After Li Yundong requested The Legend of the White Snake, he turned and laughed toward Su Chan and the others, "Someone specifically asked me to choose a piece, so I can't just pick one and leave, right? Shouldn't I at least stay to hear it?"

Ziyuan smiled faintly and said, "That would be for the best; high-level Pingtan like this is rare. This girl might have studied since childhood; I wonder which master she apprenticed under."

Zhou Qinqi asked, "Why did she join the Gezao Sect?"

Ziyuan chuckled, "Nowadays, every major faction is secretly expanding its power. The Zhengyi Sect is busy consolidating its branch families, the Quanzhen Longmen Sect is scrambling to gather scattered canonical texts and Taoist arts from the cultivation world, and the Gezao Sect is desperately making money and vigorously developing its following. Although you might not see many top masters emerging from the Gezao Sect at this Lotus Picking Assembly, they are the wealthiest sect in the cultivation world, and they have the most external disciples—truly a gathering of talents."

Su Chan couldn't help but sigh, "Yundong, when can we start selling medicine? Wouldn't it be wonderful to earn enough money to buy a large estate like this?"

Li Yundong feigned anger and shot her a look, flicking her nose with his fingertip, whispering with a mock scolding laugh, "You greedy girl, wanting to swallow an elephant! Weren't we perfectly happy living in that tiny rented room before? Then we moved to a large three-bedroom apartment, and you were ecstatic, weren't you? Later, we upgraded to that spacious duplex, and now look at you, eyeing this small garden estate! Do you think I own a bank?"

Su Chan grabbed Li Yundong's arm and coquettishly laughed, "I was just saying! As long as I'm with you, I'd be happy even if we were sleeping on the streets. If I couldn't be with you, even living in the Imperial Palace would feel like years passing by!"

Li Yundong let out an amused laugh, tapped the little girl's bright, tender nose, and smiled, "You certainly know how to talk! But no matter how unsuccessful I might be, I wouldn't let you end up on the streets, would I?"

Su Chan nodded vigorously with a grin, laughing, "Of course not! My Yundong is an incredibly great hero!"

Li Yundong couldn't help but recall their most destitute times when Su Chan had loudly declared to the landlady and the lecherous Rong Guofa that he would surely become a great hero one day. Reflecting on that moment against the backdrop of the present, Li Yundong truly felt as though he had crossed into another lifetime.

He chuckled softly, affectionately stroking the little girl's hair, "Silly girl, what kind of great hero am I?"

Su Chan, however, said with genuine seriousness, "Why aren't you a great hero? Everyone here couldn't defeat that Japanese fellow, but you single-handedly drove them away, bringing immense honor to our Chinese cultivation world. If that's not heroism, what is?"

Zhou Qin also nodded from the side, looking at Li Yundong with eyes full of admiration and reverence, saying, "Exactly. If Master hadn't turned the tide, we would have been utterly disgraced this time!"

Li Yundong shook his head, laughing, "That was just a stroke of luck. Our Divine Land has countless masters; even if we lost today, we would win it back tomorrow. The Japanese cultivation world benefits from an inherently unique and stable environment for practice, and they came especially prepared this time, catching all the sects off guard. But they are ultimately limited by their small population, narrow territory, and their cultivation system originated from our Tang Dynasty, whereas ours can be traced back to the eras of Peng Zu and Laozi—a full one to two millennia earlier than theirs!"

Li Yundong said with some melancholy, "Although our cultivation world has suffered various setbacks and has dwindled, it has been passed down for thousands of years. As the saying goes, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. In terms of deep foundations and abundant talent, the Japanese cultivation world cannot compare to ours. They might win for a moment, but they cannot win for a lifetime!"

Ziyuan also nodded in agreement, saying, "Indeed. From what I know, most of the masters the Zhengyi Sect brought this time are from the younger generation. The only one who represents the elder generation is Zhang Ling. And Zhang Ling's sorcery, when unleashed, would be earth-shattering. If she had acted just now, she might not have lost to Tachibana Chiko. However, in a bustling place like this, she couldn't utilize even a tenth of her power, so she was hesitant and didn't enter the fray. Furthermore, it's not just the Zhengyi Sect; the Quanzhen Longmen Sect, Qingcheng Sect, Jinshan Sect, and others all have formidable older generation cultivators, but most of them practice in seclusion and rarely venture into the mundane world."

Li Yundong nodded and smiled, "That is the nature of the hundred-legged worm that refuses to die even when fallen. Moreover, the cultivation world is currently brimming with talent; I believe it won't be long before several truly astonishing great cultivators emerge."

As Li Yundong spoke these words, his gaze rested on Zhou Qin, clearly offering encouragement and praise.

Zhou Qin felt a warmth surge in her heart and nodded firmly. Ruan Hongling, standing nearby, smiled and said, "Li Yundong, aren't you praising yourself too? After this Lotus Picking Assembly, you can certainly be considered a great cultivator, right? Sister Ziyuan, wouldn't you agree?"

Ziyuan smiled faintly and stated, "In terms of combat power, reputation, and fame, Li Yundong truly merits the title of a great cultivator."

Li Yundong waved his hand, laughing, "Don't heap too much praise on me. I haven't even reached the Golden Body realm yet, how dare I call myself a great cultivator? Those who reach the Golden Body realm—their Yang Spirit is truly an indestructible form; no magical artifact in the world can destroy them. Only such cultivators are truly great cultivators; I am still far from that!"

Su Chan said earnestly, "Yundong, you will definitely become a great cultivator, and very quickly too! Think about how short your cultivation time has been, and yet you are already this formidable!"

Li Yundong smiled faintly, "Cultivating to the Golden Body realm requires the aid of the Earth Element Spirit Elixir. Without a great opportunity, it's impossible to reach it."

As the group was chatting, they saw Song Yuqiao in the center of the area had adjusted her strings. She coughed lightly, cleared her throat, and began to sing softly.

As soon as they heard her voice, everyone immediately quieted down. For a moment, the small pavilion was utterly silent, all eyes fixed intently on Song Yuqiao, holding their breath and stilling their minds.

Song Yuqiao gently fluttered her fingers over the strings, her small, diamond-shaped red lips parting softly. In a voice as soft and melodious as silk, she sang wistfully: "West Lake sees us again today, memories bring a heart-wrenching pain. Through wind and rain, we shared a boat, giving my true affection to Scholar Xu Wen. Rare is a husband whose love runs deep, mutual respect and care make the bond so close. Who knew that fine blossoms would meet heartless rain, that the bright moon would encounter clouds spanning ten thousand miles? Now the flowers have fallen, the moon is dim, I cannot bear to look back upon that past love. I only curse that monk who meddles in human affairs, Fahai, who tore the mandarin ducks apart..."

Song Yuqiao's tone was gentle yet crisp, alluring yet clear. Although she had been shy and tongue-tied before, when she began singing Pingtan, all shyness vanished. Her expression was mournful, her eyes darting with such poignant sorrow that even those who didn't understand the lyrics were instantly drawn into the mood of the song.

Li Yundong saw that Song Yuqiao was singing the selection Broken Bridge from The Legend of the White Snake. He couldn't help but laugh, "What a coincidence. I happen to have Fahai's fingertip-scorching alms bowl. I presume that bowl was what subdued the White Snake back then. Now that it's in my hands, who do you think I'll subdue?"

Su Chan made a face at Li Yundong, giggling, "Just don't come to subdue me!"

Li Yundong burst into laughter, leaned close to Su Chan, and whispered playfully, "If this little girl is disobedient, this Master will subdue you until you're perfectly compliant!"

Su Chan's ears flushed red; she giggled shyly and scolded, "Naughty!"

The two were exchanging intimate words as if no one else were present. Song Yuqiao on stage had already concluded that section of the opera. At this moment, everyone in the pavilion erupted in cheers and loud applause.

One cultivator even shouted, "It was beautiful, but a bit too melancholic! Sing something cheerful!"

Song Yuqiao, having finished her song, became shy once more. She lowered her head and murmured softly, "Then I will go change my attire and come back out..."

Saying this, she gracefully moved her steps toward the back door.

The crowd laughed, "This young lady isn't old, but she puts on quite a show, needing to change clothes just to sing a happy tune!"

A short while later, Song Yuqiao emerged from the back. Everyone noticed she hadn't changed much of her clothing, but she now wore a golden hairpin accessory in her hair. This hairpin held a flower of astonishing vibrancy, multicolored in a dazzling, eye-catching display. As she approached with gentle steps, a rich, intoxicating fragrance wafted from her, making everyone momentarily dizzy.

Song Yuqiao sat down clutching her pipa. After a moment, she said again, "You all wish to hear a cheerful piece, but I have only learned one cheerful song. Furthermore, the master who taught me to sing told me that if I wished to sing this piece, I must first pay respects to her."

Respect for one's teachers is paramount in the cultivation world. Upon hearing this, everyone immediately showed solemn respect, exclaiming, "Good, a filial disciple!"

"Rare, truly rare!"

Song Yuqiao rose and apologetically addressed Wan Zhenyuan, "Sect Master Wan, I apologize, may I burn a stick of incense?"

Wan Zhenyuan hadn't heard of this custom from Song Yuqiao before. Although he found it strange, he didn't dwell on it and smiled, "Certainly, you may."

Song Yuqiao gracefully rose again, returning to the rear hall, and came back holding an incense burner with both hands. Everyone saw three incense sticks burning in the censer, emitting wisps of pale smoke and a pleasant aroma.

Song Yuqiao bowed toward the censer, then returned to her seat, lightly plucked the strings of her pipa, and began to hum softly: "Clouds think of robes, flowers think of face; the spring breeze bathes the railing, the dew is thick and bright. If not seen on Mount Qiyu, one would meet beneath the moon on the Terrace of Jade. A single bloom, dew-kissed and fragrant; the clouds and rain of Mount Wu were wept in vain. I ask the Han Palace whose beauty can compare? Pitying Flying Swallow leaning against her fresh makeup. Famous flowers and peerless looks share their joy, long admired by the smiling Emperor. Relieving all the boundless sorrow of spring, leaning by the railing north of the Chenxiang Pavilion."

Li Yundong listened to her mournful singing, which sounded like a secluded wife lamenting the sorrows of spring—there was not a hint of joy in it.

He couldn't help but ask in surprise, "What piece is this? Why doesn't it sound joyful at all?"

Ziyuan also looked puzzled. She remarked, "This is Oriole Bowing to the Moon. Strange, this piece is very melancholic, how is it cheerful?"

It wasn't just Li Yundong and Ziyuan who found it odd; the cultivators from various sects in the pavilion all felt the same way. They began calling out, "Hey, such a sorrowful tune, where is the cheerfulness? Little girl, did you sing the wrong piece?"

Wan Zhenyuan couldn't help but frown, "Xiao Qiao, which scene are you performing?"

Song Yuqiao kept her head down and said nothing, but suddenly a cold female voice echoed from not far away: "Not cheerful? But I find it quite cheerful!"

Everyone turned their eyes to see a beautiful and captivating woman standing at the rear entrance, looking at the crowd with a cold sneer.

As soon as Li Yundong and Su Chan saw this woman, they were startled. Su Chan exclaimed, "Isn't that Senior Martial Aunt Zhuang Yating? Why is she here?"

My cousin and my cousin's niece visited today, so apologies for the late update... There should be one more chapter, but everyone shouldn't wait up; it will be very late. E