In the warm spring of the following year, the peach blossoms across the mountains and plains bloomed once more. Looking from a distance, Peach Blossom Village seemed to have turned into a pink ocean.

This year's blossom season was different from previous ones. Not only had grand figures and nobles from the county seat arrived, but a grand Poetry Festival was being held here.

Inside the tavern, Li Dazui sat opposite Fang Chen and watched the booming business. Groups of scholars were drinking and composing poetry, prompting him to sigh emotionally.

"Mr. Fang, do you think there will ever be such a grand sight again in the future? I heard that scholars from all over the region have come. Even the talented young men and women from the capital are here to admire the flowers and compose poetry. Our tiny little Peach Blossom Village has certainly made a name for itself now."

Fang Chen nodded with a smile. "It is beautiful here. If this Poetry Festival is a success, then... naturally, there will be one every year."

"That would be wonderful! To think that in my old age, I could make a small fortune. Ah, more guests. I'll get to work then—take your time with your drink, Mr. Fang," exclaimed Li Dazui.

Seeing a group of guests walking through the door, Li Dazui hurried to receive them. Judging by their luxurious clothes, they were naturally no ordinary people.

A woman wearing a light veil over her face laughed softly. "Boss, is it completely full? Could you clear a table for us?"

Only her eyes were visible through the veil, clear and gentle like autumn.

Li Dazui froze for a moment, then surveyed the shop. With a wry smile, he said apologetically, "You've arrived a step too late. There are no tables to spare right now. If you don't mind, perhaps you could wait a moment? A few tables are about to leave."

"Lady Li, why don't we try another tavern? I saw a few others nearby when we passed by just now," suggested one of her companions.

"I've looked around, and this tavern has the best view. You can see the peach blossoms on the mountain from here," said Lady Li with a smile.

Her gaze swept around the tavern before pausing on a certain person. She pointed and said, "Boss, could you ask that gentleman to move? He is only one person, yet he's taking up a whole table. That isn't quite right."

Her companions turned to glance at Fang Chen's table and remarked, "Eh? That guy only ordered one pot of wine and a plate of broad beans? Boss, you really don't know how to do business."

"You mean Mr. Fang? That won't do." Li Dazui shook his head repeatedly. "Mr. Fang always sits at that table. How about you wait until he finishes, and then I'll give the table to you?"

"But he only has a pot of wine and a plate of beans. How much money can that be worth?"

Li Dazui looked at them innocently. "A pot of wine can still be drunk, and a plate of beans is enough to go with it. Isn't that enough?"

The group seemed speechless at his logic. After a long silence, just as they regained their composure, a table happened to open up. Li Dazui immediately had it cleared and led them to their seats.

"Lady Li, we've come so far so suddenly. If the rebel kings out there find out, it will be extremely dangerous. Perhaps we should go back?"

Her companions grew worried.

"Yes, yes, it feels far too perilous."

"The poetry festival is a rare opportunity. I heard that Wang Yi, the Sword Poetry Immortal from the north, will also be coming. If we had stayed in the capital, how could we have had such a chance to meet him?" said Lady Li softly. "We will just watch from the sidelines and head back to the capital once it's over. No one will know."

The others exchanged looks and could only nod helplessly.

"Well... alright then."

Their voices were very low, and in a tavern this boisterous, even someone standing next to their table might not have made out what they were saying.

Fang Chen glanced at them. Unsurprisingly, this woman was the "Heavenly Maiden" Xu Tianmu had mentioned—the one destined to become the Empress of Dongsheng.

The Hejian King's target this time was her as well. The peach blossoms of Peach Blossom Village and the Sword Poetry Immortal of the north were both essential baits to lure her here.

At that moment, Little Yu ran from the tofu shop into the tavern and hurried to Fang Chen's side in excitement.

"Mr. Fang, I've finished my chores! Hurry and teach me some new moves!"

Lady Li glanced at Little Yu, and a flash of surprise crossed her eyes. "What a handsome and elegant girl."

Her companions also felt that Little Yu's temperament was quite unique and were struck by it. Despite wearing very ordinary clothes, she possessed such an ethereal aura.

"Could this place truly be a land of hidden talent? Not only are the peach blossoms beautiful, but even the women are so spiritually refined?" whispered one of them.

By then, Fang Chen had already led Little Yu past them and out of the tavern.

"Mr. Fang, a lot of people have come from the county seat lately to set up the venue for the poetry festival by the river. It's going to be very lively then, right?" asked Little Yu curiously.

"It will certainly be lively. I'll take you there to see it. You don't have much of an education, so listening to some poetry might help cultivate your character," teased Fang Chen.

"Hmph!" Little Yu gave a huff of mock indignation.

She had been studying so hard, yet Mr. Fang constantly teased her about being uncultured. She wasn't going to take it lying down.

I'll compose a poem too and recite it at the festival to amaze everyone!

Thinking of this, Little Yu let out a giggle, then quickly covered her mouth. Seeing that Fang Chen hadn't noticed, she thought happily to herself, Mr. Fang will definitely be amazed, and he'll never say I'm uncultured again.

While lost in thought, a person suddenly approached from the opposite direction and nearly collided with her. Fortunately, Little Yu was agile as she shifted a step lightly and dodged him.

"Don't you have eyes!?" snapped Little Yu.

The newcomer was dressed in a green robe and appeared to be in his middle years with a well-groomed mustache. His face was chiseled with sharp angles, and his features were quite handsome. One could tell he had been quite a looker in his youth.

Hearing Little Yu scold him, he didn't get angry. Instead, he studied her with great interest. "Little girl, I see you have a remarkable bone structure. Are you interested in practicing the sword with me?"

Immediately, Little Yu became vigilant and said, "Mr. Fang, he's a fraud. Let's get out of here."

She grabbed Fang Chen's arm to leave.

Unexpectedly, with a sudden blur of motion, the man appeared before them again, still smiling.

"Little girl, I see you have a bit of a foundation in martial arts, but fortunately, it isn't deep. You must not go astray. The things some people teach are best left unlearnt."

As he spoke, he swept a glance at Fang Chen, then turned to walk away.

When he reached the end of the street, several figures slowly converged toward him.

"Master, does that country girl really have a talent for martial arts?" asked one of them curiously.

The middle-aged man nodded and smiled. "These eyes of mine are never wrong. She is a top-tier genius for martial arts with golden skin and jade bones. That bit of amateur skill she possesses was likely taught by the person beside her. Luckily, she hasn't practiced it too deeply. Once she enters my sect, this rough jade can still be refined into something magnificent."

Seeing their master give the girl such high praise, the disciples couldn't help but look at each other in surprise.

"Stop dazing and hurry up. Let's find that Heavenly Maiden and see if she's here."

"Even if she isn't, this trip won't be in vain. Heh..."