Before going to the Yuan Family, Xu Qing first visited the Sun Family.

The Sun Family originally resided in Ninghai.

Due to offending the renowned Mongolian general Guo Kan, they had to relocate their entire clan to Guanzhong to avoid disaster.

Guo Kan had rendered meritorious service for the Mongol Yuan, not only campaigning to the east and west, with his military forces reaching the Extreme West, but also assisting the Mongol Yuan in capturing Xiangyang and subduing the Southern Song.

Based on his achievements and martial arts skills, he should have held a significant position in the Mongol Yuan Court, but unexpectedly, after the conquest of the Southern Song, he angered the Emperor and was demoted to the position of Deputy in Ninghai.

The Sun Family, at that time, thought Guo Kan had fallen from grace, and treated him with some disdain, which eventually offended him.

Guo Kan had many old subordinates, who needed no further instructions to deal with the Sun Family. In desperation, the Sun Family was forced to seek refuge in Guanzhong.

Unexpectedly, the Quanzhen Sect also lost its standing with the Mongol Yuan.

The current alliance with the Yuan Family was not only leveraging the Yuan Family's reputation but also a self-preservation strategy, to firmly establish their roots in Guanzhong.

When the master of the Sun Family met Xu Qing, he knew that his sister, Sun True Master, held Xu Qing in high regard, praising him in family letters as the world's number one master in the making, a reincarnation of Chongyang True Master, so he didn't slight him for being a Firework Taoist.

At present, it hadn't been long since the chaos in the world had ended.

The master of the Sun Family was well aware that in the current era, the most important asset was not gold or land, but talent.

Should a talent like Xu Qing rise with the tides of fortune, he could potentially become the next Guo Kan, or even achieve high office.

The master of the Sun Family engaged in polite conversation with Xu Qing while assessing him.

The more they talked, the more the master of the Sun Family was astonished.

For Xu Qing's demeanor was unrestrained, his speech casual, yet his brief remarks revealed profound insight.

He even suddenly had the notion of marrying his daughter to Xu Qing.

As soon as the thought emerged, he dismissed it.

Too absurd.

How could he have such a thought?

The master of the Sun Family shook his head in secret.

"Master, something's amiss."

The Sun Family's servant hurriedly handed over a calling card.

"I heard you have a jewel of a daughter…"

Xu Qing glanced over as well.

The content of the calling card was terribly cliché, a complete imitation of the Thief Commander.

But the Thief Commander stole treasures, while the other party wanted to steal a person.

This flower-picking thief was being ostentatious, even sending a calling card beforehand, indicating they would come to kidnap the person by midnight tomorrow.

However, the master of the Sun Family didn't mock the other party for being overconfident.

Because the one sending the calling card was Xiong Niangzi.

"Xiong Niangzi is rumored to be androgynous, able to be both male and female, which is one reason why they haven't been caught since their debut," the master of the Sun Family explained to Xu Qing, showing some concern beneath his brow.

The steward beside him said, "We should dispatch someone on horseback immediately to Chongyang Palace for assistance; before midnight tomorrow, other Daoists from Chongyang Palace should be able to arrive."

The master of the Sun Family immediately said, "With Daoist Xu here, why should we bother Chongyang Palace for other Daoists?"

He wasn't sure if Xu Qing could handle Xiong Niangzi, but agreeing to the steward's suggestion outright risked offending Xu Qing.

Since he perceived Xu Qing as someone extraordinary and intended to form a good relationship, he naturally understood the tactfulness required.

Even if they were to seek help, it must be done discreetly.

At worst, using the carrier pigeons, which mustn't be used lightly, could be an option.

Because carrier pigeons could only carry limited information, they were usually reserved for matters concerning the family's future before being utilized.

That would indeed make a large commotion.

Xu Qing smiled and said, "Master Sun, you can send someone to request help, and I will stay here to assist in keeping watch; we should be well-prepared."

The master of the Sun Family was full of praise, realizing this person was truly different from the ordinary geniuses.

If it were other young heroes, they might seek to show off at this time.

…

…

The master of the Sun Family not only sent people on horseback to invite Taoists from Chongyang Palace to help but also called upon nearby friends.

This was also a kind of test.

Everyone knew his Sun Family's daughter was to be wed to the Yuan Family of Guanzhong.

Given now that Sun Family's daughter was targeted by a flower-picking thief, if their marriage with the Yuan Family carried significant influence, many comrades from the worldly society would certainly come to assist.

Although a day's time was short, the Sun Family lived in a prominent location with fast-spreading news, so some insight could still be gleaned from this.

Observing this, Xu Qing didn't think the master of the Sun Family's move had much merit.

Because with the multitude of people, it would be easier for the adversary to fish in troubled waters.

However, having just met the master of the Sun Family, it wasn't appropriate for him to say too much on this matter.

Moreover, with his presence, Xu Qing didn't believe any Xiong Niangzi could slip past him to kidnap anyone.

…

…

Yuan Family Manor in Guanzhong—Bright Moon Manor.

The original architectural style of the Yuan Family Manor was on the brighter side, but since Yuan Wangsun had passed the management of the family's affairs to his son, Yuan Feng, the manor's style had gradually turned darker.

Moreover, many unfamiliar faces had appeared among the household servants.

Actually, for an aristocratic family like his, most servants were born into service, their fate intertwined with the master's family.

But it was unclear what his son Yuan Feng was thinking, to have recruited many outsiders as household servants.

He could even tell that quite a few of these servants had seen bloodshed.

Yet, due to his partiality for this legitimate son, Yuan Wangsun chose to ignore these matters.

However, he also didn't cherish the current ambiance of the manor.

Therefore, marrying a new wife to bring some joy was not a bad choice.

Having more than one mistress of the manor was not considered a bad thing.

Because his son…

Thinking about the reason Yuan Feng refused to marry was due to his infatuation with an old nun from Huashan, Yuan Wangsun felt a bit irritated.

That old nun was old enough to be Yuan Feng's mother.

Probably in defiance of his son, Yuan Wangsun decided to marry a very young woman, with a reasonable family background.

The main advantage was that the woman's kinsfolk included a True Master from the Quanzhen Sect.

For these aristocratic families passed down since the end of Han, there were often inextricable ties with the Taoist sects.

For example, the guest Yuan Wangsun was entertaining was a Daoist.

"Daoist, I am getting married this year, and I initially hoped to set the date in August. By then, with your skills, you could bring fresh cnidarians and four-gill perch from Wu. Unfortunately, Master Zhou calculated the eight characters for me and Miss Sun, and said this month's marriage was the best. So I had to schedule it for this month."

Master Zhou was rumored to be the junior brother of Chongyang Ancestor of the Quanzhen Sect and was over a hundred years old.

He often used such titles while traveling the worldly society, and since multiple generations of sect hierarchs hadn't troubled him, those who knew Master Zhou like Yuan Wangsun and held a certain status usually believed Master Zhou's words.

However, it wasn't Master Zhou himself but his young disciple, Zhou Dian, who told Yuan Wangsun's fortune this time.

Master Zhou always stated that Zhou Dian had the potential to become an immortal, with boundless prospects.

Zhou Dian was considered a martial arts prodigy of the current age by Master Zhou, standing alongside a young monk named Peng Yingyu from the White Lotus Sect.

Especially Peng Yingyu, whom Master Zhou predicted would become a leading figure in the worldly society in the future.

Prajna Submission文本被周仙师称之为天下奇男子,世间伟丈夫.

A young Daoist said before Yuan Wangsun, "I met the Old Mischief on my way here, and he said the one reading your fortune was that Zhou Dian kid."

Embarrassed by the exposure of his lie, Yuan Wangsun said, "I said it like that just to make it sound better to others."

The young Daoist chuckled softly, "Manor Master, on my way, I heard of one more thing. It seems your upcoming marriage might face some trouble."

Yuan Wangsun was curious, and subsequently learned about Xiong Niangzi from the young Daoist's words.

The young Daoist continued, "Xiong Niangzi's identity is quite unusual; she is actually the second daughter of the Guo Family and a direct disciple of the previous Sect Master of the Tibetan Buddhism Vajra Sect."

"What? Which Guo Family?"

"The one who died while serving as Deputy in Ninghai."

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