The moment the two stepped into the tavern, they spotted a familiar figure in the main hall—a beautiful woman with long, raven-black hair neatly swept back, giving her an ethereal and dynamic look. Her attire was remarkably simple, a plain white color as pure and sacred as a Heavenly Mountain snow lotus.

The most captivating features, however, were her features. Her complexion was fair, her face exquisitely beautiful, and her eyes were like clear jade, bright and intelligent. A slight smile graced her lips, appearing gentle, yet it carried an aura of detachment, suggesting someone untouched by the mundane world, existing a thousand miles away.

“Qin Yue!”

Seeing her, Wang Guan and Yu Feibai were both shocked and surprised.

“Hm?”

At this moment, Qin Yue turned, a look of surprise crossing her face as well. “What are you two doing here?”

“That’s what we’d like to ask…” Yu Feibai’s expression was strange. “Aren’t you supposed to be on the world tour with the Jiaowei Zither? How did you end up here?”

As the spokesperson for the Jiaowei Zither, Qin Yue had been incredibly successful. Although she always appeared subtly, her face veiled, never showing her features, this very mystery ignited the curiosity of many who desperately wished to see her true appearance.

Consequently, Qin Yue’s popularity soared, almost rivaling that of A-list celebrities. Rumor had it that the fan club built around her had amassed millions of members, though whether this was true was unknown. That was beside the point; the main issue was that she should logically be abroad touring right now. How did she return so suddenly?

Under their bewildered gazes, Qin Yue calmly explained, “The contract expired, and I didn’t want to sign another one. Of course, I could come back.”

In an instant, Wang Guan and Yu Feibai understood. After all, Qin Yue had initially agreed to endorse the Jiaowei Zither in exchange for a condition set by Curator Wang. However, Curator Wang hadn't anticipated the immense reaction the zither’s exhibition would garner. Due to popular demand, they were forced to add more exhibition dates.

Wang Guan had no issue agreeing to the extended schedule. But Qin Yue had grown impatient; feeling she had fulfilled her agreement, she certainly didn't want to keep traveling back and forth.

If Qin Yue were an entertainment star, perhaps she would fear blacklisting or other repercussions. But this wasn't her profession; being blacklisted was meaningless to her, equivalent to a joke. Thus, no matter how Curator Wang and others tried to persuade her, it was useless. Qin Yue was set on leaving, and no one could stop her, forcing them to watch her depart.

Inside a private room, after hearing Qin Yue’s explanation, Wang Guan and Yu Feibai nodded slightly, feeling the outcome was within their expectations. What puzzled them, though, was that since she had terminated the contract, Qin Yue should have returned to Shu Province. Why had she traveled all the way to a county seat in Hanzhong?

“I have business here.”

Qin Yue didn't hide anything. She smiled slightly. “I know someone here who called me, saying he might have information about the Luan Jiao. So, I rushed over.”

“Luan Jiao?”

Wang Guan frowned. “Is it real?”

“I don’t know, which is why I came to investigate.” Qin Yue smiled, also curious. “What about you two? Weren’t you supposed to be in the capital? How did you end up in Hanzhong?”

“Heh heh, we’re looking for treasures too,” Yu Feibai said with a grin. “You’re looking for the Luan Jiao; we’re looking for the Chi Xiao Sword.”

“The Chi Xiao Sword?”

Qin Yue looked slightly surprised. “The legendary Sword of the Imperial Way, Chi Xiao?”

“That’s the one,” Wang Guan confirmed. “We accidentally stumbled upon a clue and decided to try our luck. Unfortunately, our fortune wasn’t enough; we searched all day with no results.”

“It’s alright,” Qin Yue comforted them. “You’ve only been searching for a day. I’ve been searching for years and still have nothing to show for it. But I believe that if we persist, we will eventually get what we wish for.”

“Mhm.”

Wang Guan and Yu Feibai nodded repeatedly. While the principle was sound, some people couldn’t maintain their persistence, whereas others truly did endure. It was a matter that truly tested one’s willpower. Qin Yue belonged to the latter group, earning great respect.

“Speaking of the Luan Jiao you mentioned,” Wang Guan hesitated, “is the source of the information reliable?”

“It’s hard to say,” Qin Yue frowned slightly, shaking her head gently. “Actually, many people have given me leads before, and I checked them all. They were all vague or misleading things, nothing like the true Luan Jiao. I truly hope this time it is real.”

Her tone conveyed a sense of expectation, but having been disappointed so many times, she dared not hold too much hope, lest the disappointment be even greater.

“We don’t have anything else to do anyway,” Yu Feibai said with a laugh. “If you don’t mind, why don’t you let us take a look with you?”

“Sure thing.”

Qin Yue readily agreed, then laughed lightly. “Maybe I’ll need you both to lend me your eyes for appraisal.”

“No problem, leave it all to me… and Wang Guan,” Yu Feibai showed a degree of self-awareness. Though he made a grand claim, he remembered to include Wang Guan, lest he be unable to identify the object’s true nature and suffer embarrassment.

“By the way, how did you two discover the clue about the Chi Xiao Sword?”

“That’s a long story. It starts with a mysterious mechanical box…”

It must be said that Yu Feibai truly possessed a gift for storytelling. He managed to turn a rather mundane event into a narrative full of thrilling twists, turns, and perplexing incidents, capturing everyone’s attention.

Qin Yue played along, expressing her amazement, which only fueled Yu Feibai’s enthusiasm further.

Just as they were enjoying the lively conversation, a knock sounded at the private room door. At first, everyone assumed it was a waiter. After they called out "Come in," they saw a short, plump man enter, beaming, led by Qin Yue’s bodyguard uncle.

“Huh?”

Seeing this person, Wang Guan and Yu Feibai were startled, suddenly feeling that sense of meeting people everywhere in life.

“Miss Qin… oh, it’s you guys…”

At the same time, the little fatty’s face showed a mixture of surprise and delight. Seeing Wang Guan and Yu Feibai, he was very happy. After all, he was still thinking about the item they found in the beam of the Liu Family Ancestral Hall. Even if he didn't necessarily want it, he was eager to know what it was to satisfy his curiosity.

He thought he had missed his chance, but unexpectedly, fortune had turned, and they met again. Pang Yue was naturally overjoyed.

“What a coincidence, meeting you two brothers!” Pang Yue approached cheerfully, his smile radiant.

“You know each other?” Qin Yue sounded curious.

“Sort of,” Wang Guan replied casually. “We were out exploring an abandoned house in the countryside today, and Mr. Pang’s car broke down, so we towed him back.”

“Yes, yes…” Pang Yue admitted, nodding, while gratefully adding, “I really have you two to thank; otherwise, I’d probably still be wandering in the wilderness, not knowing when I’d get back to the county seat.”

“I intended to express my gratitude, but you two left in a hurry, which was quite disappointing for me. I never expected to run into you again—this is fate! No need for formalities; this meal is on me, as a small token of my appreciation…”

As he spoke, Pang Yue called the waiter over and ordered more dishes. Whatever was most expensive, they brought it out. After all, a tavern in a county seat had its spending limits. Even filling the table wouldn't lead to an exorbitant bill.

The others didn't refuse Pang Yue’s enthusiasm; a little money was the same no matter who paid. Instead, they were more focused on other matters.

“Qin Yue,” Yu Feibai was astute. Seeing Pang Yue arrive and recalling his identity as an antique dealer, he immediately became thoughtful. “Is he the one who claimed to have the Luan Jiao?”

“Yes.”

Qin Yue nodded slightly and got straight to the point. “Boss Pang, did you bring the Luan Jiao you mentioned?”

“The Luan Jiao?”

Pang Yue waved for the waiter to hurry up with the food, then said with a smile, “It’s not with me. Didn’t I mention it? I just saw an object that looked very similar to the Luan Jiao you described. I intended to buy it first before bringing it for your inspection, but you rushed over in such a hurry.”

“It’s fine; it’s not that far anyway.” Qin Yue smiled, though a hint of disappointment showed.

“Is it really the Luan Jiao?” Yu Feibai sounded skeptical. “Tell us, what did that object look like?”

“It was bluish-white, very tough yet supple, and had some elasticity,” Pang Yue quickly explained. “As for whether it’s the Luan Jiao, I truly can’t be certain. I wanted to buy the item to run a test, but the seller asked for too high a price, so I decided to let him wait a bit—it’s easier to haggle that way…”

“It does sound somewhat similar,” A glimmer of anticipation appeared on Qin Yue’s face. “Boss Pang, who has this item? Could you take me to visit them?”

“That… shouldn’t be a problem.”

Pang Yue hesitated slightly but eventually agreed.

“Don’t worry, Boss Pang, I understand the rules. If it truly is the Luan Jiao, I certainly won’t forget you.” Qin Yue smiled smartly, understanding the unwritten rules of the antique trade. Pang Yue’s actions were essentially acting as a middleman or broker, and a brokerage fee couldn't be skimped on.

“It’s just a small matter, Miss Qin doesn't need to be so polite…”

Pang Yue chuckled, seemingly declining, but in reality, he was just being deliberately modest. Business was hard, after all. If everyone bypassed him to deal directly with the seller without offering him any benefit, he’d have nothing to eat.

Fortunately, Qin Yue often dealt with antique merchants and was somewhat familiar with the trade, making her quite “sensible.”

“I love doing business with people like this…”

Pang Yue was in high spirits. Prompted by him, the tavern waiters brought out plate after plate of dishes. The flavor might not compare to high-end city restaurants, but the portions were generous. As long as one wasn’t overly picky, they could eat happily.

The taste of the food could be set aside for the moment, but wine was essential.

If Qin Yue were treating alone, Pang Yue wouldn't be so tactless as to press a beautiful woman to drink. But with Wang Guan and Yu Feibai present, things changed. Seeing the waiter bring over a bottle of Imperial Kiln Xifeng wine, he immediately took it, skillfully uncorked it, poured a full glass for Wang Guan and Yu Feibai first, and then poured one for himself.

Then, Pang Yue raised his glass with a smile: “Brothers, meeting is fate. I’ll drink this first to show my sincerity. You two take your time…”