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Xiao Se with his flute playing, Xie Yuan strumming his qin, Ye Ruoyi dancing her dance, and finally Lei Wujie performing with his swords. Standing by the side, Tang Lian couldn’t help but feel a little left out in the cold all of a sudden. However, even that sensation wasn’t enough to douse his burning blood and blazing spirits. With a graceful tap of his feet, he launched himself onto the rooftop, black robes fluttering in the wind as he descended downwards, right into a song.

I wish to ride the winds northwards, where the snow falls like a blanket over the earth.
I wish to ride a boat eastwards, where the fairies stand bewitchingly amongst the wind.
I wish to travel a million miles stepping on the clouds, what can the temples and dragons say to that?
The crests of Kunlun bathe in light, even amongst green mountains does an end exist.
Over ten thousand miles does a swallow fly home, yet return I will not till I see world’s end!

That was the same song that Wuxin once sang in Khotan. He only sang once before them but Tang Lian committed it to heart nonetheless, all because the majesty of ‘world’s end’ struck a chord within him. Right this very instant, that same overwhelming feeling made him break into song. Ever the stoic one, such a brazen act was far removed from his normal conduct. Yet it was such a Tang Lian that the audience couldn’t help but exclaim to themselves, now that’s the disciple of Baili Dongjun! Because Baili Dongjun was an immortal of spirits (alcohol), and was ever the brazen and dashing man during his youth.

Soon, the song ended.

Xiao Se lowered his flute, the Confucian Sword Immortal lifted his hands off the qin,Ye Ruoyi kept her sleeves, while Lei Wujie swung his sword with a final heavy slash. Blasted upwards by the sheer force, the surrounding flower petals soared high into the air, raining down a mere moment later in a vibrant display of beauty.
The moment the flowery rain ended, Lei Wujie lifted his head. His gaze fell upon Ye Ruoyi, eyes immediately darting to the side in a moment of youthful embarrassment. After hesitating for a second, he quietly said, “What a coincidence, we meet again.”

If there ever was a ranking board for the lousiest pick up lines in the martial world, that ‘coincidence’ just now would definitely make it in the top few.

Xiao Se stowed his flute and quietly walked to the side. Tang Lian jumped off his roof, then murmured to Xiao Se, “Even though I’m not too sure what’s the story behind those two, but wasn’t that line… just horrible?”

Xiao Se curled his lips to the side, “It’s bad enough to send chills down a person’s spine.”

Ye Ruoyi, however, merely smoothed out her hair and smiled, “That’s right, we meet again.”

Awkward…

Though his performance of Benefaction from a Sword Immortal created an impressive start for himself, that single line ruined it all, even his sword dance.

“There are those in the world whose beauty is unforgettable. A single day without them, leaves one mad in longing.”

Quick to the rescue, Xie Xuan lightly strummed his qin as he recited that verse, in the process, lightening the awkward atmosphere. He then stood up, peered into the distance, and suddenly said, “Seems like an old acquaintance is near.”

“And you’re still here?” From his cubicle above, Sikong Changfeng asked that of Xie Xuan.

Xie Xuan turned around, leapt back into that same cubicle, picked up a bookshelf he kept nearby, then leapt back down onto the hall.

“Today, I’ve seen for myself the young disciples of Snow Moon City. I now know that the title of “The Number One Martial City” wasn’t given in vain -neither was this trip a wasted one. I will take my leave now, but since I have nothing to offer, these few books will have to do.” With a wave of his hand, a relatively ancient book flew out of that bookshelf and landed in Ye Ruoyi’s hand.

Her eyes went wide. “This is…”

“Though the Ruoyi Sword Dance is an excellent dance, the killing intent within it is too strong. Your body is that of a female’s, and sickly as well, such energies aren’t beneficial for your body, so you mustn’t perform it often. The dance I’ve just handed you is named the Startling Swan. So named because one who performs it momentarily takes on the beauty of swan taking to the skies -elegant, gentle and without any killing intent. This dance will aid you in your development.” Xie Xuan smiled as he said that.

Ye Ruoyi lightly nodded, “You have my thanks, sir.”

Xie Xuan then handed out another book, this one nameless, to Xiao Se. Suddenly, he asked, “Young man, have we met before?”

Never one for respect, not even towards the Sikong Changfeng, Xiao Se was markedly different this time. He nodded his head in respect, though his words were still short and direct. “Jixia Academy.”

“No wonder.” Xie Xuan wasn’t all that shocked by what he heard. “Then this book is given correctly. This book has no name, because it was written by me and I haven’t thought of a name for it. If something comes to mind after you read it, you may fill it in yourself.”

A nameless book from the Confucian sage Xie Xuan? The moment those present realised that, their hearts couldn’t help but stir. Everyone knew how learned the Xie Xuan was -his knowledge was already on par with the sages of the past. However, the books he wrote never bore a name. When asked about that, he once answered, should a person have some inspiration after reading my book, then that means that book is no longer mine. Because that inspiration belonged to that person alone, he chose not to name the book, leaving that to the person instead. However, only a scant few were ever worthy of being given a nameless book by him.

Xie Xuan turned around to face Tang Lian. “I often hear your teacher complaining that he accepted a stick-in-the-mud disciple. But what I saw of you just now, that was the same demeanor your teacher had when he was young. I’ll give you this book, your teacher loved it when he was young.”

Tang Lian was taken aback for a second, but quickly accepted the ancient book, only to find these two words written on it: Wine Scriptures. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, he asked, “My teacher already liked this when he was young?”

“Your teacher calls himself the Drunken Immortal. Even when he was young, he viewed wine as his life. Even when I was twelve, he was already like that. Back then, he told me that the wines of the world no longer held any taste for him. Thus, he asked for that same book from me. The recipes recorded inside are no ordinary wines. A man of thirty drinks, his fingers filled with prodigious insight, like the thundering of a spring bolt. Do not waste it.”

“Your junior will commit your teaching to heart.” Tang Lian hurriedly cupped his fists.

“Ever the stick in the mud…” It was now Lei Wujie’s turn to be given a book. His was a small book with an exquisite cover on it.

Upon receiving it, he looked at it and came out confused, “Esteemed senior, what is this?”

Xiao Se glanced at the book as well before asking in a thoughtful voice, “The Coming Winter?”

“Night is falling and winter comes, where may I find a cup of wine. This was the work of a talented female author in Jiangnan, Xie Feixuan. It’s a moving tale, one that will bring tears to the eyes of even the Empress. This book is for you, learn from the male lead in that book. The next time we meet, don’t use that awkward line again.” Xie Xuan chuckled at that point.

Lei Wujie’s face immediately burned a bright red. Ye Ruoyi, on the other hand, was more unconcerned, still smiling lightly as always.

“Alright, it’s time for me to leave.” Xie Xuan suddenly turned around.

“I just came and you’re already trying to leave? Are you that afraid of me?” A voice suddenly echoed from the distance.

Xie Xuan quickened his pace while muttering, “To meet is no better than not. To not meet is like meeting at times. Though our eyes may not meet, our hearts have.”

“Bloody bookworm.” That voice coldly cursed.

“Bit…” By now, Xie Xuan’s figure was beginning to disappear into the distance so that last word was never spoken fully.

Lei Wujie was in a panicked state right now. He first thought was to turn around and run, but as he did so, a sword suddenly cut off his escape route. That voice had already arrived. White robes and veiled, it was his teacher, the one and only Snow Moon Sword Immortal, Li Hanyi.

“Teacher.” Lei Wujie lowered his head and bowed, his posture that of someone who had clearly done something wrong.

Li Hanyi coldly eyed him. “Just now when I was in the mountains, I felt a wave of sword qi.”

“That sword of yours, it wasn’t half bad.” Li Hanyi gently said.

“You’re praising me?!” Lei Wujie’s eyes went wide with disbelief.

“But… Who gave you permission to leave the mountain!” Li Hanyi picked up his sword and immediately sent the gaping Lei Wujie flying away.