The Demon Lords

Over these past two years, the Sword Saint has come to understand one thing more and more clearly: he only knows how to use a sword.

In all other aspects, his shortcomings are simply far too many.

So,

he couldn’t make heads or tails of what Zheng Fan and Sun Youdao were shouting to each other from afar, what on earth they really meant.

Of course, the literal meaning was easy enough to grasp.

When it comes to famous people, what spreads the widest are usually their little quirks, and the more down‑to‑earth the quirk, the easier it spreads, because what helps spread their fame is precisely that "earthy air."

That one line—"Lord Pingye likes other men’s wives"—has long since ceased to be a secret.

As for snatching back the Chu princess, in the eyes of the true upper echelon, that was naturally a heroic act of flaunting our national might and striking at a rival state’s prestige.

But down in the humbler tiers, in the small taverns and teahouses, it turned into yet another bit of seasoning in the gossip of porters and errand boys.

Oi,

and you still argue with me that saying Lord Pingye likes other men’s wives is slander, is nonsense?

Then take a look, just take a look,

why did Lord Pingye have to wait until the very day of the princess’s wedding to go and snatch the bride?

Of course, as Lord Zheng’s neighbor, the Sword Saint was familiar with Lord Zheng’s character.

Lord Zheng had plenty of flaws, and he did enjoy his pleasures, but he never wallowed in them; he had a very conscious habit of only tasting lightly and then stopping.

So the Sword Saint instinctively felt that this simple exchange contained another layer of meaning; as for what that meaning was, he didn’t know.

The wild people’s king, however, did understand.

He’d long since seen that Lord Pingye was the sort who "never leaves empty‑handed"—to put it plainly, even if he kills a man who’s just a woodcutter, he’ll still feel the corpse over once or twice; odds are he won’t find anything good, but that step of the process, that sense of ritual, is something he will not skip.

What Lord Zheng had said earlier about waiting until the Sun Family was exterminated before taking in their female members meant: your clan is clearly about to be wiped out for the capital crime of treason, and now that I’m here, if you can serve me like the slave girls in the training institute, then we can still talk.

And when Sun Youdao said he was currently picking out ornaments for his old concubine to send to Lord Pingye, that didn’t truly mean he was going to send that fifty‑year‑old concubine over; even if he dared to offer her, Lord Zheng certainly wouldn’t take her.

The subtext of Sun Youdao’s words was to liken the old concubine to himself: he’s already seventy, already retired from office, like a beauty of former days now in her twilight. If Lord Zheng doesn’t find him distasteful, still feels this old set of bones might be of some use, then he is willing to humble himself and serve like a concubine.

The wild people’s king narrowed his eyes.

Two old foxes,

and even from far away they can catch the scent of each other’s fox‑stink.

Lord Zheng let out a dry little laugh,

just about to stride forward,

then checked his step.

The Sword Saint sighed, took the lead, and walked into the main hall.

Only then did Lord Zheng follow close behind.

A man,

there’s nothing wrong with being a bit cautious.

After all, this is no longer the time when he was barefoot; it took real effort to fight his way up to this position, he has to cherish his blessings.

Lord Zheng had no wish that, some years from now, poets of the Yan State would lament: "If only the Snow Sea Flying General..."

Since the sun was already about to set and no lamps were lit in the hall, it was rather dim inside.

Sun Youdao was not seated in the chief seat, but had taken a place lower down.

He had truly grown old, but his body was still sturdy; when he sat there, there was a natural steadiness that flowed from him—after all, he was once the Prime Minister of the former dynasty.

Lord Zheng did not sit at the head either, but took a seat directly opposite Sun Youdao.

The wild people’s king stood behind Lord Zheng,

while the Sword Saint sat down to the side.

"In fact, this old man has long wished to meet Lord Pingye, but always lacked the opportunity. Who would have thought that today I finally see you, yet it’s under circumstances like these;

my failure in teaching my son has made me a laughingstock before Lord Pingye."

"Grand Tutor Sun, those words are far too polite. In truth, I have admired Grand Tutor Sun for a long time as well. With such difficulty I come to Ying Capital City once, I was thinking of finding a chance to pay you a visit.

But you’re enjoying a retired life of honor now, and don’t receive outside guests. With no other way, I could only deliberately have my men go bang against your noble son’s gate, planning to use the misunderstanding this caused as a pretext to come to your door, seek an audience with Grand Tutor Sun, and offer my apologies. And look, didn’t we meet?

Except,

Fate likes its tricks,

and in a careless moment, the matter was not only exposed, it blew up big."

Beside them, the Sword Saint reached out and picked up the candied fruit set before him, eating as he listened.

This kind of face‑to‑face exchange between two old foxes—every sentence, every expression—was full of subtext, full of hidden turns, like the endless variations of sword cultivation, each shift worth savoring for a long time.

Sun Youdao raised his wine cup to toast Lord Zheng:

"This old man will first drain a cup to apologize."

With that,

he downed it in one gulp.

Earlier, the Sun Family had been holding a birthday banquet, so everyone had food and wine laid out on the table before them. The dishes had gone cold, but the wine was still there.

Lord Zheng watched Sun Youdao finish his drink, yet remained seated, unmoving.

Sun Youdao set down his cup and made a "please" gesture toward Lord Zheng.

Lord Zheng shook his head and said:

"When I was young my stomach and intestines were weak, always giving me trouble. Later I wised up, and stopped eating or drinking outside."

"Hahahaha, Lord Pingye truly is a delightful man—frank and direct."

When Sun Youdao finished laughing,

his gaze fell on the Sword Saint sitting at Zheng Fan’s side.

He,

recognized the Sword Saint.

"A famed sword at your side and twenty thousand Tiger Guards in your hand—such heroic grandeur makes even this old man’s heart yearn."

"We can keep talking about the weather, talk about the sunset, talk about the stars, talk about the passions that surge behind the red curtains of Ying Capital City—no problem, I’ve got plenty of time."

I have time,

you don’t anymore.