Under the bright moon, moonlight flowed like water across the ground. The group left Cloud-Gathering Pavilion, and Pei Qian took Li Baoping back to her own quarters. Reunited after so long apart, they had far too much to talk about.
After Chen Ping'an and Cui Dongshan had successively confirmed that there were no hidden dangers, Cao Qinglang had no objections when Cui Dongshan nevertheless advised him not to begin formally forging his sword just yet. He should first stabilize his Golden Core Realm, then enter seclusion at Jingxing Peak.
Cao Qinglang left with Zheng Yougan. Their residences were not far apart.
Walking along the silent mountain road late at night, Zheng Yougan tentatively asked, "Senior Brother Cao, may I tell you a small Heart's Matter?"
Mainly because Junior Uncle's student seemed so gentle and refined, clearly someone exceptionally accomplished in learning. Then again, that made sense—Senior Brother Cao had been the third-place scholar of the Great Li Dynasty. Every time Master mentioned it, he had seemed immensely pleased.
Zheng Yougan found Sect Master Cui a strange person. As for Sister Pei, Zheng Yougan was scared of her too. How could he not be?
Among the Travelogue and Reports he had read aboard the Cross-Continent Ferry, more than a few had mentioned "Zheng Qian," that female grandmaster from the Golden Armor Continent battlefield. They had always left Zheng Yougan trembling with fear. Back then, he had thought Zheng Qian was someone far beyond the horizon, someone who had nothing to do with him. Yet she had turned out to be Junior Uncle's eldest disciple, becoming his Sister Pei in an instant. Now, every time he spoke to Sister Pei without stammering, Zheng Yougan felt he had displayed truly heroic bearing.
Cao Qinglang smiled. "Is it because of your background? After meeting