Meng Qi didn’t act like a guest at all. He strolled slowly to the side of Wang Siyuan and Han San Niangzi, sat down in a relaxed manner, picked up the prepared tea, and symbolically stirred it a few times with the tea lid.
The tea was emerald green, with tea buds floating up and down, stretching gracefully like lotus flowers rising from water. The aroma was fresh and distant, and the taste was smooth and long-lasting. Even though Meng Qi didn’t know much about tea, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “Excellent tea.”
“From the nine Qianlong tea trees beside the Guangling Yue Lake. This is the only place where it’s available,” Han San Niangzi replied with a glance at Wang Siyuan.
Wang Siyuan remained silent, and Meng Qi continued with a smile, “We were searching for the Wolf King but ended up finding the fiend who killed the Eight-Armed Celestial Dragon and others. It’s quite a coincidence.”
“Just a few days ago, Han San Niangzi and Grandmaster Luo attempted to join forces, forcing the Snake King to eliminate other smaller leaders, giving Jiang Hengchuan and me a reason to approach him first. I must say, it was quite convenient.”
“One coincidence is normal, but two coincidences are worth suspecting. Plus, I’ve always wondered why you, Master Wang, didn’t take the opportunity to lay out a plan while searching for the Wolf King. That’s why I came.”
His smile was faint, his white robe as pure as snow, and his sword across his knees. His tone was neither angry, boastful, nor uncertain.
“Knowing to come over means you still have some sense,” Wang Siyuan commented succinctly.
Meng Qi twitched his lips slightly, “I can see it, so can others.”
“That’s exactly what we need them to see,” Wang Siyuan replied indifferently, his expression unchanged, his face still pale, making Meng Qi suspect this guy might faint any moment.
Meng Qi exhaled, “I hate most those of you who always scheme and plot.”
His tone was casual but not annoying, instead making Han San Niangzi giggle, “Me too!”
“Cough, cough. If you plan to deal with me in the future, how would you do it?” Wang Siyuan asked with rare interest.
Meng Qi thought seriously for a moment, “First, I’d need to learn some divination skills. They don’t have to be very accurate, but they must help conceal myself.”
This is a lie… he silently added. Concealing myself doesn’t require divination skills! As long as I cultivate the Eight-Nine Mystical Art to the seventh opening, harmonizing more with my inner world, leveraging its ability to avoid calamities, I’ll achieve the same effect as the Wolf King, who hides himself through unity with nature.
One of Meng Qi’s biggest gains in the past three months was breaking through the fourth opening of the Eight-Nine Mystical Art to the sixth opening, thanks to shedding his mortal body and having ample time (three months before plus these three months, totaling six). His nasal opening grew stronger, and reaching the seventh opening was just a year or so away. He also started the seventh stage of the Golden Bell Cover and refined most of the acupoints related to the eighth opening.
As for techniques to peer into heavenly secrets, considering Meng Qi’s already heavy load of cultivation and the issue of talent, he couldn’t spare the energy to learn them now. He would wait until he broke through the ninth opening, seeking unity with heaven for a solid foundation. Given how people like He Jiu and Wang Siyuan had suppressed their breakthroughs for years, there was definitely ample time.
Of course, such techniques couldn’t be entirely absent. Without understanding heavenly patterns and yin-yang changes, one could easily suffer losses, especially with companions not always together.
“Not bad. What’s next?” Wang Siyuan listened with a slight smile.
“What’s next? Next, I’ll diligently cultivate martial arts, striving to surpass you. Then I’ll pick a time when you can’t avoid a fight, directly challenge you, and fight you openly. In such a scenario, your plans won’t work, and I can give you a good beating,” Meng Qi answered solemnly.
“Ha!” Han San Niangzi couldn’t help but laugh, “Great plan! Simple and brutal, using force to suppress. Indeed, it’s the perfect counter to Master Wang! Ha ha! ‘Wild Blade’ Su Meng is truly a wonderful person!”
Wang Siyuan’s smile stiffened slightly, “First, you need to surpass me in strength. Otherwise, it’s just humiliating yourself.”
After showcasing his straightforward style, Meng Qi smiled again, “That’s my own matter.”
He wasn’t afraid Wang Siyuan would see through his deliberate answer because it genuinely reflected his thoughts. He had always disliked those who schemed from the shadows, manipulating others with endless plots. If given the chance, he definitely wanted to give such a person a good beating!
Han San Niangzi interrupted, “Why argue about future matters? How about listening to me play a piece?”
Wang Siyuan indifferently picked up his teacup and took a sip.
Meng Qi did the same without objection.
A guqin was placed before Han San Niangzi, its seven strings forming a broken pattern on the body.
Her fingers had no decorations, even her nails were clean, completely different from the flamboyant image described in rumors. Her hands lightly plucked the strings, and peaceful, serene music flowed like a gentle stream into the heart.
After finishing the piece, the hall was filled with a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
Wang Siyuan slightly moved his fingers on his right hand, as if grasping the previous musical notes, “Susu, your guqin technique has improved, but compared to that prodigy from the Ruan family who possesses innate musical talent, you’re still far behind. You’ve captured the sound, but not the essence.”
Meng Qi was stunned. Could one really say such things in front of one’s own woman? Although Han San Niangzi’s guqin skill was indeed much inferior to the “little glutton,” Master Wang didn’t have to say it so bluntly. Could it be that while you can calculate everything, you can’t fathom a woman’s heart?
As expected, Han San Niangzi’s face darkened, “Indeed inferior. She’s a noble daughter with innate musical talent and family techniques passed down through generations. What am I but a self-taught amateur?”
“If you enjoy listening to her play, go to Langya and hear it yourself.”
“My health isn’t good today. Both of you, please leave.”
She swept her sleeve and went straight to the backyard.
Wang Siyuan patted his clothes and rose leisurely, saying to Meng Qi, “In a few days, the main event will begin. Take care of yourself.”
He showed no sign of annoyance or embarrassment at being sent away by Han San Niangzi, as if saying those words was merely a prelude to his departure.
Such a schemer, may you die of coughing someday… Meng Qi inwardly grumbled and casually asked, “Was your divination result fake?”
“The Wolf King was definitely in the northern street before, but with the commotion just now, do you think he’ll still hide here?” Wang Siyuan smiled confidently.
Meng Qi asked no more questions and left with his sword. In a few days, the grand performance would begin and conclude?
…
The next day, Qing Shou detective Dai Fei invited Meng Qi and Jiang Hengchuan to a teahouse for tea, as a way to thank them for their assistance.
“Although we couldn’t find the Wolf King, we did expose a left-path heretic. Both of you have made significant contributions. In the future, if you need any help, feel free to seek us out at the Six Doors,” Dai Fei raised his teacup as a toast.
Jiang Hengchuan drank some tea and smiled, “The left-path heretic is ruthless; forcing him out might have saved our lives. Detective Dai, do you know his background? Have you found anything?”
Meng Qi also showed a “thirsty for information” look.
Dai Fei hesitated slightly, “Since you’ve been involved, I can tell you. This fiend first appeared in Yangxia, cultivating with corpses, having some connection with the Life-and-Death Unpredictable Sect, and was hunted by them. He likely followed Qiu Fei here. However, when he was in Yangxia, his demonic cultivation seemed just broken through, and now it feels fully developed.”
Fully developed? Still far from it… Meng Qi inwardly refuted.
Jiang Hengchuan inhaled slightly, “Do you know what demonic cultivation it is?”
Perhaps because the opportunity fell into Old Zhong’s hands, he valued related information greatly.
“There’s no related secret file,” Dai Fei revealed.
As they spoke, noise came from below, seemingly something big happening.
As Qing Shou detective, Dai Fei looked in the direction and was stunned, “It’s the Ruan family’s legitimate daughter.”
Ah? Meng Qi looked through the window and saw a carriage slowly approaching from the street’s end.
The carriage window was open but covered with a light veil, blurry and unclear, making her more mysterious, attracting many passersby to stretch their necks for a glimpse.
The carriage was ancient in design, without luxurious decorations, only a few musical note-like patterns. Normally, it wouldn’t draw attention, but each side had a group of servants in brocade robes clearing the way, making pedestrians avoid it.
“It’s indeed the legitimate daughter of the Ruan family, born with a natural musical talent,” Jiang Hengchuan followed his gaze and sighed.
Meng Qi pretended to be surprised, “The Ruan family’s legitimate daughter? Why is she here?”
“The Southern Palace family of Maoling and the Ruan family are old friends. Yesterday, we heard news that the Ruan family’s legitimate daughter would visit the Dajue Temple to offer incense and fulfill a vow, so they sent servants to clear the way for her,” Dai Fei explained.
Offering incense and fulfilling a vow… It seems she came here with great effort, no wonder she couldn’t sneak in, though it doesn’t matter much… Meng Qi nodded, “But why go to the Dajue Temple to fulfill her vow?”
“It is said that when Madam Ruan was pregnant with her, she came to watch the tide of the Jinshui River and offered incense at the Dajue Temple, which bestowed upon her a natural talent for the qin. Now that the Jinshui River tide is returning, it is only fitting for her to come and fulfill her vow,” Dai Fei chuckled. “Rumor has it that Lady Ruan’s beauty surpasses all in Jiangdong, like a fairy from the Moon Palace, far beyond any mortal. No wonder so many curious onlookers have gathered after the news spread.”
A legitimate daughter from a noble family differs from a sect disciple. When traveling in the martial world, she rarely interacts with the lower classes. Her passage through the city is naturally arranged by noble families. Even if her beauty is renowned, how could ordinary martial artists ever see her?
“If not for Lord Ruan’s statement that whoever wants to marry Ruan Yushu must become a son-in-law, the thresholds of Langya Chaoyin Pavilion would have been worn down by noble sons,” Jiang Hengchuan’s voice carried some wistfulness and longing. There was an invisible barrier between noble families and wandering cultivators like him unless he was willing to bow his head.
Dai Fei sighed, “Lady Ruan’s beauty is famous throughout Jiangdong, and her guqin skill is said to be unparalleled, yet I’ve never seen her. I wonder if this time, with the Southern Palace family’s help, I can catch a glimpse of the beauty and hear the unparalleled guqin.”
His voice carried regret for being in Jiangdong without hearing her guqin. If he returned to the capital and someone asked, he’d surely be mocked as a country bumpkin.
Jiang Hengchuan shook his head, “A noble daughter isn’t like a courtesan. Unless they are old friends, how could she play her guqin for entertainment in private settings?”
After a pause, he smiled, “I just hope to have the chance to fight her in the future and hear the Langhuan Twelve Divine Sounds.”
That wouldn’t be considered normal guqin skill anymore.
Meng Qi remained silent, listening quietly, but inwardly couldn’t help feeling smug.
At that moment, a strong wind blew, lifting the veil and revealing the person inside. The curious onlookers and commoners on both sides stretched their necks to catch a glimpse of the beauty renowned in Jiangdong, a rare sight of a noble daughter.
Dai Fei and Jiang Hengchuan couldn’t help but look over.
Inside the carriage, the figure wore a snow-white dress, sat upright with a cool demeanor, a slender figure with skin like congealed fat, but her face was veiled with white gauze, making her features indistinct, yet her beauty vaguely apparent.
Gasps filled the air as Meng Qi’s lips curled into a smile:
“The little glutton has indeed arrived.”
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