Chasing after her husband? Is it even possible to win him back?

After all, border trade attracts crowds, and the movement of people brings the flow of information. Therefore, the prototype of the market that Ning Qiuning and the other two are seeing at this moment is essentially part of Chu Xunfeng's plan.

Of course, at this moment, no one knows any of this.

Ning Qiu Ning followed her master up the mountain path leading to Longquan Sword Manor. At the signal of the two disciples guarding the gate, Ning Qiu Ning handed over the invitation sent by Longquan Sword Manor.

"So you're friends from the Supreme Sword Sect. May I ask which of you is Miss Ning Qiuning?" The gatekeeper handed back the invitation, his gaze sweeping over the three women.

"That's me, is there a problem?" The woman frowned slightly.

"Ah, Miss Ning, you misunderstand." The gatekeeper apologized, took out a sword talisman, and handed it to Ning Qiu Ning. "Miss Ning, please accept this. The Venerable Master specifically instructed that this be given to you."

"Brother Chu?"

The sword attendant guarding the gate looked strange for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. "The sword talisman is a token that is extremely useful in the sword appraisal tournament."

"The Venerable Master has asked me to pass on a message to you."

Ning Qiu Ning gripped the sword talisman in her hand, her gaze fixed on the sword attendant guarding the gate. "What did you say?"

The sword attendant paused slightly. "Thank you for the information you gave me that night. It's worth this sword talisman. You can choose a sword you need today. The sword talisman will allow you to take the sword you like with you, and that will settle things."

“That’s how it is.” The sword attendant pretended not to see Ning Qiu Ning’s complicated expression, stepped aside to let her pass, and gestured, “The three of you, please.”

Thus, the three members of the Supreme Sword Sect ascended the steps and entered the manor.

Chapter 40, One Hour

The sword talisman, about two fingers wide, feels warm and smooth to the touch, and must be made of jade.

"Giving gifts, yet not meeting in person..." Ning Qiu Ning stroked the sword talisman in her hand, her expression subtle, her tone tinged with a hint of sorrow.

"Miss, perhaps Young Master Chu is just too busy..." a maid whispered from the side. "After all, Young Master Chu is now representing Longquan Sword Manor in planning something..."

"Let's settle this once and for all." Ning Qiu Ning tightened her grip on the sword talisman.

Gifts were given as a form of repayment, but no meetings were held; there was no emotional connection involved, and the matter was always handled objectively.

Her reminder that night was only meant to help him, but she wasn't happy about the gift she received in return. After all, a gift meant that the favor was wiped clean.

This gift, in fact, highlights the insurmountable gap between the two.

Li Shuhua glanced at her apprentice, who was clenching her fists and gritting her teeth, and said softly, "Qiu Ning, you're getting stuck on this. You're overthinking things."

Ning Qiu Ning was slightly taken aback, and a bitter expression appeared on her face. "That's right. I'm the least qualified person to think about these things. After all, I'm the one who cut ties with him."

“Miss… that’s not what Master meant.” The maid glanced at Li Shuhua’s calm expression and gently shook Ning Qiuning’s arm.

“I understand, but there are some things I need to understand myself…” Ning Qiu Ning flipped her hand and put the sword talisman into her storage magic treasure, sighing helplessly, “If I’m not clear about my own position, I won’t even have a chance to get back into his sight.”

The maid opened her mouth, but ultimately didn't say what was on her mind. Seeing that the mountain path was about to end, she whispered, "Miss, let's take a stroll around the Longquan Sword Manor later. Maybe we'll run into him?"

"Mm." Ning Qiu Ning nodded slightly, having composed herself and seemingly cheered up.

Li Shuhua didn't pay too much attention to Ning Qiuning's mental state. The so-called mental state is nothing more than a thought that lasts forever. Although Ning Qiuning is troubled by love, it is at least better than being depressed.

There are methods for cultivating with residual intent. If one can truly repair the relationship, the essence of cultivation can gradually approach perfection. But if not...

She has many more challenges ahead of her.

"Qiu Ning, let me teach you a word." Li Shuhua looked at her disciple, "The Supreme Sword Sect, the so-called Supreme means the highest level. The founder left a saying: The Supreme Sword Sect has feelings and the sword understands feelings, the Supreme Sword Sect has no feelings and the sword severs feelings. Those who can cultivate no feelings are one in ten thousand in this world. Since you have chosen the Sword of Feelings, you must remember why it is feelings that understand the sword, and not the sword that understands feelings."

"Does Master mean that I should focus on the sword?" Ning Qiu Ning asked softly.

“I don’t know, you’re walking your own path.” Li Shuhua looked at her disciple who had changed a lot recently, and thought of Zhu Han’e, who also had a headache. In the end, she could only compromise and advise, “Although this path was not your own choice, now that you’ve embarked on it, you can only continue to walk it. All I can teach you is to remember the ancestral master’s instructions.”

"So, emotions resonate with sword intent..." Ning Qiu Ning murmured to herself.

Li Shuhua heard Ning Qiuning's mutterings, but she didn't speak. She simply raised her hand and gently patted the woman's head. "If you want to go find him, then go. It's ultimately a matter for you young people. I'm afraid I can only do my best to avoid making things worse and can't help you much."

“Actually, Master doesn’t need to help me. I’ve probably figured out my own path.” Ning Qiu Ning raised her hand and gently pressed it against her chest.

"Can you tell me?" Li Shuhua asked, somewhat surprised.

"Let me make my intentions clear first," Ning Qiu Ning said with a smile.

"Alright." Li Shuhua nodded slightly.

As the three of them talked, they had already stepped through the gate of Longquan Sword Manor and were facing the white stone Longquan spring in front of the manor. Looking into the distance, there weren't many tourists in the entire Longquan Sword Manor, since it was still an hour before the Sword Appraisal Conference that Longquan Sword Manor had advertised.

Upon seeing the three, the sword attendant guarding the bridge stepped forward to inquire if they needed any assistance, while Ning Qiu Ning, along with her maid, parted ways with Li Shu Hua in front of the Longquan Sword Manor gate.

Li Shuhua was taken to the venue of the Sword Appraisal Tournament by her sword attendant, while Ning Qiuning planned to take her maid to visit the Longquan Sword Manor.

"Do the two fairies of the Supreme Sword Sect know anything about my Longquan Sword Manor? Is there any place you would like to visit?" the sword attendant who was leading Ning Qiu Ning and her companion asked softly.

"The place we want to go..." Ning Qiu Ning remembered her original purpose and asked, "Chu Xun Feng, can you take us to him?"

The sword attendant paused for a moment, then looked Ning Qiu Ning and her maid carefully before finally saying apologetically, "The High Priest should be in the venue preparing to receive guests right now, and there is no time for receiving guests."

Ning Qiu Ning roughly guessed that the sword attendant leading the way probably guessed her relationship with Chu Xun Feng. She didn't say anything, but just smiled and said, "In that case, could you take me to see some of the swords that Longquan Sword Manor can display?"

“Of course, no problem.” The sword attendant smiled slightly, then led the two women across the wooden bridge over the White Stone Dragon Spring, bringing them to the workshops of varying heights. “This is the workshop of the Dragon Spring Sword Manor. A large number of the standard products of the Dragon Spring Sword Manor are produced here. Many of the famous swords that can be exhibited are also collected in the hall on the first floor of the workshop. Please follow me…”

Meanwhile, inside the Longquan Sword Manor, in the reception room.

Today, Chu Xunfeng, dressed in a magnificent black robe, is listening to the intelligence reports continuously submitted by the spies sent out by Longquan Sword Manor.

How many sects are there in Lancang City? Which specific individuals are heading to Longquan Sword Manor? And which sects seem to be planning to remain inactive?

At this time, the news brought back by the scouts was mostly good news. Almost all the invited sects were on their way, including the imperial envoy who was being closely watched by the Longquan Sword Manor.

There is now less than an hour left before the Sword Appraisal Tournament begins.

Chu Xunfeng silently gathered this intelligence. After a brief moment of thought, he raised his eyes and looked at the spies. "Find out carefully how many people are with the imperial envoy and what kind of people they are. He is indeed a bait, but he may well turn into the mantis stalking the cicada."

"Yes." The scout nodded. "My lord, there is one more thing."

"explain."

"The three disciples of the Supreme Sword Sect have already arrived at the Sword Manor."

Chu Xunfeng frowned slightly. "Why bring up the people of the Supreme Sword Sect? I didn't assign you to do these things, did I?"

"Reporting to you, sir, because you specifically left them the sword talisman... so I took it upon myself to..."

Chu Xunfeng sighed, his brows relaxing. "Let it go this time. There's no need to waste manpower on them. Giving the Supreme Sword Sect group a sword talisman was just a way of repaying them for providing a very important clue last night. Now, let's focus on our own affairs, understand?"

"Yes, sir, this won't happen again."

"Ah."

Chapter 41, Invitation

What did you give Ning Qiuning?

The scout retreated silently, and Ao Hanli, who had been standing guard to the side acting as a 'protector,' turned her head and glanced at Chu Xunfeng sitting in the chair.

"A sword talisman is a token given to outstanding individuals on the Sword Appraisal Tournament. It can be exchanged for a decent sword in the workshop of Longquan Sword Manor. According to Zuo Shaojun, it should be a fourth or fifth grade sword. If you are lucky, you may be able to exchange it for one of the five sixth grade swords."

"It must be something very precious."

Chu Xunfeng glanced at the dragon girl standing beside him with a hint of doubt. He wasn't lacking in emotional intelligence. After a moment's thought, he replied, "It's not exactly precious. After all, appraising a sword isn't like taking a fancy to something and handing over a sword talisman to take the sword away."

"The information she gave last night was quite useful. Longquan Sword Manor will have to make some kind of response no matter what." Chu Xunfeng gave a casual reply, then smiled and stared at Li Han's indifferent and uninteresting face, "What, feeling unbalanced?"

Ao Hanli slightly raised her gaze and looked at the scenery outside the reception room door. "No."

"The gifts given to Ning Qiuning are merely a return gift from Longquan Sword Manor. As for your share... I have naturally prepared some things for you as well. Do you want them now?"

Ao Hanli withdrew her gaze, and the dragon girl standing to the side behind Chu Xunfeng lowered her gaze, looking at Chu Xunfeng's back. "What is that?"

"I'll take some minerals that I got from Dang Kang, as well as some rare metals and crystal ores that I traded with Zuo Zhishuang. When I get back to the capital, I can take them to the Tiangong Workshop to have my Silverbeard Spear reforged properly."

Ao Hanli wanted to retort, but in the end she couldn't vent her emotions on Chu Xunfeng. She could only sigh helplessly, lamenting her own weakness, as Chu Xunfeng's few words had dispelled her feelings.

Ultimately, it was just him being unreasonable.

"Do you know what shape I want to forge the Silverbeard Spear into?" Ao Hanli walked around to Chu Xunfeng's side and extended her hand to the young man.

Chu Xunfeng flipped his hand and took out the things he had prepared from his storage magic treasure, handing them to Ao Hanli. "I have also tried your Silver Beard Spear and fought with you. Your spear follows a flexible and graceful path, which I suppose is also about lightness and softness. I didn't prepare much for you, after all, it was just a guess. Two main materials and three auxiliary materials."

“The ethereal stone is very light, but incredibly hard. As for the corundum, it can be summed up in one word: tough. I don’t know much about the auxiliary materials, but I asked Zuo Zhishuang to prepare them for me. Take them back to the Heavenly Craft Workshop and have Qun forge them for you. He definitely knows more about them than I do.”

Ao Hanli accepted the rather heavy gift. The ethereal stone was a sixth-grade mineral, while the corundum was a seventh-grade metal. With the auxiliary materials, the contents of this not-so-heavy box were extremely valuable.

Ao Hanli accepted the gift somewhat uneasily, then tried to change the subject, "Did you get these from Zuo Zhishuang?"

"Yes," Chu Xunfeng said with some emotion. "I originally intended to find Zuo Feichen, but I didn't expect that Zuo Zhishuang's words would carry more weight in the workshop of Longquan Sword Manor."

Ao Hanli didn't immediately grasp the complex emotions contained in Chu Xunfeng's sigh, and simply nodded, "I never expected this. I always thought Zuo Zhishuang was just the eldest daughter of Longquan Sword Manor and didn't participate in its internal affairs..."

At this moment, Chu Xunfeng turned his head and looked at Ao Hanli with a profound expression, "But the truth is that we were wrong. She not only interfered, but interfered a lot."

Ao Hanli seemed to have a premonition. She felt that Chu Xunfeng seemed to want to remind her of something. After recalling for a while, she still felt that she was still some distance away from the truth. However, Chu Xunfeng did not seem to have any intention of explaining. The Dragon Girl did not ask any further questions. Instead, she frowned and pondered.

Meanwhile, in the workshop, the sword attendant who led the master and servant of the Supreme Sword Sect led Ning Qiu Ning and her maid to the first floor of the hall.

As soon as Ning Qiu Ning stepped into the first floor of the workshop, she felt that the temperature around her seemed to have risen considerably, as if she had stepped into the blazing summer sun. She chatted with her maid for a few moments and confirmed that the maid felt the same way, then asked the sword attendant for advice.

"The workshop is a place for forging, so it's normal for the temperature to be a bit high," the sword attendant replied with a smile, but he didn't actually give a specific answer.

Ning Qiu Ning knew she shouldn't ask any more questions, so she nodded and turned her gaze to the workshop's main hall.

“That sword is the most classic Longquan sword of my Longquan Sword Manor. This one is the first Longquan sword. Although it is only of second-grade quality, it is extremely meaningful to my Longquan Sword Manor.” The sword attendant standing next to his children explained softly, seemingly noticing Ning Qiu Ning’s gaze.