As February passed, the various commanderies in Jiangzhou began to thaw, with ice and snow melting away as the weather gradually warmed.

Located at the southernmost part of Jiangzhou, as the weather grew warmer, travelers became more frequent along the roads in Yujie Commandery.

Yujie Commandery is mountainous, situated in a hilly region, with an official road traversing the entire commandery, directly connecting north to Jiangzhou City. Heading south, it reaches the neighboring Tang State.

This official road is said to have been built thousands of years ago by the Longevity Immortal Dynasty, serving as a transport line connecting the cities within Yujie Commandery.

Rumble...

Spring thunder rumbled across the sky; travelers on horseback on the official road, seeing the imminent rain, prepared to seek shelter at a nearby inn.

Someone complained, "Isn’t Yujie Commandery just too desolate? Nothing but mountains everywhere. When will we reach Yujie City? "

"Thankfully, there’s an inn here."

"Let’s be cautious; an inn in such a desolate place might not be trustworthy."

"Could that little thief have caught wind of some news and fled to such a place?"

As they conversed, they had arrived in front of the inn.

An inn servant came out to greet them, helping with their horses, smiling broadly, and asked, "Honored guests, would you like to rest or stay overnight?"

Leading the group was a young man in sumptuous clothes, displaying a distinguished air, who said, "Prepare five superior rooms; we shall stay overnight."

The inn servant apologized, "I’m terribly sorry, but only two superior rooms are left."

The young man in sumptuous clothes glanced inside the inn, noticing many seated patrons, he chose not to make a fuss and said, "Fine, two rooms it is."

The group of five included three men and two women, easily accommodating into two rooms.

The young man in sumptuous clothes further instructed, "Feed our horses with premium feed," saying this, handing over a piece of broken silver.

Receiving the reward, the inn servant’s face lit up with joy, nodding and bowing in agreement.

...

As they entered the inn, heavy rain started outside.

The young man in sumptuous clothes scanned the room, noticing several groups, most conspicuous being a few women, all young and beautiful, carrying longswords, evidently disciples from a sect.

A group of guards occupied the northeast corner of the inn, while other individuals sat scattered.

He glanced to his sister at his side, exchanging a look to inquire: have you seen that person?

The girl in red scanned each face around the inn, shook her head, signaling no.

At that moment, among the women, one walked over, politely asked, "Young master, are you the third son of the Cheng Family from Dai Commandery?"

The young man in sumptuous clothes paused, the woman indeed seemed familiar, a flash of insight lit his mind, joyfully he said, "So it’s Junior Sister Lu from Xiaoshui Sect! Unexpectedly meeting here, indeed life is full of unexpected encounters."

Junior Sister Lu smiled, "Young master Cheng is no stranger, please come join us."

"With pleasure."

The young man in sumptuous clothes, accompanied by his companions, joined the disciples from Xiaoshui Sect.

This person named Cheng Ruiwu, his grandmother hailed from Xiaoshui Sect, sharing a close kinship with them, naturally avoiding any awkwardness.

After some pleasantries, they introduced themselves to each other.

Among those with Cheng Ruiwu, one was his sister, and the remaining three were junior disciples.

He looked at a quiet young girl among them, saying, "This Junior Sister seems unfamiliar."

Junior Sister Lu said, "She is the disciple taken in two years ago by the sect leader, Huo Qianqian."

Huo Qianqian stood, making a salute, "Met Senior Brother Cheng."

...

While exchanging pleasantries, some in the inn were discussing recent news, "...speaking of this Mad Saber, his fame has rapidly grown. A man and a saber, traversing multiple commanderies, has defeated dozens of sixth-rank experts, never lost once. Furthermore, this man is extremely arrogant, always using the simplest saber technique without even employing true skill. Quite formidable indeed."

Someone couldn’t take it anymore, retorting, "Huh, Mad Saber, what a sensationalist. Only dares challenging mediocre folk."

A merchant, displeased, retorted sarcastically, "Sir, claiming a sixth-rank martial artist mediocre, may I know your rank?"

That person’s face flushed instantly, "Sixth-rank or not, against those aristocratic descendants and disciples from great sects, they’re like chickens and dogs..."

"Unsure whether sir comes from an aristocratic family or a renowned sect?"

"..."

...

Cheng Ruiwu and his companions’ attention was drawn, seeing them arguing, spoke up, "This friend seems quite knowledgeable about Mad Saber?"

The merchant, feeling smug after silencing the other, hearing the question, responded, "Not knowledgeable, merely hearsay."

He asked again, "Does Your Excellency know which sect this Mad Saber hails from?"

The traveling merchant saw the eyes of the people in the inn turn toward him, feeling even more smug, he said loudly, "The background of this Mad Saber is a mystery, no one knows his details, he seems to have appeared out of nowhere. It is said that this person is about thirty years old, wears a bamboo hat, dresses in coarse cloth, and uses only a common steel saber. He is quite unconventional, loves to meddle in other people’s business, and if he encounters someone bullying others, he will definitely intervene, making those people suffer..."

"Shut up!"

The sister of Cheng Ruiwu, Cheng Shiyi, suddenly screamed, as if greatly agitated, drew her sword, and pointed it at the merchant, angrily saying, "Shut up!"

The merchant was startled, not daring to say more. These people were obviously from the martial world, and he couldn’t afford to provoke them.

Cheng Ruiwu grabbed his sister’s hand, "Third Sister!"

Cheng Shiyi finally came to her senses, seeing everyone looking at her strangely, she lowered her head, sheathed her sword, and sat back down.

Cheng Ruiwu apologized, "My sister was recently traumatized, and her nerves are not well. We are in Yujie City to find a famous doctor to treat her."

Junior Sister Lu, hearing him say this, looked at Cheng Shiyi with some sympathy, "I see."

Cheng Ruiwu changed the topic, "Why are you few junior sisters here in Yujie Commandery?"

Junior Sister Lu said, "Our second senior sister is entering into marriage next month with the eldest son of the Zhou family in Yujie City. We came to accompany her for the wedding."

"This is a joyous event. Why haven’t I seen Junior Sister Zhu?"

"She’s in the room, with the Master and Senior Sister."

Cheng Ruiwu said joyfully, "Junior Sister Xiao is here too?"

Such a reaction naturally provoked teasing laughter from the female disciples of the Xiaoshui Sect.

Cheng Ruiwu then realized his folly, hastily said, "So even Master Aunt Wang is here. I haven’t made my greetings, what a mistake."

Junior Sister Lu said, "No need, the Master doesn’t care about such formalities."

Rumble!

Suddenly, thunder roared outside, and the ground seemed to shake.

The rain poured down even harder.

...

Behind the inn were the guest rooms.

In the innermost upper room, a middle-aged beautiful woman was staring sternly at the black-clad young woman kneeling on the floor.

The young woman was about twenty years old, with a red mark between her eyebrows, charming and beautiful, she was the second disciple of this generation of Xiaoshui Sect, Zhu Xixi.

The middle-aged beautiful woman was her master, Wang Yumei, who said sharply, "The marriage has been arranged, how can you claim you’re not getting married?"

Zhu Xixi bowed her head in supplication, "Disciple already has someone in her heart, I beg Master to fulfill it."

Wang Yumei’s face turned green, "You rebellious disciple, dare mention this? Whom you love is problematic, loving... This is absolutely impossible, give up this idea."

Zhu Xixi’s face was ashen, "If Master forces me further, I’ll..."

With a slap.

Wang Yumei gave her a slap, trembling with anger, "You... dare threaten me. I raised you for twenty years, is this how you repay me?"

At this moment, Xiao Zhuyun, standing beside them, saw the situation becoming more strained, quickly went over to support Wang Yumei, "Master Aunt, don’t ruin your health with anger, let your niece talk with her."

Wang Yumei, too angry to speak, waved her hand.

Xiao Zhuyun helped her to the chair outside, then returned to the inside and helped Zhu Xixi, who was still motionless on the ground, up, sighed, "Junior Sister, why do you do this?"

Zhu Xixi kept her head down and said nothing.

Xiao Zhuyun sighed, "Master Aunt is doing it for your good. If it were another man, Master Aunt wouldn’t force you to marry someone else. But that person is now a fugitive, do you wish to live a life of constant fear, on the run?"

Zhu Xixi finally reacted, looked up at her, face pale, asked, "Senior Sister, after looking around for years with men around you, weighing benefits, was there any man you favored?"

Before Xiao Zhuyun could speak, she continued, "I could tell you were moved by that Chen Ming. In the end, you thought he wasn’t good enough and gave him up. Unexpectedly, shortly after, the news came that he broke through to the sixth rank."

"Did you regret? If you had been more firm back then, you wouldn’t have missed this favored man."

As she spoke, she observed Xiao Zhuyun’s eyes, and seeing her usually stoic-faced senior sister’s expression stiffen, she knew she hit her sore spot, and couldn’t help but smile.

"This is what happens when you’re too clever for your own good. Later, the more Chen Ming achieves, one day, you’ll find that the man you painstakingly selected is far behind him. The thorn in your heart will pierce deeper and deeper."

"I’m not like you. Since I chose him, no matter if we’re on the run together, living a precarious life, I won’t regret it. This is my choice, this is my fate!"

"Rebellious disciple!"

At this moment, outside, Wang Yumei couldn’t take it anymore, attacked by rage, rushed in, about to strike down this disciple to avoid shame on the sect.

Ps: Second update, asking for monthly votes.