The Pavilion of Flowing Cups was the finest pavilion in Qingxi Garden. Its unusual stone table was carved with winding channels, through which living water murmured and flowed. Beyond the pavilion, emerald waves rippled softly, while weeping willows brushed the shore. It had always been a favored place for scholars, poets, and sons of wealthy families in the city to gather for elegant banquets.
That day, the Pavilion of Flowing Cups had been prepared early, with low tables laid out inside. The tables were set with fruit, tea pastries, and two jars of wine.
As the sun climbed higher, the invited young gentlemen arrived one after another. They gathered around the stone table, chatting and laughing as they waited for Liang Fourth Son, their host for the day.
Liang Fourth Son arrived fashionably late.
He had gone out of his way to dress in a brand-new brocade robe trimmed with gold thread, a jade crown upon his head. He affected an air of unhurried composure as he entered the pavilion, cupping his hands in apology. “My apologies, my apologies. I’ve kept you all waiting. Some trivial family matters held me up.”
As the men exchanged pleasantries, Liang Fourth Son casually lifted a hand to adjust his belt, deliberately revealing the white jade ring hanging at his waist. Gleaming with a warm, lustrous sheen beneath the sunlight, it was impossible to miss.
Someone immediately flattered him. “Brother Liang, is this jade ring a recent acquisition? Its radiance is restrained, yet unmistakable—it is no ordinary piece!”
Liang Fourth Son brightened at once and took the ring from his belt. “This is Hetian mutton-fat white jade. I specifically had someone seek it out for me in the capital, then commissioned a master craftsman there to carve it over the course of three months. Take a look...”
As he spoke, he passed the jade ornament to the man beside him for everyone to examine. It had cost him a full three hundred strings of cash. Fine Hetian jade could only be brought in from the Western Regions; the court controlled its trade, and it was scarce even at great expense. He had worn it today expressly to outshine the others—to let them see the splendor of Fourth Young Master Liang.
Listening to their chorus of admiration, Liang Fourth Son felt that the gathering was off to an excellent start. His face glowed with satisfaction. But just as he was basking in his triumph, someone slowly approached along the path outside the pavilion.
The man stood tall and straight, a faint, inscrutable smile playing at his lips. It was Shen Guanting. In his hands, he carried a sandalwood sword case, its dark surface rich and subdued.
At the sight of him, Liang Fourth Son’s smile froze. In an instant, every trace of his earlier smugness vanished.
What was Shen Guanting doing here?!
Before he could recover from his shock, Shen Guanting had already reached the pavilion. His gentle gaze swept over the guests, whose expressions varied wildly, before finally settling on Liang Fourth Son, who was struggling to maintain his composure. The smile on Shen Guanting’s lips grew broader.
At the sight of that familiar smile, Liang Fourth Son felt the hairs on his neck stand on end. He forced himself to keep his back straight, yet could not stop himself from leaning back slightly. His voice was dry as he said, “B-Brother Shen? What brings you here?”
Shen Guanting seemed not to notice his unease. He strolled calmly into the pavilion and set the heavy sandalwood sword case on an empty low table nearby.
“I heard you gentlemen were holding a gathering here,” he said with a smile. “I happened to be fishing nearby with my younger siblings. Once I learned that Fourth Young Master Liang was hosting, how could I not come over to offer my greetings? I hope Brother Liang and the rest of you will forgive my uninvited visit.”
Whatever they might have been muttering to themselves, the others in the pavilion all hastily put on smiles and rose to exchange pleasantries.
“Young Master Shen has returned? Did all go well on your trip to the capital?”
“It has been far too long. Young Master Shen is even more distinguished than before!”
“Brother Shen, did you bring back anything new and interesting from the capital? Let us have a look as well.”
Shen Guanting answered each of them in turn, as easygoing as ever. When the greetings finally subsided, he raised a hand and lightly patted the conspicuous sandalwood case beside him.
“I had only just returned to Huzhou and was thinking that, when I found the time, I must pay Brother Liang a special visit and reminisce over old times. I never expected to run into him here today. What a coincidence.”
The moment he said this, the strained smile on Liang Fourth Son’s face nearly gave way.
Shen Guanting went on at an unhurried pace. “While I was in the capital, by a fortunate chance, I came into possession of an item.”
As he spoke, he slowly undid the brass clasp on the sword case.
“I heard that Brother Liang and the others were admiring rare treasures here,” Shen Guanting said, turning his gaze toward Liang Fourth Son, whose expression kept shifting. “It reminded me that, years ago, Brother Liang had taken quite a liking to an ancient sword at the Hall of Treasures, but regrettably had been unable to obtain it. I have always remembered the matter and deeply regretted it on your behalf.”
As he spoke, the sword case opened.
Everyone’s eyes were drawn to it despite themselves. Shen Guanting reached inside, grasped the hilt, and slowly drew out a sheathed sword.
Its scabbard was entwined with gold and silver filigree, inlaid with countless tiny gems and pearls. Glittering brilliantly in the sunlight, it was lavish and dazzling—plainly worth a fortune at a glance.
Shen Guanting held the sword hilt in one hand. “Though this sword is not the antique relic from the previous dynasty that Brother Liang once had his heart set on, it was forged by a reclusive master of our age, whose craftsmanship is beyond compare. Ancient swords carry too much of the killing spirit; their edge is easily broken. But this sword…”
He looked at Liang Fourth Son, the smile in his eyes deepening. “The moment I first saw it, I felt that its form was elegant and upright—splendid without being fierce, its sharpness sheathed within restraint. It is most fitting for a cultivated gentleman of refined tastes, such as Brother Liang.”
His words were spoken with utter sincerity. Yet Liang Fourth Son was somewhat bewildered. One moment, he was wary that Shen Guanting harbored ill intent; the next, he was relieved that Shen Guanting had not come to pick a fight.
Those around them also looked curiously at the treasured sword, then at Liang Fourth Son, who was still standing there.
“This sword is named *Haojian*,” Shen Guanting said slowly and clearly. “It means bold and vigorous, and suits Brother Liang’s bearing perfectly.”
At that, everyone noticed the two seal-script characters set into the blade: indeed, they read *Haojian*. Still, somehow, the name did not sound quite right.
With a slight flick of his wrist, Shen Guanting drew the sword from its scabbard.
“Shing—”
The sword gave a clear cry. A flash of cold light made several people standing nearby narrow their eyes instinctively.
The silvery-white blade was long and slender, its twin edges gleaming with keen sharpness. At a glance, one could tell that it was no mere ornamental plaything.
Holding the sword, Shen Guanting stepped back half a pace. His wrist turned, and he casually traced a flourish through the air. The movement was graceful and unhurried; the Haojian Sword followed in a shining arc, its tip trembling lightly.
“A fine sword!”
“Truly a weapon of rare quality!”
“Look at its gleam, listen to its ring—one can tell at once it is no common steel!”
Having recovered themselves, the crowd began to praise it one after another, whether they knew swords or not.
Shen Guanting’s gaze remained on Liang Fourth Son, his smile as mild as ever. “This sword is called *Haojian*. I hope that, wielding it, Brother Liang may also uphold a bold and vigorous heart, and walk a path of light and honor.”
The flash of the blade had already unsettled Liang Fourth Son’s mind. At these words, his expression darkened further. As expected, this man had not come to present him with a sword at all. He was clearly couching barbed mockery in polite words, ridiculing him for his earlier conduct toward the pancake shop as insufficiently open and honorable. Resentment churned in his chest, yet he could not give vent to it.
Shen Guanting seemed not to notice his anger. He had already lowered the blade. A friend who had earlier been passing around the jade ring had only now come back to himself and hurriedly returned it.
Seeing that Liang Fourth Son did not move, Shen Guanting casually accepted the jade ring, then naturally extended it toward Liang Fourth Son in an easy gesture.
Liang Fourth Son stared at the jade ring held out before him, then flicked a glance at Shen Guanting. Stiffly, he reached out. The instant his fingers closed around the ring—
“Woof!”
A loud, cheerful bark suddenly rang out.
Before anyone could react, a huge, shaggy blur burst into the pavilion like a runaway horse.
It seemed completely oblivious to everyone inside. Digging all four paws into the ground, it charged straight ahead with its head down.
“Ah!” Liang Fourth Son felt a heavy blow strike his calf. With a cry of pain, he staggered backward, nearly falling.
The jade ring he had been holding flew from his hand amid the sudden collision and confusion.
“My jade ring!” Liang Fourth Son went pale with fright. Forgetting all dignity, he frantically reached out to catch it—but it was far too late.
In that split second—
Shen Guanting, who had been standing across from him with his sword lowered at his side, flicked his wrist. His blade shot forth, sweeping swiftly and precisely toward Liang Fourth Son’s chest as he bent forward to snatch at the falling jade.
Rip.
The sound of tearing cloth rang out.
“Ah—!” Liang Fourth Son let out a shrill scream.
The icy blade skimmed so close to his flesh that the chilling sword aura raised a fine layer of goosebumps across his skin.
His legs gave way. With a heavy thud, he collapsed onto the ground, landing hard on his backside and grimacing in pain.
His face was bloodless, his lips trembling. Shaking all over, he scrambled backward in terror, staring at the sword tip inches away.
The jade ring now hung securely on the point of the blade, swaying faintly in the sunlight.
Liang Fourth Son sat frozen, staring blankly at the sword and the jade. His mind was utterly empty, filled only with the weakness and terror of having narrowly escaped disaster.
Trembling, he looked at Shen Guanting. He had no doubt that Shen Guanting had intended to run him through just then.
Shen Guanting had already sheathed his sword in one smooth, fluid motion. With his other hand, he lightly removed the jade ring from the blade and placed it on the stone table.
Only then did he turn to Liang Fourth Son, still sprawled on the ground. Stepping forward, he reached out as if to help him up.
“Brother Liang, I truly apologize. Seeing the jade pendant fall, I was so anxious to save it that I acted without thinking. I never expected to lose control of my strength and frighten you so badly.”
Liang Fourth Son slowly came back to himself. Only then did he feel a chill across his chest. Looking down, he saw that his brand-new brocade robe had been slit open from his right shoulder to his left ribs, leaving a gash more than half a foot long. Even the inner garment beneath had been cut through. Had the blade come a hair closer, it would have pierced his flesh.
At the thought, he began trembling even more violently. Shen Guanting’s smile struck him as utterly chilling.
He took several hurried breaths, and his terror eased somewhat. Yet under the watchful eyes of everyone present, the tear in his outer robe had thoroughly shredded his dignity as well. Shame and fear tangled within him, and he wished the ground would split open so he could crawl into it.
He abruptly slapped aside Shen Guanting’s outstretched hand and struggled to his feet.
Once he had managed to stand, he pointed a shaking finger at Shen Guanting, his voice shrill and hoarse. “Shen Guanting! You—you did that on purpose! You deliberately tried to harm me! You wanted to kill me!”
Shen Guanting took half a step back, his expression open and composed, even slightly helpless. “Brother Liang, you truly wrong me. Everyone here saw what happened just now. The jade ring slipped from your hand and was in immediate danger. I drew my sword solely to save it. I, Shen, have dealt in precious goods for many years and have some eye for such things. That jade ring is no ordinary piece. Had my sword not been swift, that fine jade would already have been smashed to pieces.”
The people in the pavilion had also been startled by the perilous scene. Now that they had recovered their wits, they found Liang Fourth Son’s disheveled appearance rather comical. But thinking it over, Shen Guanting truly had drawn his sword to catch the jade ring. The blade had merely passed terrifyingly close to Liang Fourth Son’s body, slicing his robe in the process.
Hearing Shen Guanting’s explanation, and recalling that the jade ring was worth several hundred strings of cash, they found his words somewhat reasonable. One after another, they began trying to smooth matters over.
“Brother Liang, Brother Shen meant well. He was saving your jade ring.”
“Exactly, exactly. It was an accident—nothing more.”
“So long as no one was hurt and the jade is intact, that’s a blessing.”
“Brother Shen’s swordsmanship is superb. Surely he knew what he was doing.”
Clutching the torn front of his robe, Liang Fourth Son listened to the remarks around him, which plainly favored Shen Guanting. A surge of fury rose within him, with nowhere to go.
He suddenly whipped his head around, glaring from side to side as he searched for the true culprit from moments ago.
“Where’s that dog? What stray dog was that?! Find it for me!” His chest heaved violently as he roared at the servants waiting outside the pavilion.
The servants looked at one another, then shook their heads in alarm. Their attention had been fixed on the sudden commotion in the pavilion just now—who could have spared a thought for where the dog had run off to? It had vanished like a gust of wind long ago.
Shen Guanting seemed entirely unmoved by Liang Fourth Son’s fury. Unhurriedly, he slid his sword back into its scabbard with a soft click. Compared with Liang Fourth Son’s disheveled rage, his own bearing appeared all the more composed and elegant.
Looking at Liang Fourth Son, he said lazily, “I truly did not expect that, after all these years, Brother Liang would still…”
He paused, his smile deepening.
“…still be so unaccustomed to the perils of blades and steel. Matters were urgent just now; I hope Brother Liang will forgive me. I, Shen, certainly had no intention of frightening you.”
The words sounded like an apology, yet his tone and expression carried an inexplicable edge of veiled mockery.
Sure enough, Liang Fourth Son’s temper flared straight to his head.
His voice rose, shrill and grating. “Who says so?! Would I, Fourth Young Master Liang, be afraid? It’s only a shabby sword—showy nonsense, all looks and no use!”
As he spoke, he snatched up the sword from the table. It sat heavily in his hand, and his fingers still trembled slightly beyond his control.
Forcing himself to hold steady, he craned his neck and shouted, “Today—today this worthless sword ruined my new clothes! Last time, I failed to get that worthless sword from the Curio Pavilion—call it bad luck. But today, since this sword caused trouble, it must compensate me! Let it count as payment for the damage to my clothes!”
Shen Guanting showed no anger at this. He merely said, “Since Brother Liang insists, and believes that this sword was fated to have such an entanglement with you, then I, Shen, have nothing more to say. Brother Liang is suited to something bold and robust. Though I am reluctant to part with it, I can only give it up.”
“Now that this sword has come into the hands of the person it was meant for, I shall not intrude any longer. Please continue your elegant gathering and enjoy yourselves to the fullest. I must return home—my younger siblings are likely growing anxious waiting for me.”
Without another word, he turned and departed with effortless poise, following the waterside path by which he had come.
On the other side of Qingxi Garden, beside the willow-lined bank—
Several little heads were huddled together around Laifu, small hands enthusiastically rubbing his fluffy head and neck.
“Laifu, well done! You hit him perfectly!”
“Fast and accurate too! Liang Fourth Son never even saw us!”
Just as they were making a racket, Shen Guanting appeared. The children immediately swarmed around him, lifting their little faces and chattering all at once.
“Big Brother, Big Brother, we saw it! Fourth Young Master Liang’s clothes went *rrrip* and split right open! Such a huge tear!”
“His face turned completely white! He plopped down on the ground, and his legs were shaking!”
“Laifu did a great deed! We hid behind the rockery, pointed over there, and said, ‘Laifu, go!’ Then he charged right at him!”
The children gestured wildly as they spoke, their faces brimming with excitement and pride.
With the momentous task of frightening Liang Fourth Son successfully completed, the children were finally satisfied and turned their attention back to fishing. One by one, they solemnly arranged their little folding stools.
Still, while their aim in bumping into people was fairly good, their fishing skills were truly nothing to boast of. By the time the sun had climbed overhead and they had eaten everything in their lunch pouches, they had caught only two small fish, with no further luck. Shen Guanting’s fishing rod had not so much as twitched; its float lay so still it seemed nailed to the surface of the water.
The sun grew fiercer, leaving them dizzy from the heat. They packed up their fishing gear and carefully lifted the two listless little fish, bucket and all, preparing to head home.
In the small courtyard of her home, Lin Wu was watering her little vegetable patch with a gourd dipper. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the increasingly thick vine leaves, spilling onto the ground. The courtyard was quiet and peaceful.
Just then, familiar laughter and chatter suddenly drifted from the mouth of the alley.
She straightened up, walked to the courtyard gate, and opened it.
Several children came bustling along from the far end of the lane. Lin Jing carried a small wooden bucket with great care, his little face grave as though afraid of spilling the water. Tigerhead had taken the small fishing rod for him; whenever he walked too quickly, he would backtrack a few steps. Sparrow held the leash of Laifu, whose tail wagged without pause.
Their little faces were all flushed red from the sun. It seemed those little straw hats had not done much good.
Meanwhile, beneath the locust tree at the entrance to the alley, a carriage waited silently. Shen Guanting stood beside its shaft, watching the children approach. Compared with the children’s lively noise here, that end seemed all the more quiet, making the short distance between them feel somehow much farther.
Lin Wu’s gaze met his from afar. She gave him a slight nod in greeting, then turned her attention back to the children.
“Mother, we’re back,” Lin Jing said, quickening his steps.
“Big Sis, look, look, look! We caught fish!” Tigerhead immediately pointed at the little bucket as if presenting a treasure.
“Big Sis, I caught one too!” Sparrow hurriedly added. Of the two little fish they had caught today, Lin Jing had caught one, and she had caught the other.
Lin Jing only ever caught a single small fish at a time, so he could hardly be called skilled at fishing. Yet compared with the others, he stood out as remarkably capable.
The children poured into the small courtyard in a noisy swarm. After setting down their things, they gathered around Lin Wu and, speaking over one another in hushed voices, told her once more about what had happened at the Flowing Cups Pavilion.
Listening to them, Lin Wu found it both amusing and somewhat helpless. She patted Laifu, who had come up to her knees. Shen Guanting’s way of collecting his debts was certainly direct—and brutally forceful.
—
Once Liang Fourth Son had somewhat recovered from his fright, he returned home with the Heroic Sword tucked away. After his initial fury faded, he gradually began to savor a sense of victory. Cradling the sword case, he went off smugly to find his father, Master Liang.
“Father, look!” He opened the sword case, revealing the ornate scabbard within. “Shen Guanting gave it to me—a precious sword he specially brought back from the capital. Today at Qingxi Garden, in front of all those people, he said it was to make amends to me!”
The more he spoke, the more convinced he became. Shen Guanting must have heard in the capital how formidable the Liang family was and realized he could not afford to offend them, which was why he had yielded. Not only had he made up for what happened last time at the Treasure Pavilion, but this time he had personally bowed his head and presented this fine sword.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt the sword was truly excellent. What Shen Guanting had given him was not merely a sword, but face.
Master Liang looked up and noticed his son’s disheveled, bedraggled appearance. His brows drew tightly together. “You wretch! What happened to your clothes? Don’t tell me you slashed them up yourself for fun!”
Liang Fourth Son stiffened his neck, though his voice involuntarily weakened. “I—I was careless. This sword… it’s very sharp. It just scraped me a little.”
“A little scrape could tear them up like this?” Master Liang clearly did not believe him, but he could not be bothered to pursue his son’s obvious lie. His gaze fell on the sword instead. Having traveled in trade for many years, he was well informed and experienced. He picked up the sword, drew it partway from its sheath to examine the blade, then weighed it in his hand.
He put it back and sneered. “A flashy but useless trinket! Brass over wood, with nothing but colored stones and beads set into it. The blade’s been polished nicely enough, but the materials are ordinary. It isn’t worth much.”
“Father! This came all the way from the capital!” Liang Fourth Son cried. “It’s Shen Guanting’s apology! What kind of man is Shen Guanting? One of the shrewdest men in Huzhou! Would he try to fob me off with some inferior piece? Clearly, he knows he was in the wrong and is trying to make amends. So what if he knows I had a hand in that pastry shop? Doesn’t he still have to politely place this sword in my hands? That’s worth far more than the sword itself! This is the prestige of our Liang family!”
Watching his son wear the foolish expression of someone who thought he had won a great triumph, Master Liang was so angry he nearly hurled his teacup at him. In the end, he merely waved a hand, too weary to say more. “Enough, enough. Take it back and put it away. And stop making a spectacle of yourself outside.”
Certain that he had won himself a great deal of face, Liang Fourth Son held his head high and carried the sword back to his own courtyard. The sword was all show and little substance, however, and he knew nothing of appreciating such things. After waving it about a few times, he found it dull. By the end of the day, he had tossed it carelessly into a corner.
But though he forgot about the sword, the Treasure Pavilion had not.
Two days later, the gatekeeper of the Liang residence reported that the manager of the Treasure Pavilion had come to see the Fourth Young Master.
Liang Fourth Son was bored at the time. Hearing that someone from the Treasure Pavilion had arrived, he assumed they had brought some novel trinket for him to inspect, or that Shen Guanting had sent someone to flatter him again. He therefore received the man in the tea hall with great swagger.
To his surprise, after entering and offering his respects, the manager showed none of his usual politeness. Instead, he wore an awkward, businesslike expression. After hesitating for a moment, he presented a sheet of paper with both hands.
“Fourth Young Master, forgive this intrusion. I have come to ask that you settle an account. The shop has been a little short on cash flow lately, and this payment is already three days overdue. We truly cannot delay any longer. I hope the young master will understand and clear the balance, so that I may return and give an account to my superiors.”
“Settle an account?” Liang Fourth Son stared at him, utterly baffled. “What account do I owe your Treasure Pavilion? I haven’t bought anything from you recently.”
The manager hurriedly replied, “Please take a look, young master. The invoice is clearly itemized. It is for a sword.”
Filled with confusion, Liang Fourth Son took the bill and looked down at it. The entries were laid out in meticulous detail.
One Haoguan Sword.
Custom commission by a famed master: one hundred strings of cash.
Materials and forging expenses: two hundred strings of cash.
Finely crafted scabbard: one hundred strings of cash.
Sandalwood sword case: sixty strings of cash.
Personal escort and transit insurance: thirty strings of cash.
Packing and presentation labor: ten strings of cash.
Total: five hundred strings of cash.
Furthermore, this sword was specially commissioned from a reclusive master craftsman in the capital. Both the materials and workmanship are of the finest quality. By the rules of our establishment, payment for custom-made items must be settled within three days of delivery. For overdue payments, a late fee of five-thousandths of the amount due will be charged for each day of delay.
The shopkeeper added from the side, “Our proprietor has instructed us that, as payment is now one day overdue, an additional two strings and five hundred coins should ordinarily be charged. However, in consideration of our longstanding dealings with your household, this late fee will be waived on this occasion. We hope Fourth Young Master Liang will understand the difficulties of our humble shop and settle the account as soon as possible.”
“Five hundred strings?!” Liang Fourth Son jerked his head up and shouted, “Shen Guanting gave this to me! He handed it to me in Qingxi Garden, in full view of everyone! How has it become a debt I owe your Treasure Pavilion? And five hundred strings for that piece of junk?!”
The shopkeeper could only force a bitter smile and bow repeatedly. “Fourth Young Master Liang, please calm your anger. The invoice is right here, in black and white.”
“Get out! Get out of here!” Liang Fourth Son flew into a rage, crumpling the invoice into a ball and hurling it at the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper did not dare say another word. He picked up the crumpled paper, bowed, and withdrew.
Liang Fourth Son arrived at Treasure Pavilion even before the shopkeeper did.
He stormed inside and slammed the sword down onto the desk before Shen Guanting, making the teacup jump.
“Shen Guanting! What do you mean by this?!” His face flushed scarlet as he pointed at Shen Guanting’s nose. “You dare ask five hundred strings for this piece of junk? Huh?! That day, with so many people watching, you said you were giving it to me. And now you’ve sent people after me for payment. Have you no shame?”
Shen Guanting set aside the account book in his hand, looking somewhat surprised. “Brother Liang, why do you say that? At Qingxi Garden that day, I, Shen, made myself perfectly clear. I came across this sword by chance. Remembering that Brother Liang had once failed to acquire a sword at Treasure Pavilion years ago, and thinking you might still regret it, I brought it along so that you could examine it and see whether it suited your tastes.”
“From beginning to end, did I, Shen, ever utter the word ‘give’? It was you, Brother Liang, who declared before everyone that since this sword had caused trouble and damaged your clothes, it ought to be given to you as compensation. Out of regard for our old friendship—and seeing how insistent you were—I could not bear to embarrass you by contradicting you in public, and so I did not persist in taking it away. You chose to keep the sword yourself. It was never a gift from me.”
He paused, lifted his teacup, and gently skimmed away the froth. His tone remained calm. “Besides, does Brother Liang truly think I, Shen, would offer up a lavish gift worth five hundred strings of cash for no reason at all? Our friendship has hardly reached that point.”
The moment he said this, the guests in the Hall of Treasures could not help but burst into laughter.
“You! You’re twisting words and reason!” Liang Fourth Son’s face reddened with fury. “What you said then clearly meant it was an apology! Everyone present understood it that way!”
“Oh?” Shen Guanting raised a brow and replied unhurriedly, “That day at Qingxi Garden, quite a few friends were present. Did I, Shen, ever personally tell Fourth Young Master Liang that this sword was an apology, a gift freely given, for which I expected no payment?”
It had been a rest day, and Qingxi Garden had been crowded. Quite a number of people had watched the commotion by the Pavilion of Floating Cups from afar. Those who had been there that day now began whispering among themselves.
“Young Master Shen did indeed only say that the sword suited Fourth Young Master Liang’s temperament. He never explicitly said he was giving it to him.”
“Yes, that’s how I remember it as well. It was Fourth Young Master Liang himself who said the sword had caused trouble and should cover the cost of the damaged clothes...”
Shen Guanting spread his hands, looking utterly innocent. “Besides, Brother Liang, what wrong did I commit that I should apologize to you? If I, Shen, had not stepped in that day, your jade ring would likely have shattered. I do not ask for your thanks, but neither can you turn around and claim that I owe you.”
