The Number One Manor in the World has three layers of gates.
The first gate is a layer of mountains, and beyond that layer of mountains, a layer of heavens.
Mu Shanxue and the young Taoist were led in through a side entrance by Sikou Tingfeng, naturally unable to go directly to the front entrance to see the first gate. After turning around for a short while, they arrived directly at the second gate, where a pair of couplets carved on the vermilion pillars were written by the late Emperor.
"Achieving military strategies and commanding the four corners to stabilize the world."
"Widening the path and commanding respect and virtue to pacify the people."
The heading at the top is The Number One Manor in the World.
Ordinary men naturally wouldn't dare author such proclamations, but since they came from the Emperor, they were boldly displayed right here.
The late Emperor was exceedingly cunning and adept in grasping the hearts of the people, yet the words he crafted were grand and majestic, giving even these not so favorable couplets an extraordinary presence.
Sikou Tingfeng didn't stop, continuing to lead Mu Shanxue and the other onward.
A few hundred steps further inside was the renowned 'Falling Sword Platform' of The Number One Manor in the World, possessing the Jianghu Legend of 'Plucking Stars with One Finger, Dismising Myriad Swords.'
Yet, from the outside, it appeared to be a very ordinary pavilion, its arrangement even slightly inferior to those located within the grounds of ordinary noble clans, far less captivating than the legends described.
A mountain spring had been carved out of the mountain rock using manpower, flowing from the front. One needed to cross eight serial bridges, one more than even the Heavenly Gang, to reach the Third Gate. Beyond this gate lay the place where the Manor Master of The Number One Manor in the World decided upon major Jianghu matters.
The couplet here was reportedly written by the old Manor Master when he was still roaming Jianghu, left side reading, ''Opening in the east, long-lasting in the west, the dipper to the south and north, the mountaintop dwellers are indeed plucking stars,' grand in spirit, treating revered celestial palaces of Taoist worship as if they were mere jewelsc held within his palm.
This was originally a solitary line, the other side unwritten, making it all the more arrogant paired against the world alone, until eighteen years ago, a white-haired Scholar drunk on wine that night, climbed up and penned the following line before stumbling away long and far.
'Spring's peonies, summer's peonies, autumn's chrysanthemums, winter's plum blossoms, the guest beneath the hall is a successful examinee.'
This couplet was elegant in wording but whimsically romantic in imagery, inevitably leading one's thoughts astray. It completely disrupted the stoic pride of the previous line, leaving it utterly transformed. Discovering the following line the next day, the old Manor Master, far from angry, instead praised, "What a successful examinee!" and had craftsmen carve these words alongside the original line.
Mu Shanxue confessed that he couldn't compare to such a demeanor.
Setting aside other matters, if someone dared inscribe such a flirtatious couplet at the entrance of his Weiming Sect residence, the ever stern Disciplinary Master Uncle would grab a disciplinary ruler to teach that Scholar a lesson, leaving him limping with two legs instead of three, ensuring he could never become a successful examinee in this lifetime.
Sikou Tingfeng still moved forward and Mu Shanxue, knowing better, didn't continue to drag his old grey donkey inside. He patted the donkey's back, whispered a few words into its ear, and then no longer paid it any attention, letting the donkey stand there while he quickly stepped forward to catch up with his junior brother.
Sikou Tingfeng paused her steps, waiting until he caught up before continuing to lead the way.
Mu Shanxue kept his junior brother a step behind him, walking ahead, and looking at the dignified young woman beside him, he said,
"Miss Sikou indeed possesses a grand demeanor."
Sikou Tingfeng shook her head,
"Observing someone play a role does not require much demeanor."
"If someone said a member of the Weiming Sect carrying a sword was a lazy person, I'd believe it, but a rude and aggressive person, that I wouldn't believe."
She referred to the behavior Mu Shanxue displayed on the road.
The young Taoist's face flushed a bit with shame.
Mu Shanxue wasn't at all embarrassed, smiling as he said, "Indeed."
"Yet, the lady has excellent taste and demeanor."
Sikou Tingfeng didn't lead them to the main hall but into the Third Gate where she guided them to a pavilion to sit down,
"The Manor Master has gone to visit a friend recently and hasn't returned. I'm afraid the two Taoists are out of luck and won't be able to meet him. Please rest here for a while."
This place was in the Third Gate of the entire manor, situated quite high up, overlooking the entire Number One Manor in the World and the scenery below the mountain. The view was indeed impressive, like dragons and tigers lying in wait, the expansiveness instantly broadening one's chest.
Sikou Danfeng seemed preoccupied with other matters and walked out first.
The young Taoist tugged at Mu Shanxue's hem because he felt his senior brother was disgraceful, his face still flushed, and he looked at Mu Shanxue with a slight anger in his eyes, whispering:
"You were too impolite just now..."
Mu Shanxue unconsciously shifted his gaze away, mumbling under his breath:
"I didn't say anything wrong though; the grass here really isn't as tasty as the grass below..."
"Old Grey thinks so too."
"When it comes to eating grass, it knows best. Even if you don't believe me, you should believe it."
Feeling that his junior brother's gaze hadn't changed at all,
Mu Shanxue sighed and finally gave in. He raised his hand and rubbed it on the young Taoist's head, thought for a moment, and said,
"Did you notice Miss Sikou's weapon earlier?"
The young Taoist was momentarily stunned.
Sikou Danfeng was dressed plainly without carrying a sword, and it seemed there might be something similar to a Mo Family mechanism on her right wrist. The young Taoist thought about it and uncertainly said: