For a traveler, a weapon is as indispensable as breath itself. The roads are fraught with peril, and carrying a weapon against unforeseen dangers has become common practice in this age. More than half of all travelers carry a blade, making it the most common making it the most common weapon of the time. Yet while many carry a blade, becoming a renowned blade-wielder is no easy feat.

  Countless young men depart their homes with a single blade, aiming to one day build a reputation upon its edge. But how many can truly turn such aspirations into reality?

  "The Reckless Blade" Li Sibei is one such youth. He rose from obscurity, building a name for himself with nothing but the steel in his hand, until he became the most outstanding young blade-wielder of his generation—famed for his alarming skill, his reckless audacity, and his shameless pursuit of women.

  Li Sibei possesses a towering, muscular physique, features that few women could ignore, and a wild, barbaric air. Such was the man known as the Reckless Blade. Ever since he slaughtered the Red Beard Bandits and severed the head of the Red Beard Demon to claim the official bounty, the fame of this young blade-wielder has soared, becoming the talk of Wei City.

  His romantic scandals did as much to fuel his fame as his blade ever did. His promise to Liu Bai, the renowned beauty of the Heaven Lantern Tower—that he would whisk her away to a distant land—proved to be nothing more than pillow talk meant to sweeten a single night. By morning, he remembered none of it. In Wei City, many beauties had fallen into the hands of this Reckless Blade; countless men loathed him, yet none dared challenge him.

  On a winding highway cutting through vast fields as far as the eye could see, steep dark-brown earthen walls gradually rose into view. At one corner of the fortress stood a massive catapult, silent yet imposing. The sight alone proved why Wei City was famed as the great stronghold along the Dragon River.

  In the afternoon, "The Merry Meanderer" Jin Tianwang arrived at Wei City. After paying the entry toll, he headed straight for the market to find lodging. For a destitute man like him, having enough coin to rent even a narrow room in a great city like Wei was a delight in itself. Jin Tianwang visited three or four inns before finally securing a room. Afterward, he set out to wander the city.

  Having not yet eaten lunch, Jin Tianwang chose a roadside stall, sat down, and ordered a bowl of noodle soup. Before long, he looked up to find a large, obese man sitting across the table from him.

  The man was enormous, with a beard that swallowed his round face. His girth was such that he resembled two men stitched together, making his hands, feet, and head appear disproportionately small. Dressed in bright red attire that resembled a bridegroom's outfit, he looked utterly ridiculous. He sat smiling, revealing a half-mouth of teeth, staring intently at Jin Tianwang’s face before speaking.

  "Brother, is this your first time traveling to Wei City?"

  "Many years ago, I passed through once, but I did not have the opportunity to stay overnight," Jin Tianwang replied with a smile.

  "Brother, you have a very strange smile. In the past two or three years, there has been an eccentric who likes to wander about, smiling cheerfully. Could that eccentric be you?"

  Stranger still was the man who called others eccentric. Jin Tianwang continued to smile foolishly before replying, "If that eccentric is surnamed Jin, named Tianwang, then I fear that eccentric is this lowly one himself."

  "Excellent! I have found you. You are indeed the Merry Meanderer, Jin Tianwang. My name is Dong Jianshan, and I wield the Flying Chakram. I wonder if you have heard of this old master?"

  "I am but a wandering drifter, living in forests and mountains. Apologies, but I have never heard your name before. To meet you today... I admire you, I admire you greatly."

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  "How can you admire me? You are famous, a young expert who dared to confront the leader of the martial world. This old master is merely a hero residing in this city; how could I shine as brightly? However, you have acted brazenly, kidnapping people. If you still cherish your life, release the person immediately."

  "Release a person? Release whom? I do not understand Brother Dong’s words."

  "Since you pretend to be foolish, do not blame this old master for striking ruthlessly." As he finished his sentence, he rolled up his sleeve, snatched a bright red chakram from his waist, and with a twist of his wrist, slashed it toward Jin Tianwang’s chest.

  Before the chakram could touch him, Jin Tianwang twisted his shoulder to dodge and lashed out with his leg, the tip of his boot kicking the chair out from under Dong Jianshan.

  Dong Jianshan nearly lost his balance and tumbled from his seat. He scrambled to stand. In that same instant, the surrounding patrons rose in unison, drawing various weapons to glare at Jin Tianwang.

  Jin Tianwang had not expected to make enemies of so many people for reasons unknown. Sweeping his gaze around, he realized he was surrounded. He immediately gathered his internal energy into his left palm, causing the wooden chair before him to lift from the ground. The chair rose to chest height, and with a strike of his right palm, he shattered it into splinters. His hands moved in a strange rhythm, sending the sharp wooden shards flying outward in a wide arc. He then kicked off the ground, flipping once through the air before bringing his foot down onto Dong Jianshan’s right shoulder, slamming the heavy man face-first into the ground in a humiliating display. Using the recoil, he launched himself beyond the encirclement.

  Although he had escaped the circle, the moment his feet touched the ground, Jin Tianwang sprinted forward with great speed, only to find a person waiting for him.

  This person was a gaunt man, his face prematurely aged despite being only twenty-four or twenty-five. He wore luxurious emerald green robes. Jin Tianwang recognized him immediately: "The Young Master of the North," Ke Daoping, one of the most famous youths of the era. Besides his formidable skill, the Ke clan was among the wealthiest families of the Northern Region. The two had met once before, and Jin Tianwang remembered those emerald green robes vividly.

  Jin Tianwang stopped running and slowly walked toward Ke Daoping, offering a greeting, "Brother Ke."

  "Five years ago, we met once at the Virtue Association. That day, you showed bravery in defending righteousness for a friend. I did not think that after several years, you would change to this extent," Ke Daoping spoke with a hard voice.

  Jin Tianwang did not understand Ke Daoping’s words, so he asked, "I do not understand Brother's meaning..." Before he could finish, the sound of breaking air screamed behind him. Looking back, he saw a red shadow—the chakram Dong Jianshan had thrown, even while lying on the ground.

  Ke Daoping immediately flicked his arm upward. A glittering golden beam shot past Jin Tianwang’s shoulder, striking the bright red shadow. The two weapons collided and ricocheted apart. The red shadow was Dong Jianshan’s chakram, while the golden beam Ke Daoping had thrown was a solid gold ingot. He then shouted, "I, Ke Daoping, will converse with Brother Jin for a moment. The rest of you, do not interfere yet."

  Jin Tianwang, however, had no intention of chatting. If he delayed, he would surely be surrounded again. "I must depart immediately. Let us talk next time," he said, and charged straight toward Ke Daoping.

  Ke Daoping did not expect Jin Tianwang to break through in his direction. He sighed slightly before throwing gold ingots from both hands. The golden beams shot out—one in front, one behind.

  Jin Tianwang saw the two beams approaching and knew well that with Ke Daoping’s skill, there must be hidden variations. The first golden beam suddenly spun, shifting from a straight shot into a spiraling arc that widened its attack radius. Meanwhile, the second beam surged faster and faster, overtaking the first in the blink of an eye. Jin Tianwang knew that if he avoided the second beam, he would expose himself to the spiraling first. And even if he escaped both, Ke Daoping would surely send more.

  Jin Tianwang suddenly devised a bizarre counter. He removed his cloak and spread it wide, enveloping both golden beams. The heavy gold tore straight through the fabric—but Jin Tianwang had already vanished. While Ke Daoping waited for the falling cloak to clear his sight, Jin Tianwang used that fleeting instant of obstruction to escape. No matter how wealthy Ke Daoping was, even he could not squander solid gold without end.

  Ke Daoping scanned the area again and found Jin Tianwang already several zhang away. Despite himself, he admired the man’s lightness skill. Suddenly, Jin Tianwang circled back. Ke Daoping could hardly believe his eyes. His body reacted instinctively, preparing to throw another weapon, but abruptly, his limbs went weak. His balance failed, and he collapsed. Just in time, Jin Tianwang’s arms scooped him up, preventing him from crashing to the hard ground. Looking around, he saw the crowd crumpling to the ground one after another in the same bizarre fashion.