Why do I have so many masters?

Wang Anfeng noticed the surprise on Gu Jianzhang's face and took the initiative to remove the white jade pendant and handed it to him, saying,

"Brother Gu just mentioned the 'Ling Moon Pendant'..."

"It seems you recognize this item?"

A flicker of astonishment passed through Gu Jianzhang's eyes as he nodded, took the curved moon-shaped white jade, and caressed it with his fingers. When he felt a sensation of absorbing inner strength at the dragon head, a realization dawned on his face, and he said,

"Indeed, it is the Ling Moon Pendant."

"I had only heard legends of this jade, never imagining I would behold its true form today."

He chuckled lightly, his palm stroking the pendant again. Touching the exquisitely indescribable Flying Dragon relief, a clear look of astonishment appeared in his eyes. After another caress, he handed the extraordinary pendant back to Wang Anfeng.

He then looked up again in the direction Yan Ling and the others had left, smiled, and a slight look of schadenfreude appeared in his eyes. His right hand closed the folding fan with a snap and gently tapped it on the palm of his left hand, saying,

"Yan Ling and Sister Zhao... well, never mind them."

"I suppose they'll come back when they're hungry."

He shook his head and gestured invitingly into the estate, saying with a smile,

"Anfeng, Wen Chang, let's go inside first..."

"I'll also tell you about this Ling Moon Pendant."

The residence had three entrances and exits, offering a wonderfully secluded charm. Su Wenchang, having just received the news from Wang Anfeng, couldn't contain his excitement and had already gone to the inner chamber to brag to his friend. Meanwhile, Gu Jianzhang and Wang Anfeng walked side by side, gazing at the faint crescent emerging in the sky, Gu Jianzhang said leisurely,

"Dragon Head Swallowing Moon's Splendor."

"Master Liu Zhou from the previous dynasty wrote seven chapters in 'Xin Lun,' one of which on military tactics mentioned, 'The stars fill the sky but do not compare to the Ling Moon; their shapes differ, their light is not the same.'

""Your pendant is named after the Ling Moon, and if the peculiar scripture's records are correct, it should be classified as a rare treasure of the Middle Third Rank. As for the marvelous uses of the Ling Moon Pendant or its origins, I too am unaware."

Gu Jianzhang paused slightly and turned to look at Wang Anfeng.

A trace of apology appeared on his face, and he continued,

"You might need to research these matters yourself. You may find some classic texts in the Wind Character Tower."

"After all, such Middle Third Rank treasures are different from Lower Third Rank sharp weapons. Most have their own histories, similar to how martial artists rely solely on profound inner strength, and cannot access Middle Third Rank just like that. The treasures of the world, if merely superior in material, cannot overcome the Seventh Rank Dragon Gate's barrier."

Wang Anfeng nodded.

He had spent several months in the Wind Character Tower and had stayed for a full three days in the Library of the reclusive and famous Qingfeng Edge. Thus, he had gained a basic understanding of many matters in Jianghu, unlike when he was in Great Liang Village, where he was completely ignorant about martial arts knowledge.

The barriers between Lower Third Rank and Middle Third Rank are not like those between the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Ranks, where accumulating inner strength alone might suffice for a breakthrough. However, once one breaks through, it results in a transformation as significant as heaven and earth's overturning.

'San Qin Records' states: Dragon Gate Mountain lies on the eastern border of the river; Yu carved through the mountain creating gateways over a mile wide, and the river winds through it. On either side, cars and horses do not pass. Each late spring, yellow carps swim upstream against the current, and those who succeed turn into dragons. Then cloud and rain follow, and Heavenly Fire burns their tails, and thus they become dragons.

Because this barrier is extremely special, it is termed 'Dragon Gate.'

Gu Jianzhang gently pushed open the half-closed wooden door, turned to look at the contemplative youth, and said with a smile,

"Come in..."

.....................

This estate was set up by Gu Jianzhang's parents near the Academy. Today, only a few familiar friends were present. They had even invited a chief chef from a restaurant to welcome Wang Anfeng and cleanse him of his travel dust.

And throughout the meal, Yan Ling and the young girl had not yet returned.

According to Su Wenchang's words, it seemed that Sister Zhao was quite upset.

As he uttered these words, the handsome young man already had a flush on his face, evidently somewhat intoxicated.

At the family banquet, when everyone was in their fiery youth, not to mention the discussions, the restaurant chef, who had been mastering his skills for over a decade, captured a generous amount of silver coins and displayed his full culinary skills. The dishes he cooked were aromatic and rich in flavor. Everyone continued eating from sunset until the moon was high in the sky, only then feeling fully satisfied with food and drinks.

Since it was getting late, Su Wenchang and others simply decided to stay overnight at Gu Jianzhang's residence, while Wang Anfeng had to return to Wind Character Tower to tidy up, and thus had to leave alone.

Grasping a jar of fine wine, Su Wenchang looked at Wang Anfeng with drunken eyes and burped before saying,

"Anfeng, are you really not staying?"

"Anyway, anyway, whenever there wasn't someone guarding the books in Wind Character Tower, we used to come over just like this, didn't we?"

"Nor did that old Master Ren say anything..."

Wang Anfeng chuckled and said,

"Duty calls, how can I shirk it?"

He then turned to Gu Jianzhang, bowed with his hands clasped and said,

"Brother Gu, I shall take my leave first." Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

Gu Jianzhang nodded and saw him out, saying,

"Be careful on the way."

Wang Anfeng nodded his head and smiled nonchalantly,

"The Academy is only a moment's walk from here, what could possibly happen?"

"Brother Gu, you better go back and take care of Wen Chang and the others."

"His tolerance is average, yet he drank quite a lot just now and must be quite drunk."

Gu Jianzhang nodded and was about to say something when suddenly a retching noise from inside the residence could be heard. The young man's expression abruptly changed, and after hurriedly speaking a few words to Wang Anfeng, he rushed back inside the house with hurried steps, his expression quite alarmed.

Wang Anfeng was slightly startled, then realized that probably one of the students had drunk too much and felt a sense of fortuitous relief in his heart.

Indeed, Master was right.

Wine is to be avoided.

Shaking his head with emotion, Wang Anfeng looked with a smile at the frantic Gu Jianzhang who had lost his gentlemanly demeanor in the courtyard, and turned to leave towards the direction of the Academy.

It was past midnight by then, and although it would be the liveliest time of the day in those bustling places of flowers, music, and continuous celebrations, with endless streams of kind guests and sheer-dressed beauties coming and going, entrancing the senses and the sounds of strings and flutes audible for miles,

the vicinity of the Academy was instead peaceful, with only the stars and moon in the sky, spilling their silver light on the ground.

Gu Jianzhang's residence was located in a very quiet area, and at this moment on the road, only Wang Anfeng was walking alone. The youth took off the white jade from his waist, raised his hand to hold it up against the bright moon in the sky.

The moonlight was bright and clear, making the cloudy moon seem even more crystalline. The flying dragon carved on it appeared to be moving with its head, where wisps and threads of faint mist were gradually gathering.

Wang Anfeng exhaled and whispered,

"Dragon head swallowing the lunar radiance."

Just then, a faint sound suddenly came from behind, mingling with Wang Anfeng's footsteps, approaching slowly like a shadow.

PS: First update