Chapter 40 Screw it all...

Evening was falling, and night was descending.

The Sword Pavilion was brightly lit.

With a flash of blue light, a cyan steel sword thrust forward abruptly, aiming for the middle-aged swordsman's right shoulder. Without waiting for the sword move to spend its force, Pei Min flicked his wrist and angled his blade, the edge already slashing toward the man's thigh. The speed of the stance transition was completed in a mere fraction of a second.

The middle-aged swordsman reacted with equal swiftness, drawing his sword to parry and turning his wrist to counterattack. The two swords gleamed brightly as they exchanged five moves in rapid succession.

With a soft cry, the middle-aged swordsman half-crouched, the azure blade in his hand transforming into a blur of auspicious light as it went straight for Pei Min's waist and ribs.

Seizing the exact moment, Pei Min stomped his right foot firmly onto the ground. Leveraging the force of that thrust, he concentrated his entire body's strength into the sword and swept it diagonally across in a fierce arc—precisely executing the "Lift Hand, Swing Sword, Slay Tiger's Shoulder" technique from the Tiger-Slaying Swordplay. The middle-aged man's expression changed drastically; attempting to withdraw his stance and evade was already too late, leaving him no choice but to brace himself and take the blow head-on.

With a crisp clang, the swords collided, the ringing impact lingering in the air.

The middle-aged swordsman wore a bitter expression as he retreated two steps and said, "Censor Pei's swordsmanship is rigid yet flexible, swift and fierce, with infinite variations. Fang Yu admits defeat!"

Pei Min smiled and said, "Brother Fang flatters me. Your Flowing Water Sword style is continuous and unending, perfectly paced between fast and slow, transitioning without a single break. It has given me much food for thought."

Following half a month of accepting challenges, Pei Min's strength had won the recognition of the Chang'an martial arts community. There was no longer any doubt regarding his succession to Luo Lie's title as the First Sword of Guanzhong, and very few challengers remained in the city who refused to acknowledge his skill. Fang Yu was a native of Longyou who, five years ago by a stroke of good fortune, had mastered the Flowing Water Sword and made quite a name for himself. He had originally come through the pass to challenge Luo Lie, but upon learning that Luo Lie had already wandered far away into the rivers and lakes, he decided to challenge the even stronger Pei Min. Although Pei Min was not a martial artist of the pugilistic world, the rumor that he never turned down challenges from the pugilistic world had long since spread far and wide.

Yet Fang Yu had not anticipated that Pei Min would be far more formidable than the rumors suggested. His own swordsmanship, which modeled the flow of water with rapid rushes and shifting currents, seemed completely insignificant and utterly incomparable when placed alongside the unfathomable and bizarre unpredictability of Pei Min's swordsmanship.

Having seen Fang Yu off, Pei Min returned to the Sword Pavilion with a sense of satisfaction. Ten days earlier, the courtyard that he had commissioned his steward, Ning Ze, to renovate had already been completed. To celebrate the finishing of his training hall, Pei Min had specially given it a catchy name—the Sword Pavilion—to elevate its prestige. To that end, he had even sought out Zhang Xu to write the characters for "Sword Pavilion" and had Zheng Yongtai's son carve them onto a plaque, which he intended to hang above the entrance. With the Sage of Cursive Script Zhang Xu's "Sword Pavilion" at the front, Emperor Li Longji's "Matchless Under Heaven" at the back, coupled with his own growing renown, the style and aura were bound to be through the roof.

Pei Min's days had been exceptionally fulfilling; his mornings were occupied with matters of the Imperial Censorate, while his evenings brought intermittent challengers.

In just over half a month, Pei Min's swordsmanship had advanced by leaps and bounds, rendering his current strength virtually incomparable to the day he fought Luo Lie.

As he pondered whether Fang Yu's previous few moves held any merit that could be integrated into his own swordsmanship, Ning Ze brought word that Pei Guangting was requesting an audience.

Pei Min paused for a moment and said, "Show him into the guest room, and tell him I am bathing. Ask him to wait a moment."

Summer had quietly arrived. Though his bout with Fang Yu had not lasted long, in this season even a slight movement brought out sweat, let alone engaged in combat. Greeting guests while covered in sweat was impolite, and Pei Min, holding official posts in both civil and military realms, still attached great importance to Confucian etiquette.

After taking a bath, Pei Min finally made his way to the reception hall.

Pei Guangting had undoubtedly come to express his gratitude. Pei Min's cautious handling of the matter had done Pei Guangting a massive favor. As the Minister of the Court of Gates, Pei Guangting was responsible for investigating household registrations regarding entry and exit through the gates of Chang'an and confiscating contraband or ownerless property. The Chinese propensity for saving face had existed since ancient times, and Emperor Li Longji attached extraordinary importance to the Tibetan envoys. If the Imperial Censorate had impeached Pei Guangting without distinguishing right from wrong, Pei Guangting certainly would not have been able to retain his post as Minister of the Court of Gates.

Precisely because of the careful handling, the Imperial Censorate discovered that someone had maliciously framed him. Because Pei Guangting conducted his duties with earnestness and rigor, cutting off the profit margins of smugglers, he had been deliberately slandered. Consequently, the Imperial Censorate had revoked the charges and investigation against him.

"I should have come to thank you much earlier, but with the arrival of the Tibetan envoys, His Majesty specifically instructed us not to disgrace the dignity of the Great Tang and arranged numerous affairs. I truly could not get away, and only today managed to carve out some time from my busy schedule to pay a special visit of thanks." Pei Guangting had delicate eyebrows and fine eyes, possessing a very scholarly appearance. Unaccustomed to fluent flattery, his compliments sounded somewhat stiff, but his genuine sense of gratitude was clearly conveyed.

Pei Min smiled and said, "According to seniority, you are my elder, and I should address you as Uncle. Uncle Ting... being overly courteous is something your junior cannot bear."

Looking at Pei Min, Pei Guangting could not help but shake his head and say, "The main clan has indeed lost the hearts of the people in recent years. Their actions regarding your affair went much too far..." He shared the same ancestors as Pei Min though not the same lineage, and regarding many matters, it was not his place to speak too much. Yet seeing such an outstanding clansman forced to break away from the main clan was truly a pity. Remembering the rumors from years back, he could not help but mutter inwardly: "There is no smoke without fire."

Pei Min shook his head and said, "Many things are beyond human control. To me, they are elders, and I can choose not to hold grudges for everything they did to me. But my mother gave birth to me and raised me, and her grace is greater than the heavens. I cannot stand idly by and watch my mother suffer humiliation. This is my bottom line; Uncle Ting need not worry on my account. Am I not living very well right now? His Majesty holds me in high regard. Once I accomplish a few more merits, I will petition His Majesty to confer upon my mother the title of a Lady of State. Let us see who dares to look down on her then. My only profound regret is that every Qingming Festival, I cannot pay my respects at the tombs of my grandfather and father."

Pei Guangting was a man of utmost filial piety. Seeing Pei Min look somewhat dejected, and thinking of the favor Pei Min had done him, he resolved to find time upon returning home to speak with the head steward and see if he could do something to help.

Gazing at Pei Guangting, Pei Min suddenly thought of his father, Pei Xingjian, and asked, "Uncle Ting, I wonder if your residence holds any personal journals or notes left behind by Duke Wenxi when he was in the Western Regions." Pei Xingjian was widely recognized as a scholarly general of the Great Tang, well-versed in astronomy, the calendar, poetry, and prose. Literati of his caliber routinely kept journals and diaries during their leisure time.

Without a second thought, Pei Guangting replied, "There are many. Some record human geography and local customs, while others contain insights into military strategy and marching. They are all kept at my residence, Pei—" He suddenly found himself at a loss for how to address Pei Min.

Sensing his awkwardness, Pei Min said, "Just call me Jingyuan!"

"Does Jingyuan have an interest in these?"

Pei Min's eyes lit up as he replied, "A great interest. To be entirely honest with Uncle Ting, your junior senses that the Tibetans' arrival in our Great Tang is not well-intentioned; they harbor no thoughts of friendly bilateral exchanges. Their ambition, alongside the Turks, to devour our Great Tang has never ceased. Your father, Duke Wenxi, shook the Western Regions with his might and twice shattered the Turks. Your junior has long admired him and wishes to catch a glimpse of Duke Wenxi's demeanor, while simultaneously gaining a deeper understanding of Tibet, the Turks, and the Western Regions."

Though Pei Guangting could not entirely agree with this perspective, he voiced no objection and merely said, "Since that is the case, Jingyuan can visit my residence another day. They should be stored in the study; I will look for them for you when I return today."

Pei Min was overjoyed, though a lingering sense of sorrow stirred within his heart: what an absolute hero Pei Xingjian had been, yet his son was merely a timid cat.

Ever since the arrival of the Tibetan envoys, everything in the Great Tang seemed to revolve around that group of visitors.

The daily routine of Emperor Li Longji consisted of banqueting the Tibetan envoys and having officials lead them on tours to experience the cultural customs and scenery of the Great Tang.

Pei Min could understand Li Longji's mindset. After all, this was his first major engagement in political diplomacy since seizing power. The Tibetan envoys coming to pay homage to him as emperor signified their recognition of him as the rightful sovereign. Deep in his bones, the Third Young Master of the Li family possessed a streak of vanity and love for grand achievements. Winning the recognition of a powerful nation immensely gratified his vanity.

Pei Min had no intention of pouring cold water on Li Longji's enthusiasm or spoiling his mood. After all, he could hardly declare that he knew the course of history—that before long, Tibet would go to war with the Great Tang, and the northwestern theater, which had enjoyed peace for years, would once again be engulfed in turmoil. He could only wait and watch the developments unfold.

Fortunately, receiving envoys fell under the purview of the Ministry of Rites. As the Vice Censor-in-Chief, Pei Min had nothing to do with it; out of sight, out of mind.

On this day, while Pei Min was reviewing official documents for the Imperial Censorate, Xiao Song sought him out once more.

"Censor-in-Chief!"

Seeing Xiao Song gave Pei Min a headache. "Is there another matter you cannot resolve? As a Supervising Censor, you must have your own judgment and decisiveness. If you have to consult me on every single thing, what use are you?" As a superior, Pei Min felt it was sometimes necessary to reprimand a subordinate who lacked initiative.

Xiao Song lowered his head to receive the scolding, then put on a bitter face and said, "It is not that this subordinate lacks judgment, but rather that this matter is far too grave; this subordinate simply cannot make the call."

Pei Min asked, "Speak, then. What on earth is the matter?"

Xiao Song stepped forward a couple of paces and lowered his voice. "Just today, I received a confidential report stating that Grand General Yang Ju has been secretly communicating with Tibet, acting as a spy planted by Tibet within our Great Tang. Grand General Yang Ju helped Tibet collect tens of thousands of volumes of books, intending to use the occasion of Tibet's entry into the capital to sell these classic texts to them. Whether this matter is true or false remains unknown. As you know, the Tibetan envoys are currently held in high regard by His Majesty. If this is handled improperly, it could sour relations between our Great Tang and Tibet, provoking a military conflict, which would be disastrous."

Upon hearing this, Pei Min realized the severity of the situation and understood he had wronged Xiao Song. He lowered his voice and asked, "Do you know who reported it, and who is this Yang Ju?"

Xiao Song nodded and replied, "The informant is a servant in Yang Ju's household named Sun Zhou. As for Yang Ju, he was formerly the Grand General of the Left Guard. When Tibet previously sent envoys to request a marriage alliance, Emperor Zhongzong decreed that Grand General Yang Ju hold the imperial credentials and escort the princess, which led to his promotion as the Governor of Shanzhou, responsible for the military and political affairs of Shanzhou. Shortly thereafter, he submitted a memorial to the imperial court requesting that the Nine Bends of the Hexai be designated as the princess's bathing estate and gifted to Tibet, and Emperor Zhongzong agreed..."

"Go to hell..." Upon hearing this, Pei Min flew into a rage, slamming his fist onto the desk and breaking into curses. During his free time recently, he had been studying Tibet extensively and had a crystal-clear understanding of the strategic location of the Nine Bends of the Hexai. Situated in the southeastern border of Qinghai, the Nine Bends of the Hexai featured lush aquatic plants and fertile soil, making it a natural horse-breeding ground. Furthermore, it was located extremely close to the Great Tang's Longyou and Xiliang regions. Gifting the Nine Bends of the Hexai to Tibet was equivalent to handing them a natural pasture while simultaneously opening the gateway to the Tang's own borders, inviting Tibetan invasions at any time.