Chapter 90: with translation of chapter title

Even the prince's carriage will jolt on the mountain road.

Zhou Ke did not let his other subordinates follow; he only brought Ye Wuming and Situ Qing, his two confidants. Situ Qing was in charge of driving the carriage, and the three of them left the prince's residence, heading north all the way, taking a hidden path leading to God Sword Mountain Villa.

The path is hardly known, so naturally few people walk it, and they won't encounter unnecessary trouble.

But they still encountered others.

Two sword qi surged up and down in the forest, killing intent fully revealed, true qi trembling!

The trees shook, grass leaves fluttered.

Zhou Ke knew the two combatants were holding back; otherwise the entire forest would be destroyed under their swords.

Situ Qing lifted the carriage curtain, turned back and asked Zhou Ke, "Prince?"

"Take a look."

The carriage stopped; Zhou Ke and Ye Wuming got off, walked only a few steps, and saw those two people.

The white-clad old man and the blue-clad middle-aged man were engaged in a spectacular battle!

The old man's sword went off‑beat; each move and each sword placed himself in danger, forcing the opponent into desperation.

He deliberately lowered his guard, shifted his weight; the opponent naturally attacked there, fiercely striking his lower body, each blow aiming to sever his legs.

Seizing the moment, he twisted his sword‑hand wrist, the long sword whipping around, nearly stabbing the opponent's heart.

The middle‑aged man's sword was heavy and powerful; a casual swing could carve a person‑deep gouge in the ground! When the blade or hilt struck trees, it shattered their trunks and branches, scattering fine wood chips everywhere,

Facing the old man's lethal strike, he was not flustered, already having a counter; with the move "Separating and Scattering Azure" he broke the attack! He loosened his grip, the long sword rose on its own, separating man from blade.

Azure sword qi shot up from the ground, with tremendous impact knocking aside the old man's long sword, while he remained unharmed, dodging the old man's thrust.

The tips of the two long swords pointed at each other!

Sword qi surged wildly, bombarding continuously!

Ye Wuming spread his arms, drawing a barrier before him and Zhou Ke, blocking the impact of the residual sword qi.

"Feng Yi Chu, Luo Qing Kui?" Ye Wuming recognized the two men.

Zhou Ke naturally recognized them too; he laughed, shook his head, and sighed, "Each has its own style. The Hua Shan Sword Method and the Qing Shan Sword Method truly live up to their reputation!"

Feng Yi Chu sheathed his sword.

Luo Qing Kui sheathed his sword.

The two stepped forward, clasped fists and shook hands. Instantly they became intimate; it seemed they were old acquaintances.

"Hahaha! Long time no see, you two!" Zhou Ke laughed loudly, clapping as he stepped forward. He too was an old acquaintance of theirs.

"Yo, isn't this Prince Zhou? What wind blew you out of the prince's manor? Hahaha!" Feng Yi Chu teased.

"I said who would know this hidden path—surely it's you two!"

"I never expected that I and Elder Brother Feng would disturb the prince! Really sorry, please forgive us, Your Highness." Luo Qing Kui said.

"Not at all—you're sparring here, I'm fortunate to witness it, truly an eye‑opener. But this place is very close to my manor; you came without reporting, without letting me prepare a banquet—that's what deserves criticism!" Zhou Ke lightly pinched the tiny moustache that had just sprouted below his lower lip.

"Hahaha!"

"Hahaha!"

"Hahaha!"

Having said that, the three of them burst out laughing together.

"I never thought after so many years we could meet again." Luo Qing Kui, though younger than Zhou Ke and Elder Brother Feng, being middle‑aged, naturally felt much emotion.

"Yes, time presses on and makes us old," Feng Yi Chu also sighed.

"Just now Elder Brother Feng asked what wind blew the prince out of his manor; this wind must be coming down from the mountain, right?"

"Yes, the wind on God Sword Mountain blew the prince and the two of you here!"

"It's hot in summer; a breeze is nice." Luo Qing Kui pointed toward God Sword Mountain; the ground beneath their feet already afforded a faint view of its outline.

"Shall we talk in the carriage? There's still a stretch of mountain road; walking in this heat would be too hard on a person." Zhou Ke proactively invited his two old friends onto his carriage.

After Feng Yi Chu settled in, he asked Zhou Ke, "Prince, you're not a swordsman; why do you want to go to God Sword Mountain Villa? Are you just joining the fun like us?"

If Zhou Ke believed Feng Yi Chu was just going for the fun, then his being a prince would be wasted, "Just have a look… it's close to my manor, a rare feast—I couldn't bear to miss it, hahaha! As for Elder Brother Feng, you're heading to God Sword Mountain; you must have designs on the Heavenly Mechanism Sword." Zhou Ke also addressed Feng Yi Chu as elder brother, showing Feng Yi Chu's high standing in the martial world; he simply did him a favor.

Feng Yi Chu didn't beat around the bush, "Frankly, our Hua Shan sword is planted on the grave of my disciple Zhang Bei Hai; yet we cannot open the subterranean world of Qian Chong Men, and thus Hua Shan Sect has lost its sect‑protecting treasure. The other four peaks covet the leadership of the Five Peaks Alliance; without the God Sword's blessing, the Five Peaks will fall apart."

"Indeed, Hua Shan Sect is the core maintaining the Five Peaks Sword School; if internal strife erupts among the Five Peaks, the whole martial world will never know peace." After hearing Feng Yi Chu's words, Zhou Ke sighed.

"The Song Shan Sect has eyed the leader's position for a hundred years; if Yan Shan Hai became chief, the consequences would be unimaginable… I am old, lacking a sword of sufficient weight—how many more years could I hold him at bay?" Feng Yi Chu's eyes brimmed with sorrow; the pain of losing his disciple constantly lingered in his heart.

"So Elder Brother Feng called me to accompany him…"

"Alas… how sad, the esteemed leader of the Five Peaks Sword School cannot find a comrade within, and even needs an outsider to keep him company!" Feng Yi Chu gave a wry smile.

Actually this bitter fruit is also of Feng Yi Chu's own making; he earlier gave the Hua Shan Sect leadership to his disciple Zhang Bei Hai, provoking the ire of the other four peaks. For a hundred years the Five Peaks Sword School has had an unwritten rule: the Hua Shan Sect leader is the Five Peaks Alliance chief.

But Zhang Bei Hai is still young—how could he bear such a great responsibility?

Who would obey his governance?

"Elder Brother Feng, I'm not an outsider; after years of life‑and‑death together, it's rare to get a chance to see the world—isn't that great? Hahaha! I, the younger brother, also want to broaden my horizons."

"What worldly sights could your Qing Shan Sword not have seen?" Zhou Ke teased.

"I've heard that this time legendary swordsmen—Sword King, Sword Lord, Sword Demon, and Great Sword—will also come; it's bound to be a fierce battle!" Luo Qing Kui said.

"The prince has won popular favor and stays out of turmoil, so that's fine," Feng Yi Chu said solemnly, but the sarcasm in his words was clear to anyone who listened, "As for me, I'm afraid I'll have to face a fierce battle this time!"

"Elder Brother Feng's strength might be useless in a fierce battle!" Zhou Ke refused to be outdone, "Huang Zong said, after all, it's about the affinity between person and sword."

"Hahaha! I'm old enough, yet I still don't know what affinity is!"

Zhou Ke, Feng Yi Chu, and Luo Qing Kui each understood in their hearts that while they could now sit in a carriage chatting and laughing, by tomorrow they might well be enemies. Who wouldn't want a share of that Heavenly Mechanism Sword broth?