Martial King's Retired Life

Jian Changzai

“Young men have no sense of apprehension. Although I’m still fearless, I really overestimated myself.”

It was not hard to imagine how relaxed and carefree Bai Zhiqing in his twenties when he looked as if he was sunbathing this very moment.

For a while, the expedition team were stuck outside Fiends’ Genesis’ base because, despite having State Preceptor Lai locate the entrance to their headquarters, the traps swarming within would have annihilated thousands of them. That was the reason Ling Hanzhong had to shamelessly beg Lai Jingzhen to dismantle the contraptions within. As for how much Ling Hanzhong had to cough up for the commission, that was something only he and Lai Jingzhen knew.

During the two weeks the squad was stuck outside Fiends’ Genesis’ base, they were unable to do anything productive besides staying vigilant. Hence, they had ample time to get to know their allies better. Among the patriarchs who were present, Bai Zhiqing stood out the most. He initially stood out because he was the only other White Prince besides Ling Hanzhong, but he later stood out once everyone noticed how free-spirited he was. He was able to befriend virtually anyone and everyone; he never let status become an obstacle. Once they got to know him and contrasted it with their initial impression of him as a suave and just young man who was as skilled as he was refined, they respected him, but they also kept their distance from him.

Ling Hanzhong was the mastermind behind the campaign. Twelve elite swordsmen from Mount Lu Sword Sanctuary, nine high monks from Cold Mountain Temple and three elders of Dark Robe Brotherhood joined his cause, none of whom could be scoffed at. Some, as a matter of fact, thought that was already excessive for the expedition. Due to the large age gap between them and Bai Zhiqing, they were not fond of him drinking in other’s tents until sunrise. Though Ling Hanzhong spoke to him about it numerous times, Bai Zhiqing was too free-spirited to understand the concepts of “moral boundaries”, “other’s opinions”, “taboos” and so forth. Consequently, Ling Hanzhong was forced to have someone discipline him.

Not everyone part of the campaigned saw Bai Zhiqing as a thorn in their side, especially another “special” person like himself.

“Brother Jian, are the fiends of Fiends’ Genesis scary?” queried Bai Zhiqing.

Master of Mount Lu Sword Sanctuary’s Grass Ash Palace, Jian Changzai, replied, “Don’t you think it’s a bit late to be asking that question? Getting cold feet?”

Bai Zhiqing sat down, almost as casually as his friend lying on a hill with a blade of grass dangling from his mouth. “I’m worried I won’t be of help.”

“You sure know yourself well.”

The remark did not make Bai Zhiqing feel any better.

“I know I’m being rash. I don’t know how I measure up. I didn’t consider my experience. I just joined with the ambition of proving myself.”

Those thoughts were erased in the second skirmish, when the young patriarch who was supposed to be well-versed in water-based combat lost his composure and was caught in an encirclement. As a result, the expedition team had to send a rescue squad to save him from the water-based battle Fiends’ Genesis designed. Dark Robe Brotherhood’s principally-strict Elder He was sacrificed in the operation. He never gave Bai Zhiqing any leeway just because the latter was young or a patriarch, but he pushed Bai Zhiqing away from a lethal stab and took it on the chest – literally.

“I have never forgotten Elder He’s last words…” Bai Zhiqing gazed at the stars. “He told me to stay vigilant even if I was dying. If he found out I cost another life for my own sake, he’d probably find a way to resurrect himself to strangle me to death.”

Jian Changzai wore on a small smile. “This is why you’ve been capturing people for questioning and refusing to leave Elder Xie’s tent?”

“I never said otherwise.”

Ever since that day, Bai Zhiqing never let another life be sacrificed as a consequence of his own oversight. Needless to say, it was impossible for no lives to be lost under his leadership. Nonetheless, he gradually learnt that, no matter how cautious he was, death was inevitable, and that was the saddest, never-changing truth of disputes in the pugilistic world. The realisation prompted him to question himself. From the time he picked up a broadsword, he was trained to be decisive; never had he ever been so uncertain and hesitant about swinging his weapon.

“What happened to your sword?” asked Bai Zhiqing, whilst thinking about broadswords and then looking to the empty spot beside Jian Changzai.

Jian Changzai’s sword broke when he defended himself against Fiends’ Genesis’ contraptions. The one person among the twelve elite swordsmen who he could not see eye to eye with accidentally triggered a contraption upon entering. As he waited for imminent death, he heard a boulder slowing down while he was yanked away. He survived. Unfortunately, Jian Changzai’s sword did not.

Bai Zhiqing expected Jian Changzai to find a replacement, but Jian Changzai still did not have a new sword after two weeks. Bai Zhiqing thought swordsmen felt uncomfortable without their swords, and he was right.

“Can’t you see the massive sword?”

“Any lamer jokes?”

No matter how many times they went back and forth, Jian Changzai still appeared sluggish.

“It’s good enough as long as it exists in my heart,” lifelessly stated Jian Changzai. “That’s what our senior instructor said. He said, as long as the sword exists in your heart, you have a sword. If you have a sword in your hand but none in your heart, you don’t have a sword. Whether or not I have a physical sword doesn’t make a difference.”

“When you hold a sword, then… what’s on your mind?” This was the real question Bai Zhiqing sought an answer to.

Jian Changzai gave Bai Zhiqing a smile. “Saving lives.”