The word “Jia” signifies beauty.

As the foremost of the Five Classics of Confucianism, the “Book of Poetry” contains the verse: “Its freshness is so beautiful, its age how much more so?”

This conveys the sentiment that if a newlywed bride is exquisitely beautiful, how much more radiant should she be upon reunion after a period of separation?

Later generations often speak of “a brief separation rekindling the spark of new marriage,” a sentiment likely derived from this very line. (Note 1)

This city in the Yang Kingdom, bearing the name “Jia,” naturally embodies the beautiful aspirations held during its construction. From a certain perspective, it also highlights the city’s uniquely endowed abundance.

Jia City boasts mountains and water, its scenery breathtaking. It is also rich in mineral resources and its lakes yield fresh fish.

While it is not entirely free from the scourge of rampant fierce beasts, much like Fenglin City, these creatures are largely confined to the wilderness. At least within the town-level settlements, life remains remarkably peaceful.

After departing from the vicinity of Qingyang Town and journeying for a while longer, the official road began to teem with more carriages and travelers.

There were no extraordinary cultivators accompanying them, suggesting that this stretch of the official road enjoyed a higher degree of safety.

Shuanzi had not visited Jia City often, but he was capable enough not to lose his way.

After paying the entrance fee and leaving the carriage at an inn near the city gate, Jiang Wang and his two companions began to explore the city on foot.

Even Jiang Wang, who never judged by appearances, had to concede that the mountains and rivers of this place nurtured a certain comeliness. The residents of Jia City, both male and female, were generally pleasing to the eye.

Lian Que, if he were to appear here, would undoubtedly be the undisputed most unattractive person in the entire city. Unlike in Nan Yao City, where he at least had some formidable competitors in that regard.

Jiang Wang’s primary objective on this journey was to gather information about the Xi family to determine the strategy and scope of his subsequent actions in Qingyang Town. After all, with his current cultivation, while he could certainly overwhelm Qingyang Town, he could not afford to disregard the military strength of Jia City.

As a vassal state of the Qi Kingdom, the Yang Kingdom, having lost a significant portion of its sovereignty, was considerably weaker than the Zhuang Kingdom.

For instance, the Domain Masters of each major city in the Zhuang Kingdom were all required to be cultivators of the Inner Mansion realm. The sole exception, Dou Yue Mei, who was at the peak of the Teng Long realm, owed her position to the contributions of her deceased husband, Sun Heng. Furthermore, Dou Yue Mei’s own combat prowess far surpassed that of a typical peak Teng Long realm cultivator.

She later effortlessly acquired a divine ability in the battle on Yu Heng Peak. Although her Dao path was severed, as an Inner Mansion cultivator possessing a divine ability, she was already a cut above ordinary Inner Mansion realm practitioners. In fact, she had become the strongest among the various city Domain Masters in the Zhuang Kingdom.

Conversely, the strength of the Domain Masters in Yang Kingdom’s major cities varied. For example, the Master of Jia City was merely at the peak of the Teng Long realm.

Of course, a large family like the Xi family, having been rooted in Jia City for so many years, could not possibly possess only one peak Teng Long realm expert.

Jiang Wang ambled along, seemingly at leisure, but in reality, his eyes scanned all directions and his ears listened to every sound, carefully observing the city.

Extracting truth from details was a skill he had learned when he first formed a team with Ling He and Zhao Ru Cheng to complete various tasks.

As they walked, the maid Xiao Xiao hesitated, her steps becoming reluctant.

Jiang Wang noticed her gaze was fixed on a cloth shop, her eyes lingering there, unwilling to leave.

Yet, she dared not speak to Jiang Wang.

It was a small matter, and Jiang Wang smiled, “Shall we go in and have a look?”

Xiao Xiao lowered her head and said, “I want to make a few new sets of clothes for Master…”

“It’s fine, go in and look,” Jiang Wang said gently, encouraging her. He then turned to Shuanzi and said, “You also go pick out a few bolts of cloth for your wife, consider it a reward for driving the carriage for me into the city.”

Shuanzi, a strapping young man, suddenly blushed. “I…I don’t have a wife yet.”

As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Xiao Xiao.

Jiang Wang couldn’t help but chuckle. “Then take some for your old mother.”

Despite the brief time they had spent together, Shuanzi knew that Jiang Wang was not a pretentious person. This time, he no longer demurred and strode into the cloth shop. “Alright!”

With Shuanzi taking the lead, Xiao Xiao was no longer so reserved and followed him into the shop.

While Xiao Xiao and Shuanzi went to select suitable cloth, Jiang Wang casually browsed.

In his ears, he heard the fragmented conversations of the young women. These women, crowded into the cloth shop to choose fabric, were mostly discussing household matters and trivialities. However, their chatter could, more or less, reflect certain aspects of the city’s situation.

With Jiang Wang’s hearing, if he paid attention, their whispers sounded like loud bells, not a single sentence escaping his notice.

One particular conversation piqued Jiang Wang’s interest.

“Hey, that young man is quite handsome, which family’s young master is he?”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. With a family guard and a maid, he’s definitely from a major household.”

“Pah, I just think he’s not bad-looking, just making conversation.”

“He’s only generally good-looking, miles away from our Young Master Xi. That year I saw him once, and my soul was completely taken. It still hasn’t returned.”

“What ‘your’ Young Master Xi? You’re already married. Behave yourself! He’s ‘my’ Young Master Xi!”

“Tsk tsk, be a bit more realistic. Look at this young master instead. Young Master Xi is cultivating in an immortal valley, would he even glance at us?”

“You can’t say for sure, what if he’s blind?”

The two women chatted playfully in hushed tones, thinking it was a private conversation, completely unaware that every word had been overheard by Jiang Wang.

Regarding the Young Master Xi they were discussing, who was apparently much more handsome than himself, Jiang Wang was most curious about which immortal valley he was cultivating in. What sect or school?

In Jia City, the Young Master Xi who required no prefix could only be the Young Master of the City Master’s mansion.

And the sect where he cultivated and sought the Dao would, to a large extent, determine the future potential of the Xi family.

The rise and fall, honor and disgrace of a family were often influenced by one or two exceptional individuals.

At this moment, Shuanzi had already emerged, clutching two bolts of colorful cloth. Xiao Xiao, however, was still diligently selecting, appearing quite indecisive.

Jiang Wang walked over and asked, “Which bolt do you like?”

Xiao Xiao timidly said, “They all look very nice, this slave doesn’t know which to pick.”

Jiang Wang smiled and said to the cloth shop owner, “Give me one bolt of each of these colors, and pack them up for me.”

“Don’t!” Xiao Xiao exclaimed, blocking him. “Master, that’s too much.”

“Aren’t you quite skilled at needlework? Take your time and practice,” Jiang Wang said.

When Jiang Wang was younger, his family was also relatively well-off. Later, he befriended lavish individuals like Zhao Ru Cheng and no longer cared about worldly gold and silver.

Now that he had entered the extraordinary realm and his cultivation had advanced, there was even less need to mention it.

After he insisted on buying these bolts of cloth, the cloth shop owner even specifically hired a carriage to deliver them to the inn where they had left their luggage.

No sooner had they finished buying the cloth than a commotion erupted on the street outside.

“Ah! Young Master Xi is back!”

“Where, where? I want to see, I want to see, sisters, support me!”

The screams seemed to be contagious, quickly spreading to their ears.

Jiang Wang felt a gust of wind sweep through the shop, and in an instant, it was empty. The young women, as if possessing extraordinary speed, were all gone in a flash.

He looked at the cloth shop manager, who merely shrugged, clearly accustomed to such occurrences. “Young Master Xi’s return to the city is always like this.”

Shuanzi and Xiao Xiao exchanged glances, appearing not so much out of the ordinary, but rather like country folk who had not seen much of the world.

Jiang Wang, filled with a bit of curiosity, stepped out of the cloth shop and looked towards the end of the long street, at the man riding slowly on horseback, wanting to see what kind of person he was.

He saw a man in a green shirt, with a straight nose and bright eyes, his demeanor outstanding.

Even the city guard army had to be mobilized, surrounding him, in order to hold back the city’s frenzied women.

He held the reins with one hand, his steed walking slowly. Wherever his gaze fell, screams followed.

“Young Master Zi Chu!”

“Young Master Zi Chu, look at me!”

The shouts were incessant.

He was indeed a figure of romance.

Jiang Wang also noticed that his breath was long and unconstrained, indicating that he had clearly already pushed open the Gate of Heaven and Earth and was a Teng Long realm cultivator.

“Does the old man know where this Young Master Xi cultivates, which immortal mountain?” Jiang Wang asked, feigning casualness.

The old cloth shop manager chuckled, seemingly honored.

“East Wang Valley!”

Note 1: The author’s own inference. Not verified, no need to fully believe.

Additionally: The new type of virus is becoming increasingly severe, and it is also the end of the year. Originally, I had no mood or time to write and wanted to ask for a ten-day holiday to also get some rest.

However, the editor gave me a small recommendation and was worried that if I didn’t update during this time, I wouldn’t get any more recommendations. I could only cancel the holiday and work hard with clenched teeth. To everyone,