Chapter Eighty-Nine: The Six Sects of the Southern Sword Alliance

The two men traded a few words over wine and peanuts, and as they ate, the talk flowed easily from one subject to another. There were not many people in the tavern, only three villagers; in winter, most folk stayed shut up at home and rarely ventured out.

“Brother Li, how did you come to have this misunderstanding with the Mount Li Sword Sect?” Lin Feng asked with a smile.

Li Jianren chuckled. “This year the Orchid Pavilion Sword Gathering was held a few days later than usual, so I had nothing to do in the sect and came a couple of days early. I was bored senseless in that little Orchid Pavilion town. Last night, while I was up riding my sword for a bit of amusement, I accidentally saw something I ought not to have seen, and that brought trouble down on my head. Three of them came after me. Truly, a disaster falling from the sky.”

Lin Feng said in surprise, “Since Brother Li knows them, why can’t you clear up the misunderstanding?”

“Ahem, don’t speak of knowing them. In the past several Orchid Pavilion gatherings, their Mount Li Sword Sect lost every time to our Mount Chi Sword Sect. Do you think they’d have any good face for us? This time I’ve really run into foul luck. If they keep hounding me, and then go to complain to my martial uncle, I may end up facing the wall for ten years.” Li Jianren lifted his cup and clinked it with Lin Feng’s, smiling all the while.

“Ten years facing the wall? It’s that serious?” Lin Feng’s expression changed.

“Yes. But with Brother Lin helping me, the three of them still won’t amount to much.” Li Jianren lowered his voice and smiled.

“I help you? Well, I still have to hurry north...” Only then did Lin Feng understand the meaning behind that smile.

“Brother Lin, you can’t just stand by and watch me die. Ten years of confinement is one thing, but if I’m mocked by the whole world because of this, not even jumping into Erhai Lake will wash it clean. My lifetime of spotless reputation...” Li Jianren put on an exaggerated expression, gripping Lin Feng’s hand and refusing to let go. The shopkeeper and the drinkers all turned to look.

“Brother Li, Brother Li, all right, all right, I’ll help you.” Lin Feng was mortified. He quickly wriggled his hand free and wiped the cold sweat from his brow.

“Haha, come, drink.” Li Jianren’s expression shifted at once. He refilled his own cup, and the earlier gloom was gone without a trace.

“That fellow really lives up to his name,” Lin Feng thought with a wry shake of his head. Who, in the end, had truly run into bad luck?

“Brother, let me tell you, this time at the Six Sects Sword Contest, a few senior masters have also been invited to serve as judges. If you get the chance to see their bearing with your own eyes, it will be a rare joy in life. You mustn’t miss it.” Having achieved his goal, Li Jianren began boasting at length.

“By the way, which six sects are they? Aren’t there twenty-four sword sects? Why only six?”

“Well, our six sword sects are few in number and can’t compare with the other major sects, not to mention your Hundred Flowers Sect. So, starting from some generation of master long ago, every three years our six sects gather in Orchid Pavilion Town to compare swordsmanship and spellcraft, sharpen our skills, and choose an alliance master for one term on a rotating basis. The Mount Li Sword Sect, the Mount Wanghai Sword Sect, the Jade Sword Gate, the Hidden Sword Gate, the Forging Sword Sect, and our own Mount Chi Sword Sect—these are the six sects of the Southern Sword Alliance,” Li Jianren said.