…
The Drunken Immortal Restaurant, was already the best restaurant in the Huai An County. But, today was clearly much livelier than before. Except, this liveliness seemed to feel more like noise and clamour.
"Get that lecher out, I saw him go in!"
"Yes, today I swear I will fight that lecher with my life"
"If I don’t kill that lecher, I am not human!"
A crowd of scholars dressed in brocade clothes blocked the entrance of the Drunken Immortal Restaurant, shouting at the top of their voices. Yet, nobody really dared to cross that doorstep.
Because…
At the door, there was a Three Eyed Scarlet Flame Tiger, and a strong bearded man.
A few scholars who weren’t afraid of death had already tried. At this moment, they were lying on the ground, groaning continuously, serving as an effective warning to others.
As the cause of the commotion, Fang Zhengzhi still seemed rather good. Sitting in a private room on the second level beside the window, he could see clearly the scene unfolding on the streets below the building, hence, he naturally saw how extreme the strong bearded man’s actions were.
The exquisite dishes on the table had been more or less finished, yet the wine they drank was extremely little. Both Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu, seeming to have a great rapport with each other, stopped at tasting, and didn’t drink further.
Furthermore, in what seemed like an even greater rapport, after the dishes were served, they hadn’t even spoke a single word.
It felt as if they were extremely close friends.
Finishing their food, Yan Xiu paid the bill, as if everything was only to be expected.
Then, Yan Xiu fished out a silver note and passed it towards Fang Zhengzhi. "Here!"
Fang Zhengzhi received it, took a look, realised that it was a thousand tael silver note, smiled, and pushed the note back to Yan Xiu.
Yan Xiu was puzzled, but didn’t take the initiative to ask.
"We are now already friends!" Fang Zhengzhi smiled. Even though this Yan Xiu’s outward appearance was as cold as an ice cube, but inside, he was as pure as a white piece of paper.
"Grandfather said, I must be sincere towards my friends!" Yan Xiu was confused.
"What your grandfather said is right. Friends must indeed be sincere towards one another. Since you have already treated me to a meal, as an exchange, I can answer some of your questions!" Fang Zhengzhi continued to smile.
"Hmm, I wanted to know why did you employ such a method to unveil Yun Qingwu’s veil?" Yan Xiu looked at Fang Zhengzhi and asked the question that had been in his heart all along.
"Because, I prefer things to be a little simpler, and a little more direct!" Fang Zhengzhi replied earnestly.
"Aren’t you afraid of being misunderstood as a lecher?" Yan Xiu continued to ask.
"Since even you said it’s a misunderstanding, what do I have to be afraid of?" Fang Zhengzhi answered with his own question.
"That’s true!" Yan Xiu earnestly pondered over Fang Zhengzhi’s words, then, nodded his head.
"Let’s go!"
"Alright!"
The two people walked down the building side by side, then, shoulder to shoulder, walked towards the doorstep of the Drunken Immortal Restaurant.
Fang Zhengzhi swaggered out of the Drunken Immortal Restaurant, yet, those scholars that previously wanted to fight Fang Zhengzhi with their life didn’t move at all.
Because, beside Fang Zhengzhi, stood Yan Xiu.
Nobody was stupid enough to fight Yan Xiu with their lives, because, that was simply giving their life away! All of the scholars watched with their mouths closed, as if they had swallowed a fly, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Yan Xiu actually walked together with this lecher?
This lecher is only a country bumpkin, why would the great Yan Xiu associate himself with him?
They were simply people from two different worlds!
The scholars didn’t dare to believe, but, from what was unfolding before their eyes, it seemed that the lecher and Yan Xiu were truly good friends. Because, they walked shoulder to shoulder.
Afterwards, an even more ridiculous scene occurred.
The lecher actually bid goodbye to Yan Xiu at the Drunken Immortal Restaurant doorstep, and even exchanged a proper nobleman’s expression of courtesy.
"They really know each other?"
"That’s not possible, they didn’t even exchange a sentence in the Hundred Flower Gathering!"
"Then, that exchange of courtesy just now… furthermore, they walked out together from the Drunken Immortal Restaurant?"
Nobody was able to understand this, because, there was simply nobody who would believe that the great Yan Xiu would eat with a person he knew for less than an hour, and even paying the bill.
Then, they recalled the scene when Fang Zhengzhi appeared in the Hundred Flower Gathering, and thought of polite and respectful state of Meng Yushu after he stood up from being pulled down by Fang Zhengzhi.
Suddenly...
They seemed to have understood something.
When Fang Zhengzhi left, nobody followed anymore. Because, they knew that even if Fang Zhengzhi was really a lecher, they were definitely not capable of becoming his enemy.
…
Exiting from the Huai An County west gate, a blue Silver Scale Horse had appeared under Fang Zhengzhi. Its name was very domineering, but compared to the Snow Tredding Dragon Stallion, its height, weight and lineage was definitely no match.
The reason it was called Silver Scale was very simple. Because on this horse’s forehead, there was a triangular piece of silver scale. There was ultimately some lineage behind it, at least it managed to grow a piece of scale.
But what use was that?
It could only be used for show.
"Ride!" A light cry sounded, and the Silver Scale Horse began to dash after exiting the gate, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake as it ran along the narrow horse lane, and crossed over the numerous plots of land that were filled with hope.
…
After galloping wildly for a total of three hours, the glaring sun that hung up high in the skies began to set gradually. A barely discernible village in the faint mist began to slowly appear in front of Fang Zhengzhi.
This village’s name, was Northern Mountain Village!
"Zhengzhi is back!"
"Sneaking off to the county again? Village chief is waiting for you!"
Watching Fang Zhengzhi appear, they greeted him enthusiastically. After all, within these few years, Fang Zhengzhi’s contribution to the Northern Mountain Village spoke for itself.
"Alright!" Fang Zhengzhi called out in reply, then urged his horse, galloped towards a courtyard with a stone-built two-storied house and stopped.
It was perfectly squarish, designed personally by Fang Zhengzhi, and built by the combined efforts of the villagers of Northern Southern Village. It was strong, sturdy, shielded the wind and blocked the rain, and its appearance and ventilation were all top notch.
"Mum!" Once he entered the small courtyard, Fang Zhengzhi immediately brought the Silver Scale Horse into the stable.
"Zhengzhi is back, have you eaten?" A concerned voice sounded out, immediately after, a woman dressed in a green long skirt walked out from the stone house within the courtyard.
Her silky long hair lightly draped over her shoulders, he skin was white as snow and her features were like a painting. From the outside, she looked at most twenty-four to twenty-five, and didn’t seem like a person over thirty years of age at all.
This person was Qin Xuelian.
"I have more or less eaten!" Fang Zhengzhi walked to Qin Xuelian’s side and moved his face in front of Qin Xuelian.
Qin Xuelian instantly leaned over and gave Fang Zhengzhi a kiss, then a satisfied expression appeared on her face. Turning around and pulling along Fang Zhengzhi, she walked into the house.
Fang Zhengzhi could only accept this helplessly.
Because this was only of Qin Xuelian’s hobby, one that persisted since young till now. She had to give him a kiss!
"Eat a little more, mum had made some nice food for you. Your Uncle Yang Ping had also delivered quite a few animals to our house, that underground "storeroom" you made is almost completely full." Qin Xuelian nagged.
"Oh, then I should indeed eat more, where’s dad?" When Fang Zhengzhi entered the house, he didn’t see Fang Houde at home.
"He’s having a chat at Uncle Yang Ping’s house, he seems to be waiting for you. But you don’t have to rush, it’s not too late to go over after finishing your food!" As Qin Xuelian spoke, she carried out a bowl of steaming meat broth and placed it in front of Fang Zhengzhi.
Fang Zhengzhi inhaled and savoured the aroma.
Qin Xuelian’s culinary skills were top-notch. These few years in the Northern Mountain Village, Fang Zhengzhi ate really well, except, this Uncle Yang Ping who was now the village chief wanted to find him today.
It seemed that...
He who comes is surely ill-intentioned!
"The Law of Dao examinations, I have already waited eight years, it's about time!" Fang Zhengzhi finished the last mouthful of soup in the bowl, looked at the bright moonlight outside his window, and a name suddenly appeared in his mind.
"Chi Guyan, Hidden Dragon Roll, Rising Dragon Roll, Double Dragon Roll Champion! Fully deserving of being the number one scholar in the entire younger generation of the Great Xia Dynasty, she is truly incredible!"
Comments