Peace Order
Chapter 246 - 118: Phoenixes Meet for the First Time, Heroes Young and Old! _3

Chapter 246: Chapter 118: Phoenixes Meet for the First Time, Heroes Young and Old! _3

"One day, we shall meet again."

Li Guanyi said carefreely, "Then, you must tell me your true origins."

Li Guanyi continued, "A child from Chen Country of Jiangnan could not possibly be unaware of how to eat lotus seeds."

"Very well!"

Li Zhaowen’s lips curved slightly upward, fanning open his folding fan to cover the smile on his lips, revealing only his spirited eyes. Then, turning around, he carried the folding fan on his back and left with an airy and composed demeanor.

It was a momentary excitement that came and went, carrying its own dignity.

He then turned down a small alley.

Li Zhaowen turned back to see if there was a pursuit, and then, holding his stomach, he laughed silently.

Then, holding the folding fan, he walked on with his hands clasped behind his back.

With light steps, alone, he gently hopped forward.

Such an impromptu venture by Li Guanyi had also dissipated his slight intoxication. He found his direction and headed towards the Xue Family. Just as he was preparing to cross the bridge, brightly lit on both sides, he encountered an elderly rich merchant who called out to him.

This rich merchant was the first to acclaim when Li Guanyi had recited the poem earlier.

Sitting in a fairly large boat and smiling, he said, "Young brother, if you wish to cross the river, why not come aboard?"

Li Guanyi thought about it, realizing that crossing the bridge would take a long detour, and so he nodded.

"I apologize for the inconvenience, sir."

With one hand on the stone railing, he then flipped over, soaring down to land on the boat. It was already near summer, the lotus seeds matured, yet the old rich merchant was wrapped in a Mo Chang, obviously ailing. He motioned to steer the boat and invited Li Guanyi to sit down, then offered him a soup to sober up.

Li Guanyi expressed his thanks, and the old man smiled, saying, "I too am from Jiangnan, but I have been abroad on business. Hearing that my brother had some trouble managing our business, I had to come back."

"Hearing your poetry, it reminded me of my own youthful days."

"Back then, I was as spirited as you are now. Yet I recall that [The sea was not swallowed with one gulp, Sword Qi already spanned autumn], the poetic meaning seems not yet concluded. Today as I escort you across, could you tell me the rest of the verses?"

Li Guanyi responded, "This was recited to me by a vigorous elder during my travels. Sir, there’s certainly no problem in hearing the latter half."

He picked up the pen and wrote down the last few lines for the old man.

The rich merchant was actually not so old; his eyebrows were resolute, but his hair was completely white, and his shoulders broad. Sitting there, he was like a mountain. He read the text aloud, "Who considers that heroes age? Who says achievements are trivial? Decisions are still ponderous. This story is hard to explain; tomorrow may support my resolve."

Li Guanyi also wrote down the other half of that youthful heroic verse.

He said, "This was spoken by another elder."

Upon seeing these latter verses, the old rich merchant gazed down contemplatively for a long time, softly reading aloud the final lines:

"Without begging for lengthy strands, tethering the dynasty’s finest breed, the sword roars westward wind."

"Regret reaching summits, beholding waters, my hands deliver the strings of Qin, my eyes follow the returning geese..."

As he recited these lines, perhaps remembering someone or perhaps himself, his eyes slightly reddened, his voice slightly choked. At such an age, yet displaying such emotions in front of a young man like Li Guanyi, he was truly a person of genuine sentiment. The old man sighed,

"I’ve made you laugh; I was just reminded of experiences with friends in my youth."

"In our youth, we were just like you, but eventually... life becomes arduous, and even friends can become estranged. At an age like mine, many acquaintances have also faded away, leaving me behind."

The old man did not continue on these matters; instead, he spoke of how Jiangnan used to be.

He also fought alongside friends—your young people are not fierce enough when you fight.

Wooden chairs won’t do; it needs those solid red bricks tempered in fierce fire to truly count.

He commanded the boat to set off, delivering Li Guanyi back. The boat reached the shore, and under the light, wrapped in a Mo Chang, the old man watched the youths departing. He looked at the verses and softly said, "These are fine lines indeed; the former half is like them, like us."

"The latter part, truly belongs to us."

He was silent for a moment before saying, "Ah... not exactly, you won’t grow old, forever to remain in the first part, youthful and spirited."

"Only I am old."

"Yes, we were once young, once frivolous, yes..."

"But who says, when heroes grow old, they can’t re-tether the finest breed?"

The old man stood silently there, with the bright lights behind him, draped in a Mo Chang.

He turned and walked away, but with an uneven gait.

He was,

An old cripple returning to Jiangnan.