The wine delivered was a unique "Spring Arrival" from Ascending Cloud Tower, rich in aroma and mellow in taste. Xue Han gestured for the servant to bring the wine over. He then removed the stopper from the jug and took a gentle sniff of the wine's fragrance.

"Is it poisoned?" Chu Liuxue asked softly.

Xue Han shook his head.

"It doesn't smell unusual. To be safe, it's better not to drink it."

Tao Mian sat quietly, his chewing motion changing as if pondering the person who sent the wine.

In the adjacent rooms, one was bustling with gossip, while the other remained quieter.

Who could it be?

Seeing Tao Mian's hesitation, Xue Han suggested that if he wanted to know who was sitting next door, he could send some wine back. Tao Mian shook his head, saying there was no need to trouble himself; he had a few candidates in mind.

Since the other party didn't want to show themselves, so be it.

The gossiping room continued, now discussing how Tan Fang was the illegitimate son left behind by the old master of the Netherworld Hall during his romantic escapades.

Most of it was hearsay, and after listening to a few sentences, they realized it was unreliable, so Tao Mian and his companions stopped paying attention and turned to discuss their own matters.

Midway, Chu Liuxue accidentally knocked over her teacup, wetting a part of her dress. She followed a servant inside to change clothes, leaving only Shopkeeper Xue and the Immortal in the room.

Shopkeeper Xue spoke first, saying that Tao Mian's disciple was quite capable, managing to deceive the old master of the Netherworld Hall and becoming his only son now.

Sounds of people leaving came from the adjacent room, and after the sound of chairs and table legs scraping ended, silence returned.

Xue Han's information was much more reliable than the gossip. He said that the Netherworld Hall's influence in the Demonic Realm was expanding continuously. The old master, Tan Yuan, was once a formidable figure, taking over during a turbulent time for the hall. He began reorganizing from his family's branch, gradually expanding, and successively annexed three small sects and two major factions, making the Netherworld Hall one of the largest forces in the Demonic Realm, even surpassing the Sky's End Valley, which used to overshadow them.

Later, Tan Yuan orchestrated a plan, using a trusted confidant of the old Valley Master of Sky's End Valley to deliver a heavy blow to his long-time rival.

However, Tan Yuan couldn't annex Sky's End Valley, as it was still a formidable force. He chose instead to support a puppet. The internal factions of Sky's End Valley were numerous, and the confidant temporarily took the position but couldn't hold it securely. The old Valley Master's faction and the younger generation within the valley were all secretly plotting.

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Although Tan Yuan was highly capable, he had a fatal flaw: his lust for women. Whenever he had free time, he would visit the pleasure quarters, and when stressed, he would go there too. Over time, his body became depleted, leading to various illnesses in his later years, and his energy and strength were not what they used to be.

That's why he valued his successor so much.

Despite Tan Yuan's romantic escapades, he had few offspring, with only one son left by his legitimate wife, whom he cherished like an apple of his eye. This son lived up to expectations, praised by all the teachers and masters his father hired. The only successor he painstakingly cultivated vanished inexplicably, and the old master was so enraged that he killed everyone who accompanied his son that day, burying them with him.

After that, Tan Yuan's hair turned white overnight, and he aged significantly. Recently, there were even rumors that he frequently tormented his concubines, insisting on having another child.

Tan Yuan was deeply worried about the succession until recently when he found a bloodline that had been lost outside. The young man's mother was unknown, but it was confirmed that his father was the old master of the Netherworld Hall. It's unclear what method Tan Yuan used to verify the bloodline.

"Oh, by the way," Xue Han took a sip of tea to moisten his throat before looking at Tao Mian sitting across the table, "the new son Tan Yuan found is your fourth disciple, Chu Suiyan. Tao Mian, is this really okay? Your third disciple is the orphaned daughter of the old Valley Master of Sky's End Valley."

Two disciples who were once inseparable had become mortal enemies.

The Immortal couldn't help but mock himself; he indeed had a unique eye for accepting disciples.

Tao Mian said that whether it was good or bad was not for him to decide. To Chu Liuxue and Chu Suiyan, who had relied on each other since childhood, he was the one who intruded into their lives halfway.

"If your two disciples turn against each other, how will you handle it?"

A simple question, yet Xue Han couldn't bear to continue.

Tao Mian lowered his gaze to the leftovers on the table, remaining silent for a long time.

After a moment, he finally said softly, "I don't know."

After changing her clothes, Chu Liuxue washed her hands and passed by the room where they speculated the wine sender was, finding the door open.

The used bowls and chopsticks were stacked together on the table, and a servant was vigorously wiping the tabletop.

Judging by the number of cups and dishes, it seemed two people had been sitting there.

Chu Liuxue understood and continued to walk to the room next to theirs.

Then she heard Tao Mian's "I don't know."

The girl stood silently at the door, like a frozen statue, elegant and timeless.

The servant passed by with bowls and cups, and the girl raised a finger to her lips, gently shaking her head, signaling him not to make a sound.

The servant nodded obediently, lightening his steps as he quietly left her side.

After the two inside changed the topic, a quarter of an hour later, Chu Liuxue finally pushed the door open and entered.

Once inside, she nonchalantly returned to her seat. By then, Tao Mian had already masked his emotions and asked if she had any other places she wanted to visit.

Chu Liuxue held a finely carved jade cup in both hands, tilted her head in thought, and said there was a place, but it was too long ago, and she wasn't sure if she could still find it or if it still existed.

Tao Mian patted his chest and said there was nothing to worry about; finding the way was his responsibility, and they would set off immediately.

Shopkeeper Xue put down his wine cup, shook his black bone fan twice, and said they should go ahead; he couldn't walk anymore and needed to rest here and sober up. Ascending Cloud Tower provided special rooms for drunken guests, and if they returned later, they could find him here.

Tao Mian readily agreed, donned his mask, and called for a servant to take care of Xue Han before leaving with his disciple.

"It's not far from Moon Hill, but we need to leave the city," Chu Liuxue's memory drifted back to the path lined with pear blossoms from years ago, "at the border between the Demonic Realm and the human world, a small village."

Tao Mian seemed to know where Chu Liuxue wanted to take him.

After they left Ascending Cloud Tower, a window in an upstairs guest room was half open, and a figure leaned against the window, gazing at their backs until they disappeared into the crowd.

"You haven't sobered up yet; stay here today and don't return to the hall, lest you slip up," another person entered the room, it was Su Tianhe, who hadn't been seen in the human world for a long time.

Su Tianhe followed the gaze of the person by the window and also noticed Tao Mian and Chu Liuxue's backs.

He withdrew his gaze and looked at the young man.

"Stop looking; it won't help. Those who come down from Peach Blossom Mountain never return. You have your own path to walk."

Perhaps due to the influence of alcohol, the young man's gaze was unfocused. He rested his chin on his arms, staring blankly at the bright lights, flowers, running and playing children, and whispering lovers on the street...

The colorful lights divided the land, and the bright lights adorned the sky.

He slowly closed his eyes, feeling a sense of melancholy. The bustling sounds had nothing to do with him; he was a stranger at this lively gathering.

The vast world was wide and silent; where could his boat find a home?