On a small path outside “Fuyun City,” two women in white robes walked ahead, each holding a sword, while a girl in a purple dress followed behind on a donkey. The sun was setting slightly to the west, and a gentle breeze occasionally rustled the leaves on either side of the path. Accompanying the rustling leaves was the clear and cheerful singing of the girl in purple.
“Ah, what a carefree attitude you have, little girl! It’s impressive that someone so young can see through the ways of the world!” Meng Xiaoyu, who had just finished singing the last line of her song, was startled by the sudden voice. She immediately looked around but saw nothing. However, Han Rubing and her sister, who had been walking ahead, had already drawn their swords and assumed defensive stances, cautiously eyeing the direction from which the voice had come.
“Whoever you are, please show yourself,” Han Rubing called out loudly, her sword held defensively in front of her chest. This person must be highly skilled, far surpassing both her and her sister. Otherwise, how could they have been caught off guard? Tightening her grip on her sword, Han Rushuang’s expression remained stoic, but the slight furrow in her brow indicated that the owner of the voice was indeed a formidable expert.
“No need to be so tense, young ones. This old man means no harm. I just found the song sung by the little one behind you quite amusing and couldn’t help but praise it,” the voice replied.
Meng Xiaoyu was stunned. What had she just seen? An old man with a white beard and tattered clothes had flown down from the top of a very tall tree on the left side of the path. Could this be the “Qinggong” often described in Master Jin’s writings? Her grandfather was right; Qinggong really does exist! She had always thought it was just a fictional martial art made up by Master Jin. With that thought, Meng Xiaoyu’s eyes lit up with admiration, much like when she saw her favorite idol, Zhao Yazhi, and she stared at the white-bearded old man.
In contrast to Meng Xiaoyu’s starstruck expression, Han Rubing and her sister remained composed. After sizing up the white-bearded old man for a moment, they respectfully cupped their fists and bowed, saying, “Han Rubing and Han Rushuang of ‘Chaoque Palace’ greet Senior Mi.”
The white-bearded old man looked at the two sisters and smiled, “No need for such formalities. You must be the twin grand-disciples of ‘Mo Wuyou,’ correct?”
“Yes, Senior. Do you know our master?” Han Rubing asked, somewhat puzzled. She and her sister had only started making a name for themselves in the martial world two years ago when they took over as palace leaders. Although they had gained some fame, it wasn’t enough to attract the attention of such a senior expert.
“Oh, I don’t know her personally. I met your master ‘Mo Wuyou’ last year, and she mentioned you two. She praised you highly, and I thought she might be exaggerating. But seeing you today, I realize her praise was well-deserved.”
“Senior, you flatter us. Compared to you, we are mere novices,” Han Rubing replied humbly. Then she asked, “Our master mentioned that you had retired from the martial world to enjoy a peaceful life. What brings you here today? Is there something important you need to attend to?”
“Ah, nothing much. A few days ago, I was chasing some petty thieves and dealt with them in a nearby town. I heard some martial artists in the town talking about the upcoming Hero Assembly. I thought I’d join in the fun. I also heard that ‘Lingyu Manor’ has several dozen jars of hundred-year-old wine that they plan to open for the assembly. How could I miss such a treat?” The white-bearded old man licked his lips at the thought of the wine, making Han Rubing chuckle inwardly. She thought, “Joining the fun is just an excuse; he really wants to taste the wine.” Everyone in the martial world knew that Senior Mi Jiu loved good food and wine. However, she kept this thought to herself.
Seeing that Han Rubing and her sister had no further questions, the white-bearded old man turned his attention to Meng Xiaoyu, who was still sitting on the donkey in a daze. He asked the sisters, “Is that girl in purple your fellow disciple?”
“No, we just picked her up along the way,” Han Rubing replied with a smile. She then recounted how they had met Meng Xiaoyu and how she had insisted on tagging along with them.
After hearing Han Rubing’s explanation, the white-bearded old man thought for a moment and then said with a hint of regret, “Oh, so she was picked up. What luck! Why don’t I ever have such luck?” Then, as if struck by a sudden idea, he walked towards Meng Xiaoyu with a mischievous grin.
Meng Xiaoyu, snapping out of her daze, saw the white-bearded old man approaching her with a lecherous smile. A sense of foreboding rose in her heart, growing stronger as he got closer.
The white-bearded old man stood in front of Meng Xiaoyu, grinning mischievously, and stared at her without saying a word. Meng Xiaoyu, unsure of what to do, could only stand there, frozen.
