Time Travel: I'm a Flower Thief

Xie Xiaoyi slung his longsword behind his back, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Bai Letian, and then smiled faintly at Fu Yaoqin:

"I'll take the sword, but please don't try to renege on the debt for the wine from Ya Yin Fang, young lady."

Before anyone could say anything more, he turned around and swaggered out.

Now that he had the sword, he might as well show off in front of the beautiful Fu Yaoqin.

Since this place is called Lanting Bieyuan, it's a good opportunity to borrow the name of Wang Xizhi's masterpiece.

With a few minor revisions, Xie Xiaoyi recited a poem:

"Although this place is not Mount Kuaiji, it has the charm of the Orchid Pavilion. There are no towering mountains, but the elegance of the winding stream and floating wine cups still exists."

Willows sway on the bank, peonies bloom in the courtyard; a cup of wine and a poem are enough to express one's deepest feelings.

Looking up at the clouds drifting and unfurling, and down at the butterflies dancing like jade flutes, one's eyes roam freely, indulging in the pleasures of sight and sound—truly a joyful experience.

He walked and recited, his clear and melodious voice drifting away with each step.

The guests in the courtyard were initially stunned, then began to discuss among themselves.

The four talented scholars exchanged bewildered glances, only then realizing that Xie Xiaoyi's poetic talent far surpassed theirs.

Even this impromptu descriptive writing is far superior to their trivial skills.

Fu Yaoqin's face flushed slightly.

Butterfly dance?

Yaoqin?

He was clearly talking about me!

"Thank you, young master! The zither awaits you at 'Elegant Music Pavilion' tomorrow!"

Upon hearing this, the talented scholars and literati nearby all turned red with envy and muttered sourly.

These days.

It's really a drought, a drought, and a flood.

Xie Xiaoyi didn't even turn his head, only raised his hand and waved, his voice full of chivalrous spirit: "No problem!"

After saying that, his figure completely disappeared outside the vermilion gate of the Orchid Pavilion.

Bai Letian stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the empty doorway. The smile on his lips slowly faded, and a deeper look appeared in his eyes.

He turned to look at the silent bodyguard behind him, his voice low: "White Blade, follow me."

The guard was one of the two who had stopped Xie Xiaoyi earlier. Upon hearing this, he paused slightly, then clasped his hands and bowed.

"Rest assured, Lord City Lord."

"Don't follow him too closely," Bai Letian added. "Just find out which inn he's staying at and the route he's taken."

"Understood."

With a swift movement, Bai Ren darted over the courtyard wall like an arrow and silently gave chase.

The scholar in the blue robe walked slowly to Bai Letian's side, stroking his beard and chuckling, "Is the city lord considering recruiting you?"

Bai Letian tilted his head back and drank the remaining wine in his cup, then sighed softly:

"This young man's poetic talent is unparalleled in Qingjiang City, and his behavior carries the unrestrained and unconventional air of a Jianghu person. He is definitely not someone to be underestimated."

I don't believe someone of this stature would be unknown in the martial arts world.

He changed the subject and his gaze fell on the painting "Orchid in a Secluded Valley" by Fu Yaoqin on the table.

"Don't you feel that he has a strong wildness about him?"

The Master nodded in deep agreement:

"A young man's spirit should be to roam the world freely."

However, in my opinion, he and your "Viewing the Ocean" sword have quite a deep connection.

The two exchanged a smile, said no more, and then blended into the noise of the guests.

Meanwhile, Xie Xiaoyi was carrying "Guan Cang Hai" on his back, walking briskly down the streets of Qingjiang City.

The effects of the alcohol hadn't completely worn off, but a cool evening breeze cleared his head considerably.

"If my senior brother knew that I had obtained such a divine weapon, he would probably use his medical knowledge to scold me for having an 'impure sword heart'."

Xie Xiaoyi muttered to himself, but couldn't help but smile.

A gust of wind carried the cries of street vendors into my ears; I paused slightly and sniffed the air.

Besides the aroma of wine, there was also a faint, chilling aura in the air, belonging to someone who practices martial arts.

Ah!

felt it.

He was one of the two guards at the Lanting Villa.

"Tsk, this city lord is in a hurry."

Xie Xiaoyi chuckled softly, still slightly tipsy, and decided to take advantage of the moment to play a game of cat and mouse.

He kept walking, swaggering forward as always.

His gait appeared leisurely, but in reality, the internal energy within his dantian was already quietly circulating.

The shadow following behind didn't dare get too close, remaining only a few feet away in the shadows, neither too close nor too far.

Xie Xiaoyi turned into a narrow alley, which led to a dead end with only a ten-foot-high blue brick wall.

Bai Ren, who was following behind, narrowed his eyes and suddenly accelerated, about to leap into the alleyway with his toes touching the ground.

He wanted to see where this boy thought he could run to!

Just as he stepped into the alley, Xie Xiaoyi suddenly turned around and grinned in his direction:

"Brother, aren't you tired after following me all this way?"

Has he already figured it out?

Bai Ren's pupils dilated, and he was about to speak when he saw Xie Xiaoyi lightly tap his toes on the bluestone slab and instantly leap into the air!

Swallows soar through the clouds!

This lightness skill is closely related to one's cultivation level; the stronger one's cultivation level, the better one's lightness skill.

Xie Xiaoyi moved with the agility of a swallow, tapping his toes three times on the narrow alley's blue brick wall.

Each step seemed as light as a willow catkin, yet it left three shallow marks on the vertical wall.

He then turned and, like a blur, leaped over the wall and vanished without a trace.

"The swallows skim the water three times?"

Bai Ren was startled and quickly gathered his strength to chase after him, leaping onto the top of the wall as well.

But on the other side of the wall, there wasn't a single person in sight.

"Fourth-grade cultivation?" Bai Ren's expression changed slightly, and he muttered to himself:

"He looks to be only eighteen or nineteen years old, how come his cultivation level is higher than mine?"

He was very puzzled.

He had only achieved his third-grade cultivation level by practicing horse stance and internal energy day after day, and by struggling on the edge of life and death year after year.

Every inch of his internal strength was soaked in sweat and hardship. Who has ever seen a young man who has honed his internal strength to such a high level at such a young age?

What alarmed Bai Ren even more was that the other party clearly possessed such cultivation, yet he hadn't revealed a single bit of it when mocked by the Four Great Talents at the Orchid Pavilion.

He disguised himself as an ordinary wandering knight who only knew how to recite poetry. This forbearance and scheming were more frightening than his cultivation level.

Bai Ren shook his head.

Ugh!

This young man had a nonchalant, roguish air about him from beginning to end; he was clearly playing a trick on me on purpose!

Meanwhile, Xie Xiaoyi had already fallen into the shadows of another alley, leaning against a corner of the wall, slowly exhaling a breath of alcohol.

Once the aura of the white blade had disappeared, he turned and walked towards the inn.

......

Back at the inn, it was getting late.

As soon as I pushed open the door, the waiter greeted me with a beaming smile:

"Young Master Xie! You're finally back! You were the star of the show at today's Orchid Pavilion Gathering!"

The diners in the inn's lobby also turned their heads, pointing and whispering about Xie Xiaoyi, their eyes filled with admiration and curiosity.

The news spread so fast, everyone already knows?

Xie Xiaoyi waved his hand, too lazy to deal with the pleasantries, and went straight upstairs to his room.

He closed the door behind him, took the "Viewing the Sea" pendant off his back, and gently placed it on the table.

Fall asleep.