Immortality begins with the Swordsman.

Chapter 39 Zhang Chang'an

"You dare to challenge me?"

"Young Master Dongfang" shuddered, his face beneath the mask turning deathly pale. He smiled bitterly to himself, "So, all my elaborate schemes to disguise my identity were seen through by him at a glance... How laughable."

Ouyang Qingzhao's voice was calm, but his words were sharp as knives: "I have been operating in Chang'an for many years. How could I possibly be unaware of any disturbances? I already knew that you sneaked into the city on the seventh day of the eighth month during the provincial examination crowd."

"So... you knew back then?"

"Young Master Dongfang" opened his mouth, his eyes filled with astonishment.

Ouyang Qingzhao laughed and said, "Yes, I was quite startled at the time—although Dongfang Bubai was a rising star, he was already the Left Guardian of the Demonic Sect at a young age, second only to the leader..."

"For such an important figure as him to come to my Chang'an City, yet act so furtively, it's hard not to be suspicious."

"Young Master Dongfang" suddenly realized, "I see."

Ouyang Qingzhao laughed and said, "You don't need to belittle yourself. With your martial arts skills, you are one of the best among the young people of your generation... well, let's not even get into the top tier, you're definitely second."

At this point, he gave Gu Changfeng a meaningful look.

"Young Master Dongfang" was speechless for a moment.

Ouyang Qingzhao continued, "However, I do admire you quite a bit. To dare to stir up trouble in Chang'an with just a dozen or so unorthodox individuals—that kind of audacity is... second to none!"

"Young Master Dongfang's" face darkened, and he didn't reply.

"Actually, I feel quite wronged."

Ouyang Qingzhao suddenly sighed, "Your land reclamation and salt trade in the Central Plains are things dominated by the Qi Sect. It's understandable that you're envious and want to take their place. But you insist on coming here to scheme against my Sword Sect, to scheme against me—tell me, am I wronged or not?"

"It's really unfair..."

"Young Master Dongfang's" lips twitched slightly as he slowly said, "But scheming against the Qi Sect is useless. With your Sword Sect around, with you here, my Song... we will always be suppressed..."

"Haha, not bad, you have good taste."

Ouyang Qingzhao laughed and said, "Actually, I should thank you. I've wanted to take action against those three families for a long time, but since my Huashan Sect is a reputable sect, I couldn't act without a legitimate reason..."

He stood up and said calmly, "So, you can leave."

"Young Master Dongfang" was taken aback, then abruptly looked up: "You...you're not going to kill me?"

Ouyang Qingzhao glanced at him sideways: "If I wanted to kill you, would I have wasted so much time talking to you? I just think you have potential, so I'm just saying a few more words."

"The Demonic Sect is teeming with talent; Ren Woxing, Dongfang Bubai, and Xiang Wentian are all exceptionally gifted. It's a good thing that we have such a brilliant young talent as you on our side; perhaps we'll need your help in the future… Go back! No one will know what you did in Chang'an. Focus on your training from now on!"

"Young Master Dongfang" remained silent for a long time, gave him a deep look, clasped his hands in a bow, and turned to leave.

Watching his departing figure, Gu Changfeng suddenly became anxious.

"Uncle-Master Ouyang, are you just going to let him go like that?"

Ouyang Qingzhao said calmly, "Back then, when our Huashan Sect was in its most critical moment, his master risked his life to help us. We have to repay that favor..."

Gu Changfeng remained silent upon hearing this, but his heart was filled with complex emotions.

He is—

Zuo Lengchan!

Gu Changfeng was able to guess his identity mainly because of two people: Qinghai Yixiao and Baiban Shaxing.

In the original novel, these two had a very good relationship with Zuo Lengchan.

Whether releasing the tiger back into the mountains will bring good fortune or misfortune remains to be seen.

Gu Changfeng sighed and asked, "Uncle-Master Ouyang, what's next?"

Ouyang Qingzhao looked up at the raging flames ahead and said calmly, "Of course, we'll return to Chang'an."

……

……

The next morning.

Gu Changfeng never expected that Ouyang Qingzhao would not return directly to Chang'an, but instead changed direction and went to Lintong, which was twenty miles away.

To his surprise, Ouyang Qingzhao rested here for three whole days.

For the past three days, Ouyang Qingzhao has spent his time either practicing swordsmanship or drinking and chatting with Ye Qingge, living a more leisurely life than anyone else.

Not to mention Cheng Buyou, who was impatient, even Gu Changfeng, an "outsider," was jumping up and down in frustration.

After winning the battle with great effort, he still wanted to return to Chang'an and confiscate the property of the Pei, Xue, and Liu families.

In the original story, after the Qingcheng Sect destroyed the Fuwei Escort Agency, they moved out box after box of gold and silver jewelry. Putting aside everything else, they made a fortune.

The three major families have been operating in Chang'an for hundreds of years and are definitely much richer than the Fuwei Escort Agency.

however--

Ouyang Qingzhao remained as calm as a mountain, which made Gu Changfeng anxious.

I don't care about gold, silver and jewelry; I mainly want to experience what it's like to "confiscate property".

……

Looking up, Ouyang Qingzhao and Ye Qingge were drinking and chatting happily upstairs in the restaurant.

Cheng Buyou asked疑惑地问道, "Uncle-Master Ouyang, what are you thinking about? Why haven't you returned to Chang'an yet?"

"yes!"

Cai Ling Shuang echoed, her heart itching with curiosity. She wished she could split open Ouyang Qing Zhao's head to see what he was thinking. It had been so many days, why hadn't he returned to Chang'an yet?

Gu Changfeng's eyes darted around, and he called Cheng Buyou and Cai Lingshuang to his side.

"Come here, come here, I have an idea..."

He glanced at Yue Buqun, who had come closer, and said disdainfully, "You'll be going to the capital for the imperial examination next spring. What are you doing here? Go back and study your classics."

Yue Buqun: "..."

Gu Changfeng only verbally expressed his disdain, then whispered to the three of them, "We'll do this and that... and so on..."

The three nodded in agreement.

A moment later, the four of them sat down at Ouyang Qingzhao and Ye Qingge's table, exchanging pleasantries with laughter.

We chatted for a few minutes.

Gu Changfeng then gave Yue Buqun a wink.

Yue Buqun, being the eldest, spoke first: "Uncle-Master Ouyang, I have been in Chang'an for over two months and am deeply grateful for your care. Today, I would like to take this opportunity to toast you."

"Waiter, bring me the wine."

Ouyang Qingzhao smiled, raised his wine glass and clinked it with the glass, saying with a smile, "We're family, no need to be so polite. Study hard, your martial uncle is waiting for you to come back with the top scholar title, then our Huashan Sect will finally be able to hold its head high."

"Thank you for your kind words, Uncle! Uncle, let me offer you another toast."

Yue Buqun continued to offer toasts, but after only eight cups, his eyes glazed over and he slumped to the side.

"Useless." Gu Changfeng cursed inwardly, then gave Cheng Buyou a wink.

Cheng Buyou immediately understood and stepped forward, saying, "Uncle-Master Ouyang, I'd like to offer you a toast as well."

After three drinks, he collapsed to the ground.

Gu Changfeng was utterly speechless, cursing inwardly, "Damn it, if you had even half as much of your stubbornness, you wouldn't be knocked out after just three drinks."

He turned his head and looked at Cai Ling Shuang.

Cai Ling Shuang suddenly stood up, exuding a heroic air, and said, "What's the point of drinking it in such small cups? Waiter, bring two jars of wine."

Gu Changfeng's eyes lit up, and he thought to himself, "Well done! He's usually so quiet, but he's really quick to act when it matters!"

A short while later.

Cai Ling Shuang picked up the wine jar and said loudly, "Uncle-Master Ouyang, I have benefited greatly from your care these past few days. This jar of wine is a toast to you."

Ouyang Qingzhao immediately became interested and burst into laughter: "Hahaha, as expected of our 'Sword Sect Saintess'! Let's drink and be merry while we can, and enjoy life to the fullest! Young people should be proud and ambitious. If you only know how to be patient and yielding, what kind of young person are you?"

At that moment, the two raised their wine jars and drank together.

Unfortunately, Cai Lingshuang's alcohol tolerance wasn't as "arrogant" as her tone suggested. She only drank a third of a ten-jin jar of wine before her eyes started to wander.

If Gu Changfeng hadn't reached out to support her, the dignified Holy Maiden of the Sword Sect would probably have fallen flat on her back.

"Useless!"

Gu Changfeng cursed at her with disdain, which made Cai Ling Shuang roll her eyes at him. She was slightly drunk, her face was as beautiful as a peach blossom, and her charm was inadvertently revealed, which almost made Gu Changfeng shatter her Dao heart.

look up.

But Ye Qingge looked at him with a half-smile, raising her eyebrows slightly, clearly saying:

It's your turn.