The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun.

March.

Yangzhou.

There is a line in Li Bai's ancient poems that says "In the third month of spring, amidst the fireworks, I went down to Yangzhou," which describes the prosperity of Yangzhou. Although it describes Yangzhou in the Tang Dynasty, Yangzhou was still very prosperous at that time.

"Candied hawthorn berries, candied hawthorn berries, so delicious candied hawthorn berries~"

Yangzhou City.

On both sides of a river stand quaint buildings, and the banks are bustling with people. Vendors call out their wares incessantly, and laughter occasionally drifts from one of the teahouses.

A small boat glides slowly across the river, sailing through this ancient city.

"Young master, is this your first time visiting Yangzhou?"

The boatman rowed and chatted with the man at the bow.

"Ah."

Jiang Ning stood with his hands behind his back, casually nodding as he looked at the bustling city of Yangzhou.

"Then you should definitely have a good time."

Upon hearing this, the boatman laughed and said, "As the saying goes, there is heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below. Although Yangzhou is not Suzhou or Hangzhou, it is still a place in Jiangnan and is no worse than Suzhou and Hangzhou. Young master, you have come to the right place."

Hearing the boatman's words, Jiang Ning smiled but did not reply.

The small boat sailed on the river and passed an ancient bridge. A lush tree grew on the bridge, and a woman was carrying a basin of clothes to the riverbank, apparently to wash them.

The woman was young and dressed simply. She wasn't surprised to see Jiang Ning; instead, she smiled at him, appearing poised and graceful.

Jiang Ning nodded in response. As the small boat passed under the ancient bridge, the woman and the bridge disappeared, becoming part of the scenery in Jiang Ning's eyes.

"Sir, it's here."

At this moment, the boatman brought the boat to shore and laughed heartily.

"Ah."

Jiang Ning nodded slightly.

Thank you.

After saying that, Jiang Ning got off the boat and walked towards the shore.

This is the headquarters of the Shadowless Sect.

"Young master, I hope you have a wonderful time in Yangzhou."

The boatman waved goodbye to Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning had already paid the fare before boarding the ship.

"Goodbye."

Jiang Ning turned around and smiled.

After saying goodbye to the boatman, Jiang Ning walked down the street with his hands behind his back.

The wealth and prosperity of Yangzhou and other Jiangnan regions were indeed unmatched by Shaanxi. Jiangning noticed that the people here dressed better and had better complexions than the people of Shaanxi.

"Dad, I want to eat candied hawthorn."

A child and his father were walking hand in hand down the street. Judging from their clothes, they were from an ordinary family.

At this moment, the child grabbed his father's finger and pointed at the candied hawthorns held up by a vendor on the side, shouting.

"Okay, okay, I'll buy it."

The commoner smiled indulgently and asked the vendor, "How much is a skewer?"

Seeing customers coming in, the vendor smiled and said, "Three coins a skewer."

"Give me a skewer."

The father took out three copper coins from his clothes and handed them to the vendor, then took a string of candied hawthorns from the vendor and handed them to his son.

Here, eat up.

The child took the candied hawthorn, stuck out his tongue and licked it, savoring the sweetness and slight sourness in his mouth. A happy smile appeared on his face. Then, he let go of his father's hand and skipped away.

"Hey, slow down, don't fall."

Seeing his son running so fast, the father quickly followed.

Perhaps the father's words came true; no sooner had the father finished speaking than the child accidentally stepped on a pebble, slipped, and fell forward.

"Xiao Wen!"

Upon seeing this, the child's father shouted in alarm.

Just as the child was about to fall, two hands swept under his armpits from the front, lifted him up, and made him stand firmly on the ground.

"Are you okay?"

The child was still somewhat shaken. After hearing the voice, he looked up and saw that it was a teenager.

The child shook his head blankly.

At this moment, the child's father also ran over and grabbed the child to check him over.

"I told you to be careful."

The boy's father grumbled as he checked his son for injuries, then thanked the young man, saying, "Thank you, sir."

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "It's alright."

"Let's go, Xiaowen."

Seeing that Jiang Ning was dressed in an extraordinary manner and had a sword at his waist, the child's father realized that Jiang Ning was no ordinary person and quickly told his son to leave.

Jiang Ning was also preparing to leave.

Just then, a small hand suddenly tugged at Jiang Ning's clothes.

Jiang Ning turned around and saw the child named Xiao Wen.

"I'll treat you to candied hawthorns."

The child looked at Jiang Ning and spoke in a childish voice, while handing over the string of candied hawthorns he was holding, his little face very serious.

Jiang Ning paused for a moment, then laughed, took one of the candied hawthorns from the child's string and put it in his mouth.

"Thank you."

Jiang Ning thanked the child and then said goodbye to the father and son.

Jiang Ning walked down the street with his hands behind his back, chewing on a candied hawthorn, enjoying the sweet and sour taste, and was in a pretty good mood.

After crossing a street, Jiang Ning arrived at the gate of a large courtyard.

Above the gate was a plaque that read "Shadowless Gate," and two men were guarding the gate.

Jiang Ning looked around and confirmed the location was correct. He then stepped forward and, unsurprisingly, was stopped.

"May I ask what business you have with my Shadowless Sect?"

One of them asked Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning asked, "Is your sect leader, Li Qingwu, here?"

Seeing that Jiang Ning possessed an extraordinary air, unlike an ordinary person, the two assumed he had a connection with the sect leader and said, "Our sect leader is currently speaking with guests in the main hall. May I ask your honorable name so that I may inform the sect leader?"

"No need, I'll go find him myself."

Jiang Ning leaped over the two men and headed straight inside.

"Hey, you..."

Seeing Jiang Ning come in directly, the two hurriedly followed, trying to stop him. But for some reason, even though they felt Jiang Ning wasn't walking fast, they couldn't keep up and could only follow behind.

The structure of the mansion was simple, with the main hall at the far end. When Jiang Ning entered the main hall, there were several people chatting and laughing inside.

"Who are you?"

Upon seeing Jiang Ning enter, the group stopped talking, frowned at the uninvited guest, and one of the middle-aged men stood up and asked.

Jiang Ning looked at the group of three men and one woman.

"Which of you is Li Qingwu?"

Jiang Ning got straight to the point.

"I am."

The middle-aged man who had spoken earlier spoke again, frowning as he looked at Jiang Ning.

"Who are you? Have we met before?"

At this moment, the two men who had been guarding the gate walked in and addressed Li Qingwu.

"Sect Master, we don't know who this person is. He insists on coming in, and he's running too fast. We can't stop him."

"It's alright, you can go now."

Li Qingwu waved his hand, signaling the two to leave, and then continued to watch Jiang Ning.

He had never met Jiang Ning before and didn't know what Jiang Ning wanted to do, but seeing Jiang Ning's demeanor, he felt that Jiang Ning was someone important. Even though Jiang Ning hadn't come again by invitation, Li Qingwu still planned to find out first.

After all, they might be looking for a collaboration with him.

Jiang Ning looked at him and smiled.

"We've never met before. You don't know me, and I don't know you."

Upon hearing this, Li Qingwu frowned and asked, "Then what business do you have with me?"

Jiang Ning said, "I have a junior brother. I wonder if Sect Leader Li knows him?"

Li Qingwu asked suspiciously, "Junior brother? Who?"

"Lin Pingzhi".

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, Li Qingwu's face immediately darkened, and he looked at Jiang Ning with hostility.

"Are you from the Huashan Sect?"

The other three people who hadn't spoken didn't react much after hearing those three words.