A multi-deck ship flying the “Gong Sun” clan banner slowly approached. In the airy second-floor viewing cabin, a group of martial heroes sat around a table, enjoying drinks and lively conversation.

Gong Sun Xiu held her wine cup, smiling as she entertained six newly recruited talents. These six individuals all possessed remarkable cultivation, with two of them at the peak of the Lian Shen realm (Spirit Refinement realm), worthy of being honored guests of the Gong Sun family.

The one Gong Sun Xiu valued most was the old Daoist priest who called himself Qing Gu Dao Ren (Daoist of the Green Valley).

While warriors excelled in life-and-death combat, exploring tombs was not their forte. Those versed in feng shui and geomancy were either Daoist priests or occultists. The former were mostly charlatans, while the latter were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns in the jianghu.

Gong Sun Xiu had already tested Qing Gu Dao Ren and confirmed his knowledge of geomancy. He also had some understanding of formations.

“Tonight’s exploration of the South Mountain Tomb will rely entirely on your expertise,” Gong Sun Xiu said with a smile, raising her cup.

The warriors at the table hurriedly raised their cups in response, knowing that the Gong Sun Young Miss was merely being polite. The Gong Sun family was one of the top local powers in Yong Province, with a heritage spanning over three hundred years. The current family head had been a Hua Jin (Energy Condensation realm) cultivator for many years.

He was just one step away from the Fourth Rank. Once he advanced, he would become a hegemon in the jianghu. Additionally, the Gong Sun family had more than ten members at the Seventh Rank Lian Shen and Sixth Rank Tong Pi Tie Gu (Bronze Skin Iron Bone realm).

However, the current decision-maker of the Gong Sun family was the Young Miss before them. She had a beautiful face and wore a wide-sleeved, moon-white robe with a pleated, loose skirt. She appeared refined and elegant, like a well-educated young lady from a noble family.

But those familiar with her knew that this woman possessed formidable cultivation. She had entered the Hua Jin realm just last year, and within the Gong Sun family, only the family head could suppress her.

Moreover, she had achievements in business. Under her management, the Gong Sun family’s enterprises were flourishing. As a jianghu force, the Gong Sun family valued martial prowess above all, and even a woman could sit in the position of family head.

There were countless young heroes in Yong Province willing to become sons-in-law of the Gong Sun family.

After finishing a cup, everyone continued to enjoy the delicacies and succulent crabs. Gong Sun Xiu had little appetite and turned her gaze to the lake scenery, observing the various boats, large and small, around them.

She looked towards the approaching “Wang’s Fish Restaurant” and saw several children who had finished their meal running out of the cabin to play on the deck.

…

“Let’s mind our own business,” Xu Qi’an said, turning his attention back to the crab leg he was eating.

He planned to visit the underground palace tonight to borrow fingernails, venom, and corpse energy from the dry corpse, taking advantage of the ancient corpse’s resources.

However, the Gong Sun family’s actions gave him a headache. If they continued to make such a big fuss, the commotion would only grow larger, and more people would die.

Those below the Third Rank were no different from clay chickens and pottery dogs in front of the mysterious Daoist’s remains. As the ancient corpse absorbed more and more vital essences, accumulating power to break the seal, it would inevitably bring disaster to the area.

“When a nation is about to fall, ominous phenomena are bound to appear. Everything seems to be confirming this saying,” Xu Qi’an sighed inwardly.

The sound of silvery laughter came from outside the window. He turned his head to see several children who had finished their crab meal playing outside, chasing each other along the passageway outside the cabin.

They wore rather fine clothes made of high-quality fabric, suggesting they came from well-off families, though not extravagantly wealthy ones.

During the chase, a tiger-headed boy forcefully pushed the girl in front of him to get ahead. The girl lost her balance and screamed as she fell towards the lake’s surface.

Xu Qi’an put down the crab leg in his hand, his eyes glowing with a mysterious light. His body vanished abruptly, and in the next moment, he emerged from the little girl’s shadow, grabbing the back of her collar.

It was the shadow-jumping ability of the Dark Insect.

“Wow…” The surrounding children looked at him with admiration.

Xu Qi’an swiftly gave each of them a knock on the head, admonishing, “Get back inside the cabin. If you dare to come out and make trouble again, I’ll beat you to death.”

His tone carried a strong jianghu flavor.

The “Wang’s Fish Restaurant” boat also served as a fishing vessel. For the convenience of pulling fishing nets, there were no railings on the deck, making it quite unsafe.

The children, having been scolded, didn’t dare to talk back and slunk away.

He returned to the cabin, and soon after sitting down, a couple approached with a child in tow—the little girl who had nearly fallen into the lake.

“Thank you for saving her, brother,” the young man said, cupping his hands in gratitude. He was dressed in a fashionable long robe, looking very presentable.

The young woman wore a golden buyao hairpin.

Xu Qi’an waved his hand impatiently, “Don’t waste words. You’re paying for this table of crabs.”

The young man was taken aback but then seemed relieved, smiling, “Of course, of course.”

After expressing thanks a few more times, he left with a smile.

The little girl, being pulled away by her mother, suddenly turned back and made a face at the grumpy uncle.

“What’s wrong with you?” Mu Nan Zhi noticed his peculiar mood.

Xu Qi’an grumbled, “Damn it, it’s going to rain.”

His mood immediately soured.

Mu Nan Zhi blinked her beautiful eyes and looked out the window. The sun was shining brightly; there was no sign of impending rain.

…

On the other side, Gong Sun Xiu, who had witnessed the entire scene, had a glimmer in her eyes. She asked, “Did anyone see how he intervened just now?”

The uncouth warriors frowned and looked at each other in confusion. They hadn’t noticed what had happened earlier.

After Gong Sun Xiu explained, they showed expressions of astonishment. Even though they were well-traveled, they couldn’t explain what they had just heard.

However, the old Daoist priest with a goatee pondered and said, “From Young Miss’s description, that should be a technique of the Dark Insect branch of the Gu Clan. When this poor Daoist traveled in the Southern Borderlands in his early years, he witnessed their methods. They excel at leaping out from shadows, appearing and disappearing mysteriously, impossible to guard against. Only cultivators at the Lian Shen realm can counter them.”

Gong Sun Xiu frowned and asked, “Can the Gu Clan’s techniques be passed on to outsiders?”

“Of course not.”

“That man is not from the Southern Borderlands,” Gong Sun Xiu said.

The old Daoist Qing Gu was startled and shook his head, “Then perhaps this old Daoist has guessed wrongly?”

Without hesitation, Gong Sun Xiu stood up, smiling, “Having encountered a master by chance, this young woman will go and pay her respects. Please, everyone, make yourselves comfortable.”

She grabbed two chopsticks and flicked them out.

The two chopsticks pierced the lake’s surface and slowly floated up. Gong Sun Xiu leaped out from the second-floor cabin. Light as a weightless feather, she glided across the lake surface, her toes touching the two chopsticks. The chopsticks sank slightly, causing only a faint ripple.

She borrowed the force to leap dozens of zhang, landing steadily on the deck of “Wang’s Fish Restaurant.”

Nearby and far away, all the tourists who witnessed this scene applauded and cheered.

Xu Qi’an also noticed this scene, but he didn’t realize that this beautiful young woman was coming for him. He even took the time to comment, “Not bad, not bad. She’s quite formidable even among the Fifth Rank Hua Jin cultivators. Her skills are impressive.”

The Princess Consort envied this ability to fly back and forth. If she had such skills, she wouldn’t have to ride horses, and her buttocks wouldn’t ache.

Gong Sun Xiu entered the cabin, her gaze sweeping across the diners inside. She quickly locked onto Xu Qi’an’s table and walked over with a smile, cupping her hands gracefully:

“This young woman is Gong Sun Xiu. May I know the esteemed name of this brother?”

Xu Qi’an scrutinized her and responded, “Xu Qian.”

He changed “Xu” to “Xu” (a different character with the same pronunciation) and “Qi’an” to “Qian.”

Gong Sun Xiu smiled, “I’m delighted to make your acquaintance, Brother Xu.”

You’re delighted too early… Xu Qi’an grumbled inwardly, then suppressed his irritable mood and said calmly:

“Does Miss Gong Sun have something to discuss?”

Gong Sun Xiu seized the opportunity, “If you don’t mind, could I invite Brother Xu to our Gong Sun family’s ship for a chat?”

She looked towards the large ship flying the “Gong Sun” banner.

Xu Qi’an’s interest was piqued. He had been worried about the Gong Sun family’s exploration of the underground palace helping the ancient corpse break its seal. He immediately nodded:

“Alright!”

Turning to the Princess Consort, he said, “Wait for me here.”

Mu Nan Zhi glanced sideways at Gong Sun Xiu, deemed her a “common beauty,” and nodded reassuringly, “Okay.”

Gong Sun Xiu, who had just been labeled a “common beauty” by the number one beauty of Da Feng, smiled radiantly, her beauty beyond compare, and said:

“Please!”

As they left the cabin, Gong Sun Xiu said, “I’ll have someone send a small boat over.”

As she finished speaking, she heard the plain-looking young man in blue clothes beside her shake his head and say, “You can just go back.”

Gong Sun Xiu didn’t waste words and nodded promptly. She once again displayed her lightness skill, her toes touching the two chopsticks in quick succession. Light as a goose feather, she glided dozens of zhang, successfully returning to her family’s ship deck.

Just as she landed, she seemed to sense something and whirled around, seeing a dark shadow emerge from her own shadow, transforming into the young man in blue clothes.

Could he be from the Gu Clan? Gong Sun Xiu maintained her composure and said, “Brother Xu has impressive skills.”

Xu Qi’an nodded coldly and followed Gong Sun Xiu’s lead into the cabin, arriving at the second-floor observation hall.

The hall wasn’t large but was decorated in an antique style. Around a round table sat five men with vigorous qi and blood, and an old Daoist priest in a worn robe.

The six either glanced or turned to look at him, their gazes scrutinizing.

Gong Sun Xiu smiled as she introduced Xu Qi’an to everyone.

“Where is Brother Xu from?” asked a man in the Lian Qi (Qi Condensation) realm.

“I’m from the capital,” Xu Qi’an replied.

The warriors, who initially showed little interest in him, brightened up and asked with smiles, “Have you seen Magistrate Xu?”

Xu Qi’an took a seat and responded, “I’ve seen him a few times.”

Hearing this, Gong Sun Xiu joined the conversation with great interest:

“I’ve heard that Magistrate Xu is elegant and graceful, a rare beauty among men.”

She had heard too many stories and legends about Magistrate Xu. As an unmarried woman, she was more curious and interested in the appearance of this legendary figure.

Xu Qi’an pondered for a moment, then sighed, “He’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. Whenever I see him, I can’t help but lament how unfair the heavens are.”

The most handsome… Gong Sun Xiu’s eyelashes fluttered as she murmured, “He truly is an extraordinary man.”

Damn, I still haven’t kicked this habit of boasting. I can’t forget the lesson from the Book of Earth fragment… Xu Qi’an reflected inwardly.

What followed was a session of praise centered around Magistrate Xu. The warriors expressed their utmost admiration for the renowned Magistrate Xu, stating that without him, there would be no Da Feng.

The heroic act of regicide had already spread to Yong Province, not far from the capital.

Gong Sun Xiu reluctantly ended the topic and got down to business:

“Brother Xu, how long have you been in Yong Province? Have you heard about the great tomb that’s been causing such a stir recently? The Gong Sun family is recruiting talented individuals to explore the tomb together.

“This young woman, seeing Brother Xu’s extraordinary skills, would like to invite you to join us in exploring the great tomb.”

The warriors at the table remained silent, showing no objection. The tomb was dangerous, and having someone to share the burden was welcome.

If one’s strength was formidable, it was only right to share in the spoils. If one’s strength was insufficient, dying in the tomb would be no one’s fault but their own.

Xu Qi’an didn’t agree immediately, but pondered and asked:

“How much do you know about the underground tomb?”

Gong Sun Xiu explained in detail:

“The tomb was first discovered by a hunter in the mountains. He accidentally fell into a collapsed cave and found that the mountain’s interior was a tomb. The news then spread in Yong Zhou City.

“Before the Gong Sun family sealed off South Mountain, many jianghu practitioners had already explored the tomb, but none returned. After receiving the news, the Gong Sun family organized people to enter the tomb, but they also lost contact and were feared to be in great danger.

“However, we discovered that the tomb is built with green oak stone, of extremely high specifications. There must be great treasures inside.”

The greatest treasure there has already been taken by me, only an ancient corpse remains… Xu Qi’an said:

“This tomb is extremely dangerous. Warriors who don’t understand geomancy, feng shui, and formations will likely meet with misfortune if they enter rashly. Young Miss, please reconsider.”

Gong Sun Xiu smiled without speaking, instead looking towards the old Daoist Qing Gu.

The old Daoist stroked his beard and smiled, “According to this poor Daoist’s observations, due to its age, this tomb has experienced terrible collapses. Even if there were formations inside, they would be mostly broken. Perhaps some dangers remain, and the previous groups probably died from these few remaining perils.

“Therefore, this time the Gong Sun family is taking the lead, organizing us to enter the tomb together, so everyone can share in the spoils.”

Xu Qi’an looked at the beautiful Young Miss of the Gong Sun family and asked:

“When do you plan to explore the tomb?”

Gong Sun Xiu replied, “Tonight.”

Tonight, huh? It’s a good opportunity to use these people to scout ahead and gauge the ancient corpse’s condition, and see how much of its strength it has recovered… Xu Qi’an knew that his words alone wouldn’t be enough to dissuade these jianghu practitioners from their desire to explore the great tomb.

He fiddled with his wine cup, feigning hesitation, and said reluctantly:

“I am of limited knowledge and ability, so I won’t join in the excitement. Thank you for your hospitality, Young Miss. However, I’d like to offer one more piece of advice to everyone: this tomb is dangerous. If you encounter a crisis you can’t solve, be sure to shout: ‘Have you forgotten your promise to that person?'”

Everyone was stunned.

He looked at Gong Sun Xiu again and said, “I trouble the Young Miss to see me back.”

Gong Sun Xiu couldn’t hide her disappointment as she arranged for someone to prepare a small boat to take him back to “Wang’s Fish Restaurant.”

Xu Qi’an rose to leave. As he reached the stairs, he turned back, smiled, and said:

“It’s about to rain. The autumn rain will be continuous. Remember to bring rain gear when exploring the tomb tonight. Farewell, everyone.”

As his footsteps echoed down the stairs, a warrior at the Lian Qi realm sneered, “The Young Miss misjudged this time, inviting a coward.”

“Being a coward is one thing, but he’s also putting on airs. What promise? What rain? All excuses to save face.”

The warriors shook their heads, their comments full of mockery and sarcasm.

Being afraid was one thing, but this person was not only a coward but also, for the sake of face, said some mysterious words to fool people.

Gong Sun Xiu shook her head and raised her cup, “Let’s drink.”

She was also full of disappointment. The man’s speech and demeanor had been different from ordinary jianghu practitioners.

Everyone put this episode behind them and continued to drink and chat merrily. After some time, they suddenly heard a dense “pitter-patter” sound. The warriors, including Gong Sun Xiu, looked towards the lake’s surface in astonishment.

The lake’s surface was covered in dense ripples as heavy rain poured down, bringing a chill of autumn.

This… Gong Sun Xiu’s eyes widened.

The hall instantly fell silent.