CHAPTER 431: CHAPTER 48: QIAN STATE’S SECOND SWORD_2

However, the little sword boy knew the real reason: his master felt the stingy local squires were too cheap, and he thought he could sell the sword for a higher price in the imperial capital.

"Master, I’m hungry!" the little sword boy shouted again.

"Were you a starving ghost in your past life or what!" Yuan Zhenxing cursed.

He was actually hungry too. His sword boy’s shout had made him even hungrier.

"Master, Baili Sword can be the Crown Prince’s tutor. You’re the second-best swordsman in Qian State, so why can’t you find the heir of some Prince to teach?" That way, we could also have enough to eat.

"Go away! Just because Baili Sword can tutor the Crown Prince, does that mean I have to teach some Prince’s heir? Where am I inferior to Baili Sword?"

"You are not inferior," the little sword boy said reluctantly.

"Exactly! I’m one of the five greatest swordsmen of this era. I should at least have that much standing!"

The little sword boy knew that there were actually only four great swordsmen in the era. The reason his master claimed to be one of the five greatest was that he was extremely dissatisfied with the title of the "Four Great Swordsmen."

Years ago, when the martial arts world first came up with this Swordsman Ranking, Li Liangshen was one, the Sword Saint of Jin State was one, and Baili Sword of Qian State was one. His master originally thought, well, there’s still one missing, that should be me, right? But who would have thought that, due to the words of the Sword Saint of Jin State, that swordsmith, whom no one had ever seen actually use a sword, became the fourth! As a result, his master had been heartbroken for many years.

Actually, the little sword boy knew that despite their current miserable state, his master’s reputation in the past was not bad at all. The reason he wasn’t ranked among the Four Great Swordsmen was primarily because people in the martial arts world preferred each of the four major states to have one representative. Since Qian State already had Baili Sword, it wouldn’t be appropriate to have another.

His master also disliked the title of "Second Sword of Qian State." A swordsman has their own peak to conquer in their heart; who would willingly be second?

What was more awkward was that, although he was about the same age as Baili Sword, in the current discourse of Qian State’s martial arts world, his master was gradually being grouped with the younger generation of swordsmen. For example, that "Hero with a Pure Heart" Mr. Chen, the "Wuchuan Drunkard Sword," the "Xiahang Imperial Consort Sword," and so on.

His master often lamented that the street was truly declining with each generation. "Just look at the nicknames these newcomers chose for themselves—a bunch of utter fools."

Just as the hungry master and disciple had left the ferry shop, a sudden burst of hoofbeats came from the opposite bank of the river!

The locals here hadn’t experienced war for a century. Even when Emperor Taizong’s northern expedition failed years ago, the Yan people didn’t manage to reach this place. Only recently, news of the Yan people moving south had been spreading. Initially, people were skeptical. However, when they heard that West Wind Crossing, not far from here, had been attacked by the Yan people a few days ago, they were finally alerted. Direct Thief! The Yan people were actually almost at their doorstep!

Panic had been spreading and fermenting. These waves of refugees brought not only more hungry mouths to feed but also layers upon layers of overwhelming fear.

Finally, when someone curiously looked towards the opposite bank of the river and saw the dense ranks of Black-Armored cavalry there, that thread of tension snapped!

"AHHHHHHH, the Yan bastards are here!"

The locals and refugees near the ferry began to cry, scream, and flee.

There used to be a garrison of soldiers stationed here, numbering only four or five thousand, but they had been redeployed earlier. Thus, this ferry crossing was currently completely undefended.

The river was still frozen. Wouldn’t the Yan people just charge straight over?

"Master," the little sword boy said, looking at his master.

Yuan Zhenxing blew out a breath, very hard, but unfortunately, he still couldn’t move the fringe on his forehead, which was matted with grease.

"I heard Baili Sword went to Yan State a while ago but accomplished nothing."

"Master, don’t act impulsively," the little sword boy advised with an old-mannered earnestness. "Quick, pick me up and run!"

Yuan Zhenxing shook his head and said, "You’ve been very unhappy following me, I know. You always feel that your life isn’t as carefree as other sword boys."

"No! Master, don’t try to pin it on me! I don’t want to die, and I don’t want to see you foolishly go to block the Yan people! You need to, right now, immediately, quickly pick me up and run!"

Yuan Zhenxing said, as if to himself, "Baili Sword went to Yan State and achieved nothing. Today, I must do something. As long as I accomplish something, it will prove I’m stronger than Baili Sword."

"Master, you’ve lost your mind."

Yuan Zhenxing reached out his hand.

The little sword boy stepped back. "Master, you might want to die, but I don’t! I’m still young, I haven’t even tasted what a woman’s body is like yet!"

"It’s nothing special, really."

"Then what about a few days ago when you went into that red-light establishment, spent all our remaining travel money, and made us starve for so long!"

Yuan Zhenxing’s old face immediately turned red.

"Master, don’t be a fool. Let’s run."

"Be good now, and accompany your master on this one last journey."

Yuan Zhenxing extended his palm, and the sword on the sword boy’s back immediately flew out, landing in his hand.

Then, Yuan Zhenxing began to walk towards the riverbank.

The little sword boy followed behind him, crying and shouting, cursing incessantly, yet he never left his side, because a silk thread was tied around his ankle, with the other end secured between Yuan Zhenxing’s fingers.

"Master, you’re an animal! You’re not human!"