Why do I have so many masters?

"Hmm, quite familiar indeed."

Dongfang Ximing's face relaxed.

The old man leisurely added a second sentence.

"Back in the day, I beat them up..."

Dongfang Ximing: "..."

......…

In Xianping County, Liangzhou City is one of the three state cities, surrounded by various counties of different sizes, with small towns and villages extending outward, while Liangzhou City acts as a hub, regulating policies over the vast land.

Correspondingly, major events in Liangzhou City are perceptible to keen observers in surrounding towns. Setting out from Liangzhou City, heading southwest along the official road for over a hundred miles, there lies a county serving as the Guardian City of Liangzhou, with prosperity far beyond ordinary counties.

Although it's not as indulgent as the state and county cities, nothing basic is lacking; there is rich, flavorful cuisine and luxurious dens where one can spend a fortune, depending on how much silver one holds.

Located next to the mountains, the city has only three gates, each connecting to a main street inside, straight and broad, intersecting in the center, the most prosperous area, offering places where one can spend money.

And in the southwestern corner, or the most prominent building in the entire county—seventeen stories tall—a wooden tavern structure, topped with an arched corridor connecting two tall buildings. The corridor features an arched wooden roof, with carved railings every thirteen steps, while the rest is open.

Standing there, the entire city and passing citizens can be viewed below. Just after Mid-Autumn, lotus is carved beneath the flower-decorated railings extending an inch beyond the bridge's surface, wrapped in red silk; as the wind blows, it billows like fierce flames, capturing some of Fufeng's scenery.

A table placed above it features a young man squinting, seemingly lost in thought, looking up at the vast distant sky. He raises his hand to drink a cup of wine and laughs:

"A fine clear sky."

"I should drink a grand toast."

Opposite him sat a man whose age was indiscernible, his expression stern and features strong, seemingly often meeting tough problems, with deep furrows on his brow. His hands rested flat on his knees, back held straight, and a deep voice rumbled from his throat:

"Almost impossible to stop."

For some reason, although speaking not quietly, aside from the young man across, no one else heard him, whether they were a ranger mounting swords and knives in high spirits or a gentleman with his beauty in arms, neither noticed these two conspicuous men.

As if these two did not exist.

The young man was unaffected, pouring a cup, sipping coldly: "I know, Jiu Zizai has learned extensively, mastering countless martial arts, ranking as the most formidable among Jianghu hermits. Thirteen famous swordsmen forming a formation can delay his journey for three days, quite a rare feat indeed."

"Especially with not many dead."

"Unknown whether it's due to kind thoughts holding him back, or intending to uncover more."

The handsome man opposite replied low: "Fourth Rank Martial Artist, even if forcefully promoted, isn't someone you can squander away."

The young man squinted slightly.

"I know."

The valiant man's gaze seemed to miss the young man's displeasure, uttering:

"Previously surrounding your target, you lost far too many famous swords. Not only sword servants perished, but even the swords were unrecovered, especially the Jue Que Sword, remarkably significant, higher-ups are displeased; act with caution."

The young man gazed into the distance, contemplating his two failures, his expression grew somber, masking it with drinking. After setting the cup down, his face had calmed, laughing:

"Calling the Sword Master as Sword Servant is quite insolent."

The valiant man spoke indifferently: "Using famous sword's Qi mechanism and spirit to forcibly boost martial cultivation; so-called Sword Master is just a vessel for the sword's Qi mechanism. Without the sword, cultivation diminishes gradually. What else could such a person be if not a Sword Servant?"

The voice paused, somehow recalling another matter, his expression eased slightly, remarking: "However, not all cases are equal. Even a Sword Servant might one day rise as master. Collecting swords from three thousand years across realms, only three show signs of surpassing their swords."

"Among them, that resurrected Fish Intestine Sword Master is the most notable."

"Shi Huadie."

The young man spoke, squinting, and at mentioning the name, could not help recalling the kind-faced youth, the brutal defeat, the well-trained Iron Buddha's death, the Fish Intestine Sword's break, and Jue Que Sword's loss.

Since that day, fortune has seemed against him.

The valiant man praised: "Her progress was swift, matching the sect's elite, decisive in action. It seems dying once transformed her utterly; great fear of life and death indeed."

"Before coming here, five tenths of the Fish Intestine Sword's spirit is under her control. Upon mastery, this sword's power won't be far inferior to those shattered divine weapons."

"Then, as Sword Master, she might, with full Qi, use forced ascension, achieving a weak grandmaster tier, commendable indeed."

The young man's mood improved, although losing Iron Buddha and the Jue Que Sword pained him; if trading two or three not-quite-Fourth Rank martial artists for a genuine Pillar of the State from Great Qin, or a true grandmaster, it's worthwhile.