Chapter 40

After several days of heavy snow, it finally stopped, and now the sun was setting.

Rising and setting, the sun is the most common thing in the world.

But today was destined to be different.

Bai Yufei had already wiped the tables in the hall clean, working more efficiently than the other servants, and using less time. Wu Guanshi, the steward, looked at him with a smile, thinking about whether to let Shen Lian dismiss a few people.

Shen Lian, of course, was idle, sipping tea. Ordinary tea leaves, freshly melted snow water, and the delicate smoke from the tea rose gently.

Others could only see Bai Yufei's diligence, but Shen Lian could see that Bai Yufei was practicing a special skill in his movements.

His center of gravity was slightly lower than that of an ordinary person, and when he stepped, his body leaned forward, but his heels touched the ground first. The posture was clearly strange, yet it didn't look awkward on him, making it almost impossible to notice his peculiarity.

This skill seemed to be a form of body technique, with the key being balance.

As the ancient saying goes: "Cultivate oneself, govern the state, and bring peace to the world," where "peace" means balance.

The way of the world is most difficult to achieve in balance.

This body technique seemed to be tailor-made for Bai Yufei, as his spine was somewhat deformed, which made his center of gravity different from others, always in an unbalanced state. This deformity allowed him to find his own point of balance, perfectly fitting this skill.

"His knife may not be fast, but when he uses it, it will certainly be swift," Shen Lian thought. If Bai Yufei had a chance to draw his knife before, with his body technique, his knife skills would have been so swift that few could have avoided them.

At the same time, it was also clear that Bai Yufei's knife skills had not yet reached the level of unity with his body, which is why his body technique and knife skills had not perfectly combined, and he had been injured before he could draw his knife.

Although Bai Yufei was working, he didn't feel tired. He had never done this kind of work before, nor had he ever supported himself. Once he entered the world of martial arts, he was no longer in control.

He lacked a sense of security, but with Shen Lian here, he felt a sense of invincibility for the first time in his life. He also felt that Shen Lian was a person worth respecting, because Shen Lian had a quality that no one else had.

That was Shen Lian's gaze, which was the same for everyone. He looked at you without much calculation or prejudice.

Bai Yufei had wandered through the world of martial arts and met many people. He had his own way of judging people, and Shen Lian was absolutely the most special person he had ever met, with no exception.

"Master, your father is not well, please come back quickly."

A man in a gray robe burst in. He was a member of the Green Bamboo Gang, and the "Master" he referred to was naturally not Shen Lian, but An Renjie.

An Renjie shouted, "Is the old man just pretending to be sick to trick me back?"

The servant said, "Master, this time it's really serious. The young master of the Famous Sword Manor has come and taken the treasure from our gang. The old master has also been injured. Please come back and take a look."

An Renjie's expression changed. Even if he no longer cared about the world of martial arts, he knew about the Famous Sword Manor.

Bai Yufei was also moved. They had finally come.

"Long ago, I said that old painting shouldn't have been kept. Burning it would have been the best solution. The old man treated it like a treasure, but if it were really something from the immortals, we wouldn't have seen any immortals in our family over the years. Now that the thing is gone, I won't have to worry anymore. This is a good thing," An Renjie said, not sad but happy.

He then said to Shen Lian, "Young Master Shen, you've always been interested in that thing. Now's your chance. Go and take it back, and it will be yours. I guarantee the old man won't dare to ask for it back."

"There's no need to look for it; it will come on its own," Shen Lian smiled faintly. Gains and losses are hard to predict, mostly depending on 'fate.'

Good fortune has its own fate, kindness has its own fate, and evil has its own fate. Fate gathers and disperses, and it's impossible to know.

The gray-robed man suddenly looked terrified and pointed ahead, "Master, that's the young master of the Famous Sword Manor's palanquin."

A light green palanquin, not coming from the ground or the snow, but flying from the sky.

Green-clad sword slaves carried the palanquin, flying out from the opposite roof.

The palanquin descended like a lantern in the wind, as if free from the pull of gravity. The setting sun shone evenly, casting long shadows that perfectly covered the gate.

"Master, there's an inn ahead," Sword Thirteen said, clearly seeing a couplet — "Elegant guests often visit, the literary inn always welcomes" — with a long-lasting charm. Shen Lian was indeed a refined person.

"Bai Yufei is also here," Sword Fourteen said, clearly having a deep impression of Bai Yufei.

After all, it was they who had chased Bai Yufei all the way to the border of Qingzhou.

******

No one had expected the young master of the Famous Sword Manor to be disabled, someone who could only move in a wheelchair.

When Bai Yujing saw Ye Liuyun, all the hatred from the injury vanished.

Because Ye Liuyun, with his excellent background, outstanding appearance, and extraordinary skills, better exemplified the saying "Heaven envies talent."

When a person is too perfect, a flaw makes them very unfortunate, and this misfortune lies in the heart, not in material things.

A stone with many pits and holes wouldn't make anyone feel anything.

But a priceless white jade with a flaw would make many people feel sad and regretful.

Bai Yufei felt sympathy, An Renjie was stunned, and the gray-robed man who had come to report had never seen Ye Liuyun's true face, as dealing with the Green Bamboo Gang, Sword Thirteen alone was enough.

"Bai brother, we parted in a hurry that day and didn't have a chance to talk. I only left your knife behind. Today, seeing the original owner, I should return it to you."

Ye Liuyun held a white blade, with only the handle being black. Holding it, it was like holding a beam of light.

Using such a knife at night would be very noticeable, as Bai Yufei, though he did theft, never ambushed in a duel.

A flash of white light, and it landed steadily in Bai Yufei's hand.

He took his knife, glanced at it, and his expression turned to shock.

The blade originally had two characters engraved on it — "Bai Yu."

Now, the blade still had two characters, but "Bai Yu" had become "Sui Yu."

The "Sui" in "Sui Yu" could be clearly seen, with deep fingerprints in each stroke.

It was clear that the "Bai" on the blade had not only been erased but also replaced with "Sui" by Ye Liuyun's supreme finger strength.

If "Bai Yu" is shattered, what of the person?

"Does Bai brother think the words I engraved on the blade are not good? If you think 'Sui Yu' sounds bad, you can change it yourself or ask someone else to help you change it." This blade's material is superior to hundred-refined steel, and only a finger strength similar to the Vajra Finger can engrave words on it, regardless of the depth of one's inner strength.

The last sentence was clearly directed at Shen Lian.

From the beginning, Ye Liuyun's attention had been drawn to Shen Lian.

In fact, Shen Lian was like a perfect version of Ye Liuyun, with an extraordinary demeanor and a radiant presence, and without the disability in his legs.

PS: Thank you to Dugu Zuimian for the 200 reward, zxh1973, Ale Comet, and Qianxuzi for the support.

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