Liver penetrates martial arts, instantly becoming a saint.

Chapter 313 Nianjun suffers setback, Xiaofan's whereabouts are discovered, Wen Caishang wins, and meets Xiaofan.

Li Xian hung the snow beast meat by the window, letting the wind and snow freeze it, thus preserving its freshness. Then he sat cross-legged and began to cultivate his internal organs.

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

……

[The Five Viscera's Guide to Avoiding Turbidity - Chapter on the Five Viscera]

[Proficiency: 3849/24000 (Mastery)]

Several hours had passed in the process of moving the filthy materials, accumulating [156] skill points. Now, full of energy, though the sky was still dark, there were no pedestrians on the streets. Li Xian gazed into the distance; several magnificent pavilions in the city were brightly lit, dazzling and splendid.

The Pavilion of Relief from Worries is located in the heart of the city. Its entire body is crimson red, making it particularly conspicuous in the snow. Legend has it that this thirty-six-story building is the epitome of craftsmanship, reflecting the ingenuity of the celestial stars. Its interior is a place of bustling revelry and exquisite furnishings, truly difficult to fathom. It is the largest "music pavilion" in Flying Dragon City.

It is also known as the "Forget-Worries Tower". In front of the tower is a twelve-mile-long street called "Worry-Free Street", which is bustling with commerce and lined with magnificent buildings. Only those with great wealth dare to set foot here.

Li Xian observed for a moment. With a flick of his wrist, the "Ghost Python Silver Spear" that had been coiled around his right arm emerged from his sleeve like a serpent from its hole. He grasped the spear and examined and stroked it carefully.

The patterns on the spear are incredibly lifelike, infused with internal energy, and the vertical eyes of the python's head emit a sinister, cold light. It can bewitch the mind and momentarily disrupt one's concentration. The spear is quite heavy, weighing approximately 1,477 jin (about 638 catties). Even martial artists at the second realm, who consume precious essences to transform their bones and enhance their physical strength, can wield and wield this spear. However, they will eventually tire, and the spear's weight will hinder their performance.

Li Xian, however, found it quite comfortable. He even felt it was a little too light, and could have been a bit heavier. The inn was cramped, so he thrust twice and then withdrew. He thought to himself, "This spear has never been used since it came into my possession. I both fear and long for it to be used. If I can make a fortune quietly on this trip and escape unscathed, that would be the best outcome!"

Li Xian exhaled white mist. His body was cleansed, and he lay down for a short rest.

The next day.

The snow beast meat by the window was frozen stiff. Li Xian called over the waiter and ordered him to cook porridge, add some seasonings and side dishes, and stir-fry it into a dish. Snow beasts are rare and hard to hunt; their fur is expensive, their internal organs are used as medicine, their claws and bones can be used for ornaments, and their meat can be cooked into a delicious dish. If handled properly, a snow beast can yield a profit of seven hundred taels.

Soon, the snow beast soup was ready. Three pieces of meat were used to make three dishes: grilled tiger spine, roasted bear belly, and braised ape arm… All three cuts of meat were top-quality. The snow tiger's spine was prominent, and the meat was firm, chewy, and fragrant—the essence of tiger meat, highly nourishing. The bear belly was rich in fat; when roasted and stir-fried, the aroma filled the air, making it unforgettable. The snow ape, which spent its days swinging among the trees, had firm, springy arms. Prepared properly, they too were a delicacy.

The innkeeper, with a fawning smile, begged for a bowl of food and drink. Li Xian, being generous and easygoing, readily agreed. He called Jin Yi, Huo Er, and the others down, and together they ate and drank fresh porridge.

After eating and drinking his fill, Li Xianxing left the inn and slipped into a dark alley. Once no one was around, he donned his white mask, slung his red bow over his shoulder, and went out into the street. Although his reputation was gradually building and spreading, it did not immediately become widespread.

Therefore, he walked as usual, though occasionally passersby would glance at him sideways.

Li Xianshi was unaware that the hunt for the snow beast would alarm Wang Dezhong and the other sword sect prodigies. He treated it as a routine hunt, and thus neglected to take precautions. Had he known that the white-faced, red-bowed figure was gradually taking shape, he would have certainly devised a way to change his appearance.

Li Xian weighed the silver in his hand and strolled leisurely through the streets. He knew that "Snow Mountain Spirit Foxes" were hard to find and could not be acquired overnight. Going in and out of the snow mountains inevitably meant making a living by hunting, returning to his old trade. Carrying the game back and forth was quite troublesome, and he needed to use the forty taels of silver to buy a meat-shrinking bag.

The shrinking pouch is made from the abdominal sac of the "giant viper" and has the ability to shrink flesh. It comes in sizes such as "ten-meat pouch", "twenty-meat pouch", and "thirty-meat pouch". The more meat it can hold, the more expensive the shrinking pouch.

They are sold in general stores and black markets. Yesterday, Li Xian brushed past the other prodigies and saw that each of them had a "shrinking flesh bag" hanging from their waists, each one as exquisite as an ornament, inlaid with jade and embroidered with patterns. He couldn't help but feel envious.

He went into a general store to inquire and learned that it would cost over a hundred taels of silver. Li Xian didn't have much money, so he kept things simple. He spent twenty-nine taels to buy "ten meat bags," which could hold ten beasts.

He prepared his bow and arrows and headed towards the Snow Dragon Mountains. He wasn't very familiar with the Snow Dragon Mountains, and seeing the undulating terrain and complex topography, he sighed slightly, thinking to himself, "Understanding this mountain range will take some time. Even with my ability to observe mountains and rivers, and to survey the heavens and earth, I must proceed step by step and not rush things. I wonder... by the time I reach the Snow Mountain Spirit Fox, will Madam Wang still be in Flying Dragon City?"

He observed the animal tracks and concluded that the eastern mountains offered a better chance of catching beasts. He headed east, venturing half a mile deeper, where the area was covered in weeds and bushes, and there was no path to be found; he needed to clear a way by felling trees. Using his light-footed skills, Li Xian leaped up from the tree trunks and peered out.

Having assessed his surroundings, Li Xian, a master of the Five Elements Escape Technique, used the principles of the Five Elements to predict the terrain. The dense, overgrown vegetation nearby was due to the evil wind blowing from the south. A few miles further in, the road conditions would improve. He then leaped onto another tree. Continuing through the forest, he passed through a tree barrier and immediately felt the road conditions improve, so he dismounted and began to walk.

Li Xian was suddenly delighted when he noticed a line of fox footprints in the snow.

He stared intently, confirming again and again that it was indeed the footprint of a fox-like beast, with large claws and hooves, indicating that it was quite old. Li Xian pondered, "If it is a Snow Mountain Spirit Fox, this thing must be quite powerful. I cannot be careless and let such a perfect opportunity slip away." He held his breath and observed the footprint extending.

The footprints were elusive and shifting, sometimes east, sometimes west, as if deliberately trying to confuse people. Sometimes they led people to caves, sometimes to dark hideouts.

Li Xian knew very little about the Snow Mountain Spirit Fox. Since he had a clue, he followed it, thinking to himself, "Could this fox be quite intelligent? It's as cunning as a human. If I hadn't been so observant, I would have been misled by this fox several times. If I were to actually go into the cave to search, it would take me a whole day, and I probably still wouldn't be able to see its fur." ​​After walking for about a few miles, the footprints came to an abrupt end.

Deep within this dense forest, the trees are piled high with snow, blocking out the light. The ground is covered with twigs, fallen leaves, and a thick layer of snow. Because no one has trodden here for a long time, the snow and leaves are quite loose, and sometimes when you step on them, you sink right up to your knees.

Li Xian leaped into the air, peering intently. Suddenly, he spotted a snow fox several miles away. In an instant, Li Xian drew his bow and shot, killing it instantly. The snow fox let out a whimper and then died.

Li Xianxing approached to observe. He saw that although the snow fox was covered in snow beast fur, it was just an ordinary old fox. It was definitely not a "Snow Mountain Spirit Fox." He frowned and said, "This snow beast fur is artificially applied. Someone is deliberately using a fox to lure us." Suddenly, he heard a rustling sound of wind.

Li Xian didn't turn his head, remaining motionless. An arrow flew past him on his left, embedding itself in a tree trunk beside him. The tree trembled violently, and snow cascaded down. Li Xian activated his Pure Qi Robe, dispersing the snow in all directions, leaving his body completely untouched.

He knew from the sound of the wind that the arrow was not meant to kill and had deliberately missed. The arrowhead had already been removed.

Li Xian turned around and saw a beautiful woman standing gracefully about two miles away. She wore a short-sleeved, cross-collared blouse, which was narrow at the waist to accentuate her figure. She wore a brown pleated skirt and high boots. Her long hair was tied in a ponytail, and she held a silver-white longbow. Her heroic spirit was no less than that of a man, and her beauty was as pure as a lotus flower.

It was Gu Nianjun.

original…

Gu Nianjun was certain that Li Xian would enter the mountains again this morning. Therefore, she went into the mountains in advance to wait, hoping to meet him. However, the mountains and seas were vast, and it all depended on luck, so the chances were slim. Although Gu Nianjun had never seen "Li Xian", she had heard rumors about him and already admired and longed for him.

From a young age, she was very opinionated and would actively pursue what she desired. Her pursuit of both literary and martial arts skills was also her own decision. Her journey to Qiongtian Prefecture for Fu Haoran was also her own choice.

This section naturally seeks out proactively.

Just then, they spotted an old fox lurking in the forest. They had no intention of hunting it, but a thought suddenly struck them: "If that hero is truly a snow mountain fox, this fox might be of use. But by deceiving him like this, I've already displeased him before even seeing him, and yet…"

I couldn't help but hesitate. Then I thought, "Wouldn't it be even more of a pity if I couldn't even see him? If we do meet, and I apologize to him, I'm sure... he won't mind."

A blush crept onto her cheeks. She had always enjoyed associating with outstanding talents, and although they had never met, she had already developed an admiration for the fair-skinned, red-bowed man from the conversations of others.

He immediately made up his mind and used his martial arts to capture the old fox in the forest. This old fox was just an ordinary fox beast with nothing special about it, and its speed was also ordinary. Gu Nianjun easily caught it and used the "Bewitching Palm" to strike its chest.

The old fox was afflicted by the Bewitching Palm technique and was now controlled by her thoughts. This palm technique was quite powerful, with profound intricacies, and Gu Nianjun had studied it for a long time, only now putting it to use for the first time.

Gu Nianjun then helped him put on the "Snow Beast Fleece" garment, which was a gift from He Wentian. Snow Beast Fleece garments are a specialty of Flying Dragon City, and ships from the Northern Heaven Domain often come to purchase them.

Knowing that Li Xian possessed terrifying eyesight, Gu Nianjun thought, "Since I'm going to 'offend' that hero, I might as well 'offend' him completely. Let me test his wisdom and insight first. Alas, I'm really overthinking this." Finding it amusing, he controlled the old fox to dart through the forest, leaving behind numerous footprints. He set up many decoys, so that if anyone was even slightly careless, they would not be able to find the fox beast.

Then, Woxue hid in the distance to test Li Xian's archery skills.

After doing this, her pretty face turned even redder. She was quite flustered and hid herself. Her martial arts skills were indeed profound, and the Gu family was a powerful clan in the area with a deep foundation. She intended to hide several miles away and use her family's martial arts. Even with Li Xian's exceptional eyesight, it would be difficult for him to detect her actions in a short time.

They waited like this for half an hour.

Sure enough, following the trail, a figure wearing a white mask and wielding a red bow appeared. Gu Nianjun looked over, her beautiful eyes sparkling with excitement. Observing his tall and elegant figure and extraordinary bearing, he was indeed as rumored. She saw the mysterious man casually nock a bow and shoot, and was about to observe him closely when, in the blink of an eye, the old fox was already dead.

Gu Nianjun silently exclaimed, "What a fine arrow! What superb archery!" She knew she had found the right target. Raising an eyebrow, she removed the arrowhead and shot it at Li Xian, intending to lure him into shooting down the flying arrow.

That's how the scene just now unfolded.

Li Xian recognized the newcomer and thought to herself, "It's her? What's with this Gu Nianjun? Although she's picky and arrogant, she doesn't seem like the type to deliberately make things difficult for people. This fox fur must be her disguise. Humph, I have no connection with her, why should I bother with her?" She frowned, clearly displeased. She picked up the broken arrow, shot it back, and turned to leave. The arrow was swift and approached in an instant, whizzing past Gu Nianjun's cheek, the gust of wind sending her long hair flying. Gu Nianjun felt guilty rather than angry, realizing Li Xian was upset.

Seeing that Li Xian was about to leave, Gu Nianjun immediately called out, "Young hero, please wait!" Li Xian thought to himself, "What is there for me to talk to you about?" He leaped several feet away without the slightest hesitation.

Gu Nianjun was slightly annoyed. She had always been highly respected and admired by her peers. She had gone to great lengths to meet this person, but he refused to acknowledge her. She thought that such a hero must have unique abilities, far beyond the reach of ordinary people, so she said again, "Young hero, please wait."

Li Xian knew that Gu Nianjun's lightness skill was quite good, and if he insisted on following, it would be difficult to shake him off. If he had the 'Snow Beast Fur' to cover him and used the Entangling Step technique, that would be a different story. He leaped onto a tree branch, looked down at Gu Nianjun, drew his bow, and said calmly, "If you follow me again, I will shoot an arrow."

Gu Nianjun immediately stopped, not daring to provoke him, and felt very wronged. She said, "Young hero, please come down and talk." Li Xian frowned and said, "I don't have time. Please leave. I still need to hunt."

Gu Nianjun stepped closer, and an arrow immediately shot out in front of her. Gu Nianjun frowned, realizing that this person was not easy to deal with, but guessed that she had deceived and teased him first, thus angering him.

Gu Nianjun said, "If you are angry about what happened earlier, young hero, I apologize." Li Xian asked, "You woman are very strange. I have never met you before, why are you looking for me?"

Gu Nianjun said shyly, "Although we are strangers, I am acquainted with you and have great curiosity and respect for you." Li Xian sneered, "Curiosity and respect? A noble lady like you would respect someone else? I, a poor servant, am greatly unworthy of such respect. You'd better get out of my way and not bother me."

Gu Nianjun said, "Young hero, you're being strange. I have indeed offended you, but I had no ill intentions. I've already removed the arrow and deliberately missed it. If you're truly angry, could you please give me a chance to apologize?"

Li Xian said, "No need. The matter is over. Farewell." Gu Nianjun felt extremely frustrated and asked, "Does the young hero dislike Nianjun?" Her voice was soft and pitiful.

Li Xian thought of Li Xiaofan and said calmly, "I wouldn't call it dislike. Who are you to me? Do you think I dislike you? You've come here, presumably for the Snow Mountain Spirit Fox. We'll keep to ourselves and each pursue our own goals, so why say anything more? I've already forgotten what happened earlier, so don't follow me." With that, she turned and left.

Gu Nianjun stood there, stunned. Li Xian's words made perfect sense. Since they had met by chance, they were naturally strangers. There was no connection to begin with, so why should there be? Gu Nianjun possessed a keen and insightful mind, excelling in both academics and martial arts. She had always looked down on others and disliked making friends. To be rejected so abruptly and bluntly today left her deeply hurt.

"Do I really have to get to know an arrogant jerk like you? We're just passing acquaintances, so what? You think you're so great!" Gu Nianjun felt extremely annoyed and almost left. But then she thought that his archery skills were unparalleled and hard to find anywhere else in the world. She might never meet another like him again. Filled with resentment, she gritted her teeth and chased after him again.

Li Xian was extremely annoyed and said, "What exactly do you want? Haven't I made myself clear enough? Why are you still following me?" Gu Nianjun clenched her fists, feeling very strange, and for a moment she vaguely thought of 'Zhou Shijie'. She was extremely annoyed by Zhou Shijie, hence the tone.

Gu Nianjun said, "To be honest, I do have a request." Li Xian said, "Go ask someone else, don't follow me, or I'll really shoot you!"

Gu Nianjun suppressed her indignation, her eyes slightly red, and said, "Young hero, do you have absolutely no interest in the Snow Mountain Spirit Fox?" Li Xian ignored her.

Gu Nianjun added, "I can help you hunt the Snow Mountain Spirit Fox."

Li Xian thought to herself, "If you have such ability, why don't you find a way to obtain it yourself? Why do you come all the way here to help a stranger like me? This woman is crazy, don't pay any attention to her." She leaped away and walked a long way. Seeing that Gu Nianjun was no longer following, she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Gu Nianjun wiped away her tears, feeling deeply wronged. She truly meant no harm; she admired archery and thus intentionally helped him, hoping to use this opportunity to get to know him. She had indeed used clever tactics to bring them together, but after their meeting, she had been impeccably courteous and tried her best to make amends. Yet, she was met with dislike. She was naturally intelligent and kind-hearted, not easily angered or easily agitated, but the emotions she felt towards different people naturally varied.

Gu Nianjun muttered to herself, "Gu Nianjun, you think everyone favors you, but this time you've met someone who doesn't take you seriously, and you're heartbroken."

Suddenly, a gust of wind was heard, and a figure landed in front of him. It was Li Xian who had returned. After walking away, Li Xian had been thinking carefully. Gu Nianjun was not a bad person and would not deceive or harm him. Moreover, since it concerned the "Snow Mountain Spirit Fox", he thought it wouldn't hurt to listen.

Gu Nianjun was delighted, but then said coldly, "Young hero, since we've parted ways, why have you come back?" Li Xian cut to the chase, "I want to ask you more about the Snow Mountain Spirit Fox."

Gu Nianjun said, "Hmph, I wanted to tell you this earlier, but you wouldn't listen. Now I don't want to talk about it anymore. If you want to hear it, well..."

Li Xian said calmly, "If you don't want to talk, I won't force you. Farewell." Gu Nianjun retorted angrily, "You have no patience! I haven't finished speaking!" Her mind was already in turmoil, and she was completely disoriented. At this moment, she didn't even know whether she was angry or pleased.

Li Xian said, "Please speak, young lady. I do have urgent business to attend to. If it is of no use, I will not keep you company. If it is of any help, I will repay the favor in kind."

Gu Nianjun said, "I have a scroll depicting the Snow Dragon Mountain, which portrays fifty-three snow-capped mountains. Is it of any use to you?" Li Xian replied truthfully, "It is."

Gu Nianjun said, "I know the habits of the Snow Mountain Spirit Fox. Is it of any use to you?"

Li Xian said, "It works."

Gu Nianjun stood with his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth, and said, "I know nothing of where a snow mountain spirit fox has ever been hunted. What use is it to you?"

Li Xian said, "Of course it's useful. If there's such a good thing, why did you come to me?" Gu Nianjun said, "Because you are good at archery. Among all the people I know, only you have this opportunity, so I came to you." She turned her head slightly away, feeling quite embarrassed and flustered, and drew circles in the snow with her toes.

Li Xian said, "What are your conditions? Please state them directly." Gu Nianjun retorted, "Can't you archery geniuses be a little more subtle? Always so straightforward." Afraid that Li Xian would turn around and leave, she said, "You stand three li... no, thirty zhang behind me, and I will shoot thirteen arrows. If you can knock them down purely with archery skills, I will help you hunt the Snow Mountain Spirit Fox."

Gu Nianjun smiled and said, "If I can't, then I've only earned a reputation in vain."

Li Xian chuckled to himself, "A hollow reputation? I need to have a name and surname first before I can be considered to have a hollow reputation. How can I, an unknown nobody, be considered to have a hollow reputation?" He said, "Alright, it's a deal." He then walked towards a spot thirty feet away.

Gu Nianjun said, "Wait a minute, let's change the bow."

Li Xian frowned and said, "What kind of logic is this? Fine, whatever." He tossed the Peach Blossom Bow away. Gu Nianjun handed over the Silver Moon Bow. This bow had smooth lines and was entirely silver-white. Its material was unknown, but its quality far surpassed that of the Peach Blossom Bow.

Gu Nianjun had initially thought that Li Xian's archery skills were exceptional and his bow must be extraordinary, but upon touching it, she found it to be quite ordinary. Even more curious about Li Xian's archery, she drew her long arrow, assumed her stance, and said, "Let's begin."

She released the arrow. It whizzed away and disappeared into the distance. Suddenly, a faster and stronger arrow flew from behind, striking her arrow precisely and knocking it into the snow. Gu Nianjun's pretty face flushed red with excitement. Last night, many talented individuals had tried their best, barely succeeding once. Today, however, she had replicated it with extreme ease.

Gu Nianjun said, "Excellent archery! Again!" She reached out and fired seven arrows in quick succession, each aimed at a different direction. This was clearly a deliberate attempt to make things difficult and to vent her anger at being snubbed earlier. But the seven arrows followed closely behind and were all shot down.

Gu Nianjun thought to himself, "What a fine young man! What a spirit! What excellent archery skills! With such talent, it's no wonder he's so arrogant." He laughed and said, "Again!" He took out four more arrows and shot them in four directions.

Gu Nianjun had used all his strength with these four arrows, and their speed was swift. The arrows spun, their shafts moving like snakes swimming in water, swaying left and right with remarkable flexibility. This was one of the archery techniques, the Snake Arrow. When two bows were fired at each other, the Snake Arrow was launched. Because of its flexible and swaying shaft, it resembled a ribbon, preventing it from being shot down by the enemy's flying arrows.

To shoot it down, one must hit the arrow three inches from its shaft. The difficulty increased dramatically. Gu Nianjun had a hidden plan. Li Xian remained calm, casually taking out four arrows and shooting them again. 'Snap! Snap!'... Four arrows were shot down in quick succession.

Gu Nianjun was completely convinced, realizing that this was not due to Li Xian's full strength, and that Wang Dezhong's words were true. Her previous grievances vanished. Her admiration for Li Xian deepened, and she secretly studied him. The more mysterious he seemed, the more she wanted to explore him.

I couldn't contain my curiosity.

Li Xian urged, "There's one more arrow, shoot it quickly!" Gu Nianjun replied, "I won't shoot this one, you can't knock it down if I don't shoot."

Li Xian said, "Are you playing me?" Gu Nianjun hurriedly said, "Good young hero, don't worry, I'm not playing you. Even if you don't shoot this arrow, I'll still help you hunt the spirit fox. But..."

Li Xian said, "I have very little money. If I obtain the spirit fox, I can exchange it for Morning Dew, and then repay it with a Golden Essence Treasure." Gu Nianjun said, "I don't want the treasure. How about this... take off your mask and let me see your true face?"

Li Xian thought to himself, "If you see my true face and know that I am the servant you despise the most, you'll probably turn on me on the spot." He said, "No need. All this talk you've given me is a waste of my time and has no benefit whatsoever. Farewell..."

"No..." Gu Nianjun interrupted, her eyes filled with resentment, "You don't need to take off your mask. I'll help you, but along the way, I need you to teach me archery."

Li Xian thought to himself, "So you want to learn archery." He nodded in agreement, and the matter was considered a success. Gu Nianjun said, "Let me show you the mountain map first, so you won't be so suspicious and think I'm lying to you." She spread out the mountain map for Li Xian to look at. After a moment, she immediately put it away.

Li Xian said speechlessly, "I see you have a noble air about you, how can you be so stingy, not even allowing me to glance at you?" Gu Nianjun had other thoughts on her mind, afraid that Li Xian would remember everything, so she didn't need Li Xian's help and ignored her. Therefore, she showed the behavior of a little girl.

Gu Nianjun rolled up the mountain map and laughed, "Good young hero. Now you know, I didn't lie to you. Although your archery skills are good, with my help, that spirit fox is truly yours for the taking."

······

East of the city.

Bixiang Pavilion, shrouded in ethereal mist.

Inside the secret chamber of the building, Wen Caishang, clad in a silk robe, her jade-like skin alluring, sat. Xiao Tuan waited nearby, the atmosphere heavy with tension. After a quarter of an hour, Wen Caishang said, "Alright, undress me."

Xiao Tuan hurried over and began to undress. It took her a full hour, and she was drenched in sweat, before she finally managed to remove her clothes. Wen Caishang frowned, thinking, "Skills like Li Lang's are hard to find anywhere else in the world. Xiao Tuan's hand bones are already extraordinary and very dexterous, but she still can't compare to Li Lang. Moreover, the silk robe she's wearing only helps her maintain her martial arts skills. It will be difficult for her to make further progress."

She wore a wide robe that completely concealed the marks of the ropes binding her body, and suddenly a smile appeared on her lips, clearly pleased. Xiao Tuan asked, "Madam, what makes you so happy?"

Wen Caishang said softly, "I met City Lord He last night. I know that he is quite irresponsible as a city lord. It's funny to think about it."

Xiao Tuan said, "Why is Madam still concerned about City Lord He's affairs?" Wen Caishang replied, "This City Lord He, a dignified ruler of a city, acts like a student. Don't you find it laughable?"

Xiao Tuan said, "Perhaps it's because he's naturally studious, I admire him very much."

Wen Caishang smoothed her sleeves and said with great interest, "But he is studying under Fu Haoran, which is quite funny."

Xiao Tuan was bewildered. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and He Wentian said, "Madam Wang, you said last night that you had long admired Fu Haoran's reputation and would like to pay him a visit if given the opportunity. I am now on my way to Cuizhu Residence to visit him; would you like to come along?"

Wen Caishang said, "Since City Lord He has so kindly invited me, and I have always admired Master Fu, I am naturally delighted to accept."

(End of this chapter)