Chapter 7

Qin Yun walked to the entrance of the mansion and took a look . A bald man with a huge beard was waiting at the entrance while holding onto the reins of a horse .

“Brother Yun . ” The man quickly smiled . His voice was very loud as he gave an excited cry .

Qin Yun widened his eyes and observed carefully . The person had a bald head and a bushy large beard . It was only possible to recognize the key features on his face . “You are Little Bobo? How is that possible? That shy and handsome young man has actually turned into this rough-looking huge man?”

Tian Bo was one of his best friends in his youth and was one year younger than him .

When they were young, Tian Bo was handsome and fair . Moreover, he was extremely shy .

But now, he was… bald? Large bushy beard? Stocky?

“Brother Yun, how can you say that of me?” Tian Bo hurriedly said . “This is too hurtful . Even my heart is aching!”

“Stop the act . ” Qin Yun joked .

Tian Bo chuckled .

They gave each other a bear hug .

“Brother Yun, it has been a while!” Tian Bo said .

“Indeed, it has . ” Qin Yun released his good friend and immediately laughed . “However, Little Bobo, I wouldn’t dare say I recognize you with you undergoing such a drastic change in appearance . “

“How would I know? My hair began falling at eighteen . It was pointless hoping to prevent it . ” Tian Bo helplessly rubbed his head . “There was nothing I could do . Both my father and grandfather are bald, so I guess it’s the same for me . Moreover, this beard of mine is also growing at a crazy rate . Nevertheless, I do appear a little domineering, don’t I?”

“Yes, yes you do . ” Qin Yun laughed .

The playmate from his youth had also grown up!

“Seriously, why didn’t you inform me of your return? I only caught wind of rumors of your return on the street . Our Western Mountain Sword Garden’s Young Master Wufeng has already summoned for everyone to give you a warm welcome at noon today . ” Tian Bo laughed and said, “As for me, I volunteered to rush here and bring you there . “

“A welcoming party?” Qin Yun was startled . “All of you really have good news sources . “

“Word spreads quickly . ” Tian Bo hurriedly replied . “Let’s go . Hurry . There are many old friends waiting for you . “

Qin An, who was standing by the door, also laughed and said, “Second Brother, since so many of your friends are waiting for you, make haste and go . “

“Alright . Brother, there is no need to wait for me . I’ll probably be back late today . ” Qin Yun said .

Subsequently, Qin Yun got on a horse that the servants had prepared for him . He rode off with his good friend, Tian Bo .

…

The Western Mountain Sword Garden was located at the foot of the western mountain outside Grand Dominance City .

The duo rode their horses leisurely and chatted on their journey there .

“In my youth . I wanted to roam the world like you but with that little ability of mine, I would turn limp from just seeing a few bloody bouts . I decided that it was better I took over the family business . Now, I am in charge of a portion of the food and beverage business that is run by my father . ” Tian Bo shook his head and said . “By the way, I recently took in a concubine recently . This year, I am being forced by my father to quickly marry a wife . “

“You got a concubine before a wife?” Qin Yun was startled .

“There was no choice since she was pregnant . ” Tian Bo shook his head . “However, my father is rather happy . It’s because the child is a boy . “

“You are the only son of tycoon Tian . He is simply waiting for you to continue the family line . ” Qin Yun teased .

As they conversed, they reached a lake at the foot of the western mountain . The lake was calm, appearing like a huge emerald that reflected the western mountain . And on the other end of the lake was a pavilion . One could vaguely make out several figures .

There were some servants waiting at the lakeside . They were waiting eagerly and hurriedly stepped forward to receive the horseback duo .

“Young Master Tian, is this Young Master Qin?” A steward asked enthusiastically . “Follow me quickly . My master and the other young masters are already waiting for you . “

Qin Yun and Tian Bo dismounted from their horses and handed the reins of the horses to the waiting servants by the side .

As for the two, they were led onto a tiny boat by the steward .

Although the boat was small, it was elegantly decorated . The boatman was a beautiful young lady . The boat floated over the rippleless lake that resembled an immortal’s paradise .

“I recall that the boatman back then was an old man . Now, he has been replaced by a young lady . ” Qin Yun sighed .

“Young Master Wufeng is the best when it comes to enjoyment . ” Tian Bo remarked .

Western Mountain Sword Garden was the property of the first young master of the Li family, Li Wufeng . He enjoyed swordsmanship and had established the ‘Western Mountain Sword Garden’ when he was young . Only those younger than sixteen could join . Qin Yun was only ten back when he was invited to join . Western Mountain Sword Garden was something that Young Master Wufeng had created because he wished to find peers that shared the same interests in swordsmanship as him . However, as the youths grew up, Western Mountain Sword Garden began having some influence in the Grand Dominance City .

There were some youths drinking and chatting heartily under a pavilion on the other side of the lake . They had also noticed the small boat on the other side .

‘”Hahaha…”

A loud laughter was heard from afar . “The god of swords is back . The god of swords is back . Our Sword Garden’s god of swords is back . “

“Make haste! Brother Qin Yun, hurry over . Don’t dilly-dally . ” Everyone laughed out loud as they urged him .

“Brother Yun, let’s go . ” Tian Bo immediately took a stride from the small boat and traversed across the water . He flew over the surface of the lake for about two hundred feet before landing on the distant dock .

Qin Yun laughed as well . He too traversed across the water . However, he did not deliberately show off . His paces merely caused ripples to appear on the lake’s surface . There weren’t any splashes while he slowly walked to the dock .

“Brother Yun, long time no see . “

“It has been six years . Let’s drink . I was really afraid that you would die outside . You sure are lucky . Finally, you have returned . “

The group of young men took a wine jug over and handed it directly to Qin Yun .

Qin Yun received it . He smiled and said, “Alright, alright . Let’s drink . “

It was far more relaxing to be with the playmates from his youth .

…

There were more than twenty people gathered as they drank merrily .

“Second Brother, let’s have a competition . I lost to you in the previous sword sparring match we had . Let’s compete again . “

“Sure . Do you think I’m afraid of you?”

The two of them placed their wine jugs to the side and immediately leaped forward . Over the surface of the water, they began sparring in the scenic mountains covered in greenery .

Instantly, sword beams flashed as the two figures that were sparring above the lake’s surface underwent a myriad of changes .

“Great . “

“Second Brother’s technique can only be described as great art that conceals itself . Its disposition is becoming even more extraordinary . “

“Phew, what an odd strike . It gave me a fright . “

Everyone by the side commented as they drank the wine and watched the battle .

The battle finally came to an end when one party was completely drenched after being sent flying into the lake .

“Brother Ming, let’s also give it a try . “

“Let’s spar . “

In an instant, people paired up and began sparring with their swords over the waters .

A sword sparring was a common sight at Western Mountain Sword Garden! Back then, Western Mountain Sword Garden had extended many youths an invitation to join it . Anyone who joined had to have certain accomplishments in swordsmanship . That batch of youngsters could be considered a representation of the best swordsmen of Grand Dominance City’s younger generation .

Drinking, chatting, and sword sparring…

Now, with all of them grown up, their lives were shackled under layers of chains . It also led to them preferring to go to Western Mountain Sword Garden . There, they could drink merrily, spar enjoyably and ignore all the mundane matters of life .

Qin Yun also grabbed the wine jug and drank with his good friends . At the same time, they engaged in idle banter .

“Where is Lunatic Zhang? He has always challenged me at sparring in the past . Why don’t I see him here?” Qin Yun asked .

“Lunatic Zhang had spent all of his family’s fortunes to embark on the cultivation path of an immortal . He has even joined the ‘Familial Mountain Sect’ . Unfortunately, he failed to knock open the gate of immortality before he turned twenty . He ended up roaming the world…”

“I really admire Lunatic Zhang . When I was young, I was focused on practicing my swordsmanship and also wished to cultivate into an immortal . However, I gradually lost this desire . Sigh, there were no other options . My father is older now . My family clan requires me to support it, so I cannot do as I please anymore . “

“Layers after layers of shackles . One cannot be free . “

Everyone sighed wistfully .

Everyone present was skillful experts in swordsmanship . Typically, they had reached the seventh stage of Qi Refinement and had some desire towards the path of cultivation .

They were high-spirited in their youths and each of them had their own pursuits .

However, after growing up, they began being shackled by layers of restraint . Moreover, only after reaching the ninth stage of Qi Refinement was one qualified to have a chance at opening the gate of immortality . Among those present, only three or four of them had reached the ninth stage of Qi Refinement . Moreover, attempting to join a cultivation sect was also an extremely difficult matter .

“What about Sister Yuqing?” Qin Yun asked again . She was the only female that was a part of the Western Mountain Sword Garden .

“Her father has been posted to the Southbright Prefecture and she left with him . It will be difficult to see her again in the future . “

“I heard that Sister Yuqing is married as well . The other party is the sickly young master of the wealthy ‘Guihai Family’ in Southbright Prefecture . “

“The Guihai family is one of the richest clans in the Southbright Prefecture . However, I have also heard about that sickly young master . It is rumored that he is in terrible condition and will unlikely live beyond the next few years . “

…

“Why isn’t Brother Luobing here?” Qin Yun asked .

“Luobing is dead . He was returning home with a good friend after visiting from a brothel late at night one day . He was drunk and ended up being murdered . That’s how he lost his life . It’s still a mystery who the murderer is to this day . “

Qin Yun was slightly startled .

That proud young man was dead, just like that?

…

“Jiawu is dead as well . There’s even more injustice circling his death . He had encountered a demon while returning from Jia Manor to the city . His entire party was killed . “

…

Qin Yun faltered when he heard that .

Some of his good friends from Western Mountain Sword Garden had left their homes while others had already died .

Although the relationships between the friends of the Sword Garden were not bad, there was a total of forty of them back then . Naturally, there were some who had better or worse relations among the group . They met once every few days . After a couple of years, some of them grew so distant that they did not even talk much with each other . Qin Yun had joined the Western Mountain Sword Garden when he was ten . Back then, his father, Qin Liehu was only an ordinary constable and the group of youths was still extremely unfamiliar with each other . They were more accustomed to considering the background of the other . For a son of an ordinary constable, some of the sons of slightly wealthy merchants had looked down on him .

Qin Yun was a fanatic when it came to sword training . He also had the nickname of ‘Lunatic Yun’ . The only ones who were very close to him were ‘Little Bobo’ or Tian Bo, and ‘Madman’ or Xie Lei, who had similar backgrounds as him .

Although a few of his peers had passed away, in this era where demons wrecked havoc, death was commonplace . In addition, their friendship was not deep, so all Qin Yun did was let out a sigh .

“By the way, where is Madman? Why didn’t he come?” Qin Yun asked Tian Bo, who was drinking wine by his side . “Is he on an armed escort mission?”