A friend would soon come from afar

The Liu Family in Hidden River Alley.

In the darkness, a roar filled with fear and doubt suddenly rang out and echoed.

Liu Cheng hurriedly got out of bed and rushed to the room where his Liu Cheng's adoptive father was without even putting on his coat.

He arrived earlier than the other members of the Treading the Sea Gang. As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw Hu Chaohui huddled at the head of the bed, his body trembling uncontrollably. His face was filled with a mixture of fear and bewilderment. He didn't look like the leader of a gang or Martial Grandmaster Perfected Law Realm many years. He looked more like an ordinary old man in his twilight years.

Liu Cheng quickly surveyed the room, finding no one else there and no signs of a fight.

"Liu Cheng's adoptive father, what happened?" Liu Cheng turned his gaze back to Hu Chaohui.

Hu Chaohui took a deep breath, forcibly calming the trembling in his body.

He hesitated for a moment and said:

"I dreamt of that man wearing the Jade Maiden Mask again; he seemed even more like the Celestial Emperor now."

Before Liu Cheng could respond, the leader of the Treading the Sea Gang added on his own:

"It seems this has become my mental weakness." Just a mental weakness? A pure mental weakness could wake a Martial Grandmaster at the Perfected Law Realm from a dream, but it could never make him tremble like this... It's more like a mental weakness evolving into Nightmare. Such events either involve external forces or are caused by an inner Heart Demon inherent in this area... Liu Cheng didn't expose his Liu Cheng's adoptive father's words, but glanced out the window at the cold wind and rain, pondering as he said:

"Liu Cheng's adoptive father, why don't you go to Daoist Temple Buddhist Temple or Buddhist monastery for a period of time to recuperate your mind and body and mend your flaws?"

Hu Chaohui recalled what he "saw" in his dream, and after a moment of silence, said:

"That's right, we can no longer ignore this mental weakness, otherwise it will develop into Heart Demon."

"Ah Cheng, I'm leaving the Treading the Sea Gang to you. Don't disturb my peace and quiet unless it's something important."

Upon hearing this, Liu Cheng's heart stirred, and he seized the opportunity to say:

"Liu Cheng's adoptive father, how about I take charge of the more respectable businesses, and leave things like the Silver Hook Gambling House to the other elders? We always need to have a backup plan."

Hu Chaohui looked up at Liu Cheng and sighed:

"I know your intentions, but the current situation is complex and unpredictable. Our Treading the Sea Gang is in danger of collapsing at any time. Only by entrusting it to you can I feel at ease."

Liu Cheng remained silent for a moment, offering no further advice. He merely gave his Liu Cheng's adoptive father a deep look and chuckled self-deprecatingly:

"My injuries haven't fully healed yet, so it's a bit much for me to take on this heavy responsibility. I can only do the important tasks first, and the other elders can't be idle either."

"Take care of yourself." Hu Chaohui nodded and waved his hand to leave. "Go back and rest. I also need to meditate and regulate my qi to harmonize my mind and body." Liu Cheng took his leave, and before closing the door, he turned back to look at his Liu Cheng's adoptive father one last time.

That earlier scene left a very deep impression on him:

It turned out that my Liu Cheng's adoptive father was no longer the strong, Wind and Rain man I remembered; he had somehow become a trembling, fearful old man...

Five Hills Mountain, the summit of its main peak.

Snowflakes fell from the sky, covering everything in a white blanket.

The Maid, Yu Yao, hurried up and called out to the figure beneath the jade tree branches:

"Miss, Second Brother Ding has sent another letter."

The figure was draped in a white cloak with fur trim, and in front of him was a campfire roasting a fat rabbit. The biting cold wind seemed to ignore the area and detour around it.

"Another letter? Didn't one just arrive a couple of days ago?" The figure stood up, looked at Yu Yao, and revealed a beautiful, fair face.

Her chin was pointed and delicate, and her eyes were beautifully upturned at the corners. She seemed innocent, yet she possessed a certain charm. With every glance, a thousand kinds of allure were revealed. Even though she was used to seeing her every day, the Maid Yu Yao was still captivated by her beauty and almost became infatuated with her.

"I came from Flame Capital." Yu Yao composed herself and answered her mistress's question. Su Qingli wore a white jacket and white skirt, her black hair tied up with a white ribbon, which added a bright color to the snow-covered ground, making her breathtakingly beautiful.

Having finally scored a few points higher, she took the letter and, amidst the wind and snow, began to read it, her expression gradually becoming excited.

Su Qingli blinked and said to her Maid, Yu Yao:

"You roast the rabbit for me, I'm going to find my dad!"

As she spoke, the girl descended the mountain peak with light steps, sometimes skipping and hopping over the icy stone steps.

Although the young lady has grown up in appearance and figure, she still has the temperament of a little girl... Yu Yao muttered a couple of words, then obediently squatted down and started roasting the fat rabbit.

Su Qingli rushed home and found her father enjoying tea in the tea room.

Su Changzhou was dressed as a scholar, his hair already mottled and held in place by a single wooden hairpin. He had a handsome face with delicate features, and also possessed the Su Family's signature fox-like eyes. He also had a gray-white mustache on his lips and chin. His overall temperament was gentle, mature, and refined, yet he also exuded a touch of romantic charm.

"Father!" Su Qingli stopped and called out with a sweet smile.

Su Changzhou put down his teacup and sighed helplessly:

"Speak, what is it now?"

Su Qingli smiled and sat down next to her father, naturally looking up at Su Changzhou: "Father, I heard that Emperor Jianwu the Southern Dynasty will be Consort Selection in the spring. This must be very interesting, fun, and exciting. I want to go and see."

The girl's dark, pleading eyes were filled with a pitiful look, like a little fox that had been rejected.

"This matter involves a wide range of people, and we don't know what Hong Jingchu is planning. Who knows how many major sects will get involved? You haven't even reached the Law Realm yet, what are you doing getting involved?" Su Changzhou ruthlessly rejected his youngest daughter's request.

"I'm just watching the fun, I won't get involved, what danger could I possibly be in?" Su Qingli pouted slightly. "Besides, Father, you're Great Grandmaster, how could you not protect me?"

Su Changzhou glanced at Su Qingli:

When did I say I was going to Flame Capital?

Su Qingli chuckled:

"Are you really going to let your weak, pitiful, and naive daughter go to Flame Capital by herself?"

"You still want to run away from home? After your birthday next year, you can go wherever you want," Su Changzhou, amused and scolding.

Su Qingli flashed two rows of neat, white teeth:

My mother has never been to Flame Capital either, why don't you take her to experience it?

"Father, let's just say the three of us go to experience the customs of Flame Capital and watch the excitement. We'll return to the Mountain Gate after the Consort Selection is over." "Elder Brother? Elder Brother has his own matters to attend to."

The girl desperately tried to come up with an excuse, resorting to coquettishness.

After a long while, Su Changzhou, thoroughly annoyed, picked up his teacup and said:

"It's up to you, but we need to make some preparations. We should try to get to Flame Capital Year."

"Father, you're so good~" Su Qingli said contentedly, her voice becoming sweet and charming.

She thought for a moment and said:

"Father, do you know a woman named Luo Mingyin? She is cultivating her heart in the mortal world of Flame Capital, and it is said that she has some connection with the Emperor Terrace."

Su Changzhou thought about it carefully for a while:

"Never heard of it."

"Do you think it could be my aunt?" Su Qingli had a guess when she read the phrase "refining the heart in the mortal world" in the letter.

In terms of lineage, the Su Family Emperor Terrace are somewhat related.

Su Changzhou pondered for a moment and said, "That's possible. I haven't seen your aunt for quite some time now."

"However, it still depends on the specific nature of the person. Appearances can be easily changed, but a person's nature is hard to alter. Tell me about Luo Mingyin."

"I don't know much..." Su Qingli recounted the passages Ding Songyan had written in his letter.

Su Changzhou pondered for a moment and said:

"Not really, your aunt has a lot of tricks up her sleeve."

"Unless, unless she has made progress in refining her heart amidst the mortal world and returned to her original, pure self..."

"I see..." Su Qingli became even more curious about who Luo Mingyin was.

Just as she was about to leave the tea room, Su Changzhou suddenly asked:

"Is your close friend Second Brother Ding, with whom you often exchange letters, also in Flame Capital?"

"Yes." Su Qingli nodded frankly, "I will go to see him then, but mainly to watch the excitement of the Consort Selection."

"Can you even get close to him?" Su Changzhou asked, amused.

Su Qingli fell silent for a moment, then said after a few breaths, "I can see you from a distance!"

Su Changzhou shook his head, sipped his tea, and said nothing more.

On the second day of his leave, Ding Songyan did not go out, but focused on writing his storybook and practicing Martial Arts.

In terms of martial arts alone, he currently has too many things to do. The two main ones are: first, to integrate the "Betrayal-Trust Sword Accumulated Evil Divine Art" into his own "Dao One Sword"; and second, to combine the "Essentials of the Heavenly Mandate" and the Heavenly Heart Imprint to create the Ding Clan Heavenly Mind.

Neither of these can be achieved in just a few days or ten days; it requires hard work and perseverance. Hopefully, some progress can be made within two or three months.

Ding Songyan originally intended to keep his promise and invite Li Baima, Wu Mo, and Fan Chunlin to the Rippling River for drinks and entertainment in the evening. However, since Li Baima's elder had recently passed away, he did not have such desires for the time being. It would not be appropriate to leave him out, so after discussing it with Wu Mo and Fan Chunlin, Ding Songyan postponed the invitation for a while.

As dusk fell, Wu Mo and Fan Chunlin sat around the stone table, watching Li Baima practice the "Fire-Stealing Bird's Fire-Commanding Sword" over and over again, waiting for dinner to be served.

Suddenly, a light knock sounded at the entrance of the Side Courtyard.

The two turned their heads and were stunned.

Beside the open courtyard gate stood a stunningly beautiful woman dressed as a man. She was tall and slender, wearing Carefree Headwrap white robe. She had long, delicate eyebrows, bright eyes, white teeth, a delicate nose, and skin as smooth as jade. She was as beautiful as a fairy who had stepped out of a painting.

"This, young lady, what brings you here?" Wu Mo jumped up to greet her, stammering. This Miss Zhang is no less impressive than Zhang Yingbo!

Yet she doesn't resemble the other beauties on the "Rivers and Lakes Beauty Register"...

Jiang Lanting was already used to this treatment, and smiled slightly:

"Does Xiaoming Sect Second Brother Ding live in this courtyard?"

Wu Mo and Fan Chunlin were initially dazzled by each other's smiles before they came to their senses.

Looking for Brother Ding?

What did Brother Ding do to attract such a stunning beauty?

Isn't he too popular with beautiful women?

At this moment, Ding Songyan sensed Jiang Lanting's arrival, put down his brush, and left the room.

With the help of the "Hundun State," he could grasp the changes in posture, exertion, and flow of True Qi on the body surface of targets within Five Zhang radius. Naturally, he could distinguish whether the approaching person was male or female. Jiang Lanting was indeed both male and female, possessing all the necessary qualities.

Ding Songyan wouldn't normally sense things so clearly, as that would be offensive to others. But just now, an outsider suddenly entered the "Hundun State," and it wasn't one of the usual few, so he instinctively started to discern their presence.

"It's all Demoness Ji's fault, she's made him so easily frightened." "What brings you here?" Ding Songyan greeted Jiang Lanting with a smile, and introduced him to Li Baima and the others, "This is ' Young Master Mingxi '."

He didn't bother to ask whether it was Young Master Jiang or Miss Jiang, and simply used the nickname.

"Young Master Mingxi"? Fan Chunlin and the others immediately recalled the portrait and description on the "Jade Tree Martial Arts Rankings".

Is he Jiang Lanting, the "Young Master Mingxi"?

No wonder she resembles a stunning beauty...

She really does have the face of a beautiful woman!

Jiang Lanting smiled and Ding Songyan:

"Didn't I say before that the debt of helping others is a separate matter?"

"Here I am, I've brought you something nice."

P. S.: Requesting double Monthly Tickets at the beginning of the month!