Immortality begins with the Swordsman.

As evening approached, the sun gradually set in the west.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the magnificent city of Chang'an, gilding this ancient capital, which has weathered a thousand years of storms, with a gentle and mysterious golden glow.

Outside the city gate.

On the wide official road, peddlers, scholars, and knights-errant shuttled back and forth, carriages and sedan chairs came and went in an endless stream, and the noise was bustling, yet orderly.

At that moment, a carriage stopped on the official road not far from the city gate.

"Phew~ We've finally arrived in Chang'an. My butt is practically bounced into three pieces."

Gu Changfeng jumped off the carriage, stretched his limbs, and his face was full of exaggerated expressions of "surviving a disaster".

Passersby couldn't help but glance at him again because of his witty remarks.

Unexpectedly, two women stepped off the carriage one after another.

One was mature and dignified, the other was aloof and youthful; both were exceptionally beautiful, catching everyone's eye.

Immediately afterwards, two pretty and cute maids got out of the carriage.

The last one is... well, let's skip it.

Su Qingxue rolled her eyes at Gu Changfeng and scolded, "Vulgar!"

Gu Changfeng didn't care at all. He looked up at the tall city wall, which was at least ten meters high and looked majestic and solemn. It was somewhat similar to the Xi'an city wall in his memory.

He exclaimed, "Chang'an truly lives up to its reputation as an ancient capital; it's really... prosperous!"

Cheng Buyou immediately mocked, "Look at you, so naive. Once you get into the city, you'll see what true prosperity is."

Gu Changfeng was about to retort to him.

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened, and he saw a young scholar in a blue robe, with a fair complexion and no beard, waving at him and calling out loudly:

"Junior Brother Gu!"

Gu Changfeng's eyes lit up, and he immediately strode forward, smiling, "Senior Brother Yue, it's been so long! I've missed you dearly!"

This person was none other than his long-lost senior brother, who was also the biological son of Daoist Zixiao—Yue Buqun!

"Not long at all!"

Yue Buqun smiled and nodded. Although he missed his father and junior brother, he was more concerned about whether he would pass the imperial examination in two days.

Gu Changfeng, however, was concerned with something else: "Senior brother, Chang'an is full of beautiful women, I wonder if you've met any girls you like?"

Yue Buqun's face darkened slightly. He coughed lightly, still maintaining his gentle and refined smile, and said, "I'm here to participate in the provincial examination, not to go on a blind date."

Having said that, he slightly turned aside to avoid Gu Changfeng's "harassment," then turned to Su Qingxue, who was following behind, and respectfully bowed: "Buqun greets Martial Uncle Su!"

Su Qingxue smiled gently and asked, "How did you feel about the provincial examination this time?"

Yue Buqun truthfully replied, "It felt simpler than the previous two times."

Su Qingxue nodded: "Then we'll wait for your good news. If you pass the imperial examination, it will be a great achievement for our Huashan. I'm still waiting for you to become the top scholar."

Yue Buqun smiled and was about to greet Cai Ling Shuang and Cheng Bu You behind her when Gu Changfeng suddenly stepped forward and said:

"Senior brother, let me introduce you. This is the 'Saintess of the Sword Sect'..."

Cai Ling Shuang rolled her eyes at him. She and Yue Buqun had known each other since childhood, while Gu Changfeng had only been on the mountain for five years. Why would he need to introduce them?

But Yue Buqun's expression changed slightly, revealing a "here we go again" look. He immediately interrupted, saying, "So it's the 'Saintess of the Sword Sect'! Truly a peerless woman of unparalleled beauty, even the most beautiful women are not enough to describe her..."

Cai Ling Shuang blushed slightly at the praise, thinking to herself: Scholars really know how to talk.

Unexpectedly, Yue Buqun changed the subject: "My junior brother is the Holy Son of the Qi Sect, possessing both talent and good looks. The two of you are simply a match made in heaven. I wonder what Junior Sister Cai thinks? If you find my junior brother acceptable, as the eldest brother, I will officiate your wedding today!"

Upon hearing this, Cai Ling Shuang was immediately filled with shame and anger in front of everyone, her pretty face turning bright red.

She gritted her teeth, suddenly drew her sword, and slashed at the two men, startling the surrounding crowd into giving way.

The gatekeeper was about to reprimand him when a middle-aged scholar dressed in white with a fair complexion raised his hand to stop him.

Upon seeing this person, Cai Ling Shuang immediately sheathed her sword and bowed respectfully: "Ling Shuang greets Martial Uncle Ouyang."

Gu Changfeng, Yue Buqun, and others also bowed and paid their respects, and even Su Qingxue nodded slightly.

Ouyang Qingzhao waved his hand and said with a smile, "We're all family, no need for formalities. I heard that Junior Sister Su has come to Chang'an in person, so I've already arranged a place for you to welcome her. Please follow me."

Su Qingxue nodded and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Senior Brother Ouyang."

Although the Sword and Qi factions of Mount Hua are fiercely competing on the mountain, in front of outsiders, they ultimately belong to the same Mount Hua sect and each knows how to maintain a proper distance from the other.

Then.

The group passed through the city gate and entered the city along the main street.

Shops lined both sides of the street, and shouts filled the air, truly a bustling and lively place where merchants gathered.

As Gu Changfeng walked, he looked around at this ancient capital, secretly comparing it with Xi'an in his mind hundreds of years later.

At the same time, he was also secretly observing Ouyang Qingzhao ahead.

This man is over forty years old, but still has a handsome face, a gentle and refined temperament, and is humble and approachable.

But who would have thought that such an easygoing person would have plotted to kill the ten elders of the Demonic Sect when he was young, and now he has been representing the Sword Sect in Chang'an for many years.

to be frank.

In Gu Changfeng's eyes, what the Sword Sect did was nothing more than being a "gangster boss"—only disguised as a "reputable sect," controlling those below and waiting for their share of the profits.

In Chang'an, the forces are diverse, including gangs, martial arts schools, escort agencies, aristocratic families, and government officials. People from all walks of life are everywhere, making the situation intricate and complex.

Ouyang Qingzhao, however, has been able to maintain his position as the "boss of gang leaders" and balance the power of various factions for many years without ever getting away with it.

His abilities can be glimpsed from a small part.

Not long after.

The group then arrived at a place called "Yunfeng Inn".

This "Yunfeng Inn" is a property of the Sword Sect, located in a prime location, and its business is booming.

Ouyang Qingzhao hosted a banquet to welcome everyone and wash away the dust of their journey. After the banquet, he left with Cai Lingshuang and Cheng Buyou, leaving Su Qingxue, Yue Buqun, Gu Changfeng, and Mei Lan to make their own arrangements. They could ask the innkeeper for help if needed.

Having had a long and tiring day, Su Qingxue told Gu Changfeng to get some rest.

however.

The next morning, when Su Qingxue planned to take Gu Changfeng to meet some important business partners, Mei Jian informed her:

"Young Master left early this morning, saying he has important business to attend to and may not be back for two or three days."

Upon hearing this, Su Qingxue was immediately enraged, gritting her teeth as she said, "That brat! I asked you to come and help, and you just abandon me as soon as you arrive. Fine, I guess I've been too nice to you. Wait till you get back, I'll see how I deal with you..."

After saying that, she pulled Mei Lan and her two daughters up to be conscripts and left.

"Achoo—!"

Inside a carriage heading towards Zhongnan Mountain, Gu Changfeng sneezed twice. He rubbed his nose and muttered to himself, "First, I scold; second, I miss him; third, I catch a cold... Sigh, it must be my junior sister missing me."