The Huawei Mountains stood majestically with its countless peaks, dangerous on the outside yet elegant within, interspersed with hanging springs, waterfalls, clear streams, and lakes.

Among the most enchanting bodies of water, Yaoguang Lake certainly ranked first. It resembled a glass mirror embedded between lush valleys, with emerald waves stretching for thousands of acres.

On a spring day by the lakeside, six young cultivators strolled among flowers and willows, chatting and laughing as they walked leisurely.

They wore light spring robes in bright, vibrant colors, with luxurious and extravagant accessories, even to the point of flamboyance.

The water reflected the mountains and also mirrored their smiles.

Spring flowers competed in beauty, yet their smiles carried a faint weariness.

When a person lives in prosperity, all desires fulfilled, without greater ambitions, they grow bored and habitually display this kind of weariness.

Guests might be weary, but hosts must remain fully alert.

Two stewards from Huawei Sect followed behind them, commenting on the scenery with literary references, interspersed with introductions to the sect’s glorious history.

The two used every trick in their repertoire, entertaining with knowledge, humor, and eloquence, talking non-stop.

But this group of wealthy young men showed little interest.

They had expected that, given their status, the head disciple Yuan Qing Shi would personally welcome them. Yet Yuan Qing Shi was nowhere to be seen, busy elsewhere, and Chen Hong Zhu had gone to receive others. Huawei Sect had merely sent two young stewards instead.

However, after being flattered and warmly received along the way, their dissatisfaction had mostly dissipated, and they responded with a few meaningless pleasantries:

“Huawei Sect truly deserves its reputation as the dominant sect of the Western Continent, with its talented people and beautiful landscapes.”

“The Three Scenic Spots of Huawei are indeed worthy of their fame.”

One steward smiled and said: “The ‘Cloud Sea Koi’ and ‘Star Platform Peak’ can be seen in all four seasons, and you have already witnessed them. The last scenic spot, ‘Yaoguang Lotus’, only reveals its beauty in midsummer…”

Before he could finish, someone interrupted him.

“In my childhood, I visited the Sect Leader with my father and witnessed the ten-mile expanse of a lotus at Yaoguang Lake, with lotus leaves stretching to the horizon, truly a breathtaking sight. But Yaoguang Lake is already an old attraction. On my way here, I heard that Huawei Mountain recently has a ‘new attraction’?”

The speaker was a youth of sixteen or seventeen, wearing a pale green brocade robe and a jade-colored pearl crown. His words were polite, but his expression was arrogant.

The other young cultivators brightened at the mention of a “new attraction.”

They wore new clothes, used new magical tools, sought new forms of entertainment, and naturally wanted to see new sights rather than old ones that others had already seen—how else could they show their uniqueness?

The two stewards exchanged glances, and one explained: “Actually, it’s not a scenic spot, but a small courtyard in the outer dormitories of our sect, known as ‘Outer Song Courtyard.’ A famous person named Song Qian Ji lives there.”

“I’ve seen many famous people! But what kind of famous person is he, that he could be considered a new attraction?” asked another youth in pine-smoke green robes.

The steward replied: “His residence has constant visitors, with people coming to visit every day.”

“People come and go for profit—he must be very wealthy!”

The steward shook his head: “No, he has no money. Moreover, he doesn’t accept missions or produce anything; he’s entirely supported by other outer disciples.”

“Low-level cultivators all fear power—he must be very fierce!”

The steward denied this: “No, those disciples support him willingly.”

The young men marveled:

“Indeed an extraordinary person. We should go see him when we have time.”

The steward continued: “Not only that, but he once had a brief encounter with Immortal Lady Miao Yan at Rushing Water Bridge on the main peak. After returning, he spoke that famous saying.”

The exclamations and laughter stopped abruptly.

Recently, regarding Miao Yan, there was only one famous saying.

“Hmph, who did I think it was? So it’s him!” a youth in onion-green robes asked coldly. “Such an arrogant person who doesn’t know his place—doesn’t your sect discipline him?”

The steward smiled bitterly: “Although his words and actions are inappropriate, he hasn’t violated any sect rules. The Disciplinary Hall strictly follows regulations—how could they punish him?”

As the atmosphere grew tense, the youth in pale green who had first brought up the topic smiled:

“Indeed. No sect rules state ‘One must not speak ill of Immortal Lady Miao Yan,’ and as guests of Huawei Sect, we must be reasonable.” He turned to the two stewards, politely but directly dismissing them: “We brothers have some private matters to discuss. You two have worked hard today; there’s no need to accompany us further.”

The stewards bowed and took their leave, but before departing, they seemingly expressed concern: “Your status is important—why bother using fine jade to strike a crude stone by dealing with such a person? If you violate sect rules because of this and ruin the etiquette of the gathering, it wouldn’t be worth it.”

The young men ignored them and continued their discussion:

“That person is quite bold. We must teach him a lesson this time, to show him what words cannot be spoken.”

“Wait, one cannot be blamed for what they don’t know. What if he truly cannot distinguish beauty and didn’t intentionally disrespect the Immortal Lady? We would be picking a fight without justification.”

“There are blind people in the world, but no one with eyes fails to recognize beauty! I think he’s just seeking attention, trying to draw the Immortal Lady’s notice.”

“Huawei Sect is hosting, and we are guests. We can’t act unreasonably on someone else’s territory.”

The youth in pale green suddenly said:

“To test whether someone truly cannot distinguish beauty, I have a simple method.”

“What method?”

“Let’s invite Junior Sister He.”

As soon as “Junior Sister He” was mentioned, everyone had an epiphany and knowingly smiled.

But those smiles were malicious and quite strange.

The youth in pale green said: “Once he sees Junior Sister He, he’ll be the first to break the rules, and then we can do whatever we want!”

They made their plan and split into two groups. Three went to find Junior Sister He, and three-headed to Song Courtyard to prepare.

***

It was nearly dusk.

There were many paths leading to Song Courtyard, but one was most conspicuous.

It had been repaved with blue flagstones by the outer disciples, who had also planted various flowers along the way.

In spring, the flowers attracted butterflies and bees fluttering about.

Walking on this path, the three felt as if they had left Huawei Sect and entered the mortal countryside, about to visit a recluse.

The winding path led to a secluded vermilion-lacquered wooden door, nestled among the densest flowers and trees.

The evening sun cast its late glow.

Golden rays shone over two rows of bamboo fences and three clusters of water-red balsam flowers.

Several wooden sticks were inserted inside the fence, with green vines climbing along them. The leaves swayed in the evening breeze, brilliantly and brightly green.

“What spiritual plant is this?” a youth in a water-green robe asked curiously. “Could it be Day-Night Grass?”

“Day-Night Grass has smaller leaves; this looks more like Glass Grass.”

As they continued their bizarre speculation, they began to argue.

Suddenly, a laugh rang out nearby: “Look at them, they can’t even recognize bean pods!”

Bean pods? What bean pods? The kind ordinary people eat?

The three men’s faces instantly flushed red. They gripped their magical tools tightly, about to lash out when they turned to see an adorable, lively young girl with a bright smile.

Unable to vent their anger, they felt even more stifled.

“Sister Zhou, stop laughing. Look at their attire; they’re from other sects here for the meeting,” someone reminded her.

These three indeed had a distinctive dress.

Qingya Academy was filled with great scholars and had gathered a batch of second-generation cultivators seeking to build their reputation.

They refused to wear last year’s old clothes, and different colors and fabrics were fashionable each year.

Though ugly, they were expensive.

This spring, green happened to be in fashion.

Water green, onion green, deep green—varying shades that dazzled the eye.

Zhou Xiaoyun inexplicably thought of the scallions growing in Song Qian Ji’s vegetable garden.

So these were three scallions. She couldn’t help covering her mouth to laugh again.

Having lost face, the three men’s expressions darkened.

The youth in onion green snorted coldly:

“Does a Daoist friend named Song Qian Ji live here?”

The girl called Sister Zhou pointed out: “There’s a sign right there.”

This time she didn’t laugh, but her expression seemed to ask, “Can’t you read?”

The three moved closer and indeed saw a small wooden plaque hanging beside the door, neatly carved with the characters “Song Courtyard.”

Immediately burning with anger, they gathered their spiritual energy and shouted: “We request to see Daoist Friend Song!”

“Request to see Daoist Friend Song—”

With a creaking sound, the vermilion door suddenly opened.

A young man wearing a white apron appeared at the doorway.

“Do you need something?” he asked coldly.

The youth had delicate features, but stood with his arms crossed, straight and tall before the vermilion door, emanating a heroic aura of “one man guarding the pass, ten thousand unable to break through.”

The three were stunned.

Was this imposing youth Song Qian Ji?

Indeed arrogant and ignorant of his place.

When enemies meet on a narrow path, the brave prevail—they can’t let his intimidating presence overshadow them.

The leading youth in onion green cupped his hands and said proudly: “Three of the Six Worthies of Qingya—Zhan Deng Gao, Zeng Liang Jun, and Cao Bo Xue—have come to visit Daoist Friend Song.”

Anyone visiting Song Courtyard at mealtime would not be welcomed by Meng He Ze.

Noodles were in the pot, boiling water bubbling with white steam, and freshly picked vegetables were in the bronze basin, not yet cooked.

At this moment, to Meng He Ze, everyone looked like they had a freeloading face lacking vinegar and salt.

“Qingya what salty? How salty?” He raised an eyebrow. “Never heard of it.”

The three hadn’t expected such insolence. If they weren’t guests of another sect with many concerns, a lowly disciple of such ordinary cultivation level would have had his head broken by their attendants long ago.

“Impudent brat!”

Hearing this, Meng He Ze’s gaze grew colder. He untied his apron with one hand and stepped forward menacingly.

“Little Meng.”

At this tense moment, a voice suddenly sounded from within the courtyard.

Gentle, faint, somewhat indistinct.

The youth blocking the door heard this call and instantly retracted his sharp edge. He turned to return inside: “Senior Brother Song, you’re awake? The noodles are almost ready.”

His smile was bright and warm as if he had become a different person.

As the youth left the doorway, the three could finally see the scene inside the courtyard.

What a sight of vibrant red and refreshing green, full of spring vitality.

Under a wisteria trellis sat a lounging chair and a stone table.

The speaker had fine purple petals all over his body and was brushing his robe with his sleeve as he rose.

He had just been napping under the flower trellis.

So this was Song Qian Ji.

He did indeed have a good appearance, but compared to the imposing youth before, he seemed lazy, gentle, and unremarkable.