It was another ordinary day.

Business was booming at the Baiyu Jing Jiulou.

Lian Yuchan diligently carried a tray of dishes upstairs.

She walked past the Bao Xiang庄严 Pure Rite Monk sitting on the stairs of the tenth floor, went past Baiyu Xia, who was currently meditating on the eleventh floor, and headed directly to the top floor to find Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang was in the study.

He was leaning back in a lounge chair near the window, basking in the sunlight and reading a book in a relaxed and leisurely manner.

Lian Yuchan lightly knocked on the door, then stood at the study door, looking at the very idle owner: “It’s time.”

Jiang Wang said, “Oh,” and replied, “I’ll go over as soon as I finish this page.”

Lian Yuchan naturally knew that the owner was quick-witted and loved learning, never letting go of a book. After all, she saw him reading every day. By now, she was used to it and asked with a hint of curiosity: “Marquis… what book is the owner reading?”

She was already accustomed to life in Xingyue Yuan, but she would still sometimes inadvertently call out ‘Marquis’. Being in Xiangguo, it was really hard not to have a deep impression of ‘Wu An Marquis’.

Jiang Wang casually lifted the book in his hand towards her, letting Lian Yuchan see the cover clearly.

“Wan Jie Fa?”

Lian Yuchan read it out, her expression immediately becoming solemn and respectful.

This was a classic of Legalism!

The owner was once the top young generation in terms of military achievements in various countries, so his military strategy was definitely beyond question. He was also good friends with Glazed Buddha Child Pure Rite, eating and living together, so his Buddhist studies must also have a deep foundation. That Xu Xiangqian of Qingya Shuyuan was on par with him, called the double prodigies, so Confucianism should also not be difficult for him. Now, he was even dabbling in Legalism, perhaps he truly was a man of all talents.

The owner of Baiyu Jing Jiulou said in a calm and collected manner: “This book is called 《Wan Jie Fa》, but the full text doesn’t talk about the laws of ten thousand worlds. It’s a classic that can explain legal articles in a very interesting way. I often read it and find new insights. Wei Shu of Qin also greatly admires this classic and has quoted it multiple times in public.”

“Yes,” Lian Yuchan sighed. “《Wan Jie Fa》 was written by Xue Gui, a collector of great achievements in Legalism during the Middle Ancient era. He was the first to propose that the laws set by the legal ancestors were no longer suitable for the era and advocated for legal reform. He broke through the trend of worshipping antiquity and set the tone for ‘reform’ in Legalism, becoming a model for future generations to study. My father often says that anyone who has ambitions in Legalism must read this 《Wan Jie Fa》.”

Good heavens, even a small country like Xiangguo reads books with such dedication?

《Wan Jie Fa》 is actually part of the Lian family’s learning.

Isn’t the Great Pillar Country Lian Jingzhi of Xiangguo from the military family?!

Jiang Wang silently put the book down.

And Lian Yuchan was still actively discussing, resonating with a kindred spirit: “Wei Shu is also a master of Legalism, a representative figure of Qin law. It is said that he is a descendant of Wei Xing. In the Middle Ancient era, Wei Xing debated law with Xue Gui and was defeated three times, causing his Dao path to collapse and making it impossible for him to transcend. Yet his descendants were able to learn from Xue Gui, showing their capacity! I didn’t expect the owner to also understand Master Wei, truly profound knowledge.”

That name Wei Xing sounds familiar!

Jiang Wang’s expression remained unchanged, but he scratched his ears and cheeks in his mind for a while, finally giving up and smiling bitterly: “Where do I have profound knowledge? I just know my own shortcomings and am working hard to make up for them.”

Lian Yuchan, after all, was not a bad friend like Chongxuan Sheng or Xu Gao. Jiang Wang was not good at continuing to praise himself. He sincerely said: “I was born in a not very prosperous small town, where people worked from sunrise to sunset and didn’t know what was extraordinary. Many people never walked out of that town in their lives.

My father was very good to me, ensuring I had enough to eat and wear, and taught me to be an honest person.

I loved swordsmanship since I was a child, and my dream was to ride a sword across the blue sky, to fly freely in the heavens. My father never said I was foolish or had wild thoughts, never said we were of humble origin and shouldn’t dream. He only told me that if I truly loved it, I should work hard and persevere.

But he only sold medicinal materials and understood some herbal medicine. He knew nothing about cultivation. He spent a lot of money to buy me some sword manuals, and then personally boiled some medicine pastes for injuries. That was all he could do.

I had no famous teacher to teach me, no famous manual to learn from. I could only bury myself in diligent practice and repeatedly ponder on my own.

Besides a few literacy primers and some medicinal materials illustrations, there were no other books at home to read. At that time, I also didn’t like to read. What was the use of scholars anyway?

Now, after experiencing some things, taking some detours, and reaching adulthood, I can be considered a grown-up. Facing the heroes of the world, I often feel ashamed of my own mediocrity. Miss Yuchan, you mentioned Wei Xing, I don’t know who Wei Xing is. The name Wei Shu, I’ve only seen it in history books.

I have walked ten thousand li, but my vision is still not broad enough. I often regret my superficial understanding and common knowledge. I only hate that there is not enough time, that one moment cannot be divided into two. I can only diligently learn and practice, constantly supplementing my knowledge, so that I don’t become stagnant and enclosed, and finally be abandoned by the world.”

Lian Yuchan was moved for a moment.

She admired him in her heart, but no words could express it.

Speaking of herself, Lian Yuchan was also a proud daughter of heaven, the top figure in Xiangguo. But she often felt limited by her origin, feeling that if she had been born in a country of ten thousand chariots or a prosperous family, she should not have stopped here, but should have strived to make a name for herself in the Huanghe.

But when discussing origin, she grew up reading the classics of the hundred schools, with 《Wan Jie Fa》 being one of them. Jiang Wang only simply recognized characters. Her father was the Great Pillar Country, someone who understood both the divine and the clear, proficient in both literature and martial arts. Jiang Wang’s father was just a small medicinal materials merchant, with only some simple life principles. She learned from famous teachers everywhere since childhood, while Jiang Wang could only flip through several nameless sword manuals until they were worn out.

But who is it today who has made a name for himself throughout the world, who is a renowned hero of the world?

Even if Jiang Wang died today, he would already leave his name in history. And he is still striving forward, working tirelessly.

Lian Yuchan, ah Lian Yuchan, how can you complain and pity yourself?

Sishi is the time when everyone gathers at Baiyu Jing Jiulou to discuss cultivation. Usually, Jiang Wang or Pure Rite will propose a cultivation problem worth thinking about, and then everyone will contribute their ideas and collide their inspirations.

Play Fate, who rents a room here, also participates, not missing a single session.

Baiyu Xia often jokes that this is the meeting of the number one building in the world.

In terms of dishes, although Baiyu Jing Jiulou has hired quite a few famous chefs, they are basically all from various small countries and are fundamentally not ranked in the world.

In terms of wine and drinks, Baiyu Jing Jiulou only preys on the rich, but is very generous to ordinary wine guests. But the quality is definitely not there.

But if you discuss the talent of the wine house… it is absolutely the number one building in the world!

Jiang Wang is the big owner, mainly focusing on delegation.

Baiyu Xia, the Huanghe heaven’s pride, manages the wine house’s affairs and accounts.

Lin Xian, the number one heaven’s pride of Rongguo, chops wood and serves as a thug for the wine house.

Lian Yuchan, the daughter of Xiangguo’s Great Pillar Country, serves dishes and is the owner’s maid.

The little holy monk of Xuankong Si, Pure Rite Monk… under the instigation of Manager Bai, has opened a side business at the wine house.

He sits on the stairs between the tenth and eleventh floors, with a banner on each side.

The left says: Glazed Buddha Child.

The right says: Sincere Intent Open Light.

And he still doesn’t complain.

He only takes ten orders a day. When he finishes, he rolls up the banners and goes upstairs to meditate.

Only the super VIP guests of the wine house, who have eaten from the first floor to the tenth floor and consumed luxuriously on the tenth floor, have the opportunity to obtain a quota through a lottery, and only then do they have the qualification to come and spend money for open light!

There are no restrictions on items for open light. The Buddha says all beings are equal, so anything can be brought to be opened.

If you really don’t bring anything, the wine house also has various souvenirs.

Of course, the prices are not equal.

The business of the wine house is getting better and better, and everyone’s cultivation is also progressing.

For everyone who participates, this is a rare and happy time. There are no schemes or fights, no grudges or resentments. Everyone just simply works, simply lives, and simply cultivates.

In this complex world, simplicity is not simple.

The Sishi cultivation meeting ended, and noon time again welcomed the peak business hours of the wine house. Everyone dispersed to get busy, and Jiang Wang continued to cultivate.

Play Fate didn’t leave today. He sat there without a hint of carelessness, looked at Jiang Wang and said: “Do you live like this every day?”

Jiang Wang casually said as he adjusted his Dao origin: “How do I live?”

“Cultivate, cultivate, cultivate, discuss cultivation, and still cultivate,” Play Fate said. “This is what I’ve seen these past few days.”

Jiang Wang thought for a moment: “It seems so.”

He bent his finger and flicked out a wisp of jade-colored sword qi. That was Baiyu Xia’s Cui Yu Sword Finger: “Do you think the method I’m trying to crack this Dao sword finger is not concise enough? I always feel like I’m missing something.”

Play Fate was a little helpless: “…Perhaps you don’t need to crack it meticulously. You can just break his spirit platform during the second finger. His cultivation is not enough, so there is a gap here.”

Jiang Wang flicked out another wisp of snow-colored sword qi, which fought with the jade-colored sword qi. He said very intently: “What if his cultivation is sufficient?”

Play Fate directly said: “Suppression. Make his killing intent fiercer in the second finger, so that the third finger is very difficult to connect. That is another opportunity.”

“Cui Yu Sword Finger is indeed a killing technique that greatly tests fine control,” Jiang Wang watched the fighting sword qi without blinking. “You have a very direct way of thinking, which is very rare.”

Play Fate said faintly: “You are thinking about how to spar, I am thinking about how to kill him. That’s the only difference.”

Jiang Wang clasped his palm and shattered both wisps of sword qi in his palm. He slowly turned his head to look at Play Fate’s somewhat cold face: “Why do you want to think about how to kill him?”

Play Fate calmly said: “This is my way of thinking.”

“Your way of thinking is very dangerous,” Jiang Wang said.

Play Fate said: “That’s why I’m called Play Fate.”

“I always forgot to ask,” Jiang Wang said. “What business are you doing in Xingyue Yuan? You seem very busy, going out at noon and returning in the evening every day.”

Play Fate’s mouth curved into an insincere smile: “Aren’t you going to wait until I find the right time myself?”

Jiang Wang shrugged: “I’m a person who goes by mood. Especially recently.”

Play Fate said in a firm tone: “You are not afraid of danger, but you are afraid of your friends encountering danger. Don’t worry, I have no interest in Baiyu Xia.”

Jiang Wang said: “Sometimes people have different definitions of danger. So, what are you interested in?”

“I’ll answer your previous question,” Play Fate said. “I came to Xingyue Yuan to handle the business of Qianji Lou.”

Jiang Wang sighed: “I really thought you were a merchant. That way, we could still chat more.”

Play Fate’s tone relaxed: “It’s not much different. I do business all year round and don’t mess with those mechanisms. And, my family’s giant is called Tongchou Zhenjun… There is nothing purer than money in this world. It is clear that merchants are orthodox in Jucheng.”

Qianji Lou is indeed the top merchant pavilion in the world today, and behind it stands Mo Men.

It is an industry of Jucheng, which is why it has a continuous stream of rare treasures, various puppets, and mechanisms that satisfy various demands…

Mo Family Giant Jin Hua is called Tongchou Zhenjun. This was originally a derogatory term, implying that he was going against the path of Mo Family and violating the long-standing spirit of Mo Family.

Logically, this should be a good weapon for others to attack Mo Family disciples. If even your family’s giant is not pure enough, then what kind of Mo Family are you?

But Play Fate’s attitude of taking this as an honor did indeed make people unable to use it as harm.

Of course, Jiang Wang didn’t care about these and only asked: “What is your relationship with Play Suitable?”

That girl he met outside of Buzhou Cheng last year, who could recognize the extraordinary nature of the Ruyi Xianyi with a single glance and wanted to buy it with heavy gold. Later, he did indeed obtain inheritance from within the Ruyi Xianyi.

Later, he learned that the short-haired girl with paint on her face was a genius girl of Mo Family, the operator of Mo Family’s Zhenren level puppet Ming Gui, and also one of the two Zhenren level battle powers who captured Huang Jinmo.

And he still doesn’t know where his senior brother, Zhu Weiwo, has gone.

He had entrusted too many people to ask around, but there was no answer. He had investigated too many clues, but they all turned out to be unrelated. The Cai Jin Qiang has already been repaired with the help of Cheap Sparrow, but that proud man of Hanxing Chen has always been completely without news.

And that one time he brushed past Play Suitable, he didn’t think about it even once. He left it behind in the body of Buzhou Cheng, and from then on, the earth collapsed and disintegrated, and they would never see each other again.

Play Fate was silent for a long time and said: “I consider myself her elder brother.”

“Consider?”

“We have no blood relationship. She is an orphan, and so am I.”

“So what is your purpose for coming to the wine house?” Jiang Wang asked.

Play Fate said: “I did indeed just come to Xingyue Yuan to handle affairs. I heard her say she had seen you and still wanted to buy your Ruyi Xianyi. I just came to take a look along the way… Perhaps you are willing to sell it now? She is a very pure child. She has no interest in the inheritance of the Ruyi Xian Palace. She is just curious about the making method of this immortal clothes. I will give you a suitable price.”

Jiang Wang looked at him and slowly said: “Zhu Weiwo, who disappeared after the battle outside of Buzhou Cheng last year, is my senior brother and the person I always admire. Huang Jinmo, whom you all captured regardless of right and wrong, is my teacher’s wife.”

Play Fate said: “She killed Mo Jingyu, a genius figure of our Mo Family. Tian Gong Zhenren just brought her back to investigate.”

“It’s been two years, what results have you investigated?” Jiang Wang asked.

Play Fate said: “Still investigating.”

Jiang Wang raised his hand and said: “I swear by my name Jiang Wang that the death of Mo Jingyu is unrelated to Huang Jinmo and Zhu Weiwo. Zhu Weiwo will absolutely not deny killing someone.”

“I believe you,” Play Fate looked at him seriously. “But my belief is useless.”

Jiang Wang put down his hand. This kind of talk was indeed unnecessary. He had been childish once when he met Beiming Ke of Yongguo outside of Buzhou Cheng.

He turned and lifted his blue shirt: “About this Ruyi Xianyi, I am thinking of a suitable price.”

Play Fate shook his head: “This is not something I can decide.”

Jiang Wang’s hand dropped, and he only said: “You cannot live here anymore.”

“Why?” Play Fate asked him. “Didn’t you say you could talk about anything?”

Jiang Wang said: “This matter cannot be discussed.”

“Okay!” Play Fate spread his hands. “Business is business. I have already paid for today’s room rent. I will move out early tomorrow morning.”

Jiang Wang said: “Business is business.”

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