The white-haired old man watched everything quietly with a smile, as if he were merely an onlooker.
It was the young man beside him who was in a flurry, busy explaining himself and sweating profusely in anxiety.
The once-crowded crowd had somehow calmed down.
"I don't believe that you've lived this long without ever being touched. Come on, can you break just from a touch?" A delicate and crisp female voice came from the crowd. Everyone's gazes turned to the woman who had spoken.
The woman was dressed in a bright but not gaudy green silk dress. Her long black hair was tied up on both sides with silver cords adorned with bells. Half of her face was covered by a white veil, revealing only a pair of clear and lively almond-shaped eyes.
The white-haired old man looked at her, and a flash of surprise briefly crossed his sharp eyes. The young man beside him didn't recognize her and looked at her with a puzzled expression.
The woman in the red dress turned to look at Su Xiaoliu. Her originally angry face now showed an additional hint of irritation. She arched her willow eyebrows and said, "Who are you? Why are you butting in?"
The corners of Su Xiaoliu's mouth under the veil curled slightly. She had never met someone so provocative before.
She walked towards the woman and said as she walked, "I'm just ridding the evil and promoting the good. How can you say I'm butting in?"
As soon as her words fell, there were stifled laughs all around.
The woman in the red dress glared at her angrily. Suddenly, she let out a sneer and said, "Which sect are you from? How dare you defy my Nanshan Sect!"
"The Nanshan Sect?" When the people below heard the name of this sect, whispers arose from all directions, and their tones were filled with admiration.
Hearing the whispers of the crowd, the woman in the red dress proudly raised the corners of her mouth and lifted her head haughtily.
Who cares about your Nanshan or Beishan Sect? I'm talking about you. Su Xiaoliu thought to herself.
"Arguing so much with an old man. You're really disgracing your Nanshan Sect," Su Xiaoliu said with a smile.
The woman in the red dress blushed. Immediately, the whispers turned into pointing and whispering.
"He offended me first," the woman in the red dress said angrily, pointing at the white-haired old man.
The handsome young man protected the old man and quickly said, "But my master has already apologized..."
Su Xiaoliu looked at the white-haired old man with a smile on his face and sighed softly in her heart.
This old man was no good person. She had seen it before.
Su Xiaoliu looked up at the woman in the red dress and said, "Since the old man has already apologized, let's just let it go. Causing trouble during the Pingshan Conference will only disgrace your sect."
Just as the woman in the red dress was about to say something, several men with their hair coiled and arms wrapped pushed their way into the crowd.
"Little junior sister, master is looking for you. Come with us quickly!"
The woman in the red dress glanced at Su Xiaoliu and then at the white-haired old man. She stamped her foot in anger and quickly disappeared into the crowd with the men.
Su Xiaoliu let out a sigh of relief and turned around to leave.
The handsome young man quickly called out to her and bowed his head, saying, "Thank you, miss, for helping my master out of trouble. To be honest, it was my master who was wrong first..."
"I know," Su Xiaoliu said with a smile, narrowing her eyes.
The handsome young man was taken aback. He looked up and asked in confusion, "What?"
Remembering that this young man was easily embarrassed, Su Xiaoliu couldn't help but feel playful. She deliberately whispered mischievously, "Take off your shoes."
Sure enough, the handsome young man blushed...
After a moment, the handsome young man quickly looked up at Su Xiaoliu and said excitedly, "You... You are..."
The white-haired old man beside him had been watching for a long time. He smiled and said, "It's really you, little shopkeeper."
Su Xiaoliu looked at the white-haired old man and nodded. She said, "Old man, you still owe me a favor. Don't forget."
The handsome young man thought that Su Xiaoliu was referring to the incident just now when she helped his master out of trouble. He quickly thanked her on behalf of his master, saying, "We will definitely not forget. It's all thanks to you, miss!"
Su Xiaoliu just smiled and said nothing. She looked at the white-haired old man and suddenly remembered something. She quickly said, "Pretend you never saw me. Don't tell anyone that I used to work in the teahouse."
The white-haired old man didn't ask any questions. He just nodded. Although the handsome young man was full of doubts, seeing his master nod, he also agreed.
Suddenly, the white-haired old man said, "By the way, little shopkeeper, the words on that piece of paper last time..."
Su Xiaoliu naturally knew what he was referring to. She felt a twinge of worry first, because Chang He knew those words. Then she smiled and said softly, "I haven't told anyone. You can rest assured." But someone had overheard it.
She didn't know much about Chang He, but he shouldn't be a bad person. Although... he wasn't a good person either.
Su Xiaoliu remembered the incident of being mute for three hours the previous night, and a surge of anger welled up inside her.
"These words may very well be related to unrest in the martial world. If anyone asks, just pretend you've never heard them," the white-haired old man said seriously.
Su Xiaoliu quickly suppressed her anger and nodded, saying, "Okay."
"Everyone, the Pingshan Conference of the martial world is now in session. I, Zuo, am honored to invite so many martial artists to participate. The conference will last for three days..." The familiar voice sounded from the stage.
Su Xiaoliu looked up and saw the alliance leader standing in the middle of the stage, dressed in a strong green robe and black boots, looking out in all directions. His black hair was neatly tied up, his nose was straight, his eyebrows slanted into his temples, and his starry eyes were full of grandeur and dignity.
"Little shopkeeper, there will be a martial arts competition later. I'll take my apprentice and leave first," the white-haired old man said, turning his gaze away from the stage and looking at Su Xiaoliu.
Su Xiaoliu nodded. The white-haired old man hooked his long spear around the arm of the handsome young man, who hadn't had time to react. He smiled at Su Xiaoliu and then turned around and disappeared into the crowd.
"I, Zuo, thank you all here!"
On the stage, after the alliance leader finished speaking, thunderous applause and echoes erupted from below.
Su Xiaoliu covered her ears with her hands, frowned, and bent down to escape from the crowd.
At this Pingshan Conference, why was everyone so eager to follow that amorous alliance leader? They must be bewitched!
Su Xiaoliu pursed her lips and thought to herself.
In a dark room, the candlelight flickered.
A shiny golden basin was quietly placed on the sandalwood table. Inside the golden basin grew an unusually beautiful small tree. The trunk of this small tree was green, with clear veins. Its leaves were needle-shaped, evenly spaced. In the densest cluster of needles grew a small red fruit, crystal clear. At first glance, it was very pleasing to the eye.
"Is this the Golden Jade Tree?" A nice, low voice slowly sounded, and the rosy lips on the chin opened and closed.
A purple figure slowly stood up from the chair and looked at the white-clothed young man who was looking down at the small tree in the basin.
"Yes, it's the Golden Jade Tree. There's no mistake," Gu Rongxue said with a faint smile. His thin, flesh-colored lips parted slightly, and his long hair casually fell down, giving a sense of etherealness. "Didn't Young Master Zhong expect the Golden Jade Tree to be a real tree?"
The white-clothed young man let out a soft laugh. He looked up at Gu Rongxue through his white gauze hat. The red lips on his exposed chin curled up slightly as he said, "It is indeed quite surprising."
"The Golden Jade Tree in Qiongxue's possession is rather ordinary. It's just been exaggerated by the world, which has tarnished its reputation as a precious treasure in the martial world," Gu Rongxue said indifferently, his gaze never leaving the small tree in the basin.