Chapter One: White Deer

  In Zhīyú Tíng, Xiǎo Qiàn suddenly disappeared.

  "Hanwen, how come you just got back and are already hiding here being lazy." A clear voice came over.

  Xu Xian turned back, Pan Yu was smiling and walking into the pavilion, Xiao Qian had already slipped away unnoticed.

  "Stolen a leisurely half-day of life." Xū Xiān stretched and said.

  "'Stolen leisure for half a day' - Pan Yumuttered to himself, and exclaimed: 'Your words are always so well-phrased, Hanwen!'"

  Xu Xian was taken aback, never expecting that a common saying passed down through the ages would become a beautiful phrase here, but it wouldn't do to shift everything onto the Daoist's shoulders, and he thought of making some nonsensical response.

  Unexpectedly, Pan Yuchong winked at him with a smile "I understand, Taoist, after all." His long eyelashes fluttered, and his eyes seemed to be rippling with something called autumn waves.

  Xu Xian touched his nose, and his face turned slightly red.

  Pan Yuxin secretly smiled: You don't know that you always glance sideways with your eyes when you lie? Of course, she wouldn't say this to Xu Xian.

  The pavilion fell silent for a moment, but the two didn't feel awkward. Xu Xian stroked the Qinghong sword in his hand, the scabbard was simple and unadorned, but there was nothing special about it. With a "swoosh" sound, he drew out the sword, its body shimmering with a blue light, humming like a dragon's chant.

  Xu Xian gazed at the Qinghong Sword in his hand, its blade reflecting his black eyes. The path pointed out by Yan Chixia was even more exciting to him than the one pointed out by Yu Xuanji.

  Looking around and killing people, ten steps without leaving a trace. Last night I was still in Qing Shan Bai Li, this morning I've already seen the Luo River ahead. Going east, not looking back, drinking and singing, that's what it means to be carefree. This kind of life, even in my past life's midnight dreams, I had deeply yearned for. But in that world, it was ultimately impossible to achieve. And now, an opportunity is placed before me, allowing me to realize this dream, how could he not be moved?

  Pan Yu saw Xu Xian's expression suddenly turn serious, and a strange light flashed in his eyes. She hadn't known Xu Xian for long, but she felt like she already knew him well. Yet the look on his face now was one she had never seen before - cold and proud.

  "Where did this sword come from in Han Dynasty?"

  Xu Xian was lost in thought and didn't react until a moment later, then smiled and said, "Someone else gave it to me."

  The warm smile made Pan Yusu take a breath, and unknowingly, that smile was what she was familiar with, even cherished, and didn't want to lose easily.

  "Qinghong Sword!" Pan Yu only noticed the sword in Xu Xian's hand at this time and immediately called out the name of the sword.

  Xu Xian handed over the sword and said "Nuo, take a look, it should be real!"

  Pan Yu took it over, carefully examined it, and stroked the blade with his hand. He said in surprise: "It's a genuine one, but this sword has been lost for a long time, how did it end up in your hands, Han Wen?"

  "It was given by someone else." Xian said lazily.

  "That man has a big handwriting, it's been a long time since I heard you tell stories, quickly tell me what's going on." Pan Yu said, putting down his sword and sitting beside Xu Xian.

  Xu Xian also felt that there was nothing worth hiding, so he briefly glossed over the part about subduing demons at Lanruo Temple, and told them how he had met Yan Chixia, how he had learned swordsmanship, and finally how he had been invited to go to Shanjian to learn swordsmanship.

  Pan Yu muttered to herself, "Sword hero?" Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she said: "Han Wen, sell this sword to me!"

  "How can I? It was given by someone else, and I'm still relying on it to learn swordsmanship."

  "We are scholars and should focus on reading books. How can we achieve great things with a divided mind? Sell this sword to me."

  Xu Xian was taken aback, realizing that it was to advise himself to study hard. He couldn't help but sigh and say: "The gift from the heroic knight, how dare I sell it? If you want it, I'll just give it to you." After all, he couldn't leave West Lake behind. The person he was waiting for hadn't arrived yet. Rather than hesitating, it's better to make a decisive decision. Keeping it by his side would always be a temptation. Discarding it was impossible, and selling it for money made him feel ashamed. He could only give it away, and the only one he could give it to was Pan Yu, who knew martial arts and had saved his life once.

  Pan Yu didn't mince words either, "Alright then, thanks to Han Wen." In her heart, she inexplicably felt a sense of relief, now he wouldn't be able to go to Qingcheng Mountain. Moreover, as someone who had also practiced martial arts, she rather liked the idea of having obtained the famous sword.

  In her excitement, a sentence suddenly slipped out of her mouth: "I'll dance with swords for you sometime." After saying it, she felt a little regretful.

  Xu Xian smiled and said: "Can't get what you want." That smile made her face a little hot.

  "I still have to go back and study, I'll leave first, you stay here for a while."

  Looking at Pan Yu's hastily departing figure, Xu Xian turned his head around, only to see Xiao Qian's head just a few inches away from his face, staring straight at him. He couldn't help but jump in fright "Is there a flower on my face?!"

  "Without the flowers, Mr. Pan's face looked like it had bloomed with more flowers, and Master's face grew a dog tail grass." Xia Qian's face was filled with indignation and discontent, but she didn't know what she was dissatisfied with.

  "Oh? You like her? Do you want me to introduce you?"

  "Does Master Xiang think that Xiaolian is a woman of loose morals?" Under Xiaolian's resentful attack, Xu Xian retreated again.

  "Alright, alright, where do you want to go next?" Xu Xian had come specifically to accompany Xiao Qian on a nostalgic tour today.

  "From now on, Xiaoxian can take care of herself, Master can rest assured and focus on reading!"

  "Alone?" Xu Xian hesitated for a moment, but seeing Xiao Qian's expectant gaze, he almost wagged his tail. He knew that if he didn't agree, she probably wouldn't go, what an interesting era of male chauvinism. "You be careful on your own, don't get caught by some passing Taoist priest."

  "Thank you, husband! Xiaoyan belongs to you, no one can take her away!" Xiaoyan promised happily. Xiaoyan's magical powers were such that even Yan Chixia had to be cautious, let alone now that she had absorbed two Sheli and also put down her heart knot, making great progress in her Taoist practice. A ghost who could only walk freely under the sun was almost worthy of being called a demon, not harming people was already good enough, who would dare to provoke her?

  Xu Xian returned to the academy and found it bustling with activity. Upon inquiring, he learned that a group of scholars from the White Deer Academy in Jinling City had arrived. Although they wore similar long shirts, there were subtle differences in the details compared to those worn by the scholars of the Qian Tian Academy. The edges of their sleeves were embroidered with gold thread, and the color was slightly darker, distinct from the pale blue of the Qian Tian Academy. Even in a crowd, it was clear that there were nearly twenty people present. The academy's masters emerged with their students to greet them, and Pan Yu naturally stood out, exchanging pleasantries with everyone in a dignified manner.

  Noticing Xu Xian's arrival, he gave Xu Xian a glance, but it was unclear how he managed to spot him in the crowd with his ordinary face.

  "How did they get here so early?" Xian said as he poured a cup of tea and handed it to Yu.

  Pan Yu was busy, and even his normally calm forehead showed a faint sheen of sweat. Without offering any courtesy to Xu Xian, he downed the drink in one gulp: "It's an old rule, every year two academies from Jiangnan will arrive early - Jin Tian and Bai Lu. They're both official schools with ample financial resources."

  "It seems that everyone is bored in this prosperous era!" Only in a prosperous era can people afford to hold such entertainment activities, although they are disguised as academic exchanges.

  "Heh heh, yes, there's still a banquet tonight to wash the dust away, come sit next to me." Pan Yu naturally sat at the main table.

  "I'm not good at eating with a big crowd." Xu Xian had a headache, he liked to eat plain food very much, but those chaotic scenes were not his forte.

  Pan Yubai gave him a glance and said: "You just bring your appetite to eat, no need for you to socialize."

  "That's great, in this aspect I am a top scholar and have the talent of a champion."

  The lights had just come on, and the room was as bright as daylight. The tables were arranged in a crisscross pattern, and it was already very lively. There were eight people at each table, and there were seven tables in total in the hall. At the main table, there were two gentlemen from each side, two students, including Xu Xian, who had a bit of a representative role. With Pan Yu and Li Si Ming, the golden couple, the atmosphere was naturally lively.

  Xu Xian was only concerned with making a fortune, but the person opposite him, the former number one scholar of Jiangnan, did catch his attention. It was this guy who got first place at the previous Initial Snow Meeting, and the second Initial Snow Meeting was the only time that the Imperial Academy didn't get first place. Although Wang Shouyi wasn't overwhelmingly dominant, he still managed to get first place in terms of reputation. However, what made Xu Xian remember him deeply was because he had a ridiculously funny name - Wang Shouyi. This guy has been eating well for many years.

  However, Wang Shouyi was indeed generous and enthusiastic towards people. But Xu Xian always felt that there was a hint of pretence in his generosity. He didn't have Li Si Ming's true elegance nor Yan Chi Xia's heroic spirit.

  They were just a group of students, but the companion sitting next to Wang Shouyi was the only one at the table who was even more silent than Xu Xian. He was not tall, with a dark and thin appearance that didn't stand out, except for his eyes which occasionally swept over Pan Yu. Xu Xian, now also a person of spiritual awareness, sensed a kind of malicious hostility emanating from him, causing Xu Xian to frown secretly. This visitor from Jinling Academy was not here for good!

  But it's just a name, is it worth holding such great hostility?

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