In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 510 Living on a boat, drifting with the waves
South bank of the river in Tongyang Prefecture.

As the two strolled to the south bank of the river, the river bend, which was scenic during the day, was now adorned with dazzling starlight.

On both sides of the river, the vermilion railings, under the eaves of the pavilions, and even on the branches of every weeping willow, are hung with all kinds of lanterns. The red light is like the sunset, and the yellow light is warm and gentle, illuminating the entire riverbank as bright as day, but with a more enchanting warmth than daytime.

The most eye-catching sight, of course, was the nearly one hundred flower boats moored on the wide river.

These decorated boats, large and small, are adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, their hulls and decks embellished with colorful lights. From afar, they resemble celestial palaces reflected on the water, or clusters of enormous, dazzling, luminous gems. The iridescent light is reflected on the calm river surface, rippling with the waves, breaking into a flowing, shimmering galaxy, sparkling and dazzling, a spectacle so magnificent it is mesmerizing.

The air is filled with the sweet scent of cosmetics, the rich aroma of wine and food, the fragrance of roasted fish and dried fruit, and the moist air brought by the river breeze, all blending together to create a unique and rich atmosphere of everyday life.

The riverbank was bustling with people, shoulder to shoulder. There were young men in fine clothes, waving folding fans; young women strolling together, laughing and joking; vendors carrying loads of snacks, treats, and lanterns; and ordinary people with their families and young children, pointing and watching the excitement. The atmosphere was vibrant and bustling.

Mei Jiangxue stood at the entrance of the riverbank, looking at the dazzling and bustling scene before her. Her clear and cold eyes reflected the myriad lights on the boats on the shore, as if the icy lake on the snow-capped mountain peak had been filled with stars.

Although she came from a prominent family in Meishan, this was the first time she had ever seen such a prosperous scene, and for a moment, she was slightly dazed.

Gu Shaoan, who was standing to the side, took in the scene by the river and couldn't help but nod in approval.

In terms of sheer prosperity, it was comparable to what Gu Shaoan had seen in the Qinhuai River area of ​​Yingtian Prefecture, the former capital of the Great Wei Kingdom.

The two strolled along, surrounded by a bustling crowd and a cacophony of noise.

Mei Jiangxue's cool eyes occasionally lingered on the exquisite lanterns or the old man kneading dough figurines on the riverbank, but more often she would cast her gaze on the continuous, dazzling lanterns of the flower boats on the river.

Gradually, the scene on the riverbank in front of them became quite different from other places. The density of the crowd suddenly increased, almost to the point of being completely blocked, forming a thick human wall. All eyes, discussions, and expectations were focused on the river in front of them.

"I've heard that Shangxiu Pavilion is full of beauties. A friend of mine once visited Shangxiu Pavilion when he went to the Great Sui Dynasty. He met a girl on the ship and has been so obsessed with her ever since that he can't eat or drink. He keeps saying that he will marry no one but her."

"By the way, it is said that the Xiufang family is not only stunningly beautiful, but also highly skilled in playing the zither. Everyone who gets off the ship is so captivated by her beauty that they want to get back on board. I wonder if I will be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of her today."

"Don't even think about it. Do you think Shangxiu Pavilion is some ordinary pleasure boat? Didn't you see the group of people guarding the boat and not letting anyone else on board? I'm afraid we won't be able to make a living tonight."

Following the gaze of the crowd, one could see an exceptionally large flower boat quietly moored in the river a few feet from the shore.

This boat is much larger than the other flower boats around it. It has a towering three-story pavilion with intricate and exquisite carvings. The lanterns hanging between the eaves and brackets are painted with glass or gauze, with elegant colors and flowing light. Far from being gaudy, it exudes a kind of noble and profound culture.

Most striking is the enormous brocade sail hanging high on the mainmast. The sail is as white as snow, billowing slightly in the night breeze, and the two large characters "Shang Xiu" are written on it in vigorous ink.

Mei Jiangxue tilted her head slightly, gazing at the large ship illuminated by lights: "Senior Brother, is that Shangxiu Pavilion?"

Gu Shaoan's gaze swept calmly over the magnificent ship that stood motionless in the river, isolated from the noise, and he nodded slightly in acknowledgment: "Not bad."

A rare look of surprise flashed in Mei Jiangxue's eyes as she whispered, "Hearing the name 'Shangxiu Pavilion,' I thought it was a beautiful building hidden in the bustling city or a garden. I never expected it to be the name of a ship."

After a pause, Mei Jiangxue continued, "However, living on a boat and drifting with the waves is indeed a unique idea."

Then, Mei Jiangxue turned her gaze to the riverbank outside the flower boat, where it was already crowded with all sorts of people.

Everyone hoped to board the Shangxiu Pavilion ship.

However, all those who stepped forward were politely refused by Shang Xiufang's people standing beside the flower boat.

Although the person who was rejected was disappointed, they did not dare to force their way in.

It should be noted that although Shangxiu Pavilion is a flower boat, it is different from ordinary flower boats.

Inside Shangxiu Pavilion, all the women are courtesans who sell their art but not their bodies.

And each of them is skilled in martial arts.

It is rumored that among them are top-tier experts who have condensed their inner energy into a powerful force.

The entire enormous flower boat is a mobile, top-tier force.

Otherwise, how could they protect all those beautiful and alluring girls on the boat?

After glancing at the people surrounding the pleasure boat, Mei Jiangxue asked, "Senior brother, should we just barge in, or should we pay our respects according to proper etiquette?"

Gu Shaoan said calmly, "It's not advisable to let the news of our visit to the Great Sui Kingdom leak out too early, and we're not here to cause trouble, so there's no problem."

As Gu Shaoan finished speaking, he took a step forward. His movement seemed ordinary, yet his figure instantly rose like a wisp of smoke lifted by the river breeze, drifting gracefully towards the brightly lit "Shangxiu Pavilion" ship a few feet away in the middle of the river. His robes fluttered slightly in the night wind, utterly ethereal, like a celestial being descended to earth under the moon.

Seeing this, Mei Jiangxue dared not be negligent and used the "Cloud Dragon Soaring Through the Void" technique to follow closely behind Gu Shaoan, soaring into the river.

However, Mei Jiangxue's internal energy cultivation level was ultimately only at the level of condensing qi into primordial essence, far from reaching the level of Gu Shaoan, whose internal energy was so profound and whose energy could be released at a moment's notice.

More importantly, she couldn't, like Gu Shaoan, use her sword intent to condense tangible sword energy in the void as a leverage point with the slightest thought.

Just as she had swept five zhang away, her old strength was almost exhausted and her new strength had not yet been generated, and her body inevitably began to show a slight downward trend.

A three-foot-long, tangible, pale golden sword aura materialized out of thin air at the spot where she was about to land.

The sword energy wasn't a physical entity, yet it exuded a sharpness capable of cutting through the air, hovering steadily a few feet above the river's surface, like a transparent ice platform that appeared out of thin air. Mei Jiangxue instantly understood, and lightly touched the sword energy that had appeared out of thin air with her toes.

With the help of the momentum, he once again lightly lifted himself up and headed towards Shangxiu Pavilion by the river.

And so, with Gu Shaoan's help, the two of them, one in front and one behind, under the moonlight and the glow of thousands of lights, gracefully passed over the guards of Shangxiu Pavilion who were on high alert outside the pavilion, and finally landed lightly on the deck of the large ship, landing silently.

However, the people from Shangxiu Pavilion who were by the ship might not have noticed the two people who boarded the ship like ghosts due to their insufficient cultivation, but that does not mean that there were no experts in the huge Shangxiu Pavilion who could sense their presence.

Almost at the same instant Mei Jiangxue stepped onto the deck planks, deep inside the cabin, in an elegantly furnished quiet room filled with calming sandalwood incense.

An old woman sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat suddenly opened her eyes.

She looked to be over seventy years old, with her full head of silver hair neatly combed. Her face was covered with deep wrinkles etched by time. She wore a faded dark blue cloth dress and was thin and frail, as if a gust of wind could blow her over.

But the moment she opened her eyes, a sharp light suddenly shot out from her previously cloudy old eyes, like a cold star suddenly lit up in the dark night. A heavy and profound aura instantly spread from her withered body, filling the entire quiet room.

The next instant, the door to the room where the old woman was located suddenly opened.

The wisps of sandalwood incense in the room suddenly stopped, and the old woman was nowhere to be seen.

At the same time, an aged yet exceptionally clear voice, as if it were ringing directly in everyone's ears, suddenly resounded throughout the entire enormous flower boat.

"Who dares to trespass into Xiufang Pavilion?"

When the sound echoed, it was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples throughout Shangxiu Pavilion.

The sounds of birdsong and music that had filled the cabin seemed to be abruptly cut off by an invisible hand, plunging the cabin into a brief silence.

On the deck, Mei Jiangxue felt a tightness in her heart and subconsciously circulated her true energy.

Gu Shaoan stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm and undisturbed.

As that aged and majestic voice boomed like thunder on the pleasure boat, the entire "Shangxiu Pavilion" seemed to be instantly awakened from its dreamlike state of revelry.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

In an instant, figures shot out like arrows from the doors, windows, corridors, and even the shadows of the pavilions on each floor of the ship.

They moved swiftly, their clothes fluttering in the wind, yet strangely, they made very little noise.

In just a few breaths, the once empty top deck, as well as the corridors and railings surrounding the main building, were occupied by the people of Shangxiu Pavilion.

They were all women.

These women ranged in age from young girls to those still attractive, some with ordinary looks and others with beautiful faces.

All eyes were fixed on Gu Shaoan and Mei Jiangxue, who were wearing straw hats on the deck, their expressions full of vigilance.

What is striking is that these women hold long swords, short daggers, or musical instruments such as jade flutes and pipa, and there is a faint aura of internal strength and true energy emanating from them.

An invisible pressure, like a cold tide, spread out, surrounding Gu Shaoan and Mei Jiangxue in the center.

Just then, a pale yellow figure appeared silently, like a fleeting glimpse of a swan or the flow of moonlight, at the balustrade of the highest pavilion.

The moment she appeared, even the ship's dazzling lights seemed to lose some of their luster.

The previously somber and heavy atmosphere subtly shifted. Her disciples, regardless of rank, instinctively bowed slightly and whispered respectfully:

"Sect Master!"

"Greetings, Pavilion Master!"

Though the voices were soft, they carried heartfelt respect, coalescing into a gentle, resonant sound.

In the center of the deck, Gu Shaoan, who was standing with his hands behind his back, seemed to be attracted by these sounds. He slowly raised his eyes and looked at Shang Xiufang, who was standing by the railing at the highest point.

She wore an elegant pale yellow silk robe with a light green gauze shawl over it. Although her face was without any makeup, her skin was as white as snow and her features were exquisitely beautiful, naturally sculpted.

Her hair cascaded down her back without any hairpins or ornaments, with a few strands falling beside her temples, which accentuated her purity and beauty, making her captivating and enchanting.

What is most striking is the woman's temperament.

She seemed to embody the essence of heaven and earth, possessing both the ethereal and otherworldly beauty of Shi Feixuan and the enigmatic, dreamlike, and captivating allure of Wanwan.

These two completely different yet equally exquisite qualities blend seamlessly within her, ultimately forming a unique and enigmatic charm that belongs solely to Shang Xiufang.

However, Gu Shaoan's gaze lingered on her for only a very brief moment.

Immediately afterwards, Gu Shaoan's deep eyes shifted from Shang Xiufang to a corner on the top of the pavilion, shrouded in magnificent eaves and heavy shadows.

(End of this chapter)