Chapter 103: The Sword Saint Before the Palace of Eternal Joy
Clang!~
The sword flashed forth like a mighty dragon plunging into the sea, its movements swifter and more precise than a hawk striking a rabbit.
Accompanied by a biting cold gleam, it did not seek to kill.
Where the blade struck, there were marks on the breastplate, or shoulder armor fell away, or wrists pricked painfully, making it hard to grip the sword.
“Impudent scoundrel!”
Looking up, it was none other than Xiao Hu who had rushed over at the sound.
Meeting the halberd as it sliced through the air, there was no time to parry; he thrust his sword, piercing through a smaller branch of the halberd.
The long sword hung on the halberd, bending sharply in the middle but not breaking. The hilt just so blocked the halberd’s pointed tip.
Yet the overwhelming force was hard to resist. Though the elder blocked the lethal strike, he was still pushed back repeatedly by Lü Bu’s halberd.
Only when he reached the long steps did he plant his foot and brace himself, barely stabilizing his stance.
He barked sharply, “Marshal, hold your ground! I spoke before—I came to bid His Majesty farewell. The Tiger Guard’s intervention forced my sword, but no one was harmed.”
Lü Bu sneered and drew back his halberd. “So it is the Sword Saint in person... What rank do you hold to dare speak of taking leave from the Son of Heaven?”
“You!”
“Hmph! Enough, move along!”
Though his words were fierce, Lü Bu retracted his halberd, unwilling to make trouble for him.
This man’s swordsmanship was outstanding; known as the Imperial Tutor but effectively a Tiger Guard by the emperor’s side. Even Dong Zhuo found him a headache. Whenever he stayed overnight in the palace, the escort doubled in number, for fear that killing him would bring vengeance from the chivalrous world.
Now this man voluntarily came to bid farewell to Liu Xie; Lü Bu saw no reason to stop him.
The Tiger Guard dispersed to re-seal the Chang Le Palace but spared the elder.
The elder smiled bitterly, sheathed his sword, and hunched his back as he slowly ascended the steps.
Inside the palace, cries already filled the air.
The corridors were packed with palace servants.
Though each sobbed softly, the sheer number of maids and eunuchs layered their voices into a wailing chorus audible for miles.
In the imperial chamber.
On the dragon throne, the young emperor curled up, wrapped tightly in silk quilts.
Only when the elder entered did some color return to his face.
“Master Wang, are you here to rescue the emperor?”
“Your Majesty, do not be alarmed. The Chang Le Palace is sealed by the Marshal; no rogue intruders can enter.”
“Then... Master Wang, can you help me escape? I do not wish to relocate the capital.”
“Your Majesty... I have come only to take my leave.”
Liu Xie’s face turned fearful; he glared at Wang Yue, biting his lip hard.
“Master Wang, will you abandon me as well?”
Wang Yue was silent for a moment.
In the end, he shook his head.
---
“I am but a wandering crane, blinded by worldly gains and lost in the mundane. Since the path ahead cannot be changed, I will not force it.”
“Are you truly so heartless, Master Wang?”
Wang Yue fell into complete silence.
It was not about feeling.
He was a knight-errant; those who disturbed the imperial order held little reverence for royal authority.
Moreover, having been in the palace for two years, titled Imperial Tutor, he had changed nothing.
He had gained no official position; his duties were errands, message-bearing, and spying—less than a common knight.
A month ago, his chief disciple Shi A sent word of a wedding date, inviting him to enjoy peace in Qiao County.
Before leaving, braving dangers to enter the palace and take leave was a matter of honor.
Wang Yue, who had ridden across battlefields all his life, now faced humiliation by juniors upon entering the palace.
Reaching this point, if he did not accept his aging, he feared losing his dignity.
Why bother stirring trouble in Guanzhong?
Coldly, he raised his hand, “Your Majesty, take care. I am leaving.”
...
Outside the palace gates again.
Wang Yue did not intend to linger but suddenly saw a young man carrying a box chatting animatedly with Lü Bu.
His professional instincts slowed his steps as he moved closer.
“I say, Fengxian, why are you so stubborn? I’m just going in to pick two palace maids. It won’t trouble you, right? If not, I’ll give you a beautiful one as a concubine.”
“No! Not that Bu wants to inconvenience you, but my sworn father’s order stands: ‘No one may enter Chang Le Palace except by command, but Chen Zining must never be allowed.’ Don’t put me in a difficult spot.”
“You heartless, ungrateful Lü Fengxian! At Tiger Pass, I spared you out of goodwill. You forget that favor and now use Lord Yue against me? Are we still sworn brothers, still relatives?”
That day’s disgrace was known, and curious onlookers had come to eavesdrop. How could proud Lü Bu endure?
He spun his halberd, pointing it at Wang Yue, shouting, “Have you finished your farewells? Get lost!”
Wang Yue, steaming with rage, tugged his beard and glared, then turned and left.
Chen Cong turned curiously and asked, “Who’s the old man?”
“Sword Saint Wang Yue.”
“Who?”
Chen Cong was startled.
Lü Bu, suspicious, repeated, “Sword Saint Wang Yue. Heard of him?”
Chen Cong immediately quickened his pace and grabbed Wang Yue, shouting, “Master Uncle, please accept this unworthy disciple Chen Cong’s bow!”
Wang Yue was puzzled.
Chen Cong? Chen Wudi?
How had he ended up in the palace and become his junior disciple?
Lü Bu also felt a chill down his neck, sensing something bad was about to happen.
Sure enough.
---
The next moment, Chen Cong dragged Wang Yue back.
“You ungrateful Lü Fengxian! You dare yell at my Master Uncle? You really want to tear us apart, don’t you? Here, outside Chang Le Palace, with Master Uncle as witness, we sever our ties! Today! We settle this—life or death!”
Lü Bu’s scalp tingled as he stammered, “You... you’re just making up ‘Master Uncle’ to get into the palace, right?”
In truth, Wang Yue suspected the same.
“Bullshit! Luoyang chivalrous hero Shi A is my sworn brother of eight oaths. Master Wang is my sworn brother’s master, naturally my Master Uncle. You don’t know Shi A? Even if you don’t recognize Shi A, you should know Tai A!”
Shi A...
Lü Bu strained to recall; there was such a man once who inexplicably blocked the eastern gate, then fled with the bandits Cao and Chen.
But a mere knight-errant, Dong Zhuo never took him seriously; no county-level warrants pursued him.
Never imagined such an insignificant figure would be Chen Cong’s sworn brother?!
Absurd!
Wang Yue was even more bewildered.
Though Shi A had told him of his “eight-oath bond” with Chen Cong, Wang Yue thought it mere disciple boasting.
After all, who knows a disciple better than their master? Given his apprentice’s nature, a spiritual connection was enough to claim close friendship. Now, both serving in Cao’s camp alongside the famed Chen Wudi, such tall tales were unsurprising.
Yet!
Who would have thought it was true?!
Without giving Lü Bu time to respond, Chen Cong shouted, “Lü Bu! You wait here; I’m off to fetch the axe!”
“All right, all right,” Lü Bu grabbed Chen Cong’s arm, whispering, “My fault, Master Wang, shall I apologize?”
“What about the hurt feelings?”
Lü Bu felt overwhelmed: he could neither win in a fight nor in argument, and with Dong Zhuo’s lax control over Chen Cong, further entanglement would only harm him.
He pulled Chen Cong aside, whispering, “Really just two maids?”
“Just two. One for you, one for me.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“What, you don’t trust me?”
Lü Bu blushed, “Just don’t get near the emperor, and... I must watch over your well-being.”
Chen Cong chuckled, patting Lü Bu’s chest, “Easy. We’re brothers, don’t you trust my judgment?”
After exchanging smiles, Lü Bu resumed his stern demeanor.
He bellowed, “If you have the Grand Tutor’s secret order, why not say so earlier? Fine, go ahead.”
The Tiger Guard, trusting this, opened a path.
...