Li Yaochen, Li Shuwen, and wine.

At noon he had drunk a little too much, and since he was about to leave, he thought that when he came back next time he might not know when he would get another chance to drink. In a burst of impulse he had overdone it a little.

"I'm fine. I'll just have another cup later to settle my stomach."

Xiang Yuanyuan waved it off and led Du Ruo on.

Du Ruo was somewhat at a loss for words. It was only two or three in the afternoon, and she was already thinking about drinking tonight? Still, it was easy to understand. All around them were vats of wine of every size, and with Du Ruo's extraordinarily sharp senses, the air itself was thick with fragrance from countless brews. For Xiang Yuanyuan, coming home was probably like a mouse slipping into a granary. How could she possibly not drink heartily?

Xiang Yuanyuan brought Du Ruo into a great hall. The room was spacious beyond measure, and instead of sofas and coffee tables it was arranged like something from an old television drama: two wooden stools with a small table between them.

The same arrangement was mirrored on both sides, only with more stools, three pairs to the left and three to the right. Beyond them stood wooden racks holding wine jars of every shape and size, each marked with different names.

In the center of the hall was a pane of clear glass, behind which a wine banner from ancient times was carefully preserved. One glance was enough to tell it was no modern object. On it were written the words: "Xiang Family Medicinal Wine."

"Grandfather, Dad, Mom, this is my friend, Du Ruo. He's come to collect the wine, and tomorrow I'll go back to Mount Huang with him."

At the upper end of the hall sat an elderly man, a little stout, with white hair and beard. He smiled at the two of them and studied Du Ruo from head to toe, as though trying to discern something. On the left sat a middle-aged couple. The three of them were Xiang Yuanyuan's grandfather and parents.

"Grandfather, Uncle, Auntie, pardon the intrusion. These are local specialties from Mount Huang. I brought them for Grandfather to taste."

Du Ruo held the gifts in both hands and greeted them first.

"There's no need to bring so much just to visit. Yuanyuan, hurry and make tea."

Xiang's mother came over, took the gifts from Du Ruo, and did not forget to instruct Xiang Yuanyuan.

"Come, sit here."

Xiang Yuanyuan's grandfather, Xiang Yuanzhang, pointed to the seat beside him, signaling for Du Ruo to sit there.

"Grandfather, I'll sit here."

Du Ruo went to the first seat on the right and sat down. Xiang Yuanyuan's parents were seated lower down, so it would not have been proper for him to take the place of honor.

"Young friend Du, do you practice Xingyi and Bagua?"

Xiang Yuanzhang asked with a smile. He had seen the videos Xiang Yuanyuan had posted, and among them was Du Ruo demonstrating Xingyi Fist. As for Bagua Palm, when Du Ruo walked, he did not lift his feet very high, and his gait had a faint sliding quality, almost like a small square step. That was a clear Mud-Treading Step, the kind only someone who practiced Bagua Palm would use.

"Grandfather has sharp eyes. It's just a hobby. I usually just like to practice a couple of routines."

Du Ruo found it a little strange. Xiang Yuanyuan's grandfather showed no trace of martial training, yet his eye was so keen that he could tell at a glance that Du Ruo practiced Xingyi and Bagua.

"Have some tea."

At that moment Xiang Yuanyuan came over carrying a tray and handed tea to Du Ruo. After pouring it, she did not leave, but sat on the stool beside him, resting her hand on the little table in the middle as she listened to Du Ruo speak with the family.

Across from them, Xiang's father and mother exchanged a glance and smiled.

"What sharp eyes or not. I only heard a few things from my elders in the past. Still, when I was young, I did once see a true grandmaster of martial arts."

Xiang Yuanzhang seemed especially fond of martial artists and treated Du Ruo with great warmth. It must have been the martial bearing and calm dignity around Du Ruo that made Xiang Yuanzhang feel familiar. In his mind flashed the image of a figure who, though already advanced in years at the time, moved like the wind and sat like a bell.

"Grandfather, who was it?"

It was Xiang Yuanyuan who asked. She seemed to have sobered up somewhat, and with her chin propped on her hand she was listening eagerly. Hearing that her grandfather had seen such a person with his own eyes, she could not suppress her curiosity.

"Li Yaochen, a grandmaster from the Republic era. It's a pity that when I saw him, he was already nearly ninety, and I never had the good fortune to witness him in action. It has always been one of my regrets."

There was a note of sighing melancholy in Xiang Yuanzhang's voice.

"Li Yaochen of the Ultimate Blade? I didn't expect Grandfather Xiang to have met that senior."

Du Ruo's eyes lit up at once. Anyone recognized as a grandmaster was either the founder of a lineage or had made great contributions during extraordinary times. It could be said that the rise in status of martial artists today owed much to such people.

Many had never heard of the Ultimate Blade, but during the war it was indeed renowned. The only other blade art that could stand beside it was the Eight-Shot Severing Blade. Both were passed to soldiers of that era, blade methods that struck terror into the hearts of the enemy.

Among the lines of "March of the Great Sabers," the line about the great saber chopping at the enemy's heads referred to the Ultimate Blade.

"Oh? You know the Ultimate Blade? Can you use it?"

Hearing that Du Ruo understood it, Xiang Yuanzhang immediately became interested.

"I wouldn't say I can use it. Unlike the Eight-Shot Severing Blade, which has fixed forms, the Ultimate Blade is more like a principle of blade use, a highly targeted technique. It is flexible and changeable, with only a few offensive movements and no fixed routine. That is why it has been passed down so little in later generations."

Du Ruo shook his head. The Ultimate Blade had originally been designed specifically to kill enemy soldiers, and it was aimed at foes carrying rifles. The central element of the blade art was just one move: a slash, aimed at the enemy's neck.

Because the enemy at that time was skilled in thrusting attacks, using rifles with bayonets, the Ultimate Blade was to raise the blade and knock the bayonet away, then in the same motion turn the edge and cleave at the neck, or drive the blade into the enemy's chest or abdomen. It was extremely targeted, and with that one move, it sent soldiers into battle wearing iron neck guards, which showed just how ferocious it was.

The two of them talked on like that. Xiang Yuanzhang would ask about matters of martial arts, and Du Ruo answered whatever he could. At times, fearing Xiang Yuanzhang might not understand, he would even rise to the center of the hall and demonstrate.

In turn, Xiang Yuanzhang also told many stories and odd tales from the martial world that he knew.

For example, Divine Fist Without Equal Li Shuwen was called "Without Equal" because he usually killed his opponents with a single blow. There was never a second move.

And why could Li Shuwen do it in one move? Because he practiced Baji Fist. Before fighting someone, he would always introduce himself, and as soon as he finished, he would strike.

A stomp of Baji footwork to drive forward with explosive speed, followed by the force of a Pi Gua palm and the fierce tiger-climbing-mountain power of Baji Fist, in other words, a slap straight onto the opponent's forehead.

It was as swift as lightning, incredibly fast, with tremendous force, usually crushing the enemy's skull before they could even react.

The more the two spoke, the more animated they became. Even Xiang Yuanyuan, who had remained silent at the side, listened with rapt attention, often staring fixedly at Du Ruo as he demonstrated the movements.

Only Xiang's father suffered a little. He had no interest in martial arts, wanted to rise and go inspect the wine cellar, but feared being scolded by his father. He could only sit on the stool and keep shifting restlessly.

Xiang's mother, on the other hand, grew more and more pleased with Du Ruo the longer she looked at him. Especially when she saw the expression on Xiang Yuanyuan's face while looking at him, she was silently making plans in her heart.

"If you can't follow this anymore, go outside. Why are you sitting there like you've got lice?"

Seeing her son fidgeting so uneasily, Xiang Yuanzhang could not help but snap at him. From childhood he had been stern with his son. Yet the more he disciplined him, the weaker the boy's character seemed to become, and the less Xiang Yuanzhang liked him. Xiang Yuanyuan, on the other hand, seemed to take after him, so he doted on her and granted almost every request. His attitude toward his son was thus especially poor.

"Then I'll go check on the wine first. Xiao Du, don't rush off today. Stay for dinner and spend the night; you can leave tomorrow."

Xiang's father was timid by nature, but he still understood basic manners and propriety. He invited Du Ruo warmly, and only after seeing his father nod in satisfaction did he leave.

"Then I'll go prepare dinner while you talk. Girl, come help."

Xiang's mother got up at once and dragged Xiang Yuanyuan out with her, leaving Xiang Yuanzhang and Du Ruo in the hall to continue their conversation.

"Mom, I was just getting into it. Why did you call me out here?"

Xiang Yuanyuan muttered her dissatisfaction as she was pulled along.

"It's all martial arts talk. What are you so absorbed in? Let me ask you: what exactly is going on between you and Xiao Du?"

Xiang's mother pulled Xiang Yuanyuan to the side and asked.

"Huh? What kind of going on?"

Xiang Yuanyuan looked blankly confused, completely unable to grasp what her mother meant.

"What else could it be? You're not a child anymore, and Xiao Du is single too, isn't he? I think he's good enough. His looks and manners are both fine."

Xiang's mother glanced at Xiang Yuanyuan in exasperation, worried sick over her daughter.

"I didn't have that in mind, and... and I don't think he has that kind of thought either."

Xiang Yuanyuan frowned and thought for a moment. She had never been in love, and had never even thought in that direction.

"What else is in your head besides drinking? And Xiao Du seems to have nothing in his head besides martial arts. You two are really... really... oh, you're driving me mad. How did I end up with two such dull blocks of wood?"

The more Xiang's mother spoke, the more anxious she became, at a loss for how to describe the two of them.

"I'm telling you, matters of the heart can be cultivated slowly. If you meet someone who's good in every way and you don't dislike him, don't hesitate. Be the first to make a move. If you miss the chance, then it'll be too late for regrets."

It was not that she was so eager to marry her daughter off. Rather, she was worried that her daughter was slow when it came to feelings. This was the first time she had ever seen her daughter invite a man home, something that had never happened before.

Besides, there were many moments when her daughter's gaze toward Du Ruo was simply not right. That was not the look one should have toward an ordinary friend. As an outsider, she could see it clearly, but she could not bear to spell it out, so she could only say this much.

"Huh? But... what if he doesn't like me?"

Xiang Yuanyuan thought about it. She really did not find anything about Du Ruo objectionable, and being with him felt quite comfortable.

"Come, let me explain this to you properly..."

Xiang's mother pulled Xiang Yuanyuan toward the kitchen.

Du Ruo and Xiang Yuanzhang talked more and more happily, and the conversation went on for several hours. Both felt they had gained much from it.

It was not until Xiang Yuanyuan called from the dining room that it was time to eat, and the two of them went to the table, that their conversation finally came to an end.

"Come, Xiao Du, let's eat first. We're happy today, so we'll have a couple of drinks... ah..."

Xiang Yuanzhang was old after all. Nearly eighty, and after sitting for so long today, the moment he stood up he seemed to have pulled his back.

"Careful."

Du Ruo stepped forward to support him, preventing Xiang Yuanzhang from falling.

"I'm old now. My body is nowhere near what it used to be."

Xiang Yuanzhang smiled bitterly.

"I have some skill in massage and bone-setting. Let me help you work on it."

Without waiting for a reply, Du Ruo reached out to examine the area around Xiang Yuanzhang's waist and spine. His mastery of the bronze human technique gave him a special understanding of bones and meridians, and his senses were so keen that he could tell at once which part was abnormal.

Crack.

Three fingers gripped the bone. With a light application of force, and without any obvious motion, there came only a soft crack, and Du Ruo withdrew his hand.

"All right. See how it feels."

A smile appeared on Du Ruo's face. With the strength of his fingers and his understanding of the human body, bone-setting and massage were nothing difficult. Every martial art taught fighting methods, and every martial art also taught knowledge of the human body.

"Hm? It really doesn't hurt anymore. Xiao Du, what sort of technique was that just now?"

Xiang Yuanzhang gave his waist a slight twist and immediately discovered that the pain was gone. Recalling that Du Ruo had seemed to use only his fingers, he saw that this was clearly different from other practitioners of traditional medicine.

"Heh, by chance it's called the Fujian Bronze Man Art. It's especially good at striking and seizing acupoints. What I just used was one kind of acupoint strike, only instead of destruction it was restoration. If this had been against an enemy, the moment I seized that spine and gave it a light pinch, I could have instantly paralyzed him and taken away his fighting ability."

Du Ruo explained.

"Oh, so this is the acupoint-striking skill you mentioned. Indeed impressive. I just didn't expect it to have such an effect. Now I'm curious what the Jiangxi Five-Hundred-Coins and the Wudang Twelve-Strength Acupoint Art you mentioned would be like."

Xiang Yuanzhang sighed with feeling, once again witnessing Du Ruo's formidable ability. At first he had thought Du Ruo merely knew a great deal, and could talk about any martial art with authority. But Du Ruo's display just now made it clear to Xiang Yuanzhang that Du Ruo was not only eloquent in speech; his hands were even more extraordinary.

"Come, come, sit down. We're happy today, so we must drink. I'll go get the wine."

Seeing Xiang Yuanzhang and Du Ruo approaching, Xiang's mother hurriedly invited them to sit, while she got up to fetch the wine.

"Xiao Du, sit down. Make yourself at home, don't be polite."

Xiang Yuanzhang had no further thoughts. He simply admired Du Ruo.

"Here, the wine is here. This one has been stored for a long time. Since Xiao Du is our guest today, you must drink plenty."

Xiang's mother came over carrying a wine jar. It was not large, maybe about five jin, and it looked as though it had been stored for a very long time. Even though Xiang's mother had wiped it just now, the traces of dust were still very visible.

"Mom... you..."

"Wife... you..."

As soon as the wine was set on the table, everyone except Du Ruo looked rather older in the face.

"I won't drink this one. I've already had a bit too much today, so I'll drink some Safflower Wine instead. Yuanyuan, help me get a bottle."

Xiang Yuanzhang looked oddly troubled, but after glancing at Xiang Yuanyuan, he stroked his beard and said something to her.

"Grandfather, I'll drink Safflower Wine too. I drank too much at noon, so I'll have less tonight."

Xiang Yuanyuan blushed a little. She would never have been like this before, drinking anything and everything, even daring to keep up with the most brutal liquor. But after what her mother had said today, she found herself overthinking things far too easily, so she hurriedly stood up and seized the chance to fetch the wine.

"..."

Xiang's father was dumbfounded, staring at Xiang's mother in shock. He opened his mouth, but after Xiang's mother gave him a glance, he promptly shut it again, only his hand unconsciously rubbing his lower back.