Li Muzhan and the young woman arrived at the top floor of the Guifeng Tower, a small room where opening the window offered a view of the pedestrians below, bustling like ants—a vista that lent a feeling of transcendence.
Inside, there were only Li Muzhan and the young woman; the grey-robed servant stood near the doorway, seemingly guarding the entrance, his gaze slightly lowered, blind to everything.
The two sat at a table by the window. Li Muzhan smiled faintly. “Young friend, you know calligraphy as well?”
“A little,” the young woman replied. She set down her folding fan, opened the wooden box, and carefully unrolled the scroll. She studied the calligraphy, which looked like a tangle of wild grass, then shook her head and laughed. “To be honest, I can’t see anything particularly good about it!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “The transitions in the brushwork subtly hint at sharpness, yet it is restrained, never fully unleashed. This feeling suits my temperament. It has nothing to do with whether the calligraphy is good or bad; I simply like it.”
“I see!” The young woman nodded slightly, slowly rolling the scroll back up. She smiled. “I have yet to ask your esteemed name, sir. I am Chai, given name Ming.”
“So, Young Friend Chai. I am Li, Li Muzhan,” Li Muzhan returned the smile.
Chai Ming grinned. “Mr. Li seems to be a scholar.”
Her every movement exuded a forthright spirit, entirely devoid of a woman’s affected sweetness. Had it not been for Li Muzhan’s discerning eyes, most people would never have recognized her as female.
Li Muzhan chuckled. “Half my life wasted, achieving nothing. I am quite ashamed!”
“And where are you presently employed, sir?” Chai Ming asked with a smile.
Li Muzhan replied, “I serve as a tutor in a certain household, teaching calligraphy. It’s hardly worth mentioning. Judging by your demeanor, Young Friend Chai, you must be wealthy or noble.”
“I’m nothing special,” Chai Ming demurred, shaking her head. “We’ve made a connection through calligraphy, a stroke of fate, wouldn’t you say?”
“Fate…” Li Muzhan smiled gently. “It seems Young Friend Chai also understands Buddhist doctrine.”
“A little bit, perhaps,” Chai Ming laughed. “I have met a few monks and listened to them debate scriptures and principles, but I couldn’t grasp much of it. Perhaps you should begin copying the scroll, sir!”
She seemed slightly impatient, perhaps looking down on Li Muzhan’s status and thus unwilling to deepen the acquaintance.
Li Muzhan nodded with a smile, yet inwardly felt a wave of relief. Still, this Chai Ming was peculiar; she also concealed a Sacred Artifact. Were such artifacts so common?
He moved to the nearby writing desk where the inkstone was already prepared. He slowly unrolled the scroll again, marveling at the cursive characters.
He laid out his paper, raised his brush, and was about to begin writing when Chai Ming laughed. “Forget it, Mr. Li. Our meeting is fate enough. I’ll gift you this piece; you don’t need to copy it anymore!”
Li Muzhan turned his head in surprise.
Chai Ming laughed again. “I confess I can be unreasonable and overbearing, relying on status to intimidate. Your composure, Mr. Li, is truly admirable!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Scholars are often useless in the world; I am merely too timid to stir up trouble. Furthermore, fighting over trivial external objects is hardly worth the effort!”
“Mr. Li has such a noble spirit! I admire it!” Chai Ming clapped her hands in praise. “This calligraphy is perfectly suited for you, sir; please do not decline!”
Li Muzhan nodded slowly. “Then I shall not be impolite enough to refuse!”
He carefully rolled up the scroll and returned it to the wooden box, then cupped his hands and smiled. “Let us take our leave for now. Perhaps fate will bring us together again another day?”
“It seems Mr. Li also understands Buddhist ways,” Chai Ming suddenly showed renewed interest, smiling. “Why don’t we share a final drink before parting? How about that?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Very well.”
He met her frankness with his own ease.
Halfway through the wine, Li Muzhan appeared entirely composed, but Chai Ming’s cheeks were flushed crimson, her eyes sparkling, radiating a charming allure that revealed her true womanly nature.
“Mr. Li, you certainly have a capacity for drink!” she exclaimed admiringly.
Li Muzhan shook his head, chuckling. “Young Friend Chai, your tolerance is lacking. So young, yet you can’t match an old man like me.”
Chai Ming giggled, a sound like tiny bells, and laughed sweetly. “Yes, I am inferior to an elder like you! I truly deserve punishment. Another cup!”
Saying this, she poured another full measure for herself and downed it in one gulp.
Li Muzhan shook his head. Having achieved the Grand Master stage, his cultivation had returned to primal simplicity; unless he chose to reveal it, outsiders could not perceive his martial prowess. Clearly, although Chai Ming was skilled, she had failed to gauge his true depth.
He appeared to be a world-weary, down-on-his-luck middle-aged scholar, without any martial arts background. Consequently, she drank without employing internal energy, and the wine at Guifeng Tower was notoriously potent, causing her to become tipsy quickly.
From this, one could tell her nature was proud; she would never seek to gain an advantage over another.
Li Muzhan chuckled, poured a cup for himself, and drank it down in one go. He hadn't circulated his energy either, but his physical constitution far surpassed that of ordinary men, allowing him to remain sober through countless cups.
They continued, cup after cup. After three rounds, Chai Ming’s laughter rang out like silver bells, crisp and melodious, entirely different from her earlier tone.
By this point, she had revealed her true form; the facade had dropped, and her womanly features were restored. The grey-robed servant remained by the door, his eyes lowered, paying no heed, standing like a sculpted statue.
Li Muzhan pretended not to notice. They finished another full jar of wine, yet Chai Ming did not collapse; instead, she grew progressively clearer-headed, until finally, she was completely lucid, her eyes bright and sharp, her gaze pure and steady.
Li Muzhan had remained untouched by the liquor. There were six empty jars in the room, emanating a rich, heavy aroma; this was a rare, potent vintage.
“Mr. Li, you’ve seen my embarrassing display,” Chai Ming clapped her hands, emptying the last drop from the final jar before tossing it aside and picking up her silver cup.
Li Muzhan smiled. “Today has been a delightful drink. We are instantly kindred spirits. Young Friend Chai, let us toast to this final cup, and then part ways. There is no banquet that does not end.”
Chai Ming smiled sadly. “I truly hate to see you go! … Sir, though you are a scholar, you are so detached and refined; you are truly like an immortal!”
She had judged countless people. At first glance, Li Muzhan seemed utterly ordinary, just a failed scholar. Yet, upon acquaintance, she discovered his vast knowledge and profound insights—he was absolutely not a common man.
Li Muzhan chuckled. “I am merely a common man in the mortal realm, Young Friend. You flatter me. Thank you for this calligraphy; may we meet again when fate allows!”
“Sir, you didn’t mention where you reside, so I can visit next time?” Chai Ming asked sweetly.
Li Muzhan smiled. “That, too, depends on fate.”
Chai Ming shook her head. “Fate is too ethereal. I prefer to seize opportunities.”
Li Muzhan pondered for a moment, then smiled. “Very well. I currently serve as a tutor at the Dugu Residence. If Young Friend Chai wishes to find me, you may come to the Dugu Residence.”
“The Dugu Residence?” Chai Ming’s eyes widened.
Li Muzhan nodded with a smile. “A mere tutor, insignificant. Though the Dugu Residence is grand, it has nothing to do with me; I am not one of the Dugu family.”
Chai Hu scrutinized Li Muzhan up and down, then shook her head. “With your current attire, sir, you truly do not look like someone from the Dugu family!”
“Young Friend Chai knows of the Dugu family?” Li Muzhan smiled.
“Who in the capital doesn't know the Dugu family?” Chai Ming laughed, shaking her head. She looked at Li Muzhan’s plain blue robes. “The Dugu family lives in luxury; are they so harsh even to their tutors?”
Li Muzhan quickly waved his hands, laughing. “Not at all. You misjudge the Dugu family. I am simply accustomed to this kind of clothing and cannot suddenly wear silks.”
“I see,” Chai Ming nodded as if enlightened, smiling. “Sir, you are not swayed by wealth or status… That is excellent. Since you are at the Dugu Residence, finding you will be easy!”
“Does Young Friend Chai have ties to the Dugu family?” Li Muzhan inquired.
Chai Ming nodded with a cryptic smile. “A small connection. I occasionally visit their estate. We shall see what happens when I look for you then. I’m off!”
With a light laugh, she lightly floated towards the door, her folding fan swaying. The grey-robed servant opened the door and followed her out. Li Muzhan was left alone in the room.
Li Muzhan sat quietly for a moment, then picked up his wooden box and left the Guifeng Tower.
All the way back, he pondered who this Chai Ming truly was. She was not from the Four Great Families, yet she carried an aura of danger and possessed a Sacred Artifact. More bizarrely, the cultivation method she practiced was strange; his Heart Scrutiny technique failed against her.
Before he reached the Grand Master stage, his Heart Scrutiny would occasionally fail, usually against those who practiced unique inner arts—like Ru Lixu, Hai Yulan, or Feng Mingxue.
Now that he had achieved the Grand Master realm, his Heart Scrutiny had strengthened, allowing him to faintly perceive their thoughts. It only failed in the presence of the Four Holy Monks.
Facing Chai Ming, it had failed again. The martial arts she cultivated were extraordinarily profound.
More critically, the current Imperial surname was Chai; the Emperor's surname was Chai, given name Feng.
It seemed highly likely that Chai Ming was a member of the royal family. No wonder she possessed such bearing, though it was rare for her not to carry an air of pampered arrogance.
He returned to the Dugu Residence and, upon reaching his small courtyard, happened to see Dugu Jinghua and Feng Mingxue chatting in the pavilion, laughing pleasantly, seeming quite at ease with one another.
As he entered, the two women looked up. Dugu Jinghua asked, “What did you buy, sir?”
Li Muzhan handed over the box with a smile. “A piece of calligraphy.”
Dugu Jinghua clapped her hands. “I almost forgot! Sir, you love calligraphy. The residence has some genuine masterpieces; feel free to look if you have time, and take any you like to examine.”
Li Muzhan smiled. “That would be wonderful. It is rare to encounter such fine calligraphy. Ninth Miss, are you well-versed in this art?”
Dugu Mo Hua shook her head. “My constitution was too weak to practice calligraphy when I was younger. I can appreciate it, but writing myself is out of the question.”
Li Muzhan shook his head with a sigh. “What a pity, what a pity!”
“Senior Sister, what about you?” Li Muzhan asked Feng Mingxue.
Feng Mingxue replied, “I practiced for a while back then, but I wouldn't call myself proficient.”
Li Muzhan sighed again. “You should both practice calligraphy. Calligraphy connects with Heaven and Earth; it is a profound method for attaining the Dao.”
Feng Mingxue's eyebrows twitched, and she slowly nodded. Dugu Jinghua laughed. “Alright, if Sir commands it, I will learn calligraphy alongside you!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “After you learn, you will undoubtedly benefit greatly. This scroll contains profound mystery—too bad you cannot appreciate calligraphy to truly grasp it.”
The two women became curious. Feng Mingxue asked, “Junior Brother, what mystery is contained within?”
Li Muzhan explained, “This calligraphy conceals a sword technique, nothing ordinary.”
“A sword technique hidden in calligraphy?” Dugu Jinghua looked surprised.
Feng Mingxue unrolled the painting and studied it carefully. After a long while, she shook her head, unable to discern anything. Dugu Jinghua leaned in to look as well, seeing only a mess of scribbles, definitely no swordplay.
Li Muzhan said, “Let me meditate on it for a while, and then I will demonstrate it for you… Oh yes, today I met an interesting young person who used the alias Chai Ming. She mentioned having some ties to the Dugu Residence. Ninth Miss, do you know her?”
“Chai Ming?” Dugu Jinghua looked startled, her expression growing strange.