Simply Trading

"It is worthless to Brother Feng because it does not suit his style of swordplay at all. That was why he had gone out to purchase his other sword - the one that broke in his fight against Fatty Zhou. Isn"t that right?"

Du Yan looked at Qin Feng as soon as he said that. And honestly, he didn"t really need the latter"s somewhat sullen nod to confirm his guess. Everything that he could remember from the fight indicated that this sort of heavy, military-styled weapon was utterly unsuited for the younger man"s method of using the sword.

Of course, that was only to be expected. Qin Feng was trained in the Heaven Sword School, was he not? That was one of those non-military styled martial schools that focused on one-on-one duels and challenges, rather than fighting enma.s.se like in the army. So Qin Feng"s preferred style of swordplay was that of a duelist. And a heavy, army sword was completely unsuited for that!

Little wonder then, that he had gone out hunting for a weapon that suited the way that he was trained, rather than utilise the sword that he had just laid out in front of him. However ...

"I am afraid that you will not be able to find good dueling swords - or even respectable ones, here in Yanyun City. This place is the seat of one of the three Duchies, which are devoted to the protection of the Kingdom. So they only have army-styled weapons here, for the most part.

"You will need to head towards the Capital, if you wish to get your hands on something that might suit your style of fighting," Du Yan advised the now black-faced Qin Feng quietly.

"Oh? Even you cannot help him? Or do you just require a bit more ... persuasion?"

Du Yan turned to glare at Lin Liushui, who was chuckling at him openly, without even bothering to hide his laughter behind his sleeve. Then again, the three of them could be considered close companions, seeing how they have already fought, and cooperated, together. And on Yanyun"s city streets, no less!

So Du Yan gave out a gruff sigh, and turned back to face Qin Feng. The younger man still had his glum expression on his face, but there was a hint of curiosity in his gaze, as he eyed the broad-shouldered man. Which had Du Yan sighing yet again. It looked like he was not going to be able to get out of this:

"What Brother Liushui is trying to say is that I could make you a sword that would suit your style of fighting easily enough. And we should not have any difficulty convincing Changhai to lend us the forge and the materials necessary either.

"Well, not after you went through all that trouble of saving his life back there, on the city"s streets. And in front of the whole population of the richer merchants" district too! In fact, that should make things even easier for us!"

"Oh?"

Lin Liushui laughed when he heard Qin Feng give out that puzzled sound, and gestured at Du Yan again. "You are still rather new here, so you may not recognize our Brother Yan here as a scion of the famous Du Family. That"s the Du Family of Wanli Xiongwei Smithy in the Chuanshui Town, in the next province. Well, actually, we should blame Changhai for failing to introduce him properly."

Du Yan sniffed and pointed back at the grinning scholarly fellow. "Just like how he had failed to introduce your ill.u.s.trious background, back when we had Brother Feng visit? I think I can remember you asking Changhai not to make too big a deal out of your particular heritage? Or make an issue of your family"s influence in the Capital City?"

It was Lin Liushui"s turn to sigh then, although the slight smile that still hung on his lips as he did so made it rather clear that he was not at all bothered by Qin Feng learning that particular secret. At least, he was not bothered presently:

"Guilty. I plead guilty, of course. But I think that Brother Feng had already guessed at it, since he was not that impressed by my ability to identify herbs and medicines. The Lin Family is known throughout the Northern Provinces when it comes to the medicinal plants. And strange beasts.

"That is why I am in such bad odor with the rest of my clan, you understand? To actually attach myself to Li Changhai, a son of the Western Duke, when my family is situated in the North? It was a rather obvious slap to my grandfather"s face, when I chose to tie myself to the Li Family here. And to a second son at that!"

Du Yan had to admit that Lin Liushui made his situation seem a good deal lighter than what it was. From his own understanding, and from what gossip he had managed to overhear, Patriarch Lin of the Waterfall Town"s Lin Family had been furious over his grandson"s apparent "betrayal". And the whole story was spiced up further, with hints of a forbidden romance and a thwarted engagement, that certainly threw more complications into Brother Liushui"s personal life.

Still, the Second Ducal Prince, Li Changhai, didn"t seem too put out by the gossip, and had always treated Lin Liushui like a brother. Just as his behavior towards Du Yan himself had been exemplary. He had been supporting the latter with his studies into alchemy, after all. And had opened up the Ducal Palace"s stores to him, for that purpose.

So he was hardly in a position to cast stones at Lin Liushui, over his romantic missteps. Although he was rather certain that his Brother Liushui was really upset over that issue with the girl. What was her name again?

But Qin Feng"s somewhat hesitant cough drew his attention back to him, disrupting his chain of thought, and his attempt to recall the name of Lin Liushui"s paramour. And he turned to meet the younger man"s earnest stare, directed right at his face:

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"So, would I be right to say that I can depend on Older Brother Du Yan for a sword that I can use? A proper sword, matched to my style of fighting?"

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