Testing

This thought came and went in a flash.

The way the world filled in its own gaps was far too mysterious.

There wasn't enough evidence. Anything deduced purely from guesswork could only serve as a reference, not be taken as fact.

To verify it, he would have to proceed step by step.

For now, Xu Yuan could be certain of only one thing: no matter which faction Mr. Qin belonged to, he was most likely here for him, the Third Young Master.

The female lead, who should have appeared at Xiaoxiang Pavilion, had somehow been brought by him to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. If that was a coincidence, then it was far too much of one.

Putting those thoughts aside, Xu Yuan looked at Yue Niang again and smiled gently.

"Since Mr. Qin personally chose the top courtesan, then I certainly can't miss out."

The smile on Yue Niang's face froze.

The Third Young Master had been silent for so long that Yue Niang had thought he would give up. Instead, she heard him say this.

She hurriedly said:

"If Mr. Qin blames you, Third Young Master—"

Xu Yuan raised a hand to interrupt her. Looking into her eyes and studying every subtle change in her expression, he smiled.

"Blame me? If Mr. Qin wants to, Yue Niang can tell him to come find me. I'm quite curious about this Mr. Qin, who's said to stand shoulder to shoulder with my eldest brother."

With that, Xu Yuan laughed heartily and turned to leave.

Zhou Chen followed quietly.

Yue Niang opened her mouth to try to stop him again, but in the end, she swallowed her words.

The garden alley fell silent.

Watching Xu Yuan and Zhou Chen force their way into the Bamboo Garden where Jinxuan was staying, then seeing the door close behind them, Yue Niang finally sighed softly, rose, and silently returned to her own courtyard.

Just as its name suggested, the Bamboo Garden opened onto a courtyard ringed by bamboo trees, visible beyond the screen wall.

The bamboo leaves were lush and green, drifting down in the breeze, while a pool of water rippled with emerald waves.

A faint earthy fragrance hung in the garden. Xu Yuan glanced around but saw no one.

The hall stood behind the garden, and the rooms lay beyond the hall.

Since he was playing the part of a wastrel, naturally he had no intention of notifying Miss Jinxuan. Xu Yuan simply led Zhou Chen toward the innermost room.

As they walked along the stone path, Xu Yuan asked casually:

"Mr. Zhou, did you say that Mr. Qin could stand shoulder to shoulder with Xu Changge more than ten years ago?"

That information was the direct reason Xu Yuan had begun to suspect Mr. Qin was someone the world had filled in.

Xu Changge was the ruthless man who had gone alone to the Ancient Abyss and chopped off the Snake Demon Princess's head.

There was no reason for someone who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him not to appear in the plot.

Zhou Chen glanced at Xu Yuan's back, unconcerned that the Third Young Master had called his elder brother by name, and gave a slight nod.

"Mm. When the Eldest Young Master made a name for himself in the Imperial Capital at the age of fifteen, all sorts of people appeared, claiming they could stand shoulder to shoulder with him."

"Huh?"

Xu Yuan furrowed his brow and asked:

"You mean this Mr. Qin is all flash and no substance? No, if that were so, why did you single him out just now?"

Following behind Xu Yuan, Zhou Chen replied:

"The Third Young Master is perceptive. This Mr. Qin was indeed different from those who made a name for themselves by trading on the Eldest Young Master's reputation."

"How so?" Xu Yuan asked softly.

Zhou Chen considered his words for a moment.

"Back when the Eldest Young Master traveled the world, he crossed paths with Mr. Qin. The two traveled together for a long time."

"Traveled together?"

Xu Yuan murmured. As he remembered him, his elder brother was always gentle with others, but pride ran through his bones.

For Mr. Qin to have traveled with him, he must have been truly exceptional.

After a pause, Xu Yuan continued:

"Is that all?"

Zhou Chen shook his head.

"Third Young Master, do you know how the Tianyuan Sword Sect sends invitations far and wide every seven years, inviting the younger disciples of sects across the land to gather in Tianyuan City for an assembly?"

Xu Yuan thought for a moment, then nodded slightly.

". I know."

He knew about it.

Not only that, he also knew what lay behind the Tianyuan Assembly.

Information from his previous life.

On the surface, the Tianyuan Assembly was held to inspire the younger generation across the land. In reality, it gave the sect masters and elders a chance to meet and discuss all manner of affairs concerning the sects.

It was a gathering of warlords, convened by the world's foremost sect, the Tianyuan Sword Sect.

Still, despite its hidden purpose, the Tianyuan Sword Sect offered a "gold-grade" treasure as the first-place prize every time, making each Tianyuan Assembly a grand event for the whole world.

After a pause, Xu Yuan asked:

"Do you mean Xu Changge took part in the Tianyuan Grand Competition while traveling?"

"Mm. Mr. Qin's destination with the Eldest Young Master was Tianyuan City, for the Tianyuan Assembly."

"So he fought Xu Changge? Was he really that strong?"

Zhou Chen nodded slightly.

"Very strong. He was one of the few who survived the Eldest Young Master's sword."

"..." Xu Yuan.

Survived him?

After a moment of blank surprise, Xu Yuan chuckled under his breath.

The son of the Great Yan Dynasty's Prime Minister had gone to a competition held alongside a meeting of local warlords—and had gone straight to killing the sect disciples onstage.

Xu Yuan had more or less guessed what had happened at the Tianyuan Assembly thirteen years ago, and had a rough idea of Mr. Qin's limits. He chuckled.

"I think I have a pretty good idea what kind of person this Mr. Qin is. Heh."

Having gathered enough information, Xu Yuan said no more.

The Bamboo Garden was indeed vast. They continued inward, passed through the courtyard and main hall, and went through two stone archways. Xu Yuan saw a bamboo grove, with a winding path running through it.

The two followed the path. After rounding a bend, the grove opened up at the end of the road.

The bamboo formed a ring around a clearing.

Sunlight poured down like a waterfall. A rustic bamboo pavilion stood alone, especially quiet and secluded amid the desolate bamboo grove.

The clear, ancient notes of a song, tinged with melancholy, drifted from the inner room and reached Xu Yuan's ears.

Xu Yuan stood still and listened quietly for a moment, then glanced at Zhou Chen beside him.

"Mr. Zhou, there are two beauties waiting upstairs. Don't you want to go back and see them?"

He didn't want Zhou Chen, that bearded brute, crouching outside the door and using his Will Soul to livestream the whole thing to himself.

At those words, Zhou Chen stroked his beard, looking a little awkward. He cleared his throat and cupped his hands.

"Ahem. Then I'll wish the Third Young Master success in battle."

"..." Xu Yuan.

They looked at each other in silence, then both burst out laughing.

When they were done, Zhou Chen turned and left to the sound of the zither from the bamboo pavilion, while Xu Yuan stepped forward.

The bamboo rustled in the wind. Xu Yuan entered the pavilion alone and followed the music up to the second floor, stopping outside a room.

Soon, the music ended. A pleasant female voice came from within.

"Since the Third Young Master is here, why stand outside?"

As her words fell, the pleasant sound of the zither began again inside.

Xu Yuan shook his head and didn't linger. He pushed open the door and went in.

Parting the beaded curtain to the inner room with a clatter, Xu Yuan entered the woman's boudoir.

A woman sat behind an ancient zither, her beautiful eyes lowered as her slender fingers danced across the strings. One lovely note after another rang out.

She wore a bright red silk dress with a low neckline that revealed a generous expanse of pale skin.

Her face was like a hibiscus, her brows like willow leaves. Her eyes, more bewitching than peach blossoms, seemed to hook at the heart. Her skin was as white as snow, and her black hair was swept up into an elegant bun, held by a jade hairpin that glimmered softly in the sunlight.

Seeing her face, Xu Yuan understood why his original self, a seasoned rake, had been so infatuated with her, lingering at her side and even letting her turn him into a lovesick lapdog.

She was born with an irresistible, seductive charm.

Suppressing the inexplicable flames that flickered up in his heart, Xu Yuan gathered his thoughts and sat cross-legged on the cushion opposite her.

Once he sat down, a pretty maid immediately poured him a cup of fragrant tea, then withdrew gracefully.

The faint scent of sandalwood filled the room. Sunlight filtered through the lattice windows, casting shifting shadows.

Tea, music, and a beautiful woman—life's sweetest pleasures.

In the tranquil silence, Xu Yuan closed his eyes, entranced.

He didn't know how much time had passed, or how many songs had ended.

Su Jinxuan slowly raised her limpid eyes and looked at the man across from her, listening with his eyes closed. She smiled.

"Third Young Master, it seems you have some knowledge of music as well?"

At the sound of her voice,

Xu Yuan slowly opened his eyes and stared blankly for a moment.

Coming back to himself, he smiled and shook his head. He directly pointed at the woman's bright red dress.

"I don't understand music. Compared to music, I prefer the most natural human voice. Miss Jinxuan, you should know why I came to see you, shouldn't you?"

As he spoke,

Xu Yuan glanced at the soft bed in the room, screened off by a red curtain.