evening.

The orange-red sunset shone into Qinghe Tower.

Chu Peiran was still teaching Xiao Tao and Dou Dou to read, while Cai Xia stood on a stool watching Gui Chen copy scriptures.

The little girl sat on the table writing with her hair disheveled. She held the pen like she was holding a sword. At first, her writing was crooked and twisted, but now it has a sharp, defined stroke.

"Boss, how's my writing going?"

The little dumpling proudly raised its head.

Qin Luo shook his head slightly, "I need to practice more."

"Hmph."

"So tired!"

The little dumpling fell asleep on the table.

Chu Peiran poured a cup of tea from the teapot. "It's getting late. I'll continue teaching you to read tomorrow."

"Yes, Young Master Chu!"

Xiao Tao and Dou Dou bowed respectfully.

Qin Luo looked at Chu Peiran and said softly, "Brother Chu, when are you planning to go to the North?"

Chu Peiran held his teacup and thought for a moment. “I’ve been traveling on a shoestring budget, eating and sleeping in the open, and haven’t had a proper rest yet. I plan to rest at Qinghe Tower for two days, then visit the seniors at the academy in Yanbei City, then go to Longhu Temple for fortune telling, and while I’m at it, I’ll go to Jinghu Academy, which you mentioned, to see if I can help out.”

Qin Luo smiled and nodded. He looked at Gui Chen, who was copying scriptures, and asked, "Master Gui Chen, what are your plans?"

"This humble monk has gained much from following you, fellow Daoist. After I finish copying the scriptures, I plan to find a quiet place to retreat into seclusion," Gui Chen said respectfully.

"Brother Dao, what are your plans?"

"I'm not in a hurry. I plan to rest in Jiangling City for two days before heading to the capital of the Great Xia Kingdom."

While Qin Luo and the others were chatting.

A middle-aged man carrying a paper fan walked into Qinghe Restaurant. He looked refined and cultured. Xiao Tao stepped forward and said warmly, "Sir, would you like some tea?"

"I saw a sign outside saying that you can read books here, so I came in to take a look." The middle-aged man looked around and saw a bookshelf on the left with many books on it.

Xiao Tao smiled sweetly, "Yes, we just opened, and we're offering complimentary tea."

The middle-aged man came to the bookshelf, picked up a Confucian classic at random, and sat down at the table to read it carefully. Dou Dou brought him a cup of hot tea.

DouDou said respectfully, "Sir, this pot of tea is a complimentary gift to thank you for your patronage."

"Thanks."

The middle-aged man was very polite.

Chu Peiran chuckled and joked, "It seems that our Confucian classics are still more popular."

Qin Luo smiled slightly.

A moment later, an old man dressed simply walked into Qinghe Tower. He had many dark spots on his face.

How much does it cost to have tea here?

Xiao Tao greeted us with a smile, "Sir, we only have regular tea in our restaurant right now, two coins a pot. But since we've just opened, tea is free, and private rooms are open for free."

The old man looked around; the place seemed deserted. "I thought there were people playing chess at Qinghe Tower," he said.

Chu Peiran walked over, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Sir, if you don't mind, I'll play chess with you."

"OK."

The old man stroked his beard and nodded.

Xiao Tao said awkwardly, "It seems there's no chessboard."

Chu Peiran smiled and said, "Don't worry, I have a chessboard in my book box. Please wait a moment."

Qin Luo reached out and picked up the little dumpling sleeping on the table, put her in his pocket, and then cleaned the table. Qinghe Restaurant had just had customers, so naturally they had to be treated well.

Chu Peiran brought out a chessboard, and he and the old man sat down at the table to play chess, while Qin Luo and Caixia watched from nearby.

Caixia looked at Qin Luo and whispered, "The Azure Emperor played chess with an old Taoist priest for three whole years."

"Who's winning?"

"The old Taoist priest won."

"However, the Azure Emperor was very pleased."

Qin Luo could tell that Caixia loved telling stories, probably because she had been locked up in the Azure Emperor's Secret Realm for too long.

Caixia probably knows more stories than any storyteller, and they are all true stories.

Chu Peiran was a disciple of the academy and had superb chess skills, while the old man's strength was obviously much weaker.

People passing by saw them gathered together and wondered what they were doing. Soon, more and more people came to Qinghe Tower. Those who could understand the game stood aside and pointed, while those who couldn't would wander around Qinghe Tower and look for books they liked on the shelves.

More people are reading books.

"Meditation breathing technique?"

A young man picked up a brand new book.

More and more people sat at the tables reading, and Xiao Tao and Dou Dou served them free tea.

The quiet teahouse became lively.

"It's making my hands itch to try it."

The elderly man in brocade robes and a yellow hat shook his head as he looked on.

Qin Luo took out his chessboard, which he always carried with him, and placed it on the next table. He smiled and invited, "Sir, I would like to invite you to play a game."

"Come on, come on!"

The old man in brocade robes rolled up his sleeves.

"Senior, please!"

"I'll shamelessly go first."

The old man in brocade robes didn't stand on ceremony with Qin Luo. As soon as he made his move, Qin Luo placed his piece at the center.

"interesting."

The old man in brocade robes chuckled.

He was prepared to teach this junior a lesson.

After only a few dozen moves, the old man in brocade felt immense pressure, and he kept drinking tea.

Just as Chu Peiran's side reached the middle stage of the battle, the old man in brocade robes who was playing against Qin Luo resigned, muttering, "This is boring. They're bullying an eighty-year-old man like me."

"Hahaha."

The onlookers were amused.

"I'll give it a try!"

The first middle-aged man to enter Qinghelou for tea came to the opposite side of Qin Luo. He lasted longer than the old man in brocade robes, but in the middle of the game, his dragon was cut down.

Night falls.

The colorful sunset illuminates the lights in Qinghe Tower.

She likes to light lamps.

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