Ten Directions Sword Master

Liu Ce was clearly used to giving orders, so his voice was a bit louder, his neck was tilted back, and his hand was on the long sword at his waist.

Deng Wan's father was a Grand General of the Dragon and Tiger Army in the court, nominally the head of the military officers of the Great Kang Dynasty. However, the only army he could mobilize at present was the ceremonial guard of three thousand men outside the city, and its combat strength was worrying.

But at least it was a well-organized military unit, and with chaos looming, everyone wanted to have more military power.

In addition, Deng Wansheng was beautiful and graceful, and Liu Ce had long considered the idea of ​​the two families becoming husband and wife.

Due to the other party's lukewarm attitude, no further development was possible.

As a result, when Deng Wan mentioned this stranger today, she was filled with intense curiosity and took the initiative to visit him, which made him feel a little jealous.

"Brother, you must not make a move again... This is royal property. If we make a move repeatedly, some people might fabricate a story that the Liu family has no respect for the emperor."

Yang Yi grabbed Liu Ce's arm and whispered some advice in his ear.

"You have a really strange temper. You're dressed like someone from the martial arts world, but you don't have a single chivalrous air about you... Could you be some country bumpkin rich man pretending to be a great hero with a long sword?"

Yan Peihuan, with her round face, spoke sarcastically.

"Gentlemen, I still have my meal. If there's nothing else, please leave."

Lu Li finally realized that it was not a person sent by any force.

If someone knows his identity and still dares to befriend him in this way, then that power has had enough.

"I suspect you are a fugitive bandit, no wonder you've been so secretive... My dear brother, don't your features resemble the person in the wanted poster I saw the other day?"

Being ignored repeatedly, Liu Ce felt a surge of anger and said fluently.

"That's right, I think he does look somewhat like him! Old Huang, take our name cards to Magistrate Ma's office and ask him to send a squad of soldiers to take this man back for a thorough interrogation."

Yang Yi hesitated for a moment, then nodded and followed.

He went through the list of young men of similar age from several prominent families in the capital, but none of them matched up. It seemed that they were indeed local gentry.

His position as the chief disciple of Zhi Shou Temple was not secure, while Marquis An Yuan and the abbot were longtime friends. If he could say a few kind words, it would greatly improve his impression of the abbot.

Otherwise, who would recognize this simple-minded rich kid as their sworn brother?

"No, apprehending criminals is the business of the criminal justice department; we are not qualified to make such a judgment..."

Deng Wan was as slender as a daffodil, but her tone was very firm.

"We summoned Magistrate Ma so that the truth could be revealed!"

Liu Ce's eyes blazed with fury, his malice now undisguised.

Upon hearing the order, Yang Yi's old servant, who had been left outside, quickly ran off to find an official familiar to his master.

Lu Li put down his chopsticks, his gaze unfriendly. Several mosquitoes were flying around in front of him, harmless but still very annoying.

A month ago, Jia Buying, a late-stage innate martial saint and copper coin immortal, died at his hands.

Turning around, he was entangled by a group of ignorant and arrogant young people.

They're about the same age, but they're from completely different worlds.

Liu Ce's shrill voice became increasingly noisy to Lu Li, who was about to raise his hand when he suddenly saw a group of soldiers rushing towards him through the window.

With a red tassel on his head and holding an axe, his golden armor shone dazzlingly in the sunlight.

Hearing the orderly footsteps, Liu Ce laughed smugly: "Judge Ma has arrived with his soldiers. I hope you'll remain so sparing with your words even in prison!"

He was cautious, and no matter how angry he was, he didn't go any closer.

In his view, a rich man's son should not sit under a dangerous roof; punishing a few dissolute young men and having a direct conflict with江湖人士 (jianghu figures) are not on the same level of danger.

He even deliberately hid behind Yang Yi, the one with the highest martial arts skills among the four, so that he would have room to maneuver if he encountered danger.

"Liu Ce, you've gone too far. Framing a stranger, how are you any different from those纨绔 (spoiled brats) of the Luo family... Young master, don't panic. This matter started because of me. I will have my father write to the prefect later, and he will be released soon."

Deng Wan's voice was soft, but her attitude was firm, and she wouldn't budge an inch.

"Wanmei, you..."

Liu Ce gritted his teeth, secretly seething with hatred, and decided to slip in two more ingots of silver later.

General Deng asked the prefect to release the man, and the round trip would take several hours, enough time for the jailers to use all their methods.

Yan Peihuan looked left and right, and for some reason, her group started arguing first.

Why would Sister Wan fight with Brother Liu for a stranger? It's impossible that she would develop feelings for him after just one meeting.

A flurry of footsteps sounded, and the soldiers arrived at the door. Liu Ce greeted them triumphantly: "Officer Ma, this man carries a weapon. You'd better..."

He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.

The soldiers who came were not the yamen guards patrolling the streets to catch thieves, but rather well-trained and armed imperial guards.

They were selected only from respectable families who had received the country's favor, received double pay, were always fully staffed, and trained daily.

Only a few hundred people remained, guarding the inner palace.

The one who commanded this imperial guard was Yan Peihuan's uncle, Yan Hanchuan.

A burly, middle-aged man stepped out from among the imperial guards, exuding an imposing and authoritative aura.

"Third Uncle..."

Yan Peihuan covered her mouth, startled, and took two steps back, trying to hide herself.

The Yan clan of Xue County had many branches and many descendants, with the main branch splitting into two ancestral halls, leading to fierce infighting among the clan members.

Her third uncle was born out of wedlock, and his relationship with their branch of the family back then wasn't exactly harmonious.

Given Yan Hanchuan's status, why would he appear at Jufenglou?

Let alone a suspected thief, even a notorious gangster wouldn't be able to alarm this great Buddha.

"Young Master Bai, I, Yan, have come to deliver an invitation to the Sword Saint."

Yan Hanchuan glanced around, ignoring the several pampered young men, and walked to the table, presenting a piece of bamboo with both hands, neither humble nor arrogant. It was so rough and simple that it looked like it had been chopped down directly, without the slightest trace of carving.

But his position and posture clearly told everyone that he had placed himself in a subordinate position.

The group's expressions changed drastically, their incredulous gazes shifting back and forth, seeking an answer.

All I could see were the increasingly unpleasant faces of my companions, leaving me bewildered and helpless.

Yan Hanchuan's status is that, in terms of official rank, he is the emperor's most trusted military officer, carrying imperial weapons and commanding the imperial guards.

He could enter and leave the palace without removing his weapons, and all the imperial guards were under his command. He was a figure that all parties were trying their best to win over.

Privately, he was a martial arts master in his prime, the strongest person in the capital.

Even a prince of the current dynasty wouldn't be qualified to make such a person lower his posture and show respect.

"Sword Saint..."

Yang Yi's legs went weak, and he staggered and leaned against the wall to avoid falling. His face was deathly pale.

Although Zhi Shou Guan became a royal Taoist temple, it still maintained contact with the martial arts world and was the first to react to this deafening name.

How could a trivial matter stemming from jealousy and rivalry involve a figure who is practically a legend in the martial arts world?

Could this young man be the successor of the Sword Saint?

"How did the Sword Saint's invitation end up with you? Has Commander Yan joined the Misty Rain Pavilion, or does he have a separate channel of communication with the Sword Saint?"

Lu Li wiped his hands, tossed aside the handkerchief, and instead of immediately taking the bamboo strip, asked curiously.

He waited for a month or so before receiving news of the Sword Saint, much slower than he had anticipated.

Before Yan Hanchuan spoke, he vaguely guessed his intentions.

"When I was young, I traveled around learning martial arts. I was once given some guidance by the old sword saint and was deeply indebted to him... The post I received yesterday has his seal, so it is absolutely genuine."

Yan Hanchuan slowly said, revealing that there was such an unknown relationship.

"I see."

Lu Li took the bamboo slip, laid it flat and unfolded it. There were only two simple lines of text written on it.

"Having wielded the sword for eighty years, I asked myself a question every day: Heaven, Earth, myself, and those who come after me. In the end, I came to the conclusion that I do not rely on external things."

"Fortunately, in my twilight years, I have met a talented person... Ten days later, at the foot of White Elephant Mountain, we will discuss the Dao through swordsmanship."