The next morning, Liu An packed the luggage and helped me dress.

I sat before the dressing mirror, examining the person inside: Rong Shuguang undoubtedly had exceptionally beautiful hair, glossy and lustrous. Snow-white skin with green-blue eyes, an elegant nose, and a pair of eyebrows that seemed never to have been trimmed since birth—thick and black like a man’s, exuding a kind of vigorous spirit.

Liu An coiled my long hair up, pinning it into a bun on top of my head, then wrapped it with a headcloth.

“Why does this hairstyle look like a man’s?” I had been eagerly hoping she would bring out a dazzling jewelry box for me to admire.

“The young master instructed that it would be more convenient on the road if Miss dressed as a man,” she said, bringing over a set of light gray men’s clothing.

I have a strong interest in women dressing as men, but this color…

“Isn’t there any other color? Gray is too dull.”

She seemed somewhat surprised and said, “Sect Leader Yan said this is the color you wear most often.”

I couldn’t help but sigh. Ah, Miss Rong Shuguang, you’re wasting your youth like this—living such a boring life. You should know that beauty is as fleeting as lightning, and time like drifting wind. In such wonderful years, if you don’t enjoy beautiful clothes and delicious food, are you saving them for time to ravage instead?

After breakfast, Yan Fufeng acted as the coachman, and our party of five left the city by carriage.

Liu An possessed a maturity beyond her years, sitting quietly with her eyes closed in the carriage, not making for a good traveling companion. By afternoon, I couldn’t stand the boredom anymore and lifted the carriage curtain to chat with Yan Fufeng. As soon as he saw me, he said, “Shuguang, you shouldn’t be in the wind. Quickly return to the carriage.”

I wrapped my black cloak tightly around me, put on the hood, covering myself completely from head to toe with only my eyes showing, and said, “Is this acceptable now?”

Liu An poked her head out and said, “Miss Rong, you really cannot risk catching another cold.”

Lin Shaoci suddenly said, “Let her be!”

After chatting with Yan Fufeng for a while, I suddenly heard the sound of hooves behind us, and someone shouted, “Friends ahead, please make way!”

Holding onto the carriage, I peered back. Goodness! What an impressive sight—behind us was a procession of about thirty or forty riders, all dressed in bright yellow garments, each with a strong physique. In the middle of the procession was a luxurious carriage, with a chestnut-colored stallion walking to its left. The rider was obscured by the twenty riders in front, making his face unclear, but I could see he wore a white robe that somehow remained spotless despite the dusty official road.

By now, Yan Fufeng had already moved our carriage to the side of the road to let these people pass. Lin Shaoci and Song Qingge were also on horseback, turning to observe.

The twenty-some riders at the front of the procession passed by like a gust of wind, and I finally got a clear look at the young man on horseback. I gasped in shock—those features, that demeanor and attire, he was the spitting image of Lord Wuhuan from the movie “The Promise”!

Yan Fufeng said, “Strange, who are these people? Old Song, you’re always knowledgeable…”

“I don’t know!” Song Qingge cut off his flattery. “If there were such figures in the jianghu, I certainly would have heard of them.”

Lin Shaoci said coolly, “Those who don’t offend me, I won’t offend. Let’s move on.”

The weather in Jiangnan is changeable, and it suddenly begins to rain at dusk. Our party rode hard for half an hour before reaching a small town. There was only one inn in the town, the Rongfu Inn, whose red sign had faded beyond recognition.

We entered the main hall to find about a dozen tables filled with people, all dressed in bright yellow—only the white-robed gentleman was nowhere to be seen. Despite their numbers, they were completely silent. When we entered, they didn’t even bother to raise an eyelid.

Shortly after, the group finished eating and drinking. The yellow-clad men were divided into two groups: one entered rooms to rest, while the other left the inn to stand guard, positioning themselves in pairs to cover all directions. No one gave them orders, yet they moved in perfect order and discipline, showing that their master trained them well.

I wondered what kind of important person sat in that carriage to travel with so many guards!

Yan and Song exchanged glances, both looking surprised, while Lin Shaoci maintained his indifferent expression.

The night passed without incident.

Due to the previous night’s rain, the roads were muddy. It wasn’t until dusk that we entered Wuxi City, where Song Qingge selected a rather luxurious inn for our stay.

After dinner, I took a hot bath, got dressed, and wanted to explore the ancient night market. Just as I opened the door, I saw Lin Shaoci standing in the corridor like an ice mountain, expressionlessly asking, “Going out?”

I forced a laugh and said, “Just about to go to sleep. I was checking if the door was properly closed.”

“Oh, then rest well. I was thinking of taking you out for a stroll,” he said, turning to leave.

I quickly grabbed him, smiling apologetically, “It’s still early. A stroll would be nice.”

The corner of his mouth hinted at a smile. “Let’s go then.”

Leaving the inn and turning left, we came to a bustling street, similar to the Wenshu Temple I had visited in Chengdu—nothing particularly remarkable. However, a brightly lit red building ahead was quite eye-catching, filled with the lilting songs and laughter of women, which made my heart itch with curiosity.

I was certain it was a brothel. This entertainment industry has an extremely long history in China—how could I miss the chance to experience it? Without even telling Lin Shaoci, I strode directly inside. By the time he realized what was happening, I was already surrounded by a flock of singing girls, unable to extricate myself.

“I didn’t know you had this interest,” he looked at me strangely, yet sat down casually, clearly not unfamiliar with such establishments.

“Wuxi’s local songs are quite famous. It would be a shame not to listen to them.” I laughed awkwardly, then turned to the madam, using the tone of a patron I’d often seen on TV: “Bring your top courtesan to sing for us.”

“Miss Wenjun is feeling unwell tonight. If you want to hear songs, our Miss Xiuzhu—”

I slapped the table, feigning anger: “Are you afraid we don’t have enough silver?”

The madam wasn’t alarmed at all and smiled, “You must be new here, sir. You may not know that while Miss Wenjun is our top courtesan when it comes to singing, Miss Xiuzhu is truly the best.”

Lin Shaoci suddenly said, “Then please invite Miss Xiuzhu to join us.”

I glared at the madam’s retreating back and discontentedly muttered, “When visiting a brothel, one should naturally seek out the best girls.”

Lin Shaoci glanced across the room and said calmly, “Perhaps the best Miss Wenjun isn’t feeling unwell, but has already been claimed by someone else.”

Following his gaze, I saw that across the room in an elegant chamber with pearl curtains hanging to the floor, two yellow-clad men stood at the door. They stood straight as lines, their eyes vigilantly scanning the surroundings—the guards we had encountered on the road.

My curiosity surged as I leaned closer and asked, “Who do you think they are, with such grand style?”

He took a sip of tea and smiled faintly, “Who cares? They’re either men or women dressed as men.”

I was stunned. This man barely spoke, but when he did, his words could choke someone. One moment he was like an ice mountain, the next playful and teasing—truly unpredictable.

At this moment, the madam brought over a young woman in a green dress carrying a pipa. Her appearance was extremely proper and quiet, with large eyes that were graceful without being coquettish. Without her makeup, one would never guess she was a woman of the pleasure quarters.

She had just settled down and plucked her first string when someone across the room beat her to it, singing out: “The great river flows east—” A clear, bright voice cut through the noisy clamor, seeming to pierce through the air. The bustling building suddenly fell silent, everyone looking up at that elegant chamber.

I glanced sideways at Lin Shaoci, only to see him deep in thought—not completely immune to curiosity after all.

Just as I was about to tease him and win back the last round, my vision suddenly blurred as two black streaks shot like lightning toward that chamber, followed immediately by the clang of blades meeting. Black and yellow figures entangled in a mass. The vermilion-lacquered railing of the chamber suddenly broke, and people fell down one after another. The room erupted in chaos, with people shouting and rushing toward the exit, crowding together.

The tide of panic was terrifying! Without time to think, I grabbed Lin Shaoci, ready to run out, when I noticed that Miss Xiuzhu was still sitting there stupidly. I grabbed her as well.

“There are assassins! Quick, let’s go!”

Before I could finish, I felt my body go numb, unable to move. Xiuzhu’s face wore a cold, vicious smile. She threw Lin Shaoci and me into a corner, then slid behind a curtain, drawing a gleaming curved dagger.

Although I’d often read such scenes in martial arts novels and occasionally wrote stories about brothel assassins myself, experiencing it firsthand was a first. In the emergency, I was terrified. Looking over at Lin Shaoci’s calm demeanor, I found it strange—I had no martial arts skills, but he was the young master of the Yuchi Mountain Estate. How could his martial arts be so poor? Unless he was pretending.

By now, the two black-clad assassins had been subdued. The pearl curtain in front of the chamber was lifted, and a white-robed young man walked out—the same one we had encountered on the road.

Behind him emerged a gentleman in cyan robes, about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, with bright eyes. Though not particularly handsome, he possessed a naturally noble and distinguished bearing.

“Speak! Who sent you?”

The white-robed youth’s face was as pale as snow as he pointed his sword at an assassin’s chin. Unexpectedly, the assassin suddenly went berserk, breaking free and lunging directly at the sword. The youth, wanting to keep him alive, deflected his sword to strike the man’s face. The assassin, with complete disregard for his life, grabbed the blade firmly and refused to let go.

In that instant, a murderous aura suddenly filled the quiet pavilion!

Xiuzhu made her move! The thin, willow leaf-like curved dagger in her hand flew out at an incredible speed!

However, this murderous intent didn’t come from her alone. Someone else acted simultaneously—the brothel madam. Her oversized, bulky figure suddenly became incredibly agile, like a fish swimming smoothly in the deep sea, pouncing toward the pavilion with the grace of one jumping over waves.

I assumed their target would certainly be the noble-looking gentleman in cyan, who was the one being protected. But I was wrong—their target was the white-robed youth whose sword was being tightly gripped.

Just as I was about to feel ashamed of my poor judgment, Lin Shaoci suddenly acted—like the sea and sky bowing in resonance, a flash of blue-white lightning aimed directly at the elegant, refined noble gentleman.

I could hardly believe my eyes. Could it be that these assassins were sent by Lin Shaoci?

“It’s dangerous here. Return to the inn first.”

In the instant Lin Shaoci moved, with lightning speed, he threw me out the window without room for objection.

In the brief space of free fall, I flailed my arms, fury erupting. This guy was going too far! How could he just throw a living person out the window? What if I landed on children? Even if there were no children, damaging flowers and grass wouldn’t be good either… But what if I landed on a handsome young scholar?

I thought I should get up first, but my acupuncture points had been sealed, and I couldn’t move! The person I was crushing beneath me also seemed shocked beyond words, staring at me without uttering a sound or even a groan. I wondered if his brain was injured.

We stared at each other for a long while before he finally spoke. His voice was surprisingly pleasant, with a deep, hoarse quality like the muted sound of an untuned erhu: “Young master, if you don’t get up soon, people will think we have cut-sleeve tendencies.”

I looked up to find a ring of dark heads surrounding us above, their eyes brighter than stage spotlights. When they saw me looking at them, they immediately scattered.

Without thinking, I shouted, “Ladies and gentlemen, you watch the show and then leave without buying tickets—isn’t that unethical?”

“If you’re unhurt, could you please get up to talk?” The scholar’s eyes were wide with disbelief.

I smiled bitterly, “Brother, you don’t understand. Someone sealed my acupuncture points, and I can’t move.”

His expression was as if he’d heard some fantastical tale. His pale face flushed slightly as he pointed at his lower body. “Then why do I feel your hand seems to be grabbing…?”

My hand? OMG! Did I damage my brain in the fall that I would publicly do this to a man? I did think I grabbed something when I landed… Why can I move now? Could Lin Shaoci’s throw have unsealed my acupuncture points?

I practically jumped up, saying some apologetic pleasantries, though my mind was in such chaos that I couldn’t remember what I said. I only recall that the man’s expression was very strange as if he were suppressing laughter.

“I’m fine. Please go ahead!” he said, turning to walk toward the brothel.

Only then did I remember that a fight was still going on inside? This seemingly frail scholar would surely be injured or killed if he went in. I quickly stepped forward, dragged him back, and with the tone of a jianghu hero, said, “Brother, this is no place to linger. Let’s talk elsewhere.”

Without waiting for his response, I dragged him away. After running down a small alley, I was gasping for breath. Looking back, I saw that his face wasn’t even flushed, and he showed no signs of exertion. I couldn’t help but admit defeat, “It seems that regardless of dynasty, men’s physical strength is destined to be greater than women’s!”

“What did you say?” He hadn’t heard clearly and looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Nothing. You’re safe now. There’s fighting upstairs in that building. Find your entertainment elsewhere tonight.”

He suddenly understood and said, “No wonder you fell from the window. Perhaps you were competing for beauty and lost?”

I rolled my eyes. This fellow had quite an imagination. “I’m leaving. Goodbye!”

“Wait a moment, sir! May I ask your honorable name?”

“What for?”

“Sir, your appearance is extraordinary. I’d like to invite you for a drink. Would you do me the honor?”

I stared at him, “Are you after my good looks?”

He was quite shocked, “Sir, why would you say that?”

I sneered, “You know very well. Your Ming Dynasty has many banned books of all kinds, and homosexuality is rampant with many who favor male beauty. You were going to visit prostitutes but didn’t get the chance. Now you see my extraordinary appearance and want to get me drunk for some backdoor action, isn’t that right?”

“I…”

“What ‘I’? What good business could a man have at a brothel?”

“But sir, didn’t you also just come out of the brothel?”

Huh? This guy dared to counter-attack. I immediately shouted, “So you assume we’re in the same boat? Dreaming of seducing me. Hmph! Let me tell you, when I, Rong Shuguang, visit brothels, it’s called being romantic. When someone like you does it, it’s obscene. Got it?”

“Rong Shuguang?” A strange light flashed in his eyes.

“Scared now, aren’t you? Haha!” I knew this name must be feared throughout the jianghu. After all, she was from the Yuchi Mountain Estate. I couldn’t help but raise my chin proudly.

He smiled, his eyes gaining an investigative look, “Master Rong, you’ve truly misunderstood. I don’t have such intentions.”

Dizzy! Calling me “Master”—he wasn’t from the jianghu, or he would know Rong Shuguang’s gender. This was truly like playing a zither to a cow.

“I have matters to attend to. Enjoy yourself!”

I ignored him and headed straight for the brightly lit, bustling main street. Remembering how Lin Shaoci had thrown me out the window made me angry again. The nerve of him to tell me to go back to the inn first! After wandering for a while, I felt hungry and saw a small noodle stall. I immediately ordered a bowl of noodles, only realizing after finishing that I hadn’t brought any money. Since arriving at this time, I hadn’t spent a single coin and had forgotten the importance of money. Even if I wanted to eat without paying, I would need some skills. If only I had a phone, I could text for help…

Perhaps my actions of standing up and sitting down again aroused the shop owner’s suspicion. He smiled at me, “Customer, your noodles…”

Before he could finish, I quickly interjected, “Boss, your noodles are delicious. Give me another bowl!”

He said awkwardly, “Customer, I’m about to close the shop. About the payment for this bowl…”

There was a “thud” as a piece of silver suddenly appeared on the table, and someone sat down across from me—it was the scholar from earlier.

“Boss, please bring another bowl of noodles for this gentleman.”

I was immediately delighted, “Ah, I didn’t expect you to be so generous and helpful. I was quite rude earlier, please forgive me.”

He looked at my complete change in attitude and smiled without speaking.

I continued without embarrassment, “How about this—to show my sincerity in apologizing, let me accept your invitation for a drink.”

He was startled.

I reminded him, “Weren’t you just offering to buy me a drink?”

He made an “oh” sound, seeming both amused and helpless.

“Then let’s go.”

Striking while the iron was hot, I grabbed him and headed for the most impressive-looking tavern, found a window seat with a view, and ordered the most expensive dishes along with a pot of fine Huadiao wine. He appeared completely unconcerned—clearly, a rich young master who spent his days in pleasure quarters. Even if I didn’t spend his money, other women would. Helping him spend money was doing a good deed, saving him from a life of debauchery and preventing him from contracting some incurable disease.

After ordering, I finally had time to examine him closely. He wore a light blue robe, with a thin, tall frame. His features were sparse and faint, his eyes not large but narrow and long, with fine lines appearing when he smiled. Using a common term from romance novels, he looked “harmless to humans or animals.”

While I was studying him, he was gazing out the window, seemingly aware of my scrutiny but not reacting. Outside, the moonlight cast shadows through the trees. His face appeared and disappeared in the flickering yellow lamplight, the corners of his mouth slightly curved in a hint of a smile, as captivating as if touched by a faint moonlight.

In this somewhat noisy evening, we sat opposite each other. The street noises gradually quieted and faded into the distance. The lanterns remained unextinguished, still flowing with bright colors. I suddenly felt an inexplicable calm rising from within, filtering out and discarding the clamor of the mortal world.

In the distance where his gaze fell, there appeared to be a city.

A thought struck me, and I said, “Could that place be the Three Kingdoms City?”

He didn’t answer but suddenly recited softly, “Jagged rocks pierce the void, shocking waves pound the shore, rolling up heaps of snow. The rivers and mountains are like a painting—how many heroes have there been in this moment.”

I continued, “Thinking back to when Gongjin was young, and Little Qiao had just been married, his heroic demeanor was magnificent. With a feather fan and silk headband, amid laughter and conversation, the enemy’s ships turned to ash and smoke.” As I spoke, I drained my wine cup in one gulp, full of historical sentiment.

“Zhou Gongjin was truly a remarkable hero.”

He sighed lightly, “But sadly, he died young, too early.”

I disagreed. “He died at exactly the right time.”

He was taken aback. “Hmm?”

“You see, his death provides us with an example, showing that one kind of life can always remain at its peak—whether in career, friendship, or love, he could always have the best portion. More importantly, he spared people from seeing an old general with white hair and dim eyes, and saved the King of Wu from having to choose between friendship and his kingdom.”

After I finished speaking, I tossed back another cup, and then noticed him staring at me intently, a look of shock flashing in his eyes.

“I didn’t expect Master Rong to have such insight. Admirable! Such a profound argument deserves a toast!”

My face immediately flushed, and I raised my cup to hide my embarrassment. This speech was certainly not my profound insight, but something I had read online. If you asked me about my impression of Zhou Yu, I would say he was handsome enough!

By now, after several cups of hot wine, I was feeling quite tipsy. Before I got completely drunk, I decided to leave, but not without some courtesy.

“Brother, it’s getting late, and I should rest. Another day, I’ll host and we can drink to our hearts’ content. Farewell!”

He was perceptive enough and said, “Where are you staying, Master Rong? Let me escort you!”

I quickly waved my hand, “No need, no need. I know the way.”

“You’re not well. If you catch a chill on the way, it won’t be good. Let me escort you.”

“How do you know I’m unwell?” Though drunk, my mind wasn’t completely foggy.

“Hehe, your brows have a bluish tinge, and your hands are ice-cold—naturally, you’re unwell.”

“You know quite a lot.”

Belching, I staggered toward the stairs. As soon as I touched the handrail, my chest heaved violently, and with a “wah,” I vomited everything. It felt as if two currents of hot and cold qi were rushing chaotically through my body, alternately freezing and burning, making me uncomfortable. My vision went black, and I collapsed, knowing nothing more.

In my delirium, it felt as if I had been stuffed into a refrigerator, shivering uncontrollably. Even my eyebrows and hair might have been covered in ice. Guided only by instinct amid confusion, I sought warmth like a drowning person grasping for a lifesaving reed.

My body alternated between cold and hot, my consciousness drifting up and down, again and again. I don’t know how much time passed before I seemed to float up, experiencing an inexplicable sense of ease and comfort. Suddenly, it felt as if someone had slapped the top of my head hard, and I crashed heavily to the ground, the pain making me forget any ladylike decorum—”Damn it, who’s ambushing me?”

Someone laughed softly in the silence.

I opened my eyes to meet a pair of bright, profound eyes, with lips curved into an enchanting arc, unable to conceal the overflowing amusement.

“Your life force is truly tenacious. After three days of unconsciousness, your first words upon waking are curses.”

“Unconscious for three days?” I almost jumped up.

“Don’t move. You were poisoned with cold toxins and drank too much alcohol. I went to great efforts to pull you back from the gates of hell.”

He pressed me down, and only then did I realize that my gray men’s clothing had somehow been replaced with a white silk spring robe. The two barely noticeable feminine features on my chest now stood out unusually prominently. And this damned scholar was lying obliquely beside me, supporting his head with one hand, his thieving eyes scanning me without restraint, while his mouth made “tsk tsk” sounds, saying, “I didn’t expect that in this world there would be a woman like you who even understands ‘backdoor blossoms.'”

Ha! Judging by his tone, it seemed he was praising my erudition. His current demeanor was quite rakish, exactly like a dissolute pleasure-seeker. Hmph, finally showing his wolfish nature.

I generously let him look his fill, then smiled sweetly and asked, “How does my figure compare to those brothel courtesans?”

He was momentarily taken aback, then suddenly laughed. Looking at him, I had to admit that this lewd scholar looked quite handsome when he laughed, with a special charm radiating from the corners of his eyes and brows.

He stroked my hair, sparks flickering in the depths of his black pupils, his voice languid and hoarse, full of meaning as he said, “Do you know, very few people in this world can surprise me.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, “At least one thing can still surprise people, at least one—and that’s fate. When Zhu Yuanzhang was begging for food, he never imagined that one day he would become emperor. So don’t put on an act as if you’ve seen it all and have everything under control.”

He froze, looking at me in disbelief, “Do you know what you just said?”

Dizzy, I had spoken without thinking again. This is an imperial autocratic society. I quickly put on a smile and reached for his arm, “We’ve drunk together, so we’re good brothers. You certainly wouldn’t…”

“Good brothers?” He eyed my chest, “Judging by your chest alone, perhaps we could be.”

Damn, how can he be so insulting? But babbling nonsense has always been my strength, “Confucius said friendship knows no gender! So we can still be brothers.”

“I’ve only heard—’ Women and petty men are difficult to raise!'”

“Forget it. Move aside, I’m leaving.”

He stood up smiling, his light blue robe falling straight to the ground, like the clear blue sky suddenly descending before my eyes, with a quiet and profound remoteness. His entire being seemed to grow inexplicably tall and solemn in that instant, with an undeniable aura of majesty.

My heart skipped a beat for no reason. I quickly got up from the bed, but as soon as my feet touched the ground, I was shocked—the room seemed to be swaying slightly. A thought immediately came to mind, “Earthquake?”

Before he could answer, I had already lifted the thick, dark curtain, then gasped again in surprise.

Before me stretched an endless expanse of misty waters, clear as a mirror. Layers of faint white mist and thin fog gathered over the lake surface, ethereally light and seemingly not of this world. Under the bright starry sky, a crescent moon and countless stars were reflected in the water, as beautiful jewels fell to the clear lake bottom, glittering with pearly brilliance, breathtakingly beautiful.

It took me a while to understand that I was on a boat. This scene truly deserved the line: “Throughout the city, the misty waters and moon are faint, as one leans against the orchid boat and sings.”

Suddenly, a cloak was draped over me, and a gentle voice said, “The lake is cold at night. Wear this.”

“Where is this? Lake Li?”

“Clever! This is where Fan Li once boated with Xi Shi.”

He stood straight, gazing into the distance. The lake water reflected his figure, his light blue clothes fluttering, his reflection dancing with the waves, like a lonely narcissus.

I suddenly realized that until now, I still didn’t know his name.

“Who are you?”

“Just an idle man.”

“Liar!”

“Hehe, in years past, Fan Daifu and the beautiful Xi Shi rowed on this lake. If you take me for him, that’s not inappropriate.” He turned his head to look at me, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Ha, quite presumptuous. You compare yourself to Fan Li, but I wouldn’t deign to be Xi Shi.”

“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Fighting to restore a country is men’s business. Why should a woman meddle in such affairs? Women are born to be cherished and protected by men. Besides, any real man wouldn’t let the woman he loves engage in espionage.”

He burst into laughter as if hearing some bizarre tale.

“I can hardly believe these words would come from the mouth of Rong Shuguang, the Master of the Yuchi Mountain Estate.”

I was completely dumbfounded. Rong Shuguang was the Master of the Yuchi Mountain Estate. How could this be possible? Would the Yuchi Mountain Estate marry off their master to Chu Tianyao? This made no sense.

“Jianghu legends say that Master Rong is spirited and heroic, a woman who doesn’t yield to men. It seems rumors often can’t be trusted.” He looked at me with great interest. “Or perhaps Master Rong has been traumatized by the loss of her martial arts?”

Wait, wait, he seemed to know a great deal about Rong Shuguang. He was not a simple scholar. Who exactly was he?

I stared at him wide-eyed and asked, “Who exactly are you?”

He smiled warmly and said, “When I roamed the jianghu in years past, jianghu friends kindly gave me a nickname, called ‘Yan Shao’!”

Ha! Yan Shao? This guy was deliberately telling the truth.

“How do you know I’ve lost my martial arts?”

He smiled, “I not only have some knowledge of medicine but also know a bit about martial arts. Don’t forget, you still owe me one life-saving favor.”

Damn! Is he trying to extort or blackmail me?

“You want to blackmail me? Let me tell you, absolutely not. I don’t owe you anything. I was perfectly fine before—it was all because you invited me to drink. So—we are even, neither owing the other.”

He was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter again, “Rong Shuguang, you are truly fascinating.”

I laughed dryly, “I beg to differ. Please dock the boat. I want to go back.”

He was all smiles, “The boat is already docked. You can leave anytime.”

I quickly turned to look. Indeed, there was a small causeway extending to the center of the lake.

I jumped ashore in a few steps, waving without looking back, “Goodbye, Yan Shao. No need to see me off.”

His clear laughter came from behind, “We will meet again. If you want to return, the boat will be here, always waiting.”

I called out loudly, “It’s almost dawn. You should wake up too.”

Hmph! Meet again? Maybe in the next life.