Outside on the dark street, Qin Shuang tilted her head and gave Shen Bai a questioning look.

Shen Bai shook his head. "How would I know about that kind of gossip?"

In truth, Shen Bai knew Long Yan had a connection to the Peach Opera Garden, but he wasn’t very clear on the exact nature of it.

Every day, besides attending Dianmao, Shen Bai would just hole himself up in the Observatory’s Martial Arts Arena. In his free time, he would either go shoot the breeze with Elder Mu or eat with Qin Shuang, so he really had no time to keep up with such gossip.

"Oh," Qin Shuang said, her eyes darting around. "Let’s find a late-night food stall. We can talk while we eat."

Shen Bai thought for a moment, then nodded. "Sounds good. We can talk while we eat."

’He had to eat anyway. Finding a place to eat and chat would save a lot of time.’

Before long, the two of them left the Observatory and headed down a nearby street.

...

In front of a wonton stall.

"Two bowls of wontons, no scallions!" Qin Shuang called out excitedly, running up to the stall owner.

The two of them found a table and sat down. Soon after, the owner brought over the steaming wontons.

Shen Bai scooped up a spoonful of broth and drank it while it was hot, feeling a warmth spread through his stomach. "This tastes pretty good."

Wontons were one of the most common late-night snacks in Fenglin State. Topped with some garnishes and served in a clear broth, they were not only filling but also great for satisfying a late-night craving.

Qin Shuang took a bite of a wonton, her eyes closing in bliss. "I haven’t eaten here in ages. It’s so delicious!"

Shen Bai smiled. "With your salary, you could eat here every day and still have money left over."

Qin Shuang shook her head and said with a straight face, "It’s not the same. It doesn’t taste as good when you eat alone as it does with someone else."

Shen Bai thought for a moment. He remembered what Qin Shuang had told him before and understood what she meant. "When I have time, I’ll come eat with you more often."

Qin Shuang nodded vigorously and pointed at the wontons in Shen Bai’s bowl. "Don’t just talk, eat up! They’re best when they’re hot."

Shen Bai took a bite and asked, "Right, what’s the deal with Landlord Long and the Peach Opera Garden? I saw her tonight, and she looked completely out of it."

Eating was one thing, but Shen Bai hadn’t forgotten about the important matter.

Shen Bai had heard from both the Sect Leader and Liu Wufeng that this visit from the Peach Opera Garden was no simple affair.

Since the matter concerned the Observatory, and Shen Bai was now part of it, he wanted to be prepared by learning about it in advance.

Qin Shuang put down her spoon and thought for a moment. Then, her inner foodie awakening, she subconsciously ate another wonton. "Landlord Long was originally from the Peach Opera Garden."

Shen Bai was slightly surprised to hear this. "The Peach Opera Garden? Then why did Landlord Long come to the Observatory?"

’The Peach Opera Garden is no simple organization. They might even have Marquis Fengjiang backing them. With a background like that, it wouldn’t have made much of a difference whether she joined the Observatory or not.’

’That was what puzzled Shen Bai the most: why would Landlord Long take a position at the Observatory?’

’A Capital City was several tiers higher than a State-level City.’

Qin Shuang pouted, looking very angry. "It was all because the Peach Opera Garden was unfair! In her generation, Landlord Long was their most brilliant disciple. By the Peach Opera Garden’s standards, she was destined to become a ’lead’."

Every faction has its own ranking system. While the Peach Opera Garden is a Jianghu power, it grew out of the opera troupes familiar to the common people.

A "lead" is similar to the top figure in other factions.

Shen Bai frowned. "And then what? Didn’t Landlord Long become a lead?"

’To be able to serve as a Landlord in the Observatory, her strength was beyond question.’

’Perhaps Landlord Long wasn’t as skilled in combat as Elder Mu, but Shen Bai estimated she wasn’t too far behind.’

Qin Shuang nodded. "In that generation, there was someone less skilled than Landlord Long, but he had a different background. He was said to be the Peach Opera Garden’s Garden Master’s own son."

"At the time, the Garden Master’s intention was to make his son the lead and have him marry Landlord Long."

Hearing this, an expression of sudden realization dawned on Shen Bai’s face. "So that’s how it was."

’In truth, the reach of power exists everywhere.’

’To put it simply, for those in the Jianghu, being a good fighter isn’t always enough; you also need connections.’ 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

’Long Yan had been successful at a young age, with outstanding strength and exceptional talent. Anyone in her position would have refused to submit to such a decision.’

’Forced to both give up her chance to become the lead and be married off to someone else... someone with Long Yan’s personality would never have stood for it.’

Shen Bai paused, took another bite of wonton, and then asked, "What happened after that?"

Qin Shuang sighed. "After that, Landlord Long ran away. She wouldn’t be the lead, and she wouldn’t be the Garden Master’s daughter-in-law."

"Afterward, Landlord Long went through a lot in the Jianghu. She was even pursued by the Peach Opera Garden a few times, but she always managed to escape by the skin of her teeth."

"Later on, Landlord Long grew stronger and stronger, mastering the Peach Opera Garden’s ’art of performance’ to a sublime degree. The Peach Opera Garden suddenly discovered they couldn’t handle her anymore."

"So, the Peach Opera Garden went to the Observatory."

Shen Bai frowned. "And the Observatory agreed back then?"

’This story,’ Shen Bai thought, ’sounded more and more like one of those strong-female-lead novels from his past life.’

’Enduring endless hardships, escaping pursuit, and finally making a successful comeback.’

Shen Bai found himself even more curious about what happened next.

Qin Shuang thought for a moment and said, "Later on, as it happened, Landlord Long was staying in Fenglin State. And it just so happened that my teacher was the State Governor at the time."

"My teacher received the order and took action personally. It took him five days and five nights, but he finally captured Landlord Long."