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

Chapter 71 Blind Date Invitation

Gu Guanqi stayed at an inn in Xiushan County for five days to finally heal his horse's injury. After another three days of travel, he finally arrived at Tianping City.

Tianping City was the second most prosperous place in Qingzhou after Qingzhou Prefecture. Gu Guanqi led his horse through the city gate and saw wide streets, rows of houses, shops, pedestrians shoulder to shoulder, and a constant stream of carriages and horses, much more lively than Qingyang City.

Gu Guanqi searched for a long time in the city before finally finding a satisfactory inn to stay in.

The next morning, guided by the waiter, they found Baoping Lane.

At the end of the alley, you will see a small courtyard with a wooden plaque above the gate that reads "Tianyi Xiaozhu".

Gu Guanqi tied his horse to the hitching post in front of the door, straightened his clothes, and went to knock on the door.

A short while later, the courtyard gate creaked open, and a woman in her thirties poked her head out. She looked him up and down and asked, "Whom are you looking for, young master?"

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands and said, "My name is Gu Guanqi. I have come to visit Master Hu Cao on the recommendation of Yan Wangchuan, the commander of the Six Doors of Qingyang County."

Upon hearing this, the woman's eyes lit up. She quickly opened the door, stepped aside, and said with a smile, "So it's Young Master Gu! My master has been waiting for many days. Please come in, please come in!"

Gu Guanqi thanked him and stepped inside.

The woman led Gu Guanqi through the courtyard to the entrance of the main hall and called out, "Master, Young Master Gu Guanqi from Qingyang County has arrived."

As soon as he finished speaking, a thin old man strode out of the hall. He was about sixty years old, with gray hair, a thin face, and a goatee. He was wearing a gray-blue long robe with the cuffs rolled up two inches, revealing a section of his thin wrist.

His fingers were long and slender with distinct knuckles, clearly the work of someone who did delicate work.

"Oh my, Master Gu!" Hu Cao stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said in a loud and clear voice, "I've been waiting for you! I received Brother Yan's letter half a month ago, and I've been looking forward to it every day. Today, I'm so glad you've finally arrived!"

Gu Guanqi quickly returned the greeting, saying, "Master Hu, you're too kind. I've been delayed on my journey, and I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"It's alright, it's alright." Hu Cao waved his hand with a smile, stepping aside to let Gu Guanqi into the hall. "Master Gu, please have a seat, and serve tea!"

The two took their seats as host and guest, and the woman brought in tea before leaving.

Hu Cao picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked Gu Guanqi up and down. He said with a smile, "As expected, heroes emerge from among the young! Master Gu, your name is the most famous in the martial arts world of Qingzhou these days. Everyone says you are the number one young talent in the martial arts world of Qingzhou!"

When I received Brother Yan's letter before, I had never heard of you. A few days ago, while I was out, the storytellers in the teahouses and taverns were all telling your stories. They seemed familiar, and when I reread Brother Yan's letter, wow, I never imagined the person he introduced was you! Making you a gold-threaded soft armor is something I can brag about for ten years.

Gu Guanqi quickly replied, "Senior, you flatter me. But, did the news spread so quickly?"

Hu Cao laughed, "The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion recently updated its Qilin Ranking; how could the news not spread quickly?"

Hu Cao paused deliberately, then looked at Gu Guanqi with a smile, "Master Gu, you haven't seen the new Qilin Ranking yet?"

Gu Guanqi shook his head and said, "I've been traveling these past few days and haven't had a chance to meet you."

Hu Cao slapped his thigh, his face full of excitement, "The Qilin Ranking is tenth. It says that your swordsmanship is profound and mysterious. You killed Ji Xianyun, who was originally ranked seventeenth on the Qilin Ranking, and Nangong Yin, who was ranked twenty-third, by yourself with just your sword. You are like an immortal banished from the sword!"

In the ten years since the Qilin Ranking appeared, at least three hundred people have been listed, but only one person from Qingzhou had ever been on the list before, and he was killed before he could stay on the list for three months.

This time, two people from Qingzhou made the list: you and Zhou Zhiyao, the eldest son of the Zhou family, one of the two great families of Qingzhou.

He paused, then waved his hand and said, "However, Zhou Zhiyao is ranked seventy-second, barely making the list. He should have been incredibly famous in Qingzhou, but he just happened to run into you. Think about it, one is tenth and the other is seventy-second, so Zhou Zhiyao has become a mere foil. Nowadays in the Qingzhou martial arts world, when people talk about young talents, who doesn't mention Gu Guanqi first? The name of the eldest young master of the Zhou family has been completely overshadowed by you."

Gu Guanqi frowned slightly upon hearing this. No wonder Yan Wangchuan regarded the Tianji Pavilion as a scourge. Since ancient times, there has been no first place in literature and no second place in martial arts. The creation of such a list is intended to stir up turmoil in the martial arts world. After all, people pursue fame and fortune, and now that fame is directly attributed to a list, there will be too many disputes.

Fortunately, the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion didn't dare to be so audacious as to create a Grandmaster Ranking or a World Martial Arts Ranking; otherwise, the conflict would have been truly immense.

Then, Gu Guanqi picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Master Hu, I wonder if Commander Yan explained the purpose of my visit to you in his letter."

Hu Cao quickly said, "It's all explained, um, Master Gu, please bring me your two pieces of gold-threaded soft armor, I'll take a look first."

.

Gu Guanqi untied the bundle from his back, placed it on the table, and opened it. Two pieces of gold-threaded soft armor were neatly folded, one slightly larger and the other slightly smaller, gleaming with a pale golden luster in the sunlight. The gold-threaded soft armor was extremely soft, smooth to the touch like silk.

Hu Cao picked up the larger one and examined it several times, then picked up the smaller one and scrutinized it carefully for a moment. His fingers gently caressed the surface of the soft nail, sometimes pinching it, sometimes pulling it, his expression focused and earnest.

"Good stuff." He put down the soft armor, stroked his beard, and praised, "These two golden silk soft armors are made of the finest celestial silkworm silk, mixed with black iron and refined gold. The craftsmanship is extremely exquisite, made by a master. No wonder they are used by the Holy Son and Holy Daughter of the Heavenly Demon Sect."

Gu Guanqi asked, "Can it be changed?"

Hu Cao said, "Brother Yan has spoken, so it has to be done whether it's right or wrong. Besides—being able to make a precious armor for a future grandmaster like you is a matter of pride for me, Hu Cao."

As he spoke, he turned around and took out a soft measuring tape from the inner room. He walked up to Gu Guanqi and said, "Master Gu, please stand up. I'll take your measurements."

Gu Guanqi got up as instructed and opened his arms.

Hu Cao's movements were extremely skillful. The soft measuring tape flew over his body, measuring shoulder width, chest circumference, waist circumference, and arm length. He measured each dimension very carefully, recording them in a small notebook as he did so.

A moment later, Hu Cao put away the measuring tape, closed the notebook, clapped his hands, and laughed, "Alright. Don't worry, Master Gu, the material from these two pieces of gold-threaded soft armor is enough to make a brand new one. I've noted down the dimensions, and I'll definitely make you a suit of armor that perfectly fits your body within a month at most."

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Master Hu. May I ask the fee—"

Hu Cao waved his hand, interrupting him: "What are you talking about fees for? Didn't Brother Yan tell you that he and I are close friends, and you are his junior and benefactor? How could I possibly take your money? If you have time, Master Gu, come visit my Tianyi Xiaozhu more often, have some tea and chat with me, that will be enough."

Gu Guanqi didn't say anything more, and cupped his hands, saying, "Then thank you very much, Master Hu. I'm staying at the Tongfu Inn in Tongfu Lane. If you need anything, just send someone to let me know."

Hu Cao nodded, carefully wrapped the two pieces of gold-threaded soft armor, and put them away.

Afterwards, the two chatted for a while, and finally, Gu Guanqi had a meal at Hu Cao's house before saying goodbye and leaving.

Hu Cao saw Gu Guanqi off from the courtyard and escorted him all the way to the alley entrance.

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands in greeting, then turned and left.

The autumn sun slanted down from above the alley, warming the bluestone pavement. A few sycamore leaves drifted down from the wall. Gu Guanqi turned the corner of the alley and walked towards the main street, his figure gradually disappearing into the autumn sunlight.

At the very moment Gu Guanqi turned the corner of the alley, two figures slowly approached from the other end of the alley.

Leading the way was a woman, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with exquisite and dignified features, beautiful eyebrows and eyes, wearing a light blue brocade dress, with a graceful figure and extraordinary bearing. Behind her followed a girl of about fourteen or fifteen years old, with her hair styled in double buns, wearing a light green brocade dress, with a round face and bright, lively eyes.

It was Lin Yourong and her personal maid, Meihua.

The two entered Tianyi Xiaozhu, one after the other.

After crossing the courtyard and arriving at the entrance of the main hall, Hu Cao was sitting at the table, holding the two pieces of gold-threaded soft armor in his hands, turning them over and over in his mind, not even noticing that someone had come in.

"Uncle Hu," Lin Yourong called out.

Upon hearing this, Hu Cao suddenly raised his head and saw that it was Lin Yourong. He quickly stood up and said with a smile, "Miss has arrived?"

"Come sit down, come sit down!"

Lin Yourong sat down and noticed the two gold-threaded soft armors in Hu Cao's hands. As the eldest daughter of Jinxiu Manor, she had seen countless precious armors since childhood, so her taste was naturally discerning. With just one glance, she could tell that these two gold-threaded soft armors were of extraordinary quality and exquisite craftsmanship, and were definitely not ordinary items.

Immediately, Lin Yourong asked in surprise, "Uncle Hu, where did these two soft armors come from?"

Hu Cao carefully placed the large, gold-threaded soft armor back on the table, stroked his beard, and smiled, "It was sent to me by a junior of one of my closest friends for alterations. Alas, it's a pity you're a step too late. Do you know who my close friend's junior is?"

Lin Yourong smiled slightly and asked curiously, "Who is it?"

Hu Cao lowered his voice, somewhat smugly saying, "Gu Guanqi is that young talent who's currently ranked tenth on the Qilin List and the number one young talent in Qingzhou!"

Lin Yourong's pupils contracted slightly, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Uncle Hu, you have such connections? You actually know Gu Guanqi?"

Hu Cao said with a hint of pride, "In a way, he's my junior. These two golden silk soft armors were spoils of war he obtained after killing the Holy Son and Holy Daughter of the Heavenly Demon Sect. He wanted to modify them into something suitable for him. However, he didn't trust anyone else to entrust them to, so he specially traveled a long way to personally deliver them to me!"

Lin Yourong exclaimed, "Uncle Hu has such a wide network of connections! Your craftsmanship is undoubtedly superb; otherwise, why would someone like Gu Guanqi personally come to visit you? In the world of tailoring, Uncle Hu truly deserves the title of master!"

"Haha, I'm flattered!"

Hu Cao waved his hands repeatedly, but the smile on his face proved that he appreciated Lin Yourong's words very much.

Lin Yourong then asked, "Uncle Hu, given your relationship with Gu Guanqi, you must know where he lives now, right?"

"Of course, he lives at the Tongfu Inn in Tongfu Lane," Hu Cao said. "It will take me a month to modify the Golden Silk Armor, and he will stay in Tianping City for that month and will come to my place often."

Lin Yourong's eyes lit up, and she said, "Oh, right, Uncle Hu, I came today to pick up some winter clothes for this year!"

'

The inn where Gu Guanqi stayed was a quiet alley. Although it was called an inn, it was actually a house converted by a father and son. The location was not good and there were not many guests, but the cost was low and they were able to make a living.

Gu Guanqi chose that particular inn not because he was short of money, but because he wanted peace and quiet.

Because after he killed Nangong Yin and Ji Xianyun, his fame would inevitably soar, causing a stir in the martial arts world. Once—

Once people know his whereabouts, many will come to see him, which will be extremely annoying.

The Tongfu Inn was perfect for his needs. The surrounding area was inhabited by ordinary people, and the guests who came here were also ordinary people looking for cheap accommodations. No one would recognize him.

Gu Guanqi stayed for seven or eight days.

Every day, he would bask in the sun, practice his martial arts, occasionally stroll through the alleys, and go fishing by the river. His days were very leisurely and peaceful.

This kind of life gave him a feeling he hadn't had in a long time.

Since Lin Yan'er was kidnapped by two notorious bandits to his clinic in the middle of the night half a year ago, and he first displayed his martial arts skills, his life has undergone earth-shattering changes. He went from an ordinary doctor to step into the world of martial arts.

And it has always been at the center of various vortexes.

His legend is now circulating throughout the entire Jianghu of Qingzhou.

But he calmed down instead.

The people living in Tongfu Lane are all ordinary folks.

Here, no one knows about the Heavenly Demon Sect, no one knows Gu Guanqi, and no one discusses matters of the martial arts world. Every day, all you hear are everyday family matters and the mundane details of life.

It was early morning on this day.

After Gu Guanqi finished eating, the sun was already shining brightly, so he moved a bamboo chair out to the yard to lie down.

The sun felt warm on my skin.

As he lay there, Gu Guanqi suddenly became sleepy.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but in a daze, he heard the courtyard gate being pushed open.

He squinted and saw three men, dressed in a manner reminiscent of the martial arts world, walk in.

Leading the way was a middle-aged man dressed in a blue brocade robe with a dark green silk sash around his waist. The other two were both very energetic, with swords hanging at their waists.

This temperament and demeanor seemed somewhat out of place in Tongfu Lane.

Gu Guanqi glanced at it, then closed his eyes and continued sleeping.

Unexpectedly, the three men walked straight toward him.

The middle-aged man bowed slightly, cupped his hands in a salute, and said with a smile and great respect, "Master Gu, my surname is Zhao, and I am the steward of the Lin family of Jinxiu Manor. I have been ordered to deliver an invitation to you!"

Gu Guanqi slightly opened his eyes.

He was no stranger to Jinxiu Villa.

The master tailor Hu Cao, who is currently modifying his golden silk armor, is from Jinxiu Manor. Jinxiu Manor is extremely famous in Qingzhou and is the richest man in Qingzhou.

Of course, the Lin family must also be strong in terms of martial arts to be able to keep such wealth. Among the three venerable ones, four sects, and eight heroes of Qingzhou Jianghu, the Lin family has one sect and one hero.

The patriarch of the Lin family was named Lin Huaiyuan, one of the four sects among the three venerable ones and four sects of Qingzhou, and was known in the martial arts world as "Hercules Finger". In addition, the Lin family also had a martial arts fanatic, known in the martial arts world as "Finger Vajra", named Lin Changqing, who was one of the eight heroes of Qingzhou.

With these two protecting them, the Lin family's business naturally flourished.

Throughout the nine prefectures of Qingzhou, there are four top martial arts forces, one sect, one temple, and two major families. The Lin family is one of the two major families in Qingzhou.

However, his relationship with Jinxiu Manor was limited to him being one of the Lin family's many clients; there was no other connection between them.

Therefore, he couldn't understand why Jinxiu Villa had sent him an invitation.

Gu Guanqi immediately asked, "Whose orders are you on? What are you doing?"

Manager Zhao asked, "Is this an order from my young lady to invite Master Gu on a blind date?"

Gu Guanqi was slightly taken aback, almost doubting whether he had misheard, and said, "What did you say? A blind date? Lin Yourong, the eldest daughter of Jinxiu Manor?"

Nowadays, when people mention the Lin family, besides Hercules Lin Huaiyuan and Finger Vajra Lin Changqing, the third person they can't avoid is not the current head of the Lin family, but the eldest daughter of the Lin family, Lin Yourong, who is known in the martial arts world as the Lin Phoenix.

Lin Yourong is a rising star among the younger generation of martial arts practitioners in Qingzhou. Not only is she highly skilled in martial arts and has an outstanding appearance, but she also has exceptional business acumen. Although she is only twenty-four or twenty-five years old, she has already taken over most of the Lin family's business. Although her father is the head of the family, he has entrusted most of the affairs to her.

When someone like this takes the initiative to ask Gu Guanqi to go on a blind date, Gu Guanqi immediately suspects it's a scam.

Upon hearing Gu Guanqi's question, Steward Zhao quickly replied, "It is indeed my young lady, Lin Yourong."

"Are you really from the Lin family? Does the eldest daughter of the Lin family need to actively invite others to blind dates?"

Manager Zhao quickly explained, "Master Gu, my young lady naturally doesn't need to invite others to blind dates, but you are different. You are the number one young man in Qingzhou's martial arts world, and my young lady admires you greatly. She made a special inquiry and learned that you have been on several blind dates and have the intention to settle down and start a family, so she specially invited you to meet her!"

After saying this, Manager Zhao bowed and handed over a gold-embossed invitation.

Gu Guanqi opened the invitation and took a look.

The meeting place was a place called Qingfeng Tea Garden in Qingzhou City.

He closed the invitation and thought about it for a moment.

He had heard of the Lin family's eldest daughter; she was quite famous throughout the martial arts world of Qingzhou, and her martial arts skills were also considerable.

According to the system's rating requirements, such a person should be no lower than Shen Qingqiu.

Anyway, he's free now, so going to meet him won't hurt him.

He immediately nodded and asked, "When do we meet?"

Manager Zhao quickly replied, "Miss said it's possible anytime, depending on your schedule."

Gu Guanqi thought for a moment and said, "Is it okay to go now?"

"certainly."

"Let's go then!"

Immediately, Steward Zhao respectfully invited Gu Guanqi to go out and get into the carriage.

Immediately, one of the guards rode off at full speed to report the incident.

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