The wine flowed, three rounds deep.
Lin Zhao and the man in green exchanged casual conversation, while Xiao Shi Tou and Xiao Jiu'er ate with ravenous appetites. The adults’ drinking was of no concern to the children.
At this moment, the man in green cautiously produced a fruit from his embrace and solemnly placed it before Lin Zhao.
"Ah!?"
Lin Zhao recognized it instantly. It was the White Tree fruit that had been stolen from him, his destined opportunity!
"This is…"
The young man was astonished, his face a mask of disbelief.
The man in green smiled faintly. "Actually, some things shouldn't be kept from you. My coming to Tianchi Town this time is solely for you."
"Me?"
The young man was surprised.
"Mmm."
The man in green nodded gently. "I am a cultivator of the School of Strategy. My cultivation realm, well, it's quite considerable. That's why I was able to retrieve this fruit, which belongs to you, from Qin Ruo and Zhao Yan. Furthermore, although I haven't revealed my name, we are actually very close. In a sense, you should call me Third Senior Brother."
"…"
Lin Zhao was utterly bewildered. "Wh-why is that?"
The man in green chuckled and pointed to the sword behind Lin Zhao. "Because of this sword. Whoever wields this sword is naturally one of our fellow disciples. And since you are the youngest, you are the Junior Brother."
Lin Zhao's heart pounded. He felt that things were far from simple. He then said, "Xiao Shi Tou, Xiao Jiu'er, go play in the side room for a while. We have something important to discuss!"
"Oh!"
The two children were full and went to the side room to play.
Lin Zhao also raised a finger and pointed to the ancient sword behind him. "Sister Bai in this sword… could it be…"
"Mmm."
The man in green nodded and smiled. "Precisely. That's why you should call me Third Senior Brother."
Although Lin Zhao was still full of questions, he knew he couldn't force the other party to reveal more. He smiled and happily called out, "Third Senior Brother!"
"Mmm, mmm!"
The man in green seemed very pleased, feeling his trip was worthwhile. "Junior Brother, I must leave after this meal. There are many matters at the ancestral home of the School of Strategy that I must personally attend to. As for you, I have nothing much to give you beyond retrieving your destined opportunity. I also wish to present you with this manual of Strategy talismans."
With that, the man in green produced a talisman manual. It wasn't very thick, but the material seemed extraordinary. As Lin Zhao held it, he felt its weight.
Lin Zhao opened it. The first page described a single talisman, the Tracking Talisman, which could track the whereabouts of demonic or shadowy entities. The manual detailed the composition of the talisman, the force of the brushstrokes, and so on. The calligraphy was quite fresh, suggesting it hadn't been written long ago, perhaps even by Third Senior Brother specifically for him.
"Senior Brother."
Lin Zhao looked up at the handsome man in green and offered a bright, sunny smile. "Thank you!"
The man in green chuckled. "We are fellow disciples, why be so polite? This type of Strategy talisman was actually created by me. Although many sword cultivators in the School of Strategy have learned these talismans, this is still the most authentic and closest to the origin. So, you can use it as a reference to learn drawing talismans. It will be very beneficial for your fist techniques and cultivation of the mind."
"Mmm!"
Lin Zhao nodded repeatedly.
The man in green continued, "As for this White Tree fruit, you can eat it tomorrow morning after waking up. Consuming it will undoubtedly bring immense benefits. Cherish this destined opportunity well."
"Understood, Senior Brother."
"Alright."
The man in green stood up and smiled. "I'm leaving now. Junior Brother, take care of yourself."
"I'll see you off, Senior Brother!"
"No need."
The man in green stood up, and his figure instantly vanished into the swirling snow. Lin Zhao rushed out but could no longer see anyone.
…
On the main street of the small town, a bookshop.
Qin Suihan had just warmed a pot of wine and prepared a few delectable dishes. A small pot of venison was simmering on a small stove. He held a book in one hand and busied himself with wine and food in the other, his gaze occasionally drifting to the snowy scenery in the courtyard, embodying the elegance of a scholar.
A figure in green glided in. The man in green, uninvited, sat upright opposite Qin Suihan. On the table, chopsticks, wine cups, and bowls were already set for him.
"It's been a while!"
The man in green smiled faintly. "It seems… you've aged a little."
Qin Suihan glanced at the Sage of the School of Strategy before him. "We scholars labor our minds and bodies, often doing thankless tasks. Naturally, we show our age a bit. Unlike you in the School of Strategy, who act decisively, drawing your sword when displeased. You don't bear the karmic consequences of the Great Dao, your spirits are clear, so you naturally appear younger."
The man in green rubbed his nose. "You put it so eloquently. I'm actually centuries younger than you, aren't I?"
Qin Suihan smiled slightly, picked up his wine cup, and lightly clinked it with the man in green's. "How is this Junior Brother? I've been watching over him for a very, very long time."
"Excellent!"
The man in green beamed. "He possesses youthful passion and the steady composure of a wise man. I've examined his state of mind. He suffered so much hardship in his childhood, it truly was difficult for him."
"Indeed."
Qin Suihan said, "After enduring so much suffering, he still holds such fervent passion for this world, never harboring resentment or hatred towards it. This is truly Lin Zhao's most precious and admirable quality."
"Yes, yes, yes, let's drink, drink!"
The man in green drained his cup and tasted a mouthful of stir-fried wild boar. He frowned. "Your cooking… seems inferior to my Junior Brother's!"
Qin Suihan became somewhat annoyed. "Don't eat it then, get lost?"
"Hahahaha, eat, eat, eat. I'm not just saying it, Old Qin, your scholar's temper is truly not very good."
"And yours is good? You almost flattened the Qinglan Sect with a single punch?"
Qin Suihan retorted grumpily. "If that sword were present, the entire Qinglan Sect would have vanished from the human realm, wouldn't it?"
"Impossible, impossible."
The man in green laughed. "I am indeed of the School of Strategy, but I'm not some bloodthirsty demon. Besides, the mere Qinglan Sect is not worth me drawing my sword."
"Mmm, let's take our time."
Qin Suihan smiled, looking out at the wind and snow. "Lin Zhao is still growing slowly. His future is promising."
The man in green rolled his eyes. "So overly sentimental…"
…
North of Xueyu Tianchi.
A new encampment had been established, guarding Xueyu Tianchi on the mountainside. Horses galloped like lightning within the camp. This was the temporary base of the Fengcheng Camp. Outside the main tent of Fengcheng Camp, a beautiful woman in military armor was practicing her martial arts stances, her entire being radiating a rich martial intent. Her beautiful eyes held a resolute gaze, and her movements blended qi and rhythm, making her appear incredibly spirited.
Chen Yu, the sole surviving direct descendant of the Da Chen Dynasty's royal family.
From a distance, on the southern mountainside of Xueling, a white-robed youth emerged from a shrine. His eyes glowed with a deep golden light. He turned and soared into the sky, settling amidst the clouds. From afar, he watched Chen Yu practice her boxing, his eyes filled with longing and tenderness.
…
Winter snow descended. The small town was exceptionally cold this day.
Amidst the swirling snow, the man in green finished his wine with the bookshop owner. Donning his cloak, he ventured out again. He didn't fly but followed the town's path down the mountain towards the south. Along the way, he bought a roast chicken and a pot of warmed wine. As he reached the mountainside, a shrine appeared in the snow curtain ahead. The shrine was unguarded and quite dilapidated.
"Still watching?"
The man in green pushed open the temple door and smiled. "You've returned. Have a drink with me before you continue watching."
In the air, a white-robed youth descended gracefully. He emerged from the mountain god statue within the shrine and laughed, "Yo, brought roast chicken? Tsk tsk, too bad I can't eat it!"
"I'll eat, you drink."
"Heh heh!"
The two sat on the threshold of the temple gate, unafraid of the wind and snow, drinking wine and chatting.
"What generation is this of hers?" the man in green asked.
"Nineteenth."
The white-robed mountain god smiled. "This one is the most beautiful."
The man in green scoffed. "She won't be able to break free this lifetime, will she?"
"If she can't break free, then that is me."
"Indeed."
After finishing their wine, the man in green raised his right fist. His punch shattered the sky, transforming into a golden beam that shot straight through an invisible barrier in the heavens. He had ascended beyond the clouds.
…
The real world, Suzhou.
A military-grade magnetic levitation luxury car slowly stopped in front of a villa in the city. This villa occupied a vast area, built beside what was once Taihu Lake. However, the wars of the past had evaporated a large portion of Taihu Lake's water, leaving it much smaller. Thus, residences on the shores of Taihu were even more precious. This villa complex, stretching for miles, clearly housed people of immense wealth and status.
The car door opened, and out stepped Murong Feiyue, clad in a general's uniform, her posture erect. She was as beautiful as a thorny rose, but exuded an aura of unapproachable authority.
Inside the villa.
Shen Xingchen slowly removed her gaming helmet, smoothed her long hair, and stepped out of the gaming pod. She frowned. "That person is from the military? No way… I don't know her… What does she want with me?"
The middle-aged butler respectfully replied, "I don't know, Young Lady. You'll find out when you see her. It's alright; I've already called for security. Even if she intends to do you harm, there won't be any trouble."
"Understood."
Shen Xingchen donned a coat that exuded elegance. Her long, slender legs in high heels strode down from upstairs. In the hall, she saw a woman in a high-ranking military uniform seated in the living room. She was very beautiful.
"Excuse me, who are you?"
"My name is Murong Feiyue."
The other woman stood up, her face adorned with a warm smile. "From the Eastern Theater Command, Lieutenant General."
"Oh…"
Shen Xingchen's family's Xinghen Group had many collaborations with the military, and she had met many people. She recognized the rank insignia of two gold stars on the collar and confirmed its authenticity. To be a Lieutenant General at such a young age meant either extraordinary capabilities or formidable personal combat power. Regardless, this was a genuine VIP.
"May I ask why you're looking for me?" Shen Xingchen asked.
"I just wanted to ask."
Murong Feiyue wanted to ask, but the confidentiality agreement regarding Lin Zhao's treatment stood in the way. Thus, she hesitated and then smiled. "Were you in Tianchi Town recently? Did you happen to see an NPC who looked a bit like me? A young man."
"This…"
Shen Xingchen observed her carefully. "No… I really didn't…"
"Understood."
Murong Feiyue smiled faintly and said, "Then I've bothered you. My apologies."
"It's alright."
Shen Xingchen watched her leave, utterly perplexed. She frowned and muttered to herself, "Perhaps I should spend more time exploring Tianchi Town in the next few days?"
As she turned, she looked at the butler. "Have the people from the Confidentiality Department investigate Murong Feiyue's background. Nothing too detailed, just publicly available information. Avoid being detected; we might not be able to afford to offend her."
"Yes, Young Lady!"