Today was the seventeenth day of the fourth month, the third day since Su Yi arrived in the Jade Capital.

The Pinewind Villa.

Su Yi stood beneath a pine, practicing the Pine and Crane Body Refining Technique.

As his cultivation gradually deepened, he found that he’d already practiced the top foundational technique of the Wilds, the masterpiece of the Peerless Martial Emperor, to the point of mastery.

He no longer needed to rigidly adhere to its forms and stances. Every movement flowed naturally, following his will, flowing with the mysterious and inscrutable charm.

It was like seizing fortune from the heavens or transforming the ordinary into the divine!

Were he here to see this, even the Peerless Martial Emperor himself might well sigh with emotion.

This level of skill was the result of daily accumulations, not something that could be accomplished overnight.

After he finished practicing the Pine and Crane Body Refining Technique, Su Yi leaned back into his wicker chair and took out some spiritual materials, which he used to nourish the Abstruse God Sword.

The Abstruse God Sword was carved with the Spirit-Devouring Edict, and there was a wisp of a Netherflame Demon Sparrow’s soul essence sealed inside. Whenever Su Yi had spare time, he’d take out various spiritual materials to “feed” his weapon.

By now, the Abstruse God Sword’s condition and power were obviously a level higher than before. The serene darkness of the blade and the glint of its edge were reserved, but the aura the weapon emanated was enough to make even an Origin Dao cultivator’s heart quiver.

A treasure like this was already no weaker than peak Origin Dao spiritual weapons!

Thud thud thud!

Someone was knocking at the door. At the same time, a respectful voice emanated from the gateway. “Your Excellency Su, this humble one is called Fang Yuan. I’m here to deliver information on Buddhist Master Hongji’s orders”

Su Yi didn’t move from his chair. He just stretched out his hand and waved through the air, opening the door from over a hundred feet away. “Come in.”

A young man in gray stood outside. He looked about seventeen or eighteen, and he was a bit thin, with delicate features. When his eyes darted around, they were lively and bright.

The young man who called himself Fang Yuan first clasped his fist and bowed, then lowered his head and entered the Pinewind Villa, closing the door behind him. He went right up to Su Yi.

“Your Excellency, the information is inside. Please, take a look.” Fang Yuan took out a sealed jade box and proffered it with both hands. 

Su Yi accepted the box and opened it. Inside was a jade slip. He reached inside with his divine sense and immediately saw the information recorded within.

Monk Hongji’s message was about the diplomatic mission from the Great Qin.

A few days ago, the group arrived in the Jade Capital under the leadership of the chief elder of the Shanglin Temple’s Arhat Hall. His Buddhist name was Lonely River.

Aside from the Shanglin Temple’s Lonely River, the mission included over a hundred people. Of them, nine were highly prominent.

Monk Hongji’s information focused on one such prominent figure, You Tianhong.

He was from the top clan of the Great Qin, the You Family. Furthermore, he was Family Head You Yuandu’s younger brother. 

You Tianhong was also You Qingzhi’s second brother and Su Hongli’s brother-in-law.

You Xinglin, who Su Yi had killed not long ago, was You Tianhong’s nephew.

According to the Ten Directions Pavilion’s report, You Tianhong had come here with the Great Qin’s emissaries to avenge You Xinglin’s death!

You Tianhong wasn’t the least bit simple. In his youth, he had entered the Profound Moon Temple to cultivate, and he was Daoist Vastblue's disciple, making him Li Changning’s senior apprentice brother.

Eighteen years ago, You Tianhong stepped into the Origin Dao, and his attainments in the Dao of the Sword were masterful. The Great Qin honored him as “Sword Monarch Tianhong.”

Nine years ago, You Tianhong ventured east, sword in hand, and explored the Great Qin’s number-one danger zone, the Sea of Chaotic Spirits. While there, he obtained a grand stroke of fortune within an ancient ruin.

He entered seclusion upon his return, and he’d been there ever since. Eight years had passed since then.

Yet now, You Tianhong had reappeared within the Great Qin’s diplomatic mission!

Before this, not even the Ten Directions Pavilion realized that such a mighty figure was headed for the Jade Capital!

Thus, Monk Hongji immediately sent word, and he asked Su Yi to proceed with caution.

However, even after finishing the report, Su Yi wasn’t concerned. If anything, he was curious about just what kind of fortune You Tianhong had obtained within the Sea of Chaotic Spirits.

The Great Zhou had its Eight Great Yao Mountains, while the Great Wei had its Four Great Forbidden Grounds.

And the Great Qin? They had the Sea of Chaotic Spirits!

Su Yi already knew that long, long ago, due to an accident of some sort, the numerous ancient orthodoxies of the Great Zhou had disappeared within the river of time.

Rumor had it that the depths of the Sea of Chaotic Spirits hid numerous ruins of long-lost orthodoxies!

Whatever fortune You Tianhong had obtained, it was most likely connected to one such long-lost ancient faction.

Of course Su Yi was curious. Who wouldn’t have been?

As of now, all Su Yi knew was that a Buddhist orthodoxy called the Prajna Meditation Garden had once existed on the Azure Continent. 

“Your Excellency.” It was only after he saw that Su Yi had finished reading that Fang Yuan spoke up. “Buddhist Master Hongji said that if you lack an assistant, I could stay here to work alongside you.

“This humble one’s cultivation is unexceptional, but I live in the Jade Capital year-round. No matter what you wish to understand, so long as I have the knowledge, I’ll hold nothing back. What I don’t know, I’ll do everything in my power to find out on your behalf.

“Furthermore, should you wish to contact the Ten Directions Pavilion, I can do so for you.”

Su Yi glanced at the young man. “Staying by my side will be extremely dangerous. Others fear nothing more than failing to escape in time. Why are you doing this? Don’t tell me that monk is forcing you to do it?”

Fang Yuan repeatedly shook his head. “Your Excellency, you’ve misunderstood. I fought long and hard for the opportunity to work by your side. Fortunately, in the end, Buddhist Master Hongji agreed to give me the chance to come here and meet you.”

As he spoke, he looked at Su Yi. His gaze was already somewhat expectant.

“Why do you want to do this? I want to hear the truth,” said Su Yi with great interest.

Fang Yuan took a deep breath and bowed. “I was orphaned at a young age. I have no fear of death. No, what I fear is that I’ll never find an opportunity to change my fate. Other people might think staying by your side is perilous. However, the way I see it, winning your appreciation would be enough to change my life forever!”

Su Yi nodded. “I can tell that you’re clever. However, I won’t promise you anything. Do you understand?”

A hint of excitement appeared on Fang Yuan’s face, but he quickly suppressed his emotions. Instead, he grinned. “I won’t keep it from you: staying here to work on your behalf is, by itself, be no different from changing my destiny. At the very least, Buddhist Master Hongji definitely won’t mistreat me.”

“From this day forth, you can stay here. Going forward, my three daily meals, as well as other trifles, are your responsibility,” said Su Yi.

The young man was ambitious, but he knew the proper limits. He seemed clever, too. Having him around to take care of odd jobs would be useful.

“Yes, sir!” Fang Yuan solemnly clasped his fist, and his face lit up with delight. 

It was then that yet another visitor knocked on the door.

Su Yi furrowed his brow. It had only been two days since he took up residence at the Pinewind Villa, but people were showing up one after another. It was truly vexing.

“I’ll leave that up to you.” Su Yi glanced at Fang Yuan, who realized exactly what he meant. He turned and dashed off.

Not much later, he scurried back and said hurriedly, “Your Excellency, they were just here to deliver a message. The messenger had no cultivation, and was most likely running an errand on another’s behalf.”

As he spoke, he proffered a sealed letter with both hands.

Su Yi opened it and read its contents. He couldn’t help but arch his brow. “What kind of place is the Overflowing Goblet?”

Fang Yuan didn’t even pause to think. “It’s one of the Jade Capital’s top four restaurants, places viewed as money pits for the upper crust. The Overflowing Goblet is one such place, and rumor has it that they’re backed by the Goldstone Pavilion.”

Su Yi nodded.

The Ten Directions Pavilion was famous for its information network, but the Goldstone Pavilion was similar in that they too were spread across the Great Zhou, Great Wei, and Great Qin, and they were equally mysterious.

If the Goldstone Pavilion was backing the Overflowing Goblet, few in the Jade Capital would dare stir up trouble there.

Su Yi ordered, “Go arrange a carriage. I’ll be visiting the Overflowing Goblet shortly.”

“Yes, sir!”

……

The Overflowing Goblet. 

The restaurant was a full nine stories tall, with flying eaves and crossbeam arches. It had an old-fashioned charm.

When Su Yi and Fang Yuan arrived, they saw a smiling, beautiful woman waiting for them on the first floor.

She looked a bit over twenty, and she wore a long, pale blue skirt. Her makeup was elegant, and her dress was tailored to outline the curves of her perfect figure and highlight her long, slender legs.

When he saw her, Su Yi exclaimed, “Why are you here?”

Hua Yan!

Su Yi had seen this woman before. She was the proprietor of the Imperatorial Provincial Capital’s Goldstone Pavilion branch.

The woman blinked her beautiful eyes and pressed her lips into a smile. “Young Lord Su, you recognize me?”

Su Yi was briefly stunned. He re-evaluated her, then laughed. “I see. You’re called Qiao Yu, aren’t you?”

The woman’s bright red lips curved slightly upward into an intoxicating smile. “Young Lord Su, it seems my elder sister was right; nothing can escape your keen perception.”

This was, of course, flattery. Still, when honeyed words came from a sultry beauty like her, they were enjoyable indeed.

A moment later, the woman asked curiously, “Young Lord Su, tell me: am I at all different from my sister?”

Su Yi laughed. “The way men see it, twin sisters are interesting precisely because they’re identical. Why discuss your differences?”

Qiao Yu was momentarily stunned. She suddenly felt as if he were taking liberties with her, but Su Yi said it so naturally that she was too embarrassed to discuss it any further. 

“Young Lord Su, right this way, please.” She considerately said nothing. Instead, she smiled, gestured for him to follow, and led his way in. Su Yi and Fang Yuan followed her.

…

Shortly after they entered the Overflowing Goblet.

A horse-drawn carriage approached, then stopped outside the restaurant. 

“Mother, we’ve arrived at the Overflowing Goblet,” said a handsome youth. He got out of the carriage first, then extended his hand to help an elegantly dressed woman down. 

“Has your uncle already arrived?” asked the elegantly-dressed woman.

The handsome youth nodded. “A messenger said that he’s currently waiting for us in the ninth floor’s Wenyuan Palace.”

“Alright.” The ornately-dressed woman took a deep breath, then said ruefully, “It’s been a long time. I haven’t seen your uncle since I married your father all those years ago…”

Then, she fixed her gaze on the young man beside her and ordered softly, “Boning, you’ll meet your uncle soon. Remember your place if you don’t want him to look down on you.”

The handsome young man smiled and nodded. “Mother, please rest assured.”

With that, the two of them entered the Overflowing Goblet. 

Do y'all remember Qiao Yu? Or Hua Yan?

Qiao Yu hasn't actually appeared in the story before, but her sister, Hua Yan, has. She's the proprietor of the Imperatorial Province branch of the Goldstone Pavilion, and she first appeared in chapter 172.