Studying the Xun in her hand once more, she smiled and murmured to herself, "This... Grandfather will absolutely love this..."Lu Qingzhu had learned to play the instrument herself, having been taught by someone dear to her in childhood.From a very young age, she'd known her grandfather could play this particular instrument.A solitary old man, playing beneath moonlight in quiet solitude—that image had left a profound, lasting impression on her young heart.So, once she'd grown old enough, he'd taught her to play it as well...As Lu Qingzhu and Amo departed Guyue Studio, Tang Wanhong lifted the curtain separating the back hall. He regarded Guan Kui coolly. "I'm stepping out for a while. Mind the shop properly."Guan Kui said, "Shopkeeper, that black chrysanthemum painting and the Xun both sold—the total comes to five hundred taels."He handed over five silver notes as he spoke."The chrysanthemum painting sold?" Tang Wanhong counted the notes, his mood visibly improving. "Excellent!"

That same morning, with the disciple selection assessment fast approaching, Xiao Zongting deliberately brought Mo Qian and Xiao Yu to the county government office grounds to familiarize themselves with the assessment venue.The martial arts competition platform selected for evaluating candidates wasn't a flat surface at all, but rather consisted of wooden stakes arranged with consistent spacing between each post.This design deliberately increased the challenge, forcing both combatants to rely more heavily on precise footwork rather than simple brute strength, ultimately helping streamline the overall assessment timeline.Because the spacing between each stake remained consistent both horizontally and vertically, four adjacent stakes naturally formed a diamond-like pattern resembling plum blossom petals—hence the name "plum blossom stakes."Mo Qian and Xiao Yu practiced atop the plum blossom stakes, running through several exchanges together.Xiao Yu's Cloud Snake Step remained impres

The moment his eyes fixed on Amo, something flickered through his weathered, aged gaze—genuine, unmistakable shock...Just as everyone waited expectantly, Officer Qin suddenly called out, "Mo Qian, step forward!"Mo Qian stepped forward from the line. The moment he emerged from the crowd, Ximen Kan couldn't help sticking out his tongue and pulling an exaggerated face behind him.As Mo Qian moved into position, Officer Qin's steady recitation jolted the crowd, which had grown somewhat drowsy by this point, back into alert attention."Mo Qian, seventeen years of age.""Father, Mo Heiwa. Grandfather, Mo Shousuo. Great-grandfather, Mo Liang.""A lineage of upstanding, honest people across generations.""Resided in Wutong Lane...""Currently serving as an escort with the Yuanshun Escort Agency..."The crowd suddenly erupted into fresh commotion."Mo Qian? Wutong Lane?" A gaunt, sallow-faced young man in the crowd studied Mo Qian standing before the platform, eventually recognizing traces o

Just as Xue Yu's blade closed to within mere inches of Gui Zong's face, its speed suddenly slowed considerably!This particular technique, "White Rainbow Piercing the Sun," proved devastatingly effective only within close range.Gui Zong, having initially feared the technique's reach, had cautiously tested the engagement distance—through this careful probing, he'd finally confirmed the exact range at which Xue Yu's signature move lost its full effectiveness.Xue Yu's expression turned cold as frost!Though devastating within its optimal range, this particular technique carried a significant limitation—it couldn't accommodate closer engagement, since executing it required specific spatial distance for the necessary body movement.Yet the technique also proved ineffective at greater distances—while powerful in its designed range, it demanded considerable stamina that couldn't sustain prolonged engagement!Having successfully identified the exact distance required for Xue Yu's signature

Many people were actively debating rankings of beauty among the three women. Shen Mihuan seemed generally regarded as a clear third place, though opinions remained sharply divided regarding whether Xia Shuangshuang or Xiao Yu deserved the top position.One particularly opinionated elderly man across the street, sitting outside a restaurant with his pet goat, shook his head decisively and declared, "Xia Shuangshuang's too thin, all bone—Xiao Yu's got proper curves without looking excessive. Xiao Yu wins, hands down!"Mo Qian nearly choked on his mouthful of beef soup.At that moment, Mo Qian's brow suddenly furrowed, and he lowered his head deliberately.Because his spiritual sense had detected Lu Qingzhu and Amo approaching from across the street, making their way directly toward this very beef soup stall.Mo Qian had no particular desire for further interaction with this sect envoy. Having already demonstrated his great-accomplishment-level strength, assuming everything proceeded nor