It was said that Xu Xian, having topped the imperial examination, was unaware that on the day of the final test, Ye Wen was leading Ning Ruxue on a tour of the capital city, allowing her to appreciate the sights of the dynasty’s metropolis. Whatever novelties they encountered, he would buy—either for his disciple or for his junior martial sister.

Since Xu Xian was occupied with the (Palace Examination), Huang Rongrong also didn't remain alone at the inn but joined the outing.

After walking for quite some time, feeling the pangs of hunger, Ye Wen casually pointed to a street ahead, rich with tantalizing aromas, and remarked, "Such fragrance drifts from that alley; there must be many delicious things. We've been walking so long; let's go there and sit for a bite to eat!"

As he was the Sect Master, naturally, no one dared defy him. The entire group surged forward, inevitably drawing considerable attention.

More importantly, several members of the group were strikingly eye-catching. Ning Ruxue had intentionally chosen a dress of teal-green that day and had meticulously styled her hair, even applying rouge and powder. Were it not for the long sword she carried, she would have been indistinguishable from the daughters of noble families or renowned lineages. Given her exceptional beauty, she naturally drew sideways glances.

Hua Yi followed closely beside them. In terms of mere attractiveness, this woman was perhaps equal to Ning Ruxue, but in sheer allure, she far surpassed her. Yet, she walked with downcast eyes, following meekly behind Ye Wen. Ordinary folk who saw them could only stare at Ye Wen with menacing glares.

If Ye Wen and his group hadn't all carried weapons, revealing them as people of the Jianghu (martial world), they might have attracted a throng of unwelcome admirers.

What they didn't know was that several sons of the powerful elite were already eyeing their group, especially the women.

"That woman in white is truly an unparalleled beauty. To have but a taste of her favor would be worth dying for!" "This elder brother prefers the one in green! Though a woman, she possesses a heroic spirit rarely seen in men. Such a woman is truly top-tier!" "Heh heh, you two brothers are only focused on those two women—didn't you notice the smaller one?"

"You mean that little girl?" The others expressed surprise, thinking inwardly, So this fellow likes that kind of taste?

The man grinned widely and quickly clarified, "I mean the one with the pair of short swords at her waist!" "Oh... that one!" They suddenly understood, nodding in agreement, "Indeed, she is unusual, so petite and exquisite; Brother has truly sharp eyes!"

The whole gaggle spent a good while indulging in these fantasies, yet in the end, not a single one dared to approach. If ordinary people knew the backgrounds of these young masters, they would have been greatly perplexed why they didn't rush forward to seize the women by force. However, these young masters knew very well that it wasn't that they didn't want to, but that they dared not.

"It's a pity such beauties are people of the Jianghu! Are there truly so many stunning women in that world?" one of them sighed. "Having seen these beauties today, I'm rather inclined to venture into the Jianghu myself, perhaps to find a heroine to accompany me!"

A man beside him scoffed, "If Young Master Lin wants to roam the Jianghu, I suspect the Minister won't permit it?" He added, "You're your family's only son; that world is terribly chaotic, you know!"

Young Master Lin instantly recalled the bloodshed and danger of the Jianghu and shuddered, realizing his own foolishness. With his status, he could find any woman he wished! Why risk his life just to woo one? He quickly agreed, "Indeed, indeed!" Hearing this, the others burst into laughter but didn't mock him excessively. For they all knew their own limitations; having lived lives of pampered comfort, they absolutely could not endure the hardships of wandering the Jianghu, let alone the constant fear for their lives.

As they were talking, they looked down towards the ground floor again, only to find that group had vanished. Just as they were lamenting this, one of them suddenly nudged the person next to him, "Hey, stop looking—those people are coming upstairs!"

This tavern was three stories high. The first floor was the main hall with many tables set out, usually occupied by those in a hurry to eat. The atmosphere there was quite noisy.

The second floor housed several private rooms, elegantly furnished. People who enjoyed drinking and conversing often booked one to savor their drinks and talk at leisure.

The third floor was different again. Tables were placed only along the edge near the railings. Dining and drinking here offered a view of the scenery outside. Because of the higher elevation and longer sightlines, the prices were even higher than those of the second-floor private rooms.

This group of young masters was currently seated at a table on the third floor, drinking and chatting while gazing outside. It was precisely when they noticed the group from the Shu Shan Sect that they couldn't help but utter a few words of admiration.

It was a pity they had lost sight of them, not expecting that Ye Wen, being hungry, would lead his entourage upstairs.

"The view is nice here; let's eat here!"

With that, Ye Wen chose an empty table and sat down. Ning Ruxue sat beside him. Huang Rongrong considered for a moment before finally sitting down as well. The remaining disciples settled at nearby tables, while only Hua Yi stood quietly at the side.

Young Master Lin had been staring at Ye Wen’s group ever since they came upstairs. In fact, it wasn't just him; most of the sparse patrons on the third floor were watching them, so their attention didn't appear too conspicuous.

However, the fact that Hua Yi remained standing, instead of sitting next to Ye Wen and Ning Ruxue, immediately revealed her status to the onlookers.

"No way! Such a beauty is merely a maidservant?" Everyone present was the offspring of high officials and nobles, thoroughly versed in the etiquette of dining arrangements. Those who stood beside the main party while eating were certainly personal maids attending to them, and judging by her standing position, she served the leading man.

Young Master Lin, out of curiosity, beckoned a servant at a nearby table. A sturdy man immediately rose and approached. "You've frequented the Jianghu before; do these people belong to some great family or sect?"

A Young Master Baili nearby also summoned his subordinate to inquire. The answers they received were all the same: they didn't know. They had never seen the attire of Ye Wen's group and couldn't identify their sect. After taking a look, Young Master Baili suggested, "How about we play the villains today?"

"Young Master Baili, that sounds terrible. We cherish beauty; how can we be villains?"

"But in the eyes of common folk, wouldn't we be forcibly seizing women?"

"Does that count?"

"Why not?"

"We intend to negotiate politely. If he agrees, we buy his maidservant; we won't seize her by force. So, it shouldn't count as forcing a woman, right?"

"Is that so?" Young Master Lin looked around, realizing everyone else shared his uncertainty. This exasperated the Minister’s son. "Hey, we are the sons of officials, after all! Can't you show a little more spirit?"

Pfft...

Since sitting down, Ye Wen had noticed the group of young masters huddled together, talking while constantly sneaking glances at his party. Considering they were in the capital, where a simple walk could lead to bumping into the descendants of royalty or nobility, he became cautious. He activated his internal energy, intending to eavesdrop on what the young masters were plotting.

The more he listened, the more amusing it became. Finally, he couldn't help it and spat out the tea in his mouth, exclaiming, "Brothers, can you pull yourselves together? Is this how you represent the second generation? You're disgracing your ancestors!"

He then turned to Hua Yi, who steadfastly remained standing behind him, refusing to sit, and asked, "Those gentlemen are descendants of today's court ministers. Is there anyone, Miss Hua, whom you find appealing?"

Hua Yi, having lost her martial arts prowess, hadn't noticed the young masters' chatter. Upon Ye Wen's mention, she immediately understood why he spoke that way. She lowered her head and replied, "This servant will dedicate herself to serving the Sect Master. I beg the Sect Master not to send this servant away to another person." Ye Wen was taken aback by this reply and felt a bit awkward.

Especially the terms Master and servant were something he couldn't quite handle.

Turning his head, he saw Ning Ruxue glare at him. He felt unfairly wronged inwardly, "I didn't say anything! I was just joking!" He hadn't expected Hua Yi to be so cautious that she couldn't even take a joke anymore.

Huang Rongrong looked left and right, deciding that silence was the best policy. She continuously gulped down tea without saying a word. If it had been her old self, she would have immediately opened her mouth to mock them. But after all that she'd been through, she was no longer as impetuous as before.

While they were talking, the group of young masters hadn't reached a conclusion. Finally, the attendant who had been standing silently spoke up, "Ahem! Young Master! Your subordinate believes that person can hear what you are saying!"

Ever since Ye Wen’s group ascended to the third floor, these guards had kept their attention fixed on them. Ye Wen and the women looked relatively harmless, but the appearances of Guo Jing and Xu Ping were too striking, especially the heavy sword Guo Jing carried—it was impossible to ignore.

These guards feared a conflict might erupt between these Jianghu figures and their young masters, leading to bloodshed, which would be a major disaster. Therefore, they maintained intense vigilance, not daring to touch the food on the table, each with a hand resting near their weapons.

The guard whom Young Master Lin had summoned had previously traveled the Jianghu before receiving favors from the Lin family and agreeing to become an ordinary guard in the estate. Because of his extensive experience in the martial world, he was assigned to accompany his young master everywhere to ensure his safety. When he first saw Ye Wen's group, he paid little mind. But after watching for a while, he found the leading young man increasingly unfathomable. When the young masters began discussing how to negotiate buying the maidservant, the young man's reaction confirmed to him that this person possessed profound internal energy, capable of hearing their entire conversation from such a distance.

At his reminder, Young Master Lin paused. Not only him, but everyone at the table looked toward the guard. They had seen this Lin family guard many times and deeply respected his skill, so they did not doubt him.

Young Master Baili secretly glanced over and asked, "Brother Fang, can you hear what is being said at their table?"

Young Master Baili had some knowledge of martial arts matters. He wanted to gauge whether that person’s skill surpassed Brother Fang's. The simplest way was if Brother Fang admitted he couldn't hear; the answer would be obvious.

Brother Fang shook his head and replied, "That requires truly profound internal cultivation. This subordinate cannot manage it! That young hero's internal energy far surpasses mine; I am deeply impressed."

He maintained his decorum, always referring to himself as a subordinate. In reality, Young Master Lin and the others held Brother Fang in high regard, usually addressing him as "Brother," and knowing that Brother Fang never lied—what he said was what it was. If he said the young man was formidable, he must be formidable indeed.

Hearing this, the young masters became even more curious about the young man.

"Could he be the descendant of some renowned martial artist? Or perhaps a rising talent from a major sect?"

"Only someone of that caliber would have such a beauty as a personal maidservant, right?"

"I truly wish to form an acquaintance!"

"Yes, yes!"

As the excitement mounted on their side, Ning Ruxue shot Ye Wen a look, saying, "Senior Brother is quite smug!" It turned out that because of the previous exchange, she, too, had become curious about what the young masters were discussing and had started listening in.

Before Ye Wen could reply, he heard the other group speak again.

"Who is that woman sitting at the same table as him?"

"Could she be his sister? If so, we still have a chance!"

"What sister? She's almost certainly his junior martial sister! If that's true, we definitely have no hope..."

"Why?"

"Don't you know? Once someone has a junior martial sister, it's tantamount to an engaged fiancée—one hundred percent certain!"

At this, Ning Ruxue blushed deeply, her whole face turning crimson, yet she had no idea how to refute it. Seeing this, Ye Wen was even more amused. Finally, he turned toward the cluster of young masters who were peeking over, bowed to them with a clasp of his hands, and raised his wine cup in a toast. Whether they accepted his gesture was irrelevant to him.

However, as soon as he finished drinking his cup, the young masters erupted into motion, and one by one, they raised their wine cups to return the toast. This behavior made Ye Wen realize that these young masters weren't necessarily bad people; they likely had good upbringing from their families.

Just then, all the dishes they had ordered were served. As they were about to begin eating, a shout suddenly echoed from downstairs: "The top scholar is parading through the streets on horseback!"

With that single cry, the guests on the third floor rushed to the side. Ye Wen was momentarily startled, then realized that the side where his table was located was precisely the route the procession would take. He couldn't help but feel secretly pleased, "I did pick the right table!"

While feeling smug, he looked down and saw a familiar figure clad in the specific robes of the top scholar, riding a tall horse, surrounded by onlookers. Indeed, looking at this scene, Ye Wen couldn't think of a more fitting description.

"Oh my, he actually won the top scholar spot?" Back then, it was just a casual remark; he never expected Xu Xian to actually achieve it. If only he knew that Xu Xian had initially intended to muddle through with random answers, only to far surpass everyone else and actually become the Zhuangyuan (top scholar), he wondered what expression Xu Xian would have then.

He turned to look at his Shu Shan Sect members and smiled, "Our Shu Shan Sect produced a top scholar this time! Should we join the procession back to his hometown later?"

Everyone chimed in with cheerful agreement. Only Huang Rongrong's expression dimmed. Ye Wen knew she felt the gap between herself and Xu Xian was widening. He couldn't help but comfort her, "It's nothing. You must have expected Xu Shidi to reach this day! If you want to catch up to Xu Shidi, you must work even harder!" Hearing his encouragement, Huang Rongrong's expression improved slightly. She thanked Ye Wen, but her voice was so soft that she wasn't sure if he heard her.

Glancing at Ye Wen, who was looking below with high spirits, Huang Rongrong muttered to herself, He probably didn't hear it?

At that moment, Xu Xian, still on horseback, arrived below. Raising his head, he immediately spotted the members of the Shu Shan Sect. Regardless of the current scene, he shouted loudly, "Senior Brother, I probably won't be able to return tonight!"

Everyone had been focused on the splendor of the top scholar. Many young women found Xu Xian handsome and began making secret plans. Some from well-off families or who were daughters of great houses couldn't help but discuss the newly appointed top scholar with their maids, while the poor second and third-place scholars were utterly ignored.

Of course, some retainers from powerful families had been sent to check him out; if he was suitable, they might make future connections, perhaps even arrange a marriage.

Everyone was focused on Xu Xian, so his sudden shout naturally drew a lot of attention. Quite a few people followed Xu Xian's gaze upwards and saw a dense crowd crammed onto the third floor of the Ke Man Lou, looking down. For a moment, they couldn't tell who Xu Xian was speaking to.

Fortunately, Ye Wen then waved his hand and called out loudly, "Go on with your business!"

Only then did the crowd realize Xu Xian was speaking to the young man in the blue robe. Many, seeing Ye Wen's dignified appearance and scholarly air, exchanged comments, "This must be the new top scholar's senior brother; he is quite the talent. I wonder which government office he currently serves in?"

These people assumed Ye Wen had passed the examinations ahead of Xu Xian and already entered officialdom, and likely held a post in the capital (Xu Xian's comment about not returning made them think the top scholar was staying at Ye Wen's residence). However, since Ye Wen was unfamiliar, they didn't know his department. If they could find out, they could perhaps find an indirect route to establish a connection.

As they were discussing, Xu Xian had already ridden far away. Ye Wen and his group returned to their seats, only to find that the way the surrounding patrons looked at them had changed again.

"Is there a flower on my face?" Ye Wen touched his face, feeling nothing unusual. He thought perhaps the crowding had smudged his face, so he asked Hua Yi beside him, "Did I rub something on my face?" Hua Yi shook her head.

While he was wondering, he saw the cluster of young masters suddenly approach, carrying their wine cups. The man leading the way raised his cup and said, "This humble one is Lin Pingzhi. May I ask the name of this brother?" Ye Wen was startled; he hadn't expected this group to approach, and what was worse, the name caused him immense internal conflict. Fortunately, his reaction was swift, and he stood up to reply, "My name is Ye Wen!" Seeing that this group was clearly not from the Jianghu, he omitted any sect affiliation.

Unexpectedly, a man dressed as a guard nearby chimed in, "This subordinate's eyesight is poor; I cannot discern the lineage of any of you. May I ask Brother Ye which school you hail from?" This question, steeped in Jianghu phrasing, made Ye Wen feel a bit closer to them. He paid no mind to the man's guard attire and replied with a smile, "I am the Sect Master of the Shu Shan Sect. However, my sect is located in a remote area, so I doubt this brother has heard of it!"

The man pondered for a long time but could not recall the background of the Shu Shan Sect. Still, the Jianghu was vast; it wasn't strange not to have heard of a few sects. Moreover, Ye Wen's display of profound internal energy earlier had compelled him to show deep respect, so he dared not neglect propriety.

Afterward, the others introduced themselves. Just as the conversation was flowing, a sound of rapid footsteps ascending the stairs was heard. Then, a chubby man resembling a ball of flesh rushed upstairs, spotting Lin Pingzhi and bursting into laughter. "Cousin has arrived! I was too busy just now to greet you properly!" He then turned to Ye Wen's group, assuming they were his cousin's friends, and laughed heartily, "Haha, Cousin has brought new friends again! I am Li Xiaoyao. If you come to Ke Man Lou in the future, just mention my name, and I guarantee my brother will be well taken care of!" Upon hearing this, Ye Wen was utterly shocked: "Holy crap, this guy is Li Xiaoyao?"