19 SABER MONARCH (1/2)

25 PUREMOON 1501 AFTERFIRE, 13 YEAR OF JULIAN ERA.

YUYANG

Yuyang is inside the border of the Liao Kingdom.

This large vast of land have three geographical regions, the highlands where the Mountain Tribes of Liao always warred against each other for resources and dominion, the plains in the middle and hills in the east.

The one ruling the Liao kingdom is a confederation of tribes that rules in turn every four years.

Charles did not know which tribe rules it but this is the gist of their administration in this area.

They were divided but when foreign invasion came they throw away their differences and fought as one.

At least Charles could appreciate this virtue.

Charles is actually participating in the gathering of heroes held in the Tuhulu Mountain and is now resting at a waterfall below the mountain.

Water keep pouring down over a sheer massive cliff into the Clear Water Pool, making this area cool and refreshing.

Charles and his entourage arrived yesterday, earlier than anyone so, they waited here. And Charles himself does not want to rush.

The only reason he came to the gathering is because he was interested.

From what he heard, this gathering is held to persuade all heroes to hunt the Saber Monarch. Unlike The Four Master of Weapon or the Three Great Grandmaster the Saber Monarch rarely appears in Jianghu.

He is not of Aeropean descent but instead comes from the Western Barbarian sect.

At the age of thirteen after learning a set of saber moves from his grand teacher he sets out on a journey.

The Pilgrimage of Warrior.

Any warrior that wanted to improve their skills could do this any time they want, living frugally and invite hardship to temper the body and mind.

He arrives at the Central Plains of Aeropa and begun a murder spree, killing many righteous heroes and even burns and destroy a few evil sect.

Using his saber, he terrorized the entire Central Plains.

When he was injured after the attack of one of the Three Great Grandmaster, he went South and terrorize there instead.

For ten years he rampage all over Aeropa until Purple Fairy Lin Ziyan who was at the time also on her Pilgrimage of Warrior stumbles onto the infamous Saber Monarch.

They instantly battled each other on Water Flowing Mountain in Qin state, the Purple Fairy with her slender sword battling the huge tiger saber of the Saber Monarch.

The sound of their battle alarmed the Bi city prompting the patrol to come but none of them dare to interfere.

They battled for seven days and seven nights with each day, Lin Ziyan would clinch victory and the Saber Monarch refuse to accept the decision.

At the end of the seven day, the Saber Monarch accepts his defeat and expects his life to end.

But for some inexplicable reason that the entire Jianghu did not understand Purple Fairy order him to return to the Liao kingdom and do not step into the Central Plains again.

Many ask why she let him go, but she did not answer. Jianghu was at peace again and the prestige of the Jade Palace Gate rose again.

But a month ago, in the Chen state a sect was annihilated with all of them dying of saber slash. After investigation by some Jianghu sect, this kind of martial art technique is undoubtedly belongs to the Saber Monarch.

This time young and old all wanted to kill the Saber Monarch. Since he has been quiet all this time, the people that have grudge against him did not set out to make trouble for him.

But now, it is different.

If the Saber Monarch really violate the promise he makes with the Purple fairy all those years ago, why should they let the Saber Monarch live in peace?

And so the gathering was held. And Charles comes because this concerns his teacher. What makes Charles perplexed is why did his teacher let the Saber Monarch go?

He of all people knows that his teacher when dealing with enemies is merciless and ruthless. There must be another reason.

It is for that reason Charles went to Liao, traveling in caravans and riding horses through the harsh plains to come to the gathering.

But now, as he has time, he refined his skills.

Charles was sitting on the boulder not too far away from the waterfall, sometimes looking at the waterfall and smiles.

His hand was furiously painting on a hand scroll.

Shorty and Long is fishing nearby while at the same time protecting him.

To call Tian Ji and Tu Jia by their real name would bring to much attention. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that Charles realizes that these two bodyguards of his are very famous in Jianghu.

Or to be more accurate they were infamous.

From one of the stories that he heard both Tu Jia and Tian Ji once robbed the entire storage room of the Shadow Shroud Sect, burn the True Heart Temple and pillage the village of fisherman in Southern Chu.

Old Immortal Li when he heard of this act was so enraged and embarrassed that he went out of his cultivation seclusion and hunts both of them.

When Old Immortal Li found them not only they were unrepentant they even had the guts to fight the Old Immortal.

Old Immortal reputation as the strongest martial artist on Aeropa is not empty reputation.

Those that spectates the battle from the distance noted that Old Immortal did not even use any weapons instead using his famous Divine Flicking Finger to immobilize them in one stroke.

If not for the Jade Palace Gate rules Old Immortal Li would behead these two ungrateful disciples. But after he calms his anger, he also admires the boldness of these two disciples.

But they are too untamed and too impulsive.

Jade Palace Gate sect is not a monastic sect or Daoist sect that follows the Path of the Great Master but they were also not a lawless sect like the evil sect that kills without remorse instead they uphold righteousness and protect the weak.

So, Old Immortal Li punish both of them to be Guardians for the Holy Sons and Daughters of the Sect.

The other sect and factions these two have destroyed and take advantage of all wanted to kill both of these two ingrates but none of them dares to offend Old Immortal and all gives him face.

But they all said that if they met these two in Jianghu, their enmity will be settled by themselves.

After all how could the Old Immortal be protecting these two people all the time?

The Old Immortal agreed with this and since then they were assigned at one of the establishment belonging to the sect, never setting foot inside Jianghu again.

The Holy Sons and Daughters of the sect also do not want to use them since going out with these two would surely bring calamity.

After knowing the background of these two guards of his how could Charles call them by their true name so easily?

After all there is still a lot of faction still wanting to kill both of his bodyguard.

Charles could only blame his teacher. His teacher must have wanted him to encounter trouble.

Since trouble would not come for him without reason, his teacher gave him this two dud to give him trouble.

How could Charles not understand the thinking of his master?

His master knew that Charles is a smart person which surely means his journey would be smooth sailing.

But without dangers how could he grow?

So, his teacher gives him a problem.

Not a problem to solve but a problem to endure.

His Master knows even as smart as he is, he could not solve the problems of his bodyguards with a few words.

Enmity…..this kind of thing in Jianghu means a lot and most of the time it is not rational.

'More ink, Young Master?' A voice brings Charles back to his attention.

It was Liu Yi sitting beside him, on another boulder of stone, water flowing around the stones, a stalk of grass on his mouth as he pestle the ink for Charles to continue drawing.

Charles only shake his head as he look back at his painting.

'It is finished' he answer, satisfied with his own painting.

He is drawing birds on a large big tree.

Calling and waving to each other, they seemed to be especially close, which is why he likened them to a group of brothers demonstrating fraternal affection.

Charles lack familial love. His brother always wanted to rid of him and even his stepmothers are all plotting for him to die.

What he wants is a loyal brother to follow him in his journey, to drink together when he is sad and to sing together when he is happy.

But that kind of brother…..how could it be easy to find? And he swishes his brush creating a landscape of the vast sky in his painting.

Charles is honing back his painting skill, his brushwork is steady and the use of the ink was rich, with each stroke containing a force of vigor with his brushworks rarely reveals pauses and transition in his painting.

It was a skillful painting. Neither seen in the past nor in the future. Charles is a weiqi expert and also a talented painter.

His talent is enough to shock the world.

'It is finished. My mother would be happy to receive this painting' He shows it to Liu Yi and asks him

'What is your opinion of my painting, Liu Yi?'

Liu Yi looked for a while and then exclaimed with a shocked expression

'It is perfect Young master! I must say it-' Before he finishes his work Charles smack Liu Yi head.

'There you go again. Honeyed words.'

'Hehehe' Liu Yi chuckles

'Young Master knows that I am not a refined person. I didn't even touch the four treasure of the study before meeting Young master, how could I know whether Young master painting is good or not? But if Young Master painting is not good, so what of it? With Young Master attainment in sword arts, that alone is more important than exquisite painting. What good is painting other than to be burn when winter came?'

Liu Yi said, showing a noble disposition so unlike him. But Charles knows better than to believe anything coming out of this urchin mouth

'Still flattering…but at least this time your words have meanings and your statement shows concern for the common people. If not for me knowing your behavior I would truly believe you to be a gentleman.'

Liu Yi laughed

'Young master knows me too well.'