In the Mustachio Country and a few other small nations, they dispatched people to infiltrate this nation many years ago, not only in the Mortal Realm but also in the Cultivation World!
They entered secretly, initially using beautiful women, followed by some young people or children!
More often, they posed as merchants!
They settled in both the Mortal Realm and the Cultivation World, attempting to learn some Martial Arts and Immortal Abilities from this nation!
After many years of effort, these people hid in many places, secretly contacting one another to conspire for certain objects, and when committing murders, theyâd follow orders from their superiors!
In the capital city, most of them were women who entered through various means into the noble clans of the city, they married and had children, and these womenâs offspring then became supporters of Country X!
Thus, generation after generation, the clans gradually fell under their control!
Du Jiaolanâs mother was one of them, and all the children she bore learned the organizationâs skills!
However, though the father was of a noble clan, he was not very capable and did not possess Immortal Abilities, only some Ancient Martial Arts knowledge.
Perhaps the genetic quality of Country Xâs women was subpar; even after marrying and having children, none of the children possessed a Spiritual Root, and with those Secret Manuals and Techniques, they could only learn martial strength, unable to pursue cultivation!
In recent years, a secret was discovered; the Secret Manuals and Techniques from the Saint Sect could be learned by ordinary people!
After repeated failures, the people from those small countries were unwilling to accept defeat!
This time, taking advantage of the monsterâs attack, they dispatched many, many people to assault civilians!
They thought with inside and outside cooperation, they could kill some ordinary people and occupy territories!
Yet during their actions, they were countered and killed, resulting in significant losses for a small nation!
Within two years, many who had been lurking for years were rooted out!
The temporarily dispatched personnel didnât even set foot on Ancient Xia Countryâs soil before being annihilated; they either sank with the ship or were blown up.
Du Jiaolan recently started frequent activities, initially intending to make a move through Tang Feiyang.
However, this man was too formidable, too astute!
So they shifted their focus to trying from among the Confucianism Tao male disciples!
They also thought about the Guardian God Generalâs family, but the young people in the Guardian God Family were too astute!
Their abilities were too strong; they couldnât be strategized against!
There were thoughts of casting spells on certain soldiers!
But under the leadership of the Guardian Deityâs family, the Guardian Soldiers, they all had a strong adherence to military orders with integrity!
With a strict military rule in place, itâs indeed difficult for some people to approach their soldiers!
Those unmarried soldiers would stay in the barracks under the generalâs leadership, making it impossible for outsiders to approach!
As for the married Military Generals, possibly due to military orders, they did not pass on the militaryâs Cultivation Techniques and Secret Manuals to their families!
Unless the family members have been vetted by the military; once vetted, they must go to the military to learn the Secret Manuals and Techniques!
Unlike the daughters and mistresses of wealthy families, who only enjoy themselves!
Family members of Military Generals, they were mostly people with high combat power!
Such people were more upright and didnât interact with the other literary family female members from wealthy families!
In teams involving military and literary officials, families were divided into several factions!
Whichever faction the men in the family belonged to, they were part of that faction!
Du Jiaolan recently took a liking to a student from the Confucianism Taoism Academy, not from the first batch of students Tang Feiyang took out!
After returning to the family, they passed on the Dual Cultivation skills to the students in school!
These individuals were just beginning to step into Dual Cultivation skills, the first step on the Path of Cultivation, the first layer of the Qi Refinement Realm!
Their abilities were not high, somewhat naive and silly, unlike those who followed Tang Feiyang outside for training for two years, who were honed by life and death situations and thus were shrewder!
Being more capable, they werenât easily deceived!
The student Du Jiaolan had her eyes on was actually a young boy; his Confucianism Tao abilities were not inferior, but his body was somewhat weaker!
After learning Dual Cultivation skills, his body had become slightly stronger!
This young manâs family was hosting a birthday celebration for an elder, inviting some guests!
His family was just a collateral branch of the Confucianism Taoism Tang family, inviting guests for a celebration but unable to invite Tang Feiyangâs family!
Because the Chief of Staff was on vacation elsewhere!
Du Jiaolan, after much effort, used some connections to infiltrate the female members of this scholarâs family!
Itâs safe to say she became acquainted with the family members, and when they presented city gifts, she too was present!
Du Jiaolan came together with her mother and sisters!
Of course, her brother also came; his intention was mainly to meet this scholar!
Then deliberately facilitated the scholarâs acquaintance with Du Jiaolan and her sisters!
The scholar was recently buried in cultivation at the academy; if it werenât for the grandfatherâs birthday banquet, he would not have had time to return home!
Seeing other fellow disciples working so hard, and with the first batch that followed Master Tang Feiyang becoming so strong!
At that time, he was too weak to be selected!
Now there was an opportunity to work harder!
The scholar saw some young men from wealthy families; he wasnât familiar with them, but they gathered to give face for the birthday celebration!
Listening to them speak of bug catching and walking dogs, the scholar had no interest at all!
Yet many people proposed celebrating the joyous day with some competitions and games!
The chosen venue was a lotus pond where both men and women could enjoy the view, along with a pavilion!
Competitions took place in those gardens!
At the lotus pond, they rowed boats!
At the pavilion, there were some screens for competitions!
Before the birthday feast began, the younger crowd gathered for a boat ride, rowing and picking lotus seeds on the lotus pond!
In fact, some young menâs intent was to meet the young ladies also playing at the lotus pond!
Some were there on a mission!
Some came to admire certain peopleâs appearances!
The scholar and this group arrived at the lotus pond. Given his long stay here, he was tired of the view and play!
Having been frail since childhood, he never rowed a boat himself!
Du Jiaolan had already arrived with her sisters at the lotus pond; upon seeing their familyâs men, they asked them to help row the boat!
As noble ladies, they werenât weak girls, merely feigning delicacy before certain people!
Du Jiaolan spotted that scholar walking through the crowd, precisely among their family and friends.
The boats at the lotus pond werenât large, each could seat only a few people!
Some boats could only seat two, with one rowing!
There were also boats for two people to row, suitable for a dual cruise!
The largest ones could sit a few with someone to assist in rowing!
No matter where they played at this party, guests were ensured to have fin!
Noble men and ladies wanting to get on the boats would have guards or those well-versed in water to help them, along with patrols at the lotus pondâs edge!
Du Jiaolan and several sisters boarded a boat, initially not asking the men to join!
After all, playing on the lake allowed for a chance to meet, having conversations between boats!
The few women sat on the boat while some young men on other boats already took notice!
As for some young ladies on another boat, someone rowed as they admired the scenery, picking lotus flowers, and seeds!
On the boat, Du Jiaolan casually picked up a small, finely crafted bamboo basket, picking lotus seeds from the waterâs edge!
The lotus seeds and flowers in the lotus pond werenât of ordinary kind!
These were plants imbued with Spiritual Energy, with lotus seeds serving other purposes!
An entire pond of lotus, for viewing, picking lotus seeds and flowers, these could be taken home or turned into delicacies, a delightful activity!
"Little sister, little sister, youâre all here?"
Her familyâs brother called loudly from another boat, sharing it with a few young men, including the scholar!
The boat they were on was slightly larger with a table and chairs, for tea drinking, wine, fruits, and snacks!