CHAPTER 211: CHAPTER 207 IMPERIAL PALACE

After the banquet, Qin Qing escorted Li Fan and his group out of the Moon Gaze Pavilion and prepared a boat for them.

Ji Hua is a sword cultivator on the Sword Ranking, famous across the land, and he also has another identity, a Li Mountain disciple.

Qin Qing probably also guessed where Li Fan came from.

Ji Hua and Wen Ruyu left messages and secretly met with Li Fan; such a close relationship, who else could it be if not Li Mountain disciples?

Knowing they are Li Mountain disciples, Qin Qing understood some of the events that took place in Chi Xiao City earlier.

Judging by the message they left for her.

This young man before her is likely the most important disciple of contemporary Li Mountain, formally entering the world; otherwise, why would Ji Hua and Wen Ruyu send messages through her, suggesting Li Fan holds seven-tenths of the Sword Dao’s fate in the world?

Li Fan holds seven-tenths alone, what about Ji Hua and Wen Ruyu?

They didn’t even consider themselves, which shows how highly they value this young man.

What he has accomplished is not surprising.

Qin Qing was curious about Li Fan’s status and talent in Li Mountain.

Previously, she heard about the mad scholar Zuo Tu and dismissed it, but now she somewhat believed that Li Fan might hold a share of the Sword Dao’s fate in the world.

The most valued disciple of Li Mountain is destined to have a place in the Sword Dao of the world.

As for the three-tenths, it would depend on Li Fan’s fate in the future.

After all, three-tenths of fate implies becoming the first on the Sword Saint List in the future, even the most exceptional Li Mountain disciple, Qin Qing could not be certain.

Of course, such a possibility is not ruled out.

"Young Master Zuo, tonight is New Year’s Eve. Moon Gaze Pavilion has prepared a boat for you to relax with a night tour on Moon Lake," Qin Qing said with a smile.

Li Fan noticed Huang Xiong standing by the boat, remembering that he was so pleased to see his little senior brother that he forgot about Brother Huang.

"Thank you, Fairy Qin. I’ll gratefully accept," Li Fan replied without reservation, acknowledging the picturesque scenery worth enjoying for the night.

"It’s something Moon Gaze Pavilion should do, Young Master Zuo, please," Qin Qing smiled again.

Li Fan boarded the boat, with Huang Xiong once again playing the role of a boatman.

"To be able to invite you for a drink, Qin Qing considers it a great honor. Until we meet again," Qin Qing smiled in farewell, and her words caused a stir among though eavesdroppers as they passed by.

This Zuo Tu is really impressive to have Fairy Qin drink with him.

"Farewell, Fairy Qin," Li Fan responded with cupped hands. This Qin Qing was indeed clever, with a single statement indicating she invited Li Fan to drink and chat, while also hinting to him that tonight’s events would remain confidential.

The boat sailed into Moon Lake, and only after seeing Li Fan off did Qin Qing return.

"This Miss Qin is truly exceptionally wise," Lu Yuan praised, and Li Fan nodded, addressing Huang Xiong, "Brother Huang, sorry for forgetting you."

"It’s my fault for not being able to control the sword," Huang Xiong felt a bit frustrated. "Could Fairy Qin also be interested in you?"

"Also???"

Li Fan glanced at Huang Xiong, who realized his slip and quickly shut up but sneaked a glance at the girl beside Li Fan.

Li Fan’s brother’s name somehow feels inappropriate; it should be extraordinary.

"Where did you get that crooked thought, Brother Huang? The person I met with wasn’t Fairy Qin. It was the two senior brothers from Li Mountain who visited," Li Fan explained, acknowledging how his senior sister and senior brother cared for him. They engineered this encounter to tell him they’ve always been there, silently watching over him.

Li Fan had no family, but he never regretted it because he had the Old Blind Man, his senior sister, and his senior brother.

"Ah..." Huang Xiong exclaimed.

"What’s the matter?" Li Fan asked.

"I haven’t met the senior brothers yet," Huang Xiong patted his forehead. "Do you think they will think I’m impolite?"

"No, there will be many opportunities in the future," Li Fan said.

"Right," Huang Xiong nodded.

"In this beautiful night, one should truly enjoy," Li Fan smiled, lying on the deck with his head resting on his hands, gazing at the bright moon in the sky.

The bright moon hangs high, thinking of old friends under the moon.

Tonight, especially missing my senior sister.

"Young master, would you like me to massage your legs?" Liu Ji asked with a charming smile, sensing Li Fan was in a good mood.

"Serve well, and the young master will reward you," Li Fan jested back.

"Alright," Liu Ji sat by his legs and extended her hands to massage his legs.

"Young master, should I massage your shoulders?" Lu Yuan joined in the jest.

"That would be great," Li Fan felt slightly flattered.

Lu Yuan shot him a look, as if to say he was quite unreserved.

"If Senior Sister Ye knew you were indulging in pleasure, she’d probably beat you," Lu Yuan laughed.

"Senior sister couldn’t bear to," Li Fan chuckled. "Lu Yuan, do you have any close senior brothers or sisters on Sword Mountain?"

Lu Yuan shook her head, "There are quite a few senior brothers and sisters, but none are very close. Of course, it’s probably my problem."

Her personality was always rather cold, making it hard for her to get along with people.

Li Fan was actually the first among her fellow disciples to get familiar with, not just among fellow disciples; it seemed she was only familiar with Li Fan.

Being able to trust someone so much and open her heart, occasionally joking, was a feeling Lu Yuan cherished greatly.

"Of course, it’s your problem," Li Fan said.

Lu Yuan was stunned and looked down at Li Fan, who smiled and said, "Lu Yuan, with your talent and looks, who would dare get close?"

Lu Yuan’s expression was peculiar, "What about you?"

"Am I the same?" Li Fan laughed, "I’m someone holding seven-tenths of the Sword Dao’s fate in the world."

Lu Yuan gave him a sideways glance, ultimately realizing he was boasting about himself.

"Is it because you grew up with Senior Sister Ye?" Lu Yuan looked at the moon and said softly.

A girl like Ye Qinghuang, even if she’s the most outstanding disciple of Li Mountain Sword Mountain, still feels distant, as if she doesn’t belong to this world.

Growing up with her, how could Li Fan see any other woman?

So, when facing herself, Li Fan wouldn’t think there’s anything special about her.

"Don’t belittle yourself, Lu Yuan. You are the most outstanding woman of Li Mountain," Li Fan said.

"What about Senior Sister Ye?" Lu Yuan asked, looking at Li Fan.

"Senior sister is the most outstanding woman in the world," Li Fan said.

Lu Yuan was stunned. As expected, in Li Fan’s heart, Ye Qinghuang’s status was transcendent, as it should be.

"Even more beautiful than you?"

At this moment, a soft voice came, making Lu Yuan pause and look toward the speaker. It was Yue Qingqiu, quietly listening from the side.

Li Fan was also taken aback, not expecting Yue Qingqiu to suddenly chime in.

"Why do you ask this?" Li Fan smiled and looked at Yue Qingqiu.

"Because she’s very good," Yue Qingqiu said, her clean eyes gazing at Lu Yuan. She always thought Lu Yuan was beautiful.

Liu Ji chuckled; the scene before her was amusing.

She couldn’t help but wonder who Li Fan found more beautiful, Lu Yuan or Yue Qingqiu?

Li Fan was momentarily speechless, unsure of how to respond.

He certainly believed his senior sister was beautiful, but saying it outright seemed...

"I’m nowhere near," Lu Yuan said softly.

"You’re nowhere near?" Yue Qingqiu’s eyes were filled with curiosity.

Is there really such a beautiful woman among humans?

"Yes," Lu Yuan nodded with a smile. "Someday you’ll meet her, and you’ll understand. Senior Sister Ye, she doesn’t belong to this world."

Yue Qingqiu nodded, seemingly understanding but not entirely.

......

Da Li, Imperial City.

This is the most magnificent and grand place in the world, located within this city.

Imperial Palace, Green Phoenix Palace.

A woman dressed in a white long dress quietly stood on the pavilion, her snowy skin glowing softly under the moonlight. Her three-thousand strands of black hair hung like silk behind her, fluttering with the breeze, brushing past her perfect and flawless face.

Tonight is New Year’s Eve; the little junior brother should have received the message she sent.

"Princess," a row of maids approached, bowing in respect. One said, "The Empress Dowager and His Majesty are waiting for the Princess for the banquet."

Ye Qinghuang still stood there silently, and none of the maids dared to rush her.

After a while, Ye Qinghuang softly said, "Help me change."

"Yes, Princess."

The women behind her stepped forward and began attending to her.

Tonight is New Year’s Eve, and the Empress Dowager is hosting a grand feast, with His Majesty personally attending.

A moment later, Ye Qinghuang seemed entirely transformed, wearing a long red dress embroidered with phoenix patterns, grand and majestic, with a pearl hairpin and phoenix coronet.

Instantly, she seemed to change from an ethereal fairy to the most noble woman in the world, still so dazzling that no one dared to look directly at her.

Ye Qinghuang turned and walked away, the hem of her phoenix dress dragging on the ground, with maids following on either side.

She did not like this feeling, nor did she like this Imperial Palace.

Though it once was her home.

But now, everything had long since changed.

She still preferred that tranquil mountain peak, the simple cottage, and the boy practicing at the cliff’s edge.