Business Dance: "I've Got an Announcement"

"Little Li's performance in the initiation ceremony wasn't ideal."

Wanchunting, the most bustling tavern in the imperial capital, drew quite a crowd thanks to the storyteller's eloquence, supplemented by illustrated scrolls depicting the tale of the Hidden Dragon Ranking's top contender.

"Really? Young Hero Li was frail and sickly in the beginning, with mediocre talent?"

"His hammer technique alone was extraordinary, wasn't it?"

"Maybe his bone structure was too rare—a place like Purple Sun Prefecture couldn't recognize such a hidden gem?"

"Quit interrupting, let the man continue!"

In the crowd, Xiao Qin and Murong Xiao played the role of hype men, controlling the rhythm of the storytelling, while a certain Ouyang sat before a canvas, sketching scenes of the celestial stone staircase.

Huang Donglai cleared his throat and continued:

"At the time, Brother Li might have believed his talent was lacking, but he never let it break his spirit. Instead, he persevered with unyielding determination!"

"So how exactly did he persevere?"

A middle-aged martial artist asked curiously—his own path was set, but Young Hero Li was undoubtedly a role model for the younger generation.

"First, he lived with the Cold Fairy."

At Huang Donglai's solemn words, the crowd leaned back slightly. This didn’t seem like advice one could easily follow.

The Cold Fairy had only just broken through to a new realm today—who didn’t know her inner landscape was terrifying beyond measure, unprecedented in history? Behind that lay martial prowess bordering on the supernatural.

"So the lesson is... learning from the exceptional?"

"Or, more bluntly, clinging to the jade-white legs of a peerlessly beautiful, overwhelmingly powerful, and terrifyingly talented fairy?"

"Well... terrifying talent and overwhelming power are enough. As for peerless beauty... keep dreaming."

Everyone knew that if proximity was a challenge, the Cold Fairy was practically a hell-difficulty boss.

Which begged the question:

One was an otherworldly, ice-cold goddess!

The other was an unremarkable martial artist with a humble beginning!

How were these two even in the same story? And yet, by now, even the emperor was preparing to arrange their marriage. How did that make sense?

Growing up together and sharing quarters after joining the sect was understandable.

But what happened after that?

How did Li Jianhao win Ying Bing’s heart?

Just how did he pull it off?

Seeing the crowd’s anticipation, Huang Donglai grinned:

"Gentlemen, though I’m usually a modest man, as Brother Li’s close friend, I do know a thing or two about him."

"Young Hero Li has... eclectic friends, huh?"

"That’s not the point. The point is—his character is his greatest virtue."

Huang Donglai smacked the storytelling block:

"In summary, it all boils down to one phrase."

"Be a good man, do good deeds, reap good rewards!"

"Take the Qingyuan Sect’s inner disciple trials, for instance. Many outer disciples, knowing they stood no chance, prepared to leave in despair. But then..."

"Young Hero Li helped them pass?"

"Not quite. Brother Li treated them all to a few days at the finest pleasure house in Purple Sun Prefecture."

"Holy—! Absolute legend!"

The crowd erupted. Young Hero Li was the real deal.

Imagine a friend who, at your lowest point, spares no expense to book an entire pleasure house just to cheer you up. That’s the kind of man he was.

"And that’s not all..."

Huang Donglai recounted tale after tale.

Like how he acquired the Yunzhou Misty Pavilion, making an indelible contribution to local peacekeeping.

Or how he transformed into a Heavenly Flood Dragon, brokering peace among the Southern Border’s demon tribes—to this day, they’ve never raided the frontier.

Then there was the defense of Greenwood City, which everyone knew about...

And lesser-known deeds, like borrowing money from Huang Donglai (still unpaid, because he genuinely couldn’t afford it)... helping the Hanging Temple’s true disciple quit his lustful habits (with mixed results)...

As he spoke, Ouyang kept painting, his brushstrokes so frantic his arm nearly caught fire—multiple brushes danced through the air, guided by qi.

Now that was bringing a story to life.

"Young Hero Li is truly a paragon of virtue."

"I wonder what hobbies a man of such noble character has?"

"No wonder the Cold Fairy holds him alone in her heart."

"Didn’t he shield her from the heavens during the Celestial Trial? The man’s devotion is peerless!"

"Details! We need more details! Does Master Huang know how they interacted?"

Wanchunting buzzed with chatter.

Ouyang, still painting, suddenly perked up and stood.

"You’ve come to the right person."

"And you are...?"

"Let’s just say I’m Junior Brother Li and Junior Sister Bing’s senior brother."

He took a deep breath, steadying his qi:

"If you wish to know what happens next, check out The Ice-Cold Empress Falls for Me!"

Instantly, the crowd surged forward—illustrated book sales skyrocketed.

Naturally, people love sharing exclusive tidbits. So after hearing Huang Donglai’s tales at Wanchunting, many would head elsewhere, down a few drinks, and spill everything without even touching the peanuts.

"Guess what? Young Hero Li once transformed into a Heavenly Flood Dragon—"

"Quit exaggerating! It was a True Dragon incarnate!"

"Pfft. The untold story of Young Hero Li and the Cold Fairy? I’ve got the early edition of The Ice-Cold Empress Falls for Me. Listen up, but keep it to yourselves..."

...

The imperial capital was abuzz, but Huang Donglai and his companions quietly withdrew.

Their earlier enthusiasm faded as they ascended the stairs, faces now etched with worry.

"Will the karmic power we gathered for Brother Li even work?" Huang Donglai muttered.

"Amitabha. I don’t know," Murong Xiao sighed. "But if we do nothing, Brother Li won’t last three hours without his adoptive mother’s support."

"With injuries like that, my golden body wouldn’t hold for ten breaths..."

Though he too cultivated physique, even he couldn’t fathom the horror of those wounds. Just being near them made his heart race—a warning that his golden body was on the verge of collapse.

That Brother Li’s body endured at all was nothing short of miraculous.

"Brother Xiao, what did your master say?"

"The divine artifacts within Brother Li shattered—worse than a shattered outer realm refining the physical form. That kind of pain would scatter an ordinary man’s soul before he could even scream."

"Brother Li endured only because his inner world is unimaginably resilient."

Xiao Qin’s frown deepened. Even after consulting his master, his expression didn’t lighten:

"My master said if he suffered those injuries, not even a wisp of his soul would remain."

"This is beyond healing. The karmic power we gathered is just a drop in the ocean—it’s not the higher-tier energy needed."

"Then what is?"

"Imperial destiny."