Chapter 49 049[VIP]

The features passed down by word of mouth in the martial arts world, and the few portraits of important figures in circulation, aren't necessarily enough to accurately identify someone who's merely a name in the martial arts world.

Unless, for example, someone like Qi Shaoshang, with a missing arm, still possesses the untamed aura of a dragon and a tiger, yet wears official uniform.

Or, like Chief Constable Wuqing, whose rigged sedan chair and wheelchair have become trademarks.

Or, perhaps, someone recognizes the weapon before the person.

Yuan Suiyun's situation is different.

Although he's the young master of Wuzheng Villa, he rarely roams the martial arts world. To most, his martial arts skills and appearance seem like mere fragments of a few words.

But he'd forgotten that he'd first traveled to Bianjing before arriving in Anyang!

Even if he wasn't the protagonist that day and only interacted with a handful of people, his appearance was no secret to anyone who sought to curry favor with Wuzheng Villa.

And now, just one such voice was all it took.

The former young manor's martial arts, especially his Qinggong skills, were indeed exceptional, but in today's restricted situation, how could he possibly be a match for Chu Liuxiang? His disguise had long been stripped away, revealing his handsome face.

His eyes, now blind, were exposed to everyone.

His identity was further confirmed by the pallor he paled upon hearing that voice.

"..."

"Why is Young Master Yuan here?"

"...You shouldn't be asking why he's here, but why he's the Bat Young Master!"

"Do you remember the legend of the Bat Island on the sea..."

"But Wuzheng Villa has a century-old reputation. How could they do such a thing?"

"..."

Yuan Suiyun searched for a chance to escape. His exceptional hearing kept pouring into his ears.

His face paled with every word he heard.

A place like the Anyang Black Market seemed safe to Yuan Suiyun at first. With the even more eye-catching wedding banquet, there was no need for Yuan Suiyun to hide his identity.

Perhaps, through the Qinglong Society's influence, he could expand Bat Island's business.

Wu Weiyang, the chief of the coastal Twelve Linked Docks, had been killed because he refused to assist him. He had temporarily replaced him with one of his disguised men. But to expand his business, he couldn't rely solely on the Twelve Linked Docks; he also needed waterways along the major rivers.

This was exactly what the Qinglong Society could offer him.

To secure such support, he'd taken a small risk of stepping out of the shadows, which wasn't a big deal.

But now, things were different!

Young Master Bat's Bat Island had always issued limited invitations, relying on recruits to expand its influence, making it far less renowned than other factions.

However, since they operated in the martial arts world, they left clues, and naturally, they were labeled a shady faction by the "Heavenly Secrets" and the intelligence departments of the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower.

Now, suddenly, everyone was told that the owner of Bat Island was the young master of Wuzheng Villa, a man with a distinguished reputation in the martial arts world, a man of honor and dignity to outsiders. It was like saying: A martial arts master known for his wisdom and virtue was actually guilty of murder and arson.

What a shocking revelation!

Xi Honglei paused for a moment, her rope dart in her hand, and suddenly turned back to look in Yuan Suiyun's direction.

If Ah Fei hadn't been so focused, he would have feinted when Shi Guanyin tried to escape and instead slashed her shoulder with his sword, almost giving her a chance to escape.

Fortunately, Xi Honglei's momentary daze was only a moment, and the flexible rope dart had already wrapped around Shi Guanyin's neck the next moment.

The string was like a sharp blade, and it seemed that just one more inch would have strangled that beautiful neck on the spot.

Shi Guanyin wanted to cut the string with her fingers, but Ah Fei's sword had already cut her hand.

The two hideous bloody marks were caused by the wind-swept wooden stick.

The sword then pointed at her throat without any hesitation.

Xi Honglei seized the opportunity to breathe and shouted, "Don't worry about who he is, capture him first. Previously, a sister in Shanxi went missing. After seeking help from the government, they turned to Wuzheng Mountain Villa for help, but before they could even reach it, they were robbed and murdered, and fled to Huinuo City."

"I thought it was just a coincidence at first, but now it seems there's something else going on."

Yuan Suiyun had another business behind him, and there was no guarantee

he wouldn't be murdered to silence him. Regardless, since his identity had been exposed, he couldn't be allowed to leave.

"Capture him!"

Everyone turned around, startled to see the words coming from Shi Qingruo.

Whether it was Yuan Suiyun's sudden revelation or Xi Honglei's words, she had completely turned her gaze away from the lifeless Gongzi Yu and turned a murderous gaze in Yuan Suiyun's direction.

Gongzi Yu's body lay to the side, the sword still undrawn. Shi Qingruo's white dress, where she had shattered her wedding gown, still stained with blood. Her eyes, shimmering with emotion, were tinged with a faint red at the corners and below.

This revealed that the events preceding this weren't merely an illusion.

Yet, at this moment, rather than a newly awakened bride, the more fitting title for her was still Holy Lord.

Holy Lord of the Misty Heaven Alliance.

The command to "capture him" was issued, even to the members of the Azure Dragon Society, despite the absence of any Misty Heaven Alliance members present. Even

though it was at her hands that the Dragon Leader, Gongzi Yu, had died, she still issued the order with unwavering resolve.

In those sweeping, beautiful eyes, the unwavering authority of a superior ruling over his subordinates was evident, forcing the members of the Azure Dragon Society to remember that their current master was the woman before them.

Gongzi Yu, even in death, had no regrets, yet he still wanted to pass this vast legacy into her hands. She was their master, and she was bound to obey.

No, that wasn't right. They didn't have much choice at this point.

The official forces brought by Helian Chunshui could turn their swords against the Azure Dragon Society at any moment. If they hadn't taken advantage of this opportunity to seek refuge with Shi Qingruo and contribute to the capture of Yuan Suiyun, they might not have escaped alive today.

She had indeed issued her orders too quickly, as if she didn't care about Gongzi Yu's death, but this was also a favor.

The guards accompanying Yuan Suiyun had intended to rescue their young master.

They had wanted to intervene when Chu Liuxiang attacked, but the fight was too swift. Now that Yuan Suiyun's identity had been exposed, they had to fight with all their might.

Unfortunately, before they could reunite with Yuan Suiyun and fight their way out, they were surrounded by members of the Azure Dragon Society.

They were dressed in festive attire, and some were holding the instruments they had played earlier, now recklessly using them as weapons.

In the midst of this chaos, Shi Qingruo's hand and palm sword slashed through the air, striking Yuan Suiyun in the back of the neck.

This incredibly fast, unreserved move caused everyone present to gasp.

Though she wasn't wielding a sword, her attack was all the more formidable and impossible to defend against.

Even though Yuan Suiyun had heard the subtle sound of wind and tried to dodge, he felt a tightness on the back of his neck and instantly lost consciousness.

He couldn't see, as someone quickly bound him with rope and chains, preventing him from breaking free no matter how skilled he was.

A brand new sword was also handed to Shi Qingruo.

It was someone from the Azure Dragon Society who handed it to her.

Shi Qingruo turned her head and saw that the person handing her the sword had bowed their head in a respectful gesture.

Without a word, she grasped the sword.

"Madam Shi, Wuzheng Villa holds considerable status in the martial arts world. With Chief Constable Wuqing here, bring him to justice as soon as possible. This should shed light on the matter of Yuan Suiyun and Bat Island. Don't..."

"Do you think I'm going to kill him with my sword right now to relieve my frustration?" Shi Qingruo scoffed.

Chu Liuxiang suddenly realized he had misunderstood and stepped aside.

Shi Qingruo took a few steps forward, past the bound and collapsed Yuan Suiyun, heading towards...

the assassin's leader.

The sword flashed swiftly, severing the tendons in his limbs and the covering on his face with a single,

decisive strike. The torment of the Shunni Divine Needles had left his face a tinge of crimson and green, as if his entire being was focused on fighting the hidden weapon's murderous intent.

Shi Qingruo's sword strike was the final straw that broke the camel's back.

"Ah—" Xue Xiaoren cried out miserably. He tried to rise and fight back, but the excruciating pain made it impossible for him to struggle.

After this instinctive counterattack, he finally, like Yuan Suiyun, realized something even more terrifying and tried to cover his face.

But the two sword marks on his hands were still bleeding, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't do it.

This reaction of trying to hide something was bound to cause a lot of discussion among those around him.

"...He's covering his face, who is this person?"

"He doesn't look familiar?"

"Wait, this face does look familiar."

The painful mixture of blue and red, coupled with his current state on the ground, made identification quite difficult. However, the place was crowded with guests and connections. If someone could recognize Yuan Suiyun, it was natural that someone would also be able to see the clues in Xue Xiaoren's appearance.

What's more, he was a swordsman, and a swordsman who looked like his brother!

Suddenly someone exclaimed, "Is he... is he the Second Master Xue from Xuejiazhuang?"

"Second Master Xue? But the last time I visited Xuejiazhuang, that Second Master Xue was clearly..."

He was clearly a child who always put on makeup and seemed to have the mind of a child. How could he be the assassin leader with superb swordsmanship in front of him?

Not to mention, Xue Yiren was the foremost swordsman in the Jiangnan area. Although he was aloof, he could be considered an open and honest man. Xuejiazhuang also had many industries and was never short of money. There was no need to use such means to make money.

But when I thought about Yuan Suiyun's identity being exposed before, Xue Xiaoren's two-faced identity was not so difficult to accept. He was just... another guy with a two-faced personality.

Shi Qingruo pointed a sword at Xue Xiaoren's eyebrows, and with his other hand, he had already pointed a finger at his acupoint in the air, preventing him from banging his head against the sword tip.

She said coldly, "Second Master Xue, there's no need to rush to die as an apology. Yuan Suiyun's case must be thoroughly investigated, and yours is no exception."

Qi Shaoshang had already captured Zhongyuan Yidianhong and was escorted to a location along with the assassins.

Elsewhere, with Shi Guanyin captured, her disciples were unlikely to escape.

Those watching the battle exchanged glances, fearing they would be next in line. Shi Qingruo had already sheathed her sword and was sprinting towards Chief Constable Wuqing.

Or perhaps she wasn't heading towards Wuqing, but Ye Gucheng, who had already been escorted to Wuqing's side.

Three steps away, Shi Qingruo suddenly stopped, as if afraid to take another step.

Ye Gucheng, previously stabbed by the sword, had been bleeding, but he was as pale as a corpse. Now, the faint heaving in his chest had completely subsided.

In the silence that filled the room, only the sound of a sword dropping to the ground echoed.

...

Autumn arrived unusually early in Bianjing this year.

Or perhaps it's the recent flurry of important events that has made it difficult for people to overlook the changes in the climate.

It seemed like a few days ago it was still midsummer with occasional showers, but in the blink of an eye, an autumn breeze blew in from the north, driving away the summer heat.

A swordsman reached out to brush away the fallen leaves blowing in from the window, placed his sword on the table, and sat down. As he did so, he overheard the conversations of the people around him, all of which were related to the recent major news in Bianjing.

He listened to the names mentioned around him, but didn't hear the words Fu Zongshu and Yuan Shisanxian. He looked at his companions with some curiosity.

"You've been escorting back from Shu for three months, and you've missed a lot of news."

"Shu isn't completely isolated from the world. I know some things."

For example, Fu Zongshu had previously conspired with former associates of the Shangqing Baolu Palace, but was caught red-handed by the Emperor and Zhuge Shenhou. Or Yuan Shisanxian, leading the Liuhe Azure Dragon to Bianjing, was killed before he even had a chance to deploy the Liuhe Azure Dragon formation. The Saint Master of the Mitian Alliance and the Master of Fengyu Tower teamed up to kill him.

Before his capture, Fu Zongshu was incredibly powerful, with numerous retainers under his wing. Perhaps someone might have dared to risk a prisoner-break and rescue him before his actual execution.

Unfortunately, by the time he arrived in Bianjing, Fu Zongshu's guilt was already clear, and he was executed in the market as a token of apology. His property was confiscated, preventing him from witnessing such a grand spectacle.

But his friend smiled: "I said you knew too much behind the times." "

It's true that the old villain Fu has recruited a lot of followers, but you don't even look at why these people gathered around him. Now the tree has fallen, even Yuan Shisanxian is dead, how could the monkeys risk their lives for revenge, they will just scatter." "

Even his adopted son Fu Kang, whom he treated like his own son, escaped by himself with the help of Mei Chaofeng. It's a pity that he had been targeted for a long time and could not escape at all. Now he has been sent to serve his sentence."

He nodded: "That's right, since he came for profit, he should leave for profit."

The friend smiled and said: "However, this is no longer the most hotly debated topic in the city of Bianjing."

For the officials in the court, the downfall of Fu Zongshu and the emperor's recovery of the power of the prime minister are extremely important matters. The Southern Prince's mansion was subsequently raided and confiscated, and all were convicted of treason. The deaths of Master Heiguang and Lin Lingsu led to the suppression of Taoism, which had risen sharply during the previous emperor's reign. This was also a matter for them to carefully understand the emperor's intentions.

But for the people of the martial arts world, this was far less important than other news.

He hurriedly asked, "What are those?"

"For example, Yuan Suiyun, Xue Xiaoren, and Shi Guanyin."

My friend explained, "Half a month ago, Yuan Dongyuan, the former owner of Wuzheng Villa, arrived in Bianjing and pleaded for Yuan Suiyun, saying that Yuan Suiyun was extremely talented but blind, which led to his extreme character and bad deeds. Master Kumei, the head of Huashan, also testified on Yuan Suiyun's behalf, saying that he was not a bad person by nature, but had simply taken the wrong path. They didn't expect the Divine Marquis Mansion and the Misty Heaven Alliance to work so efficiently. They also joined forces with the Shenlong Gang on the Yangtze River to investigate the old case. Before Yuan Dongyuan arrived, they had already locked down the location of Bat Island and rescued many people." “

Who could have thought that the young master of Wuzheng Villa, who should have had a bright future, could be so evil. Not only did he seize the Twelve Linked Docks as his base and kill the chief Wu Weiyang, he also built a terrible den of indulging in evil on Bat Island, plundering the population of the Central Plains to fill the island with servants. In order to make people fall into darkness with him, he blinded these poor people who were abducted to the island, or simply sewed up their eyelids, and controlled those who came to the island to do business through various means, in order to enrich the auction items on Bat Island…”

Maybe the person sitting next to him was talking about this, someone slammed the table in anger: “He is really a piece of shit!”

“Isn’t this person afraid of retribution for doing this!” The swordsman gritted his teeth.

A friend sighed, "Perhaps it was because the old manor owner Yuan discovered his deeds, but he still coddled him and even erased the evidence, allowing him to become even more impunity. Fortunately, fate finally showed its favor and revealed his other identity."

Some had initially sympathized with the old manor owner, who had a son in his old age; now, with his gray hair, he pleaded for his son, looking truly pitiful. However, once evidence of Yuan Suiyun's crimes surfaced, he was pelted with rotten eggs as soon as he stepped out into the street, and Master Kumei was also heavily criticized.

Even more bizarre, Yuan Suiyun had already been apprehended, and knowing there was no way he could recover, he simply confessed. He and Master Kumei had been lovers, collaborating extensively, not simply a relationship between elder and junior.

Master Kumei was also brought to court for questioning, and Huashan Senior Sister Gao Yanan was forced to hastily take over the position of acting head. The sudden news threw Huashan into chaos.

Both the Yuan father and son, and Master Kumei, would surely pay for their crimes.

I'm afraid that even death alone would not be enough to quell the hatred in the hearts of everyone in the martial arts world.

"What about Xue Xiaoren?" he asked.

His friend replied, "Xue Xiaoren usually seems like an uncultured kid, but he was exposed in the Anyang black market. He has a huge killer organization under his command, and even Zhongyuan Yidianhong is his disciple. However, just before Yuan Dongyuan pleaded for Yuan Suiyun, Xue Yiren also went to Liushenmen and said that the killer organization was not founded by his crazy second brother, but was run by him. Those murder cases in the martial arts world were also his handiwork, just to get rid of those who were enemies of Xuejiazhuang." "

This is not right..." he wondered, "If he really founded the killer organization just to get rid of those who were enemies of Xuejiazhuang, would Zuo Qinghou of Zhibei Villa still have a chance to survive?"

He had heard a long time ago that in the Jiangnan area, Zuo Qinghou and Xue Yiren had a grudge against each other and had been hostile for more than ten years.

The friend choked, having never expected an outsider to be so inexplicable. He simply said, "So, naturally, Xue Yiren was the one who came out and made this up, hoping to use it to scapegoat his brother. But Xue Xiaoren was a bit resolute. Seeing his brother's willingness to take the blame, he pleaded guilty in court and then, even daring to die, didn't give Xue Yiren a chance to take the blame."

Yuan Suiyun's blunder was obvious, and while Xue Xiaoren's assassin organization had a history of assassinating officials and indeed had committed acts of rebellion, his confession and execution were still somewhat regrettable.

Unicorn

: "As for Shi Guanyin... the desert is difficult to navigate, and rescuing her from her lair will take some time. A formal verdict has yet to be announced. Fortunately, her martial arts have been crippled, and she's now imprisoned alongside her two sons, which is reassuring."

"Chu Xiangshuai has escorted several of Shi Guanyin's disciples to the northwest desert, and the current leader of the Beggars' Sect, Hong Qigong, has also arrived from Jinan. We should have a final verdict in two months at the latest."

He glanced out the window as he spoke.

He didn't know if it was his imagination, but this autumn seemed unusually clear and bright.

It couldn't just be due to the weather.

Fu Zongshu's followers had been eliminated, the Bat Prince had been apprehended, Xue Xiaoren had committed suicide, Shi Guanyin had been captured, the Six and a Half Sect had long since been destroyed, and the remaining Mi Tian League and the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower were conducting self-investigations and strengthening discipline...

This spate of news made the jianghu people in Bianjing much more cautious than usual in their words and actions.

Everyone who saw it couldn't help but remark that this year, from the beginning of the year to the beginning of autumn, seemed to have undergone a profound transformation.

And the reason for all this was simply this: the insane former Saint of the Misty Heaven Alliance, Guan Qi, had married a new wife.

"Why are you only talking about their outcome?" This remark brought his wandering thoughts back to the present moment. "You haven't told me how they were discovered."

With backgrounds like Yuan Suiyun and Xue Xiaoren, they would have been incredibly careful to conceal their identities, never letting anyone discover the connection between them. As for the demonic Shi Guanyin, her decision to not come to Bianjing to rescue Wuhua and Nangong Ling was a testament to her cautious approach. How could she have been apprehended so easily?

These three possessed considerable martial arts prowess; unless a trap had been set specifically for their capture, they should still be at large.

His friend chuckled, unable to suppress his laughter, his earlier angry and serious tone shifting as he discussed Yuan Suiyun's evidence. "That's a long story."

This was the hottest topic in Bianjing right now.

Love affairs in the martial arts world have always attracted considerable attention, perhaps because those who practice swords and swords often find a bit of fun in their boring lives.

So much so that news of the Anyang black market reached Bianjing. While these martial arts experts were horrified by Shi Qingruo's impressive success, even allowing the Misty Heaven Alliance to successively swallow up Baiyun City and the Azure Dragon Society, they couldn't help but gossip about this...

bloody wedding banquet with its many twists and turns.

"You didn't know that just after Yuan Shisanxian was slain by the Saint Master, the head of the Azure Dragon Society suddenly appeared and abducted her. Somehow he managed to seal away a portion of the Saint Master's memories, forcing her to agree to marry him in Anyang." "

Who knew that the leak of news of the marriage would allow Chief Constable Wuqing, Constable Qi, and others to arrive in time, bringing with them sufficient reinforcements? Ye Gucheng, Lord of Baiyun City, even petitioned the court to temporarily lift his house arrest upon hearing of the Saint Master's disappearance and rushed to Anyang. To thwart Gongzi Yu's plot and free the Saint Master from his grasp, he even collided with the Saint Master's sword, smeared with blood."

"Hiss—" The man who had returned from Shuzhong's return widened his eyes upon hearing this.

Previously, he had only heard of Ye Gucheng's exceptional swordsmanship, known as the White-Robed Sword Immortal, and his secluded residence overseas, as if worldly emotions had long since ceased to concern him.

How could a single moment of love turn his world upside down, even risking his life?

"Then he..."

"I heard that during his previous duel with Ximen Chuxue, although he made a breakthrough in swordsmanship, he also suffered hidden injuries. The Ziwei soft sword in Master Shengzhu's hand was once the sword of the Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai, and its blade is extremely unusual. The combination of new and old injuries directly cost him his life."

"But anyway, his death can't be considered in vain," the speaker continued with a sigh. "He invited Ximen Chuxue to a duel, supposedly on Fu Zongshu's orders, hoping to distract the palace guards. Although he didn't personally participate in the rebellion, he was an accomplice. The court didn't know how to deal with him, so his own death saved him trouble and gave the people of Baiyun City a chance to escape punishment." "

Also, he didn't want to see Master Shengzhu marrying Gongzi Yu in a daze, and that also fulfilled his wish. His blood spilled on the spot, just in time to awaken Master Shengzhu's memory, causing her to draw her sword against Gongzi Yu instead."

"What a romantic!" the man gasped.

If it were him, he wouldn't have gambled his life. Someone as successful and renowned as Ye Gucheng seemed even less likely to do such a thing.

But perhaps, for a romantic, such a gamble allowed him to die in peace.

"He's not the only romantic, Young Master Yu is one too..."

The man looked in the direction his friend had pointed, and saw that the center of the teahouse, where storytellers should have been, was now occupied by a theatrical performance.

No, calling it a theatrical performance might not be quite right; it should be called role-playing.

The female character, clad in blood-stained white, a wedding gown lying on the ground, clutched a longsword. The male character, wearing a bronze mask and a groom's suit, made it clear who they were impersonating.

The female character thrust her sword at the male character, using a trick to create the illusion of a piercing blow.

The male character made no effort to call for help from those around him. Instead, he clutched his sword and asked quietly, "Have you ever loved me?"

The moment these words were spoken, the audience erupted in applause, laughter and applause mixing into a tumultuous cacophony.

As if fearing someone from the Misty Heaven Alliance might intervene and disrupt the performance, the two men recreating the scene from that day quickly leaped off the stage, changed into more indistinguishable attire, and returned.

The swordsman's lips twitched. "Is this Young Master Yu?"

His friend nodded earnestly. "Yes."

If Ye Gucheng could be considered a man of deep affection, choosing the path that best suited him, then Young Master Yu was truly... hard to describe.

Master Shengzhu, seething with rage, drew his sword against him. He might have had a chance to escape, but he met his end at the hands of his beloved.

Furthermore, he urged the entire Azure Dragon Society not to vent his anger on Shi Qingruo for his death, but to continue recognizing her as the new leader.

The most shocking part was the question of whether they had ever loved each other.

It's said that upon hearing the news, Zhang Sanba, the Dragon Head of the Heavenly Secrets, forced his adopted son, Zhang Tan, to swear that he would never let a woman bring him to this point in the future.

This Saint Master led the Misty Heaven Alliance to a breakout from the chaos of Bianjing, allowing everyone today to witness the true power of the bright and clear sky. If

the wedding banquet hadn't been so crucial, Yuan Suiyun, Xue Xiaoren, Shi Guanyin, and others wouldn't have appeared, and faced with the formidable force that came to rescue the bride, they wouldn't have had any chance of escape.

But falling in love with this Saint Master seemed truly fatal.

Ye Gucheng died, his sword falling into the hands of Shi Qingruo, and his body was sent to the South China Sea for a burial at sea.

After Gongzi Yu's death, Shi Qingruo took over as leader of the Azure Dragon Society. Since then, the Azure Dragon Society's influence has been gradually absorbed into the Misty Heaven Alliance. It won't be long before the name of the Azure Dragon Society disappears, or even becomes a branch of the Misty Heaven Alliance.

It seems that Guan Qi, who previously shattered the void, has been given the opportunity to rise to a higher level thanks to Shi Qingruo. But no one can truly say what kind of world will emerge after the shattering of the void.

However, one thing is very clear. That is, the position of Master Shengzhu, one of the Seven Saint Lords of the Mysterious Heaven Alliance, was precisely what Guan Qi had left behind.

"She's a quiet presence, yet when she does, she'll make a splash..."

The swordsman's lips twitched again, feeling that Bianjing City had become increasingly confusing lately.

But he felt he had heard correctly. Rather than teasing, the words contained a deeper, undeniable admiration.

When the titles of Saint Lord of the Mysterious Heaven Alliance, Lord of Baiyun City, and Dragon Head of the Azure Dragon Society all fell upon one person, she was already the most influential figure in Bianjing City, needing no gossip to further her reputation.

Just then, a commotion erupted outside the window.

His friend glanced casually out the window, but suddenly his gaze fixed.

The next moment, he abruptly rose, clung to the window, and gazed in the direction of the commotion.

"What's wrong?"

"...Master Saint's carriage."

The chatter in the teahouse about recent events in Bianjing, the relationship between Gongzi Yu and Shi Qingruo, and the question of who possessed greater "dedication" between Ye Gucheng and Gongzi Yu vanished in an instant.

Inside and outside the teahouse, only the carriage passed, the wind chimes from the corner of its hood twitching.

Only when the carriage slowly vanished from view did a sudden gasp shatter the stillness.

"...Where do you think she's going?"

Someone paused for a moment, then replied, "Judging from the direction the carriage is heading, it should be Tianquan Mountain outside the city."

Silence fell upon the teahouse again.

...

On Tianquan Mountain stood the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower.

And if they remembered correctly, the owner of Fengyu Tower, Su Mengzhen, had been ill ever since being wounded by Yuan Shisanxian's arrow, and his condition had worsened.

He hadn't appeared to take charge for half a month.