Chapter 381 - 208: The Departed Jianghu

Chapter 381: Chapter 208: The Departed Jianghu

Xie Yunliu said, a little sheepishly, "That’s a secret. I can’t just sell out my brother-in-law, can I?"

"You son of a bitch, treating me like a stranger! If I’d known, I wouldn’t have damn well come!" Chu Chengfeng playfully kicked Xie Yunliu aside. He had intended to rush over and embrace Younger Brother Gongsun, whom he hadn’t seen in over a decade, but Xie Luohe was standing silently to one side, her gaze placid.

Chu Chengfeng stopped dead in his tracks. With a quick shift of his eyes, he clasped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute toward Xie Luohe and Zheng Xiu.

"This handsome one... COUGH, COUGH. My name is my name, I am the Third Young Master of Meihua Manor, ranked on the Weapon Manual... Ptooey! The Weapon Manual is long gone. But, I am still the one they call ’Seeking the azure sky from the mortal world, a single plum blossom on the verdant mountain’... Chu Chengfeng. Have you all been well these years?"

This brought back a sudden memory for Zheng Xiu of the first time he had met Chu Chengfeng.

Following Chu Chengfeng, a group of people dismounted their camels and removed their heavy cloaks.

Among them were many faces Zheng Xiu recognized. He couldn’t put a name to most of them, but he had met them once before at the Martial World tournament at Dugu Manor.

There was Beast Xiao, a former fellow prisoner; Chu Chengfeng’s wife, Wen Shishan; several Knights whom Zheng Xiu had thoroughly beaten at the Martial World tournament; the Iron Maiden, who had once tried a scissor kick on him only to be countered with one of his own; and Brother Ximen and Brother Gu, with whom he had competed in Qinggong on a mountain path.

The Iron Maiden now wore her hair in the style of a married woman. Looking at Zheng Xiu and Xie Luohe, who seemed like a celestial couple, a flash of regret crossed her face before melting into a relieved smile. ’That scissor kick from ten years ago left a faint impression on my heart, one I’ve carried for a decade. Now, I can finally let it go.’

"Long time no see, Younger Brother Gongsun! You’re a lucky man!"

A short old man, even plumper than he had been ten years ago, his hair and beard now white, suddenly hopped over. He grinned slyly at the stunned Zheng Xiu.

"Fatty... Fatty Jiang."

Zheng Xiu didn’t recognize them, but they all recognized him.

Back then, Zheng Xiu had participated in the Martial World tournament under the alias "Xiao Buping," leaving a deep impression on them all. And that was to say nothing of the invincible Xie Luohe.

"It’s good to see you’re well."

"Heh! What a fine meeting, our spirits are high! To meet again in the Jianghu, we must share a cup of wine and rejoice!"

"Ahem, the green mountains remain... wait, what was the rest of that saying?"

"Hahaha! How can we let this bunch of foreign brutes lay waste to our beautiful land!"

"After more than half a month of heat, it’s finally cool out here!"

The Knights all exchanged pleasantries, reciting the common greetings that were once popular in the Jianghu. But now, the words felt a little rusty on their tongues. Some of them couldn’t help but burst into laughter mid-sentence, as if suddenly remembering their own green, inexperienced selves from a decade ago.

The Knights of old had long since retired from the world. Now, they were all steeped in the mundane realities of life. Some had become cooks, others farmers. Some had hair of white, and some were now wives and mothers.

They had once been titans of the Martial World, but after retiring, they had turned their backs on its affairs.

The Court had treated them unjustly, and the Secret Factory had destroyed the Martial World.

It had started with Zheng Xiu and Xie Luohe living here in seclusion. Then Xie Yunliu came because of his sister, and Chu Chengfeng rushed to the Great Desert because of his connection to Xie Yunliu. Finally, Bai Xiaosheng, worried for his old friends, had used his own network to gather these former masters of the Jianghu.

The last person in the procession, walking silently at the very back, removed his bamboo hat, revealing a pale complexion.

Beneath the tattered cloak, he still wore the same light blue long-robe, a pitch-black scabbard hanging at his waist. His hair was a messy, unkempt tangle, and branded on his face like a birthmark were two twisted characters.

"Cheng Xiao!"

A pale face, a black scabbard—Cheng Xiao was just as he had been years ago. The only differences were the characters on his face and the new lines etched between his brows. His eyes, however, were no longer vacant and lifeless. When he saw Zheng Xiu, he gave a faint smile; for some reason, the sight of Zheng Xiu and Xie Luohe felt exceptionally familiar and comforting.

Before Zheng Xiu could ask, Cheng Xiao spoke first. "My great vengeance is sated. With no regrets left in this life, I came to the Great Desert to see old friends."

There were no complex grudges or deep-seated emotions driving him—just a simple thought. And that alone was enough to bring Cheng Xiao here, free and untethered.

Here in the Great Desert, this group of Knights, their faces aged and their former glory faded, nevertheless made Zheng Xiu think of a single word.

—"Jianghu."

The Jianghu may fade, but its people endure.

"Heh heh."

From deep within the crowd.

Fan Yao watched the bustling, lively crowd, a discreet, gratified smile on his face as he murmured softly to himself.

"Everyone’s here."