Chapter 185: Yujing City Gathering Storms

Chapter 185: Winds Gather in Yu Jing City

“Father, Jing Chun has learned his lesson.”

Lu Fang, who had finally returned to the banquet, rolled up his sleeves, his fists looking completely red.

Seeing this, An Jing became even more certain. He hadn't expected that the usually lively and playful Young Miss was actually of such status.

And Lu Guoyong not directly acknowledging her must mean there was some hidden reason.

“Gulp!”

Zhou Xianming, seeing this, swallowed his saliva and secretly warned himself to stay away from this ‘Lu Family Young Miss’.

Lu Guoyong said lightly, “Good, this brat never accomplishes anything, he can’t even be a good wastrel. He needs a good beating every now and then to teach him a lesson.”

Lu Fang nodded, then said, “That girl went to Father’s study.”

Li Fuzhou’s brows furrowed slightly, as if he wanted to speak but held back.

Lu Guoyong pondered for a while, then said, “Let her be.”

Afterward, the few of them drank a few more cups, and Lu Guoyong, citing fatigue, left.

“I’m also a bit tired,”

Li Fuzhou waved his hand at Lu Fang and also departed.

An Jing cupped his hands to Lu Fang and said, “No need for Lu Great Master to trouble himself. I plan to go to the book tower to borrow some more books.”

“Your Excellency, there’s no need to be so polite.”

Lu Fang smiled and said, “Since you are Father’s friend, you can browse the book tower freely.”

“Thank you,”

An Jing nodded and slowly walked out of the banquet.

Zhou Xianming looked at An Jing’s retreating figure and couldn’t help but ask, “Who is this person?”

He said he was Lu Guoyong’s friend and also knew Demonic Cult Human Sect Leader Li Fuzhou, so he must not be an ordinary person.

Lu Fang looked at the disappearing figure and said faintly, “A newly rising top expert in the Jianghu recently. I think you should have heard his name.”

Zhou Xianming was shocked to hear this and quickly said, “Could it be the Ghost Swordsman who killed Zhenyi Sect Great Perfected Person, defeated Heavenly Sword, and chased Qi Shu for three hundred miles?”

He used to tell stories in Yu Prefecture City, so he naturally knew the intricacies of the turbulent Jianghu and understood more about its forces than an average scholar.

The Ghost Swordsman, who had recently risen to fame, was undoubtedly the most renowned expert in the Jianghu in recent years.

Lu Fang nodded, “It’s him.”

Zhou Xianming murmured, “So it’s him. He was active in the south before, I didn’t expect him to come to the north as well.”

In Lu Manor, along the dimly lit corridor.

Tan Yun walked, her mind still replaying the portrait she had just seen.

Compared to the turbulent emotions earlier, her heart was now extremely calm, as still as the clear water in a well, without a single ripple.

At this moment, a figure appeared ahead.

Under the faint moonlight, the person was hunched over, their steps very slow.

It was Lu Guoyong, carrying a food box in his hand.

Tan Yun bowed slightly and said, “Old Lu.”

Lu Guoyong chuckled and said, “Little girl, this is the Eight Treasures Cake I just had the cook make. I saw you really enjoyed eating it earlier.”

Tan Yun looked at the food box in front of her and quickly waved her hand, saying, “No need, you’re really too kind.”

“Take it.”

Lu Guoyong forcefully placed the food box into Tan Yun’s hand.

“Thank you,”

Tan Yun said softly, looking at the food box in her hand.

Neither of them spoke, and time seemed to stand still.

After a long while, Lu Guoyong sighed deeply and asked, “Do you have hatred in your heart?”

This question seemed to be for Tan Yun, and also for the person in the sky.

Tan Yun shook her head and said, “Mother often said a sentence.”

“What did she say?”

“Past events are like wind passing by the ear; one should remain calm and collected.”

Hearing this, Lu Guoyong suddenly fell silent.

Tan Yun’s beautiful eyes held a glimmer of light as she said, “I don’t know what that means, but I think living is for happiness. If there’s anything unhappy, just forget it.”

Lu Guoyong looked at the little girl in front of him and couldn’t help but ask himself, “Can it be forgotten?”

Tan Yun nodded earnestly and said, “Yes, for example, think more about the things that made you very happy in the past. When my mother was healthy, the cold jelly she made was very delicious. And when I was at Dongluo Pass, I often went to the city to play after practicing, and I felt very happy then. Also, in Yu Prefecture City, I raised a dog, and my brother-in-law was very good to me, although he died…”

Pausing here, Tan Yun continued, “Life always has very happy things. When you’re unhappy, just think more about them, and you’ll always feel much better in your heart.”

Lu Guoyong saw the fleeting dimness in Tan Yun’s eyes and asked, “Did that brother-in-law you mentioned die?”

Tan Yun nodded, her tone somewhat low: “He was very good to me and took great care of me. He once said that as long as you keep someone in your mind, they aren’t truly dead, at least they live on in your heart.”

“I will always remember my brother-in-law. I think he will also live in this world in another way.”

With that, Tan Yun forced a smile, then revealed two rows of white teeth like shattered jade.

Lu Guoyong reached out his withered palm and gently stroked Tan Yun’s hair.

Some people, in the depths of darkness, find a glimmer of light and wish to pull that glimmer into the darkness, while others wish to pursue that light.

At this moment, Lu Guoyong noticed that the book tower in the distance had lit up with candlelight again, and said, “This little fellow is really impatient.”

It was so late, and he was still entering the book tower, so it definitely wasn’t Lu Jingchun, who had just received a good beating.

Tan Yun picked up an Eight Treasures Cake from the food box and put it in her mouth, also looking over curiously, “Old Lu, who are you talking about?”

Lu Guoyong said faintly, “It’s that little fellow who hid his identity at the banquet today.”

Tan Yun’s heart stirred: “The Ghost Swordsman?”

“It’s him.”

“What is he doing there?”

“He wants to find a method to quickly advance to the Grandmaster Realm. I told him there’s a method in Lu Manor’s book tower.”

“Is there really?”

“Yes, but that method is very difficult.”

“Old Lu, you should go rest first. I have something to do and need to leave.”

Seeing this, Tan Yun, carrying the food box, hurried towards the book tower.

Watching Tan Yun’s anxious and hasty back, Lu Guoyong couldn’t help but smile: “Did I say I was tired?”

Book Tower.

In Lu Manor, there was a pavilion specifically for storing books.

This pavilion was five stories high and filled with various collections of books, including Six Arts, Various Schools, Poetry and Rhyme, Military Books, Arithmetic, and Medical Arts, among other categories of books.

An Jing searched floor after floor, but still couldn’t find the method for advancing to the Grandmaster Realm that Lu Guoyong had mentioned.

“Old Lu wouldn’t deceive me.”

An Jing pondered for a moment, “Old Lu was young then, so the books he read should have been from the Various Schools category.”

Thinking this, he went to the second floor of the Various Schools section, examining bookshelf after bookshelf, and even book after book.

Every book here showed signs of being read, and there were also small annotations next to them, containing personal insights and feelings, clearly indicating they had been read with care.

Time flowed like quicksand, and before he knew it, an incense stick’s worth of time had passed.

Suddenly, as An Jing flipped through a copy of “Records of Shu”, a silver paper fell out.

“Hmm!?”

An Jing picked up the paper from the ground, and his eyes immediately lit up.

“Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak, also known as Three Flowers Gathering at the Apex, the inner meaning of the Three Flowers is the Three Yangs. The so-called Three Yangs are the Yang within Yin, the Yang within Yang, and the Yang within Yin and Yang. When the Three Yangs converge, it is like entering a completely selfless state, the mind is illuminated like sunlight, suddenly clear and experiencing an incomparable coolness.”

“And for the Three Yangs to converge, in addition to the mind and spirit reaching a state of complete unity, it also requires vast essence, various Heaven And Earth Treasure, and Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi can all be integrated into oneself, forming a large amount of Yang Qi. At the bottom of Beili Volcano, there is volcanic essence. This type belongs to the essence of Heaven and Earth, rich in Yang Qi, and easily forms Yang Qi. Remember three things, and commit them to memory: first, one must not absorb volcanic essence before reaching complete unity; second, the bottom of Beili Volcano is very dangerous, with exotic beasts hiding within; third, those with extremely heavy Yin Qi in their bodies cannot absorb volcanic essence to refine Yang Qi, otherwise it will cause a sudden imbalance of Yin and Yang.”

The volcanic essence of Beili Volcano?

An Jing quickly scanned it, then carefully read it twice, his brows slightly raised.

There were three points on it, all very important. Besides the last point, the first and second points still needed An Jing’s attention.

Especially the first point, one must achieve complete unity of body and mind to truly reach the Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak.

He had occasionally seen this Realm in Li Fuzhou.

Li Fuzhou, like Lin Yiyang back then, belonged to those who could directly advance to the Grandmaster Realm, but suppressed the Qi in their bodies.

The benefits of this advancement were obvious.

When it was time to advance to the Grandmaster Realm, one could quickly reach the One Qi Grandmaster Realm.

However, each of them had stayed in the Half-Step Grandmaster Realm for a long time, nurturing the Qi in their bodies. An Jing naturally couldn’t imitate them.

“Next, I need to reach the Realm of complete unity of body and mind, then I can go to the bottom of Beili Volcano. However, going to the bottom of Beili Volcano also carries danger.”

An Jing pondered for a moment before placing the silver paper back into the book.

Just then, footsteps sounded from the staircase.

An Jing followed the sound and immediately saw Tan Yun walking up, carrying a food box. He couldn’t help but ask, “Did you specifically come to bring me food?”

“Ah?”

Tan Yun looked at the Eight Treasures Cake in her hand and subconsciously said, “Yes, yes.”

An Jing unceremoniously took the food box and said, “Thank you, I’m just a bit hungry.”

Saying that, he sat cross-legged on the ground, picked up an Eight Treasures Cake from the food box, and began to eat.

He had only focused on drinking at the banquet earlier and hadn’t eaten anything to fill his stomach.

Tan Yun also squatted down and asked, “Do you really want to join my Demonic Cult?”

An Jing nodded and said, “Of course.”

Tan Yun looked curiously at the black-robed man in front of her and asked, “But why did you refuse last time outside Yuan City?”

An Jing picked up another Eight Treasures Cake and said, “Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?”

Tan Yun quickly said, “Of course the truth, who wants to hear a lie?”

An Jing looked at Tan Yun and said faintly, “In this Demonic Cult, there is someone very important to me.”

Someone very important!?

It shouldn’t be the Sect Leader, right?

Tan Yun’s heart pounded wildly, almost leaping into her throat.

She remembered that the Ghost Swordsman once said he knew her brother-in-law. If the two knew each other, it would be impossible for him to like the Sect Leader again. Besides, the Sect Leader’s nature would only allow her to like her brother-in-law, not anyone else.

And he had saved her. Could it be that he joined the Demonic Cult for… Thinking this, Tan Yun’s heart beat even faster.

An Jing ate the Eight Treasures Cake in large bites, consuming three or four pieces before stopping. He had to admit that the Lu Manor’s cook’s skills were quite excellent.

Tan Yun said softly, “Back in Huang Yao Town, I owe it all to you. If you hadn’t appeared in time…”

An Jing waved his hand and smiled, “Those are trivial matters, not worth mentioning.”

If Li Fuzhou were being hunted and pursued by the Black Robe Guard, An Jing would have stepped in to help, provided his strength allowed it.

“They are trivial matters to you, but to me, they are incredibly important. A drop of kindness must be repaid in full.”

Tan Yun glanced at the food box, realizing An Jing was almost finished. Feeling a little anxious, she also reached into the food box and picked up an Eight Treasures Cake.

An Jing clapped his hands and said, “A drop of kindness, repaid with a gushing spring.”

Somehow, he always felt that what Tan Yun said was a bit strange.

“Wait!”

“What’s wrong?”

Tan Yun, holding the pastry, paused and looked at An Jing with some surprise.

An Jing reached out his thumb and wiped away the pastry crumbs from Tan Yun’s mouth, “You have pastry on your Face.”

Tan Yun subconsciously smiled and said, “It’s okay, I’ll eat it when I’m hungry again.”

An Jing: “…”

Truly you, Tan Yun.

Seeing An Jing remain silent, Tan Yun’s Face flushed, and she quickly explained, “No, no, no, I mean… cherish food, how can we waste it?”

An Jing said indifferently, “It’s fine, just eat as much as you like.”

At this moment, Tan Yun was eating with extreme restraint, which was completely different from her usual self, making him a little unaccustomed.

Tan Yun reluctantly glanced at the Eight Treasures Cake in the food box and said, “I’m full now. I don’t know why my appetite has been so big recently; I can even eat a whole piece of pastry.”

Who are you performing for!?

An Jing took a deep breath, trying to control his emotions.

Tan Yun seemed to remember something and asked cautiously, “Oh, right, you said you knew my brother-in-law. Did he ever tell you anything?”

An Jing shook his head and said, “No.”

Hearing this, Tan Yun breathed a slight sigh of relief.

An Jing’s heart stirred, but his expression remained indifferent, “He often told me he was very poor, and that his family was almost eaten out of house and home by someone.”

Hearing this, Tan Yun’s big eyes widened, her eyelashes blinking, “Yes, yes, brother-in-law was a big eater. He could eat eight crabs in one meal. He loved crabs, and I couldn’t stop him. If only I had known it would be like this, I would have let him eat his fill of crabs back then.”

“When I have time at the end of the year to visit his grave, I’ll burn him some crabs, hoping he’ll know my feelings in the afterlife.”

If An Jing were to take off his mask now, one would surely see his entire Face had darkened.

Crabs, that was his greatest inner shadow, so much so that he rarely ate crabs afterward.

An Jing waved his hand and said casually, “That Dr. An truly has good fortune, to have married such a beautiful wife.”

Tan Yun remembered Li Fuzhou’s words and stared at An Jing, saying, “Young Miss? Why are you mentioning the Young Miss?”

Li Fuzhou had warned Tan Yun to never reveal the cult’s secrets to the Ghost Swordsman.

Although Tan Yun was innocent at heart, she wasn’t foolish, so she naturally wouldn’t easily tell the cult’s secrets to the Ghost Swordsman.

“I was just asking casually.”

An Jing said indifferently, “I’m just curious why your Young Miss, with her status, would marry An Jing.”

Tan Yun shook her head and said, “I don’t know either.”

How could she possibly understand Zhao Qingmei’s thoughts?

An Jing secretly pondered, it seemed Tan Yun was wary of him too. Had she even discovered his attempts to fish for information?

Tan Yun looked out the window and said somewhat reluctantly, “It’s getting late, I need to go back. I’ll come find you again the day after tomorrow.”

An Jing raised an eyebrow and asked, “The day after tomorrow? Do you have something planned for these two days?”

Li Fuzhou’s purpose in coming to Yu Jing City couldn’t possibly be just to visit Lu Guoyong and then rush off, could it?

“Yes, the day after tomorrow is the wedding of the Marquis of Pingyang’s son. Master said he wants to attend this wedding to meet old friends,” Tan Yun thought for a moment and decided this wasn’t a Demonic Cult secret, so she told him.

“The Marquis of Pingyang’s son’s wedding?”

An Jing blinked, “Qiu Lun?”

Tan Yun picked up the food box and said, “I’m going back. If I don’t go back soon, Master will get anxious again.”

An Jing nodded and said, “Alright.”

Tan Yun picked up the food box and slowly walked towards the stairs.

An Jing looked at Tan Yun’s retreating figure and muttered to himself, “What exactly is Li Fuzhou doing in Yu Jing City this time?”

Yu Jing City, Pingyang Marquis Manor.

The manor was decorated with lanterns and streamers, bustling with activity.

At this time, everyone in Pingyang Marquis Manor was extremely busy, and each person’s expression carried a hint of joy.

With Marquis Pingding and Marquis Wu guarding the borders, Marquis of Pingyang, as one of the three Marquis of Great Yan Dynasty, was essentially the leader of the military official faction.

Now, the wedding of the Marquis of Pingyang’s son, besides the arrival of the Later Jin envoy, was the biggest event in Yu Jing City.

In the training ground, Qiu Heng held a long spear.

His spear techniques flew up and down, like dancing pear blossoms, sharp in attack, swift in retreat, and unpredictable in changes, truly the skill of a contemporary spear Great Master.

Finally, he concluded with a murderous “Returning Horse Spear” move.

“Father, everything is pretty much ready. We’re just waiting for the wedding the day after tomorrow.”

Qiu Lun walked over with a big belly, beaming with joy. "You can rest assured, Old Man, I'll definitely give you three or four grandsons within five years."

Qiu Heng put away the long spear in his hand, then placed it on the weapon rack, and sat down on a nearby chair. "From childhood to adulthood, I know that whatever you set your mind to, you will do well. I didn't call you here to ask how the wedding preparations are going."

Qiu Lun asked, somewhat puzzled, "Then what is it?"

Qiu Heng said in a deep voice, "Tomorrow, your wedding might see blood."

Qiu Lun nodded and said matter-of-factly, "Of course there will be blood."

"You brat."

Qiu Heng gave Qiu Lun an annoyed look. "I mean, holding your wedding at this critical juncture will attract a lot of trouble."

Qiu Lun's expression turned cold upon hearing this, and he said indifferently, "Who dares to cause trouble? Is there really someone not afraid of death?"

Qiu Heng slowly said, "The Later Jin envoy delegation has entered the capital, and the Crown Prince is still stalling them. This is the first trouble. And then there's Li Fuzhou's appearance, which could be the second trouble."

Qiu Lun thought for a moment and asked, "Is Li Fuzhou really that terrifying?"

Li Fuzhou was the Demonic Cult Human Sect Leader, but in Qiu Lun's opinion, his prestige was inferior to that of the Demonic Cult Heaven Sect Leader. Moreover, even the Heaven Sect Leader wouldn't dare to enter Yu Jingcheng alone, yet Li Fuzhou dared, which he truly couldn't understand.

Qiu Heng picked up his teacup and took a big gulp, saying solemnly, "Do you know why the world says Li Fuzhou is a Genius? Li Fuzhou only began to Cultivate after leaving the Lu Family, meaning he has only been Cultivating for less than thirty years, but his strength has already reached the Half-Step Grandmaster Realm, and he is still suppressing his current Realm."

"Most importantly, he is the only person in this era who can nourish his Dantian with a scholar's Literary Palace, and his future is boundless."

Qiu Lun frowned and said, "Li Fuzhou's ability to combine two different Cultivate paths is indeed remarkable, but what exactly is his purpose in coming to Yu Jingcheng?"

Qiu Heng was silent for a long time before saying, "This involves a past event. You should know the Human Emperor's attitude towards the Lu Family, right?"

Qiu Lun nodded. The Lu Family's power was immense and deeply rooted, like a great mountain in the Imperial Court. In recent years, the Human Emperor had been subtly suppressing the Lu Family, which was something everyone knew.

But a starved camel is still bigger than a horse, let alone a camel that hasn't starved to death yet.

Qiu Heng slowly said, "Back then, Li Fuzhou's prominence in Yu Jingcheng overshadowed all the young talents of his generation, displaying astonishing brilliance. Everyone was amazed by him. At this time, a rumor spread in the market, claiming that Li Fuzhou's talent was worthy of inheriting the Lu Family."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Lun's eyes narrowed involuntarily.

The Human Emperor was already deeply wary of the Lu Family. Now that the Lu Family had produced such a young prodigy, how could the Human Emperor be at ease? This rumor was clearly designed to kill the person and punish the heart.

It killed Li Fuzhou and punished the Human Emperor's heart.

Qiu Lun asked, "So, does that mean the Human Emperor deliberately suppressed Li Fuzhou, thereby forcing him to leave the Lu Family?"

Qiu Heng said, "That's right. This is also why I admire Li Fuzhou. To avoid dragging down the Lu Family and causing turmoil in the Great Yan Dynasty, Li Fuzhou and Zhao Tianyi chose different paths."

Zhao Tianyi bowed to the Human Emperor, becoming the Human Emperor's Imperial Secretary, and was even granted the surname Zhao.

But Li Fuzhou was different; he simply left Yu Jingcheng alone, free and unrestrained.

Qiu Heng sighed, "When he left, the Human Emperor sent the Black Robe Guard to hunt him down. To survive, Li Fuzhou had no choice but to join the Demonic Cult."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Lun also sighed deeply. He never expected that Li Fuzhou's defection to the Demonic Cult had such a secret behind it.

He had long found the rumors in the Jianghu somewhat strange.

The Black Robe Guard was the Human Emperor's blade; how could Lu Guoyong wield this blade?

Now it seemed this was the truth.

Qiu Lun thought for a moment and said, "So, is Li Fuzhou here to seek justice this time?"

Qiu Heng took a deep breath and said, "With his temperament, he wouldn't seek his own death. Moreover, the Human Emperor is seriously injured, and the Later Jin envoy delegation has entered Yu Jingcheng; it is a time of many troubles. No matter what, you must be more careful tomorrow."

Qiu Lun nodded seriously. "I understand, but Li Fuzhou has no grievances with us, so he shouldn't cause trouble at my wedding. Others, out of respect for Father, naturally won't cause disputes either."

Qiu Heng stood up and looked into the distance, saying, "The blood I just mentioned isn't about him."

"Then who is it?"

"The Later Jin Genius Swordsman, Yan Gang."

"Him?"

Qiu Lun raised an eyebrow at the name of this Swordsman.

He had heard it so many times it was practically ingrained in his ears. Over a dozen renowned Swordsmen of Great Yan had already died by his hand, causing turmoil in the Jianghu. If he hadn't come to Yu Jingcheng, even more Swordsmen might have died.

A hint of Killing Intent flashed in Qiu Heng's eyes. "The Crown Prince has issued a secret order: he must die."

Qiu Lun's brows furrowed deeper, then he nodded. "I understand."

Yu Jingcheng, Spring Breeze Tower.

Spring Breeze Tower was a very famous restaurant in Yu Jingcheng. Because the owner here was a genuine Northern Wilderness Road native, the wine sold here was also very spicy and strong.

At this moment, a tall Swordsman wearing leather clothes and holding a black treasured sword walked in.

"Customer, what do you need?" The waiter enthusiastically walked over.

"Two catties of meat, three catties of wine. The wine must be the strongest." The leather-clad Swordsman's accent was a bit strange, but the waiter could barely understand him.

"Alright!"

The waiter quickly shouted towards the back kitchen, "Two catties of meat, three catties of strong liquor."

Upon hearing this, the leather-clad Swordsman found a corner and sat down.

Before long, the wine and meat were served.

The leather-clad Swordsman grabbed the meat with one hand and the strong liquor from the jar with the other, gulping it down, displaying his unrestrained and bold nature.

"Have you heard? That Later Jin Swordsman, Yan Gang, wants to challenge a Great Sword Immortal."

"How can he, with his abilities, challenge a Great Sword Immortal-level Swordsman?"

"Does he think a Fifth Realm Swordsman can challenge a Great Sword Immortal? That's utterly ridiculous."

"Barbarians are barbarians; perhaps they haven't fully civilized."

At this moment, two people at a nearby table began to discuss.

Upon hearing the word 'barbarian', a cold glint immediately appeared in the leather-clad Swordsman's eyes.

A young man at the next table also became interested and said, "Do you know that a hundred years ago, the grasslands were just like those foreign tribes from the desert, all living by eating raw meat and blood? It's only in recent years that they've started eating cooked food."

"Their sword techniques are still stolen from our Great Yan. What kind of top Swordsmen could they possibly have? Look, Zhao State has Cui Daoxian, and the Demonic Cult even has a White Tiger Sword Immortal. What does this vast Later Jin have?"

"They have Yan Gang, don't they? Isn't he the Later Jin Genius Swordsman?"

"Him? That's truly laughable."

"Facing a Great Sword Immortal, I don't think he can last ten moves."

"Ten moves? I think three moves would be generous."

"White-Clad Sword Immortal Sect Leader Lin is in Yu Jingcheng; does he dare go?"

"I think Yan Gang must be regretting it now. He should have said he challenged Yi Daoyun or Cui Daoxian, after all, those two aren't in Yu Jingcheng."

"Hahahahaha!" "Hahahaha!"

The entire restaurant erupted in heated discussion, with undisguised mockery and sarcasm in their tones.

The leather-clad Swordsman's Face grew increasingly gloomy, as if water might drip from it.

Finally, he clenched his fists, picked up the sword on the table, and walked out of the restaurant.

The moment the leather-clad Swordsman's figure disappeared, the young man who had been wantonly mocking Yan Gang earlier saw this and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

May 13th.

Auspicious for: moving into a new house, construction, meeting nobles, seeking wealth, marriage.

Inauspicious for: relocation, burial, construction, building a roof, installing a bed.

The sun was not scorching, and the breeze was gentle.

An Jing sat cross-legged in the courtyard, feeling the Heaven and Earth, seeking the feeling of body and mind unity. The Human Flower, Earth Flower Realm, and Heaven Flower behind him appeared and disappeared, emitting a faint glow.

Flowers wither but fragrance remains, a calm heart finds inner peace.

Only by achieving true inner tranquility can one reach this state of body and mind unity.

An Jing had been searching for that state for the past two days but always felt a subtle lack.

Another half an hour passed, and An Jing heard footsteps, slowly opening his eyes.

He saw Lu Jingchun, bruised and swollen, limping from a distance. The moment he saw An Jing, a spark of light appeared in his eyes.

"Uncle Ghost, I need your help with something."

An Jing glanced at Lu Jingchun and asked, "What help?"

Lu Jingchun chuckled twice and said, "My elder brother is getting married today. You see, it's quite inconvenient for me to go in this state. I'd like to ask you to help me deliver this congratulatory gift."

"The wedding invitation and gift are all here. Just go and tell my elder brother."

As he spoke, Lu Jingchun carefully took out a box from his embrace.

An Jing took the box and looked inside. It contained a pair of jade mandarin ducks. The jade was dense and smooth, incredibly tough, crystal clear in color, warm and elegant. Moreover, the craftsmanship was exquisite and lifelike, clearly indicating its high value.

Lu Jingchun rubbed his hands and said, "In my current state, it's not good for me to go find my friends, so I can only come to you, Uncle Ghost."

An Jing nodded slightly and said, "Alright, I'll go for you."

Even if Lu Jingchun hadn't given him an invitation, he had planned to attend the wedding banquet. Not for anything else, but because he heard that the Marquis of Pingyang had a slight connection with Noble Consort Rong, and Noble Consort Rong would also be present.

And Jiang Sanjia was 'forced' to die by this Noble Consort Rong, Mu Xiaowan.

Lu Jingchun patted his chest and said excitedly, "Uncle Ghost, if you ever have any instructions in the future, just say the word. I, Lu Jingchun, will not refuse."

An Jing thought for a moment and said, "By the way, what have Li Fuzhou and Tan Yun been doing these past two days?"

"Li Fuzhou has been reading. Tan Yun went out, bought a few new clothes, and then cooked in the kitchen."

As Lu Jingchun said this, a hint of fear appeared in his eyes. "I heard that the food was given to a dog, and the dog collapsed after one bite, only waking up half a day later. In my opinion, it would be best if she married a doctor."

An Jing asked, puzzled, "Why?"

Lu Jingchun honestly replied, "After eating the food, they can be immediately sent for treatment."

An Jing looked at the little fat man in front of him: "…"

Lu Jingchun chuckled. "Uncle Ghost, don't worry, as long as they make any move, I'll report to you immediately."

"You've done well. I'm leaving now."

An Jing patted Lu Jingchun's shoulder, then put away the invitation and the congratulatory gift and walked into the distance.

"Uncle Ghost is truly a good person."

Lu Jingchun looked at An Jing's back and couldn't help but sigh, "I must not fail his trust."

He had never been so highly regarded since he was a child.

An Jing, clad in a black robe, walked out of the Lu Manor's main gate, his Town Evil Sword hidden behind him.

At this moment, Yu Jingcheng was already very noisy and lively.

Today was the wedding of the Marquis of Pingyang's son, and even the common people in the city were beaming with joy, which showed the Marquis of Pingyang's prestige and reputation among the people.

After all, the Marquis of Pingyang was one of the few military commanders who could gain the upper hand in battles against Zhao State.

After about half an incense stick's time, An Jing arrived at the entrance of the Pingyang Marquis Manor.

The entrance of the Pingyang Marquis Manor was crowded with people, bustling with excitement.

Sedan chairs and carriages had already blocked the intersection.

Those who emerged from them were all princes and ministers, high-ranking officials of the Imperial Court, or renowned experts from the Jianghu.

And Qiu Lun, dressed in an oversized wedding robe, with a smile blooming on his Face like a chrysanthemum, was greeting the arriving guests at the entrance.

An Jing stood at the entrance, just about to step forward, when he happened to see several familiar figures.

It was a father and daughter. The man was handsome and refined, with an extraordinary demeanor, and the woman was even more beautiful, stunning enough to make fish sink and wild geese fall.

Their appearance immediately attracted the attention of everyone at the entrance.

"Sect Leader Dai, Sister Ling, quickly, quickly, please come in."

Qiu Lun quickly greeted the newcomers.

"Nephew Qiu, congratulations."

Dai Danshu looked at Qiu Lun, who resembled a mountain of flesh, and was filled with emotion.

If it hadn't been for that incident back then, this harmonious scene between father-in-law and son-in-law should have taken place on Five Poison Mountain. Who would have thought that Wu Qiren was actually the Ghost Swordsman in disguise?

Qiu Lun's heart stirred, and he smiled, "Sister Ling's Cultivate has improved again; that's truly gratifying."

He remembered that the last time he saw Dai Ling, she was only at the First Rank Realm. Now, she had already condensed the Human Flower, and even the Earth Flower Realm was about to manifest. Such rapid Cultivate truly made people secretly gasp in amazement.

Dai Ling's expression was cold and indifferent as she nodded.

Then the father and daughter slowly walked inside.

An Jing stood in the distance, his brows slightly furrowed. "It should be that wisp of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Essence left by Old Man Qingfeng."

When he fought Old Man Qingfeng, he had already lost the ability to move and had left in a hurry without directly killing Old Man Qingfeng. But afterwards, he learned that Old Man Qingfeng had already died.

At that time, only Feng Lingyue was present. It was likely that she took Old Man Qingfeng's Heaven and Earth Spiritual Essence and then gave it to Dai Ling for Cultivate, which allowed Dai Ling's Cultivate to reach the Peak of the Human Flower Realm.

Before long, high-ranking officials and nobles from the Imperial Court, such as Minister of Public Works Yue Tingchen and Minister of Revenue Fang Shaohan, all personally attended.

An Jing slowly walked out and headed towards the Pingyang Marquis Manor.

Ghost Swordsman!

Qiu Lun's eyes lit up when he saw the newcomer. "Big Brother, you're here?"

"Mm, this is a congratulatory gift."

An Jing took out the jade that Lu Jingchun had prepared for him.

"Big Brother, let me see what gift you've prepared."

Qiu Lun directly took the box and opened it. His eyes immediately lit up; he naturally recognized the extraordinary nature of the jade at a glance.

An Jing looked at Qiu Lun playfully. "How is it?"

This big fat man was truly thick-skinned, opening it right in front of him.

Qiu Lun tossed it to someone nearby, then gave a thumbs-up. "As expected of my Big Brother, so generous."

An Jing smiled and said, "Little Bird, since you call me Big Brother, this is only right."

Little Bird…

Upon hearing An Jing's words, Qiu Lun chuckled twice. "Big Brother, there's an opportunity to make a name for yourself today. Do you want it?"

The trap for Yan Gang had already been laid. Now they were just waiting for Yan Gang to fall into it, and then they would use the sharpest sword to kill him.

An Jing raised an eyebrow and said, "Do I still need to make a name for myself?"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Lun nodded slightly.

He was one of the six Great Sword Immortals of today, with a black flood dragon as his exotic beast, who had swallowed Zhenyi Sect's Half-Step Grandmaster Song Chengbiao alive. His Town Evil Sword was stained with the blood of Zhenyi Sect's Yu Lin and Grand Master Yuhuai. He had defeated Heaven Sword Cui Daoxian and pursued Qi Shu for three hundred miles.

It could be said that his achievements were brilliant and his reputation formidable, otherwise, he wouldn't have become one of the top six Great Sword Immortals in the world today.

And there was another little-known feat: he had killed the Grandmaster expert, Old Man Qingfeng.

A man's name, a tree's shadow.

Ghost Swordsman, those three words alone were a deterrent.

Qiu Lun whispered, "Big Brother, you must have seen Five Venoms Lord Dai Danshu just go in. Ling Yuanjing and He Chen from Zhenyi Sect have already arrived, and Lin Yiyang has also returned."

"As long as Xiao Qianqiu doesn't come, it's fine."

An Jing smiled faintly, then walked into the Pingyang Marquis Manor.