Peace Order
Chapter 245 - 118: The Phoenix Meets the Dragon, Heroes Young and Old!_2

Chapter 245: Chapter 118: The Phoenix Meets the Dragon, Heroes Young and Old!_2

Li Guan Yi pondered and decided to eat the lotus pod, finding the young man before him speaking in a leisurely manner about heavenly names, astrology, and the courts of various nations. Compared to him, Li Guan Yi felt he truly was a mere martial artist.

Li Zhao Wen habitually asked, "Brother, what do you think?"

Li Guan Yi grinned. He really wanted to say that they should head back to the bridge and pick some more lotus pods, but after a moment’s thought, he replied, "It’s merely a sign of Heavenly Mandate, a fortune that all nations want to crown upon their own heads to seize the great cause and bolster the spirits of their people."

"The supreme strategy of military lies in outmaneuvering the enemy."

"With high morale and great spirit, it’s more precious than tens of thousands of gold."

Li Zhao Wen was surprised and delighted, exclaiming,

"The ones who gave me life are my parents, but the one who understands my heart is you alone!"

The bright moon hung in the sky, its reflection dancing upon the water.

On the black-canopied boat, the young man picked lotus pods while Li Guan Yi inquired about the taste.

Li Zhao Wen praised, "Tasty, but what a pity."

"If only I could come here every summer to eat freshly picked lotus pods, how wonderful that would be."

If only I could freely come to this place, how nice.

Her eyes looked toward the Milky Way, leading her to imagine what it would be like to ride the fierce horses of Longxi on the bluestone slabs of Jiangnan, and seeing the young man leaning against the boat’s bow, casually eating lotus seeds and drinking wine, she couldn’t help but smile at the thought of the youth who had just rushed out. His martial arts were not bad.

With a slight smile, she said, "Brother, give me a sip of wine too."

Li Zhao Wen had already stepped forward, one hand lightly brushing the major acupoint on Li Guan Yi’s waist while the other hand held a folding fan, using it like a short weapon to go for Li Guan Yi’s wrist. The black-canopied boat dipped and stirred ripples when Li Guan Yi turned over to dodge. He had been beaten too many times by General Xue and was battle-hardened.

He didn’t care about the acupoints on his waist.

He simply shook the wine jar to push Li Zhao Wen’s palm and folding fan away.

The young woman’s fingertip swept across Li Guan Yi’s waist with a Martial World point technique but felt as if it had brushed against steel. The Jin Qi didn’t break through his physique, let alone sever the Qi Mechanism in his meridians, prompting her surprise. But in the next instant, she fanned open her folding fan for a sweep.

Relying on her realm that was higher than Li Guan Yi’s and a mysterious mastery of short-weapon skills, Li Guan Yi tilted his head back to avoid such a move. The folding fan grazed his neck, and then Li Zhao Wen had already grabbed the wine jar, changed her stance lightly, and increased the distance between them.

Li Guan Yi stabilized his movement technique and, looking at the noble young master in the brocade robe smiling back at him, said,

"Brother, isn’t it a pity to drink alone?"

"Why not drink together."

She loosened her grip on the wine jar, tossing it up in the air, and unlike Yue Qianfeng who would drink heartily, she raised one eyebrow, lifted Li Guan Yi’s wine jar, and poured it down her throat. The wine traced an arc through the air, landing in her mouth, her expression proud and buoyant.

Li Zhao Wen’s face was white as jade, and her Pair of Phoenix Eyes sparkled with spirit.

Li Guan Yi laughed heartily, eager to snatch the wine.

Li Zhao Wen raised her hand to parry and glided away with an ethereal movement technique, widening the distance.

The full moon reflected on the river, where the floral boats and painted barges were densely packed. The people on the boats laughed as they watched the two young men’s playful fight for wine from their vantage point by the railings.

Both young men possessed sturdy cultivation—one with Golden Muscle and Jade Bone, the other with Innate Dharma Form, and neither resorted to killing methods like Jin Qi emanation; it was simply pure exchange of moves.

After fighting over the good wine, Li Zhao Wen finished the last of it with a hint of tipsiness on her face.

This wine was truly exquisite!

Wuchou indeed had good taste—far better than the reserves in Duke Mansion. Li Zhao Wen looked around and smiled, "Brother, we should go. If we continue like this, we might be too ostentatious."

Suddenly, she stood up, her footsteps light, and gently touched the water surface, causing ripples to spread.

She rose as if riding the wind, carefree and unrestrained.

Li Guan Yi then leaped up, with a light kick to the black-canopied boat, pushing it back to its original spot. Then he landed on a nearby pile, tying the boat securely to prevent it from drifting away.

Afterwards, he vaulted into the air. His movement technique was the Military School’s style, lacking the ability to tread water, so he landed on the flower boat, swiftly apologising out loud while hastening his escape. One traversed the green waves with water-stepping, the other charged like a warhorse across the linked boats.

Li Zhao Wen’s manner was suave and elegant but slower in speed.

Li Guan Yi, however, rushed forward with an ordinary appearance but remarkable swiftness.

Li Zhao Wen slowed down further, and both reached the opposite shore simultaneously. A river flowed through Jiangzhou City, dividing the bustling and calm worlds of the capital. On the other side of the river, lights shone brightly, while this side remained tranquil and silent.

Li Zhao Wen steadied herself, but with a gust of wind, the young man in the crimson robe had already arrived.

Li Zhao Wen turned and swept her folding fan, but the young man counter-struck, capturing her wrist.

The two stood off, exerting force, then burst into laughter together.

Li Zhao Wen stepped back two paces, fan at her back, her expression brimming with joy as she exclaimed, "Such a pleasant meeting tonight, so invigorating. It’s been a long while since I’ve felt such exhilaration at my age."

Li Guan Yi also said, "You’re not too bad yourself."

Li Zhao Wen couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

No one in Ying Country had ever dared to speak to her like this before.

Her spirits were high, thoroughly enjoying the discussion, but there were matters to attend to at Changfeng Building, so she had to leave with slight regret. Although it was her first time casting aside the identity of Duke Mansion’s Mr. Yuwen and being so carefree, she did so with ease.

Extending her hand to grasp Li Guan Yi’s arm, she said,

"Tonight’s encounter has been most delightful. It’s only a pity that night has fallen, and we might be late, but no matter."