ended your three-year jianghu travels, and you and the blind boy parted ways.

The blind boy said, "I know I can't compare to you now; thank you for protecting me along the way—I owe you my life."

【You joked, saying: "It's not one life, but many lives."】

【Xia Zi's expression was extremely serious, replying: "Then many lives; if this lifetime isn't enough to repay, the next lifetime I will definitely repay you."】

"Next lifetime?"

Lin Chuan subconsciously didn't care about these.

When this dream's reincarnation ends, everything will naturally fade away.

【You smiled and said, "We'll talk about it in the next lifetime."】

【Upon returning to Nan Jiang, your Xiao Qingmei personally came to greet you.】

【In three years, she had become one of the Zhennan Army's finest strategists, and the army's only female strategist.】

【You thought of your mother.】

【Initially, your mother Bai Susu was acclaimed as the Number One Under Heaven Female Sword God, assisting your father to become the Zhennan King who shook Liang.】

【Xiao Qingmei's path seemed different from your mother's, yet they shared common ground.】

【Three years later, you saw your father again; he had aged greatly, though only three years had passed, his black hair had turned white.】

【You had lived carefree for three years, yet you did not know what your father had endured in those three years.】

【Lin Wuji said: "Chuan'er, I am useless; you must avenge your mother's grudge yourself."】

【You found it hard to believe that this generation's formidable hero, who had shaken the court and the countryside, achieved unparalleled feats, and whom everyone feared as an iron‑blooded slaughterer, would actually say such words.】

【Lin Wuji found you a new master.】

【Your new master is Li Chengying, once the Number One Under Heaven Sword, creator of the Twenty‑Two Swords; his swordsmanship reaches the divine.】

【Under the old Sword God Li Chengying, you learned a great deal.】

【Your martial arts cultivation successfully reached the Grand Master realm.】

【In the 33rd year of the Chang'an Calendar, your father Lin Wuji passed away.】

【The renowned Zhennan King died; the news spread across the world, Nan Jiang fell into turmoil, and the world was thrown into chaos.】

【As the heir apparent, you became the new Zhennan King by hereditary succession, yet many of the Zhennan Army's old guard refused to accept you.】

【Seven days later, Xiao Qingmei appeared before you wearing a phoenix crown and rosy robes.】

【She said: "A Chuan, Nan Jiang should have a consort; will you marry me?"】

【You nodded heavily: "Good."】

【Xiao Qingmei's name is Yun Zhi Yi.】

【The evening wind knows Yun Zhi Yi's intent; how could you not know the beauty's heart?】

【She said: "The weather's cold; I personally wove a garment for you to wear."】

【Having said that, she took out a yellow robe, and amid your bewildered gaze, draped it over you.】

【The garment fits you perfectly; it was tailor‑made by Consort Yun Zhi Yi for you.】

【The five‑claw golden dragon embroidered on it is lifelike.】

……

……

Xia Zi – the destitute jianghu