Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

"Caiwei, please sit here!"

Fang Ying called out, and Yan Caiwei came back to her senses. Her cheeks flushed slightly, she bowed to Gu Guanqi, and then sat down on the chair next to Fang Ying.

Just then, an electronic mechanical voice rang in Gu Guanqi's mind—

[Player has started the matchmaking event]

[Detected blind date candidate – Yan Caiwei]

Rating – One Star

[Blind Date Reward: Max Level "Golden Goose Skill"]

The matchmaking event has begun. Players are encouraged to complete it. Rewards will be distributed after the event concludes.

Gu Guanqi was overjoyed.

Golden Goose Skill is an orthodox light-body skill of the Quanzhen School, emphasizing borrowing strength in mid-air, light body movements, and gradual progress. It is a model of Taoist light-body skills. Those who master it can walk thirty-seven steps in mid-air and rise three feet into the air.

However, its drawbacks are also obvious: it lacks explosive power, is not flexible enough, and is highly dependent on leveraging external resources. Therefore, its rating can only be one star.

However, for Gu Guanqi right now, it is very useful, making up for one of his biggest shortcomings. Because for ordinary people, the Golden Goose Skill is not very useful, but it is different for him to reach the maximum level directly. The upper limit of the Golden Goose Skill at the maximum level is still very high.

……

Gu Guanqi regained his composure, his expression remaining completely unchanged.

Subsequently,

The group then started chatting idly about this and that.

To Gu Guanqi's surprise, Yan Caiwei, who seemed gentle and scholarly, was actually very talkative and had a lot to say.

Originally, Gu Guanqi and Yan Sihai were talking, but as they talked, it turned into Yan Caiwei and Gu Guanqi talking. Yan Caiwei seemed particularly interested in matters of the martial arts world and medical skills.

Gu Guanqi had previously heard from the Poison Immortal that Yan Caiwei didn't practice martial arts and preferred reading, so he assumed she was an artistic girl who didn't care about rumors about the martial arts world.

Now it seems,

Not practicing martial arts is indeed greatly limited by one's physical constitution.

However, it's just as well.

Over the past few months, Gu Guanqi has gained considerable knowledge about the affairs of the martial arts world, and medicine is his specialty, so the conversation is never dull.

After chatting for a while, Fang Ying suddenly said, "Young Master Gu, the hibiscus flowers on the back mountain are in bloom. Why don't you let Caiwei take you to see them? The scenery of our Nanshan Sect is quite beautiful. It would be a pity not to see it since you've come all this way."

Yan Sihai quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, let's go see the flowers! Seeing flowers is wonderful!"

Gu Guanqi naturally understood that this was an opportunity for the two of them to be alone, so he cupped his hands and said, "I have long heard that the scenery of the Nanshan Sect's Diecui Forest is picturesque, so I would be grateful if Miss Yan could show me the way."

Yan Caiwei quickly stood up, looked at Gu Guanqi, and said in a gentle tone, "Young Master Gu, please!"

Gu Guanqi also stood up, cupped his hands to Yan Sihai and Fang Ying, and then followed Yan Caiwei out the door.

Watching the two leave, Yan Sihai wondered, "Hey, this is really strange today. Isn't Caiwei always the one who hates things about the martial world? Why does she seem to enjoy listening to them so much today?"

Fang Ying rolled her eyes and said, "I think you're bewitched by that little vixen in the backyard. She's completely blinded by her own cleverness. Can't you see that your daughter is extremely fond of this Young Master Gu and is just using his江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) background to strike up a conversation?"

"Ah, I see!" Yan Sihai exclaimed in sudden realization, "I was worried about Caiwei's personality; she's always so aloof and difficult to get along with!"

Fang Ying pursed her lips and said, "They're not that hard to get along with, they just don't like someone. If I really meet someone I like, even if they're a stutterer, I'll think they're just shy!"

……

The back mountain of Nanshan Sect

Gu Guanqi and Yan Caiwei walked up the mountain along a small blue stone path. Maple trees were planted on both sides of the path. It was autumn, and the maple leaves were ablaze with red. When the wind blew, the red leaves fluttered down and covered the ground, rustling underfoot.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the maple leaves, casting dappled shadows on the two of them.

Yan Caiwei walked ahead, with Gu Guanqi following behind her, the two keeping a half-step distance apart.

"Young Master Gu, what are your plans for the future?" Yan Caiwei asked, pausing slightly as she walked alongside Gu Guanqi.

Gu Guanqi thought for a moment and said, "To be honest, I don't have any plans for the time being. I don't have any grand ambitions."

Yan Caiwei quickly said, "Young Master Gu is being pragmatic and realistic. It's really not easy for someone so young to have such a high level of martial arts skills, and it's so rare to have such a mindset."

Gu Guanqi smiled and said, "It's not that exaggerated. Sometimes I also want to go out and travel, to see the beautiful landscapes and experience the world of martial arts!"

Yan Caiwei nodded and said, "Practical yet retaining the youthful energy and romance..."

The two chatted back and forth, discussing everything from poetry and literature to landscapes and local customs, from their experiences in the martial arts world to the myriad aspects of life. Yan Caiwei was eloquent and knowledgeable, and her gentle and soothing manner made one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.

The two walked along the path for about half an hour until they reached a viewing pavilion. The pavilion was built on the edge of a cliff, and from there, the entire town of Zhenwu could be seen. The distant mountains were layered upon each other, and under the autumn sun, they looked like a richly colored landscape painting.

Yan Caiwei stood in the pavilion, holding onto the railing with both hands, gazing at the distant scenery, and said, "Young Master Gu, this is the viewpoint of the Verdant Forest. First-time visitors to the Nanshan Sect all come here to enjoy the view."

Standing by the pavilion, overlooking the mountain scenery, Gu Guanqi exclaimed, "It truly lives up to its reputation."

Yan Caiwei tilted her head and quietly looked at Gu Guanqi's profile.

The wind blew across the cliffs, bringing with it the sound of rustling pines and also ruffling the stray hairs at Yan Caiwei's temples.

She reached up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her voice soft as she said, "If Young Master Gu enjoys sightseeing, why not stay at the Nanshan Sect a little longer? Besides the Verdant Forest, Nanshan also has the Listening Pine Terrace, the Flowing Cloud Stream, the Mysterious Valley, and more. I'll accompany you to explore them!"

Just then, a system notification sounded in Gu Guanqi's mind:

[Blind date event concluded]

[Reward: Max level of "Golden Goose Skill" has been issued]

Do you want to claim the reward?

……

Gu Guanqi silently recited "Receive" in his mind.

In an instant, a profound and mysterious essence of lightness skill surged into his mind. The various subtleties of the Golden Goose Skill—how to raise one's qi and lighten one's body, how to borrow strength in mid-air, how to climb rocks and cling to walls—were deeply engraved into his soul like a brand. Those complex techniques of lifting and leaping, and changes in body movement, were instantly mastered and perfected.

In the blink of an eye, he had mastered this extraordinary skill of lightness.

However, he hadn't yet regained his composure.

Immediately afterwards, the system's voice sounded in my mind again—

[An invitation from a potential blind date has been detected; advanced blind date activity can be started]

[Enable?]

……

Gu Guanqi quickly muttered "Activate".

A system voice came through:

[Blind Date Partner - Fang Cunxin]

Rating – One Star

[Blind Date Reward: Minor Rejuvenation Pill (Increases internal strength by five years)]

The Advanced Dating Event has begun. Players are encouraged to complete it diligently. Rewards will be distributed after the event concludes.

……

Gu Guanqi quickly regained his composure, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Then, I'll have to trouble Miss Yan!"

"You're welcome, you're welcome," Yan Caiwei said with a smile. "Young Master Gu, there are many wonderful viewpoints in this Verdant Forest. It's still early, let me show you around!"

"Thank you very much."

"You've come at just the right time; it's the most beautiful time of year..."

……

at the same time,

On the roof of a side hall next to the Nanshan Sect's martial arts training ground.

Fang Cunxin lay on the rooftop, basking in the sun with a blade of grass between her teeth, her hands behind her head. A look of bewilderment crossed her face as she muttered, "Didn't you say you'd reject me right away and then express your feelings for me? Why haven't you come back yet?"