Chapter 235: Dao Baifeng

The experts of Bianliang City were in chaos all night, then settled down again.

Gu Qing held A Bi tightly as he slept until nearly noon, finally rising; A Bi fetched water and helped him wash and dress, after which he stepped into the courtyard, smiled at Wang Yuyan and Mu Wanjing, ruffled Li Qingzhao's hair, and turned toward the pavilion, where Li Qiushui and Wang Lady sat together, speaking softly.

"What is your grandmother saying?"

Seeing Wang Yuyan's displeased expression, Gu Qing asked willingly.

"Grandmother wants Mother's cultivation."

Wang Yuyan said briefly.

Li Qiushui had lost much of her cultivation to the Child of Mount Tian Shan and suffered great losses; naturally, she resented it, and since Wang Lady possessed the remaining fifty years of cultivation left by Wu Yasheng, Li Qiushui sought to reclaim it from her.

"Will your mother give it to her?"

Gu Qing glanced toward the pavilion, where Wang Lady was nearly leaning into Li Qiushui's arms—she would surely agree to anything.

Wang Yuyan sighed helplessly.

Gu Qing gently stroked Wang Yuyan's hair and said, "It's all your grandfather's legacy—how they handle it is their affair." Having arrived in Bianjing, Gu Qing planned to take Wang Yuyan and Mu Wanjing for a stroll through the city, while Li Qingzhao, though young, was sharp-tongued and could serve as their guide.

Wang Yuyan and Mu Wanjing came to Bianjing eager to wander, strolling and dining with Gu Qing, and the gloom of many days dissipated.

During their idle wandering, they unknowingly reached Hongqiao, which spanned the Bian River like a flying rainbow, crowded with carts, horses, and throngs of people.

"Let's go to Fan Tower."

Li Qingzhao led the group toward Fan Tower.

Fan Tower was the largest tavern in Bianjing; after Li Qingzhao guided them inside and they sat down, the group spotted an acquaintance within.

Dao Baifeng.

Dressed in plain robes, she gazed out the window, her sleeves fluttering like Guanyin descending to earth.

"Your Highness."

Wang Yuyan, Mu Wanjing, and Zhong Ling all approached, greeting her; Qin Hongmian, though seeing Dao Baifeng's eyebrows slightly raised, still came forward.

"It's you."

Dao Baifeng turned around, deeply surprised; her gaze swept over them, paused briefly on Gu Qing, studied Li Qingzhao several times, then said, "Since Yu'er left Dali, Duan Zhengchun left too. I was uneasy about him, so I followed."

Beside Dao Baifeng stood a charming young woman who also bowed to the group; upon learning Gu Qing was Duan Yu's master, she performed a deep bow.

"This is Gao Mei, daughter of Gao Shengtai."

Dao Baifeng introduced Gao Mei to the group.

Gu Qing nodded to Gao Mei, knowing she was Duan Yu's original bride; in the serialized version, Duan Zhengchun had hesitated to propose when he heard Gao Mei had fully mastered Gao Shengtai's martial arts.

"Master Gu."

Gao Mei stood boldly before Gu Qing and said, "I heard you turned Duan Yu from a complete novice into a great master in just a few days—could you teach me too?"

Gu Qing smiled and asked, "What do you like to practice?"

Gao Mei, delighted by his agreement, quickly replied, "At home, I practice palm techniques and fistwork."

Gu Qing thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll teach you a set of Golden Silk Cotton Palm."

Golden Silk Cotton Palm was a martial art from the ancient world's Mount Wudang, emphasizing softness and suppleness, well-suited for women.

Seeing Gu Qing so agreeable, Gao Mei was overjoyed and bowed deeply again.

Gu Qing smiled, feeling for the first time like a grandfather.

Since everyone had gathered, they sat together; Li Qingzhao ordered dishes, and as they chatted, Dao Baifeng said she had trailed Duan Zhengchun but repeatedly missed him, then heard Duan Yu was in Bianjing, so she abandoned chasing Duan Zhengchun and came here to find him. "The latest news is that Duan Zhengchun is with the Beggar Clan's Lady Ma."

Dao Baifeng spoke of this with utter calmness.

"Lady Ma?"

Mu Wanjing asked in surprise, "She didn't die?"

In Murong's household, Lady Ma had been condemned, but Qiao Feng hadn't killed her—he handed her over to the Beggar Clan, and everyone assumed she was dead. Hearing Dao Baifeng speak this way, they were stunned.

"I've also heard of the Murong family's affairs."

Dao Baifeng said coldly, "That Lady Ma murdered her husband, seduced men, and was utterly shameless—but the Beggar Clan didn't execute her in Murong's household; after leaving, she escaped. Who knew they could… Along the way, the Beggar Clan has harassed us repeatedly—all because of her."

Fine.

Gu Qing fell silent; in the original novel, Lady Ma, surrounded by Beggar Clan elders, served them tea that knocked them unconscious, then slipped away easily.

Now, Lady Ma is alone and clinging to Old Duan—perhaps she'll behave better.

!

As they talked, food arrived; after dining at Fan Tower, Gu Qing taught Gao Mei Golden Silk Cotton Palm. Since their lodgings differed, they parted ways.

"Mother, you're not coming with us?"

Mu Wanjing asked in surprise, seeing Qin Hongmian preparing to stay with Dao Baifeng.

In the past, Qin Hongmian and Dao Baifeng had been mortal enemies.

"I'll stay with Her Highness."

After speaking to Mu Wanjing, Qin Hongmian leaned close and whispered, "You've always urged me to practice Mingyu Gong, but no matter how hard I train, I make no progress—my skin still looks the same. Look at Her Highness—her complexion glows, utterly different from before."

Seeing Dao Baifeng's original wife now so radiant, Qin Hongmian wanted to learn her secret.

"But how will she teach you?"

Mu Wanjing asked.

Mu Wanjing knew her mother's nature—if someone spoke gently, Qin Hongmian softened; if someone was harsh, they'd draw blades.

"She probably will."

Qin Hongmian nodded; Wang Lady's advancement to Mingyu Level Eight had given Qin Hongmian serious urgency, but she was too conservative to ever strip before Gu Qing. She whispered to Mu Wanjing, "Don't you notice? Her Highness spoke to me very gently this time—she wants to appear a good mother-in-law to Gao Mei."

Mu Wanjing shook her head, stepped forward to speak with Dao Baifeng, and indeed, Dao Baifeng's demeanor was excellent—she reached out and took Qin Hongmian's hand.

After parting from the group, Qin Hongmian followed Dao Baifeng to their inn; as soon as she washed and combed her hair, she eagerly inquired.

"You mean Gu Qing's Mingyu Gong can preserve skin radiance?"

Dao Baifeng's voice held hesitation.

Qin Hongmian nodded, speaking earnestly, "But only Yuyan and Wanjing can practice it—we can never remove our clothes before Gu Qing. I've noticed your skin…"

Qin Hongmian reached out, touching Dao Baifeng's arm like a blooming branch—its touch was icy, strangely unusual.

"It's nothing…"

Dao Baifeng said.

Her secret to beauty was also Mingyu Level Eight…

(End of Chapter)