"Gah-" He'd only meant to give Zi Yun a little scare, and who could have guessed his own grandfather would come barging in. With a splash Tang Yan upended the bucket over himself, gave his body a hasty rinse, snatched up his clothes, and bolted for the room.

"Hehe..." Watching Tang Yan scramble off, Xiaocui couldn't hold back a giggle at his side. Then, realizing it was improper, she hurried over and dipped into a bow. "Greetings, Old Master."

"No need for such courtesy. And this young lady is...?" Old Master Tang studied Zi Yun with open curiosity. A man who had read countless people across a long life, he could tell at a glance that the air she carried was nothing an ordinary woman could possess.

Zi Yun smiled faintly. Without any visible motion of her hand, a jade token appeared from thin air.

The token was pale and lustrous as fine jade, clear and smooth. At its center were carved the two characters "Purple Bamboo," and in the lower right corner, a single character: "Yun."

Old Master Tang's pupils tightened, undisguised astonishment flashing through his eyes. He asked quickly, "Could it be that this young lady is Miss Zi Yun of Purple Bamboo City?"

"I never imagined Old Master Tang would recognize this humble girl. I am truly honored." Zi Yun returned a graceful, measured salute.

Seeing her admit it, Old Master Tang drew a sharp breath. In the Tingxiang Kingdom, apart from the imperial clan, there stood three great powers: Purple Bamboo City, the Rakshasa Sect, and the Immortal Gathering Palace.

The three loomed over all of Tingxiang, and among them Purple Bamboo City was the mightiest.

Purple Bamboo City bred talents without end, many of whom were renowned across the kingdom-such as the very Zi Yun before him.

It was said that at a mere thirty years of age she had already stepped into the ranks of Heaven Rank, her gifts dazzling, her brilliance felt in all directions.

Forcing down the shock in his chest, Old Master Tang said courteously, "The young lady's name is famed far and wide-how could this old Tang not have heard of it? Yet to enter my Tang Family without a word beforehand... were it to get out, outsiders might think my Tang Family had slighted an honored guest."

Zi Yun's thoughts spun, and an idea came to her. With a sly little smile she said, "I happened to have matters in Yun City. I had meant to keep my movements hidden and trouble no one-only to run straight into your eldest grandson."

At the thought that Tang Yan had stood before Zi Yun wearing only that single garment, sweat beaded on Old Master Tang's brow. "That brat has a wild, unruly temper. If he has offended the young lady, I beg you to be magnanimous."

"It does the young no harm to be a little spirited."

"And how is it that Miss Zi came to be with Yan'er?" Tang Ling asked, curious.

Zi Yun did not technique out the reason, only smiling. "I came across him by chance and found he's worth shaping. In a small place like Yun City, I feared such a talent would be buried, so I thought to bring him into my Purple Bamboo City and cultivate him properly."

Hearing this, Old Master Tang's heart thudded. Purple Bamboo City-a peak power of the Tingxiang Kingdom, its resources vast as the sea.

If Tang Yan entered and received their full attention, stepping into Heaven Rank one day would not be out of reach.

It was only that the Tang Family had Tang Yan as its single seedling, and the old man truly couldn't bear to send him away. For a moment he genuinely wavered, and only after a long pause did he sigh. "There is something the young lady does not know. Tang Yan already has a Master, so we dare not rashly bind him to another power. Why don't we put the question to Yan'er himself shortly?"

"And under whom does Tang Yan study?" By now Zi Yun understood a little. No wonder the boy was such a monster-there was a true expert behind him, guiding his steps.

"I don't know that myself. I only know his Master drifts like a cloud, a wild crane caring nothing for worldly matters, and shows himself but rarely." Old Master Tang shook his head and sighed. "That Senior has helped my Tang Family through no small number of troubles, and I have never had the chance to thank him properly."

"So that is how it is." Zi Yun nodded. "Then I won't press the matter. Still, Tang Yan truly is worth shaping; in the martial path he holds insights all his own. To simply leave now would be a pity to me later. I'll stay these few days and offer him some pointers. What does Old Master Tang say to that?"

Joy beyond measure leapt in Tang Ling's chest. What objection could he possibly have? Stay here forever and I'd still welcome you! At once he smiled. "Of course, of course. Miss Zi may stay as long as she likes-treat this place as your own home. Xiaocui, see to a fine room for Miss Zi shortly."

"No need for such fuss. This little courtyard suits me well, and there are empty rooms yet, so I'll stay here." Zi Yun shook her head, declining Tang Ling's offer.

Tang Ling had no quarrel with where she lodged. Feeling that a fair while had passed, he frowned. "That little rascal-why hasn't he come out after all this time? Xiaocui, go drag him out!"

Before long Tang Yan slunk out, head hanging.

He'd expected things to be awkward between that foolish girl and his grandfather-only to step out and find a smile splashed across the old man's face, bright as anything.

"Yan'er, Miss Zi Yun is a famed Heaven Rank expert of the Tingxiang Kingdom. Seeing you've a spark of talent, she wishes to guide you. From now on you'll treat Miss Zi with the utmost respect and learn from her with a humble heart-do you hear me?" Tang Ling glared.

"What? A famous Heaven Rank expert? How come I've never heard of her?" Fresh out of the room, Tang Yan stared at Zi Yun in disbelief. Famous? More famous than Miss Wang, the top girl at the red pavilion down by Bright Moon Lake?

"Have you heard of Purple Bamboo City?" Tang Ling asked.

"Sounds familiar."

"Miss Zi Yun is the Third Miss of Purple Bamboo City. To receive her guidance is your good fortune. If you make her unhappy, no one else will need to lift a hand-I'll thrash you to death myself!" Tang Ling warned.

Seeing that his grandfather plainly wasn't joking, Tang Yan felt like weeping without tears. Where had any of this come from? He'd only gone inside to change his clothes. What in the world had happened in that short stretch of time?

He stole another glance at Zi Yun. She winked at him, playful, a crafty, victorious gleam dancing in her eyes. Tang Yan knew it then-this foolish girl had fed his grandfather some kind of trick.

Knowing the old man's temper all too well, he understood that if he didn't nod now he'd be nagged for half the day. He hurriedly agreed. "I'll do exactly as told, exactly as told!"

"That's more like it. You two talk, then-I've matters to see to, so I'll go on ahead." Tang Ling had no wish to waste a single moment of Zi Yun's guidance.

Once the old man was gone, Tang Yan sprang up. "Foolish girl, what did you say to my grandfather?"

"Hm? Is that any way to speak to me? Believe it or not, I'll tell the Old Master and have him thrash you to death." Zi Yun deliberately set her face cold in warning.

Tang Yan couldn't help rolling his eyes. "Here I was, planning to refine you a batch of pills so you could get your strength back fast. But it seems I'd do better to mind my own cultivation and stop sticking my nose into other people's business."

At the words recover her strength, Zi Yun perked up at once and pressed him. "Tang Yan, how long until I recover?"

"At the rate you're healing now? Half a year." He didn't forget to add, "And that's only half a year before you even begin recovering. As for how many years until you're whole again-I couldn't say. Quick, three to five years. Slow, twenty or thirty."

"What?" At so long a span, Zi Yun's small face went white.

Watching her, Tang Yan thought this girl really couldn't take a scare. He smiled, eyes crinkling. "Then again-with this young master's pills, three months at most and you'll be back to your peak. You might even climb a step higher."

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