Qin Yun and Tian Bo rode their horses out of town, eventually parting ways to return to their respective homes.


    Meanwhile, on the Huayang River they had just passed, a decorated pleasure boat finally docked at the shore.


    "Farewell, Brother Yu Bai.""Take care, Brother Wang. It''s already dark; mind your journey home."


    The renowned scholar Yu Bai exchanged farewells with a friend.


    Yu Bai, with his handsome and refined appearance, exuded a sense of charm tinged with melancholy. Just as he was about to leave with his servant and guard, a brothel madam disembarked from the boat and approached him. "Young Master Yu."


    "Oh? What is it?" Yu Bai responded indifferently.


    The madam smiled apologetically. "My mistress, the esteemed owner of the Ruyue Pavilion, has admired you for a long time. She has always cherished your poetry. Would you be willing to meet her?"


    "I am in Guangling on important business and cannot afford such meetings," Yu Bai replied nonchalantly.


    "My mistress admires you greatly, Young Master. Why not meet her to ease her longing?" the madam pleaded.


    "No need." Yu Bai turned to leave without waiting for her to continue.


    The madam could only stomp her foot in frustration as she watched him leave, then returned to the pleasure boat.


    Yu Bai, flanked by his servant and guard, continued on his leisurely way.


    "Master, that Ruyue Pavilion mistress is truly persistent," the guard remarked with a chuckle. "This isn''t the first time she''s invited you, and she even planted her people on the pleasure boat where you met your friend. Yet she hasn''t shown herself in person."


    "Ah, the Ruyue Pavilion mistress," Yu Bai said with a slight smile. "She was once a courtesan in the capital, though not a famous one. The capital is filled with high-ranking officials and nobles. Over the years, she amassed some wealth and connections. When she grew older, she returned to her hometown in Guangling County and established the Ruyue Pavilion, naming herself its mistress. Two years ago, during the courtesan selection event, she used all her resources and connections to win the title of Flower Queen."


    "If she were still young, it might have been fair. But she''s past her prime, and many were unhappy with her victory, deeming it unjust."


    "She wants my help, but why should I help her?" Yu Bai chuckled derisively. "A woman should know her limits. Competing with younger girls at her age is pointless."


    "Master, how old is the Ruyue Pavilion mistress now?" the guard asked.


    "Although her cultivation has preserved her youth, she must be around thirty-five," Yu Bai replied. "For a courtesan, that''s far too old."


    "Thirty-five?"


    "That''s nearly as old as my mother!" another servant exclaimed in surprise.


    Yu Bai merely smiled.


    Strolling leisurely, Yu Bai soon reached his inn, which was close to where the pleasure boat had docked.


    "Master! Master!" A servant rushed out to meet him at the inn entrance.


    "What''s got you so worked up?" Yu Bai asked.


    "Master, I have news about an immortal cultivator!" the servant exclaimed excitedly.


    "An immortal cultivator?" Yu Bai''s eyes lit up. "Tell me quickly—who is it, and where can they be found?"


    "The information came from the Yan Feng House. The cultivator''s name is Qin Yun," the servant explained eagerly. "He''s a native of Guangling County. At thirteen, he achieved the ninth level of Qi Refinement with unity of man and sword. Six years ago, he left home to travel the world. Now he''s returned, having opened the gate to immortality and become one of the divine! Just tonight at Yan Feng House, this Qin Yun reportedly threw Liu Qi, the young master of the Liu family, out of a window, leaving him with a bloodied face. Qin Yun declared, ''Miss Chenshuang is my sister. Offend her, and you offend me, Qin Yun!''"If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    The servant mimicked Qin Yun''s mannerisms as he recounted the story.


    "Yan Feng House and Miss Chenshuang?" Yu Bai''s thoughts raced. He asked, "Where does this Qin Yun live?"


    "He''s from the Qin Manor, the home of Silver Badge Constable Qin Lietu," the servant explained. "There''s only one Qin Manor in Guangling, so it''s easy to find."


    "Ah Fu, deliver my calling card to the Qin Manor tomorrow," Yu Bai instructed.


    "Understood, Master."


    Yu Bai''s gaze deepened as he thought to himself, I wonder how close this immortal Qin Yun is to the courtesan Miss Chenshuang. Does he have the capability to assist me?


    "Also, find out the nature of their relationship," Yu Bai added.


    "Leave it to me, Master," Ah Fu replied confidently.


    The next morning.


    At the Qin Manor’s training grounds, Qin Yun was practicing his swordsmanship. His movements were slow, yet his sword seemed to weave illusions, creating a mesmerizing dreamlike effect. Unlike Miss Chenshuang''s elegant fusion of swordsmanship and dance, Qin Yun''s mastery lay purely in the art of the sword, enchanting onlookers with a sense of wonder that transcended mere skill.


    "Done." Qin Yun sheathed his sword and headed off for breakfast.


    As he sipped a bowl of thick porridge, voices from outside caught his attention. Soon, his father Qin Lietu and elder brother Qin An entered.


    "Father, you''ve been away for two nights," Qin Yun remarked with a smile. "Come, have some porridge."


    Qin Lietu sat down and drank half a bowl in a few gulps before dismissing the servants. "Leave us."


    The maids bowed and exited, leaving only Qin Lietu and his two sons.


    "Big Brother, you brought your wife and children here?" Qin Yun asked, noticing them for the first time that morning.


    "How could I not? Even though you assured me the danger is gone, how could I risk my family''s safety?" Qin An replied. "Here, with you and Father, I feel much more secure."


    Qin Yun nodded. Understandable. Ordinary people cannot help but fear demons.


    Qin Lietu turned to Qin Yun. "Yun''er, your brother mentioned that on the night you returned, you secretly dealt with the threat. Was it the old demon Chu Yong?"


    "A cat demon had been hiding in my brother''s residence for half a year, acting under orders," Qin Yun explained. "She was following the commands of the demon leader Chu Yong. That night, I captured the cat demon and tracked down Chu Yong''s lair. Once he confessed to his plans, I wiped out the entire group, including Chu Yong."


    "So it really was you." Qin Lietu sighed in amazement. "When I saw the lair, I suspected it might be your doing. But I thought you were still too young to defeat such an old demon."


    "Father, you underestimate Second Brother," Qin An said with a grin.


    "Six years have passed, and Yun''er''s strength is greater than I imagined," Qin Lietu admitted with a laugh.


    "Chu Yong was indeed tough. His hide could withstand a barrage of arrows and even powerful crossbows," Qin Yun commented.


    "Yun''er, you''ve rid Guangling of a great scourge," Qin Lietu praised. "That demon caused so much harm. His lair even contained a pit of bones—remnants of those he devoured."


    "Devoured people? A pit of bones?" Qin An was horrified.


    "Demons eating humans is not uncommon," Qin Yun replied calmly. "Just as humans eat livestock, some demons feed on humans. There are good demons too, but Chu Yong deserved death."


    "An''er, keep this matter to yourself," Qin Lietu instructed.


    "I understand," Qin An replied solemnly.


    Meanwhile, at the Governor’s residence, the atmosphere was tense.


    A richly dressed man, the head of the prominent Liu family, waited nervously in the courtyard. Despite his status, he knew his family relied heavily on the Governor’s favor.


    "Why has the Governor summoned me so suddenly?" he wondered, growing increasingly anxious.


    "Master Liu, the Governor will see you now," an old steward announced.


    The Liu family head followed him to a garden, where the Governor sat with a martial officer dressed in blue.


    "Greetings, Governor, Commander Fang," he said, bowing deeply.


    The Governor, dressed simply in gray, spoke casually. "Liu Clan, your family’s annual tribute will be needed earlier this year—within half a month."


    "Understood, Governor," the Liu family head replied promptly.


    "And I need ten thousand silver taels," the Governor added.


    Though surprised—this was more than the usual eight thousand taels—he dared not protest. "Rest assured, Governor. I will have it ready in time."


    The Governor nodded. "I heard your son, Liu Qi, offended the second son of the Qin family at Yan Feng House last night."


    "Yes, yes. I have already punished him severely," the Liu family head stammered.


    "You''re fortunate the Qin family’s second son held back," the Governor remarked dismissively. "You may go."


    Relieved, the Liu family head bowed deeply and left, though questions swirled in his mind. Why is the Governor so concerned about that Qin family boy? Even if he''s opened the gate to immortality, he''s still no match for Commander Fang, a Xudan-level cultivator.