It wasn't that hard to find the inn they were staying at . Actually everyone knew since it wasn't like they snuck out to attend their matches . However, there were soldiers stationed nearby, both from Jing Qie and Xi Qi, so no one dared to do anything funny .

"Excuse me, is Young Master Ke here?" Shen Tianyu went up to one of the guards in front of the door and asked . Today, she was wearing a light green robe that gradually got lighter the lower the skirt was, with Chinese roses sewn in . On her hip was a Qiankun bag in the shape of a satchel . In her hand was a paper umbrella painted with a few branches of peach blossoms on one side . The rest of it was made from bamboo, even the umbrella skeleton . On the side of her head were two buns made from curling braids . The rest of her har was let down, flowing freely in the small winds when she moved .

"State your name and business . " The guard she had asked responded with an unchanging serious face .

"I am Shen Tian, here to have a little talk with Young Master Ke since I thought he might be bored staying here for so long and maybe take him around to see some local sights and eat some specialty foods . Can you tell him I'm here?"

The guard's brows slightly furrowed . Such a small thing, they could ask other people to do it . Except, the one offering was one of Jing Qie's contestants . Declining might cause more trouble than accepting . In the end, he decided to let the Young Master decide . "Please wait here, this one will go to inform the Young Madter Ke . " He bowed to her, then rested his hand on the hilt of his sword again .

"Of course, thank you . " She dipped her head but didn't fully bow to him . He then left to look for the person she had called for . Even if she was a commoner, or even a prost.i.tute, she was still a contestant for the Goodwill Tournament . Being able to last until the finals at all, regardless of your placing, meant you had a great future ahead of yourself and was somewhat of a celebrity . Therefore, her position was close to that of a n.o.ble's child and as long as someone had a brain, wouldn't try to offend her . It would be bad if she came back for revenge later after all .

As for the various sects that came to try to recruit her and Rong Jian, she had the servants all turn them away, even the royal envoys that wanted to recruit them, with the excuse that they had already been recruited . With where they were staying, it was obvious who they had been "recruited" by though it came as a surprise to many . The power behind Lavender Palace was not only secretive but also very picky, they rarely scouted the contestants of the Goodwill Tournament, instead preferring to get their manpower form somewhere else . It wasn't that they had never recruited, it was just very rare as the last time they did was five years ago . Not only the candidates must have extraordinary talent, they should also be hardworking in addition to specializing in something other than the sword . And the level of specialization must be above average, such conditions were hard to meet as most of the candidates were only teens and at Foundation Establishment stage . They really didn't have the time to specialize in other weapons so well and so fast . A lot of the time, the contestants would be asking to join instead of the other way around but were refused, more often than not . With Lavender Palace's status, the royal envoys could only back off too, since they were well aware of what it was capable of, though they rarely showed their aggressive side and preferred to just be a big business .

The guard came back a while later to find Shen Tianyu still patiently waiting in the sun with her paper umbrella . He went forward and bowed to her before straightening up . "The Young Master says he also wishes to see you . " He then turned to the side and gestured for her to enter . "Please come, I will show you the way . "

Shen Tianyu nodded at him with a smile . "Thank you very much, Mister . "

The guard went inside first and Shen Tianyu followed, closing her paper umbrella . The surrounding guards had heard the soldier's message and didn't move to block her, letting her pa.s.s through easily . She was led to the second floor of the empty and silent inn . The whole place had been rented out and only the servants and owner were the only people staying there aside from the partic.i.p.ants . She followed the guard to the second door on the right, where he stopped and turned back to her . "The Young Master Ke is staying here, luckily he hasn't gone out today . "

"Thank you again Mister . Here's a small token of grat.i.tude . " Shen Tianyu reaches into her satchel and pulled out a few gold coins, handing them to the guard, whose eyes briefly lit up . As he received them, he quickly pocketed them, afraid someone or something might come out of nowhere to s.n.a.t.c.h his hard earned tip . He then bowed and left, Shen Tianyu watching . When he was out of view, she turned back to the door in front of her and was about to knock when the door opened of its own accord . She stared with wide eyes and a raised fist at the young man who had opened the door before she quickly regained her composure .

"I didn't think Lady Shen would have the audacity to bribe the guards . " He said in a gentle tone, not at all fitting the words he had just spoken .

"What do you mean? I was only thanking him . Leaving a good impression is never a bad thing . " She replied back . He then opened the door wider and stepped aside to let her enter, which she did, closing the door behind him .

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"Do you want to see some of the others too? Oh female champion of the Goodwill Tournament . " He asked as he poured some tea in a cup from a tea set oni the table in the middle of the room .