This was indeed his own fault. Meng Qi apologized with a nod to the crowd in the wine house and withdrew his left hand that had been pounding on the table.

  The swordsman, however, was not to be placated and cursed drunkenly: "You stinky little brat, is this what you call an apology? Or should I just cut you down with one sword and consider the matter settled?"

  He rushed at Meng Qi, sword in hand, and slashed down diagonally, ready to teach the stinky brat a lesson.

  Meng Qi slightly shook his head and casually moved the long sword that was lying horizontally on the table to a different position.

  The swordsman's long sword had not yet fallen when he suddenly saw himself rushing towards the opponent's hilt, and it was clear that before cutting down the opponent, he would first collide with his own waist's major acupoint!

  He hastily changed his move, swinging his long sword horizontally, propelling himself sideways, dodging the stationary hilt.

  Under the influence of alcohol, he stumbled and almost fell to the ground, looking extremely disheveled, causing the crowd in the tavern to burst into loud laughter.

  The swordsman was enraged and opened his stance, planning to circle around Meng Qi's back and stab him in the back with both scabbard and sword.

  But just as he took a step forward, he saw that the long sword had somehow changed direction, still with its hilt aimed at his waist's Dantian point, not deviating by a single hair, perfectly timed. Although both swords were of equal length, he hadn't even thrust out yet and was sure to collide first.

  At the same time, Meng Qi looked at Zhang Yuanshan with a gentle tone and an honest attitude: "Zhang brother, if you can't think clearly for the time being, then go back and sleep well. After waking up, make a decision again. Whether you choose familial affection or Zhēnzhēn girl, as a friend, I will help you."

  The swordsman forcibly changed his stance and flashed to Meng Qi's left side, with his long sword ready to strike horizontally.

  Suddenly, his waist went numb and he was stuck in place, unable to move. Before he knew it, the other person's long sword had been placed there all along, only this time it was the tip of the scabbard quietly waiting for him to bump into!

  He was so frightened that all the intoxication had vanished, his eyes were filled with terror and fear, without the opponent having drawn a sword, moved a foot or raised a hand, he had already defeated himself?

  The people in the tavern who were watching the commotion could no longer laugh. The swordsman's martial arts skills weren't great, but he was a well-known expert among the regulars at this tavern. Although he was drunk and his footsteps were unsteady, his hand holding the sword was shaking, but his underlying strength was still there. None of the patrons in the tavern dared to say they could easily defeat him. However, that young man who looked like a weak scholar didn't make a single move, just chatted with him, and simply changed the position of his long sword, causing the swordsman to seal off his own acupoints himself.

  What kind of mysterious and unpredictable swordsmanship is this?

  As Meng Qi had never used internal force before, the swordsman was stunned for a moment before recovering to normal. Seeing that his opponent didn't bother with him, he quickly slipped out of the wine house.

  "Take a walk with me and get some fresh air." Zhang Yueshan gritted his teeth, stood up, picked up his long sword, threw down a piece of silver, walked out of the wine house, planning to calm down before making a final decision.

  His internal strength is deeper than Meng Qi's. Even after drinking half a jar of wine, his steps are still steady and his speech is not slurred.

  Meng Qi didn't drink much and wasn't affected, holding his long sword as he followed them out.

  The sky has darkened and the sunset has disappeared in the west.

  "Has the marriage been arranged?" Meng Qi asked.

  Zhang Yuanshan grunted, his eyes dull and lifeless, as if he was struggling intensely within.

  Two people walked slowly around Tonglong Town, one in front and one behind, the night wind blowing against their faces, bringing a gentle coolness that dispelled Meng Qi's dry heat from drinking.

  When they reached the outskirts of the wilderness, a figure carrying two swords on his back emerged from behind a tree and blocked their path.

  With the light brought by the east-rising moon, Meng Qi saw his opponent clearly. He was slightly shorter in stature, with a delicate face and an air of youthfulness about him. His eyes were raised slightly, giving off an air of arrogance, and he looked like a proud young man.

  "Yao Shidi, why are you blocking our way?" Zhang Yuanshan asked in a low voice, his mood extremely poor, without his usual warmth.

  Yao Shidi, is this the Yao Xingliu from the Yao brothers? Meng Qi had heard Zhang Yuanshan introduce him earlier. Judging by his age, he shouldn't be Yao Xingliu - although there are many young masters in the Yao family, not many are worthy of Zhang Yuanshan's attention like this.

  Isn't he already seventeen? How can he be half a head shorter than me, like a thirteen or fourteen year old kid? Hehe, maybe it's delayed development... Meng Qi thought to himself distractedly.

  Yao Xingliu glanced at both of them: "Zhang Shixiong, I just passed by the wine house and saw that this friend's swordsmanship is outstanding. I want to exchange a few moves with him."

  "Hmm, no wonder you're a martial arts enthusiast. But what a coincidence that you happened to pass by the wine house and saw me defeat that swordsman?" Meng Qi was half in awe and half suspicious.

  Zhang Yuanshan turned his head and asked for Meng Qi's opinion, without making a decision on his behalf.

  This little demon and I are both four orifices, equally mastering the external style, who knows who is strong and who is weak... Meng Qi's war intent rose, wanting to compete with the orthodox disciples of the same level as the Wudao Da Zong, to measure his true level among his peers.

  He hadn't even finished speaking when Yao Xingliu hummed a response, "Don't worry, I won't use 'Yang Xiao Yin Shi', just the opening moves of Qigong Sword."

  "Alright." Meng Qi also didn't want to draw out the Red Day Town Evil Sword and reveal his identity.

  Zhang Yuanshan took a few steps back, barely gathering his thoughts, observing the battle, and intervening when necessary to prevent accidental injury.

  Yao Xingliu drew out two treasured swords from behind his back, one long and one short, with the right hand holding the longer sword and the left hand holding the shorter one. Without saying a word, he made a slashing motion with both hands, each sword tracing a different half-arc, as he launched a strange and eccentric attack on Meng Qi.

  His right hand held a long sword, strong and powerful, while his left hand grasped a short sword, cold and weak. Yet, when paired together, they surprisingly harmonized, emitting circular arcs of energy that seemed capable of deflecting all weapons.

  No flaws, no, the flaws are constantly changing with the changes of yin and yang...... Meng Qi's face was solemn, he took a step back, and the Ice Throne Sword remained sheathed.

  Meng Qi retreated, and Yao Xingliu followed him forward. The long sword and short sword suddenly crossed, like two semicircles back to back, with a fierce wind and a stealthy attack.

  Meng Qi still didn't draw his sword and took another step back, avoiding the range of the long sword.

  Yao Xingliu's momentum was unstoppable, and he took seven consecutive steps forward, launching a series of attacks. Meng Qi still didn't draw his sword and retreated seven steps in a row.

  However, he retreated seven steps in a timely manner, just barely escaping the range of Yao Xing's move.

  The bright sword is above, the dark sword is below, yin and yang rotate, forming the ultimate, Yao Xingliu has made his tenth move.

  Suddenly, Meng Qi drew his sword and made a ordinary but extremely accurate thrust at one of the fish eyes of the Taiji Yin Yang Fish.

  Ding ding two sounds, Yao Xingliu's double swords were led by the force of each arc to both sides, and his chest and abdomen were wide open.

  Meng Qi did not pursue his victory, but instead sheathed his long sword and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, saying: "I concede."

  Yao Xingliu stared blankly at the twin swords in his hand, unable to believe that he had lost so quickly. In an instant, the situation had reversed, and victory and defeat were decided.

  Although he still had a lifesaving trump card and several desperate moves, this was a test of skill, and he had already undoubtedly lost!

  Zhang Yuanshan was more surprised than Yao Xingliu, when he himself was in his prime, perhaps due to having rich combat experience, he might have been slightly better than Yao Xingliu at the time. But Yao Xingliu's defeat was so decisive, that even if Zhang Yuanshan had maintained a perfect Taiji defense, he would still have likely lost.

  Moreover, although both of them have top-notch sword moves as their ultimate skills, Meng Qi also has one!

  What's most important is that he excels at knife skills!

  Is it possible that the sword technique called "Dugu Jiu Jian" is really so powerful, similar to the performance of "Kan Xuxian Sword Technique" during the opening period?

  Meng Qi's expression was calm and composed, as if his victory was nothing worth mentioning, but in reality, he was extremely exhausted.

  Just now, the exchange with Yao Xingliu was the most exhausting sword fight since I mastered the "Dugu Nine Swords". The nine steps back were a retreat to advance, step by step drawing Yao Xingliu into my rhythm, revealing his flaws. And that final sword, timing, angle, speed, and variation were all indispensable, it's the culmination of my swordsmanship.

  So this sword is more exhausting than a game of "Yan Luo Tie".

  He said calmly, "If you had only used the Yang Sword or the Yin Sword, I might not have been able to take advantage of it in one move. But after you combined the Yin and Yang, the change was a bit stiff and not smooth enough, with the Yin and Yang conflicting and not achieving the harmony of mutual generation. This gave me an opportunity to take advantage of. However, I must also thank you, as this exchange has been very beneficial for me."

  This is a big truth, Yao Xingliu's demonstration of left and right double swords merging into one provided a new path for his own dual swordsmanship.

  Yao Xingliu thoughtfully sheathed his twin swords and pouted, saying: "Losing is just losing, there's nothing wrong with admitting it, although losing to an idiot is a bit embarrassing."

  "Who are you calling an idiot?" Meng Qi's mouth twitched slightly, this little devil has a really foul mouth.

  Yao Xingliu let out a soft sigh, raised his head to gaze at the sky: "If I were Zhang Shixiong, I would comfort that young lady and then set our engagement in stone. After passing through the True Martial North Dipper Array, I would die unexpectedly during our travels down the mountain."

  "Huh?" Meng Qi and Zhang Yuanshan looked at Yao Xingliu in unison, shocked. He wasn't just passing by coincidentally! How much had he actually heard?

  However, Yao Xingliu's words filled Meng Qi with inspiration. Just now, he was so confused that he didn't think of this move!

  Yao Xingliu still gazed at the sky: "Unexpectedly, a 'death' occurs, the engagement is automatically dissolved, and Song Shijie won't have the stigma of being jilted or her fiancé running away with his tail between his legs. Moreover, by that time, the Zhang and Song families will have collaborated multiple times, their alliance foundation will be solid, whether or not there's an engagement between you two will have no impact whatsoever. At most, it'll just cause your parents some temporary distress, but you still have younger siblings. Oh right, in the future, you'll have to change your name and keep a low profile, you won't be able to use your current reputation anymore, you'll have to start from scratch again."

  "After the storm passes, you can quietly meet your parents again. The Zhang family will definitely not reveal this secret on their own. If you want to return with honor, then strive to become a Grandmaster."

  "Even if I leak this matter out, as long as there is no evidence that you are still alive, the Zhang-Song alliance will not change."

  Zhang Yuanshan's eyes grew brighter as he listened, and his whole person seemed to have shaken off layer upon layer of restraints.

  Meng Qi listened with a stunned expression, and the analysis of pros and cons was simply too good, just like what he had just thought of!

  "Aren't you a martial arts fanatic?"

  When can Wu Zetian also say such words?

  Yao Xingliu looked at Meng Qi with a hint of disdain: "I'm a martial arts fanatic, but I'm not stupid."

  "What do you mean, little devil?" Meng Qi's face twitched.

  Yao Xingliu hummed: "Those who only know how to drink and don't think of a solution are idiots."

  "Come on, little demon, let's have another 300 rounds of battle!" Meng Qi was furious and decided to resort to force.

  Yao Xingliu's face twitched slightly, and he said irritably: "You're also a little devil yourself!"

  Meng Qi was actually younger than Yao Xingluo, but he was taller and more mature in temperament, looking like a seventeen or eighteen year old.

  Meng Qi was so angry that his teeth itched, but he had no way to vent his anger. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him and he understood some things. With a hint of a smile, he looked at Yao Xingliu and said: "The people of the Yao family have no intention of destroying the Zhang-Song alliance, and they treat the affairs of the Zhang and Song families as their own. What kind of spirit is this?"

  Yao Xingliu's face changed: "What do you mean?"

  "As a martial arts enthusiast, he happened to be at the wine house without any masters in the late afternoon and overheard our conversation. What a coincidence?" Meng Qi's expression seemed to be smiling but not quite, "Unless he had been following us from the very beginning."

  Yao Xingliu immediately turned around: "I have something on hand, I'll take my leave first."

  "Why is he following us? Why does he care about this matter? Why doesn't he stand on the side of his family, but instead sincerely helps us come up with a plan?" Meng Qi's voice grew louder, his expression "solemn" and "grave", "There can only be one truth!"

  "Yao Xingliu likes Song Mingxi!" he shouted slightly louder.

  Yao Xingliu stumbled and almost fell over, but ran even faster instead.

  The matter of Zhang Yuanshan is likely to be resolved, Meng Qi's mood is relaxed and he laughs triumphantly:

  "Hey, little demon of puberty, come on, let's have another 300 rounds of battle!"