The Jade Palace's Osmanthus Blossoms Had Yet to Fall, Jiangzhuer Gathered Fragrance with Pendant Tassels Trailing

Wang Chong jumped in alarm and hurriedly said, "I absolutely will not practice this method."

Chu Qiuzi smiled gracefully and said, "This scripture sets a very high threshold. Unless one is a figure like Ronakasantī, Moon-Hidden Auspicious Wisdom, or the Fourth-Generation Dao Lord of Xuanhuang, one simply cannot fathom its mysteries. After the Xuanhuang Dao was destroyed, this scripture circulated outside. It is not that no one has practiced it, only that no one has ever succeeded."

Wang Chong said sheepishly, "I had meant to invite Fairy Chu to study it with me, but I never imagined I would nearly harm you. I am deeply ashamed. How might I make amends?"

Chu Qiuzi returned the Correct Explanation of the Four Marks to Wang Chong and smiled sweetly. "I believe I can still hold myself in check and will not fall into demonic ways because of this. Rather, it has broadened my horizons and shown me what this volume of the Western Demon Scripture actually looks like."

After this episode, a subtle change came over their relationship. Wang Chong put away the Correct Explanation of the Four Marks and casually selected another book, occasionally asking Chu Qiuzi a few questions. This second senior sister of Qingcheng truly deserved her reputation as a talented woman. Well versed in poetry and books, she could cite the classics and explain in detail every passage Wang Chong found incomprehensible.

The two read through the night, and in the blink of an eye, daylight filled the sky. Chu Qiuzi suddenly said, "Brother Wang Chong, you once said you wished to go to the Capital to study and win scholarly honors. But being alone, without anyone close at hand to attend to you, would be very inconvenient. I have a junior from Qingcheng whose aptitude is ordinary and who has made little of martial arts, but he is clever, has some strength, and is very diligent. How about having him serve as your book attendant?"

By now, Wang Chong had gained some familiarity with this world. Martial artists, too, came in all grades and ranks. Those with powerful martial skills needed no mention-even a business requiring no capital could flourish in their hands. But there were also those with poor talent who made no progress despite years of training, gaining at most some strength and a few ordinary moves. Such people had to rely on their sect's recommendation to find a good livelihood.

Qingcheng was one of the great sects of the age, one of the Nine Daoist Lineages. Even disciples from Qingcheng whose martial skills were poor were not people just anyone could employ.

Chu Qiuzi's willingness to recommend a junior was, first, considerably selfish; second, because she thought highly of Wang Chong's prospects; and only third, to find a way forward for a junior of her sect.

He pondered briefly and said, "My family is of ordinary means. Anyone becoming my book attendant would likely have to endure hardship."

Chu Qiuzi smiled faintly and said, "If one cannot share both sweetness and hardship, how can one become family?" Her words carried a double meaning. Wang Chong understood and smiled faintly. "Then it would be ungracious of me to refuse."

A little sweetness filled Chu Qiuzi's heart, and she thought, With a junior of my sect serving as his book attendant, the two of us will surely be able to visit each other often, and our relationship will grow ever closer.

The two left the library, and Chu Qiuzi deliberately cast a glance into the distance, only to find that her junior sisters had long since left. Though the Qingcheng Sect's female disciples practiced martial arts and could hardly be called pampered, they had no reason to suffer hardship for nothing, much less any refined taste for crouching beneath their second senior sister's wall to eavesdrop. They had all withdrawn in the middle of the night.

Wang Chong had quite a bit of money on hand, so he generously treated Chu Qiuzi to breakfast. After eating, they strolled around nearby. Wang Chong was enjoying this leisurely interlude when he suddenly heard someone give a soft exclamation of surprise and call, "Why, it is Young Master Wang Chong."

The voice was exceedingly lovely, but Chu Qiuzi's expression suddenly turned unpleasant...

Wang Chong hurriedly turned around and saw an extraordinarily beautiful woman with a face like pale snow dip gracefully in greeting.

Chu Qiuzi also saw the woman, and her expression grew still more displeased. She asked coolly, "Are you acquainted with this elder sister?"

Wang Chong answered, "We have met once before. Fairy Su, Su Luoyan of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fox Manor."

Chu Qiuzi's expression immediately softened. She offered a greeting from a distance and said, "Chu Qiuzi of Qingcheng pays her respects to Chess Sword Linglong."

Su Luoyan smiled gracefully and said, "So you are the Purple-Green Jade Maiden! A fairy beauty of Qingcheng indeed, with such exquisite looks."

Chu Qiuzi felt very pleased, especially since Su Luoyan's praise came in front of Wang Chong, which made it quite different. She asked casually, "Have you also come for the lecherous villain White Chrysanthemum, Fairy Su?"

Su Luoyan smiled and said, "I am going to Chang'an and merely passing through."

Su Luoyan came from a distinguished family and held an exalted status; she was no woman of the martial world. How could she be willing to become associated with a lecherous villain? She would rather seek out the great monk Xuangang, who had already become Kong Chan's disciple, to help her hunt down White Chrysanthemum than mingle with the Chrysanthemum-Slaying Alliance. Wang Chong and Chu Qiuzi stood side by side, like a pearl matched with fine jade, but Chu Qiuzi did not know that she herself had killed "White Chrysanthemum." Su Luoyan could not help feeling a little more favorably toward Wang Chong and thought, He truly is a gentleman who keeps his word. He has not breathed a word of that matter.

Chu Qiuzi grew a little suspicious, but then laughed inwardly. I really have lost my head. Su Luoyan is not from the martial world. She is a young lady of an aristocratic family in Luoyang. How could she marry a scholar from humble origins? Besides, Chess Sword Linglong stands alongside Wu Hook Frost Snow. Her standards are incomparably high, and she would not compete with me for Young Master Wang.

Something stirred in Wang Chong's mind. This Miss Su seems to hold an extremely high position, even a notch above Chu Qiuzi. Her coming to Pengshan County probably was not merely passing through...

With a turn of his thoughts, Wang Chong understood why Su Luoyan had come and said, "White Chrysanthemum has already been killed by Brother Qin Han, and two young ladies who fell victim to him have identified him. The martial world has one less scourge from now on. Truly, the seas are calm and the rivers clear."

Su Luoyan smiled faintly, knowing Wang Chong had said this for her benefit. She had indeed worried whether she might have mistaken the villain's identity by judging solely from his martial arts.

After all, there were still quite a few suspicious points about Sun Yanqi. Hearing Wang Chong's words greatly reassured her, and she said, "It is rare to meet along the road like this. Why not let me play host and invite Sister Chu and Young Master Wang Chong for a little wine? That would be a pleasure."

Chu Qiuzi also wished to befriend Su Luoyan and said with a smile, "With Sister Su treating us, how could I possibly refuse?"

She deliberately reached out her fair hand and gently took Wang Chong's arm, walking beside him.

The place where Su Luoyan entertained them was not a restaurant, but an ancestral garden belonging to a local man of letters from a family steeped in scholarly traditions. Its owner had long since moved to another residence, and the garden was filled with sturdy servants Su Luoyan had brought, who were sweeping and cleaning everywhere.

The three had just entered the garden when a young girl came gliding over, her brows like mountains and eyes like water, her neck fair and shoulders fragrant, her slender waist startling the wind, her low-dressed hair gathering mist. She bowed gracefully and said, "Miss, I have already instructed Uncle Wang to prepare a banquet of delicacies from land and water. Only two hot soups remain before all the dishes are ready."

Su Luoyan pointed at Wang Chong and Chu Qiuzi and said with a smile, "This is Young Master Wang Chong, whom I mentioned to you before. This is Heroine Chu of Qingcheng, the Purple-Green Jade Maiden. And this is Jiangzhuer, one of my eight maids!"

Jiangzhuer paid her respects to Wang Chong and Chu Qiuzi once again. Wang Chong thought in secret astonishment, This is genuine Old Money Aesthetic. She even brings such a high-class maid when she travels, and she has another seven maids of this caliber. Sister Chu looks far too much a daughter of the martial world beside her. She has been outshone.

Wang Chong laughed and said, "The Jade Palace's osmanthus blossoms have yet to fall; Jiangzhuer gathers fragrance, her pendant tassels trailing! You truly live up to your name."

Though Jiangzhuer had observed every courtesy, she had been cool and indifferent, showing little warmth. Now, hearing Wang Chong's line copied from Li He's "Ballad of Heaven," ripples immediately stirred in her beautiful eyes. "Young Master Wang, poetry flows from your lips. Surely your prose must be exceptional too. Why tease a lowly maid like me?"

...Chu Qiuzi: Old Wang really gives one no peace of mind...