Wan Jian Cang Long regarded Ye Xiu’s surprised expression with a calm expression. “The water of this Profound Heaven Lake mirrors the state of one’s heart. The supreme good is like water; when the heart is still, there are naturally no ripples.”

Ye Xiu nodded, raising his sword to salute Cang Long. To be able to unleash power and then withdraw it, his heart utterly tranquil—was this the true strength of the esteemed ruler of the realm, Wan Jian Cang Long? With such an aura present, could anyone truly wrest the world from his grasp?

“Oh, it seems someone is already waiting for Young Hero Ye,” Cang Long said, extending a finger toward the lift. Wan Jian Chen Ying, clad in a pink dress, was already waving cheerfully at them.

“Yes, greetings to the Commandery Princess,” Ye Xiu followed Cang Long over, not forgetting to bow respectfully to Chen Ying.

“Chen Ying greets Elder Brother, and Young Master Ye,” Chen Ying, cultured and well-mannered, was exceptionally knowledgeable about etiquette. Yet, being a young woman, a trace of delicate refinement always clung to her. “So, Elder Brother brought Young Master Ye here for a spar. What if Young Master Ye gets injured? How will he participate in the subsequent contests?”

“Little sister, why the sudden concern for another? This is the first time in history, hah!” Wan Jian Cang Long shed his usual imposing demeanor, actually starting to joke with Chen Ying.

“Elder Brother is also disregarding the bigger picture today; this too is a first in history,” Wan Jian Chen Ying retorted sharply, even daring to tease her own brother.

“Enough. I need to go check on the rest of the matches. If Young Hero Ye has nothing pressing, perhaps you could keep this difficult little sister company for a while.” Wan Jian Cang Long did this intentionally, leaving Ye Xiu no opportunity to object before he walked alone toward the lift.

“That Elder Brother is truly irritating. Did he hurt you at all, Young Master Ye?” Chen Ying seemed slightly shy, but Cang Long had conveniently provided her an opening. “Look, you still have some cuts on you. That Jian Hongchen was entirely too heavy-handed just now. Really!”

“Uh, Commandery Princess, there is no need to worry. I am fine,” Ye Xiu felt utterly awkward. In his mind, Wan Jian Chen Ying, as the Commandery Princess, was someone utterly beyond his reach. He never expected that when she showed concern, she would be as delicate and gentle as any ordinary girl.

“Oh, that’s good. Why must people be so serious when they compete? Why use real blades and guns? What if someone dies…” Chen Ying truly struggled to find other topics to converse about with Ye Xiu, so she could only keep complaining about Jian Hongchen. “However, Young Master Ye truly lives up to the saying that heroes emerge from the young. To defeat even one of the top three sword masters is indeed magnificent.”

“Commandery Princess flatters me. Jian Hongchen is indeed a master; I only won by sheer luck,” Ye Xiu wanted to joke lightly with the Princess, but it felt inappropriate. What if, unlike Hong’er or A’Jiao who could laugh off a jest, the Princess became angry and ordered him dragged out to be executed? That would be disastrous.

Chen Ying glanced stealthily at Ye Xiu twice, then lowered her head, fiddling with the pendant on her clothing. She seemed to want to say something but didn't know what to say.

“I see a flower terrace over there. Perhaps I could accompany the Commandery Princess for a stroll?” Ye Xiu was quite quick-witted. Truthfully, he was quite adept at making girls happy, but the situation today was delicate, and he couldn't act carelessly.

“That sounds wonderful! Let’s see what flowers are in bloom today.” Upon mentioning flowers, Chen Ying visibly relaxed. The awkwardness between them finally eased as they found a topic and began to walk side-by-side.

Ye Xiu followed behind Chen Ying. There were no maids or attendants in this Ao Tian Tower; it seemed to be Wan Jian Cang Long’s place for quiet cultivation. His sword skills were supreme, likely connected to his focused training.

“By the way, Commandery Princess, when I sparred with the Great City Lord just now, I found his martial arts to be incredibly high. I wonder how the martial prowess of the other two City Lords compares?” Since he was idle anyway, Ye Xiu decided to probe for information about the Wan Jian Imperial Family through Chen Ying.

“Just call him Elder Brother. He is undoubtedly the person in all of Wan Jian City who has cultivated the Wan Jian Jue to the highest realm,” Chen Ying spoke without reserve. She held a favorable impression of Ye Xiu and knew that he was someone even her Elder Brother, Wan Jian Cang Long, thought highly of, so she naturally dropped her guard. “As for Second Brother and Third Brother, their martial cultivation levels fall far short of Elder Brother’s.”

“Oh, I am but a man from the countryside and unfamiliar with the Wan Jian Jue. I wonder if the Commandery Princess could enlighten me?” Ye Xiu was polite and courteous, confident Chen Ying would not refuse him.

Chen Ying stopped walking and turned to face Ye Xiu, her cheeks still flushed crimson. “All human martial artists in Wan Jian City practice the Wan Jian Jue. The difference in quality comes from the realm of cultivation. As far as I know, Elder Brother has cultivated his Wan Jian Jue to the Eighth Level, and Second Brother has just broken through the Seventh Level. As for Third Brother…”

“Third City Lord?” Ye Xiu calculated carefully in his mind. Cang Long’s power at just the Eighth Level was already overwhelmingly dominant, enough to make him feel the air currents of his Ghost Step. Yet, the first time he met the Third City Lord, Qing Lin, although Qing Lin was surprised by his Ghost Step, it wasn't to an astonished degree. Thinking this, perhaps Wan Jian Qing Lin had also broken through the Eighth Level, or perhaps even higher?

“Hahaha, my Third Brother usually only cares for fishing and leisure; he neglects his training entirely. Just look at how he wields his sword—I estimate he has only reached the Fifth Level at most. The Fifth Level is merely the standard for a Captain of the Wan Jian City Guard,” Chen Ying was quite candid about her third brother.

“Hehe, Commandery Princess exaggerates. How can a younger sister speak of her older brother in such a manner?” Ye Xiu raised an eyebrow and smiled, thinking Chen Ying was truly too simple, or perhaps everyone underestimated Wan Jian Qing Lin. This fellow was clearly hiding his true strength intentionally. What was his goal? Even top masters like the Soul-Drawing Boy, Jian Hongchen, were willing to serve him faithfully.

“Enough, Young Master Ye, let’s not speak of this. Look, there is the flower terrace ahead. I guarantee there are many flowers you have never seen before.” Chen Ying was a lover of flowers and certainly had her own expertise. Showing off one's talents in front of others is what people enjoy most, especially when that person is someone they admire.

Ye Xiu followed, and a wave of floral fragrance immediately enveloped him. He hadn't expected that on the other side of the Profound Heaven Lake lay an ocean of flowers—all colors, types, and shapes. He had likely never seen so many flowers in his entire life.

“Young Master Ye, come quickly and look at these!” Chen Ying seemed much more relaxed here, running and jumping as she led Ye Xiu into the sea of blossoms.

“Do you know what this flower is?” Chen Ying asked, pointing her finger at a patch of sunflowers nearby.

Although Ye Xiu didn’t know many flowers, he believed every single person recognized sunflowers—a common sight. “This is a sunflower, because it always grows facing the direction of the sun.”

“Wow, I didn’t expect Young Master Ye to know even this!” Chen Ying was delighted. She then pulled Ye Xiu toward the expanse of purple flowers over there. “What about those? Do you know what they are?”

“Oh, that looks like lavender,” Ye Xiu didn't find it difficult; he had seen both these types of flower fields many times on television. “And that patch is tulips, and that one is carnations…”

Chen Ying had never met anyone so knowledgeable about flowers. None of her three elder brothers knew, nor did her two esteemed advisors. Why was it that Ye Xiu could name them all?

Seeing that Chen Ying had fallen silent, staring downward and pondering something, Ye Xiu felt a little unaccustomed. But it was strange, too; the blooming times and soil requirements for those flowers were entirely different. Why could they exist together at this moment?

“What about this flower down here, does Young Master Ye recognize it?” Chen Ying spoke very softly, the earlier exuberance suddenly retracting. “This is my absolute favorite kind of flower. Do you know it, Young Master Ye?”

Ye Xiu bent his head for a closer look. These flowers had pink petals; the six lower petals were spread out, while the five upper petals rose high, carefully shielding the stamen in the center. This was clearly an Asian Lily.

“Th-this… this is a lily, right?” Ye Xiu was not entirely certain, as this was neither the modern era nor the Central Plains; who knew what strange things might exist here.

“Heavens! Young Master Ye, you even know this flower! You truly are amazing!” Chen Ying suddenly exclaimed loudly, her eyes filled with adoration. “These lilies are my absolute favorite, and I planted them myself. Do you think they look beautiful?”

“Of course they are beautiful. Lilies are considered the pinnacle among flowers; there are already many varieties. If I haven't guessed incorrectly, the variety the Commandery Princess planted is the Asian Lily,” Ye Xiu said, recalling what he had seen online.

“Asian Lily? Are there many types of lilies?” Chen Ying looked utterly bewildered, not understanding what Ye Xiu was saying. However, she was intensely curious. “Young Master Ye, please tell me about the other types of lilies!”

Damn it! Ye Xiu didn't expect to find a breakthrough point to draw closer to the Commandery Princess so quickly. But his knowledge of flowers was truly limited. If she had asked about roses, he could have answered fluently, but lilies! Think, think—he finally managed to dig something up in his mind. “Among those I have seen, there are Asian Lilies, Perfume Lilies, Mystical Lilies, Emei Lilies…”

“There are so many names! What are the differences between them?”

“Differences?” Ye Xiu hadn't anticipated Chen Ying would press him so relentlessly. He had made up those names on the spot! Now he had to explain the differences. “Well, ah! The Asian Lily is just like the one you planted, Commandery Princess, with pink petals. The Emei Lily, because it grows in icy wastelands, is pure white. The Perfume Lily is probably because its scent is different from other lilies…”

“Is that so? How magical!” Chen Ying gazed directly at Ye Xiu, like a small child.

“Is that so?” Ye Xiu asked himself, but having finally managed to show off his knowledge in front of a young lady, he certainly wouldn't ruin his own reputation. He puffed out his chest. “Yes, that’s exactly how it is!”