In Qiantang City, the spring rain fell steadily.

Without Su Muyu, the Hehuai Medical Manor felt somewhat desolate. Not a single patient had come for consultation all morning. Bai Hehuai lay alone on a long bench in the hall, listening to the rain while reading a novel. It was the same book she had taken from the Family Head’s secret chamber. She had been captivated by its story after reading just a little that day, but since coming to Qiantang City, she’d been too busy “seeing patients” to read. Now with free time, she had taken it out again.

Listening to the rain while reading, with a plate of osmanthus cakes on the wooden rack beside the bench—it was quite pleasant indeed.

Just as Bai Hehuai was deeply absorbed in reading, she suddenly glimpsed an umbrella-holding figure in the courtyard. She started: “Su Muyu?” But upon closer look, she saw that though the person carried a book chest and appeared as mysteriously as Su Muyu did, their bearing was more scholarly and gentle compared to Su Muyu’s cool demeanor.

“The Confucian Sword Immortal?” Bai Hehuai asked in confusion.

“Please, call me Xie Xuan. Pardon my intrusion without prior notice, Physician,” Xie Xuan said with a slight bow.

Bai Hehuai sat up on the bench: “Then I’ll call you Master Xie. Given Master Xie’s usual conduct, entering the courtyard without knocking must have a special reason?”

“Yes. But I’ve already found my answer,” Xie Xuan nodded.

Bai Hehuai smiled: “Master Xie must have come to see if Su Muyu and the others truly left. Rest assured. There’s nothing in Qiantang City worth their lingering attachment. When they said they’d leave, they left—they have more important matters to attend to.”

“Then it seems I was being suspicious. It’s not that I don’t trust Su Muyu—he’s an excellent person. It’s just that fellow Su Changhe…” Xie Xuan scratched his head. “Whenever I see him, I feel something bad is about to happen.”

Bai Hehuai nodded vigorously: “Master Xie speaks truly. Your intuition isn’t wrong, just that the bad things won’t happen in Qiantang City.”

“It seems Miss also has many grievances with Su Changhe.” Xie Xuan smiled slightly, preparing to take his leave, when he suddenly noticed the book in Bai Hehuai’s hands. “Oh? Miss was reading? Then I truly have interrupted—I apologize again.”

Bai Hehuai started, waving the old book in her hand and shaking her head: “It’s not any proper book.”

“Oh? Not a proper book?” Xie Xuan’s smile became somewhat meaningful.

Bai Hehuai’s face reddened slightly as she stuck out her tongue: “It’s just a novel. Though the story is good, it doesn’t contain any great principles. For scholars like you, it would be considered low-class.”

“Physician speaks wrongly on this matter.” Xie Xuan shook his head seriously. “I too love reading such novels most of all. Principles are hidden within stories, and every story has its principles. Each person can derive different principles from them. True principles are always realized by oneself, not directly told to you by a book.”

Bai Hehuai’s eyes brightened: “As expected of the Confucian Sword Immortal—your insight is indeed far above ordinary scholars.”

“Reading shouldn’t be a utilitarian pursuit.” Xie Xuan stepped forward, taking the ancient book from Bai Hehuai’s hands. “The changes that books bring should be like this: after reading ten thousand volumes, one suddenly looks back and realizes they’ve unknowingly ascended a high mountain.”

Bai Hehuai watched Xie Xuan naturally take the book and asked curiously: “Is Master Xie also interested in this book?”

“Is this book good?” Xie Xuan asked her.

Bai Hehuai nodded: “Yes, it’s very exciting. It’s a novel based on the founding story of Northern Li.”

“Then I’ll take a look.” Xie Xuan reached out, drawing a small stool from the corner. He sat down and began reading intently.

Bai Hehuai picked up an osmanthus cake and offered it to Xie Xuan: “Don’t rush, Master Xie. The medical manor is very quiet these days. Have some osmanthus cake and read at your leisure.”

“Thank you.” Xie Xuan took the cake and bit into it, but his eyes never left the book.

Bai Hehuai opened her mouth to speak again, but seeing Xie Xuan’s focused expression, she held back. She took another osmanthus cake and lay back down on the bench. Without a book to read, she hummed a tune for a while until drowsiness overcame her, and she fell asleep shortly after closing her eyes.

When she awoke again, it was nearly dusk and the rain had stopped. Bai Hehuai sniffed, catching the aroma of food, and immediately jumped up from the bench to see Xie Xuan setting out bowls and chopsticks on the table. The ancient book had been neatly placed on the table.

“Master Xie,” Bai Hehuai called out.

“You’re awake. Let’s eat together. Since it’s just the two of us today, I’ve prepared simple dishes,” Xie Xuan smiled.

Bai Hehuai walked forward, saying somewhat embarrassedly: “You’ve gone to too much trouble, Master Xie. Thank you, thank you!”

Xie Xuan smiled slightly, shaking his head: “I should thank you instead. Being able to read such a good book this afternoon was well worth it.”

Bai Hehuai started: “So Master also enjoys this novel.”

“You’re mistaken. This isn’t a novel.” Xie Xuan continued smiling gently, though his tone grew more serious. “This is a historical record.”

“A historical record? When in Northern Li’s founding history was there such a story? If such an organization truly existed, why have I never heard anyone mention it?” Bai Hehuai asked in confusion.

“History books always come in pairs,” Xie Xuan replied. “One for the public to see, and another that records all the truth.”

Bai Hehuai frowned slightly: “So during Northern Li’s founding, there was such an assassination squad? Where did they go afterward? Perhaps it’s written in the later volumes, but alas, the Spider’s Nest was burned, and those books can’t be found anymore. Wait… why was this book hidden within the Dark River? Could it be that the Dark River…”

“Sit down and eat. Some things cannot find true answers through mere speculation,” Xie Xuan stopped Bai Hehuai from continuing. “Isn’t that right, Elder Su Zhe?”

“Hahaha.” A laugh rang out as the courtyard gate was pushed open, and Su Zhe walked in holding his Buddhist staff. “It’s been a long time, Confucian Sword Immortal.”

“In just a few days, I’ve met the Dark River’s three strongest assassins in Qiantang City. If not for Su Muyu’s promise, it would truly be unsettling,” Xie Xuan said, lowering his head.

“Father!” Bai Hehuai called out.

“Oh? Father?” Xie Xuan was somewhat surprised.

“Yes, she’s my daughter,” Su Zhe took a puff from his pipe. “Beautiful, isn’t she?”

Xie Xuan replied: “Naturally.”

“Daughter, that book you were just discussing,” Su Zhe walked into the room. “Let me see it.”

Bai Hehuai pursed her lips: “Eat first!”