Volume 3: The Dao's Intent Across Ten Directions — Chapter 0097: A Familiar Silhouette

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and before long it was already past May. Returning to Bincheng, his days were peaceful and leisurely.

He was just an ordinary civilian, going out every day to buy groceries, haggling with street vendors, and chatting with neighbors—it made him feel quite fulfilled.

The greatest hermit hides in the city, burying his achievements and fame.

After Leng Qianyou's departure, the courtyard house didn't feel particularly cold or empty. Two women's figures frequently appeared there.

Zhang Mengqi and Ye Meier. As for the Bai family, they were already on their last legs and no longer dared to come out and cause trouble.

Zhang Chu had once been curious about why his sister came running here every day. When he discovered this was Qin Yang's residence, he was so frightened he bolted away, and no amount of shouting could make him stay.

This left Qin Yang completely bewildered.

What the hell? Am I really that scary?

Su Ying had since started her own company and business was going well. He hadn't gone to disturb her. As for Wu Yaoyao, he had completely lost contact with her and thought he might go down to Jiangnan to check on her sometime.

One day, after shopping at the mall with Zhang Mengqi and Ye Meier, he stood at the entrance of the department store, staring blankly at a woman.

This figure up ahead was very familiar, yet somehow strange.

Her fine, curly hair hung loose, she wore a white long dress like an elegant celestial maiden, and silver high-heeled shoes on her feet accentuated her noble bearing.

She quickly got into a car and drove slowly away.

Not having seen her from the front, he felt somewhat regretful.

"What's wrong?" Ye Meier looked at the dazed Qin Yang, her eyes full of confusion.

"Ha, nothing. I just saw someone from behind and thought she looked familiar."

Hearing this, Ye Meier immediately laughed. "Hehehe, I saw your eyes go all wide just now. You've got two beautiful women right beside you and you don't look at them—you have to go staring at someone else."

"Ah, it's just like the old saying goes: when it's handed to you on a platter, it's never any good. Only what you fight tooth and nail to win for yourself is truly precious."

Hearing that, Qin Yang didn't dare to respond casually. "Cough, cough, Sister Ye, I didn't have any such thought, alright?"

The matter was quickly forgotten, but little did he know that person really was an old acquaintance of his.

These past few days, he hadn't been idle either, catching up with old friends and having long chats.

Back at the courtyard house, he sat in the pavilion sipping tea.

Ye Meier and Zhang Mengqi began bustling about.

Suddenly, he looked toward the door and laughed. "Come on in. I just brewed some tea."

White robes like snow, footsteps leaving no trace—the newcomer was none other than the White-clothed Sword Saint, Ao Tian. His complexion was ruddy, his black hair wildly dancing, like a dancer.

"Oh? What tea is this? I wonder if I've ever tasted it before?"

Damn it, this was the mortal world, not his Ancient Martial Arts World. There wasn't any high-grade tea to serve here. And this guy was still wearing that same getup—Qin Yang seriously wondered whether Ao Tian had ever changed clothes, or whether this bastard had even taken a bath.

"This is Pu tea. Have a taste."

Ao Tian sat down in the pavilion and took a small sip. It carried a hint of jasmine fragrance along with a touch of rose's fiery warmth. He was quite astonished. "Pu tea? What kind of tea is that? Why have I never heard of it?"

Qin Yang's face darkened. For heaven's sake, was there any need to grill him about it?

"Pu tea just means very ordinary tea. It's brewed by steeping jasmine and rose petals."

Pfft!

What the hell? Ao Tian sprayed the tea in his mouth everywhere, his face a picture of sheer disbelief.

Damn it! Qin Yang quickly dodged aside, narrowly avoiding getting the tea all over his face. Good thing his reflexes were fast enough.

"Sword Saint, are you here looking for a fight?"

"Cough, cough, my apologies, my apologies. I just couldn't hold it in. I'll punish myself with a cup."

Hearing this, Qin Yang rolled his eyes. Seriously—acting like this was drinking alcohol! Punishing himself with a cup, huh? Still, the man was a Sword Saint, so one had to give him at least some face.

Zhang Mengqi and the others had dinner ready soon enough. Ao Tian looked at the two women getting along so harmoniously, his face full of astonishment. Wasn't China a monogamous society?

How had Qin Yang managed to win over both of them, and they even called each other sisters? It was truly impressive.

The Ancient Martial Arts World, influenced by the mortal world, had basically abandoned the old practice of multiple wives and concubines. Especially women of high status, strength, and background treated monogamy as the most important condition for choosing a husband.

That meal was eaten in great harmony. Especially since Ao Tian, after entering the Tongxuan Realm, had been in seclusion every day and hadn't eaten such food in a long time.

The taste was excellent at first bite, and especially so because both men had deep insights into the martial way—they had plenty to talk about.

Zhang Mengqi and Ye Meier remained silent, having never met Ao Tian before and not knowing that Qin Yang had such a friend.

As the two talked on, they gave off the impression of wishing they had met each other sooner.

Fortunately, there were no outsiders there. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought they were old friends reunited after years apart.

The dishes on the table were cleared away and replaced with tea, but their conversation never stopped.

They talked all the way into the dead of night, until finally both fell silent.

"On the fifteenth of this month, at the south of the southern mountains—don't miss it." Ao Tian said this, laughed heartily, and walked out.

That unrestrained laughter immediately woke Ye Meier and Zhang Mengqi, who had been starting to doze off.

Zhang Mengqi knew nothing about the Ancient Martial Arts World, but Ye Meier knew a great many things about Qin Yang. Her face turned serious. "Qin Yang, who is that man?"

"The Ancient Martial Arts World's White-clothed Sword Saint, Ao Tian."

That identity was far too distinctive. Even if he didn't tell her, she'd probably find out through Wang Kun and the others eventually. Better to say it openly.

"The south of the southern mountains—are you two going to fight?"

Qin Yang touched his nose and nodded, looking at Ye Meier with resignation. This woman was too clever, and that really wasn't endearing.

"Sister Ye, what are you talking about? Sword Saint? What duel? Have you been reading too many martial arts novels?"

He gave her a look, and Ye Meier clearly understood his meaning. "Hehe, just kidding. Come on, it's getting late. They never even intended to marry us, so staying here overnight wouldn't be proper."

Hearing this, Zhang Mengqi's cheeks flushed slightly. She stole a glance at Qin Yang, but was pulled away by Ye Meier.

Back home, Zhang Mengqi felt quite frustrated. She had firmly memorized the exchange between Qin Yang and Ye Meier.

The Ancient Martial Arts World, the White-clothed Sword Saint Ao Tian, the south of the southern mountains, a duel!

These words quickly came together in her mind, and she started searching online.

She hadn't searched before, but when she did, she was shocked by what she found.

The internet had a very detailed record of the Ancient Martial Arts World.

The Ancient Martial Arts World, known as the birthplace of the martial way, gathered a vast number of martial artists. They were incredibly powerful, capable of flying through the sky and diving into the earth.

They were separate from the mortal world because the spiritual energy of heaven and earth outside was running dry, making it impossible to cultivate properly.

Then she searched for the White-clothed Sword Saint Ao Tian and indeed found a picture of him from behind.

He carried a great sword on his back, his white robes like snow, gently fluttering.

She instantly recognized him—this was the young man who had eaten with them today.

Ao Tian.

Twenty-nine years old.

A Tongxuan Realm expert who had once slain three masters of the same realm. That same year, within the Blazing Flame Mountain Range, he had killed a hundred men with a single sword strike.

To anyone, such an introduction was no different from a fantasy novel. But for some reason, Zhang Mengqi felt that all of it must be real.