But he was born with a good appearance, far more handsome than Cao Qiupu... and that’s precisely why, despite his unkempt appearance, he carried an air of carefree grace.

His steps were wobbly, casually pressing the sword:

"Since we met in Long City, we’ve crossed swords over thirty times. What’s the tally?"

"Fifteen wins, fifteen losses, one draw."

Zong Yang stood with his hands behind his back, his clothing not luxurious but clean and neat.

His head adorned with a gold inlaid jade headband, his hair meticulously arranged, a smile at the corner of his mouth, with a gentle demeanor:

"So, Brother Li should give it his all to bring our battle to a close, right?"

"Ah, you’re even more persistent than the girls at the Drunken Spring Tower... Fine, fine, let’s do this quickly. I’d like to head to the Shen Family for a nap afterward."

"Alright."

Zong Yang nodded slowly:

"Please... watch the sword!"

He raised the sword in his hand, drawing it slowly from its sheath.

He appeared as a serious person, serious in his speech, serious in his attire, and now serious in this sword duel as well.

As his sword emerged from the sheath, it seemed as though a breeze picked up around them.

Clear Wind!

By the time everyone noticed the breeze, Zong Yang had disappeared.

The "Twelve Forms of Clear Wind" might not sound like an impressive sword technique, but it was actually extremely profound.

Despite his young age, Zong Yang had mastered the essence of this technique. As his sword drew, it was as if he and the sword became one. The sword was like a gentle breeze, all-pervasive, while he remained elusive within the wind.

The sharp sound of the sword resonated in all directions.

Li Hanguang’s sleepy eyes instantly lit up with a brilliant gleam, as if Sword Intent swirled within them!

In the next moment, his sword was also drawn.

Invisible sword radiance exploded in the air, the ’ding ding ding’ sounds continuously echoing.

The two young swordsmen thus began their duel atop the tavern.

Unfortunately, not everyone could comprehend this duel...

Most people could neither understand Zong Yang’s sword deployment nor Li Hanguang’s responses.

They couldn’t even discern, in the blink-of-an-eye exchange, which person they had locked their eyes on.

Yet it didn’t stop them from acknowledging this expert showdown:

"Amazing! Worthy of Li Hanguang, indeed a Three-foot Cyan Blade, Killing Intent with This Autumn!"

"It’s really like a breeze... You think, who can withstand a breeze’s sweep?"

"So exciting! These two are true experts, seeing this duel in my lifetime, I could die without regrets!!!"

The surrounding praise filled the air, even more exaggerated.

Yet few truly understood the match.

Chu Qing slightly raised his eyebrows. Of course, he could understand; every move and stroke of the two was clear before his eyes.

It must be said, to be on par with Cao Qiupu, Li Hanguang indeed had substance.

Though at the moment, he had not displayed much...

However, the opposing "Twelve Forms of Clear Wind" was equally impressive. Just like the phrase ’as the gentle breeze approaches,’ the Sword Intent rolled out unhurried and leisurely, as if the gentle breeze was coming toward you, yet hard to dodge, pervasive and omnipresent.

Yet Li Hanguang not only dodged but also seized every ’Wind Momentum,’ using his Three-foot Cyan Blade to resolve them one by one.

Zong Yang’s expression did not change, his hands and sword remained steady; regardless of his moves being broken, he showed no discouragement.

He simply kept adjusting the variations within his Sword Momentum, attacking from all angles, attempting to dismantle Li Hanguang’s defenses.

Seeing this, Chu Qing sighed softly.

Zong Yang was not Li Hanguang’s match.

He didn’t know how those previous fifteen wins, fifteen losses, and one draw were achieved.

But from the current situation, the Twelve Forms of Clear Wind had been used repeatedly, yet Li Hanguang’s sword technique remained fundamental moves like block, point, lift, pick, tilt, and stab.

The duel had reached a point where there was little left to say.

At this moment, Zong Yang suddenly leapt up, body mid-air, his long sword held sideways, the Wind Momentum condensed around him.

Whoosh, crash!

The surrounding tiles were dragged by his Sword Momentum, making fragmented sounds, everyone present felt the sharp intent within the wind.

They didn’t know what Sword Qi or Sword Momentum was.

But that didn’t stop them from thinking this move was impressive...

"Zong Yang is about to use his ultimate move!"

"It’s that move ’Clear Wind Flying Snow’!"

The accumulated momentum didn’t last long, as Li Hanguang slightly crouched, drawing back his posture with his long sword.

Suddenly, a sword emerged, light spanning thirty thousand miles!

The fierce Sword Momentum soared out in an instant, while at the same time, ’Clear Wind Flying Snow’ had already fallen.

Only a ’ding’ sound was heard!

The two long swords clashed mid-air, tip against tip!

Crash crash crash!!!

Pressed by the two forces of Sword Qi, a large portion of the tiles on the Guest Reception Tower shattered!

The shop boy’s anxious heart finally sank.

He had been entrusted with an important task by the shopkeeper, being told to either call a stop or invite the two heroes to fight elsewhere to avoid damaging property.

But how could the shop boy dare?

Standing there, wanting to speak but hesitating, for a long time he didn’t dare move.

Pinning hopes on them for not causing damage whilst dueling... Now his heart turned to ash, realizing he couldn’t fulfill the shopkeeper’s entrusted responsibility.

Two arcs erupted from the swords of the two, in a moment of stalemate, Zong Yang could not withstand, and was flung back.

His body fell from the air, a sweep of his long sword sending a storm of Sword Qi flying, chopping a stone pillar on a nearby bridge.

He landed on the rooftop, watching Li Hanguang slowly sheathe his sword.

Zong Yang exhaled softly:

"Still can’t break through your move."

The Sword Momentum of this move was grand; if not for confronting it with Clear Wind Flying Snow, the Sword Qi seemed poised to pierce the heavens.

Li Hanguang took a swig from his gourd of wine:

"The sixteenth win is mine. Next time you want to fight, remember to bring good wine."

"...I suspect you simply want to trick me into giving you wine."

"The willing become the bait."

Li Hanguang laughed:

"Well, today’s business is done, I’m off to find a place to sleep."

With these words, he leapt away, disappearing after a few jumps.

Zong Yang looked at his long sword, pondered for a moment, then leapt to the ground, taking out a money pouch from his waist, handing silver to the shop boy:

"Compensate for the damages at market value. By the way, does your shop have any good wine?

"Preferably ten years old or older..."

Seeing this, Chu Qing felt amused. Clearly, this battle was not their last.

Li Hanguang’s martial arts surpassed Zong Yang’s. In actuality, Zong Yang should be consistently losing, now his record of sixteen losses, fifteen wins, and one draw was clearly inflated.

Yet, obviously, Li Hanguang was an excellent grindstone.

Zong Yang had no intention of giving up just yet.

"Quite interesting."

Leaving these four words, Chu Qing led Gentle away, treating it as nothing more than watching a lively scene.

The following day passed peacefully, transitioning to the forty-fourth birthday of the esteemed Hero Shen Juke the next day.

Early in the morning, the Shen Family was bustling.

Visitors came in an endless stream to celebrate.

The entire entrance of the Shen Family was crowded, with the courtyard inside equally packed with people.

Chu Qing didn’t hide his identity, openly arriving with Gentle, Wuchen, and Ye Feifan.

The pretext for Ye Feifan was ’finding someone to bring you into the Shen Family’.

Though slightly confused, Ye Feifan asked no further questions, merely feeling anxious, afraid of being discovered.

Until they reached the Shen Family entrance, Chu Qing announced his identity, causing everyone around to frequently steal glances, with the servant at the door unable to contain his excitement, shouting:

"Mad Saber, the Third Young Master has come to celebrate the birthday!!!"

Only then did Ye Feifan realize that the ’senior’ who brought him into the Shen Family was none other than the renowned rising expert, the first among the young generation in South Ridge — the Third Young Master!

The fame of Chu Qing’s alias had become louder, especially after the Ghost God Gorge battle spread, who didn’t know Blazing Hall had rallied under the Third Young Master’s banner.

Now even the entire Brahma Shock City, strictly speaking, belonged to this Third Young Master!

This status was indeed peerlessly lofty.