This is the true immortal of the Taoist sect.

Three days after the talisman was sent out, something unusual happened in Anyi County.

The Wang siblings led a group of servants through the streets and alleys of the county town, followed by a caravan piled high with white cotton and plenty of fabric, not of the best quality but enough to make clothes and uniforms.

As if they had planned it in advance, they delivered the cotton and cloth to the poorest people's homes.

This action naturally made the poor people extremely grateful, but it also caused dissatisfaction among some who did not receive cotton.

Some troublemakers even resorted to robbery.

If it weren't for the large number of people in the Wang family's caravan, the cotton in those several carts would probably have been snatched up long ago.

When Wang Yangming returned to the courtyard and told Qingfeng about this, he was still full of questions.

He understood the discontent of those who didn't receive cotton, but he couldn't understand why, when the Wang family's caravan was robbed, not a single one of the poor people he had helped stood up to defend him.

The numb expressions on those people sent a chill down Wang Yangming's spine.

Qingfeng could only smile helplessly at this, and said earnestly:

"People are not worried about scarcity, but about inequality. Using this method to help the poor will not only be ineffective, but may even harm yourself in the end."

Wang Yangming was puzzled and sought the answer:

"So what should I do?"

Qingfeng shook his head.

"I don't know either, I don't have that much knowledge."

At this point, the group of people turned to look at the closed door without prior arrangement.

I couldn't help but wonder, maybe Master knows what to do?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In the depths of winter, the cold is most biting.

In previous years, even during the daytime, there weren't many people around in Anyi County at this time of year.

But this year seems different. Even though it's the coldest time of year, the city seems more lively than usual.

Many unfamiliar faces appeared in the taverns, restaurants, and inns on the street.

Moreover, these unfamiliar faces were clearly not good people; most of them carried weapons, and they spoke and acted in a rough and boisterous manner. When they gathered together, they talked loudly and their voices were deafening.

As dusk fell, in the tavern at the entrance of Xinghua Lane, several江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the martial arts world) men with weapons at their sides were exchanging drinks, their conversation filled with curiosity:

"Why do you think Young Master Wei of the Overlord Blade Sect would take the initiative to challenge an unknown nobody?"

"Whether you win or lose, it's not a very good look."

"I heard... I only heard. That young man challenged by Young Master Wei seems to be quite extraordinary. At the martial arts tournament at Fuyang Manor that day, he had some kind of entanglement with Young Master Wei for some reason."

"It is said that the young man killed several of Young Master Wei's best men in one move."

"Hiss... Really? I've never heard of such a person in Anyi County before?"

"Hey... there are plenty of extraordinary people in this world, not everyone wants to make a name for themselves."

"Let me tell you something you don't know."

Suddenly one of them lowered his voice and said.

The others, out of curiosity, came closer.

"Tell me, what's wrong?"

The man looked around, then said mysteriously:

"It is said that this duel is ostensibly between Young Master Wei and that unknown youth, but in reality, it has even alarmed the sect leader of the Overlord Blade Sect and the lord of Fuyang Manor."

"Hiss... Impossible, right? It's said that Yan Changfeng, the leader of the Overlord Blade Sect, and Yang Haotian, the master of Fuyang Manor, are about to enter the Grandmaster realm. Would someone of their status really be interested in a duel between two teenagers?"

"Pah, you coward, that's all you've got. You think these two important figures are here to watch Young Master Wei fight that young man?"

"Then what are they here for?"

"Use your brains! What makes some unknown kid so special that Young Master Wei would issue a challenge? His strength must be at least on par with Young Master Wei's, right?"

"What is Young Master Wei's strength? Peak of the Third Realm, approaching the Fourth Realm."

"That young man is naturally not much different either. To be able to teach such a disciple, what kind of sect must that young man belong to?"

"In the martial arts world of the three provinces of Lijiang, Jianzhou, and Lizhou, Fuyang Manor and Badao Sect have always been the most respected. Now that a completely unheard-of sect has suddenly appeared, wouldn't these two giants of the martial arts world come to investigate?"

"That makes sense..."

"So, does that mean we'll not only see a duel between two rising stars in the martial arts world, but we might also witness the intervention of grandmasters like Yan Changfeng and Yang Haotian?"

"Otherwise, why do you think so many people are coming to Anyi County?"

"Looks like this trip was worthwhile..."

"Yes, yes, yes, witnessing such a clash of masters makes this trip truly worthwhile. Let's have a drink..."

Qingfeng, carrying a fish, happened to pass by the tavern and overheard the entire conversation.

A hint of worry crept onto his face.

A mere third-realm young master like Wei is nothing special, but if a half-step grandmaster at the peak of the fifth realm were to come, it might actually be quite troublesome.

Master has not yet emerged from seclusion, and with his current strength, he may find it difficult to cope.

Qingfeng shook his head and sighed:

"These are truly turbulent times..."

However, he also had some doubts. When Chen Jing came before, he told his master that all the disciples of their Feiyun Sect who were over the age of fifteen had been ordered to go on the expedition with the army.

Why didn't Fuyang Manor and Badao Sect go to the front line?

A half-step Grandmaster, if he could go to the front line, it would surely be a great help, right?

Would the imperial court simply leave it unused?

Or is it that even the imperial court's power is insufficient to mobilize these powerful martial arts families?

Qingfeng couldn't understand it, nor did he want to think about it anymore.

Back in the courtyard, the moment my fingertips touched the door and I pushed it open, all the worry on my face vanished.

He waved the large carp in his hand and smiled at Mingyue, who was sitting quietly in the courtyard:

"Junior sister, let's have fish tonight. The old boatman from Xinghua Lane next door just caught it."

Mingyue nodded with a smile.

"it is good."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Wang Jingshu was overjoyed that so many martial arts figures had come to the city.

Every day, I would wander through the streets and alleys, and whenever I saw a group of people gathered together and talking loudly, I would go over to watch the excitement.

She herself is generous and magnanimous; if she's happy with something, she'll just pay the bill for the whole thing.

Over time, those martial arts practitioners who came to Anyi County specifically to find Qingfeng still don't know who Qingfeng is, but they all know the name of the second young lady of the Wang family.

This young girl, who had never ventured into the martial arts world before, somehow gained some fame there.

This made Wang Jingshu quite proud for a while.

Even so, Wang Jingshu never revealed that the boy they were looking for was her senior brother.

Although she knew that if she released this news, her fame would definitely increase even more.

But she knew even more that she couldn't let her senior brother be disturbed in the slightest when the decisive battle was about to begin.

And so, time passed day by day.

A festive atmosphere is gradually spreading throughout Anyi County.

The long-awaited showdown between the rising stars of the martial arts world has quietly arrived amidst great anticipation.