As the drawing paper slowly caught fire, Ye Wen prepared to cover the censer lid. Before he could move, his junior sister’s voice came from behind him: “Senior Brother, what are you burning?”

Ye Wen inwardly cursed, “Just what I feared!” He immediately turned around, positioning his body to shield the stove, and said casually, “Why is Junior Sister here?”

Before the words were out, he saw Ning Ruxue approaching with tea and some pastries. Apparently, she knew Ye Wen was teaching Liu Muyan calligraphy in the study, so she brought refreshments. Ye Wen usually enjoyed snacking when idle, but those treats were typically brought by Aunt Zhao. He wondered why Ning Ruxue brought them personally today.

He didn't know that Aunt Zhao had learned about Ning Ruxue and Ye Wen’s situation and felt they should have more opportunities to spend time together. Having Ning Ruxue deliver the tea and pastries would also help Ye Wen form a better impression of her—"Men like women who know how to serve them!”

Ning Ruxue nodded in a daze, then took the tray and rushed over. As soon as she entered, she heard movement from the small inner room where the stove was kept (most Shu Mountain sect residences had such a room; once the stove was lit, the heat would flow into the large heated brick bed inside and into thick iron pipes filled with water that Ye Wen had specially designed—a crude version of central heating) and came in to investigate.

But it was precisely this glance that startled Ye Wen.

“Senior Brother, what are you burning?”

“A drawing of a scene…”

“A drawing?” Ning Ruxue knew Ye Wen liked to paint when bored. Many rooms in the Shu Mountain sect had landscape paintings drawn by Ye Wen himself; even his own room hung a bizarre piece (a four-panel comic Ye Wen drew out of sheer boredom). However, she rarely saw him burn his own work.

Curiosity piqued, she couldn’t help but ask, “What painting needs to be burned? Was it not good?” She thought that Ye Wen wouldn't destroy even the strangest things he drew, yet he kept that one hanging in his room. Why was he burning this one?

As she spoke, Ning Ruxue leaned in, trying to see. Ye Wen, seeing this, found it hard to stop her without appearing guilty. He turned around and feigned magnanimity: “Nothing much. I was casually sketching some figures, but they didn't turn out well, so I burned them!” His words were half-truth, half-lie; only someone aware of the inner story would detect any issue.

Seeing Ye Wen step aside openly and hearing the nonchalant tone, Ning Ruxue’s curiosity waned. People are such that the more you try to hide something, the more curious they become. If you offer a direct view, they might lose interest.

At this moment, Ning Ruxue only spared a cursory glance into the stove and didn't look closely. However, that quick look was enough to make her face flush slightly. She gave Ye Wen a strange look, then said nothing, turning and exiting the inner room.

Ye Wen was left with a pounding heart from that glance. He immediately looked back into the stove. The paper was more than half consumed, but significant portions of the figures remained visible—the flowing ribbons on the shoulders and those pair of jade-white bare feet were clearly discernible. Fortunately, the faces had burned away completely, spared from Ning Ruxue’s sight. Based only on those remaining parts, she would likely assume Ye Wen had painted a barefoot dancer, which probably explained her look.

“Better than letting her see the whole thing!”

Although misunderstood, the situation wasn't dire. At worst, he could tell his junior sister he was studying human figures and draw some figure studies occasionally in the future to account for it.

“Worst case, I’ll just say I have a penchant for drawing dancing girls! Didn't Master Zhang San also like painting court ladies? Having such a hobby isn't strange!”

Having prepared his excuses internally, Ye Wen sealed the stove and emerged from the inner room. He never imagined that because of this excuse, he would have to draw figures intermittently for some time to cover himself. Initially, he drew both men and women, and Xu Xian would frequently ask for a piece.

Later, Ye Wen grew determined and painted a shocking, breathtaking depiction of a dancing girl. Although Xu Xian praised it immensely upon viewing it, he never dared ask Ye Wen for another drawing again. The dancer in the painting was rendered by Ye Wen with supreme allure; her light robes looked as if half-soaked, revealing her exquisite curves. If judged by this alone, others might deem it a simple picture of springtime charm, yet Ye Wen had depicted the woman with poised grace, her face faintly touched with sorrow. Coupled with the lifelike dance posture, it added an overwhelming sensuality.

Xu Xian merely commented after looking: “Senior Brother, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

Ye Wen merely grunted twice, offering no reply, thinking to himself: You brat is at a critical juncture practicing the Pure Yang Gong. If you got this painting now, I wonder how you’d keep your composure?

Unfortunately, Xu Xian, after appreciating it, showed self-awareness. He just said, “This painting is exquisite, but this junior brother absolutely dares not accept it!” After praising and critiquing it briefly, he departed, never bringing up the painting again, as if he had forgotten about it.

Since Xu Xian didn't want it, Ye Wen felt troubled again. Should he keep it? If his junior sister saw it, she might give him another strange look. If she misunderstood that he favored women of the pleasure quarters, how could he possibly explain it?

Burning it? That was truly a shame. The painting Ye Wen created in that moment of urgency was absolutely top-tier. Even he might find it hard to replicate a second one, as inspiration was even more ethereal than comprehension—not easily stumbled upon.

Coincidentally, Liu Muyan entered carrying an iron-cased brush—a writing tool specially forged by Yu Ye, which had an outer layer of iron plating over the usual brush, making it quite heavy but not a weapon.

Seeing Liu Muyan, a spark flashed in Ye Wen’s mind. He called him over: “Muyan, you have studied calligraphy with me here in Shu Mountain for quite some time. I haven’t given you anything. This painting is a new work I just finished—a rare masterpiece. I gift it to you!”

Liu Muyan had been thrilled when he heard his master had painted a new piece, as he had been envious of how often Xu Xian received old drawings from Ye Wen. He walked forward, only to find an intensely alluring depiction of a dancing girl, and his face instantly fell into a grimace.

He had expected a landscape painting, or perhaps one of heroic swordsmen dominating mountain peaks. He certainly hadn't expected such an overtly sensual picture. Though masterful, it seemed difficult to display this painting to friends and family.

However, since it was a gift from his master, he couldn’t refuse. He reluctantly took the painting, carefully storing it, and managed to say, “Thank you, Master, for the gift!” He then returned to concentrating on his writing practice.

Relieved of one burden, Ye Wen, perhaps feeling a touch of guilt, guided Liu Muyan with exceptional dedication that day. He explained every stroke and turn of the brush in detail, even imparting methods of circulating internal energy, teaching Liu Muyan how to utilize his existing cultivation while writing.

Initially, the characters written were not beautiful. But after becoming familiar with the method, the characters he produced suddenly possessed a sense of steely resolve. Liu Muyan was overjoyed—happier many times over than when he received the painting.

He didn't realize that this session of instruction had sparked another direction in Ye Wen's thoughts. Furthermore, Liu Muyan's recent performance suggested he wasn't without talent. After some deliberation, Ye Wen asked, “Muyan, you have been here in Shu Mountain for nearly half a year. During this time, have you considered formally entering the Shu Mountain sect…”

Liu Muyan, deeply engaged in his writing, was momentarily stunned. He asked, “Master treats this student like a direct disciple; this student is deeply grateful. To acquire even a fraction of your skill is already more than satisfactory; I do not ask for more…”

Ye Wen insisted: “I only ask if you have thought about joining the Shu Mountain sect. Saying other things is useless…”

Liu Muyan immediately understood that Ye Wen required a definitive answer; all the evasive talk was pointless. Moreover, given the situation, if he said yes, he would likely be formally inducted into the Shu Mountain sect and recorded in the sect’s genealogy, significantly different from his current status as merely an affiliated student.

He had lived on the mountain for a good while now and had a decent impression of the Shu Mountain sect. He mused: Though the Shu Mountain sect isn’t a world-famous grand faction, it is still considered righteous in the Jianghu. While it might seem inappropriate for a scholar like me to enter the martial world, Master treats me like his own heir and shares his skills without reservation. How could I simply leave like this…

After considering everything, he felt that Ye Wen treated him with utmost sincerity, and since the current imperial court did not forbid officials from studying martial arts, it wouldn't affect his future career prospects. Thus, he replied, “If possible, this student would naturally be willing to join Master’s sect and listen to Master’s teachings daily!” He paid no mind to the fact that Ye Wen was several years younger than him. Ancient texts stated that achievement dictates status; whether in calligraphy, painting, or martial arts, Ye Wen was incomparably superior to him, making him more than qualified to be his master.

Ye Wen was pleased that he was willing to join the Shu Mountain sect. He smiled and said, “You have already performed the initiation ceremony, so that part can be skipped! Afterward, follow me to pay respects to our sect’s Ancestor, and you will officially be part of the Shu Mountain sect. As for our sect’s rules, having lived here so long, you should be aware; I will not elaborate further. However, martial arts require hard work!”

Liu Muyan hadn't felt that joining the Shu Mountain sect was a big deal until then. Now he remembered that the Shu Mountain sect held some reputation in Pingzhou. Having accepted the Sect Leader as his master, his martial arts training definitely couldn't lag behind.

Yet, after half a year of study, he still felt his skills were mediocre, attributing it to a lack of talent, forgetting that he had learned some techniques.

“Master, my talent for martial arts…”

“There is a saying: diligence can compensate for slowness. Muyan, you started practicing martial arts too late, well past the prime age for internal arts training. Added to your naturally frail constitution, you have only just managed to regulate your health. You are currently worse than an ordinary person! But if you persevere, even if you never become famous in the Jianghu, you will achieve something! Since your primary ambition lies elsewhere, practicing martial arts for self-defense should suffice…”

Ye Wen paused, then added, “While your internal energy is middling, you show great aptitude for methods of mobilizing force. The force transmission techniques I taught you just now are largely derived from the principles of using techniques like our sect’s Soft Palm. You learned them without hesitation, showing you do possess some potential! You just need to find the right cultivation method to practice diligently…”

“What martial art should this student learn then…” Hearing this, Liu Muyan’s interest was piqued, even holding a faint sense of anticipation. After all, spending his days among people who could easily leap to high places, envy was inevitable. Every time he saw Xu Xian wielding his long sword, freely moving where he could never reach, a small pang of bitterness would arise, leading him to mutter in private: Isn't scholarship better? Why must one engage in swords and blades…

“……” Ye Wen pondered for a moment, finally looking at the iron-cased brush in Liu Muyan’s hand. “Muyan, since your internal energy progression is difficult, you should focus on varied stances, winning through novelty and skill!”

Liu Muyan nodded: “What should this student do then…”

“As for that,” Ye Wen smiled, finally concluding with one sentence: “For now, continue writing and practicing calligraphy. Wait until you have mastered your writing first!” Remember to practice the force mobilization methods I taught you while writing; it will greatly benefit your martial practice…”

Although he didn’t receive a perfectly satisfactory answer, Liu Muyan now had a direction for his efforts. As for the future? He could always inquire again once his calligraphy reached a certain level.

In truth, Ye Wen only had a vague idea in mind. He initially thought Liu Muyan could practice the Finger-Flicking Soft Sword, but Liu Muyan currently lacked the necessary internal energy foundation; practicing that sword art was impossible.

Alternatively, he considered having Liu Muyan specialize in the Judge’s Brush, but the Judge’s Brush emphasizes striking enemy pressure points. Currently, Ye Wen didn't even have a basic set of Judge’s Brush techniques, nor did he have a set of pressure-point striking finger techniques. Otherwise, he could derive a set of Judge’s Brush skills based on the finger arts.

He then considered finding some rare and unusual weapons for Liu Muyan to learn, only to discover, much to his frustration, that manuals for these exotic weapons were even harder to obtain than swordplay manuals. Moreover, none of the current major sects used rare weapons—they either favored swords or sabers, or specialized in empty-handed combat.

After taking Liu Muyan to pay respects to the Ancestor and officially enrolling him as a disciple, Ye Wen instructed: “Because you became my disciple before Jing’er, your ranking is fourth. Do not address Jing’er carelessly in the future…” Liu Muyan acknowledged respectfully, then chatted briefly with Ye Wen before retiring.

Seeing Liu Muyan walk away, Ye Wen moved to a deserted spot. He looked at the dirt on the ground and casually forced out a pillar of Qi from his fingertip, scattering it. As dust flew, a set of characters was inscribed on the ground.

“Uh… writing this set of characters now feels rather inappropriate…”

Looking at the twenty-four characters on the ground, Ye Wen thought it was indeed untimely. Furthermore, he was entirely unfamiliar with many of the techniques and methods in that martial art. Reconstructing the skill based on only twenty-four characters would be terribly complicated.

Worse yet, those twenty-four characters were too provocative. If Ye Wen developed this skill and Liu Muyan used it to fight, what explanation could he offer if someone recognized the source characters?

“I can’t very well ask someone to forge two divine weapons out of profound iron, can I…” Thinking of the ensuing trouble, Ye Wen casually dismissed the idea and wiped away all the characters: “Forget it, forget it. I’ll think of another technique…”

Putting Liu Muyan’s matters aside, Ye Wen began planning the engagement celebration for Ning Ruxue. This time, he wasn't just saying things; he intended to publicize it, making the entire Shushan County aware. He didn't want an excessive spectacle, just enough for those nearby to know.

Simultaneously, he ordered invitations to be widely distributed. Although they didn't specify who should attend, merely stating that an engagement would be settled with Ning Ruxue after the New Year, considering matters of face, many people were expected to arrive to offer congratulations.

There was careful consideration in sending these invitations. There was no need to inform ordinary small households, as the Shu Mountain sect now possessed considerably more confidence.

However, invitations must be sent to the Tiger Mountain Sect and the Tianle Gang—regardless of whether they had any direct involvement, proper etiquette demanded acknowledgment. Next were those with closer ties, such as the Yue Shan Escort Agency, the Xu Family of Shushan County, and the Shushan County Yamen.

It was unlikely many people would come from the Shushan County Yamen; at most, they might send an inconspicuous representative. These invitations were mostly procedural. The other two families were treated as close kin to the Shu Mountain sect and required notification.

The remaining recipients of invitations were the few remaining households on Shushan Mountain—these were invited as neighbors. Beyond them, the only other recipient was the Mu Gang from Fenglin Mountain County—this was a gesture of goodwill, considering the Shu Mountain sect planned to expand its businesses onto the Mu Gang’s territory after the New Year, ensuring easier relations when opening branch stores.

At this point, Ye Wen realized that once one reached a certain status, some things ceased to be purely personal matters. A very ordinary engagement was escalating to the point where nearly all of Pingzhou would know, and this was only because the Shu Mountain sect’s influence wasn't yet immense. If the sect’s power grew to influence the entire Jianghu, news of Ye Wen’s engagement would likely cause a sensation many times greater than this. It would be akin to the Grand Master of the Heavenly Mountain Sect’s wedding a few years prior, which became a grand martial arts event and an opportunity for the Heavenly Mountain Grand Master, Li Xuan, to display his sect’s strength.

Unfortunately, Ye Wen’s current influence was limited; causing a stir throughout the entire Shu Mountain area was already a significant achievement.

What he hadn't expected was that this endeavor would bring immense joy to Ning Ruxue. She greeted him every day with a beaming smile. Ye Wen secretly guessed he had unintentionally satisfied a woman's vanity, as every woman secretly harbors the dream of a grand wedding. Though not yet married, Ning Ruxue had experienced a grand moment.

After all, Ye Wen was now no small figure. In the Jianghu, he was known by the moniker "Gentleman Sword." This title, carried by traveling martial artists, had faintly reached the neighboring two prefectures. There, however, people's impressions of the "Gentleman Sword" were still vague and incomplete; they only knew there was such a person in Pingzhou, which was already remarkable.

“It’s just that because circulating invitations is so troublesome, and I have to wait for those who wish to come bearing gifts, the date cannot be set too soon! Setting it after the New Year is unavoidable, meaning Junior Sister must wait a while longer…”

“What trouble is there with that…” Whenever the engagement was mentioned recently, Ning Ruxue’s face bloomed with shy delight, her womanliness far surpassing its previous state. Even Ye Wen was astonished: “Such a drastic change just from an engagement? Are women in this era entirely different creatures before and after marriage?”

Meanwhile, atop a certain mountain peak.

A man stood in a vast hall, sneering coldly: “Refused a toast only to drink a forfeit. I told you long ago to hand over your daughter obediently. Must I come in person to demand her…” Beside him stood a group of swordsmen clad in blue tunics; the numerous corpses on the ground were clearly the work of these swords, still dripping fresh blood.

This man bent down, gripping the collar of a sturdy, heavily wounded old man, and roared: “Huang Shiren! Where have you hidden your daughter? Speak up quickly, and I’ll grant you a swift death! Otherwise, I’ll make your life a living hell!”

……………………