Changting Town, Jinhong Tower.
It's not yet noon, but the Jinhong Tower is already packed to the brim. A storyteller on the first floor is vividly narrating tales that don't belong to this world.
As usual, everyone is listening with great interest.
In a corner on the first floor, a young girl is listening intently, enraptured by the story.
"It's so moving," the girl murmurs emotionally, tears streaming down her face, "Why did Fairy Zixia have to die when she was so wonderful?"
"Their love is so touching."
Which young girl isn't fond of romance?
And the story of Fairy Zixia and Supreme Treasure deeply captivates every girl.
Wishing desperately to have a love as passionate and grand!
"Why can't I meet a man like Supreme Treasure?" The girl sighs lightly at this moment, thinking of the one she was betrothed to as a child, feeling a bit frustrated. She rises and storms out, sword in hand!
In her fluster, she even knocks over the tea of a shop assistant.
"Who is that? Acting so arrogantly in Jinhong Tower?" someone couldn't help but ask.
Jinhong Tower is the property of the Yan family, after all.
The Yan family now ranks among the top families in the Cangyuan Realm, with close ties to the current Realm Master, Li Changqing. Though the Yan family has moved to Celestial Sea City, their properties left here in Changting Town are not something just anyone dares to meddle with.
"You don't know her?" someone quickly said, "That's Xue Linglong, a disciple of the Mountain Ancient Land. Her grandfather is the Thousand Snow Sword Immortal, Xue Qianbai."
"Hiss!"
Many people couldn't help but gasp upon hearing this.
Thousand Snow Sword Immortal, Xue Qianbai!
He is the foremost in Sword Dao in the world today.
Though he has been in seclusion for many years, striving for that final breakthrough, and hasn't appeared in the Cangyuan Realm for a long time, his reputation remains. Who would dare provoke his great-granddaughter?
Changting Town, the small courtyard where the Yan family originally resided, has long been renovated, and now the residence has become the Li Mansion.
"Li Cangxuan, come out here!"
Xue Linglong barges into the Li family's mansion, and the servants there dare not interfere, recognizing this lady.
The future young mistress, no less.
"Li Cangxuan!"
Xue Linglong calls out.
"What's up?"
At that moment, a lazy voice responded. Xue Linglong looked up to see a young man lying on a tree, reading a book.
"You're disturbing my reading."
"Reading, reading, is reading all you know?" Xue Linglong said irritably, "Your grandfather is the Realm Master Cangyuan, your grandfather ascended through martial prowess, yet you've become a bookworm? All you do is read; why on earth would I be betrothed to you as a child? I think my dad lost his mind, looking only at your father's wealth and betrothed me to you. I want to call off the engagement!"
The more Xue Linglong spoke, the angrier she became.
"Call off the engagement?"
Li Cangxuan put down his book, "Just for this?"
"My husband must be a peerless hero, someone who will appear under the eyes of the world, clad in golden armor and riding a cloud of rainbow to marry me!"
"Heh," Li Cangxuan chuckled, "You've listened to too much of Journey to the West. That was something my grandfather made up to scam money. Do you really believe such a person exists?"
"Nonsense, anyway, I want to break up with you. I'm going to seek my happiness, you keep reading your useless books." Xue Linglong huffed coldly.
"My grandfather carved wood to pursue Dao, achieving his status as Realm Master Cangyuan. How do you know one can't attain the Dao through reading?"
"Then you pursue your Dao through reading. I'm going to find my own happiness."
With that, Xue Linglong strode away.
"That girl..." Li Cangxuan smiled wryly.
By evening, Li Cangxuan left the Li Mansion and wandered into a small alley. A fragrant aroma wafted through the air. This place was rather secluded, but Li Cangxuan knew of a wonderful little wonton shop here.
The wonton shop used to be called the Evergreen Painting Boat.
At some point, it was rented by an old lady who opened a wonton shop.
The business wasn't particularly good, but Li Cangxuan loved coming here. He had no fondness for the likes of Celestial Sea City. He preferred the tranquility of a small place like Changting Town, where he could read quietly. For him, reading was the greatest joy.
"Granny, a bowl of wontons, please," Li Cangxuan called as he sat down.
"Alright." The voice was as calm as ever. Shortly after, a silver-haired granny emerged, serving Li Cangxuan the wontons, "Eat slowly, don't burn yourself."
"Your wontons are still the best, Granny, much better than Jinhong Tower's," Li Cangxuan said as he ate.
The silver-haired granny said nothing, only quietly continued wrapping wontons.
After finishing, Li Cangxuan looked at the granny wrapping wontons and couldn't help but ask, "Granny, I've never asked, are you alone? What about your husband?"
"Dead," the granny replied calmly.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Li Cangxuan quickly apologized.
"No problem, he's been dead a long time. I killed him myself," the granny smiled slightly.
"Er..." Li Cangxuan was taken aback, then smiled and shook his head, thinking the granny was just joking. He didn't pursue the topic, instead sharing about the engagement being called off.
"The great-granddaughter of Thousand Snow Sword Immortal, it's natural for her heart to be lofty as the heavens," the silver-haired granny listened patiently, then asked, "Do you like that girl?"
"Well... I guess I do." Li Cangxuan smiled awkwardly.
"If you like someone, you must trust your feelings and strive to be with her," the silver-haired granny said earnestly, "Liking someone is pure. Be firm in your heart. Once, a friend of mine didn't like his wife at first, but she was determined. She stood by him through many battles, and eventually, they had a very happy ending."