The sea-petal spring banquet was held in the Grand Hall of Reflections, a place renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship and breathtaking views. The hall was adorned with delicate sea-petal blossoms, their petals shimmering with a soft, ethereal glow. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of the blossoms, mingling with the subtle aroma of incense. Guests from all walks of life had gathered to celebrate the occasion. Among them were renowned scholars, esteemed officials, and influential merchants. They mingled and conversed, their voices echoing softly in the vast hall. In a secluded corner of the hall, a young woman named Yue Tingzhou (字 Zhi Ge) stood alone, observing the festivities. She was a woman of exceptional beauty and grace, her presence captivating all who beheld her. Her eyes, like pools of dark ink, held a depth of wisdom and understanding. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the crowd, approaching Yue Tingzhou with a gentle smile. It was Zhu Hanli (江湖号 "Pear Maiden"), a woman of renowned charm and wit. "Lady Yue," Zhu Hanli greeted, her voice as melodious as a songbird's. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you." Yue Tingzhou returned the smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "The pleasure is all mine, Miss Zhu." The two women engaged in a lively conversation, their laughter echoing through the hall. They spoke of art, literature, and the beauty of the natural world. As the evening progressed, the festivities continued, the music and laughter growing louder. But in a quiet corner of the hall, two women found solace in each other's company, their hearts touched by the shared joy of the occasion. (Duplicate paragraph removed) In another corner of the hall, a distinguished gentleman named Xie Wuchen (字 Zhi Xuan) stood, observing the scene with a contemplative expression. He was a man of great intellect and experience, his presence commanding respect. "It is a truly remarkable gathering," Xie Wuchen remarked to a companion, Shen Lichen (外号 "Shen Iron Rule"), a man known for his unwavering principles. "Indeed," Shen Lichen replied, his voice calm and measured. "It is a testament to the power of human connection." The two men continued their conversation, their words punctuated by the sounds of the celebration. They spoke of the importance of integrity, the pursuit of knowledge, and the enduring beauty of human relationships. As the night drew to a close, the guests began to depart, their hearts filled with the warmth of friendship and the joy of shared experiences. Yue Tingzhou and Zhu Hanli exchanged farewells, their smiles reflecting the happiness they had found in each other's company. "It has been a truly unforgettable evening," Yue Tingzhou said, her voice filled with gratitude. "Indeed," Zhu Hanli replied. "I look forward to seeing you again soon." The two women parted ways, their hearts touched by the magic of the sea-petal spring banquet. The Grand Hall of Reflections stood silent, its delicate blossoms shimmering in the moonlight, a silent witness to the beauty and wonder of human connection. In the mid-spring noon, the vermilion doors of the Xie family's Hall of Reflections were wide open. Before the steps, peach blossoms bloomed like clouds and snow, and the wind swept the petals, scattering them across the gold-studded copper nails, creating a carpet of pink and white. Wearing a moon-white silk robe embroidered with cloud patterns, Yue Tingzhou subconsciously caressed the sealed invitation from the Xie family, which he had received at the Lanyuelou. The invitation's dark-patterned envelope was warmed by his body temperature. The Jingtan Art was quietly circulating within his meridians, the true energy flowing extremely slowly, like the still water at the bottom of a mountain stream that had been undisturbed for a hundred years. It subtly absorbed the faint golden fluctuations emanating from the "Destiny Mirrors" worn by most of the guests at the banquet. Just as a petal, glistening with dew, landed near his feet, he was counting the patrol steps of the Xie family's servants, one, two, three. He had just reached the seventeenth step when he suddenly heard the loud voice of the official: "Young Master Yue Tingzhou has arrived!" The laughter in the hall subsided for a moment, and dozens of gazes swept over him, mixed with the faint golden light from the Destiny Mirrors, hitting him like a swarm of tiny needles, causing a strange stiffness in his shoulders and neck. The jade bead he held in his fingers pressed against his fingertip, the sweet and cloying fragrance of the incense at the banquet mixed with the refreshing scent of the peach blossoms on the steps, and the faint buzzing sound of the Destiny Mirrors in his mind was like the sound of insects buzzing against the windowpane on a summer night, causing his temples to throb. He raised his hand, pretending to adjust the jade clasp on his collar, and as his fingertips slid along the hem of his robe, he secretly noted the locations of three core surveillance mirrors hidden behind the carved flowers on the lintel, to the side of the main seat, in the shadows of the vermilion pillars. His true energy was suppressed to an almost imperceptible level, not daring to exceed even the slightest margin. If he leaked even a trace of anomaly, the light from the mirrors would expose his identity and record it in the Xie family's records, and then the stigma of privately releasing a criminal three years ago would be impossible to erase. His position at the Henglu Division would be compromised, and the identities of the thousands of secret agents under his command would be revealed. The Wanling鏢局, with its centuries of tradition, would be branded as a haven for criminals, and its members would be stripped of their right to even practice basic breathing exercises. A young man from a collateral branch, wearing a blue cotton shirt embroidered with Destiny Mirrors, hurried over. The Destiny Mirror hanging from his waist flashed, and the hem of his robe brushed against the small plate of snacks at his feet, releasing the aroma of tung oil mixed with sweet osmanthus cake. "Brother Yue, we've copied the poem 'Spring Mountain Journey' that you wrote at Lanyuelou the other day and posted it on the workshop wall!" he said. "Are you here at this banquet just for the snacks? Or are you here to see if you can find your destined match on the Destiny List?" Yue Tingzhou returned the greeting with a bow, the jade bead on his wrist making a soft sound. His tone was as gentle as the spring snow melting on the eaves, and his words were perfectly polite. "It was just a frivolous verse written in a moment of intoxication," he said. "Marriage is a matter of fate, and it should not be forced." He twirled the edge of the invitation, deliberately triggering a faint resonance with the Destiny Mirror around him, without revealing any intention of investigation. After finishing the polite conversation, he noticed a plate of osmanthus cake sprinkled with gold powder on the snack table in the corridor. It was a style that his mother used to make. He nodded in thanks to the young man and, pretending to want to try the cake, headed towards a side hall. The soles of his cloud-patterned shoes brushed against the cool marble, sending a chill up his ankles to his knees. The sound of silk and bamboo instruments echoed through the hall, mixed with the soft laughter of the young ladies from noble families, creating a sense of artificial harmony. But he knew that every faint golden shimmer that passed by him was recording his pulse, his movements, and even the slightest twitch of his fingertips. Not a single word he spoke could afford to be out of line. The subtle tendrils of his Jingtan Art spread out like a fine net, scanning the seventeen prospective brides who were waiting in the side hall. Each woman wore a Destiny Mirror, its faint golden light swirling around them like wisps of clouds, almost impossible to untangle. According to the intelligence he had gathered, the women selected 岳停舟 nodded in agreement and followed the steward to a side room. The coolness of the stone floor seeped through the soles of his boots, traveling up his ankles and into his meridians. As the steward's gray cloth sleeves brushed against his wrist, the pungent odor assaulted his nostrils, and the flow of qi from his Stillwater Art momentarily stagnated. The buzzing of the Destiny Mirror in his mind subsided significantly—it was the barrier created by the ancient silver mirror belonging to Zhù Hánlí, blocking the surrounding mirror light. Upon reaching the table made of pear wood, the steward bowed and retreated.岳停舟's gaze swept over the ancient silver mirror on the table. The stardust within the cloud-patterned镖纹 (dart pattern) shimmered with a faint silver sheen in the light, indeed a unique casting technique exclusive to the Wan Jìng (Ten Thousand Mirrors)镖局 (dart bureau). The sand on the rim of the mirror still carried the roughness of the northwestern wind, indicating that it was carried with him regularly. He habitually reached out and turned the white porcelain teacup on the table three times, his fingertips brushing against the uneven texture of the Longquan kiln crack pattern. The coolness seeped into his skin, and only then did he lift the hem of his robe and take a seat. The wide sleeves swept across the table, effectively blocking most of the mirror light on his side, a gesture so natural and refined that it concealed the fact that he was adjusting his position to avoid the direct glare of the Destiny Mirror on his side. Zhù Hánlí's movements paused for a moment as she manipulated the abacus. The beads clicked softly. She looked up at him, and the sleeves of her dark silver-patterned skirt slipped down, revealing the polished leather wristband on her wrist, with two rows of wolf-repelling barbs sewn around the edges, a standard accessory for nighttime deliveries. Her voice had a soft southern accent, but her pronunciation was clear, fitting perfectly into the intervals of the zither music, audible only to the two of them. "Young Master岳 (Yuè) is visiting the 谢 (Xiè) residence today. Is he here to collect the 金玉良缘 (golden and jade union) written on the Destiny List, or is he seeking something else that is not on the list?" She asked directly about his intentions, but also subtly inquired whether he had come for the secrets of the Destiny List.岳停舟 picked up the teacup and took a sip of Mingqian Longjing tea. The bitter tea essence flowed down his throat and into his dantian, stabilizing his qi. He spoke in a polite and gentle tone, but with a subtle hint that only she could understand. "The relationships dictated by the Destiny List are ultimately just words on paper. I am simply seeking a peaceful and blameless outcome, in accordance with the law." The female members of the 谢 (Xiè) family on the side emitted faint giggles. The Destiny Mirror ornaments on their fingertips glowed with a faint golden light, transmitting the conversation to the backend of the Destiny List. He deliberately phrased his words ambiguously, so that the people monitoring him would only see a talented young man who was aloof and disbelieved in fate, making it impossible to find fault with him. Zhù Hánlí's fingertips brushed against the rim of the ancient silver mirror. The coolness traveled through her fingertips. When she smiled, her dimples appeared, and she clicked another abacus bead. "My镖局 (dart bureau) has been using this old mirror for three generations. It cannot reveal the golden union relationships written on the Destiny List, but it can reveal the monsters hidden beneath the skin. The 'peaceful deal' that Young Master岳 (Yuè) seeks may be something that this small shop cannot provide." The second sentence directly expressed her disbelief in the Destiny List, and also subtly hinted at the secrets behind it, while also testing whether he was an informant sent by 谢无尘 (Xiè Wúchén). 岳停舟's fingertips rested on the edge of the teacup. His Stillwater Art sensed the fluctuation of the Destiny Mirror from the female members on the side, which was about to probe in their direction, but it was blocked by the cold light of the ancient silver mirror. He remembered the essence of the Stillwater Art: "The mind is as still as water, reflecting everything without distortion." His tone was calm, like a still surface of water. "Still water has no waves, and only then can one see the true reflection. As long as the mirror itself is not tainted with dust, what is reflected will be true." This statement both addressed her doubts and indicated that he was not there to cause trouble. It also subtly echoed the core principle of the Stillwater Art, which was a secret signal from the衡律司 (Héng Lǜ Sī - Legal Affairs Bureau) - only the secret agents of the衡律司 (Héng Lǜ Sī) would practice this art, and the information about it would have been included in the intelligence Zhù Hánlí received in advance. Zhù Hánlí's hand holding the abacus stopped abruptly. The wolf-repelling barbs on the wristband scraped against the pear wood table, making a faint sound. She looked up at岳停舟, a hint of surprise in her eyes, which she quickly suppressed. She