Here’s the rewritten passage with standard English grammar syntax and maintaining the xianxia novel style and original personal pronouns:

Two weary travelers arrived at the office of the supervising official. Both were young men, barely twenty, with the bearing of jade trees and the strength of pines, possessing first-rate qualities. The gatekeeper, upon hearing they were there to visit Master Cui, didn’t even inquire about their identities. He hurriedly led them into the official residence, guiding them to the separate courtyard where Master Cui was temporarily staying. He helped knock on the door before respectfully taking his leave.

The one who opened the door was the very gentleman who represented the Confucian school, come to demand the suppression objects. In his youth, he had won the praise of the “Brush-Pen Scholar,” and was consistently regarded as the undisputed successor to the Mountain Master of Viewing-Lake Academy. Seeing the two young men, he displayed both surprise and curiosity. He looked at the younger man leaning against the door and asked with a smile, “Baqiao, who is this friend of yours?”

The young man called Baqiao grinned mischievously. “This fellow? He’s Chen Songfeng, a scion of the Chen family from Dragon Tail County in Great Yong Dynasty. Master Cui, you can just call him Songfeng. This guy has no interest in beauties or fine wine; his only passion is stone inkstones. He heard there are a few old pits by the stream here and wanted to try his luck. He also has a distant relative traveling with us this time. If it weren’t for her, Songfeng and I wouldn’t have been delayed and would have arrived in town two days ago. She doesn’t like interacting with people, so she went to explore the town on her own. Alas, what a pity, what a pity! On the way here, I heard a prince of the Sui Dynasty had a stroke of great fortune, acquiring a golden dragon carp. He now has great prospects of transforming and soaring through the rivers! It made me so envious my eyes turned red. Master Cui, take a look, they’re bloodshot, aren’t they?”

The young man thrust his head towards the Confucian gentleman, who chuckled and pushed the head away with a finger, reminding him, “Liu Baqiao, since you’ve already delayed your journey, hurry up and take care of your business. Why waste time here with me? When did the style of Thunderwind Garden become so procrastinating?”

The Chen family scion from Dragon Tail County said apologetically, forcing a bitter smile, “On the way, we encountered an unexpected clash. Baqiao suffered injuries to the acupoints of his internal organs that serve as his sword-nurturing chamber, forcing him to risk transferring his natal sword to the Hall of Light acupoint. If my cultivation weren’t so inadequate, making me a burden, Baqiao wouldn’t have been injured.”

Liu Baqiao laughed heartily. “Just a few sneaky rogue cultivators, relying on some unorthodox tricks, barely managed to wound this young master. In any case, they’re already dead by my sword, not worth mentioning! If I weren’t in a hurry, I would have built them a few cenotaphs, erected tombstones, and written that they died under Liu Baqiao’s sword on such-and-such a date. In the future, when I become the number one swordsman, it might even become a scenic spot, wouldn’t it?”

The Confucian gentleman had known this Thunderwind Garden genius swordsman for a long time and knew his inherently unreliable nature. He led them into the courtyard.

Liu Baqiao suddenly lowered his voice. “Master Cui, give me a hint: is this world about to collapse? Is that Master Qi from Cliffside Academy, who was exiled here, really determined to defy the heavens?”

The scholar with the surname Cui remained silent.

Liu Baqiao chuckled. “I understand now.”

The Confucian gentleman said seemingly casually, “Songfeng, I previously visited Master Qi at the academy. The master mentioned cultivation of the self, expressing the sentiment of ‘time waits for no man’.”

Cultivating oneself, ordering one’s family, governing the state, bringing peace to all under Heaven. This seed of a sage from the Cui family only mentioned cultivating the self, stopping there.

Chen Songfeng initially thought it was merely polite conversation between scholars, but when he saw the other man’s eyes, a flash of insight struck him. Chen Songfeng immediately understood and clasped his fist. “Master Cui, I’ll go find that distant cousin of mine. After I return, I’ll seek your instruction on strategies for governing the state.”

In his words, Chen Songfeng intentionally or unintentionally skipped the “ordering one’s family” step, only mentioning governing the state.

Chen Songfeng quickly left.

The scholar with the surname Cui sighed and sat down with Liu Baqiao at the stone table in the small courtyard.

Liu Baqiao crossed his legs, speaking frankly. “This Chen Songfeng is smart, grasping things instantly, but his table manners are too unrefined. He could have at least sat down and chatted nonsense with you for a bit before leaving. Why so eager to seek the protection of the ancestral shade? I don’t see the need. Now, in our East Treasure Bottle Continent, besides the Chen family of Dragon Tail County, how many other prominent clans are left? Those leaves of ancestral shade will obediently fall into Chen Songfeng’s pockets anyway; are they going to fall into the hands of commoners who were born and raised in this town?”

The Chen family of East Treasure Bottle Continent was headed by the Chen family of Dragon Tail County. Although they had been quiet for a long time, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. Although their influence had declined, they were still a millennium-old aristocratic family that had produced a long line of heroes and exceptional figures in their ancestry. Therefore, even a thriving sect like Liu Baqiao’s Thunderwind Garden did not dare to underestimate them. That’s why even someone like Liu Baqiao was willing to associate with them, considering them as half a friend.

The scholar asked curiously, “Did you come here to find that Craftsman Ruan, seeking his help in forging a sword?”

Liu Baqiao was evasive and vague.

The general idea was that he was helping his sect with a matter. If he succeeded, Thunderwind Garden would intercede on his behalf with Craftsman Ruan to forge a sword for him. As for what that matter was, Liu Baqiao seemed reluctant to speak.

The scholar continued, “Did you know that people from Upright Sun Mountain have also arrived? And it’s a pair – a master and servant.”

Liu Baqiao was stunned, shocked. “I haven’t heard anything about it! Who from Upright Sun Mountain came?”

Then, the young swordsman known for his arrogance in Thunderwind Garden closed his eyes, folded his hands together, and muttered a prayer: “Please, don’t let it be the devastatingly beautiful Immortal Su. This humble one begs it’s not Immortal Su making a personal visit. Otherwise, should I draw my sword or not? If Immortal Su glanced at me, I would melt. How could I bear to offer my flying sword…”

The scholar was somewhat helpless. “Don’t worry; it’s not the Immortal Su you admire. It’s the mountain-protecting white ape, escorting the treasured granddaughter of Tao Kui, the Pure Yang Sword Ancestor of Upright Sun Mountain.”

“Old Cui, you’re truly my lucky star! As long as it’s not Immortal Su, everything is fine!” Liu Baqiao immediately jumped up, laughing loudly. “Afraid of him? Am I supposed to be afraid of an old beast?! We in Thunderwind Garden can be afraid of anyone, but we absolutely won’t back down from Upright Sun Mountain!”