Chapter 359 - Seventeen Breath Swallowing the Mountains and Rivers

359: Chapter Seventeen: Breath Swallowing the Mountains and Rivers 359: Chapter Seventeen: Breath Swallowing the Mountains and Rivers “Speaking of which, when I heard of Brother Jiang’s bravery on the battlefield, I was suddenly inspired and came up with a few lines!”Seeing Li Longchuan delineate boundaries explicitly in his words, Xu Xiangqian, though he said it would not affect his decision, did not wish for the two to be too estranged and thus took the initiative to enliven the atmosphere.

Upon hearing Xu Xiangqian’s sudden inspiration, Jiang Wang glanced at Li Longchuan, and Li Longchuan looked back at Jiang Wang.

Neither of them spoke, but at that moment, an unspoken understanding emerged.

“Look at you all, each looking forward to it!” Xu Xiangqian was somewhat delighted as he cleared his throat.

Before the two could interrupt, they heard him recite, “Ah, the great battle, the great battle, such lamentation in the great battle!”

That’s it?

Jiang Wang glanced at Li Longchuan, and Li Longchuan looked back at Jiang Wang.

Xu Xiangqian looked at Jiang Wang, then at Li Longchuan—their expectation clear, now it was time for praise!

Considering Xu Xiangqian’s generous spirit, Jiang Wang should have played along, but he really couldn’t bring himself to flatter!

So he could only modestly say, “The victory in Yang Region was truly credited to the extraordinary military prowess of the Marquis of Dingyuan.

My minor contributions hardly warrant Brother Xu’s repeated sighs.”

Whereas Li Longchuan merely said, “The tea isn’t bad!”

These rough martial artists truly caused Xu Xiangqian to sigh.

Feeling like casting pearls before swine, he merely held his cup without speaking, shaking his head slightly.

His proud attitude implied, ‘You all chat; this young master is above speaking further!’

Jiang Wang bravely said, “War, such perilous and dangerous affairs!

Brother Xu, your verse is filled with sorrow, showing your benevolent heart!”

Only then did Xu Xiangqian somewhat proudly nod his head slightly.

“What is ‘war’?” Li Longchuan, being of military clan origins, naturally had his own views on warfare: “Dissecting the word, it means to use weapons to seize things!

Regardless of the justification, it’s all ultimately for profit.”

And he would not discuss Xu Xiangqian’s “poem.”

“Brother Li speaks so lucidly!” praised Jiang Wang.

After a brief discussion on this subject, Jiang Wang took the initiative and said, “In Yang Region, I acquired a treasure, which I request the two elder brothers to appraise.”

With that, he took out a storage box and set it on the table.

In front of them, he opened it and took out the Qiu Shan bow.

They saw the bow was heavy and thick, with a polished body that almost reflected one’s image, a string sharp as a cold blade, its curve like a chilling crescent moon—even at rest, it seemed to quiver with life!

“A fine bow!” Xu Xiangqian couldn’t help but blurt out his admiration.

Li Longchuan rose to his feet, eyes shining keenly: “Qiu Shan!”

In the world of archery, the Tianjun Ji Clan had once been as renowned as the Shimen Li Clan.

How could he not recognize this world-famous Qiu Shan bow?

For anyone who used a bow, it was nothing short of a treasure of this world.

In his heart, a guess formed, but he scarcely dared believe it.

What sort of favor could Zhongxuan Sheng have asked of him?

Could it really be possible that this bow was a gift?

“Indeed, it is the Tianjun Ji Clan’s heirloom treasure, which I and Zhongxuan Sheng obtained after defeating an enemy general!”

Jiang Wang then laid the precious bow flat on the table for them to examine closely.

“This bow is a famed artifact of this world; alas, both Zhongxuan Sheng and I are novices in the art of archery.

For us to possess it would only serve to dull its luster.”

“What virtue do I have to obscure the light of such a treasure?”

“As the saying goes, ‘Fine powder to a beautiful woman, a precious sword to a hero!’ Such a bow as the Qiu Shan should also be matched by a hero.”

Jiang Wang looked at Li Longchuan: “Of all the people I know, only Brother Longchuan is worthy of it!”

At this moment, Xu Xiangqian felt it was not his place to speak, and although he was bursting with inspiration to recite, he had no choice but to hold back.

Li Longchuan fell silent for a moment, struggling to tear his gaze away from the Qiu Shan bow: “I, Li, have no notable skills and have achieved nothing; how dare I consider myself a hero!”

He made an attempt at modesty but couldn’t resist glancing at the bow again.

He could only offer Jiang Wang a wry smile: “Zhongxuan Sheng and Brother Jiang are both men of great valor, and even in your gift-giving, you show immense spirit!

However, such a generous gift is truly beyond my ability to accept!”

Li Longchuan truly adored that bow, a love that seeped into his bones.

Despite his willpower and level of cultivation, he just couldn’t take his eyes off it.

Jiang Wang knew then that the deal was done.

“Brother Li need not worry,” Jiang Wang said.

“I haven’t been in the Qi Territory for long, but I’ve already seen many heroes.

Yet, when it comes to archery, tell me, besides you, who else is more worthy of this bow?”

Those words were blunt, but they were also the truth!

With a character like Li Longchuan, he naturally had the utmost confidence, especially in archery.

With the Tianxiong Ji Clan extinct, who else in the entire Eastern Region could it be?

Even within the Shimen Li Clan, among his generation’s direct descendants, even though he was the youngest, his talent was universally acknowledged as surpassing his older brothers!

But “when a gift is given, something is sought in return.”

With a gift as significant as the Qiu Shan Bow, what exactly is he asking for in return?

If this bow is a payment for him to kill Zhongxuan Zun, would he really agree to it?

Not to mention whether he could do it at all!

“Longchuan is ashamed, I truly…” Li Longchuan was saying.

Jiang Wang already interrupted, “There’s no need for Brother Li to do anything.

My Zhong Xuan brothers and I give this bow for two reasons only: one, we cannot bear to see a gem covered in dust, and two, to make a friend out of Brother Li!”

Since he spoke these words in front of Xu Xiang Qian, there was no reason to take them back.

In other words, Li Longchuan could take the Qiu Shan Bow without paying any price.

This is why they say that when Zhongxuan Sheng gives a gift, he does so with a presence that swallows mountains and rivers!

A famous bow in all the land, given freely, without the need for any promises.

Of course, befriending Zhongxuan Sheng inevitably places one opposite Zhongxuan Zun.

But what exactly that entails is entirely voluntary.

If he even has to worry about that, Li Longchuan must be as timid as a mouse and as fearful of Zhongxuan Zun as of a tiger.

His reluctance to get involved in the Zhong Xuan Family’s internal disputes was merely the cautiousness of an aristocratic family son, and did not mean that he was truly scared of Zhongxuan Zun.

After all, though the Zhong Xuan Family had a loud reputation and significant power, the Li Family wasn’t necessarily far behind.

If Zhongxuan Sheng and Zhongxuan Zun fought to the end and Sheng failed, then, as a friend, he could step in and help secure a small foundation for Sheng.

That was something within Li Longchuan of the Shimen Li Clan’s capability, and it would fully repay the favor!

His mind raced swiftly, and unable to part with the treasured bow, he immediately laughed heartily and said, “With Jiang brother and Zhong Xuan brother holding me in such high regard, how could I, Li Longchuan, refuse!”

Jiang Wang then presented the Qiu Shan Bow with both hands, “Truly, a treasured bow befits a hero!”

Li Longchuan first stood up straight and bowed with folded hands, “Brother Zhong Xuan, Brother Jiang, your profound generosity touches me deeply!”

Then he also took the bow with both hands, and from then on, couldn’t let it go.

His eyes, too, couldn’t stop glancing at it, even as he spoke with Jiang Wang and Xu Xiang Qian, they kept drifting toward the bow.

“Done!” Seeing that Li Longchuan had made his decision, Xu Xiang Qian finally spoke up, “I see you’re not in the mood for idle chatter!

With a newly acquired treasured bow, go and test the string!”

“Idle chatter” is one of the pet phrases among the second generation of the affluent in Linzi, with the context of wasting time flippantly.

Upon hearing this, Li Longchuan was also tempted, but since Jiang Wang was the host this time, he looked to him for approval.

Naturally, Jiang Wang wouldn’t spoil the fun and said with a smile, “I’d love to witness Brother Li’s grace!”

Immediately, they went to settle the bill.

My goodness, just for sitting there for a while, drinking three cups of tea, and listening to one song, the price was a hundred Prime Stones!

Keep in mind, when Jiang Wang worked at the Hu Clan Mine Site, he barely made one and a half Prime Stones!

After some thought and to avoid the hassle of accounting later, Jiang Wang requested to put it on Zhongxuan Sheng’s tab.

Fortunately, his reputation in Green Sheep Town still held some weight, or perhaps it’s more accurate to say that the Red Sleeve Attraction was very aware of his relationship with Zhongxuan Sheng, and they had no objections.

Returning to the private room, he found Xu Xiang Qian and Li Longchuan had already gone outside to wait.

Seeing that no one cared about the storage box left empty after the Qiu Shan Bow was taken, Jiang Wang simply pocketed it—

It was worth nearly a hundred Prime Stones after all!