A Twist of Fate

At the same time, in a courtyard of the Marriage Agency.

A cold light flickered, sword shadows filled the sky.

A woman inside was wielding a precious sword, her moves fierce, resolute and decisive.

The woman wore a white gauze dress embroidered with plum blossoms, matched with a silver skirt, as if a cold plum in the snow had come to life, adding a touch of aloofness, worthy of the description 'fragrant mist, cloud-like hair, plum shadows swaying'.

"General, the people investigating have sealed off the entire Jin Province City."

A beautiful maid bowed to the woman in front of her.

The sword-wielding figure stopped, revealing smooth, straight black hair, a stunning profile, skin like white snow, and delicate collarbones that looked as smooth as mutton fat.

However, her sharp, danfeng eyes were intimidating.

The woman's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and her red lips parted slightly: "I was wondering who it was, just a sixth-rank Lang general, daring to cause trouble for this palace."

The beautiful maid deeply agreed, also indignant.

"That's right, although the general has already retired, on the surface, she is still a first-rank princess personally conferred by His Majesty. How dare these small fries be presumptuous? If there wasn't someone behind them, they wouldn't dare even with ten times the courage."

"Could it be Prince Qin? But he is Her Highness the Princess's brother."

The woman stood silently holding her sword, her eyelashes trembling slightly. Hearing the maid's words, she seemed to recall something, memories surged into her mind, her eyes dimmed, she withdrew her sharpness, and sighed: "Forget it, Father's ascension to the throne, the Great Xia Dynasty has just been established, the prosperous age has just begun, it is a busy time, I will not add to his troubles, try to investigate clearly, don't alert the enemy."

"Also, since I have retired, there is no need to call me General anymore."

The woman turned her head and said calmly: "In addition, have you found a suitable candidate?"

The beautiful maid nodded gently: "I have found one. According to Her Highness the Princess's requirements, I have found a Lang student who is still passable. He should be here this afternoon."

The woman put down her sword, drank the tea on the table in one gulp, and muttered to herself: "Living in seclusion and starting a family, finding a satisfactory husband to marry, can also be considered an explanation to my brother and father. Although I, Yu Qinghan, do not like to compete, I am not someone to be manipulated."

On the other side, Zhao Huai followed the matchmaker to an elegant room and slowly sat down.

The matchmaker greeted him with a smile: "Then, young master, please wait a moment. I have already notified the girl you want to meet. Their elders agreed to meet after hearing the young master's conditions. However, it will take some time. The city is under lockdown right now, so it will take a lot of effort to get here."

Although the city had entered a state of control, those with power in their families could inevitably use some special channels.

Zhao Huai nodded slightly, indicating his understanding.

The matchmaker left after explaining, and Zhao Huai's ears were finally clear.

This trick of meeting was always useful, at least he wouldn't have to listen to the matchmaker's marketing chatter.

However, he had to think in advance about how to reject this girl. After all, he was fine with cultivating peacefully on his own, how could he have time to take care of another person? Anyway, since he had nothing to do, Zhao Huai took out the golden copper coin from his pocket and examined it carefully.

The origin of this copper coin was quite magical.

On the first day of his escape, exhausted, he slept overnight in a dilapidated Taoist temple in the suburbs.

When he woke up the next day, he found a golden copper coin in his pocket.

Zhao Huai still had a vivid impression of the furnishings in that Taoist temple.

In the past three years, he had revisited the place once, wanting to know what the secret of this copper coin was, but that old Taoist temple could no longer be found.

Thinking about it, Zhao Huai tossed the copper coin in his hand, wanting to see if things would go as smoothly as he imagined while staying here.

[Misfortune and fortune depend on each other, let's wait and see]

[Divination 1: A graceful lady is a gentleman's good match. There is a marriage in front of you. If you agree to marry her, the indication you get is "misfortune."]

[Divination 2: No woman in your heart, drawing your sword is naturally divine. If you plan to refuse, the indication you get is "fortune."]

"It seems my choice is right."

Zhao Huai showed a smug smile when he saw the result in front of him.

Almost at the same time, a ball of blue light entered his mind.

"Ever since I had Great Luck Overhead, the probability of exploding a fate is really high."

Zhao Huai couldn't help but sigh.

This fate was probably exploded because he remained unmoved and chose not to marry, right?

[Firm Dao Heart (Profound High-Grade)]: Keeps the mind clear and transparent, unable to breed inner demons, slightly increases the cultivation speed of the primordial spirit and mental power.

[Whether to absorb the Fate Destiny?]

"Absorb it for me."

As Zhao Huai's words fell, a wisp of coolness immediately entered his brain, making his mind, consciousness, and spiritual platform extremely clear.

He became more sensitive to the surrounding plants and trees, as well as various unnoticed auras.

This was because his mental perception had been enhanced by the Firm Dao Heart.

"This Fate Destiny maintains the Dao Heart, enhances mental strength, and also removes the interference of inner demons. Not bad, not bad, it perfectly suits my current situation."

Zhao Huai was very satisfied with this.

The Qi Refining Realm is about absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, strengthening mental power, and improving the physique by washing the marrow and changing the scriptures.

Although with his current cultivation, he was still one step away from the Foundation Establishment Realm and far from encountering inner demons, having this Fate Destiny was a good precaution.

Adding the Firm Dao Heart, he now had five practical Fate Destinies.

Zhao Huai divided them into three categories according to the type of Fate Destiny.

The first category was martial arts type, such as Light as a Swallow, Swordplay Expertise, and Firm Dao Heart, all within the scope of cultivation.

The second category was luck type, with Great Luck Overhead being one, a newly developed type.

The third category was backup type, which was also the most troublesome type for Zhao Huai. This type of Fate Destiny generally looked very useless, but you never knew when it would come into play.

Like Dragon Seeking and Wilderness Exploration, he really didn't know what use it had besides finding the way.

But it would be a pity to decompose it.

The Fate Destinies on Zhao Huai's mind and body could be decomposed. The purpose of decomposition was naturally to improve other Fate Destinies. For example, the yellow-grade Fate Destiny Swordplay Expertise was upgraded from Proficient Swordsmanship.

"Knock, knock."

At this moment, there was a knock on the door outside.

"Enter."

Zhao Huai said loudly.

A young servant in short clothes pushed the door open and reported with cupped hands, "Young Master, the old woman asked me to inform you that the person she was waiting for has arrived."

Zhao Huai nodded and asked one more question, "Then where is she?"

The young servant's face showed a helpless expression, and he explained, "The government officials are here and want to search the house. The old woman is stopping them and arguing with them."

"I see."

Zhao Huai suddenly understood, realizing the matchmaker's approach. If the imperial envoy came in, wouldn't the marriage agency's business be ruined? This kind of marriage agency was also an institution established by the government. It was okay to have infighting, but ordinary people would not dare to stop them.

Soon, Zhao Huai followed the servant through a courtyard full of peach blossoms and went straight into a corridor with rooms on both sides, all with closed doors.

The plaque on the corridor read three large characters—"Peach Blossom Spring".

"Young Master, it's here."

The young servant gestured.

"Go straight ahead, turn to the third room. Young Master, don't get it wrong."

"Got it."

After the young servant finished speaking, he left.

Zhao Huai walked to the end of the corridor, and two rows of rooms appeared in front of him. His eyes fell on the third wooden door.

Zhao Huai pushed open the door on the right, stepped into the compartment, and lifted the bead curtain in front of him. What came into view was a screen printed with a winter plum and snow scene.

In front of the screen were a pair of brocade soft chairs, paired with a square wooden red table. On the table was a set of glass tea sets, shimmering brightly.

There was a faint but not pungent wisp of white smoke in the room. Zhao Huai looked down and saw that it was the fragrant scent emitted from the incense burner.

The shadows of plum blossoms move on the wall, a beauty is coming.