131 The Peerless Young Master
The white-robed young master remained calm and unperturbed. He parried He Silang’s vicious attack as easily and naturally as though he were opening the folding fan in his hand.
He Silang himself did not think much of it; he merely stared in surprise at the sudden intervention. His companion, however, was greatly alarmed. His instincts told him that this newcomer’s martial skill was unfathomable.
When Little Yun saw the newcomer brush aside He Silang’s ferocious strike with such ease, he could not help feeling profound admiration. He thought, “Before, I had only seen women whose abilities were unfathomable. Now I have finally met a man who is just as unfathomable.” Looking at such an extraordinarily handsome young master as Qu Buping, Little Yun and the others could not help sighing that Jiangnan had not only beautiful women, but handsome men as well.
He Silang shouted, “Who are you to meddle in our affairs?”
The white-robed young master smiled faintly. “Fighting in the street is already unbecoming. For you to bully someone younger and weaker than yourself is even more unjust. I merely came to mediate. Why must you lose your temper?”
One of the wolves cut in, “You sound very confident. What if we refuse to heed your advice?”
Qu Buping said, “That is simple. If you are dissatisfied, you may challenge him.”
Little Jade added, “I say, the two of you had better stop asking for trouble. This young master is formidable indeed! If you do not believe me, step forward and try him yourselves.”
The white-robed young master was startled. He had come forward out of kindness to stop the fight, never imagining that the two men would so quickly dump the trouble onto him. What a complete lack of honor among martial artists! Still, he paid it no mind, for he was confident that he could make the Two Wolves of Hedong retreat of their own accord.
The other wolf was no fool. At a glance, he could tell that the white-robed young master was no ordinary man. Now that the stranger had intervened, he had to decide whether to withdraw with sound judgment or recklessly step forward and fight.
The former would demonstrate wisdom; the latter, courage. Yet no matter how powerful their opponent might be, the Wolves of Hedong had rarely been frightened into flight.
Even when they had once faced the terrifying Long Lengyue and her companions, they had dared to advance and fight. Today would be no different.
Thus he said, “Since you insist on meddling in our affairs, we have no choice but to seek your instruction.”
The white-robed young master replied indifferently, “Very well. But I shall accept only three moves from you. One leaf reveals the coming autumn; after three moves, I believe we shall be able to discuss matters peacefully.”
His words were modest, but his tone was filled with confidence and authority. Clearly, he believed he could make the Two Wolves of Hedong retreat within three moves.
The other wolf felt somewhat uneasy. He had just been defeated by the combined efforts of Qu and Chu, and he did not wish to suffer another humiliation. He was caught between advancing and withdrawing when—
He Silang could bear it no longer. “Show me whatever astonishing skill you possess! I, He Silang, am not afraid of a pretty boy like you.”
With that, he stepped forward to test the young master’s ability.
His companion hurriedly said, “Very well, Fourth Brother. Go and exchange a few moves with this young master, but remember—stop once the outcome is clear.”
He wanted to observe the clash between his fourth brother and the newcomer and judge the latter’s true ability.
The white-robed young master was perfectly at ease. “Very well. It makes no difference which of you comes forward.”
He Silang assumed a stance and let out a great shout before launching a punch.
The white-robed young master merely shifted slightly and effortlessly avoided his first move.
Without a moment’s hesitation, He Silang followed with two more attacks. But when he had barely begun the third, he suddenly felt a numbness in the pulse point of his right wrist. The other man had already seized it, and in an instant all the strength left his body.
“Your skill is superior,” the young master said calmly.
Before the three moves were complete, He Silang had already been subdued.
None of Little Yun and the others had seen clearly how the white-robed young master had defeated him—not even his companion.
The latter was secretly horrified. Fourth Brother had been restrained in a single move, yet he himself had not even seen how the young master had struck. Clearly, he was no match for this man.
He clasped his hands and said, “Young Master, your skill is truly remarkable. We shall take our leave.”
He seized He Silang, who still had not figured out what had happened, and dragged him away.
Seeing how effortlessly the white-robed young master had subdued He Silang, Peach Blossom praised him, saying, “Young Master, what magnificent skill! May I ask under whom you studied?”
The white-robed young master smiled slightly. “You flatter me, miss. I merely know a few crude techniques passed down through my family.”
Though he spoke modestly, a trace of pride still showed on his face.
Peach Blossom praised him again. “How modest you are!”
Qu Buping, standing beside her, was unconvinced. He gave a low snort. “Modest, my foot. Look at him—he is practically beaming with pride.”
Peach Blossom rolled her eyes at him. “What are you snorting about? He is a master, and he has just won a fight. Of course he has the right to look pleased. If you possessed even a third of his ability, you would be ten thousand times more conceited than he is. Your skill would be enough if it were even half as formidable as your mouth.”
Qu Buping immediately fell silent. Privately, he thought she had a point. If he possessed a third of that young man’s ability, he would certainly be even prouder than him.
Peach Blossom turned to the white-robed young master. “Young Master, you are remarkably handsome. With such extraordinary skill and such refined manners, you must come from a distinguished family. May I ask which great house you belong to?”
The white-robed young master replied with a smile, “You praise me far too highly, miss. I am unworthy of such compliments. But looking at your natural beauty and exceptional intelligence, I would say you must be one of the remarkable women listed in the Register of Famous Flowers. May I ask which famous flower you are?”
Peach Blossom laughed. “You flatter me too much. Since fate has brought us together, why do you not introduce yourself first?”
The white-robed young master’s page glanced at his master. The young master gave a slight nod.
In a clear, crisp voice, the page announced, “My young master’s surname is Hua. He resides at Hundred Flowers Manor.”
Peach Blossom smiled. “So you are Young Master Hua. I have heard that Lady Hundred Flowers of Hundred Flowers Manor has a son named Hua… Could you be that very young master?”
The white-robed young master nodded. “Indeed. My name is Hua Sanxiao. May I ask your lovely name?”
Peach Blossom pretended to blush. “When spring winds smile upon the peach blossoms in the third month, I am called Peach Blossom.”
Hua Sanxiao said, “So you are Peach Blossom, the flower that welcomes the spring wind in the third month, as recorded in the Register of Famous Flowers. I have long admired your reputation. To meet you today is truly a blessing earned over three lifetimes.”
Peach Blossom lowered her eyes coyly. “Do not tease me, Young Master Hua. My floral name is rather inelegant. Some even call me the Flower Demon. Do I not look a little bewitching?”
Hua Sanxiao replied, “You jest, miss. You are like a celestial maiden descended to the mortal world—peerlessly beautiful and exquisitely radiant. You are a daughter of mankind as lovely as a flower, enough to win the hearts of every man beneath heaven.”
Peach Blossom was delighted by his praise. “You are too kind, Young Master Hua. You are the true dragon and phoenix among men, a young master whose equal is rarely seen in the martial world.”
Peach Blossom and Hua Sanxiao took to one another remarkably well. One warmly called him Young Master Hua, while the other addressed her affectionately as Miss Peach Blossom. Judging by their intimacy, if they continued speaking much longer, they might well have gone straight to the wedding hall.