【Twilight Fragrance】【Author: snow_xefd】【Part 1, Chapters 1-73】

Chapter 1: Bi's Sword

Beneath Broken Cloud Peak, a winding path meandered.

It was late spring, a sea of blue dotted with countless blossoms, a breathtaking sight whether viewed from afar or strolled about.

However, Bai A'si had little inclination to appreciate it.

Not because he'd grown tired of the sights after running his tavern at the foot of the mountain for years, but because he simply couldn't spare the time.

This small tavern, rarely bustling even once every few years, still had seven or eight porters forced to sit outside on their carrying poles despite the extra wooden tables and benches.

Business was booming, yet Bai A'si felt no joy.

The tavern was packed with twenty or thirty people, more than half of whom carried weapons, sending chills down the spine of an ordinary man like him. If they were regulars, it wouldn't be so bad, but he didn't recognize a single one of these martial artists.

The proprietress, Bai Sao, who rarely showed a smile, now forced a smile, her stiff face fluttering as she greeted the customers.

It wasn't that she was afraid of these guests; this plump village woman had always been fearless. The only reason she was patiently and softly greeting them was because these people were guests of the Twilight Sword Pavilion on Broken Cloud Peak. The

martial arts world of Shu Prefecture was complex, with the three most renowned being Emei in the south, Tangmen in the east, and Twilight Sword Pavilion leading the north.

Two days later was the wedding of Bai Ruoyun, the eldest son of the Twilight Sword Pavilion's leader, and his bride was Sun Xiuyi, the closed-door disciple of Qingxin Daoist, the head of Emei. Such a marriage between the north and south naturally wouldn't only alarm the Shu Prefecture martial arts world. Those

who could send messengers to offer their congratulations were certainly not lacking in courtesy, and those who couldn't spare the time entrusted their gifts and auspicious words to escort agencies.

For a full half-month, Bai Asi's tavern never experienced a day without business.

Fortunately, those on good terms with the Twilight Sword Pavilion and the Emei Sect are all righteous people, and the wedding won't invite any vicious villains. Even if there are many with malicious intentions or cold-blooded onlookers, they certainly won't condescend to cause trouble in Bai A'si's tavern.

"Brother Zhao, do you think the Tang Clan will come to this wedding?"

"In my humble opinion, the Tang Clan should come. If they don't see it for themselves, wouldn't they be completely ignorant of this marriage alliance?"

"Hey, brother, you're wrong. Even a rough man like me can tell with his eyes closed that the Bai family isn't marrying an Emei woman just to have a few strong and healthy babies. If I were the leader of the Tang Clan, I wouldn't waste my time watching people choose wives and plot against me."

Bai A'si, hearing this kind of conversation repeated countless times in the shop, put down the wine and dishes with a smile on his face.

Taking advantage of the fact that most of the wine and dishes in the room had been served, he quickly twisted his waist and walked towards the door to get some fresh air.

For nearly twenty days, he had only hoped that no one would cause a ruckus in his tavern; he would be thanking his heavens and ancestors for that.

Just as he reached the door, a fragrant breeze wafted towards him. Bai A-Si looked up and immediately knew that the prayer he had repeated a thousand times in his heart would likely be in vain today.

The Bai family's guests naturally included many women from the martial arts world, but few were willing to squeeze into this stinking tavern. Most simply bought a bowl of plain water and tea at the entrance to quench their thirst and fatigue before continuing their journey. Inside the tavern, apart from Bai's wife, it was a man's domain.

Men are warlike, especially those from the martial arts world. For money, for face, or even for a single word, they would often draw their swords and draw blood. Throwing a woman, especially a beautiful one, into a group of men would usually cause a stir, like a stone thrown into a lake.

And now, walking into the tavern before Bai A-Si's eyes was a beautiful woman.

Curved eyebrows, large eyes, and a small red mouth—if she smiled, she would surely be incredibly cute and captivating. But instead of smiling, her beautiful face remained completely expressionless, as if an invisible mask were tightly covering her delicate, spring-flower-like cheeks.

She wasn't tall, but her figure was perfectly proportioned, slender and graceful. A string of jade beads adorned her neck, and a jade bracelet hung from her left wrist. She wore a light green jacket, and beneath a pale yellow sash, a jade skirt.

She was like a green shadow.

If it weren't for the long bundle she carried on her back, clearly a weapon, everyone would mistake her for a demure young lady who had wandered off.

"Guest, sir, is there a seat inside…" Bai A-Si stammered, about to speak, when he was interrupted by someone beside him.

"Hey, there is a seat. Brothers, make way, we can surely make room for the young lady." A man in a tight-fitting outfit chuckled, giving a wink to the others at the table. Immediately, someone stood up, made way for a wooden stool, and carried a wine bowl outside.

"Hey, there are clearly two seats, aren't there?" With a clear and pleasant reminder, a boy who looked no more than thirteen or fourteen years old but was quite tall stumbled in. "I have to serve you personally, could someone please give me a seat?"

This boy looked a little younger than the girl, and had a rather endearing appearance. He had a friendly smile on his baby face, and his bright black eyes darted around nimbly, giving him an air of naiveté.

No one in the room was a bad person, and the waiter's smile was pleasing. Plus, he was the companion of this beautiful girl. Immediately, the man next to him stood up with a teacup and said with a smile, "Young lady, come sit down. I'm going to get some fresh air."

"Boss, I'd like a pot of plain water, not one that's held tea, thank you." The waiter was quite clever. He placed his luggage on the ground and took out a piece of silver, handing it to Bai Asi. "The bill for those two who offered me their seats is also settled. The rest is a tip." He then took out a white cloth and carefully spread it on the stool.

The girl didn't speak, but sat down, untied the cloth bag from her back and placed it on her lap. Her bright black eyes were fixed on her left hand on the table.

Those around her couldn't help but speculate about her identity. Some guessed something and secretly glanced at her with suspicion, while others had no clue and only glanced at her occasionally. The rest carefully observed her, partly because she was beautiful and everyone loved to look at her, and partly because they were curious about which family's female knight-errant she was, traveling the martial world in such inconvenient clothes and accompanied by a servant.

Several women from prestigious families came to mind, but most of them didn't match the person before them. Someone couldn't help but whisper to someone with more experience to ask, and upon receiving an answer, their eyes widened in surprise, and they couldn't help but look at her a few more times, seemingly not quite believing it.

The girl ignored these gazes, as if she was already used to them. After the water was served, she quietly poured herself a cup, brought it to her lips, and took a small sip, moistening her red lips.

The servant wiped his sweat, gulped down three cups, exhaled with a "ha!" and laughed, "Indeed, after walking for so long, even plain water tastes better."

The man in the martial attire who had called for a seat had also overheard the whispers around him. He glanced suspiciously at the master and servant at the opposite table, put down his wine bowl, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "It's fate that we've met by chance. My name is Liu Zhenchuan. My fellow martial arts brothers have kindly given me the nickname 'Water-Severing Divine Hammer.' We've all come to attend Young Master Bai's wedding banquet. May we become friends? May

I ask your name, young lady?" Martial arts people are unconventional and naturally don't hesitate to ask a woman's name. However, those around him, upon hearing his name, couldn't help but glance at the octagonal purple-gold hammer placed to the side, thinking to themselves, "So it's him."

The young lady's brow twitched slightly. She lowered her head, took a sip of water, and remained silent.

Instead, the servant chuckled and said, "Brother Liu, my young lady doesn't like to talk or make friends. You can be your water-cutting hammer, just don't interrupt our drinking."

This was quite rude, and Liu Zhenchuan blushed, showing a bit of embarrassment.

“As for address, my young lady’s surname is Cui. Everyone can call her Miss Cui. In this place, that won’t be a mistake,”

the servant said after looking around.

This Miss Cui was indeed quiet, simply sitting quietly. But the more quiet she was, the more suspicious the people in the room became, as if her characteristics matched their suspicions of the person they were looking for, though they didn’t know if that person’s surname was actually Cui.

Bai A-Si sensed something was amiss, picked up his copper kettle, and went outside. He patted his chest, let out a long sigh, and hoped these people wouldn’t start a fight.

While caution in speech and action is a principle most martial artists should remember, if everyone acted this way, how could there be so many troubles in the martial world?

The man to Liu Zhenchuan's left was one of those who had absolutely no idea where this woman came from. He and Liu Zhenchuan got along quite well, and seeing his new friend caught in such an awkward situation, he immediately became angry, snorted sarcastically, and said, "Miss Cui, you have quite the airs. Traveling the martial world with a burden like this, what if you run into trouble? Wouldn't you just needlessly lose your life? Or is it that you're quite skilled in martial arts, and could protect this half-grown child even against some adversary?"

The implication was that if he admitted to being skilled, he would immediately challenge him to a lesson.

Liu Zhenchuan quickly reached out and pulled him, laughing, "Brother Feng, sit down and have a drink, have a drink." He was ostensibly urging him to drink, but secretly giving him a warning pinch.

The man surnamed Feng, however, was straightforward. He rolled his eyes and said, "Why are you pinching me? This girl hasn't said a word since she came in, only calling for a servant to answer. Do you think all of us, a bunch of chivalrous heroes, are only fit to chatter with her lackeys?"

Miss Cui slightly raised her eyes, her dark eyes unfathomable. She remained silent, simply placing the bundle on her lap onto the table.

The man surnamed Feng, emboldened by the alcohol, sneered, "Ha, such a beautiful girl, is she mute?"

The young woman surnamed Cui sighed softly, seemingly reluctantly raising her right hand. Her slender fingers hooked the knot in the bundle, and with a gentle tug, she slowly tore the bundle open.

Everyone in the room craned their necks to look, and then gasped loudly.

What was revealed was a long sword.

The light blue scabbard was adorned with several jade beads, and the hilt was adorned with two sky-blue tassels. At first glance, it was clear the sword was incredibly valuable. The tiny jade bead, the size of a thumb, on the hilt alone would likely attract countless thieves; no wonder it was wrapped in a bundle.

The crowd gasped in surprise, not because of the sword's price, but because the man surnamed Feng's drunkenness vanished instantly, his face almost bloodless, and his voice trembled. "This...this sword...could it be...could it be that there's a green mark...that...that can't be wiped off?"

The servant grinned and said, "Oh, Brother Feng, did you secretly look at my young lady's precious sword?"

The man surnamed Feng's facial muscles contorted, as if he were trying to force a smile but couldn't quite manage it. He slowly sat down, wiping the cold sweat from his brow, his tone suddenly becoming extremely respectful, "I...I was blind! I didn't expect...I didn't expect Miss Bi to attend the Bai family wedding. I've offended you greatly...please...please forgive me, Miss Bi."

Some people nearby couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

"It really is her. I didn't expect her to be so young."

"Why would the Bai family send her an invitation?"

"How do you know she had an invitation? Who knows if she's here to cause trouble?"

"Brother is right. If she wins against the Bai family of Mujian Pavilion, her reputation will be even more renowned."

Liu Zhenchuan was much calmer than the man beside him. He raised his wine bowl and said loudly, "I have long admired Miss Bi's name. It is an honor to meet you today. If I offended you earlier, please forgive me. I, Liu, will drink this bowl as an apology."

The man surnamed Feng next to him murmured, "Blood Jade Hairpin, treading on clouds; a sword that takes a life; a green skirt. Since Miss Bi has arrived, could it be... could it be that Blood Jade Hairpin Yong Sujin is also coming?"

In the martial arts world, women with resounding reputations are either stunningly beautiful or possess extraordinary martial arts skills. Those with celestial beauty who willingly roam the martial world often rely on the title of one of the "Four Beauties of the Martial World," which is re-evaluated and circulated periodically, to gain fame. Those with exceptional martial arts skills, however, often disdain fame

for their looks and prefer to make a name for themselves solely through their skills. The names "Blood Hairpin" and "Jade Maiden" are quite renowned to those with broad knowledge .

Blood Hairpin, Yong Sujin, uses a single silver hairpin adorning her hair as a weapon. She never wears socks under her embroidered shoes, preferring to show off her bare, snow-white feet. Rumor has it that after killing someone, she uses their blood to paint her toenails. She is capricious and unpredictable; once, she was mocked and ridiculed, and for forty-seven days, she pursued him across seven states, ultimately killing Zong Heng, one of the Eight Heroes of Snow Mountain, in front of his seven sworn brothers in a bustling street, thus gaining fame in one battle.

Jade Maiden, being mentioned alongside such a woman, is naturally no ordinary person. Not only was her distinctive attire legendary in the martial arts world, but her legendary sword, Bihen, which she wielded to pierce a throat, had also become famous throughout the southeast for the past three years.

Rumors circulated that she was taciturn and aloof, rarely fighting with ordinary martial artists, yet somehow she had slaughtered seventy-one brothel owners across the three southeastern states, leaving behind a trail of bloodshed. Later, she was surrounded and captured by powerful officials, but with Bihen in hand, she escaped, leaving behind more than ten crippled individuals with severed wrists, her name known far and wide.

Neither of these two women were inherently evil, but their eccentric and ruthless actions hardly qualify them as righteous individuals. Moreover, Bihen always operated within the three southeastern states; normally, it would be unusual for an invitation to such a mysterious and elusive woman to be sent all the way to the Twilight Sword Pavilion's celebratory occasion.

It seemed she was likely an uninvited guest.

Stealing glances at Bihen, some who had good relations with the Bai family began to worry that the wedding banquet might cause trouble.

Their worries were indeed somewhat unnecessary.

Trouble didn't need to wait until the banquet.

Such a beautiful and charming woman, and a renowned swordsman, was enough to bring endless trouble.

Just as Feng and Liu had calmed down, two young swordsmen in another corner stood up simultaneously. Their gazes swept over Miss Cui's face before settling on the jade-green sword lying across the table.

The two were dressed remarkably similarly: yellow shirts, brown trousers, soft-soled cloth boots, and identical longswords at their waists. Except for one having a wide-brimmed blade and the other a rather pointed chin, they were as alike as mirror images.

Upon seeing them stand up, the people in the tavern immediately thought of a pair of brothers who were somewhat famous in the Shuzhou martial arts world.

Sure enough, the two immediately confirmed their guess.

"My name is Chen De."

"My name is Chen Rong .

"

" My brother and I have diligently practiced swordsmanship."

"We are honored by the kindness of our fellow martial arts brothers." "We have been bestowed with the title of 'Twin Swords of Xichuan.

'" "We brothers love swordsmanship the most in our lives.

" "We have long admired the name of Miss Bi."

"We hope you will be so kind as to offer your guidance and give us some pointers."

"You can choose either of us; we will not help the other." "This

is merely a friendly exchange of skills, to avoid any conflict. We will stop here when we have reached a point of contention, and we ask that you all be our witnesses."

The two brothers spoke in perfect unison, one after the other. If it weren't for the fact that the square-faced Chen De looked slightly older and his appearance differed somewhat from Chen Rong's, they could easily be mistaken for twins.

Such annoying sparring matches happen countless times every day in the vast martial arts world. The problem is, if you don't fight back, you're often seen as inferior and admitting defeat. This is especially true for young men and women eager to make a name for themselves; they see challenges as a shortcut to fame.

The man surnamed Feng's earlier words could be dismissed as mere venting, and Miss Cui could ignore them. But this serious challenge was truly difficult.

More than twenty heads turned to see how she would handle it.

Miss Cui took a small sip of water—it was a bit too hot—and stepped back slightly, gently blowing on it as if she hadn't heard.

The Chen brothers' faces immediately darkened. Chen Rong gently pulled his angry elder brother aside and said loudly, "Miss Cui, my brother and I are openly challenging you. Even if you dare not accept, you should at least give us an answer!"

A failed challenge was a provocation. If Miss Cui still didn't fight, at least in the eyes of these martial arts heroes, it would be tantamount to showing weakness. Miss Cui remained unmoved, simply blowing on the lukewarm water to bring it to her lips and slowly sipping it.

The servant, unperturbed, continued to smile and survey the various people around him, seemingly used to such scenes and no longer bothered.

"Since that's the case, then I'll take my leave!" Chen De, his temper flaring, pushed Chen Rong aside and swiftly grabbed the sword hilt.

Miss Cui, however, only then placed the water cup back on the table, the porcelain bottom and wooden surface making a soft click.

With that click, Chen De's hand rose.

But no one heard the expected dragon's roar, nor saw the expected flash of cold light.

What rose with his hand was merely the hilt of a sword.

The gleaming three-foot-long blade was severed cleanly from its scabbard.

Miss Cui set the water cup down, returned her hand to the scabbard, and glanced at the servant with a faint look in her watery eyes, as if scolding him for not drinking the water quickly so they could get on their way sooner.

The servant chuckled, picked up his water cup, gulped down two mouthfuls, wiped his mouth, and said, "Okay, okay, I'll be right there."

The master and servant seemed to disregard the two brothers entirely.

The twenty-odd people in the room now knew that this seemingly delicate and frail young woman indeed had the right to look down on them.

Chen De gripped the hilt of his sword, his face alternating between pale and flushed, veins bulging on the back of his hand, yet he dared not move an inch.

None of the forty-odd eyes had seen how this Miss Cui had made her move, let alone how astonishing the power of her seemingly effortless strike that could silently shatter a fine steel sword was.

Even those who had previously harbored a desire to challenge her now had their brows drenched in cold sweat. Chen Rong, frozen behind his brother, even secretly removed his trembling hand from the hilt of his sword, revealing a tightly wrapped white silk handkerchief, its surface damp.

Miss Cui let out a soft breath, picked up the bundle on the table, slowly wrapped it up, and then slowly stood up and walked towards the door.

Everyone stared at her slender figure, her lotus-like feet barely encircling her waist, her willow-like waist seemingly about to bend, her back straight and shoulders narrow, looking utterly pitiful. How could she

possibly be a first-rate master who could break weapons in an instant? A mixture of intense curiosity and worry followed.

What was the purpose of such a woman attending the Twilight Sword Pavilion's wedding banquet?

The people in the tavern lost their appetite and interest. As soon as Miss Cui left, they paid their bills and got up, following behind, no one giving the Chen brothers another second.

A fight that was decided in the blink of an eye, barely even a friendly exchange, seemed to have erased the name of the Xichuan Twin Swords from the tavern.

In a few months, perhaps the entire martial arts world would be wiped clean.

Bai A-Si raised his hand to wipe his sweat, turned his head to look inside, and saw that of the two remaining figures, one was kneeling on the ground in utter dejection.

He sighed softly, closed the wooden door, and decided to go in and tidy up later.

Turning around, he saw that the master and servant were walking very slowly, and they still hadn't reached the bend in the mountain path. It was quite difficult for the group of martial arts heroes to walk so slowly and steadily.

Thinking that there would be no more trouble today, Bai A-Si pulled up a stool and sat down. But before he could catch his breath, he looked down and saw a small red sedan chair in the distance, carried on the shoulders of two strong men, striding towards them.

On either side of the sedan chair were four beautiful young women. Although all four carried swords, one of them was dressed in a light red skirt and trousers, a short jacket, and her hair was styled in a double-heart bun. She was also carrying a hen with a knotted cap. She had a dot of vermilion on her forehead, and her face was covered with powder and rouge. She was carefully made up and looked like she had been temporarily acting as a bridesmaid.

The other three women were dressed simply in yellow shirts and green skirts, their faces bare. While their appearances varied slightly, they were all undeniably beautiful and charming, not far inferior to the emerald-green maiden who had caused such a stir earlier. However, two of them had their hair tied up and their faces bare, clearly indicating they were already married.

The bridesmaids accompanied the brides, and the brides, who were not to be seen before the grand ceremony, were naturally inside the sedan chair.

Bai Asi immediately jumped up and called for his wife to prepare tea. After welcoming guests for many days, this was the only group that could not be neglected in the slightest.

Among the current generation of lay female disciples of Emei, the five youngest were close friends, like sisters, and were known as the Five Spirited Maidens. Bai Ruoyun's husband was the fifth of them.

The other four, the eldest sister Zhong Lingyin and the third sister Qi Xiuqing, were already married, while Tian Lingyun and Song Xiulian, one older and one younger, were still unmarried, falling behind their junior sister.

Bai A'si had overheard the casual conversations of the martial arts heroes over the past few days and already knew that the Emei Sect Leader, Qingxin Daoist, hadn't accompanied the bride on this journey. He had other important business to attend to and had set off earlier. The other four of the Lingxiu Five Maidens were naturally escorting Sun Xiuyi north for her wedding.

With this information, it was immediately clear who was in the red-flowered sedan chair.

The dowry and belongings had all gone ahead with Qingxin Daoist, so the sedan chair's journey had been safe and discreet, avoiding any trouble. The red flowers and makeup today were simply because they had entered the territory of Mujian Pavilion and no longer needed to be extra cautious.

"Ladies, please rest your legs here and have some hot tea before continuing your journey. The mountain road is ahead, so it's best to recuperate," Bai A'si said, as he brought out a relatively flat wooden table from inside the house, carefully arranging the cleanest cups. "Master Bai specifically instructed that the bride must not be mistreated."

“Since it’s an invitation from our in-laws, we’ll gladly accept.” The more plump young woman smiled gently, gesturing for the sedan chair bearers to lower the chair smoothly. She said softly, “Come, everyone, have some tea and sit for a while.”

Another woman dressed as a young woman nodded, took out a few copper coins from her waist, and gently placed them on the table, saying, “Shopkeeper, five cups of water and two bowls of hot tea. Thank you.”

Aunt Bai quickly took the coins and stuffed them back, saying repeatedly, “No, no, our little shop relies entirely on the Bai family’s protection. How can we accept money from the new young mistress? Everyone, please drink. I’ll go get a couple of side dishes so we’ll have the energy to climb the mountain.”

The girl dressed as a bride pursed her lips, took a cup of water, lifted the sedan chair curtain, and slipped inside. According to local custom, the bride must not be seen by anyone other than her bridesmaids until the bridal sedan chair has crossed the threshold. Although most women of the martial arts world are not particular about such things, the Twilight Sword Pavilion, after all, is a powerful family that has transitioned into the martial arts world, and is therefore more shrewd than ordinary sects.

The remaining round-faced girl giggled twice, then swayed and sat down on the bench by the table, saying in a crisp voice, "Thanks to my little sister, since we entered Yangliang Town yesterday, we haven't had to pay for food and lodging. I wonder if they'll still give us free food and lodging when we go back without the bride with us."

Miss Cui and her maid walked rather slowly. Those following behind turned back and spotted the Emei group in front of the tavern. After some whispering among themselves, a dozen or so turned back.

Compared to the mysterious Miss Bi, the bride was the true protagonist of the wedding. Even if they couldn't see her, chatting with the accompanying Emei heroines would be beneficial. After all, after this marriage alliance, Emei and Mujian Pavilion might very well dominate Shu Province; gathering information and cultivating relationships would be advantageous.

Ninety-nine percent of those visiting Mujian Pavilion were there for the wedding, but Miss Cui seemed oblivious to everything behind her. Only the servant glanced at the bridal sedan chair from afar, whispered a few words to his mistress, and then continued on his way.

The mountain path was winding and steep; although not far from Mujian Pavilion's villa halfway up the mountain, the journey was extremely strenuous. Miss Cui walked rather slowly, and her agility was not apparent. Her servant, however, initially moved with remarkable speed, but after a few miles, his steps became heavy and sluggish, drawing snickers from those following behind. They thought to themselves that Miss Cui was indeed skilled and daring, leading such a naive young man on her journey through the martial world.

The journey proceeded without incident, though the pace was indeed slow. By the time they reached the gates of the villa, dusk was falling. Looking back, they saw the bridal sedan chair approaching amidst the crowd.

This villa was originally a place for disciples of the Twilight Sword Pavilion to eat, lodging, and learn martial arts. It had been specially converted into a banquet hall for this wedding, providing lodging for distinguished guests from afar, so they wouldn't have to search for a place to stay in Yangliang Town.

Most of the prominent figures of the Twilight Sword Pavilion had already gone down to the villa to greet guests; the residence on the mountaintop did not entertain outsiders.

Such a momentous event in the martial world would inevitably attract many uninvited guests. Just to be on the safe side, over ten sword-wielding disciples were positioned outside the gate, forming a protective circle around the steward, Bai Xiang.

Those following behind Miss Cui, no longer wanting to linger, quickly stepped forward, silently dividing themselves according to their approximate martial arts standing.

Although Bai Xiang was over fifty, he was still a skilled martial artist, his movements nimble. Having managed the Bai family for many years, his eyesight was naturally sharp. While respectfully greeting these martial arts enthusiasts, he glanced sideways, fixing his gaze on the young woman who was gracefully approaching, a figure like a shadow of emerald green.

Her restrictive clothing, the long, narrow bundle on her back, and the young servant beside her—anyone in this situation would notice her at first glance.

"The entire Bai family is deeply grateful for your kind visit, young lady. May I ask your name? Are you here simply to offer your congratulations or to stay and witness the ceremony?" Bai Xiang dared not be negligent. He entrusted the others to his servants and personally stepped forward to greet you, asking respectfully.

Miss Cui remained silent, only glancing slightly at the servant. The servant, quick-witted, immediately beamed, took out a flat, square brocade box from his robes, bowed, and presented it with both hands, saying, "My young lady's surname is Cui. She has come from afar to witness this ceremony. I hope you will grant me this small gift."

Bai Xiang was slightly taken aback. Several names flashed through his mind, but only one resembled the young lady before him in appearance and mannerisms. He dared not be certain, bowed, and accepted the brocade box, smiling obsequiously, "Is the bundle on your mistress's back containing a magnificent sword? Is there a greenish-blue mark on the sword?"

The servant immediately smiled, "Since you already know, why ask? My young lady is a woman of few words, as you surely know."

Bai Xiang tried his best to restrain himself, but still couldn't help frowning. He called over the servant holding the gift book and gently lifted the lid of the box.

Inside the box was a string of emerald green beads, each bead of uniform size. Even though he had seen many jewels and jade items in wedding gifts in recent days, Bai Xiang's eyes still lit up. He quickly closed the brocade box and carefully put it into his pocket, turning his head to say, "Make sure you remember this carefully. Miss Cui Bichun, a string of top-grade luminous pearls."

The information sources of prestigious sects were naturally much wider than those of idle heroes in the martial arts world. The people in the tavern only knew her by her nickname, but Bai Xiang knew Miss Bichun's name.

As guests from afar, even though he was uneasy, he dared not be negligent. He quickly extended his hand and said, "Miss Cui, please come in."

After all, this young lady had a rather special reputation. Bai Xiang had originally intended to arrange things himself, but he hadn't expected that the sedan chair carried from afar was the one for a newlywed bride. He had no choice but to hand over Miss Cui and her maid to a trusted subordinate and go to greet the group from Emei.

The villa of Mujian Pavilion was originally the estate of the Bai family when they were extremely wealthy. Its courtyards and pavilions followed the contours of the mountain, with mountain streams flowing through them. It occupied a vast area, more than enough to accommodate over a hundred people.

There weren't many female guests visiting, and most were families of martial arts heroes. They were arranged to stay in the innermost courtyard, requiring a long and winding ascent up several rows of stone steps.

This courtyard wasn't intended as disciples' dormitories, but rather as guest rooms for distinguished guests, divided into inner and outer gardens, with a tranquil and elegant environment. Besides the three rooms reserved for Sun Xiuyi and her accompanying sisters, seven rooms were vacant, while the other six were already occupied.

Miss Cui remained silent throughout the journey, leading the servant to guess that she preferred quiet, so he led her to a room in the far corner of the inner garden.

Since the garden was filled with female guests, and the servant, tall and strong, possessed a masculine air despite his youthful appearance, he couldn't stay to serve her and was naturally placed in the servants' quarters. However, there were already three maids in the garden at her beck and call, so they wouldn't neglect her.

Miss Cui sat quietly by the window, casually placing her bundle on the windowsill. Her dark eyes followed the servant being led out of the garden gate before turning to the three maids bustling about in the garden.

Before the grand ceremony, there was naturally no lavish banquet. For dinner, those who enjoyed a lively atmosphere could go to the martial arts training ground for drinks and food, while those who preferred simple dishes were served by maids and servants. The Bai family had once been a wealthy household, and their rules, though elaborate, were well-organized. As night fell and the lanterns were lit, they were already more than enough to satisfy the many guests.

However, the bride was still nowhere to be seen.

The bridal sedan chair was carried into the main residence of the Twilight Sword Pavilion at the summit. Only after crossing the threshold could one see her. Apart from the bridesmaid, Tian Lingyun, even if everyone else squeezed and fought outside the small courtyard, they could only see the flickering red candlelight inside the window.

Miss Cui wasn't exactly a distinguished guest, but the gift of that bracelet made any guest feel like a VIP. For dinner alone, two maids sent by Bai Xiang attended to her, treating her like a daughter of a high-ranking official in the capital. This made the usually composed young woman slightly embarrassed.

As the moon rose high, Miss Cui remained quietly seated by the window, seemingly waiting for something.

Outside, the wealthy guests continued their boisterous conversation, while inside, the women and guests had already gone to bed and extinguished their lights.

The three maids, seeing the night deepening, checked the garden and left, closing the gate.

The moment the gate closed, Miss Cui rose, grabbed the bundle containing her sword from the windowsill, hastily slung it over her shoulder, and without opening the door, extinguished the candles with a flick of her wrist. She then lifted the window frame and leaped silently onto the outer corridor.

She crouched in the shadows, glancing left and right, observing quietly for a moment before nervously crouching low and moving along the wall.

The garden gate was tightly shut; she gently tugged at it from the inside, and heard the rattling of the lock outside, presumably to prevent any drunken indiscretion from disturbing the women.

With a slightly disappointed sigh, Miss Cui reached the other corner of the house, leaped, and secured herself on the eaves. She peered over the wall to check if anyone was around, then nimbly darted over like a cat, skimming over the wall.

Seemingly having carefully observed the layout of the estate on her way there, Miss Cui, using the garden's concealment, soon arrived at the guards' quarters, the storeroom located in that courtyard.

Watching the two guards carefully place several gifts into the storeroom and lock it, a smug smile appeared on her face. She then let go, landing back on this side of the wall, waiting quietly.

No sooner had she crouched down in a clump of tall grass, about to listen to the movements of the guards next door, than a slightly amused call came from right behind her.

"Miss Cui, why aren't you sleeping at this hour? Coming here to admire the scenery?"

The voice wasn't loud, but it was like a bolt from the blue, instantly causing a fine bead of sweat to appear on her smooth, flawless forehead.

She frowned in annoyance, then puffed out her cheeks in a huff, stood up, and pouted. This instantaneous change in expression was far more varied than any she had shown on the way up.

With a flick of her beautiful eyes, Miss Cui turned around and said, "You broke your promise first! How did the string of beads you promised me become a congratulatory gift? You've been keeping quiet like a clay statue all day, not daring to utter a single word. Do you think it's easy for you?

Laugh, laugh, laugh! You still have the nerve to laugh!"

Standing silently behind her, now grinning at her, was the rather endearing servant.

"You stole my sword, and I caught you. Do you think you're in the right?" he said slowly, reaching into his robes and pulling out an identical brocade box. "Besides, when did I ever tell you there was only one string of beads left? You thief, why don't you steal a little brain to improve yourself?"

Chapter Two: The Female Thief

"There...there's still one string left?" The imposter Miss Cui froze, her initial arrogance instantly vanishing, though she still stubbornly maintained her composure, saying, "..." "They...they don't know, they'll just think you broke the contract first."

She glanced around, pouted, and said aggrievedly, "Wasn't it you who coerced and bribed them into making the contract with you? You didn't tell me you wanted me to put on airs in this godforsaken place where martial arts masters crawl all over the place.

Whatever, I don't want to do it anymore."

The servant, looking completely unperturbed, laughed, "If you just didn't want to work, why did you come to the wrong place?

There are plenty of ways to escape down the mountain, why did you end up here at the warehouse?"

"You...you haven't heard of thieves never leaving empty-handed?" she snorted, puffing out her cheeks. "This is my first time venturing into the martial world. I got caught red-handed stealing your sword, and you bullied me, which is bad enough. But now that I'm in a place like this, if I don't take something with me, what kind of thief am I?"

"Let's not even talk about what's so great about being a thief. In this Twilight Sword Pavilion, do you think it's easy for you to be a thief?" The servant smiled slightly, walked to the wall, and leaned against it with one hand. "It's true that there aren't many people guarding the storeroom because everyone allowed into the manor is considered a guest of the Bai family. But do you know that every passageway around this manor is closely guarded by Bai family disciples? The foot of Broken Cloud Peak is even more heavily guarded by the disciples who originally lived in the manor. If the Tang Clan wants to cause trouble, they're prepared. How could they let a clumsy thief like you escape?"

"You're talking nonsense, you...you just want to scare me." The girl's face turned pale, clearly realizing that she hadn't considered things thoroughly enough.

Seeing that his words had worked, the servant softened his tone and soothed her, saying, "If you don't cause trouble, nothing will happen. Be good, go back to your room, and continue being your 'Miss Bi.' That way, I'll naturally help you."

Judging from her words, she was likely lively and talkative, probably feeling stifled from keeping a straight face all day. And having infiltrated the stronghold of a reputable sect as a thief, her nervousness was understandable. Before the servant could finish speaking, she retorted angrily in a low voice, "You little brat, all I wanted was to steal your fine sword! Fine, you can drag me to the authorities! I'll accept a beating. You won't tell me anything, so why should I obey you? There are plenty of women in the world..." "Yes, you can just find anyone. Anyone can impersonate a wooden Buddha statue!"

The servant, unperturbed, chuckled, "I said you could call me Xiao Xing, and that's not my surname. First, you stole my valuables and I caught you, so you already owe me something. I asked you to help repay it, and you agreed. In

the world of martial arts, integrity is paramount; going back on your word won't make you the world's number one female thief. Second, your face does resemble that of Miss Cui Bichun. If you ask me to find someone else, who knows how long it would take to find such a suitable look. Besides, you also have the surname Cui, so if someone calls you Miss Cui, you won't give yourself away. See? Isn't this job perfect for you?"

"But..." Miss Cui hesitated, then said with a wronged tone, "But my kung fu is terrible. Everyone thinks I'm the one who can kill with a single sword stroke, but they don't know I'm just a clumsy thief named Cui Bing. It's alright if they're just like those two in the tavern who helped with the act, but if it were real, I'd be chopped into seventeen or eighteen pieces and thrown into the river to feed the fish."

"Acting?"

"If it wasn't an act for those people, did you break that sword?" Cui Bing curled her lip and sneered, "If you were that good, would you need me to help you trick people into coming in?" "

Yes, yes, yes," Xiao Xing laughed, scratching his chin, "I didn't expect Miss Cui to have such sharp eyes. Those two acted really well; I'll definitely reward them handsomely later."

Hearing the word "reward," Cui Bing blinked, thinking that since she couldn't escape anyway, she gritted her teeth and said:

“Since you won’t let me go, then the agreed-upon reward has to be increased. I didn’t know it would be this dangerous; a single string of luminous pearls is far from enough.”

Xiao Xing’s lips curled slightly as he said calmly, “Then what else does Miss Cui want?”

Cui Bing’s mind raced. She figured this guy couldn’t possibly be carrying any more valuables. After a slight hesitation, she said, “Tell me when this is over. After that, I want this sword.”

The scabbard alone was far more valuable than the string of pearls; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so tempted to attack and be captured at first sight. Judging from Xiao Xing’s expression, he clearly cherished the sword. “It wasn’t easy for you to make a fake. If you’re reluctant, then forget it. Just send me down the mountain tomorrow morning, and we’ll have nothing to do with each other after that.”

Unexpectedly, before he finished speaking, Xiao Xing nodded and said, “Although this sword isn’t mine, I can give it to you after this is over. Since things have come to this, I won’t hide it from you. Once the Bai family’s wedding ceremony is over, you and I will go to Yizhou together. That will complete the mission, and this string of beads, along with this sword, will be yours. Who knows, there might be an even more surprising gift.”

Cui Bing looked at him suspiciously, weighing the matter carefully, and finally sighed, saying, “Alright, I’ll hold back for a few more days.”

“Don’t worry, after the wedding, you won’t need to pretend to be Miss Bi anymore. It will be much easier than it is now.”

"Really? That's good. I really don't know how your Miss Bi has been coping. She doesn't speak all day, isn't she uncomfortable?" Cui Bing knew that attacking the storeroom was impossible, so she looked for an escape route and said, "By the way, if there's any danger, don't blame me for telling you to protect yourself. That incident at the tavern scared me half to death, my back was soaked with fear. And you, you didn't even warn me beforehand about finding someone to help you put on an act."

She took two steps back, looked back at Xiao Xing still standing there, and frowned slightly, saying, "What are you still doing here? Waiting to drink dew?"

In the dim night, Xiao... Xing's eyes shone brightly, and being stared at by those two gazes made Cui Bing's heart skip a beat. She quickly said, "If you're not leaving, I'm leaving."

Xing waved her hand and said leisurely, "Don't panic. Miss Cui, since the agreement must be kept, do you remember what the punishment would be if you disobeyed my arrangements?"

Cui Bing's face immediately turned pale, followed by a blush. She said in embarrassment and anger, "I... I didn't run away, and I didn't delay your business. Please, please be magnanimous and let it go this time."

Xiao Xing reached out and pulled her back to the wall, smiling slightly, "That won't do. I'm always fair in my rewards and punishments. You've behaved very well along the way, so this sword is a reward. But you backed out without a word, so you still have to be punished.

Same rules as before, you choose for yourself."

Cui Bing's expression became increasingly hesitant, and she stammered, her voice barely a whisper, "What...what kind of strange rule is this...you know perfectly well that I only have some loose change on me, I can't possibly have a hundred taels."

Xiao Xing rubbed her hands together. With a slap, she laughed, "Then stand still."

Her cheeks burned like fire, Cui Bing's face clearly showed extreme shame and anger, yet she obediently stood by the wall, turning half her body so her back was to Xiao Xing, gritting her teeth and saying, "Fine, hit me then. It's not like I haven't been hit by you before. Count carefully, ten slaps, not one more. If you... if you miscount, I'm not finished with you."

Xiao Xing seemed to see right through her, suddenly leaning close to her ear and whispering, "Don't worry, you won't miss a single slap."

"You..." Cui Bing's angry voice had barely begun when a sharp slap rang out as Xiao Xing's hand landed squarely on her round, full waist, silencing her words and turning into a shy, timid exclamation, "Ouch, ouch!"

Her slender waist accentuated her plump hips, and although Cui Bing's mounds weren't fleshy, they were firm and perky, making her look exceptionally alluring in a fitted long dress. From several steps away, countless men would dream of gently caressing them. Since her figure had fully developed, she had seen countless lustful glances, but this was only the second time she'd been slapped on the buttocks.

The first time was the night she was caught trying to steal the sword, thanks to Xiao Xing, who had pinned her to his lap and slapped her ten times.

This time, she wasn't pinned down, but she just couldn't bring herself to run away, only letting her face burn as she bit her lower lip, waiting for the next slap.

Cui Bing's only skill was light footwork, a life-saving technique. Her long legs were incredibly firm, and her two round, firm buttocks were plump and bouncy. A palm strike would cause the muscles to ripple, creating an alluring sight.

In the blink of an eye, three palm strikes had passed. It wasn't exactly painful, but it wasn't completely painless either. Her buttocks were burning, not entirely without feeling. Xiao Xing would linger for a moment after each palm strike, and when he struck, he used some strange force. The initial stinging pain quickly spread into an itchy numbness, warm as if a layer of cow hair had been laid on it.

The last time she was spanked, she felt this way, but this time it was much clearer. With the fourth slap, Cui Bing bit her lower lip even tighter, let out a muffled groan, stumbled, and hurriedly grabbed the wall for support. She gasped for breath and said angrily, "You...can't you be faster?"

Xiao Xing casually waved his hand, waiting a moment at the same pace before slapping her again, saying,

"Do you really want me to be faster?"

Cui Bing had been trapped in an incredibly sordid place as a child and was only rescued much later. Unlike a typical virgin, she wasn't innocent and naive. The teasing tone in his voice made her ears turn red, and she immediately spat, "I just think your skills are too poor. You're weak and listless when you spank a woman's bottom, looking like you're about to die."

Hearing that she wasn't truly angry, Xiao Xing continued slapping her, laughing, "I wouldn't want to use any more force."

"You can't kill me even if you use more force." She wanted to retort with that, but realized it sounded wrong as if she were begging him to use more force. She quickly stopped herself and abruptly changed the subject, saying, "Just use more force and kill me."

"That won't do. Where else can I find such a good helper?" Xiao Xing replied casually as he delivered his seventh strike.

Each strike was a standard technique with the same force, so injury was impossible, and the pain wasn't severe. However, Cui Bing's knees suddenly buckled, and her legs, which had been tightly pressed together, inexplicably twitched twice, almost causing her to lose her footing.

Before long, the ten light slaps of punishment were over. Cui Bing turned around, panting, a layer of fine sweat glistening on her forehead. She patted her chest and took a deep breath before angrily saying, "There will definitely not be a next time."

Xiao Xing gently rubbed her hands and smiled, "That's for the best. I was worried you'd enjoy it and deliberately cause trouble for me."

Cui Bing's eyebrows furrowed, her face flushed, and she turned away, muttering angrily, "You lewd, pervert, shameless!"

Xiao Xing laughed and patted her shoulder, saying, "If you've ever seen a real lewd pervert, you'll know how kind I am. It's getting late, go back to your room. Be careful in everything at Mujian Pavilion, don't be reckless. If anything happens, remember to discuss it with me first. It's not appropriate for me to go to your courtyard, you'll have to go back by yourself, I'll come and keep you company tomorrow."

"If you're going to leave, then leave quickly, stop nagging like an old woman." Cui Bing snorted and turned her face away again.

Only after Xiao Xing's footsteps had faded into the distance did she turn to look in the direction he had gone, muttering to herself, "If I hadn't seen so many truly lewd scoundrels, I would never have made such a ridiculous deal with you. Why would I be afraid of the dungeon in the prefectural government?"

She stood quietly for a moment, waiting for the heat on her face to subside, before bending down and retracing her steps.

Xiao Xing hadn't given her any real, reliable guarantees, yet for some reason, she felt much more at ease. And the surprise he mentioned... she didn't know why, but she felt a sense of anticipation deep down, as if a vague premonition was reminding her that the reward was far more valuable than the sword and pearl. He

wouldn't even mention his surname; was it really a good idea to trust him like this? Cui Bing asked herself, a hint of doubt creeping into her heart. The man looked young, but after spending time with him, he was probably older than her. He was just pretending to be a stranger, making a brief appearance in this prestigious sect, and yet he offered her such a hefty reward. Was there really no ulterior motive?

She lowered her head, subconsciously clutching her chest, then cursed herself inwardly. She thought to herself, if it were really for his looks, she would have been thoroughly devoured the night she was captured. His martial arts seemed rather weak, but he was more than capable of dealing with a thief like her who only knew how to run for her life.

He said he had an old acquaintance at the Twilight Sword Pavilion. Could it be that he really went to all this trouble just to attend this wedding, worried that she, being unknown, wouldn't have a chance to witness it?

If so, he really was loyal and righteous…

Lost in thought, she crept back into the garden. Peeking out, she saw that one of the three rooms where the Emei heroine lived was still lit, and at a glance, she could see two figures seemingly conversing.

In the middle of the night, wasn't this sisterly affection a bit too much? Cui Bing frowned, and had no choice but to take a long detour, just like she had come, avoiding the residences of the Emei disciples to prevent the skilled women inside from hearing her.

Having evaded two patrols, she finally returned to her room. Sitting down on a stool, she still felt some discomfort in her buttocks. She shifted slightly, a tingling, warm sensation rising from her lower body, causing a sudden pang of sadness and a burning sensation throughout her body; she knew she was about to experience another blush.

She bit her lip, angrily placing the bundle on the table, partly out of anger at Xiao Xing's punishment, and partly out of anger at her own weakness for having the strange thought of not taking out a hundred taels of silver even if she had it.

Composing herself, she casually opened her bundle, took out the priceless sword, and murmured,

"They say people in the martial world are incredibly shrewd. How could someone with just this outfit and a fake sword that can't even be pulled out have fooled so many martial arts masters?"

Thinking back to the descriptions of the beautiful woman named Bi that she had met along the way, she was indeed quite formidable. Phrases like "a sword that takes a life from a jade skirt," "a precious sword with a jade mark, a sword that steals a soul," and "jade light illuminating shadows, showing no mercy under the sword" all captivated her. These descriptions far surpassed her own ambition of becoming the world's number one female thief.

" If fate allows, I'll finally get to meet this Miss Bi," she thought to herself, then chuckled self-deprecatingly. She, a lowly thief, was lucky to even be qualified to impersonate her; what more could she ask for?

"Once I've saved some silver, I might as well ask Ruyi Tower for help..." She rested her chin on her hand, her red lips slightly upturned, gazing at the bright moon and clouds outside the window, murmuring to herself.

The Ruyi Tower she mentioned wasn't some inn or restaurant, but a mysterious organization that had risen to prominence in the martial arts world several years ago. Its power and numbers were unknown, and even today, few in the martial arts world knew much about it.

However, what they knew most clearly was that if you were willing to pay a sufficient price, Ruyi Tower would do things you couldn't do yourself.

Life is full of disappointments. Of those disappointments, Ruyi Tower is the most unfortunate.

Once you obtain a finely crafted silver hibiscus, it means you've become a chosen customer of Ruyi Tower, and you've gained an opportunity to ask them for a favor.

Unlike ordinary sects and factions that earn bounties, Ruyi Tower, since its inception, has primarily chosen ordinary people who have unfortunate connections with the martial arts world, thus offending many powerful figures in the martial arts community. Furthermore, among those chosen from the martial arts world, the higher their reputation, the fewer they are selected, and the greater the price they are charged.

Lu Pingjiang, a powerful figure in Yanzhou, whose spear shook the northern pass, went to great lengths to find a silver hibiscus to cure a stubborn ailment in his dantian caused by practicing martial arts. After achieving his goal, not a single jewel was taken from the room, except for his two thumbs, which vanished without a trace. Jin Lin, the ginseng king of Yongzhou, sought revenge for the deaths of his wife and children, only to have two mountains of old ginseng exchanged for that same silver hibiscus. A certain escort agency, in order to recover an important shipment and salvage its reputation, almost went bankrupt before finally succeeding, nearly collapsing from the ordeal.

In contrast, there were rumors of a Beggars' Sect disciple exchanging two steamed buns for an enemy's arm, and of a bandit's family willingly becoming slaves in exchange for crippling a great hero's eyes.

Therefore, a low-class thief like Cui Bing should be able to get what he wants simply by spending some silver.

However, he wondered where the mysterious Ruyi Tower was located and how to contact it.

After a while, his mind calmed down considerably. Cui Bing stretched lazily, picked up the sword, and tried to pull it out, but it remained unmoved. He shook his head, gracefully walked behind the screen, undressed, and lay down to sleep.

In the mountains, the sunrise was more languid than in open areas. A thin veil of white mist made the morning light exceptionally hazy. The mountain breeze hadn't yet risen, but a fresh scent still drifted in through the window, permeating the sweet air. The vast manor thus slowly and steadily awoke.

Cui Bing woke up very early. Although her body was still a little tired, her mind was completely clear.

She had never had a long, restful sleep since she could remember, so how could she possibly have a good dream in this Twilight Sword Pavilion?

Picking up the folded clothes by the bed, she sighed softly and put them on one by one. Her movements were slow, not only because she had never worn such luxurious attire before, but also because she needed this process to transform herself into the person this dress was meant to be.

The breathtakingly beautiful Bi girl.

Her expression gradually faded. She twisted her body in front of the bronze mirror, slowly fastening the ribbon. The trembling female thief had vanished without a trace.

Bai Xiang had been waiting outside the garden since early morning. These female guests were far more important than the majority of the male guests attending the ceremony, and he had to personally handle many things to ensure proper etiquette. Fortunately, almost everyone from the main family on the peak was coming down today. His elder brother, Bai Ji, had arrived at the manor early and helped him with many tasks.

Just as the maidservant had splashed water on the stone path, Bai Xiang saw the emerald green figure gracefully approaching. The servant boy who had brought her was already waiting at the garden gate and immediately went to greet her.

He flicked his robe and strode after her, giving a slight nod, saying, "The Twilight Sword Pavilion's preparations this time were hasty. If there has been any inadequacy in our hospitality, this old man apologizes on behalf of the Bai family master to Miss Bi. We hope for your understanding."

Cui Bing, already well-versed in various responses, simply nodded slightly without replying. Xiao Xing bowed and smiled, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, sir. My young lady has traveled the world for so many years and has been to all sorts of places. This is truly the best hospitality you've ever received." "

That's the best it could be," Bai Xiang glanced at Xiao Xing and smiled, "The grand ceremony is tomorrow. The scenery in this manor is quite pleasant. If you two have time, you are welcome to wander around. However, please be careful when you're out and about. With so many guests, it's inevitable that some might cause trouble. Please don't spoil your mood."

"Thank you for your trouble, Steward Bai. You just need to attend to others. I'll take care of my young lady. There's no need for you to trouble yourselves."

Xiao Xing smiled and waved her hand dismissively, saying, "The ladies of Emei are probably about to get up. You go about your business. Let's go look around somewhere else first."

"It's just a string of beads, is it really necessary to serve her like this?" After politely declining several maids who wanted to serve her personally, the two sat down in a pavilion. Seeing that no one was around, Cui Bing couldn't help but ask in a low voice, but she was extra careful and tried her best to keep her lips still.

Xiao Xing stood to the side and laughed, "It's not their fault. This Miss Bi we're impersonating, no matter which family's wedding banquet she attends, the hosts will probably be extra careful. Nobody wants anything to go wrong on such a joyous occasion."

"They won't even let us see the bride, how boring." Her tone was listless, but Cui Bing still had to maintain her composed demeanor, not daring to relax her posture even slightly, lest she break the mold of a martial arts master. "By the way, who's that old acquaintance of yours? Shouldn't we go find him?"

Xiao Xing smiled and shook her head, saying, "No need. According to the servants, the Bai family will all be down by noon today at the latest to prepare for the pre-banquet tonight. We'll definitely see him then."

After sitting quietly for a while, the noise outside suddenly became a bit loud. Cui Bing's curiosity was piqued, and she glanced at Xiao Xing before the two of them went outside together.

The servants outside didn't seem to have changed much, but looking around, several guards walking towards them had strange expressions on their faces.

Xiao Xing leaned to the side and asked a young girl hurrying by, "Girl, what's wrong?

Why is it so noisy outside?"

The girl, hired temporarily, clearly didn't know much about martial arts matters and replied blankly, "A new group of guests has arrived, quite a few of them. I don't know why, but everyone suddenly has a tense expression, and even those eating in the courtyard are all chattering and gathering together."

This answer was essentially meaningless, but Xiao Xing didn't press further.

A guard had already rushed to an older man nearby, saying, "The Tang Clan has arrived with congratulatory gifts, and the steward wants us all to go."

Xiao Xing's eyes immediately lit up, and she turned around, saying, "Shall we go see what's going on?"

Although it was a question, Cui Bing naturally understood what she meant, so she nodded slightly and led the way.

Actually, if it were Cui Bing making the decision, she would absolutely not want to go.

After all, in the martial arts world, the first two words that came to mind when mentioning the Tang Clan were poison and hidden weapons.

This method, which is theoretically considered low-class, has been developed to its extreme within the Tang Clan. Based on this foundation, the Tang Clan has firmly established itself as one of the four great martial arts families, ranking alongside the Nangong, Murong, and Xiao lineages. Moreover, among the four great families, the Tang Clan has the longest history. Not to mention the current Tianbi Dynasty, even before the previous dynasty was established, the Tang Clan was already renowned throughout the land.

In terms of martial arts standing alone, the Emei Sect can rival the Tang Clan; as for the Mujian Pavilion, which has only existed for a few decades, it is at best a rising star.

The Bai family must have anticipated that the Tang Clan wouldn't stand idly by while Emei and Mujian Pavilion formed a marriage alliance. The fact that they made such meticulous arrangements at such a gathering of martial arts heroes suggests they were wary of someone.

However, they probably hadn't expected the Tang Clan to come so openly to offer their congratulations.

As fellow members of the righteous martial arts world, and both operating in Shu, the Bai family had no excuse to refuse them hospitality. Even if dozens of experts came, they had no choice but to accept them as honored guests.

Fortunately, the Tang Clan didn't send dozens of people. Excluding the temporary porters carrying loads and boxes, there were only eight who were clearly from the Tang Clan.

When Xiaoxing and Cui Bing arrived, the eight were ushered into the main hall. However, the gossip among the surrounding martial arts figures revealed the identities of three of them.

These three were all from the main branch of the Tang Clan, considered among the best of the younger generation. The leader was the eldest, Tang Xingjian, and the other two, Tang Xingjie and Tang Xin, were siblings. As for the five people who were not mentioned, they were presumably subordinates and helpers of the Tang Clan branch, whose reputations were not enough for the knowledgeable people present to recognize them.

Seven or eight out of ten of the martial arts practitioners who were supposed to be eating in the training ground actually put down their bowls and chopsticks and gathered around the entrance of the hall, listening intently as the welcoming servants loudly announced the congratulatory gifts presented by the Tang Clan.

A few paintings and calligraphy pieces, a set of gilded jewelry—these weren't considered particularly valuable gifts. Several boxes of rare medicinal herbs were merely typical Tang Clan gifts, not worth much silver. Just as someone was quietly lamenting the Tang Clan's stinginess, the servant's tone suddenly shifted with surprise, his voice trembling slightly as he announced, "A pair of Yin-Yang Bone-Piercing Nails, a box of Great Soul-Searching Needles, and a bottle of antidote!"

It was common knowledge that hidden weapon skills could be broadly divided into two types: technique and mechanism. Since the disappearance of the Peacock Feather, the Tang Clan had dominated the mechanism category. As for technique, the renowned "Rain of Flowers" hidden weapon technique was said to be so advanced that it couldn't even enter the main Tang Clan compound.

No matter how excellent a hidden weapon was, without the right technique or mechanism, it was useless. Therefore, if the Tang Clan had only sent a box of Great Soul-Searching Needles and its antidote, its value would have been comparable to those paintings and calligraphy pieces.

But the Tang Clan also sent a pair of Yin-Yang Bone-Piercing Nails.

Throughout the centuries-long history of the martial arts world, there haven't been many truly terrifying hidden weapons. After all, those who roam the martial world know that no weapon is as reliable as oneself.

Among those who scoff at hidden weapons, the Peacock Feather, with its unerring accuracy and deadly strike, naturally holds the top spot. Next is the Rain of Pear Blossom Nails, guaranteed to draw blood and return with an ominous sign. However, these two legendary treasures have long been relegated to the realm of legend. The Yin-Yang Bone-Piercing Nails, whose power is not far inferior, are still in the hands of the Tang Clan.

No one expected the Tang Clan to present such a weapon as a congratulatory gift.

For those in the martial arts world, even when used with ordinary bone-piercing nails, this pair of Yin-Yang Bone-Piercing Nails is priceless, not to mention the accompanying box of Soul-Searching Needles that can be used as a substitute.

The Great Soul-Searching Needle is one of the three great skills of the Tang Clan. Its accompanying martial art, the Great Soul-Searching Hand, once mastered, is powerful enough to reach a high level. Even if it's not as powerful as the Great Soul-Searching Hand, it's only slightly inferior when inserted into the Yin-Yang Bone-Piercing Nail

. If these small, exquisite steel cylinders are genuine, then in the eyes of everyone present, their value to the Twilight Sword Pavilion surpasses even that of Emei's soon-to-be bride.

Immediately, someone whispered a guess: could it be that the Tang Clan has come to compete with Emei this time?

Currently, the three parties have no direct conflict of interest. Disrupting the connection between two of them is essentially no different in effect from using more enthusiastic methods to win them over.

It's just that this method of maintaining harmony is rarely used by people in the martial arts world, and it's hard to imagine such a solution.

Master Qingxin is most likely still at his family's residence on the peak; it's unknown how he will feel upon seeing this gift list.

Cui Bing had been worried about not being able to squeeze into the crowd, but it turned out that some of the guests from the tavern the day before had stayed to watch the ceremony. Upon seeing her, they whispered amongst themselves, and in an instant, the crowd spontaneously parted to make way for her.

"Is that the Bi girl? She doesn't look like her..."

"Is she the one who scared the Chen brothers to their knees with one move?"

"This woman isn't here to challenge Bai Ruoyun to a sword duel, is she? The groom can't afford to embarrass himself."

Hearing the whispers around her, Cui Bing found it amusing. As she approached the hall entrance, the focus of the discussion finally shifted from her to the people inside.

Finding a spot near the front, Cui Bing and Xiao Xing finally saw the Tang Clan members.

All eight were dressed identically: gray robes and trousers, long, sleeved tops, soft-soled cloth boots, and black belts. The only difference was that the three seated members had an extra silver thread in the center of their belts compared to the five standing members.

Naturally, all eyes were drawn to the three young men and women seated at the head of the table.

The man at the head of the table had a fair complexion and a light beard, with a square face and rather imposing features.

However, his eyebrows were uneven, with one side higher than the other, and drooping downwards, giving him an eerie and sinister air. Judging from his seating arrangement, he was likely Tang Xingjian, the leader of the Tang Clan group. The man in the middle was thin and short, resembling an old monkey from the deep mountains. If it weren't for his pair of sinister eyes, which shone with a clear, luminous light, revealing considerable internal strength, one would hardly recognize him as a martial artist, let alone believe he was Tang Xingjie, a disciple of the Tang Clan. Finally,

the young woman was quite beautiful. Her fair, oval face held a captivating smile, and her dark eyes were bright and lively. A beauty mark under her left eye added a touch of vulnerability. Compared to the two women in front of her, she was even more alluring. If it weren't for her name, Tang Xin, many men would likely have fallen for her.

Distinguished guests of the Tang Clan could not be received solely by the two stewards, Bai Ji and Bai Xiang. However, most of the Bai family members were not staying overnight at the villa, and those who were were not qualified to appear on their own. Therefore, besides the maids coming and going in a constant stream, only Bai Ji, sweating profusely and apologizing profusely, remained in the hall.

"The masters have arrived!" Several low voices came from the outside of the crowd.

A dozen or so people strode in from outside the villa gate. It was the main branch of the Bai family, who must have received some message and rushed down.

Leading the way were four middle-aged men dressed in ancient style, carrying sheathless broadswords, who seemed quite different from the Bai family members behind them. Xiao Xing glanced at them from afar and whispered, "It seems to be the four sword slaves of the Twilight Sword Pavilion."

These four sword slaves were said to be descendants of the sword slaves of the Divine Sword Manor in the past, so their martial arts were not of the Twilight Sword Pavilion lineage. Instead, they had a deeper connection with the Xie family of Qingfeng Yanyu Tower, and in terms of martial arts, they were said to be no less skilled than anyone in the Twilight Sword Pavilion.

The fact that they were brought along shows the Bai family's wariness of the Tang Clan.

Given the reputation of the Twilight Sword Pavilion in Shu Prefecture, the people behind the sword slave were easily recognizable. The plump,

businessman-like figure was likely the Pavilion Master's eldest brother, Bai Tianying, and the kind-looking young man beside him was naturally his eldest son, Bai Ruosong.

The Pavilion Master, Bai Tianwu, was the most handsome of the five brothers, still possessing remarkable charm even in middle age. However, his second brother, Bai Tianxiong, was nowhere to be seen, nor was his eldest son, Bai Ruoyun

, beside him. The fourth and fifth brothers, Bai Tianyong and Bai Tianmeng, walked side-by-side at the back. One was extremely tall, the other extremely short, yet they insisted on walking arm-in-arm, looking rather comical. Behind them were their children.

Xiao Xing quickly glanced around, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes, but immediately heard that more people were following behind, so she looked over immediately.

Those who entered this time were the Emei Sect members who had gone ahead. The middle-aged Taoist with slightly dark skin, a half-length beard, and half-closed eyelids was Master Qingxin, a highly accomplished disciple of Abbess Tianjue.

As the leader of the Emei Sect, Qingxin Daoist couldn't afford to be disrespectful to the Tang Clan. He exchanged a few pleasantries with the familiar faces in the hall before hurriedly leading his disciples across the threshold.

Xiaoxing was still gazing outside, clearly not waiting for the Emei Sect's lay and Daoist disciples.

Cui Bingxin felt a pang of fear. The people who had just passed by were all renowned figures in Sichuan. If her deception was exposed, it would be best to disappear from the martial world altogether. She tried her best to remain calm, subtly moving closer to Xiaoxing and gently pinching his hand, her palms damp with cold sweat.

To her surprise, he trembled, suddenly stopping in his tracks. His eyes, unusually fixed on a spot, seemed to be lost in a memory, slightly dazed.

At a glance, Cui Bing saw a tall, slender young woman stride in with her back straight and waist bent. Her oval face was delicate and charming, free of makeup, with fine eyebrows, large eyes, a small mouth, and a straight nose. Despite carrying a long sword at her waist, she possessed no air of martial prowess, making one secretly regret her simple, athletic attire; how much better she would look in an embroidered dress!

"Look, look, Miss Lan has come down too," a voice whispered, yet it reached Cui Bing's ears clearly.

Thus, she finally understood that the old acquaintance Xiao Xing had gone to so much trouble to meet was none other than Bai Ruolan, the daughter of the Twilight Sword Pavilion's master.

[To be continued]

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【Twilight Fragrance】【Author: snow_xefd】【Part 1, Chapters 1-73】

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