Indeed, bypassing the mottled wall screen, the view suddenly opens up.
A vast courtyard unfurls before the eyes like a painting, clearly borrowing the brilliant landscaping technique of "a world within a pot."
The garden's outer walls are entirely made of finely cut bricks, with azure stone bricks as smooth as mirrors and eaves with drip edges adorned in Song-style lotus patterns.
Next to the moon gate stands a Taihu stone; its slender, wrinkled, and hollowed-out form resembling an immortal guiding the way, casually leaning against the root of the stone is half a broken stele. Upon closer inspection, it turns out to be a fragnt of the Yuan You partisan stele, the distinct calligraphy of Su Huang eroded to a blur, with flowers and grass serving as embellishnts.
Seemingly casual, yet intricately designed, exuding ancient charm.
And on the black door, the plaque "Su Courtyard" is prominently hung.
"Greetings, Young Master Xiao."
A man dressed in a blue robe with a goatee stands at the door. Seeing the young man's arrival, he quickly steps forward to greet him in a low voice, "The person is inside, the matter has been half-discussed, please follow ."
With that, he leads the young man into the garden.
Li Yan was just about to follow them inside, but was stopped by two young attendants guarding the door.
"Guests, please halt."
Their words were very polite, "This is a private residence, no visitors allowed."
Li Yan was sowhat displeased, "Aren't the doors of the famous Su Family estate open for business?"
"It's a private residence, please understand."
Their faces bore smiles, but their deanor was as remote as ever.
This was unexpected for Li Yan.
Originally thought Golden Swallow Sect was just a brothel, unexpectedly he couldn't even enter the door.
Looking again at the two young attendants dressed in blue, their shoes were thousand-layer cloudhead footwear, their arms hung down like embracing Yin Yang, secretly aligned with the force of the Eight Extres' stance. With calloused tiger mouth, despite bowing and bending, they clearly were practitioners with solid skills.
"If that's the case, what a pity."
Li Yan smiled faintly and turned to leave.
This place is even more complex than imagined, it's better to find another entrance.
But before he turned, he paused.
"Does this gentleman have other matters?"
One of the attendants seed slightly impatient.
Li Yan remained silent briefly, then directly took out a Token from his bosom, "I want to see Zhao Wanfang."
"Uh."
The attendant was sowhat surprised, but after accepting the Token, his expression changed drastically. He imdiately bowed respectfully, "Valued guest has arrived, if any offense was given, please forgive. Please follow , gentleman."
With that, he sidestepped, bent down, and gestured with his hand, adhering rigorously to etiquette.
Li Yan said no more, entered with a cold expression.
The arrangent outside the courtyard was already intricate, inside was superior.
Passing through the blue brick archway, he was greeted by the unique "Four Water Return to Hall" courtyard of Hui-style architecture.
The dark tiled eaves slanted like swallow wings, rain chains with copper bells swayed lightly in the wind.
The pierced windows of the four sides' second-floor compartnts were all plastered with light gauze, faintly revealing flickering candle shadows inside.
Li Yan had been to the Prince Mansion and Imperial Palace; to be honest, although not as luxurious, its taste was exceedingly refined.
But at this mont, he was in no mood to appreciate.
Just now, the Hook Paper faintly ward, as if sensing sothing, but wasn't clear.
A yin criminal is hiding in this garden!
Li Yan looked around, already cautious.
Since departing Luoyang, he'd hardly seen any yin criminals.
But upon arriving at the Capital, he consecutively discovered Wuleji and Kong Hui.
Could that old demon be hiding here?
Following the guide closely, walking rapidly along the zigzag corridor by the pool, Li Yan always held the Hook Paper.
Unfortunately, the prior sensing had vanished, not reappearing.
He noticed copper mirrors hanging between the corridor's pillars, their surfaces etched with patterns of the Twenty-Eight Stars.
Wang Daoxuan once said, this is the theory of the "mirror formation."
When suppressing certain evil spirits, it's often set up in underground palaces, trapping invisible demons within, unable to escape.
But used here, it both prevents Yin Sha disturbances and reflects intruders' figures to hidden outposts around.
Complented by the courtyard's feng shui formation, it also blocks Divine Skills from prying.
The creator of this garden must be a feng shui master.
As Li Yan pondered, they already turned past two moon gates.
The view suddenly cleared, a rockery made of Taihu stones stood two zhang tall, surrounded by towering bamboo forest.
The winding path leads to a secluded spot, where one can see courtyards, arranged neatly and without interference from one another.
The two guards of that "Young Master Xiao" were standing outside one of the courtyards.
Seeing Li Yan's arrival, the two imdiately gripped their sword hilts with vigilance written all over their faces.
Fortunately, Li Yan soon disappeared from their sight.
Led by a servant, Li Yan arrived at one of the courtyards.
The courtyard was decorated very elegantly. Although not large, it featured a pool with a two-story building built next to it. Lanterns and agarwood incense lit up the open waterside hall, where a maid knelt brewing tea, and light gauze curtains fluttered in the night breeze.
It appeared just like a painting.
"Honored guest, please wait a mont."
The servant bowed respectfully, "Miss Zhao is not here; I will go find the garden owner."
Zhao Wanfang is not here?
Li Yan frowned slightly but said nothing more as he sat on a cushion in the hall.
Just as he sat down, the maid served the brewed tea and then withdrew silently.
Li Yan, in contemplation, continued to hold the hook paper in his arms.
The hook paper remained unresponsive, as if the previous sensation was just an illusion.
This was the first ti such a situation had occurred.
What exactly did the other side use…
At this mont, Li Yan sniffed and suddenly noticed a faint fragrance wafting over.
It seed to be a blend of plum fragrance with agarwood, with a hint of herbal bitterness.
Looking up, he saw a woman leading two maids approaching from outside the courtyard.
The woman appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with skin like creamy fat and brows like distant mountains. Her phoenix eyes were sowhat sharp, yet her gaze seed to contain autumn water.
Seeing Li Yan, she first smiled sweetly, then waved her hand to dismiss the maids before sitting down slowly, reclining beside the Xiangfei bamboo curtain, her fingers twirling a mud-gold peony round fan, "Young Hero Li, you've waited long. You've been busy these days, and I thought you wouldn't return."
Li Yan remained expressionless, "Who is it that I'm addressing, and where is Zhao Wanfang?"
"I am Su Yu, the owner of this Su Garden."
The woman smiled openly, "Wanfang is my disciple. She had so matters to attend to in Jiao State and has already left. Young people need more practice; otherwise, I wouldn't dare to hand this Su Garden over to her in the future."
Li Yan mused inwardly, worthy of being an elder of the Golden Swallow Sect.
Her deanor was neither servile nor overbearing, both conciliating and revealing her identity.
Seeing Li Yan silent, Su Yu smiled slightly, "The capital has been turbulent lately, Su Garden's eaves are low. Young Hero Li, a distinguished person like you must be busy, and your sudden visit probably isn't just to catch up with old friends?"
Li Yan took a sip of tea, "Wanfang ntioned sothing before, and I'm wondering if it still stands?"
"Of course."
Su Yu's face lit up with a smile, "The Twelve Primordial Spirits are now renowned throughout the Divine State. Many esteed individuals wish to invite you, but find it hard to approach. If Young Hero Li trusts us, our Golden Swallow Sect can run errands for you, ensuring no hidden risks."
Zhao Wanfang had ntioned this before.
The Golden Swallow Sect wanted to be the liaison for the Twelve Primordial Spirits, connecting them with major opportunities.
Not only do they not charge a fee, but they also provide intelligence support.
It seed like they were taking a loss, but the na of the Twelve Primordial Spirits was enough for the Golden Swallow Sect to build more connections.
This was the foundation of their survival.
"There's no rush for this matter."
Li Yan slowly sipped his tea, "Senior, your place seems a bit unclean…"
Su Yu looked slightly surprised, "What does Young Hero Li an by unclean?"
Li Yan looked up, his gaze turning cold, "Yin criminal!"
He was too busy for riddles and decided to be direct.
If the other side was hiding sothing, there was no point in cooperation.
Perhaps later, he would have to call the Captain Bureau to search this place.
Unexpectedly, Su Yu rely smiled slightly and calmly said, "Young Hero Li is indeed exceptional."
"Indeed, this place does hide a 'yin criminal', an Earth Immortal senior from Lao Mountain. We facilitated his invitation today. He has co to the Prince Yan Mansion for protection, also serving as a tribute."
"If Young Hero Li insists on enforcing justice, we cannot stop you."
An Earth Immortal from Lao Mountain?
No wonder…
Li Yan suddenly realized that the escape technique of the Lao Mountain lineage was famously formidable.
Being able to swagger into the capital naturally involved so wonderful thods.
And the young man surnad Xiao earlier.
Initially thought to be a noble's son, he turned out to be Prince Yan…
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