What seemed like a long battle had actually taken place in the blink of an eye.
Yi Xuan drew in a deep breath.
He knew he had encountered a truly dangerous opponent today.
A dazzling flash of steel streaked through the darkness again.
Blades collided, their light intertwining.
In that brief glow, both men saw each other clearly once more.
Those pale, empty eyes flickered in the darkness.
Over the years, Yi Xuan's heart had grown cold and ruthless.
He had seen countless battles and more deaths than he could remember.
But at this moment, he suddenly realized something.
None of the brutal fights he had experienced in his life had ever felt as terrifying as this one.
Another strike came.
The speed of that blade was impossible to describe.
Yi Xuan raised his saber to defend.
But the attack in front of him was strange.
The blade did not fall directly.
Instead it wove through the air like a drifting net of steel.
What!?
Slash!
The blind man stepped back and withdrew his saber.
The movement was smooth and effortless.
That strike had looked completely plain.
No fancy movement.
Just a single arc of steel descending slowly.
"What... saber technique is this..."
Yi Xuan coughed blood as he spoke.
Despair filled his voice.
"Listening to the Wind."
"Wind Listening Saber Art... good name."
"Thank you."
Yi Xuan collapsed heavily onto the ground.
Flames flickered again as someone relit the lamps.
Guo Yu tried to rush toward the door.
The blind man's body twisted.
His saber swept backward like a whirlwind.
"AHHH!"
The blade pierced straight through Guo Yu's palm and nailed it to the wooden door behind him.
Guo Yu clenched his teeth as he watched death slowly approach.
"Your skill is extraordinary. I was the one who acted rashly."
"Let's forget about today's matter."
"Niu Er's debt... I won't collect it anymore."
Guo Yu struggled desperately.
"I also have three thousand taels in bank notes. Come with me to the exchange house and I'll give them to you."
"What happened today will remain between us."
"Heaven knows. Earth knows. You know. I know..."
The blind man gave no reply.
His saber answered instead.
Silence filled the hall.
The blind man touched the blood covering his body and let out a quiet sigh.
"If you had said that earlier..."
"This could have been avoided."
But once the blade had been drawn, there was no room left for negotiation.
The blind man felt around the table until his hand found a jar of liquor.
It was his favorite strong wine.
Its sharp scent burned the nose.
Outside, the snow fell heavily.
Thicker than the wine.
So thick it seemed impossible to melt.
---
Ten Days Later
Year Twelve of the Tianyuan Era.
The New Year had just passed.
Yet the town carried none of the festive spirit.
Ten days earlier, blood had flooded Yuanyang Tower.
Twenty-five people had died.
Among them was Guo Yu, the nephew of the county magistrate.
The entire building had been swallowed by flames.
Before the fire consumed everything, someone had left behind a piece of paper.
Four large characters were written on it.
"Acting in Heaven's Justice."
The killer was said to be a blind street performer.
Li Ping'an.
Soon his portrait spread throughout the town and neighboring villages.
The authorities offered a heavy bounty.
Constables and bounty hunters rushed out in search of him.
A few days later, people discovered that Da Hu, the street thug who used to roam the town, had gone mad.
In the end, the scoundrel had received his punishment.
---
"Tofu! Fresh tofu!"
The familiar voice echoed down the street.
The same stall.
The same fragrant smell of tofu.
Miss Wang wore thick winter clothes.
Her cheeks were red from the cold.
Amid the disaster, she had survived.
Everyone who knew the truth had died in the flames that night.
No one came to collect the debt anymore.
Like always, she looked toward the same direction.
But the man who once walked there, leading an old ox...
Was gone.
She knew why Li Ping'an had killed Guo Yu.
But she could not understand.
Was it really worth it?
She wanted to find him and ask him face to face.
And also...
How could she ever repay such a great kindness?
But now there was no answer.
All she could do was wait.
Wait for the day he might appear again.
---
Along a winding mountain path.
Li Ping'an led the old ox through the snow.
Step by step.
In his hand he held a frozen piece of tofu, bits of ice still clinging to it.
He took a bite.
"Mmm. Still good."
It wasn't really about justice or righteousness.
It was simply because...
When he was starving to death once, someone had given him a warm piece of tofu.
Along with a bright smile.
He took another bite.
For a moment it felt as if the winter snow might finally melt.
That was all.
---
One day in mid-March.
Several rolls of spring thunder suddenly echoed across the sky.
Soon after, a gentle spring rain began to fall.
Spring rain was precious like oil.
Sometimes drifting softly like silk threads.
Sometimes flashing past like startled swallows.
It was truly a beautiful sight.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Li Ping'an led the old ox to a roadside tea stall and sat down.
A waiter brought a large teapot and a bowl, pouring him a serving of tea.
"Traveler, where are you coming from?"
"From where I came."
The waiter laughed.
Li Ping'an drank half the bowl before passing it behind him.
The old ox happily slurped down the rest.
Li Ping'an searched his pockets and counted his money.
Fifteen copper coins.
That was all he had left.
He weighed them in his hand and sighed quietly.
In novels and dramas, great heroes never seemed bothered by worldly things like money.
But in reality...
A person's life was spent running around for silver and coins.
These little pieces of metal caused endless worries.
Yet with enough money, most troubles would disappear.
To sum it up in one sentence.
Having money was great.
Li Ping'an took out his erhu and began to play.
A melody slowly flowed from his fingertips.
Free and majestic.
Deep and powerful.
[Skill: Erquan Yingyue]
[Level: LV2 (5500 / 10000)]
LV1 Effect:
• Increases lifespan
• Improves blood circulation
• Opens meridians
• Warms the body and removes dampness
LV2 Effect:
• Wind Listening Saber Art (40%)
• Turtle Breathing Art (60%)
"Did you hear? Someone died again yesterday."
"The world's chaotic these days. A few deaths aren't surprising."
"I heard the wanted criminal Ma Sandao came through here. Attracted a bunch of bounty hunters."
"How much is the bounty?"
"One hundred if alive. Fifty if dead."
The conversation of two tea drinkers drifted into Li Ping'an's ears.
He pursed his lips.
Tempted.
In truth, he himself was also on the wanted list.
Sometimes when he saw the bounty price on his own head, he even felt the urge to turn himself in.
Li Ping'an packed away the erhu.
A blurry image appeared faintly in his eyes.
But if the light grew too dim, he could see nothing again.
---
Luoshui City
Crowds filled the streets.
Men busied themselves earning a living.
Housewives went to the market to buy vegetables.
Vendors shouted their goods from the roadside.
The city did not seem affected by recent murders at all.
Instead, the stories had simply become gossip for people's tea-time conversations.
"Old man, how much for a bowl of wontons?"
"Sixteen copper coins."
"So expensive?"
Li Ping'an didn't even have enough money to buy one bowl.
Big cities were indeed different from small towns.
"That's always been the price."
The shop owner didn't even look up.
He had assumed this ragged fellow came to beg.
In the end, Li Ping'an only bought two meat buns.
He also asked the owner for a pot of free hot water.
Squatting in a corner.
Li Ping'an and the old ox each held one large meat bun.
Suddenly Li Ping'an spoke.
"I think this bun is filled with beef."
The old ox lifted its head.
"Moo."