Chapter 357: A Swallowing Ambition
"Come to think of it, hearing of Brother Jiang's valor on the battlefield has stirred my literary spirit. I was inspired and composed a few lines!"
Seeing Li Longchuan's clear boundaries in his words, Xu Xiangqian had previously said he wouldn't influence his decision, but he wasn't willing to let the two become too distant, so he actively livened the atmosphere.
Hearing Xu Xiangqian's literary inspiration, Jiang Wang looked at Li Longchuan, and Li Longchuan looked at Jiang Wang. Neither spoke, but a tacit understanding emerged between them at that moment.
"Look at you two, so full of anticipation!" Xu Xiangqian was somewhat pleased, clearing his throat.
Before the two could stop him, they heard him recite: "Ah, the great battle, the great battle, the great battle, alas!"
Done? Jiang Wang looked at Li Longchuan, and Li Longchuan looked at Jiang Wang.
Xu Xiangqian looked at Jiang Wang, then at Li Longchuan. The meaning was obvious: it's done; now it's time for praise!
In theory, since Xu Xiangqian was so loyal, Jiang Wang should have supported him, but unfortunately, he really couldn't bring himself to praise it!
Thus, he could only say humbly: "The victory at Yangdi was truly thanks to Marquis Dingyuan's godlike command. My humble contribution hardly warrants Brother Xu's repeated sighs!"
Li Longchuan, however, said: "The tea is quite good!"
These crude warriors truly made Xu Xiangqian sigh. He felt a sense of a pearl being cast before swine, so he just held his cup and said nothing, slightly shaking his head. His posture was haughty, implying: talk among yourselves; I disdain to speak further!
Jiang Wang, forcing himself, said: "War is adangerous matter! Brother Xu's line, full of sighs, shows a benevolent heart!"
Only then did Xu Xiangqian nod slightly in self-satisfaction.
"What is 'war'?" Li Longchuan, born into a military family, naturally had his own views on warfare: "Decomposing the character, it involves using weapons for occupation! No matter what righteous name it goes by, it's all for practical benefit."
He refused to discuss Xu Xiangqian's "poetry."
"Brother Li speaks clearly!" Jiang Wang praised.
After briefly discussing this topic, Jiang Wangsaid proactively: "In Yangdi, I gained something. I invite both brothers to appraise it."
With that, he took out the Storage Casket, placed it on the table, and opened it in front of them, retrieving the Qiushan Bow.
The bow was heavy and thick, its surface smooth enough to reflect a person, the string like a cold blade, curved like a cold moon. Even still, it seemed to emit a faint hum!
"What a bow!" Xu Xiangqian's praise slipped out.
Li Longchuan stood up directly, his eyes gleaming: "Qiushan!"
In the way of the bow, the Tianxiong Ji clan had once been equally famous as the Shimen Li clan. This world-renowned Qiushan Bow—how could he not recognize it?
One could say that for every archer, this was the ultimate treasure of the mortal world.
He had a faint suspicion in his heart, but dared not believe it. What kind of favor could Chongxuan Sheng ask of him? Could it really be that he would gift this bow?
"It is indeed the heirloom of the Tianxiong Ji clan, obtained by Jiang and Chongxuan Sheng when we beheaded generals!"
Jiang Wang then placed the precious bow flat on the table for them to examine closely.
"This bow is a renowned artifact of the world. Unfortunately, both Chongxuan Sheng and I have not evenentered the door in the way of the bow. Such a precious bow falling into our hands truly lets a pearl gather dust."
"How can I, with my humble merits, dim the light of such a treasure?"
"As the saying goes, 'Rouge is given to a beauty, a precious sword to a hero!' A bow like the Qiushan Bow should also be matched with a hero."
Jiang Wang looked at Li Longchuan: "Thinking of all I know, only Brother Longchuan is worthy!"
At this moment, Xu Xiangqian couldn't speak, and even with a belly full of inspiration to recite, he had to hold back.
Li Longchuan fell silent for a moment, struggling to tear his gaze away from the Qiushan Bow: "Li has no outstanding skills, no merit to speak of. How dare he consider himself a hero!"
He forced out a modest remark, then couldn't help glancing at the bow again.
He could only smile bitterly at Jiang Wang: "Both Chongxuan Sheng and Brother Jiang are heroes. Even in gift-giving, it's with a swallowing ambition! But such a generous gift, Longchuan truly dares not accept!"
Li Longchuan truly loved this bow, down to his very bones.
Given his willpower and cultivation, he still couldn't tear his eyes away.
Jiang Wang knew the matter was accomplished.
"Brother Li, don't overthink it," Jiang Wang said. "I haven't been in the State of Qi long, but I've already met many heroes. However, when it comes to the way of the bow, who else besides you could be more worthy of this bow?"
The words were blunt, but it was the truth!
Someone like Li Longchuan naturally had the confidence to stand above his peers. Especially in the way of the bow, with the Tianxiong Ji clan extinct, who else in the entire Eastern Domain could compare?
And within the Shimen Li clan, though he was the youngest in this generation's direct line, his talent was publicly acknowledged to surpass that of his elder brothers!
But "a gift from a person must come with a request."
Such a heavy gift as the Qiushan Bow—what heavy request could it possibly entail?
If this bow were offered as payment to ask him to kill Chongxuan Zun, could he agree? Let alone whether he could accomplish it!
"Longchuan is ashamed, truly..." Li Longchuan began.
Jiang Wang interrupted: "There is no need for Brother Li to do anything. My brother Chongxuan gives this bow for only two reasons: first, he cannot bear to see a pearl gather dust, and second, to befriend Brother Longchuan!"
Having said this in front of Xu Xiangqian, there was no room for reneging.
In other words, Li Longchuan could now take the Qiushan Bow without any cost. No wonder they said Chongxuan Sheng's gift-giving was a swallowing ambition! A world-famous bow, given just like that, with no promises required.
Of course, befriending Chongxuan Sheng inevitably placed him on the opposite side of Chongxuan Zun.
But how far he would go was entirely up to his own discretion.
If he were to worry about even that, unless Li Longchuan was as timid as a mouse and feared Chongxuan Zun like a tiger.
He was unwilling to get involved in the Chongxuan family's inheritance struggle only out of caution as a scion of a noble house, not because he truly feared Chongxuan Zun. After all, while the Chongxuan family was powerful and influential, his Li family was no worse.
At worst, if Chongxuan Sheng and Chongxuan Zun fought to the end and lost, as a friend, he could step in and preserve some of Chongxuan Sheng's assets.
Li Longchuan of the Shimen Li clan certainly had enough weight to do that, and it would fulfill their friendship!
His thoughts raced quickly, and he truly couldn't bear to part with the precious bow. Immediately, he laughed heartily: "Since Brother Jiang and Brother Chongxuan think so highly of me, how can Li Longchuan refuse!"
Jiang Wang immediately offered the Qiushan Bow with both hands: "A precious bow for a hero!"
Li Longchuan first bowed formally: "Brother Chongxuan and Brother Jiang's deep kindness, Longchuan willremember in his heart!"
Then he took the bow with both hands. Once he held it, he couldn't let go, and his eyes couldn't stay away. Even as he spoke with Jiang Wang and Xu Xiangqian, his gaze kept drifting to the bow.
"Alright!" Seeing that Li Longchuan had made his decision, Xu Xiangqian finally spoke: "I see you have no mind for idle pursuits! With a new precious bow, go test its string!"
"Idle pursuits" was one of the catchphrases among the young nobles of Linzi, meaning to roam freely and enjoy oneself.
Hearing this, Li Longchuan was tempted, but since Jiang Wang was the host this time, he looked to him.
Jiang Wang naturally wouldn't spoil the mood. He smiled and said: "I was just about to witness Brother Longchuan's prowess!"
They then went to settle the bill. Good heavens, the three of them had just sat there for a while, drunk three cups of tea, and listened to a tune. And it cost a hundred Spirit Stones!
He, Jiang the Master, had once worked at the Hu family mine, earning only one and a half Spirit Stones!
Jiang Wang thought about it. Reporting the expense back would be too troublesome, so he asked to have it directly charged to Chongxuan Sheng's name. Fortunately, the title of Baron of Green Sheep Town still carried weight, or perhaps from another angle, the Red Sleeve House was very clear about his relationship with Chongxuan Sheng, and had no objections.
Returning to the private room, Xu Xiangqian and Li Longchuan had already gone outside to wait.
Seeing that no one cared about the empty Storage Casket left on the table after the Qiushan Bow was removed, Jiang Wang casually pocketed it—
It was worth nearly a hundred ten-thousand Spirit Stones!