Eternal Saber-Chapter 399 - 6: Cyan Plum Sword Hero

Anyone from the Jianghu referring to Xia Daozi and Shen Guobao would never use titles like Lord Chancellor or Lord Zhongshu.

Only those from the Court have such habits, which they find hard to change, resulting in these forms of address.

The gaunt man, expressionless, reached down to lift his robe, revealing a dark gold token at his waist.

Luo Shixian squinted at it, frowning, "Garrison Army!"

Chen Tang glanced over, comprehending the situation.

Listening to the recent conversations, this Garrison Army belongs to the Imperial Guard stationed outside the Capital City, under the command of Shen Guobao.

These Jianghu travellers spoke boldly about executing treacherous ministers and condemned Shen Guobao, yet have now run into these men.

No wonder, the four of them looked uneasy.

Wei Kai had just returned from outside, initially intending to draw his long sword and spar with the opposition.

Upon hearing the words ’Garrison Army,’ his heart shuddered, causing him to reconsider and momentarily swallow his anger.

Due to Nanxia’s uniqueness, the Jianghu forces are vast, and Jianghu matters usually stay within Jianghu.

Generally, the Government Office does not interfere.

And those in Jianghu mostly have a tacit understanding to avoid conflict with the Government Office whenever possible.

While they spoke fiercely of their desire to kill the treacherous ministers responsible for the nation’s woes, when truly faced with soldiers, careful consideration was necessary.

Moreover, the four before them were part of the Garrison Army, the strongest force besides the Northern Expedition Army among the officers and soldiers of Nanxia!

The gaunt man took out a napkin, gently wiping the corner of his mouth, then stood up, slowly looking around and speaking indifferently, "My name is Jiao Zhan, a Captain under Shen Zhongshu’s Garrison Army."

"I mean no harm, merely want to remind my friends in the Jianghu—beware of what you say."

Luo Shixian and Wei Kai, having suffered a significant loss, both gave a slight snort at his words, their expressions turning grim.

The rest of the Jianghu crowd, intimidated by Jiao Zhan’s actions and aura, fell silent.

Jiao Zhan led three others to the table of Chen Tang and his companion, suddenly rapping on the tabletop with his fingers.

Chen Tang was sipping tea, startled by the sound, and looked up in some confusion.

Jiao Zhan loomed over them, asking, "You two don’t seem local. Where are you from?"

"Shilan Slope."

Chen Tang replied according to the location on his Passage Document.

"What’s in the box?"

Jiao Zhan pointed to the box in Ah Li’s arms.

He had already noticed the young girl’s odd behavior.

Even while eating, she held onto the box without letting go.

"What do you mean by that?"

Chen Tang countered with a question.

"Open the box for us to inspect!"

The person beside him barked out.

"Why?"

Chen Tang frowned.

He and Ah Li were merely having some tea and taking a break, bothering no one, yet these people demanded to inspect his belongings for no reason.

An officer spoke sternly, "We suspect you are connected with the Profound Celestial Bandits!"

That made it even less possible to show them the box.

Inside were seven Flying Swords; once opened, it would be hard to explain.

Chen Tang took out the Passage Document he had just prepared and handed it over, saying, "I know nothing of these Profound Celestial Bandits; this is our Passage Document."

"Enough with all the nonsense. If I tell you to open the box, then open it, stop dawdling!"

The officer was angered, snatching the Passage Document from Chen Tang’s hand, tearing it to shreds in a couple of moves, "What Passage Document? I didn’t see any, did anyone?"

Chen Tang’s expression turned cold.

Luo Shixian frowned heavily and was about to rise, but Wei Kai beside him held him down, shaking his head.

After all, they had suffered a significant setback at Jiao Zhan’s hands, stepping forward wouldn’t help much.

Moreover, they didn’t know these two young people.

Better to avoid unnecessary trouble.

The many Jianghu patrons in the teahouse, feeling unsettled, nevertheless kept silent due to witnessing Jiao Zhan’s tactics and aware of his identity, watching quietly.

Ah Li’s eyes once again became emotionless and lifeless.

For some reason, Jiao Zhan suddenly shivered.

"I saw it."

At that moment, a voice rang out from the corner of the teahouse.

The next instant, the man in a green robe, carrying a green-sheathed long sword, walked over with a woman by his side, standing protectively in front of Chen Tang and Ah Li, looking at Jiao Zhan and his group without fear, their eyes steady and bright.

Luo Shixian, seeing someone standing up, couldn’t suppress himself any longer and shouted, "I saw it too!"

Wei Kai sighed inwardly and also declared loudly, "I saw it, they clearly showed you the Passage Document just now, and you tore it up; the pieces are on the ground."

"That’s right, we all saw it!"

The Jianghu patrons in the teahouse, feeling emboldened, also spoke up one after another.

"May I know your name, my friend?"

Jiao Zhan scrutinized the man in green and asked slowly.

The man in green replied calmly, "I am Mei Zhenyu of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect."

Chen Tang was moved.

Plum Blossom Sword Sect?

The Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall in Changze County, Mei Nianzhi trained in this type of martial arts.

"Oh, so it’s the Cyan Plum Sword Hero, I’ve heard so much about you."

Jiao Zhan narrowed his eyes slightly and offered a slight bow.

Earlier, Jiao Zhan had been extremely mocking towards Luo Shixian and Wei Kai’s titles.

Now, mentioning ’Cyan Plum Sword Hero,’ his tone lacked any sarcasm, instead, it seemed somewhat courteous.

"He’s the Cyan Plum Sword Hero!"

"The top disciple of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect!"

"A few years back, the Cyan Plum Sword Hero even made it onto the Wind and Cloud Ranking!"

"No wonder it sounds so familiar."

Some Jianghu patrons in the teahouse, familiar with Mei Zhenyu’s name, brightened instantly, whispering among themselves.

The Wind and Cloud Ranking, published annually by the East Mountain Sword Pavilion, gathers the most talented, formidable, and accomplished young people in the Nanxia Jianghu.

Eligibility for the ranking requires being no older than twenty.

Once past twenty, one automatically comes off the list.

Jiao Zhan asked, "Young Hero Mei, do you know them?"

Mei Zhenyu said, "A chance encounter."

Jiao Zhan gazed at Mei Zhenyu and said again, "If that’s so, why involve yourself in unrelated matters?"

"There are only unjust matters in the world, not unrelated ones!"

Mei Zhenyu met Jiao Zhan’s gaze without evading, speaking solidly and forcefully.

The patrons in the teahouse couldn’t help but cheer.

People of the Jianghu should indeed be like this!

Even the boss, napping in a rocking chair, opened his eyes to look over.

For someone like Mei Zhenyu, just in his early twenties and making a name, is already rare.

For someone so young, with the character ’Hero’ in their designation, is even rarer.

He ran this teahouse, seeing countless Jianghu guests come and go daily.

In recent years, the Jianghu has changed a lot.

Nowadays, most Jianghu people weigh pros and cons, calculating gains and losses.

Acts of drawing one’s sword to aid the oppressed have dwindled, even mocked by some as reckless and unwise.

But he has seen some people.

Of open-mindedness and righteousness, acting with selfless intent, their passionate blood virtually boiling over, making one feel ashamed.

Maybe these people are indeed reckless, not as smart as those skilled in scheming.

But he would still rather associate with such recklessness, become friends with them.

Jiao Zhan was stumped by Mei Zhenyu’s words, speechless for a moment.

"Gentlemen, don’t go too far."

Mei Zhenyu said with calmness, "Fairness and justice lie in the hearts of people. No matter how high your official rank, you can’t stop people from talking."

The sword in his hand hadn’t yet been unsheathed, but it emitted an aura of chill!