Chapter 97 Entering the House
In the evening, in the central hall of Prince Xian's Mansion, Luo Tianjin sat at the chief seat, leaning slightly towards the three-pronged candlestick beside him, frowning slightly, and carefully examining the "Painting of Wind and Rain" presented by Liu Xunyi, without saying a word.

Next to him sat a graceful and elegant woman. Although she was over 40 years old, she still had charm, especially her lovely eyes. Her pupils were as clear as water and sparkling, seeming to contain countless kinds of charm.

Liu Xunyi had seen this pair of eyes on Luo Ningyu's face before. They were exactly the same, except that Luo Ningyu's eyes were more pure and clear, much inferior to those of this woman.

The woman was Luo Ningyu's mother, the jewel in the crown of Taoist Qingfeng, the head of Wudang, and Luo Tianjin's wife, Ling Xiaoxiao.

Twenty years ago, Ling Xiaoxiao was also a famous beauty, and people at that time called her "peerless and beautiful". Although there was some flattery to Taoist Qingfeng, it also indirectly confirmed Ling Xiaoxiao's extraordinary beauty and temperament.

There were two people sitting on the left side of the hall, one of whom was an old friend of Liu Xunyi, one of the seven heroes of the Xianwang Mansion, Deng Changchuan.

The other was a skinny man with an unremarkable appearance, about fifty years old, with a broad and full forehead in sharp contrast to a skinny and wrinkled chin. The shape of his head was like an inverted bamboo hat, which was very funny. He was only about five feet tall and skinny. Even wearing a thick winter coat, he still looked very loose. Especially the hand holding the teacup, the five fingers were all skinny, thin and long, giving people the illusion that they would break if they exerted a little force, which was very scary.

When they just entered the central hall, Lin Fangda had whispered to Liu Xunyi not to underestimate this man, because his background was no less important than Deng Changchuan. He was another of the Seven Heroes of the Xianwang Mansion, Jiang Yiwei.

The seven heroes of the Xianwang Mansion all have their own unique martial arts, such as Xie Xuan's Bodhidharma Finger and Deng Changchuan's Nine-section Whip Technique, which are both famous in the martial arts world. Jiang Yiwei's Qinggong is unparalleled. It is said that his "Crossing the River with a Reed" is more powerful than Wudang's Ladder Clouds and Shaolin's Water Floating. Jiang Yiwei is also very proud of this, claiming that there are only a handful of people in the martial arts world who can compete with him in Qinggong.

Opposite Deng Changchuan and Jiang Yiwei, there were two people sitting, a man and a woman. The woman was Luo Ningyu, and the man was Luo Ningyu's brother, Luo Hongxuan.

Luo Hongxuan was two or three years older than Liu Xunyi. Like his father Luo Tianjin, he was of extraordinary character and handsome appearance. However, he was a little thin, which also added a bit of bookish air to him.

Liu Xunyi and Lin Fangda stood in the hall, feeling nervous, but they did not dare to say anything to disturb Luo Tianjin who was carefully appreciating the painting.

"Cough cough..."

After a long time, Luo Tianjin finally coughed twice, breaking the stagnant silence in the hall.

"Brother Jin, is this really the legendary Jingfenghuayutu?" Ling Xiaoxiao asked curiously, "Then can you see the mystery hidden in it?"

Luo Tianjin smiled slightly, but did not directly answer Ling Xiaoxiao's question. Instead, he asked Liu Xunyi, "Did the young king of Qin really send this picture to you?"

"Yes." Liu Xunyi answered without hesitation. After that, he subconsciously asked: "May I ask Lord Luo, who is this 'Young Qin King'?"

"Young King Qin is..."

"He is just a tyrant in the Western Regions." Before Deng Changchuan could explain, Luo Tianjin suddenly interrupted him loudly and said with a faint smile, "Young King Qin asked you to hand the map to me personally. Does he just want to make friends with me?"

"That's what they said." Liu Xunyi recalled, "As for whether it's true or not... I don't know."

"Okay!" Luo Tianjin slowly rolled up the picture and said with a satisfied smile, "I will make friends with the young prince of Qin for the time being."

Liu Xunyi was slightly stunned, and then added: "They also asked me to tell Palace Master Luo a message, saying that the person who caused trouble in the Jiangnan Lu Mansion that day was Song Yu from the Golden Sword Dock."

"Song Yu." Luo Tianjin nodded vaguely, "I had long expected that Jin Jianwu was the traitor. That day at Lu's residence, Song Yu pressed Mo Cen aggressively, urging him to show the Jing Feng Hua Yu Tu. I guess he was paving the way for Cao Qin."

Deng Changchuan frowned and asked: "Since we know that it is Jinjianwu who is doing this in secret, why don't we tell the world about it? Then take the opportunity to command the heroes and take down Jinjianwu in one fell swoop..." Deng Changchuan hesitated and gently gestured at his neck with his hand, his intention was obvious.

"No." Ling Xiaoxiao thought for a moment and refuted, "It's too arbitrary to conclude that it was Jin Jianwu's doing just based on an empty statement. And even if it was Jin Jianwu's doing, we can't produce any evidence. I'm afraid that Jin Jianwu will turn the tables and we won't be able to catch the fox, but will get into trouble. Brother Jin, what do you think?"

"Madam, what you said makes sense." Luo Tianjin replied without denying it. "There is no evidence for this matter, so we can't just make up stories. What's more, Jin Jianwu has deep roots in the south and has been opposing us from the north and south for many years. How can it be easily shaken? So unless it is absolutely necessary, I don't want to break up with Jin Jianwu."

Jiang Yiwei echoed, "Yes, Jinjianwu has always had a close relationship with the four great martial arts families. Now that Song Yu is causing trouble in the Lu Mansion, this is one of their own people destroying one's own place. I believe Lu Tingxiang will never turn a blind eye. Although it is inconvenient for us to make this matter clear, we can secretly spread the news and stir up this muddy water. Even if we can't make them turn against each other, at least we can make the Lu Mansion and Jinjianwu suspicious of each other." Luo Hongxuan said, "Third Uncle Jiang is right. Even if Jinjianwu turns the tables and accuses us of being the traitor, it doesn't matter. Anyway, we have never had much friendship with the Jiangnan Lu Mansion."

"No!" Liu Xunyi pondered, "Lu Tingxiang secretly sent someone to follow me to Huodu, and finally cheated me of the fake map, so he knew everything I did in Huodu. Therefore, Lu Tingxiang knew very well that the Xianwang Mansion and Tianshan Yulong Palace could not be in the same group, otherwise why would I go to Tianshan and survive a life-threatening situation?"

"That's great!" Luo Ningyu clapped her hands and laughed, "Let's do as Third Uncle Jiang said. Let's spread the word secretly and let them fight among themselves. Haha... Interesting, interesting. Why don't you let me do it!"

"Ahem!" Seeing Luo Ningyu's excitement, Ling Xiaoxiao couldn't help but cough twice and whispered a rebuke, "Yu'er, you are unruly again! As a girl, you should learn to be more reserved and not get involved in these fighting and killing things."

"Mom is also a woman of the Jianghu, and she worked with Dad to build the Xianwang Mansion. Why is there something that Mom can do but a daughter can't?" Luo Ningyu argued unconvinced, and then she cried to Luo Tianjin like a spoiled child, "Dad, Mom wants to lock me in the room to learn embroidery again."

Luo Tianjin dotingly shook his head slowly towards Luo Ningyu, signaling her not to mess around. He then turned his gaze to Deng Changchuan and Jiang Yiwei, and said seriously: "Leave this matter to Jiang Yiwei. Remember to be careful and don't cause trouble."

"Yes!" Jiang Yiwei stood up and accepted the order.

"Master, since Brother Liu has brought back the Wind and Rain Diagram, has he passed the test?" Seeing that the time had come, Lin Fangda couldn't wait to ask, "Can he stay in the mansion?"

Luo Tianjin looked at Liu Xunyi and smiled meaningfully, "I never break my promises, but I don't know if Young Master Liu is willing to condescend and become a member of my Xianwang Mansion?"

"Thank you Lord Luo for your esteem. I am willing to serve you!" Liu Xunyi had been longing for this, so he did not hesitate any longer. He immediately knelt on the ground and bowed to accept the order.

"Okay!" Luo Tianjin nodded with satisfaction, and said seriously, "Since you have entered the Xianwang Mansion, you must abide by the rules of our Xianwang Mansion in the future. You must not be lazy, careless, or reckless. As for the various rules in the mansion, Lin Fangda will tell you one by one after you go down." After that, Luo Tianjin's expression relaxed slightly and smiled faintly, "Xunyi, from now on you are a disciple of the Xianwang Mansion. I know that you are a rare talent, so I will not force you to join the lower three sects. I am willing to give you a chance to choose freely. I wonder which sect in the mansion you want to join?"

Ling Xiaoxiao explained, "There are eight gates in Xianwang Mansion: Sheng, Si, Jing, Xiu, Du, Jing, Shang, Kai. Sheng, Xiu, and Kai are the top three gates, which are mainly responsible for the appearance, exchanging courtesy with friends from all corners of the world, and maintaining the reputation and status of Xianwang Mansion in the martial arts world. Si, Jing, and Shang are the bottom three gates, which are mainly responsible for resolving grievances in the martial arts world for Xianwang Mansion. Du Gate and Jing Gate are the middle gates, which are responsible for household affairs, such as guarding the house, repairing the mansion, and arranging many miscellaneous matters in the mansion at the beginning and end of the year."

Luo Ningyu raised her eyebrows and said jokingly, "The upper three sects are all talk and no action, the middle and second sects are mostly members of my Luo family, and only the lower three sects have the opportunity for you to show your strengths. Liu Xunyi, you are good at martial arts, and you are most suitable for fighting with others. What's more, according to the previous rules of the Xianwang Mansion, new disciples usually enter the lower three sects..."

"Yu'er, don't interrupt." Ling Xiaoxiao said softly, "Your father has already said that Liu Xunyi can make his own choice. You don't have to worry about him."

Liu Xunyi looked at Lin Fangda beside him awkwardly, then looked at Luo Ningyu who was winking at him, and said hesitantly: "In that case... then I will..."

"Then Brother Liu, please come to my Xiumen!" Before Liu Xunyi could finish his words, Lin Fangda suddenly said, "We are sworn brothers. As the eldest brother, I should take good care of you. I hope the Palace Master will grant your wish."

Luo Tianjin smiled calmly and asked, "I wonder if Xunyi has the same intention?"

"If possible, I would certainly like to stay with you all day long, big brother." Liu Xunyi hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

In fact, Liu Xunyi knew clearly that among the eight gates of the Xianwang Mansion, the lower three gates were dangerous but the easiest to get out of.

However, Lin Fangda also had good intentions. He didn't want Liu Xunyi to be in a sea of ​​fire and swords all day long, so he took the initiative to recruit him. Although Liu Xunyi was unwilling to do so, he had no choice but to agree. After all, he was just a newcomer, so how could he refuse Lin Fangda's face?
Luo Tianjin and Ling Xiaoxiao looked at each other and smiled faintly: "Then you should follow Lin Fangda! Xunyi, young people should know how to be diligent and motivated, so that they can achieve something in the future."

After a brief greeting, Luo Tianjin ordered Lin Fangda and Liu Xunyi to leave.

After leaving, Liu Xunyi had mixed feelings. He thought that he had made great contributions to the Xianwang Mansion and would definitely win Luo Tianjin's favor, but he never expected that he would end up becoming a disciple of Xiumen. What's more, Luo Tianjin's attitude towards him tonight was indifferent and he had no intention of getting close to him. It was as if the Jingfenghuayu map he risked his life to get back was a worthless piece of waste paper that did not interest Luo Tianjin at all.

Liu Xunyi was so confident before he asked to see Luo Tianjin. The ending now made him feel sad and disappointed. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "It seems that I still underestimated this 'Northern Sage King'. I don't know when I will have the opportunity to get close to Luo Tianjin again after I enter Xiumen tonight. If I want to persuade him to submit to the court, I must first become his confidant, but now it seems... I can't even get close to him in a long time. If I want to persuade him to accept the amnesty, I don't know when I will have to wait... Alas..."

……

(End of this chapter)