Friends

Of course, the patrons who wanted to take advantage of the situation couldn't use the pretext of "I and Twelfth Madam are a couple," as that would confirm the rumors. Ding Songyan acted as a disciple of the Xiaoming Sect, helping those in need by drawing his sword.

Twelfth Madam Luo wasn't particularly grateful; she just gave him a forced smile.

Why are you here again?

It's a persistent Yin Soul!

She had only planned to have a quick bite for lunch, but now the kitchen has to prepare several more dishes.

As Ding Songyan followed Twelfth Madam towards the Rear Courtyard, he said with a smile:

"Two reasons, which one do you think is correct?"

"Twelfth Madam, I thought that since you only have me as a friend in Flame Capital, and there's no one else you can talk to, I came over to visit you."

"Secondly, I would like to learn from you about your insights into martial arts and the Dao of Name and Reality."

Twelfth Madam Luo stopped and turned to the side, asking a question instead of answering:

Which one do you want to choose?

Ding Songyan chuckled:

"Only children make choices; someone like me, who's already over twenty, chooses all."

Twelfth Madam Luo chuckled:

Who said you're my only friend in Flame Capital?

Ding Songyan immediately smiled:

"It seems you, Twelfth Madam, acknowledge me as a friend."

Suddenly, the phrase "I shouldn't have answered you" popped into Twelfth Madam Luo's mind again. She paused for a moment before muttering a curse in a low voice:

"Shameless!"

Ding Songyan was not ashamed. He sat down at the stone table and chatted with Twelfth Madam about the various rumors he had heard from his colleagues.

Twelfth Madam Luo, who ran Wine Shop, was knowledgeable about these things. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, she looked at Ding Songyan:

I've heard that Li Linquan, the "Azure Thunder Banished Immortal," has recently been acting like a madman, always sparring with others using the simplest sword techniques, and never giving up despite repeated defeats.

"In all these years, you're the only one I've seen try this path..."

"Cough..." Ding Songyan cleared his throat, "I wanted to see the ' Thunderlight Heaven-Splitting Sword,' so I concealed my identity and found an opportunity to test my skills against him. Who would have thought he would turn out like this?"

Twelfth Madam Luo had an expression that said, "I knew it!"

"No wonder you said Wu Zheng couldn't understand it; it turns out he wasn't the first to be amazed by the rudimentary form of your Swordsmanship."

The Manager thought for a moment and said:

"If Li Linquan can't get out of this mess, his entire cultivation will likely be wasted. He'll have the power but no fighting ability. Second Brother Ding, the one who tied the knot must untie it."

"At first, I thought he might only be insane for a few days, and that he would return to the right path once he realized things were hopeless. Who would have thought he would become such a martial arts fanatic?" Ding Songyan said frankly. "After what happened with Wu Zheng, I had planned to find an opportunity to wake Li Linquan up, but wasn't Ji the Demoness Ji just scared away? I'm afraid she's resentful and is using divination to guard me outside these streets, so I don't dare to go out for the time being."

Twelfth Madam Luo nodded:

"Then I'll accompany you when I have time."

"Twelfth Madam is kind and righteous!" Ding Songyan exclaimed with delight, then added, "She's beautiful inside and out!"

Twelfth Madam Luo rolled her eyes at him, annoyed.

"What exactly is your entanglement with that Demoness Ji? She doesn't seem to want to kill you right now. Could it really be a love debt?"

"Uh, never mind, don't answer."

Her curiosity nearly overcame her principles.

Ding Songyan considered for a moment and said:

"I still have some use to her."

Twelfth Madam Luo nodded thoughtfully, keeping her word and asking no further questions.

Before long, the waiter Yu Qilang brought over several dishes. Ding Songyan got up to greet him and busied himself setting the dishes on the stone table.

Twelfth Madam Luo watched coldly, offering no assistance.

After Ding Songyan sat down again, she said calmly:

"You need to Silver Coins."

"Aren't you going to eat?" Ding Songyan asked, amused.

"Eat," Twelfth Madam Luo said with a leisurely smile. "You've already said I'm your friend, what's wrong with eating with a friend a few times?"

"That's also true in reverse," Ding Songyan said cautiously.

Twelfth Madam Luo was not annoyed, and picked up her chopsticks and said:

"You've been eating my food for free so many times, it's time to return the favor."

"Okay." Ding Songyan smiled sincerely.

This means they've accepted him as a friend.

After eating and drinking their fill and chatting to aid digestion, Ding Songyan took the initiative to clear away the bowls, chopsticks, and plates, handing them over to Yu Qilang.

Then, he drew his Cold Shadow, and began practicing his Swordsmanship.

As usual, Twelfth Madam Luo sat by the stone table, resting her chin on her hand as she watched, occasionally offering a few words of advice, but each word was very helpful to Ding Songyan.

After Ding Songyan finished practicing, she asked thoughtfully:

"Are you going to take the path of Ten Thousand Laws Return to One and become Celestial Person?"

"This is very, very difficult..."

Ding Songyan sat down opposite Twelfth Madam and said with considerable doubt:

"Otherwise what?"

Is this the only road?

Or, can a single sword strike shatter all illusions, Make Myself the Center?

Twelfth Madam Luo replied with a laugh:

Who said there's only one road?

Different lineages have different Celestial Person Method, and there is more than one.

"As far as I know, your Xiaoming Sect has the ' Zhuguang Method,' the ' Stars Method,' and the ' Xiaoming Method.'"

Are you a disciple of the Xiaoming Sect Xiaoming Sect am I? Why don't I know? Ding Songyan didn't hide his surprise and astonishment:

"Twelfth Madam, where did you hear that?"

"According to the elders of the martial world, and recorded in the sect's records, I only know the name, not the details," Twelfth Madam Luo asked with a hint of understanding. "Is your Xiaoming Sect's lineage so severely severed?"

Ding Songyan sincerely and told Twelfth Madam Luo a few stories from the Sects's past.

"It is truly remarkable that your Xiaoming Sect was able to re-establish itself and develop to this day. This is also a kind of revival and continuation of the lineage." Twelfth Madam Luo sighed after hearing this.

Ding Songyan then pondered what Twelfth Madam had just said:

The "Zhuguang Method," "Stars Method," and "Xiaoming Method" correspond to the original three fundamental martial arts manuals: "Illuminating the Long Night Scripture," "The Celestial Stars Scripture," and "Xiaoming Great Art."

The first two are alright. There were Martial Grandmaster who fled south of the Great River in the past. Although they did not have enough understanding and mastery of the Celestial Person Method, they left behind a lot of notes and insights. Many of the fragments in them pointed to the original Celestial Person Method and Man. When I attain the status of Celestial Person, I will be able to recreate it by combining these deductions. However, the "Xiaoming Method" is probably hard to come by again.

Without reference, even relying on "Deriving Dao and De" would take decades, unless some of the "Xiaoming Great Art" could be recovered.

Does the path of Ten Thousand Laws Return to One correspond to "the Deriving Dao and De"? Does the path of breaking all laws with a single sword correspond to "the Return All Things to One"? Do "Establishing the Six Harmonies" and "Dividing the Four Seasons" also have their own Celestial Person Method?

What kind of Celestial Person Method does Demoness Ji possess?

After expressing her feelings, Twelfth Madam Luo looked at Ding Songyan:

"I was just saying that. You have to walk your own path. The path of Ten Thousand Laws Return to One is difficult, but if you succeed, the achievements will be limitless."

"Hmm." Ding Songyan then asked, "Twelfth Madam, what is your Celestial Person Method?"

Twelfth Madam Luo's eyes flickered, and she asked with a smile:

"Are they trying to find out who I am?"

"How dare I?" Ding Songyan cried out, "I was just asking casually. You don't have to answer. I was quite curious, but I didn't dare to pry. I was afraid that if I found out, Twelfth Madam, you would leave Flame Capital. Then who would guide me on the Dao of Name and Reality?"

Twelfth Madam Luo paused for a moment, her mouth slightly agape, and said with a mixture of amusement and exasperation:

You're quite honest.

That's shameless enough!

Phoenix Terrace Studio.

Wearing Ridge Crown, Yu Chongyuan stood by the window, gazing intently at the several calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall.

The handwriting was elegant and graceful, yet dignified and refined.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Yingbo entered the Quiet Room, and the green of the incense burner, the yellow of the futon, the blue of the book cover, and the red of the painting all gathered on him, making him radiant.

She glanced at the paintings and calligraphy on the wall, a fleeting look of sadness crossing her face, before she spoke seriously:

"Senior Brother, we've found out He Jin's identity."

Yu Chongyuan turned to the side, his gaze calm and unwavering.

Zhang Yingbo continued:

"He was a retainer of Prince Shen's Residence's household. His Martial Arts skills match Wu Zheng's description, but he left the Prince's Residence a little over a month ago and no longer serves Prince Shen."

"Prince Shen..." Yu Chongyuan repeated these two words.

He then calmly nodded:

"Junior sister, you've worked hard."

"I have to go to the palace. Tell everyone to keep an eye on Wu Zheng's safety."

"Entering the palace... Prince Shen... Is this related to the royal family?" Zhang Yingbo asked tentatively.

Yu Chongyuan neither shook his head nor nodded, but simply said:

"A turbulent time."

This Great Grandmaster's weapons were a sword and a saber, which he did not remove at the Forbidden Palace gates. Firstly, he was granted the privilege of "entering the palace with a sword and shoes," and secondly, as Celestial Person, his weapons were merely an extension of himself; he was the most dangerous person.

Upon arriving at the Clear Listening Hall, which is surrounded by green water, Yu Chongyuan meticulously bowed to the man sitting cross-legged on a straw mat.

The man was tall and imposing, with a sharply defined face, as if carved by a knife and axe, and his features possessed a strange beauty that seemed to burn like fire.

He wore an imperial crown with twelve tassels in front of him, and a bright red robe embroidered with a divine figure riding a dragon. Thick brown animal fur covered all exposed parts of his body, giving him a rugged appearance. He was none other than Emperor Hong Jingchu of the Great Zhao Dynasty.

"Chongyuan, is there still such formality between us?" the emperor, whose reign title was "Jianwu," said with a slight smile.

"Your Majesty, propriety must not be disregarded." Yu Chongyuan maintained a sufficiently respectful demeanor.

"What brings you here today?" Emperor Jianwu asked.

Yu Chongyuan recounted Wu Zheng's story, and concluded by saying:

"The fact that Prince Shen specifically sent someone who inherited Zhurong's lineage suggests that he has also sensed something and wants to use this opportunity to expose it."

"After all, he's surnamed Hong, and a Great Grandmaster." Emperor Jianwu pondered for a moment and said, "Chongyuan, proceed as normal, find He Jin, and help Wu Zheng, whose family was destroyed, get justice."

Yu Chongyuan understood Emperor Jianwu's true meaning, bowed, and accepted.

Just as he was about to leave the Clear Listening Hall, Emperor Jianwu remained silent for a few moments, then hesitantly asked:

Has she sent any news back?

Yu Chongyuan's expression darkened slightly:

Not yet.

Shushui Street.

Twelfth Madam Luo looked at Ding Songyan with suspicion:

"Aren't you going to find Li Linquan?"

According to the information I've gathered, Li Linquan isn't in this area.

Ding Songyan put on a smile:

"Twelfth Madam, the Demoness Ji was seen on this street before, and she might be hiding some secret here. I was originally afraid to come, but since you're with me, I thought I'd check it out on the way."

Upon hearing this, Twelfth Madam Luo was first taken aback, then burst into laughter in anger:

"Utterly shameless!"

I've never seen such a shameless righteous knight-errant in my entire life!