Since ancient times, there is a saying, 'An old man might indulge in youthful whims,' but Wang Anfeng cannot help but associate 'whims' with 'absurdity' at this moment. This event, which caused many townspeople to gather, and even made the nobles and rich merchants of the entire Liangzhou City eagerly await, willing to lower their status, blocked the entrance of the inn, unable to step in, eventually turned into a ridiculous play involving three old men. A half-day of absurdity in exchange for a drink of liquor. This liquor is truly precious. The event was absurd, and the outcome even more so. That day, instead of returning with Pillar of the State Lv Hou, Jiu Zizai first met up with Wang Anfeng and the other three, then headed to their lodging inn. Lin Qiaofu, having seen elders long unseen, was evidently in a good mood, with more smiles on her face. Wang Anfeng, however, knowing what was about to occur, felt a bit gloomy. Upon returning, Gong Yu was leisurely sitting and drinking tea in the room. Seeing Jiu Zizai, she was slightly surprised but fortunately did not mistake him for someone else again. She stood up, bowed slightly, said nothing more, just watched Jiu Zizai. Jiu Zizai scrutinized Gong Yu, who still looked the same as he remembered from years past; her appearance remained elegant as ever, her expression still cold, polite yet distant. It seemed as if time had been particularly forgiving to her, leaving not a trace. Her Qi Mechanism seemed still of the Fifth Rank, with nothing unusual, but after the brief Qingfeng Edge journey, Jiu Zizai, having suffered several blows, was somewhat shadowed and did not dare truly regard her as an ordinary Fifth Rank. Thinking of Qingfeng Edge's Sect Leader Zhu Ling, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. When Zhu Ling broke through to the Grandmaster Realm, perhaps this indifferent-looking woman would naturally step into the Fourth Rank, then take charge as the Sect Leader wielding the sect's Divine Weapon and become the youngest leader of a top sect in the world? Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel·fire·net Jiu Zizai shook his head, then reached into his bosom, took out a letter, and handed it to Gong Yu. The latter received it, her eyes showing confusion as she looked at the senior in front of her. Jiu Zizai shook the gourd and casually said: "This is a letter from Murong Qingxue and Zhu Ling to you all." Gong Yu seemed slightly surprised, while Lin Qiaofu's eyes brightened. Evident after more than half a year, suddenly receiving news from a close elder in the sect brought her great joy. She couldn't help but keep glancing at the thin letter in Gong Yu's hand, and even Lv Baiping was somewhat jubilant with excitement. After all, however mature she usually pretended to be, she was just an eighteen-year-old girl. Gong Yu opened the letter and read it; her face did not change, like a calm and rippleless deep lake. After reading it, she handed it to Lin Qiaofu. The little girl received it and leaned in with Lv Baiping to look. After a few lines, their smiles somewhat waned. After reading, it was unclear if they felt melancholic or disappointed. Lifting their eyes from the letter, they looked towards Wang Anfeng, opened their lips as if wanting to speak, but didn't know how to start. Jiu Zizai grinned, feeling somewhat inclined to turn and leave. Walking the world for so long, he still didn't like farewells, especially the kind of silent and oppressive atmosphere now. At that moment, Gong Yu raised her hand, took a sip of tea, and calmly said: Wang Anfeng responded with a hum. Gong Yu said: "We are leaving." Wang Anfeng nodded again, and replied: Jiu Zizai's eyes widened, his mouth twitching slightly. This, is this how it ends?! Where's the sentimental farewell?! The melancholic parting?! Gong Yu quickly quieted down, saying no more, while Lin Qiaofu became deeply engulfed in parting melancholy. As a farewell gift, Wang Anfeng personally cooked that night, using all his skills to prepare a lavish meal. By the next day, the Qingfeng Edge trio was leaving. Wang Anfeng and another saw them off outside the city. Lin Qiaofu and Dongfang Ximing, two little girls who hadn't known each other long, had developed a deep bond due to their similar age and character, reluctantly parting, while Lv Baiping remained quite free-spirited. Among the three, in terms of character, she alone possessed the carefree demeanor of a swordsman roaming famous mountains and great rivers. Now, she was just confined before the Longmen. Once she stepped into the Middle Third Rank, she could travel the world with her sword. Gong Yu glanced at the boundary stone nearby and said lightly: "This is far enough." Wang Anfeng halted, nodded, and looking at the woman before him, unsure of what to say to lessen the farewell's sorrow, once again mocked himself, thinking that as Jianghu people, their gatherings and partings were inherently unstable, a usual occurrence. His reluctance seemed too overly sentimental. Presently, he cupped his fist in salute, speaking with cheer: "Then, Ms. Gong Yu, and Qiaofu, Ms. Lv." "Until we meet again." Lv Baiping returned the salute with a bright voice, saying until we meet again. Lin Qiaofu nodded, unable to resist instructing him: "Big Brother Wang, you must remember to visit us at Qingfeng Edge when you have the time..." Wang Anfeng smiled and said, "Definitely." After Gong Yu mounted her horse, she lightly tugged the reins, waiting for the two to finish speaking, then turned to look at Wang Anfeng, and said: "When you come, I can meet you down the mountain. You won't need to wear blue clothes then." Wang Anfeng was slightly stunned. Gong Yu's eyes met his, and a faint smile emerged on her cold, snow-like face; she softly said: Before Wang Anfeng could think further, the smile on Gong Yu's face had already vanished, like fine snow swept away by the wind in the blink of an eye. She immediately tugged on the reins, and the swift horse given by Lv Hou neighed, already turned and galloped away. "Uncle Master, wait for us..." Lin Qiaofu shouted in panic, then turned around and called out to Wang Anfeng, insisting he must go to Qingfeng Edge. She then heavily shook the reins, and her steed stretched its long legs and started galloping. Wang Anfeng and Dongfang Ximing watched them gradually disappear into the distance. The sky was high, the clouds far away. Wang Anfeng inhaled the cold air, exhaled slowly, and then turned to gaze steadily westward, not retracting his gaze for a long time. White Tiger Hall, Qunxing Pavilion... He pursed his lips, took the hand of the tear-filled Dongfang Ximing beside him, and turned back towards Liangzhou City. In the fourth year of the Great Yuan era of the Great Qin, September 7th, after the Double Ninth Festival. Wang Anfeng escorted Gong Yu out of the city, returned after thirty li. "You wretched beast! Miserable creature!" In the ancestral courtyard of the Taoist Sect, an elderly Taoist with silver hair and white beard was jumping in anger. This place was lush with mountains and dense forests. A little girl in a blue and white Taoist robe squatted in front of a big rock, completely ignoring the old man's angry shouts and a certain low roar. Her clear eyes only watched the forest ahead, then she reached out her right hand and flipped open a stone. Underneath were many nuts. She pursed her lips, then held a nut in her palm, glanced at the tree, and picked another one. When she grabbed the fourth nut, there was a sudden rustle from the tree. A furry ball jumped down, fur bristling, glaring angrily at her. Beside her stood a female Taoist who couldn't help but smile at the scene and said: "Tingyun, does this squirrel want to get to know you?" The little Taoist girl shook her head. Her eyes were like reflections of the entire autumn sky, yet with a slight smile, she said: The female Taoist was slightly puzzled. Zhang Tingyun gently nodded, spread her right hand, and the squirrel darted over, grabbed the nuts, and hesitated for a moment as it turned, selecting two more nuts to place in Zhang Tingyun's palm, gently patting the girl's fingers with its paw. As if saying you'll starve because you're too dumb to find nuts, here, take these two. The little girl's lips then curved into a quiet smile as she softly said: "These are her preparations for winter; every time someone approaches, she secretly keeps watch here..." "Then when someone takes things out, she'll jump out angrily." "Sometimes she comes from the trees, sometimes from the grass..." The female Taoist was somewhat stunned, then heard the old man there cursing at the wretched beast, disturbing the picturesque scene, prompting a sigh from her as she turned and said: "Grand Preceptor, why be so hard on a bear?" The old Taoist snorted, exhaled, and without looking at her, fixed his gaze on the black bear, rolled up his sleeves, and said: "Hard? The old Taoist plans to ride this creature next year and take little Yun'er out to play. This wretched beast must properly protect little Yun'er. How can it succeed without rigorous training?" The female Taoist paused, then said: "Grand Preceptor, Tingyun is already registered on the main peak, and is at the Sixth Rank." A Sixth Rank Martial Artist not bullying others in the Jianghu is more than enough. The old man didn't mind. The female Taoist further advised: "Moreover, teaching a bear these things is truly..." She thought for a while, finding a word that approximately matched the meaning in her mind. The black bear on the other side growled at the old Taoist, seemingly in strong agreement. The old Taoist's face displayed a 'sinister smile,' and he suddenly slammed the ruler in his hand to the ground, glaring at the black bear shivering in fear, and cursed: "That skinny horse that thrashed you back then knew leg techniques and staff techniques. I don't believe I'm worse than that old corpse Li Qidao. You have two paws and can stand up to smash honey. You have to show this set of Three Yang Palms today, whether you can or not..." "Otherwise, I'll send you back to Great Liang Village. Since you don't seem too happy here, wouldn't returning to your original master be nice?" "I think you miss him quite dearly as well..." The black bear opened its mouth wide, showing a human-like bewilderment, and then under the female Taoist's smiling gaze, stood up on two feet, its physique robust and nearly five meters tall. Its fur stood up, making it appear even more robust and terrifying, exceeding ninety percent of the bear species in the world, and as the old man's voice sounded, it unleashed a precise set of combination punches towards the rock wall. Left slant chop, right straight punch. Then it roared upwards, twisted its body, and back-kicked, unleashing a beastly force that shattered the Qingyan thoroughly, along with a small section of the rock wall collapsing in cascades of rubble and debris. A piece of stone whizzed past in front of her eyes... The female Taoist looked bewildered at the collapsed rock wall, then at the black bear sprawled on the ground, tongue hanging out and face full of flattering looks. Unable to help herself, she finally spat out two words. "...Miserable creature..." PS: Here's today's first update... Standard word count of three thousand words... or more