Wuxia: Drinking with Spring Breeze

Hua Peak, Black Wind Stronghold.

Outside the house, the night wind howled, while inside a single light flickered like a bean.

This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēwebnovel.com.

Yang Ge lay on his bed, wrapped in a bear skin and deeply asleep amidst the howling mountain wind, time was gentle like water, serene and peaceful.

Through the hazy mist, Yang Ge seemed to see the earthen courtyard of his old home, an elderly man dressed in a grey mandarin jacket with frog buttons sitting on the threshold, puffing on a dry pipe and waving to him, "Second son..."

He drifted over to the old man like a gust of wind, took hold of the old man’s dry, rough hand, and said in a daze, "You’re home."

The old man smoked his pipe, his gaunt face cloaked in smoke, only a pair of sorrowful eyes gazed at him through the haze, filled with worry and a touch of tenderness, it took a while before he gently caressed his forehead and softly chuckled as if to console, "We should be magnanimous, and not concern ourselves with their pettiness, ah... "

Yang Ge’s rigid thoughts couldn’t comprehend what the old man was saying, and just as he was about to ask again, his vision blurred and the old man’s figure disappeared.

He stood up anxiously and searched around, yet he only saw the well-maintained earthen walls of his home collapse suddenly, countless big black rats scurrying through the debris, gnawing en masse at the house’s beams and windows...

He stood still for a long while, then suddenly snapped back to reality and sat up in shock, looking around urgently.

The light remained, and he was alone in the room with a solitary shadow.

The urgency in his eyes quickly faded and he stared blankly northwest, his gaze seeming to pierce through thousands of miles of mountains, rivers, clouds, and moon, seeing the lonely grave behind the small courtyard on Chaimen Street in Luting County.

Perhaps it was that one’s thoughts by day became dreams by night.

Or perhaps that old man with the shuffling gait was truly there, looking after him...

"Huff… huff… huff..."

Suddenly, he clenched the bear skin quilt, his breathing became rapid and heavy; he tried hard to calm the roiling emotions within his heart, but his vision quickly blurred...

He bit down hard on his trembling lips and spread his hand to cover his eyes forcefully, yet the scalding liquid still seeped out between his fingers.

The sobbing night wind seemed to blow into the room.

"Clang."

A dazzling flash of blade light momentarily illuminated the room’s furnishings, the hanging Cold Moon Blade on the wall fell with a screech in front of the bed, its blade quivering intensely.

The next second, countless raspy blade cries sounded; one sword after another shot from every corner of the stronghold and landed outside Yang Ge’s room, quivering as if eager to move.

They sounded on and on...

Until dawn broke, Yang Ge, with the Cold Moon Blade on his back and a bamboo hat in hand, pushed the door open and stepped out.

Hundreds of Black Wind Stronghold bandits had been waiting outside for a long time; upon seeing him, they all bowed and said in unison, "Second Master!"

Yang Ge expressionlessly placed the bamboo hat on his head, "You don’t deserve to die for your crimes, weigh your actions; those who should turn themselves in to the authorities and seek redemption should do so, those who wish to leave the underworld and start a new life should go and do just that. If I hear even the slightest whisper of you returning to banditry, no matter how large Jiangzhe is, there will be no place for you to hide!"

After speaking, he reached out towards the dozens of long swords planted in front of the door, and the swords immediately floated in the air.

He suddenly clenched his fist, and the swords shattered in midair, falling to the ground with a cacophony of clatters.

After crushing dozens of long swords with a single fist, he leaped more than ten feet high, stepping onto the wall and drifting away.

Upon seeing this, over a hundred bandits from Black Wind Stronghold were shocked and cried out in panic, "Elder Brother, where are you going?"

"Elder Brother, take us with you!"

"Elder Brother, don’t leave us behind..."

Desperate, they wished they could sprout wings to follow Yang Ge, but they could only watch helplessly as he traveled directly northwest between the mountains and forests, rising and falling with the terrain.

"Boss, Elder Brother has left, what shall we do?"

"You motherfu-- who am I supposed to ask if you’re asking me?"

"Elder Brother headed northwest. There must be a big deal going on in that direction..."

"Clean up that mouth of yours, what big deal, what small deal, we’ve turned over a new leaf, we’re not bandits anymore!"

"Yes, yes, what I mean is, there was such a commotion in Elder Brother’s room last night, there must be something big going on. If we catch up, just ask around somewhere, wouldn’t we find out where Elder Brother went?"

"Good idea, brothers, let’s go!"

...

The bright yet not scorching sunlight of the Grain in Ear season showered over the simple courtyard deep within the headquarters of Lianhuan Fort.

Li Changjiang, dressed in black coarse clothing, exuding an aura of serenity and calm, sat in a rocking chair with a teapot in his embrace, closing his eyes for a brief rest in the sweet-smelling breeze.

"Father."

Li Jincheng, clad in a white robe as pure as jade, with a silver crown adorned with seven stars, tiptoed into the courtyard and called out softly.

Li Changjiang cracked open an eye to look at him, smiling as he pointed at the small bamboo chair next to him, "Aren’t you in closed-door cultivation?"

Li Jincheng pulled the bamboo chair to sit in front of his father, kneading his legs as he spoke softly, "I can’t calm my mind, so I’ve come to chat with you."

Li Changjiang laughed gently, "The imperial envoy’s mission to capture Yang Erlang has got you unsettled?"

Li Jincheng wasn’t surprised, he nodded with a smile, "I knew I couldn’t hide it from you..."

Li Changjiang smiled and asked in a calm tone, "Have you thought it through?"

Li Jincheng pondered for a moment, then spoke in a rambling manner, "Yang Ge and I have a deep friendship, and he has repeatedly intervened to protect Lianhuan Fort from calamity. Now, as the imperial forces parade past our doorstep to confront him, it’s only right by sentiment and reason..."

Li Changjiang interrupted his explanation, emphasizing his tone, "I’m asking if you’ve thought it through."

Li Jincheng shut his mouth, and after a long silence, he nodded firmly, "I want to have one more wild ride with him!"

"If you want to do it, then go do it!"

Li Changjiang closed his eyes again, speaking with a light smile, "Young people should have the vigor of youth. One cannot achieve greatness by always seeking perfection and stability. This world has always belonged to those who are bold and courageous, and who forge ahead. Lianhuan Fort should be your wings, not a burden to you."