As Jian Wudao departed with Bian Ruxue, the courtyards of the estate erupted in a flurry of activity. Ladies and their attendants vied for a final glance, a parting word. Some went so far as to have their children practice swordsmanship along the main path, hoping to catch the master’s eye.
Yet none of them managed to draw Jian Wudao’s attention for even a moment.
Access to the Jian Manor was a rare privilege, a fact that only made the desire
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