```
Hurried footsteps came to an abrupt halt outside the courtyard.
As rain mixed with light snow fell from the sky, Li Che tucked the page of the Meridian Opening Method into his Qiankun Space and then turned his head toward the courtyard door.
A gentle knock echoed, and Li Che stood up to open the door.
He saw a towering figure wearing a conical bamboo hat standing outside, his robust vitality like a blazing fire, radiating intense heat even from a distance.
His jet-black hair fluttered, his muscles were coiled like those of a python, and his bones seemed to roar with rage.
Just standing there, he was like a silent Buddha in fury, roaring with might.
The towering figure knocked politely, which improved Li Che's attitude somewhat.
"Who might you be?"
"Master Li, I come from the City Lord's Mansion, my name is Cao Qingyuan," the burly man said with gleaming eyes, quickly glancing inside the courtyard. Not seeing anyone else, his bushy eyebrows raised slightly.
