Meanwhile, in a courtyard of the Marriage Agency.
Cold light flashed, sword shadows filling the sky.
A woman within wielded a Treasure Sword, her moves fierce, ruthless, and decisive.
She wore a white gauze dress embroidered with plum blossoms, paired with silver robes. She looked like a cold plum blossom come alive amid the snow, carrying an air of icy purity—a fragrant mist around cloudlike hair, plum shadows stirring.
"General, the people pursuing us have sealed off the entire Jin Province City."
A delicate-looking maid clasped her hands and bowed to the woman before her.
The sword-wielding figure stopped. Her jet-black hair flowed smoothly down her back; her profile was breathtaking, her skin fairer than snow, her immaculate collarbones as smooth and lustrous as mutton-fat jade.
Yet those sharp phoenix eyes made others fear to meet her gaze.
The woman narrowed her phoenix eyes and parted her red lips. "I wondered who it was. Just a Principal Sixth Rank military officer, yet he dares cause trouble for me."
The beautiful maid wholeheartedly agreed and was equally indignant.
"Exactly. Though the General has already laid down her armor and returned to civilian life, she is still, at least in name, a first-rank Princess personally conferred by Your Majesty. How dare these rotten fish and spoiled shrimp act so brazenly? If no one stood behind them, they would not dare even with ten times the courage."
"Could it be Prince Qin? But he is Princess's brother."
The woman stood silently with her sword in hand, her lashes trembling faintly. Hearing the maid's words seemed to remind her of something. Memories surged into her heart, her gaze dimmed, and she reined in her sharpness. With a sigh, she said, "Forget it. Father has ascended the throne, Great Xia has only just been founded, and the golden age has only just begun. He is at his busiest now, so I will not add to his troubles. Investigate as thoroughly as possible, but do not startle the snake in the grass."
"And since I have already retired, there is no need to call me General."
The woman turned around and said calmly, "Also, have you found a suitable candidate?"
The beautiful maid nodded lightly. "I have. Following Princess's requirements, I found a young gentleman who is fairly presentable. He should arrive this afternoon."
The woman set down her sword and drained the tea on the table in one gulp. She muttered to herself, "I will live in seclusion, start a household, and find a suitable husband to marry. That will count as an answer to my brother and father. Though I, Yu Qinghan, do not enjoy fighting for things, neither am I someone to be manipulated by others."
Elsewhere, Zhao Huai followed the matchmaker into an elegant room and had only just sat down slowly.
The matchmaker greeted him with a smile. "Young master, please wait a moment. I have already sent word to the young lady you are to meet. Her elders agreed to the meeting after hearing your conditions, but you will have to wait a while. The city is sealed off everywhere at the moment, so getting here will take quite some effort."
Although the city had entered lockdown, families with influence inevitably had access to certain special channels.
Zhao Huai nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.
After giving her instructions, the matchmaker left, and Zhao Huai's ears were finally granted some peace and quiet.
This meeting arrangement was useful after all. At the very least, he would no longer have to listen to the matchmaker's sales pitch.
Still, he had to think in advance about how to refuse this young lady. Cultivating peacefully on his own was quite good enough—where would he find the time to care for another person? Since he had nothing better to do, Zhao Huai took out the Golden Coin from his robes and examined it closely.
The origin of this coin was rather miraculous.
On the first day of his escape, exhausted to the bone, he had spent the night in a dilapidated Daoist temple outside the city.
When he woke the next day, he found an utterly radiant golden coin in his robes.
To this day, Zhao Huai still remembered the furnishings inside that Daoist temple.
Over the past three years, he had returned to the old place once, hoping to uncover the secret of the coin, but that old Daoist temple could no longer be found.
With that thought, Zhao Huai flipped the coin in his hand, wanting to see whether things would go as smoothly here as he imagined.
Misfortune and fortune leaned upon each other; for now, let it be seen.
Divination Sign One: A graceful maiden, the gentleman's fair pursuit. Before you lies a marriage match. Should you accept it and marry her into your home? The indication you receive is "misfortune." Divination Sign Two: With no woman in the heart, draw the sword and one becomes divine. Prepare to refuse her. The indication you receive is "fortune."
"Looks like I made the right choice."
Seeing the result before him, Zhao Huai revealed a smug smile.
Almost at the same moment, a mass of blue light slipped into his mind.
"Ever since I obtained Great Luck Overhead, the chance of obtaining a fate trait has really become high."
Zhao Huai could not help but sigh.
This fate trait had appeared because he had remained unmoved even with a beauty in his lap and chosen not to marry, right?
Firm Dao Heart (Mysterious-Grade Upper): Keeps one's state of mind lucid and clear, preventing inner demons from taking root. Slightly increases the cultivation speed of the Primordial Spirit and mental power. Absorb this fate trait?
"Absorb it for me."
The moment Zhao Huai spoke, a thread of coolness immediately entered his mind, making his consciousness, sea of awareness, and spiritual platform exceptionally clear.
He also became more sensitive to every blade of grass and tree around him, as well as all sorts of unnoticed auras.
This was because his spiritual perception had received the enhancement of Firm Dao Heart.
"This is a fate trait that maintains the Dao heart and strengthens mental power. It can even eliminate interference from inner demons. Not bad, not bad. It perfectly suits my current situation."
Zhao Huai was immensely satisfied with this.
The Qi Refinement Realm was the stage of absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, strengthening mental power, cleansing the marrow and transforming the meridians to improve one's constitution.
Although, with his current cultivation, he was still one step away from the Foundation Establishment Realm and nowhere near encountering inner demons, having this fate trait meant he would be prepared for trouble before it arrived.
With Firm Dao Heart included, he now had five practical fate traits.
Zhao Huai had divided the fate traits on his body into three categories.
The first category was the martial path type. Things like Light as a Swallow, Swordplay Expertise, and Firm Dao Heart all fell within the scope of cultivation.
The second category was the Good Luck type. Great Luck Overhead counted as one, a newly discovered category.
The third category was the reserve type, and it was also the type that gave Zhao Huai the greatest headache. Fate traits of this type generally looked rather useless, yet one never knew when they might come into play.
Take Dragon Seeking and Wilderness Exploration, for example. Aside from finding the way, he truly did not know what use it had.
Yet it would be a pity to decompose it.
The fate traits in Zhao Huai's mind and on his body could be decomposed. Naturally, decomposition was used to improve other fate traits. Swordplay Expertise, a Yellow-Grade fate trait, had been upgraded from Proficient Swordsmanship.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, knocking sounded outside the room.
"Come in."
Zhao Huai called out brightly.
A young servant in a short brown jacket pushed open the door and entered. Clasping his hands, he reported, "Young master, Granny asked me to inform you that the person you have been waiting for has arrived."
Zhao Huai nodded, then asked another question. "Where is she?"
A helpless expression appeared on the young servant's face as he explained, "People from the authorities have come. They want to search the residence. Granny is stopping them and arguing with them."
"So that was it."
Zhao Huai immediately understood the matchmaker's actions. If the imperial inspectors entered, would the Marriage Agency's business not be ruined? A Marriage Agency like this was also an institution established by the authorities, so it was fine if they fought among themselves. Ordinary commoners would never dare stop them.
Before long, Zhao Huai followed the servant through a courtyard filled with peach blossoms and entered a corridor directly. Both sides were lined with rooms whose doors were shut.
Three large characters were written on the corridor plaque—"Peach Blossom Spring."
"Young master, it is here."
The young servant gestured with one hand.
"Walk straight ahead. The third room after you turn the corner. Young master, do not get it wrong."
"Understood."
After giving his instructions, the young servant left.
Zhao Huai walked to the end of the corridor, where two more rows of rooms appeared before him. His gaze fell upon the third wooden door.
Zhao Huai pushed open the large door on the right and stepped into the partitioned room. Lifting the bead curtain before him, he saw a screen painted with a snowy scene of cold plum blossoms.
Before the screen stood a pair of brocade-upholstered soft chairs and a square redwood table. A set of glazed tea cups sat upon it, gleaming softly.
A faint yet non-pungent wisp of white smoke drifted through the room. Zhao Huai lowered his head and saw that it was the soothing fragrance rising from an incense burner.
Plum shadows stirred against the wall—surely a beautiful lady had arrived.
Before you continue