Captivating Elegance, Xiangrong Makes Her Move, Call Me Sister, Hiding Jade in a Golden House

Li Xian thought to himself, "You are born with unparalleled beauty and innate charm. At the Peach Banquet alone, you attracted the attention of many powerful figures. I'm not afraid of you eating me, but I dread being killed by your suitors. There's a saying that beauty is a curse, and that's certainly true. But since you've invited me, it would be too cowardly of me to back down. Perfect, I'd like to see just how grand your mansion is."

She agreed. Tao Xiangrong was delighted and led the way. The two rode the "Immortal-Sending Bird" and arrived at "Rosy Cloud Heaven". It turned out that... Tao Xiangrong's residence was located in "Fire-Glow Garden" in Rosy Cloud Heaven.

Although Tao Xiangrong had many suitors, no one knew where her residence was. The Fire-Glow Garden was a beautiful place with towering trees. Tao Xiangrong walked along a long corridor, sometimes turning left and sometimes right, her steps light and her speed fast.

Upon arriving at the confluence of fire and water in "Fire-Glow Garden" and "Water-Dream Garden," one will see a silver arched bridge. Beside the bridge is a small waterfall, with water spraying everywhere. Bamboo umbrellas are placed at both ends of the bridge.

Tao Xiangrong handed a bamboo umbrella to Li Xian, then opened it and walked across the silver bridge. Although the water splashed everywhere, it did not wet her clothes at all. This mansion had an atmosphere of "water and fire complementing each other" and "ice and fire blending together".

After crossing the silver bridge, they arrived at the main gate of "Peach Residence." Tao Xiangrong reproachfully, "This is the first time you've brought a man home, sister. There are still many things inside that aren't tidied up. When we enter the house, don't look around carelessly. If you see anything that's embarrassing for a young lady to talk about, and then go around gossiping, I won't let you off the hook." She glanced at him sideways, her eyes full of charm.

Pushing open the door, one enters. Peach Residence consists of "seven buildings and three gardens." The buildings are only four or five zhang high, elegant and livable, neither too big nor too small. Tao Xiangrong usually lives here alone. If the mansion is too large, it will be difficult to maintain, requiring maids to trim, sweep, and care for it, which is quite troublesome.

Although the pavilions are not tall, they each have their own characteristics: "Longevity Tower", "Solitude Tower", "Body-Nourishing Tower", "Leisure Tower", "Zither-Viewing Tower", "Book Tower", and "Pleasure Tower". There are a few scattered residences outside the pavilions.

Not far from "Peach Residence," one sees a Ice-Fire Pool. In the pool dwells a giant tortoise, its color a pale gray, which is fast asleep. This is the auspicious beast "Xuan Xi," a truly rare sight. Li Xian remarked, "Miss Peach is indeed extraordinary; this beast is clearly exceptional."

Tao Xiangrong said softly, "He's just a lazybones who eats and sleeps, sleeps and eats." She casually picked some fruit and scattered it into the pond. The auspicious beast Xuan Xi its mouth and swallowed them all, then sank to the bottom of the pond and fell asleep.

Tao Xiangrong said, "I won't show you around this young lady's residence, you big boy. There's a wing room on the west side; please stay there for the next few days. After you've helped me for a day, please go and change your clothes. I'll send a maid to bring you food and clothing later. Sister, you must be tired; you need to bathe and relax."

She suddenly leaned forward slightly and said, "Or perhaps... if my younger brother finds bathing alone boring and wishes to bathe with his older sister, that would be..." Her eyes held a smile, a hint of allure in them.

Li Xian said, "Miss Tao, are you perhaps joking?"

Tao Xiangrong with a mix of reproach and laughter, "You don't understand romance. Although I am the most beautiful courtesan, and many men have shown interest in me, there has never been a man I truly like. As time goes by, it's inevitable that I'll feel a little lonely. Today, I've finally brought back a handsome young man. What happened just now... might not be a lie. If you agree, I will take you to Jade Splendor Pool right now."

She was extremely skilled at using words to arouse desire. Her voice was as clear and melodious as a nightingale's, and her tone was alluring with a hint of provocation.

She glared at Li Xian and said, "Alright, alright, I won't make things difficult for you. Goodbye for now, I'll look for you again later."

Li Xian headed west and soon saw a detached house. Although it had been empty for a long time, it was spotless and clean. Li Xian relaxed his muscles, unfastened his sword, exhaled fresh air, and bathed his entire body.

Pushing open the window, Li Xian heard the gentle chirping of birds, quite melodious. He thought, "Living here is quite comfortable. This beautiful scenery is far superior to Non-Self Jujube-Pasture Residence. But as the saying goes, there's no place like home. I'm more comfortable Jujube-Pasture Residence."

Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door. Two maids, one in red and one in green, waited quietly at the door. The maid in red brought in the meal, and the maid in green brought in a change of clothes. The two women said in unison, "Young Master Li, please have your meal and change your clothes."

Li Xian thought to himself, "It's really strange. My intentions today have been quite clear. I'm doing this for money, no further involvement needed, straightforward and direct. But what is Tao Xiangrong inviting me to live in her residence? Oh well, since I'm here, I might as well make the best of it." He accepted the food and clothing. The food was delicious and exquisite, and the clothes were luxurious and comfortable. Li Xian only ate, without changing his clothes. After finishing his simple meal, he felt an itch to practice martial arts in silence. Li Xian held his horizontal sword and walked around the side rooms, not daring to go far, lest he discover Tao Xiangrong's secret. After all, being in a woman's residence was inconvenient. He found a quiet and spacious place. Li Xian used the "Xun Wind Breath" technique, breathing deeply until he was calm and at peace, Merging into Heaven and Earth. Then he drew his sword, its sharp edge unstoppable. Instantly, a turbulent current of air was stirred up.

Li Xian's long hair flew wildly as he unleashed a move called "Winds Rise, Clouds Surge." This move belonged to the "Heavenly Pivot Saber Method," aiming to be as powerful as a dragon, with the momentum rising as the blade was drawn, thus crushing the enemy's spirit and courage.

" With Jade Across the Front," "Better Broken Than Whole," "Swallows Returning Swallow Southward," "Lone Boat Crossing the River"...

His swordplay was ever-changing, each strike possessing a unique rhythm and style. He was completely absorbed in his work, his entire being enveloped only in the gleaming blade and the whistling wind. His skill accumulated, and his mastery deepened.

After practicing casually for a while, Li Xian wielded a knife in one hand, its speed increasing dramatically. In an instant, he unleashed over a dozen different knife techniques, swift as lightning, fierce as a whirlwind, and powerful as a raging river, as if the sky were about to collapse. His other hand, clenched in a palm, moved as slowly as a still spring day, as gently as a tortoise crawling. This interplay of movement and stillness, these seemingly contradictory states, perfectly encapsulated the essence of one person. He appeared to be floating on the Riding the Wind, yet also as steady as a solid rock. Li Xian practiced the "Heavenly Pivot Saber Method" and the "Stone-Pushing Palm Method" simultaneously, achieving a harmonious blend of movement and stillness. Suddenly, Li Xian's body tilted to the side, like a tree falling in a storm. Only his toes touched the ground; he never truly fell.

He moved close to the ground, like a light, fluttering garment, rising and falling with the wind, his posture ever-changing, swaying this way and that. His swordsmanship and palm techniques remained unchanged, but he added the "Human-Garment Art" to his footwork.

Tao Xiangrong Lou Benyuan's residence, had just finished bathing in the Jade Splendor Pool and changed into loose clothing. She was about to seek out Li Xian to discuss the banquet arrangements. Upon arriving at the side room, she found no lights and knew Li Xian was out. Asking the surrounding maids, she learned he had gone to the Quiet Garden to practice martial arts. Her eyes brightened slightly, thinking, "If I remember correctly, this Li Xian is known for his Handsome Sideburns, Ugly Face.' The 'handsome hair' refers to his dashing figure as he rides a horse, his hair flowing in the wind. It also refers to his superb swordsmanship, his graceful and elegant movements. I'm curious, is it really as the rumors say?"

She followed the path, hearing the whistling wind, and saw Li Xian's graceful figure wielding his sword. Her beautiful eyes widened in surprise, and she repeatedly praised him, but fearing to disturb Li Xian, she remained silent, only nodding and saying, "What a graceful figure! What a graceful figure! The rumors are true, even modest. This swordsmanship is at least Perfection. There are many in the world with Perfection swordsmanship, but few can wield it as elegantly as he!"

The man was skilled in swordsmanship and palm techniques, with graceful steps and a handsome figure. He possessed strong yang energy and a sharp, imposing aura, and his long, flowing sideburns revealed his refined character. Perfect Aspect, Pure-Yang Physique, and his Silver Face could not conceal his charm.

Throughout history, men and women, representing yin and yang, have been born to be attracted to and admire each other. The world adores Tao Xiangrong Tao Xiangrong's beauty and youth. Tao Xiangrong, in turn, admires the unparalleled heroism of men. Born with a short lifespan, she has already gathered the world's heroes and valiant figures. These include young talents like Xu Shaoqian from Jade City, and heroes like Tao Kulin... Tao Xiangrong her life is short, Tao Xiangrong dislikes power and status, only cherishing elegance. She would gladly give her remaining life to her charisma. Therefore, although Xu Shaoqian is Central Lang General, he lacks some of his former charisma. Tao Kulin, a powerful figure on the Earth List, lacks some of his youthful vigor.

The powerful families of Jade City, the magnates from other places... countless people admired her, but they all lacked something she truly desired and wanted. She knew that no one was perfect; she wanted to be composed but lacked charm, and wanted charm but was too frivolous. But since she had no long-term plans, she would never compromise in the slightest.

At this moment, she suddenly saw the young man Gold Steward wielding a sword and spear, practicing martial arts. She was taken aback; in terms of status and position, this young man was utterly insignificant. Yet, he was displaying a charm and charisma rarely seen elsewhere. She thought to herself, "The more I get to know this boy, the more attractive he becomes. Look at his figure—tall, strong, and dashing—he surpasses many other men. I'm afraid his skills in bed are quite impressive too."

He looked her up and down, a half-smile playing on his lips.

Although she was innocent, she had been a seasoned player in the dating scene for a long time and was by no means a shy or timid woman.

Suddenly, Li Xian sheathed his sword, exhaled a pure breath that enveloped his entire body, cleansing him of all impurities, and then slowly walked towards them. Tao Xiangrong saw that Li Xian was handsome and dashing, with the pure breath surrounding him, truly like a celestial being, and couldn't help but Intestine-Turning Narrow Passage again, "What a handsome young man."

Tao Xiangrong and said, "Excellent swordsmanship, excellent swordsmanship! I have long heard of your remarkable swordsmanship, and how elegant and graceful you are when you wield the sword. Seeing it today, I can confirm the rumors are true!" Li Xian smiled and said, "Miss Tao, you are too kind. It was just ordinary martial arts practice. I was just using this place to practice martial arts. I hope I did not disturb you, Miss Tao?" Li Xian did not dare to go all out. Noticing Tao Xiangrong approaching, he gradually withdrew his stance.

Tao Xiangrong said, "How strange. When we met this morning, my little brother was calling me 'Sister Xiangrong,' Xiangrong now he's calling me 'Miss Tao.' Could it be that you're still upset about what happened during the day? I've already apologized on Xiaoshi's behalf, so I hope you'll be magnanimous and not be angry anymore."

She thought to herself, "I don't care if you're handsome or ugly. You're so cold and aloof, afraid to get involved with me. I'll not let you have your way. Now that you've entered my mansion, I'll take your heart first and torment it. But this boy is quite determined, so I'll have to use some methods." Although her face was veiled and her features were only slightly visible, a subtle allure emanated from her.

Li Xian said, "Of course not. I take people's money and do their bidding." Tao Xiangrong took a few steps closer and asked, "Besides doing the bidding, do you have no feelings for me at all?" Her voice was charming, and a faint fragrance wafted over.

Li Xian thought to himself, "This woman is destined to die young, and the Longevity Lock is related to her fate. She's deliberately seducing me to make me work harder. That's understandable; I'll tell her to relax." He said, "Miss Tao, please rest assured. I've already received the money, and I will do my best to find the lock, no matter what." Tao Xiangrong said with interest, "You're so eager to distance yourself; are you afraid of me?"

Li Xian said, "That's not it! It's just that I'm not good-looking and don't know how to talk to women. If I've been presumptuous in our conversation, I hope Miss Tao will forgive me."

Tao Xiangrong said, "You speak so seriously, but there's one thing you don't know: no man in the world can easily deceive his elder sister. Sister Rong guesses, right now you're thinking, 'Heh heh, such a vulgar woman, what does she amount to in front of me, Gold Steward? I wouldn't bother with her at all.'"

Li Xian shook his head and smiled, "Miss Li Xian is exceptionally beautiful. Even though I am not very knowledgeable, I firmly believe this. If Miss Tao were an ordinary woman, there would be no beauties in the world."

Tao Xiangrong leaned closer, her slender fingers touching Li Xian's chest. In this close contact, Tao Xiangrong felt the warmth of her fingertips, and her heart stirred slightly. She had seen countless heroes who remained emotionless, yet now she felt a ripple of emotion, truly indescribable. She said, "Then let me guess again, sister. You're thinking: 'Beauty is a curse. You are beautiful, but you're plagued by trouble. If I can't afford to offend you, can't I at least avoid you? I should quickly settle this case and stay far away from you, this curse.'"

Li Xian thought to himself, "Could this woman really read minds? That's incredibly powerful." He took a small step back and said, "Miss Tao has guessed wrong again. Let's get down to business."

Tao Xiangrong immediately beamed with joy, her expression one of complete confidence. Seeing Li Xian take a half-step back, she knew he was thinking. She said, "Just as I suspected. But haven't you considered that if you befriended my sister and tried your best to please her, a single word from her could help you advance even faster, Gold Steward?" Li Xian replied, "I dare not hope for that. I only wish to climb the ranks through hard work and strength." He thought to himself, "Grandma, things are already chaotic enough here. Commandery Princess Anyang, Lei Chong, Xu Shaoqian, and now your Blue-Heavens Long Dream Tower are all getting involved. You might have found it novel when you came, but once you leave, this mess will be difficult to clean up."

Tao Xiangrong said, "Oh, that sounds nice. Just ask the lords of Heavenly Pivot and the lords of the clans in Jade City, who is your superior Xu Shaoqian. Did they climb up the ranks step by step through their own strength?" There was a hint of sarcasm and ridicule, but also a hint of admiration and surprise.

Li Xian said, "Miss Tao, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Tao Xiangrong said without hesitation, "Call me 'elder sister'." Li Xian said, "What?" Tao Xiangrong said, "I don't like it when you call me Miss Tao. You're younger than me, would it be beneath you to call me 'elder sister'?"

Tao Xiangrong but threateningly, "If you don't call out, I will tell your Central Lang General what happened today."

Li Xian spread his hands and said, "Heaven and earth bear witness, nothing happened today. I was merely investigating a case, and my conscience is clear."

Tao Xiangrong mouth and chuckled. She thought to herself, "Sister, I'm not as good as you at solving cases, but I can easily deal with men." She said, "Then I'll trouble this young hero Gold Steward to tell the Central Lang General what you said." She quickened her pace and walked forward.

Li Xian felt greatly troubled. After hesitating for a moment, he caught up with her and called out, "Good sister, I'm afraid of you. You know I'm all alone and it's not easy for me to survive. Please, have mercy on me. If you go around spreading rumors, I won't be able to make a living anymore."

Tao Xiangrong upon hearing this and said with a smile, "That's a good little brother. So little brother can speak softly too. Why are you so majestic during the day, ignoring your sister at all?"

Tao Xiangrong triumphant, said, "Since my younger brother has a request, how could I refuse? It's you who thinks of me as utterly wicked and evil. In reality, I neither eat nor beat you. How could I possibly harm you? Perhaps I'll send some snacks and pastries to your house if I can't finish them. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about these things."

Li Xian sighed, "There's something I don't understand. With your status, why bother with me? Since I accepted the commission, I'll do my utmost to complete it." Tao Xiangrong, hearing Li Xian address her as "sister," was delighted, but then paused, "Yes... just a change of address, why am I so happy? Perhaps it's because this boy was too arrogant during the day. I vented my anger, so naturally I'm happy. But honestly, talking to this boy is much more interesting than talking to others. He just said that because he's naturally ugly, he's not good at talking to women. But I remember the first time we met, he was so eloquent, rambling on and on, clearly very skilled at talking to women." Tao Xiangrong said, "We'll discuss this later. Little Li, now we can discuss serious matters. Tell me how to arrange things, and I'll fully cooperate." They then walked to a green table. The two sat facing each other, discussing the important matters of solving the case: how to invite him alone, where to hold the banquet, how to talk, where Li Xian would hide during the conversation, how to write the invitations, how to obtain clues...

The two sat under a candle, at a desk, with a pen. Li Xian displayed his meticulous mind, devising a very thorough plan. When he explained the details and principles behind it to Tao Xiangrong, Tao Xiangrong filled with admiration.

The discussion continued until midnight, and three invitation letters were drafted. They were addressed to "Wanghe Circuit; Lin Beijian," "Wanghe Circuit; Zheng Tianxiong," and "Longxiong Circuit; Wang Sanjue." The letters were carefully worded and beautifully written. Lin Beijian was a young and outstanding talent, a prodigy in swordsmanship, and Earth List individual. The words in the letter flowed like a gentle stream, both tender and alluring. They invited him to come again for a sword dance, to make up for the regret of that day.

Zheng Tianxiong was the leader of a local sect of Wanghe Circuit. He was a free-spirited man and Tao Xiangrong as his wife. Therefore, his letter was mostly filled with words of admiration and flattery. Wang Sanjue food, beautiful women, and fine wine. Therefore, his letter used wine and women as bait.

Li Xian said, "That Longevity Lock is very important to you, sister, but we can't rush things and get straight to the point. We need to boil the frog slowly. The three people invited today are not suspicious, but they all admire you. If you invite them again by letter, they will definitely attend. Invite three more people the next day."

"In this way, given your reputation, sister, this matter will surely spread. Throughout history, heroes of the martial world have valued their reputation above all else. Those heroes who weren't invited will undoubtedly think, ' Lin Beijian, Zheng Tianxiong, and Wang Sanjue all received invitations from beauties, why haven't I? Am I inferior to them?' They will surely feel resentful. When sister drafts the invitation and sends it to them, their resentment will melt away, and they will attend. Thus, as time goes on, with more invited than uninvited, the heroes of the martial world will inevitably compare themselves, and those who weren't invited will feel ashamed. They will likely eagerly await sister's invitation. Even if one or two heroes among them truly have important matters to attend to, upon receiving the invitation, they will likely prioritize attending the banquet."

"As for the three most suspicious individuals, under such circumstances, if they dare not attend the banquet, they must be harboring guilty thoughts. If they dare to attend, they will be tested."

Tao Xiangrong clapped her hands and said, "Little brother is truly 'cunning and shrewd.' Even with such a simple matter of delivering a message, he has concealed his merits and created momentum. I admire little brother more and more." Her beautiful eyes sparkled, and what she said was true.

She was initially filled with anxiety after losing her Longevity Lock. However, with Li Xian's help, her heart gradually calmed down, and she even found enjoyment in solving the case. The unexpected joy outweighed the unexpected worries, and her curiosity about Li Xian grew stronger.

And so it proceeded according to plan. Tao Xiangrong dispatched her maids to deliver three prepared letters to the residences of the various powerful figures.

The next day, she dressed up beautifully, wearing a light blue dress, and waited for her guest at the "Cloud-Dream Pavilion." The Cloud-Dream Pavilion was located in the Profound Virtue Garden of "Rosy Cloud Heaven." Inside the pavilion was a suite named "Stone-Jade Room."

Inside, there was a gauze curtain of a special material, allowing one to hide within without being easily detected by outsiders. Li Xian hid in the room while Tao Xiangrong received guests.

Around Chen Hour, a hearty, cheerful laugh was suddenly heard. Zheng Tianxiong strode over; he was about a hundred years old, middle-aged, and in his prime. He had a full head of black hair and an imposing presence.

With a powerful stride and an extraordinary bearing, clad in a purple brocade robe, he commanded respect and awe. Tao Xiangrong and engaged in harmonious conversation. She was a master of rhetoric, her voice melodious and captivating, exuding charm and elegance. Zheng Tianxiong enjoyed the conversation immensely, displaying his talents and knowledge to the fullest. He spoke of his prowess and power within the Wanghe Circuit, the vastness of his Lineage, and the pinnacle of his martial arts.

He spoke with considerable pride about his recent mastery of a Higher Vehicle martial art and offered to demonstrate it to Tao Xiangrong on the spot. Tao Xiangrong delight and admiration, but inwardly thought, "My life is short. No matter how powerful your Lineage is, how immense your influence, or how formidable your martial arts, what good are they to me? Although you are Earth List expert, upon closer inspection, you seem less interesting than my newly adopted younger brother. He only knows how to flaunt his abilities."

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the curtains and imagined Li Xian hiding inside, which he found quite amusing. He couldn't help but smile. Although Zheng Tianxiong couldn't see Tao Xiangrong clearly through the veil, he knew she was smiling, and he was overjoyed. He then did his best to show off his abilities.

Around 9:00 AM, Zheng Tianxiong was seen off. Li Xian jumped out from behind the curtain, casually sat in Zheng Tianxiong's seat, swept up all the pastries on the table, and ate them. Tao Xiangrong, who was feeling bored, saw Li Xian and started talking to him.

At first, they discussed the case, but later Li Xian began to speak eloquently, commenting on Zheng Tianxiong's strengths and weaknesses, and then describing the customs and traditions of Wanghe Circuit, its strange sights and unusual phenomena. He had never actually been to Wanghe Circuit; he had only learned it from books and was simply reciting it verbatim. Ironically, this simple knowledge amused Tao Xiangrong greatly, and she thoroughly enjoyed herself. Tao Xiangrong sometimes smile charmingly, sometimes agree, sometimes nod, and sometimes correct him.

Sometimes he would feign anger...

Wait until noon.

Wang Sanjue arrived at the banquet. Wang Sanjue was over a hundred years old, dressed as a middle-aged man, short in stature, and had a great appetite. Tao Xiangrong engaged him in conversation, subtly extracting clues and showering him with compliments... While her conversation with Zheng Tianxiong differed, it was largely similar. She suddenly thought, "These Earth List experts all seem to look alike. No... like many men. Their topics are nothing more than family background, talent, wealth, power, martial arts... and so on." In reality, martial arts masters vary greatly in temperament. However, Tao Xiangrong was unparalleled, and her fame was widespread. Most of those attending the banquet were there for her beauty. To gain her favor, they would try their best to display their strengths, such as martial arts, family background... and so on.

In Tao Xiangrong's eyes, they were all the same.

An hour later, Wang Sanjue left, and Tao Xiangrong a smile. Li Xian emerged from behind the curtains, skillfully sat on the table, picked up the unfinished wine and drank it all, and ate the uneaten pastries.

Tao Xiangrong sat back down at her desk, her smile unchanged but now more genuine. She analyzed the case with Li Xian, and the conversation gradually shifted to other topics, becoming quite pleasant.