Chapter 746

"Okay, okay." The young lady from the official family hurriedly moved a seat for her.

Li Li Piaoqing finished the candied haws in a few bites and looked down at the things displayed on the stall. They were clearly all handmade by the daughters themselves. There were small pouches embroidered with the word "Pei", thumb-sized head carvings, and rows of small stone seals... The quality was also a bit uneven.

The girl beside her saw her look and hurriedly took a small pouch and gave it to her. Li Li Piaoqing had to accept it and smiled to thank her.

"Sister, are you a swordsman from out of town?"

"Hmm."

"Then, have you also heard the name of Young Hero Pei Ye?"

Li Li Piaoqing nodded: "I have heard of it."

"I knew it! Young Hero Pei Ye is so powerful, yet those swordsmen from out of town insist on saying he is some unknown person, 'someone never heard of in the Jianghu'. It is clearly their shallow knowledge," the young lady from the official family said, "Sister, let me tell you, Young Hero Pei Ye's sword is powerful, and he is a good person. He came to the Divine Capital from a remote place, yet he is neither arrogant nor impetuous, sincere and humble, and practices diligently. Last year, he caused a sensation that swept through the Divine Capital with a sword gamble at the Zhu Que Gate. But he disappeared after becoming famous, not at all like those swordsmen who fight for fame and profit."

A more gentle and elegant girl beside her leaned over and said softly: "Indeed, it is precisely this character of being calm in the face of favor or humiliation that separates Young Hero Pei Ye from those vulgar people who fight for courage and ruthlessness, which is the most precious."

"..." Li Li Piaoqing clutched the pouch.

"But those people slander him with nonsense every day." Many girls gathered around her, "Sister, you must never believe the rumors that Young Hero Pei Ye 'only boarded the Zhu Que Sword Platform after drinking flower wine'."

"Ah??" Li Li Piaoqing tilted her head.

"That's right! They said that Young Hero Pei Ye was disheveled that day, with a woman's silk ribbon tied on his head. But it was snowing all over the sky that day, who could see clearly?"

"..."

"Anyway, there are many bad things about Young Hero Pei Ye in the Divine Capital. If you accidentally hear them, sister, you must not be deceived."

Li Li Piaoqing was silent for a moment, then smiled: "Hmm... I know. Pei Ye is very powerful with the sword, honest and keeps his promises, and is a first-class good man in the world."

"I knew it!"

The girls around were all happy. Clearly, this "sister" had a Jianghu flavor, her temperament was extraordinary, and she looked like an insider. Even she spoke well of Young Hero Pei Ye, so Young Hero Pei's strength and character must be correct.

Li Li Piaoqing sat among them, listening to them talk about the Pei Ye in their imagination, and for a moment she didn't know how she felt—this novel experience was truly the first time.

At this time, the clear and beautiful girl on the pavilion spoke, and everyone looked at her.

"Alright, I think everyone is almost here. Let me tell you about the Tianshan Sword Banquet tomorrow."

Cui Cui Zhaoye leaned on the railing

and said with a smile: "The Tianshan high sect gave me twelve invitations, which is very generous. I have already invited Young Hero Pei Ye to go, and he has also agreed."

The girls beside Li Li Piaoqing were excited.

"The Tianshan Sword Banquet invites a lot of people, but the screening is very strict. So, for those who have ways to get in from elsewhere, just go in yourself. I will try to keep the ones in my hand for friends who have no way, or whose families do not allow it."

"Okay!"

"Sister Cui, give it to me, give it to me!"

"No! Give it to me!"

The pavilion below laughed and shouted lively. Cui Cui Zhaoye raised her hand and smiled: "Don't argue anymore, it's decided to draw lots. Twelve real signs, eighty-seven fake signs. Those with low merit points draw first and last, and those with high merit points are in the middle. I will read the names."

The grass soon became quiet. Li Li Piaoqing had heard of this girl, a name that often appeared in the National Report, and knew she was the legitimate daughter of the Cui family.

This girl surnamed Cui clearly had quite a prestige in this "fan club". As soon as she spoke, everyone listened with a smile.

Li Li Piaoqing looked behind her again, only to see a girl with an upright posture standing there holding several scrolls. Cui Cui Zhaoye reached out, and she handed a paper scroll over.

She was almost out of place in her quietness, standing in the shadows, with some sorrow and anxiety on her face.

The grass became quiet, and Cui Cui Zhaoye began to read the names one by one. The person called walked up, and everyone's eyes gathered on her until she prayed a few times and opened it to see, revealing a frustrated look, and everyone cheered.

If anyone happened to draw one, it immediately aroused a burst of jealous shouts.

Li Li Piaoqing sat among them with a smile until the young lady from the official family beside her was also called up. Li Li Piaoqing also cheered for her. As a result, she walked up solemnly, but also drew a blank and returned frustrated.

After the drawing was over, the girls who got the invitations were naturally surrounded to see the novelty, and then the pavilion began to talk about the recent news of Young Hero Pei Ye.

Cui Cui Zhaoye said that Pei Ye's recent movements outside the city had been confirmed. He was walking the Eight Waters with Zhu Zhu Gaoyang, acting chivalrously, killing many bad people, and helping the Immortal Platform break a major case. Now, the prestige of the two was being praised on the Eight Waters.

The wind of this matter had long been captured and shared in the fan club, and now it was confirmed. The lawn was full of cheers.

The young lady from the official family beside her also asked Li Li Piaoqing with bright eyes: "Sister, have you heard about this in the Jianghu?"

Li Li Piaoqing nodded with a smile: "Of course I know. Pei Ye went deep alone under the eyes of everyone at Yanwu and assassinated a Tuan Shen master with a single sword. Later, he swept the Eight Waters with Zhu Zhu Gaoyang. In the Jianghu outside the city, his reputation is flourishing."

Several girls nearby leaned over in surprise. Such details were not mentioned by Cui Cui Zhaoye.

"Assassination... how did he assassinate?" This was someone who was afraid after hearing about the killing.

"Who was that master, is he famous?" This was someone concerned about Young Hero Pei Ye's record.

"Why did Young Hero Pei kill him?" This was someone worried about Young Hero Pei's moral flaws.

There was also someone asking: "What is a Tuan Shen master?"

Li Li Piaoqing told them how Pei Ye, amidst the crowd of two or three hundred boats on a rainy night, swept up like a startled bird, took three swords, and cut off the head of that Tuan Shen master with the swords connected end to end.

It drew a burst of exclamation.

And when this section passed, the latest story told by Cui Cui Zhaoye was much more interesting.

To everyone in the Sword Academy, Pei Ye was actually both familiar and strange. Everyone knew his name and face; when he entered the academy, he was personally recommended by Ming Ming Qitian, which made many people remember him at the time.

But after remembering him, there was no follow-up. Since then, he had never been present at any sword trials, large or small. Only suddenly, they heard that he had killed a grandmaster at West Pool with Yan Yan Feiqing, and news came from outside that he had gambled at the Zhu Que sword gamble. Now that the various sword sects were meeting in the Divine Capital, it was the time for heroes to compete, yet he had disappeared for several months again, not showing his face once. It seemed they heard he had some movements on the Eight Waters outside the Divine Capital.

Yet they didn't expect him to suddenly appear in the study hall today.

Had he done something big again? Was the Sword Academy the last to know?

Or was this sword practitioner, who had the greatest reputation in the Divine Capital last autumn and winter, finally going to enter the arena?

Pei Ye naturally didn't think so much. These days, his body and mind were all tied to Li Xizhou. He was either in the deep palace or in the wilderness. He only had sporadic news about the situation in the Divine Capital, and he was completely in the dark. Not to mention the situation, he didn't even know how many sword sects were in the capital now.

"Brother Pei, it's a pity that you weren't in the capital during these days. You don't know how much excitement you missed. That sword you used outside the Zhu Que Gate at the time, if you could have displayed it a few times in these two months, you would have gained countless fame."

"Is that so? I really couldn't get away these days, I was busy with several important matters." Pei Ye sighed lightly.

"What important matter in the Divine Capital today can compare to the Feather Scale Trial? Could it be that you went to be busy with the Qilin Blood Test?" Wang Wang Shousi bowed toward the north.

"..." Involving secrets, Pei Ye didn't speak, only asking, "Brother Wang, since you have been in the Divine Capital these days, have you heard whether the Sword Master has arrived in the Divine Capital?"

Wang Wang Shousi paused, remembering the background of the person in front of him: "The Glazed Sword Master arrived at Mount Hua a few days ago. Then, you know that there are many sword sects in the capital now, and many people went up the mountain to pay their respects. Then I heard that after the Sword Master finished asking about the sword, she left on her own. Later, I didn't know her whereabouts."

"Ah, good." Pei Ye received news of the woman at the beginning of the third month and thought she had already arrived in the Divine Capital.

The sword industry lecture was still a comfortable atmosphere. Pei Ye listened steadily for a session. At the end of the class, he looked back and checked around, saying to Ning Ning Shuhong: "True Disciple Ning, why haven't I seen Jiang Yiner?"

"Young Hero Pei, will you still be practicing sword arts this afternoon? If you are, you will see her." Ning Ning Shuhong packed up the sword books but paused for a moment.

"I am, why?"

"Sister Jiang Yiner has been practicing sword arts diligently these past few days, just for this afternoon's sword performance."

"Isn't diligence a good thing?"

Ning Ning Shuhong snorted coldly: "Young Hero Pei, you haven't been in the courtyard, so you don't know. Since there are more and more sword sects in the capital, many have come to the Sword Academy to visit. Some are fine for the sake of exchanging sword arts, but some are overbearing, aiming at the fact that the Changan Sword Academy has always been the signboard of the Divine Capital's sword world, wanting to stage a strong dragon suppressing the local snake to gain fame."

Pei Ye was surprised: "We have so many sword students in the Sword Academy, can't we beat them?"

He thought that sword sects like Yunlang and Dongting wouldn't do this.

Ning Ning Shuhong was even more annoyed: "That's what I'm saying. If we really fight with real swords and guns, who is afraid of whom? If we lose, it's just that our skills are not as good. But first, the sword students in the Sword Academy are loose. Except for the current grade of sword students, those from previous years don't participate, and some aren't even in the courtyard."

Pei Ye moved his body.

"Oh, Young Hero Pei, I'm not talking about you—and the current grade of sword students aren't of one mind either. Lu Xiu, Han Han Xiuben, and others aren't willing to confront the strong sects. This would be fine, we and Brother Chu aren't afraid of them... But they deliberately target us."

"How do they target?"

"The situation in the Sword Academy was figured out by them long ago. They clearly know that Yan Yan Feiqing won't make a move, and True Disciple Yang has already fought a round in the past two months and won't make a move either. They also keep an eye on Brother Chu's whereabouts, picking a time to come... What's even more infuriating is that they always come up with strange names to restrict us!"

Ning Ning Shuhong leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, and Wang Wang Shousi laughed on the side.

Pei Ye was curious: "What names?"

"What 'Northwest Sword Practitioner,' what 'Spirit and Clumsy Realms,' what 'under twenty years old.'" Ning Ning Shuhong's heroic eyes narrowed, "Young Hero Pei, what's wrong with being over twenty? Are they not the young generation of sword practitioners?"

Pei Ye couldn't help laughing and hurriedly cursed along: "Indeed shameless!"

He added: "Then what does this have to do with Jiang Yiner?"

"Because Sister Jiang Yiner has a proud bone and a chivalrous heart." Ning Ning Shuhong's eyes were cold again, "The ones who came these two days are from the Kunlun Yanri Palace. Speaking of which, it is also a large sword sect among the middle twelve, and they are also so shameless. They aren't afraid of Brother Chu, they just aim at the fact that Yan and Yang won't make a move. Several arrogant fellows even said something about 'sweeping the Divine Capital Sword Academy'... A few days ago, they came to perform sword arts and injured Zhang Chao. Sister Jiang Yiner argued with them and made an appointment for a sword test today."

Pei Ye frowned: "So shameless."

"Hmph, they just entered the capital recently and want to gain fame in one fell swoop. The last time the Kunlun Yanri Palace was ranked on the Fu List, there was one in the top fifty and one in the top twenty. Clearly, they want to spare no effort to promote them." Ning Ning Shuhong said, "This sect has always been overbearing. Before, they were far away and I only heard some sporadic rumors. Only after coming to the Divine Capital did I see it."

Pei Ye pondered for a while, tilted his head to look at Yang Yang Zhenbing beside him, and questioned: "Why don't you make a move?"

Yang Yang Zhenbing, who was focused on research,

raised his head and glanced at him: "Weak."

"In the future, when I'm not here, if Jiang Yiner has any trouble, you make a move to help. Every time you help, let the little cat stay in your room for a night, remember?"

Yang Yang Zhenbing thought for a while: "Does this time count?"

"You don't need to be used this time."

Yang Yang Zhenbing was a little disappointed.

Several people ate lunch together. Wang Wang Shousi's mouth didn't stop, chatting about trivial matters in the Divine Capital and the Sword Academy, which gave Pei Ye some understanding; Zhu Zhu Shishi's mouth didn't stop either, and half the food on the table went into her stomach.

The afternoon sword performance class was still in the sword field, but now that there were sword sects from outside the capital visiting, it saved the sword practitioners from practicing with each other. The Sword Academy itself was clearly very willing to see the sword students and sword practitioners from all over the world fight each other, even if the other side had some ulterior motives, they didn't give up eating for fear of choking.

But Pei Ye didn't rush over. He parted ways with the others at the fork and went to the sword practice field alone to find Jiang Jiang Yiner.

The sword field at noon was quieter than in the middle of the night. Pei Ye listened to the sound of swords as he walked past one by one, and finally captured the familiar rhythm outside the "Bing-6" sword field.

Before the Zhu Que sword gamble, in order to seek the sword state, Jiang Jiang Yiner had accompanied him to practice sword arts many times in the Sword Academy. Pei Ye knew the girl's sword style very well.

But he didn't disturb her, just leaned against the door and waited. Sure enough, after more than a quarter of an hour, the sound of swords inside stopped, and the sound of packing up came. Not long after, the door was pulled open from the inside, and the girl, clean as a young crane, walked out with a small bundle on her back and a sword in her hand.

Seeing the youth at a glance, she froze in place.

"... Brother!!"

Pei Ye smiled: "So diligent."

The girl still had thin sweat on her forehead. She was a bit embarrassed, hurriedly checked her clothes and posture, and gave a serious salute: "Jiang Yiner greets Brother."

"No need to salute me, long time no see."

Jiang Jiang Yiner smiled: "Brother, you haven't had any news for a long time again... Is everything going well?"