In the Xingyun Courtyard, there was a sharp clanging sound. It was the sound of metal clashing.
Sword Light flickered and sword shadows flashed. Two figures flew up and down, left and right, each with their own unique characteristics.
One was straightforward and upright, with the valiant and domineering demeanor of a general. The other was elegant and leisurely strolling in the courtyard, with the pleasant feeling of a tourist amidst the wind.
Chu Yunxing and Li Yunlan cheered.
Suddenly, after a sharp clanging sound, the two figures flew back.
"I'm not fighting anymore." Chu Tian gasped slightly and said. Chu Mu had a smile on his face. He was calm and composed. His breathing was steady, and his expression didn't change.
"Tian 'er, how is it? How's Mu' er's swordsmanship?" Chu Xingyun said with a smile. Although he was watching from the side, and his eyesight was better than others, and thought that Chu Tian and Chu Mu's swordsmanship were very good, it wasn't as real as fighting in person.
"Very good. Although it's completely different from my style, it's catching up to me. Even if it's in the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, it can be ranked among the many disciples." Chu Tian gave a rather high affirmation.
However, he didn't know that Chu Mu didn't use his real strength when fighting with him. It was just a kind of gesture. If he knew that once Chu Mu got serious, he could defeat him in three moves, who knows how shocked he would be.
Chu Xingyun didn't see the specifics. He only felt that Chu Mu's swordsmanship was indeed very good. It wasn't inferior to Chu Tian's. Moreover, his meridians were long. That was all.
After that, Chu Mu stayed in the Xingyun Courtyard. He chatted with his parents, practiced his swordsmanship, and so on. Occasionally, he would exchange a few moves with Chu Tian. Two days passed in a flash, and the birthday arrived.
…
The Chu Clan Residence was decorated with lanterns and colored banners. Red lanterns hung high up in the sky. The servants and maids were all very busy. Inside and outside, they were like ants.
The gates of the mansion were wide open, and the guards were wearing red ribbons, looking very festive.
A housekeeper of the Chu Clan stood at the entrance with a few attendants. They welcomed the guests and announced their arrival loudly to let the people inside know.
As one of the three great clans of Kaiyang City, there were many people who came to congratulate Chu Dangxiong on his seventieth birthday. There were many small clans, gangs, casinos, restaurants, and even merchants.
"The head of the Lin Clan has brought the third young master of the Lin Clan here to celebrate the birthday. Their gifts are ten Hundred Tempered Swords and ten Qi-gathering Pills …"
The head of the Lin family, Lin Feihu, was a middle-aged man with a square face, a wide nose, and a square mouth. He had a dignified aura, and he walked with a majestic gait. Beside him was a young man in his teens. He also had a square face and vaguely resembled Lin Feihu's features. However, he looked a little younger now.
Like the Chu Clan, the Lin Clan was one of the three great clans of Kaiyang City. Therefore, Lin Feihu's arrival immediately attracted the attention of many people. Everyone smiled and greeted Lin Feihu wholeheartedly.
"Hello, Head of the Lin Clan. We haven't seen each other for a few days, and you look even more dignified."
"Head of the Lin Clan, the third young master is becoming more and more like you."
All sorts of compliments to the head of the Lin Clan or the third young master of the Lin Clan came from the mouths of the people in charge of the small clans, gangs, and merchants. They were all at ease.
Lin Feihu's solemn face also squeezed out a smile. He cupped his fists and casually replied with a few words.
"Brother Lin's arrival brings light to my humble abode." The head of the Chu Clan, Chu Hangkong, strode over. When he saw Lin Feihu, he hurriedly greeted him with a sword salute. He gave off a forthright feeling.
"Today is the old master's seventieth birthday. As a junior, I have to come and congratulate him no matter what." Lin Feihu also laughed and greeted him with the same sword salute.
Those people from before were not as powerful as him. Naturally, Lin Feihu would just greet them and not be too courteous. However, Chu Hangkong was different. He was the head of the Chu Clan. His status was not lower than Lin Feihu's, not to mention his strength.
"I haven't seen you for a while. Tian Ling's cultivation has improved a lot." Chu Hangkong looked at the third young master of the Lin Clan and smiled.
"Tian Ling greets Uncle Hangkong." Lin Tian Ling immediately greeted him with a ninety degree bow. This was the etiquette of a junior to an elder.
"Haha, you're welcome." Chu Hangkong smiled and gestured with his hand. "Brother Lin, please come in. My father will be very happy to see you here to congratulate him."
"Please." Lin Feihu also smiled and gestured with his hand. The two of them walked side by side into the hall. Lin Tian Ling followed Lin Feihu and listened to the conversation between Lin Feihu and Chu Hangkong.
In the Chu Clan, other than the servants and guards who were busy, the direct descendants and collateral descendants of the Chu Clan would help if they could. However, there were not many things that they needed to do.
Chu Mu and Chu Tian were together in a corner of the hall. Other than the two of them, there were many other young descendants of the Chu Clan. They were all around sixteen or seventeen years old. They were in groups of three to five and were discussing something in a low voice. They would glance at Chu Mu from time to time.
Vaguely, Chu Mu could hear them mentioning his name. It seemed that they were discussing him.
Thinking about it, he knew that the content of their discussion was most likely not praising him. If it wasn't for his big brother, Chu Tian, by his side, these fellows would have surrounded him to ridicule him and despise him.
However, Chu Mu felt that they were lucky.
If Chu Tian was not beside him, they would have surrounded him and mocked him. If they provoked Chu Mu, they would most likely be taught a lesson by Chu Mu. At that time, they would know how stupid they were.
On the other side, there was a valiant woman. She seemed to be one or two years older than Chu Mu. She carried a sword on her back and glanced at Chu Tian coldly. There was a trace of battle intent in her eyes. When she glanced at Chu Mu, a trace of disdain flashed in her eyes. Chu Mu recognized her. She was the daughter of his second uncle, Chu Mu's cousin in name.
"The Wang Clan's patriarch and the Wang Clan's second young master have arrived …"
Suddenly, a loud announcement came from outside the hall.
"The congratulatory gift is a broken Hundred Refinement Sword …"
The announcement stopped abruptly, but everyone heard it.
For a moment, everyone stopped talking and looked at the Chu Clan's gate with a strange expression. The atmosphere became very strange.
"They actually gave a broken sword …" In the hall, the faces of many Chu Clan members sank. They were vaguely angry.
Giving a broken sword at a birthday was an inauspicious symbol in the Ancient Sword Continent. It was as if it would shorten one's lifespan. It had the meaning of a curse. In short, the arrival of the Wang Clan and the broken sword as a congratulatory gift made many people smell a hint of a storm coming.
Everyone knew that the Wang Clan did not come with good intentions this time!
Chu Xingkong, who was accompanying Lin Feihu, had a trace of gloominess in his eyes. A trace of anger appeared on his face.
"Brother Lin, please help yourself. I'll go out and take a look," Chu Xingkong said in a deep voice.
"I'll go with Brother Chu," Lin Feihu said. He was secretly puzzled. What the hell was Wang Rikun doing? Giving a broken sword at the 70th birthday of the Chu Clan's old master, wasn't he planning to fall out with the Chu Clan?