"Senior Sister, I can go in by myself. You should head back first."

The carriage stopped at the Huo Mansion, and Huo Qianqian got off and said to Xiao Zhuyun.

Xiao Zhuyun nodded, "Alright, don’t come back too late."

Huo Qianqian watched the carriage travel away before stepping into the mansion where she had lived for over ten years. This place should have been her home.

But now, she felt like a daughter returning to her parents’ house after marriage, and it was clear that this place no longer belonged to her.

"Junior Sister."

As she reached the backyard, her third senior brother Zhang Mingyu greeted her, "Why didn’t you say you were coming over earlier?"

Huo Qianqian smiled awkwardly, then said, "Senior Brother, I’m here to bid farewell. I wish to burn incense at my grandfather’s spirit tablet."

The smile on Zhang Mingyu’s face faded as he spoke excitedly, "Must you go? Now that the great revenge has been avenged, you need not seek shelter with the Xiaoshui Sect any longer..."

Huo Qianqian lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, and softly said, "Senior Brother, there’s no need to say anymore... Once I’ve joined the Xiaoshui Sect, I’ll forever be a disciple of the Xiaoshui Sect."

Though her voice was soft, her tone was firm.

Zhang Mingyu sighed and said nothing more. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

The two silently arrived at the memorial hall, where Huo Qianqian lit three sticks of incense and bowed three times in front of Huo Chengkun’s tablet.

"Alright, I’m leaving."

Huo Qianqian stood up.

"I’ll see you off."

The two left the memorial hall and walked outside.

Suddenly, Zhang Mingyu said, "Actually, I know why you don’t want to marry Lao Qi."

He gazed into the distance, as if in reminiscence, "Once, I inadvertently stumbled upon you sparring with Junior Brother Chen in that secluded courtyard to the north. After that, I saw you several more times... I kept it to myself and told no one."

Zhang Mingyu laughed at himself, "I admit, I used to resent Lao Qi. He was the last to join the sect and hadn’t achieved anything. Why should he inherit our master’s legacy? Later, when you refused to marry Lao Qi, I was secretly overjoyed..."

Huo Qianqian quietly listened, saying nothing.

The great gate was near.

Zhang Mingyu turned to her and asked, "Junior Sister, why didn’t you tell him? If—"

"Senior Brother."

Huo Qianqian interrupted him, pleading, "I’ve never asked you for anything since we were young. But now, I ask you for one thing. Don’t tell him."

Zhang Mingyu couldn’t understand why she insisted on this and asked urgently, "Why put yourself through this?"

At that moment, an autumn breeze swept through, rustling the leaves of a tall ginkgo tree in the courtyard.

Huo Qianqian reached out with her fair hand to catch a leaf, her brows shrouded in an indescribable melancholy, seemingly sighing, yet also filled with emotion, "You don’t understand."

"Senior Brother, farewell."

She gave Zhang Mingyu no chance to speak further, bowed, and left.

Zhang Mingyu watched her receding silhouette, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart.

After all, how could he not understand?

The Junior Sister had gone through so many changes, no longer as willful and arrogant as before. Yet deep inside, she remained that proud Junior Sister.

...

As far as Chen Ming was concerned, friends coming and going was a common occurrence. The departure of Xiao Zhuyun and Huo Qianqian was merely the loss of a sparring partner who could provide him with 300 Experience Points every two days.

He didn’t feel sentimental.

On the same day the Xiaoshui Sect disciples left, Zhou Weihao came again. Yesterday, they were interrupted by Zhao Xiyan, and they didn’t manage to spar.

Today was just the day to make up for it.

Immediately, the two set up their positions in the backyard and began to spar.

After a hundred moves, Zhou Weihao once again faced a "narrow defeat."

"Refreshing!"

Despite losing, Zhou Weihao acted as if he had won, grabbing a jar of wine from the table and drinking deeply, leading to a fit of coughing from the sudden indulgence.

He was truly happy.

Over the past month, he’d come to spar with Chen Ming every few days, never managing to win, but always gaining new insights from each session.

Compared to a month ago, his swordsmanship had improved significantly, particularly a representative move, Starry Sky. Now, he could wield his sword to create seven sword stars.

It should be noted that before he left home, his father had said it would take him at least a year to reach the level of Seven Stars.

Yet now, he had achieved it in just three months.

All thanks to Chen Ming.

Putting down the wine jar, Zhou Weihao said, "Brother Chen, I want to take you to meet someone today."

Chen Ming replied, "If you’re taking me to meet some courtesan, forget it."

He was only at Seventh Grade now, far from being in a position to slack off.

Besides, though he might be well-respected within his small circle, in Qingfeng City, he was still just a small person. At a brothel, the courtesans might not even take notice of him.

Surely, as a transmigrator, he wouldn’t stoop to fawning over prostitutes at a brothel?

Thus, he wasn’t interested.

Zhou Weihao laughed, "I know Brother Chen is dedicated to the Martial Dao, so I’m planning to introduce you to a great master. Receiving his guidance will benefit you for life."

"A great master? What’s his name?"

"You’ll know when you get there." Zhou Weihao kept him in suspense.

...

"This senior, due to some upheavals, became disheartened and went into hiding among the common folk."

In the carriage, Zhou Weihao said, "I was entrusted by my elders to deliver a message to this senior. Only later did I learn some of his past from my elders... Since then, every time I visit Qingfeng City, I make it a point to call on him."

"Unfortunately, I’ve never been fortunate enough to receive his guidance. Perhaps you might catch his eye."

Hearing this, Chen Ming grew even more curious about this "senior master."

Could there really be a hidden master in Qingfeng City?

He had to meet him. Even if they couldn’t become friends, knowing of his existence would at least prevent unknowingly offending him and meeting an unknown death.

The carriage traveled to the north of the city, finally coming to a stop in front of a rather secluded estate.

"This is it."

Zhou Weihao got off the carriage first.

Chen Ming followed behind him. After getting off, he noticed that the mansion was remarkably grand, even surpassing the Admiral’s Mansion.

However, it appeared long unmaintained, with worn red paint on the door, moss on the walls, and plenty of weeds around.

"Let’s go."

Zhou Weihao walked up and knocked on the door, calling out, "Senior, Zhou Xiaoqi has come to see you again."

After waiting a moment, there was no response.

"Senior, I’m coming in."

Zhou Weihao said, pushing the door open, only to find two women walking out from inside. One wore red, the other blue, both with veiled hats, their faces obscured by draped silk veils.

However, judging by their figures, they were undoubtedly beauties.

He couldn’t help but steal a few glances and noticed, to his surprise, that Chen Ming was also staring at one of the beauties intently. Inwardly, he chuckled, realizing that Brother Chen wasn’t entirely indifferent to attractive women.

After the two women had walked far, Zhou Weihao closed the door again and said to Chen Ming, "Brother Chen, do you find it strange that while we’re all here to see the senior, I didn’t greet them?"

Chen Ming replied, "Since these two didn’t reveal their true appearances, they obviously didn’t want to be recognized. Asking rashly might offend them."

"Brother Chen may not have traveled the Jianghu but is remarkably wise. By the way, Brother Chen kept staring at that blue-clad woman earlier; do you know her?"

Chen Ming shook his head, "I must have mistaken her for someone else."

"Oh."

...

As for the two women, after leaving the estate, the red-clad woman suddenly asked, "That man in black earlier, did he recognize you?"

The blue-clad woman whispered, "Miss, he doesn’t know my identity."

The red-clad woman said faintly, "He’s the man you can’t stop thinking about, isn’t he?"

The blue-clad woman was so frightened she immediately knelt, stammering, "Miss, I—"

"Enough."

The red-clad woman pulled her up and said, "As long as he doesn’t interfere with my affairs, I won’t trouble him. Once this matter is over, if you wish to stay in Qingfeng City, I will fulfill that for you."

The blue-clad woman choked back tears, "M... Miss... I want to serve you for life..."

"Silly girl..."