An awkward atmosphere permeated the main hall.
"Ahem, ahem," Master Wu coughed to clear the air. "It's natural for martial artists to protect their personal weapons. Everyone sit, don't let such small matters ruin our harmony."
Everyone promptly sat back down as instructed, clearly demonstrating the unquestionable authority Master Wu held. Although they still gazed unkindly at Ye Beizhi, they chose to keep their mouths shut.
Turning to Ye Beizhi, Master Wu said, "Young Hero Ye, my people here are crude and straightforward in nature. Please don't take offense."
Ye Beizhi nodded to indicate that no offense had been taken.
Seeing the situation had settled down, Master Wu continued. "This blade is obviously no ordinary weapon. You must cherish it dearly to wear it all the time. Does it have a name? I have some knowledge from my younger days; I might have heard of it."
Hearing this, Ye Beizhi, shifted his gaze toward Master Wu. "The blade's name is... Stormqueller."
"Stormqueller? Never heard of it."
"What kind of lousy name is that?"
"How can a weapon for killing have such an elegant and cultured name? That’s ridiculous!"
The people at the table who held some animosity toward Ye Beizhi all laughed and ridiculed him when they heard the name. Only Master Wu stroked his beard in contemplation.
"Stormqueller? Grandpa Wu, I think that's the name of a famous poem, right?" the girl in the bright yellow dress blinked her eyes as she spoke. She had been too scared by the earlier confrontation to speak but now found the chance to contribute a little.
"Yes... it's the name of a famous poem." Master Wu acknowledged.
"A famous poem? Are you a wannabe poet or something?"
"Using a famous poem title as a name? You are far too naive. Are you trying to imitate someone from the Ghostbane Association? How many experts from the Ghostbane Association have you heard of?"
"A few." Ye Beizhi said lightly.
"Quit your boasting! There are countless masters in the Ghostbane Association wielding countless weapons. You look just like a novice of the jianghu. How long could you have been roaming the jianghu? Do you know Formation Breaker Qiu Shuihan? It's rumored that he was already an Earth-ranker in the Ghostbane Association many years ago and may have even risen to become a Heaven-ranker now."
Ye Beizhi looked at the speaker and calmly shook his head. "I don't."
The speaker gave a smug look and continued. "Ha, let me name another. Do you know Sky Partridge Luo Shuangyan? His lightness arts are unmatched. Even though he's a man, he's a true master of the Emei Thorn." [1]
Ye Beizhi simply shook his head and said, "I don't."
"Then do you know Careless Whisper Shen Man?"
Ye Beizhi shook his head.
"Distant Sky Xue Guangmu?"
Ye Beizhi shook his head.
"Mulberry Leaf Liu Lei?"
Ye Beizhi shook his head.
While grilling Ye Beizhi, the speaker was also trying to show off his own knowledge, but he quickly felt like he was punching cotton. After all that effort, Ye Beizhi still didn't know anyone the incredulous speaker had mentioned.
"Drunken Flower Yin Liaoxing? Sandy Creek Wang Yunyin? Riverside Lei Jun? Plum Blossom Xiong Huaifang ..."
"Uh... I've heard of one of those," Ye Beizhi suddenly interrupted.
"Heard of? Which one? Wang Yunyin?"
"Riverside Lei... Jun? I think that was his name?" Ye Beizhi vaguely recalled a tall figure with a crescent blade from a month ago and his unfinished last words. As he fell, he looked at Ye Beizhi in disbelief, and stiffly muttered, "I am Riverside... Lei... Jun..."
Yes, that’s probably the one they’re talking about, Ye Beizhi thought.
"What do you mean 'I think'? That's his name! Would I get it wrong? But it's said that RiversideLei Jun died last month at the Ghostbane Association's branch massacre in Yingtian Prefecture..." the speaker pondered, stroking his chin.
"Yes, he's dead. I killed him," answered Ye Beizhi helpfully.
The hall briefly fell into an uneasy silence.
"Hahaha!!! Did you come here to make us laugh today?" The people at the table burst out laughing and began ridiculing Ye Beizhi again.
"Do you also want to claim that last month's massacre in Yingtian prefecture was your doing?! Huh!?"
Ye Beizhi wanted to answer yes, but seeing their attitude and reactions to his previous replies, he decided there was no need, so he stayed silent.
"Alright, alright, enough, let's eat first," Master Wu interceded. "Anything you want to ask, do it later. This banquet is mainly to celebrate Dingwu’s return. If you have any questions, meet up with Young Hero Ye afterward. Don't let trivial matters ruin the mood."
Hearing their leader's words, everyone calmed down. The atmosphere of the welcome-back banquet was no longer so tense.
Master Wu took a weighty look at Ye Beizhi, who was sitting and staring at the feast set upon the table. Then he picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a piece of cucumber, and announced, "Let's eat!"
1. Traditional Wushu weapons said to have originated on Mount Emei. Their historicity is disputed; they were actually made famous by a number of wuxia novels by Jin Yong where the fictional Emei Sect (a Buddhist nun monastery) appears. They are basically metal spikes sharpened at both ends, with a finger ring in the middle. They look : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emeici ☜