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That girl's been here for days now...

Well, she hasn't been causing trouble, just doing some cleaning. That's not against General Zuo's orders. Let her be.

As soon as I dust off the sand, another layer forms... Did Uncle Meng have to clean this much?

The weapon racks, the tables, and the chairs are all repaired; the tiles are stuck back on, and the forge is lit up...

Looks more or less like how Shifu described it.

...Did you need me for something?

They say that since Uncle Meng left, the Sword Forge is now under your care.

Shifu would always talk about this place when she was alive, and Uncle Meng treated me kindly. I want to make it look like it used to.

They told me to find you. I can help. Cleaning, repairing, anything's fine.

No thanks, I don't need help to keep this place tidy.

What's the point of making it look like how it did back then? Not like anyone's coming back.

Can't nail down what doesn't belong.

Jieyun lifts her head and looks at the Sword Forge.

Every detail of this place cherished by its owner, every chair and table, the tools they refused to replace despite the years... She managed to restore some of these worn-out things.

But the people came and went, until finally, she was the only one left standing here.

No, it's not the same. This still isn't the Sword Forge.

There should be people here. People fighting, people drinking...

May I ask where I can find people to fight outside of the arena?

If you don't know, then could you two fight me?

...Certainly not.

Then do you know where I can find people to drink with?

I keep telling you not to drink so much! Look at you! You can barely stand!

So what? Anyway, we need to go soon, so if you wanna drink more then drink already...

You must've seen it too. The arena got smashed up by the Catastrophe, and someone took the rankings board away... Just one last look at the Sword Forge before we go.

Fine, fine, just one last look... Don't tell me you're still thinking about the Grandmaster, Meng and whoever it was that got you into competitions?

Do you two want to fight me?

...Huh...?

An Anasa girl stands at the door as she looks at the pair of fighters, the chakram in her hand shining as bright as her eyes. Behind her, a couple of soldiers from the Patrol Battalion look on helplessly.

You know kung fu, right? You can fight—err, compete with me.

You must have come here to compete, yes?

It's clear that she isn't joking. The two martial artists look at her, then at each other.

Once, there was a woman who had her brow raised as high as this girl's. She too called at them, and yelled: 'Come! Let me see if the two of you lazed about instead of training!'

Once...

Yeah! Have at you!

In the name of General Zuo, you are not to come any closer—Hey, you two—

The stage is set, so let us commence with introductions. O Yumen, city of wandering warriors, whose heroism shakes the sky! I am Zhang Chong, Yumen's Maestro of Erlangquan! 'Tis a pleasure!

Haha! And I, Lin Feisha, am the fifty-sixth inheritor of the 'Single-Stroke Sword of the Sands' technique!

State your name, lady, and from whence you hail!

I...

J—Jieyun, Anasa.

Hey, the hell do you think you're doing, taking up a stance?

Wh—What should we do? Arrest these troublemakers?

...I'm going to move those two stools aside.

Huh?

The arena needs to be kept clear during a match, doesn't it?

The soldiers silently take two steps back, and the once-quiet courtyard now thrummed with the sound of flurrying fists once more.

Spurred on by drunken courage and the sand-laden wind, the martial artists shoot forward, their arms a blur of blows as they try to suppress Jieyun from using her weapon.

Haha, yes, that's it! This is how it should be! Mark well the four sides of the arena, how neat and straight they are...

What tripe! If you want to talk about how the ring should be, then what were you reaching for just now? Don't think I don't know about your hidden weapon!

And what's wrong with that? I worked hard learning how to use it! Haven't I saved your sorry behind with it before?

It's a match in the ring! No hidden weapons!

Fine, fine, I won't use it. But according to custom, until the match begins, you must seal the point of your blade in pine resin!

Very well. I'll set aside my chakram too.

Come at me!

You're on!

A few rounds ago, Jieyun noticed the drunken state of her opponents. Their footwork was sloppy, and their attacks were clumsy. All she needed was a single blow to knock them out of the ring.

But...

The more the pair fight, the clearer their eyes become. The more blows they send out, the more disciplined their strikes. As if this is no mere post-drink bout they joined on a lark, but a true match in the ring...

Even though they are already out of regular moves.

She can't help but slow her offensive.

Haha! I knew it was a good idea to tell you to drink less!

What're you laughing at? We need to keep pushing forward!

You're supposed to be going all-out during a match, lady! I can tell you're going easy on us!

You can't do that! Give us everything you've got!

Haaaaah!

Uaaagh!

*cough* *cough* Wh—What an amazing strike, lady!

Yeah! That's how you do it! Err...

*cough*.

Jieyun wipes away the thin layer of sweat above her brow. The forge is roaring, and the fight is taxing, leaving everyone with red faces from the heat.

The Anasa girl has not yet come down from her battle high, but she feels like now would be a good time for a stiff drink.

Are you thirsty?

Liedaozi. The wine you're always drinking.

Here.

Ah, that fragrance! That's the stuff!

Here.

For us?

Yes.

Not while we're on duty.

Look, don't keep holding that bowl up like that, miss... We've got our orders...

The Anasa girl does not move her hand an inch, her eyes as clear as the Liedaozi in the bowl.

If he did not acquiesce, she would probably stare at him for days on end.

You—I—*sigh* Fine.

Shifu said I should toast like... this.

The bowls clink against one another, producing a crisp note just as they once did many years ago. Wine splashes out and soaks into the sandy ground.

Fighter and soldier alike raise their bowls in the Sword Forge's courtyard. They then raise their heads and drain the booze dry.

So that's what it tastes like...

It dawns on the Anasa girl.

She understands why the people of Yumen love to fight, and why everyone can make peace afterwards and drink together.

She understands why her shifu liked this place so much.

Jieyun bends down, scoops up some sand soaked with wine and puts it into a pouch.

Now this place is like the Sword Forge you told me about, Shifu.

At first, Jieyun was considering saying something more, or joining everyone for another cup of wine, or start singing to the sandstorm and the pagoda tree like Shifu said she used to...

Alright, well, it was nice having some fun with you all.

Sure was...

The last convoy out of the city's about to arrive. We should head off now.

We managed to have one last match before we left. It was worth coming over...

Jianghu zai jian, lady. Don't forget today's match. It might be Yumen's very last one.

'Very last'...

That can't be—Eh? You...

The martial artists do not respond.

They stand up, place down their bowls, then walk away as they kick up dust. They do not look back.

Jieyun watches them as they walk off. Their gait is steady, as though they were not drinking just now. As though they were never drunk. As though all that just happened had not.

Why 'very last'?

...Hey, what's the big idea? Just walking off after they're done fighting?

And why'd you let them walk away anyway? Not scared they're going to cause more of a ruckus after drinking?

Didn't you see the luggage they had by the doorway? I know those two. They're not from Yumen. Seems like they're leaving the city to head back to their hometown.

It's the last time they're leaving, too. They just wanted to come here for a match, and that was their last match ever.

Can't nail down what doesn't belong.

But... They really put their all into that fight today.

Oh...

So that's what that meant.

Can't nail down what doesn't belong.

One day later

About the Sword Forge, Jieyun...

I don't think what I said was wrong, but that day at the Forge, I was too hard on you...

*sigh* Would you like to stay in Yumen?

I've got a fair few friends here. No matter what you're thinking of doing, I can help find a place willing to take you in.

No need.

Shifu's content now, and I managed to have a real fight here. I rather enjoyed it.

I'll be heading off soon myself.

Where're you headed?

Jieyun does not answer. She walks out of Yumen's gates, slowly singing a song.

The sun goes down, east next morn, it rises up again ♪

The moon comes up, west next morn, we'll see it sink below ♪

The cracks fill out arid rock and through the soil, next year's raindrops will wet them as they land ♪

The shrubs deep in the sands are dried and die, and springs below will bring them back to life ♪

A gale blows past, carrying along the surging sands rushing out of the sand channels, covering up Jieyun's figure as it fades into the distance.

I...

I've seen Jiangnan, and tried some water chestnuts, and also met the people of the jianghu that Shifu talked about.

I think... I'll do some wandering of my own. See what's around.

See things that can really make me like Shifu, with lots and lots of memorable people and things to talk about.

We're here for our punishment, General Zuo.

While on duty yesterday, we drank without leave. According to military law, we are to be caned for our transgression.

The seal has already been written, General. The one for the Sword Forge...?

You don't need to ask me about that matter again.

Since you drank that wine yourselves that day, you can decide for yourselves as well.