Free Web NovelChapter 323: Chapter 52: Drinking Together
Upon entering the rear courtyard of Hundred Flavors Hall, the chaotic noise from outside vanished completely.
After crossing a bare atrium, Wang Ping was led to a row of wing-rooms resembling those in the back of an inn. He was brought to a stop outside a room marked with "A-16".
"Scholar, please..."
The attendant leading the way opened the door and invited Wang Ping to enter.
The room’s decor was simple: a set of wide, northern-style chairs with soft cushions placed against the brick wall, a red-lacquered coffee table between them, and a stove in the middle of the room with a chimney leading straight to the roof.
After coming inside, the attendant first invited Wang Ping to sit, then fiddled with the stove for a moment before lighting the dry firewood inside. Once the stove was lit, he stood up, looked at Wang Ping, and said, "Please wait a moment, Scholar. The doctor will be back shortly."
With that, he respectfully backed out of the room, leaving the door open. He even deliberately walked over to the courtyard’s bustling incense burner and muttered a few words of prayer.
While the attendant was praying, Wang Ping withdrew his gaze and let it fall upon the scrolls hanging on the left and right walls of the room. They weren’t paintings of landscapes or beautiful women, but rather illustrations and descriptions of medicinal herbs. These were mainly for treating typhoid fever, an illness that could still be fatal in the mortal world.
About a quarter of an hour later, Wang Ping saw Yue Ziyu’s familiar yet distant figure through the window. Upon entering the rear courtyard, Yue Ziyu walked straight to the incense burner in the center and properly placed the three incense sticks in his hand into the burner.
Yue Ziyu was just as he had been before, wearing a plain, gray-white hat. After offering the incense, he picked up something from his waist that resembled a ferule—no, it was a ferule. It looked like he had just finished teaching a class.
His face was still clean-shaven and fair, his gaze carrying the quiet composure of a scholar.
He still had the image of a refined and gentle young noble, as smooth as jade.
Out of courtesy, Wang Ping stood up when he saw Yue Ziyu. As soon as he entered the room, Wang Ping immediately clasped his fist in salute and said, "Greetings, Mr. Yue."
"There’s no need for such formalities."
After returning the salute, Yue Ziyu closed the door behind him and invited, "Let’s sit and talk."
Once they were both seated, Yue Ziyu began politely, "This clinic doesn’t usually prepare tea. I hope you can forgive the oversight, Fellow Daoist." With that, a smile appeared on his face. "However, I did bring a pot of good wine."
He pointed a finger at the window, and the open casement immediately shut. He then took out two white jade wine cups and said to Wang Ping, "I hear this is a tribute wine brewed from East Sea Honey Fruit. It’s not something one can usually get their hands on. You’re in luck; I happened to acquire this pot a while ago."
Yue Ziyu’s manner was as pleasant as ever, but that pleasantness always carried a feeling of being both near and distant.
"I’m indebted to Mr. Yue."
Wang Ping clasped his hands in thanks.
Yue Ziyu waved his hand dismissively, then picked up the wine pot and filled the cup in front of Wang Ping. A light, fruity fragrance soon wafted around his nose. Like Yue Ziyu’s own demeanor, the scent was faint and elusive.
"Come, a toast to your promotion to the Third Realm, Fellow Daoist."
"Thank you!"
The two of them drained their cups.
Yue Ziyu then poured a second cup and said, "This second cup is to congratulate you on successfully becoming the third seat of the Daoist Scripture Hall."
Once again, they drained their cups.
He poured a third cup, but this time, Yue Ziyu did not raise it immediately. He looked at Wang Ping and said, "You’ve risen too quickly these past few years. So quickly that many people find it unacceptable. An assassination attempt by two Third Realm Cultivators at Yellow Sheep Mountain... that’s unheard of since the founding of the Xia Dynasty."
Wang Ping met Yue Ziyu’s gaze and replied, "This wasn’t my fault. The world is about to change, and things like this will only become more frequent!"
Yue Ziyu’s expression didn’t change much upon hearing this. He raised his cup and said slowly, "Your current position is too critical. Right now, Mozhou Road is a territory in name only. In a way, most of its jurisdiction is in your hands. On top of that, you yourself are the Pacification Envoy of Nanlin Road, and you hold the third seat."
"Hai Zhou Road... is nothing more than a buffer zone between Zhongzhou and Hu Mountain Country. As for Ningzhou Road, most of its power has fallen into the hands of the Demon Race, and that faction is currently in chaos. Therefore, the one who can truly decide the future of the Southern Region... is you."
Wang Ping also raised his cup. He took the initiative to clink it against Yue Ziyu’s, then shook his head with a wry smile. "The only one who truly makes the decisions is Xiao Shan Lord."
"You’re clear-headed, at least. So, do you know why they want you dead this time?" Yue Ziyu asked.
"It must be related to Xiao Shan Lord’s promotion. I’m already tied to his ship, and I can’t get off—at least, not before he advances. Some people need him to succeed, while others do not."
"Precisely!"
Yue Ziyu said gravely, "Those who want Xiao Shan Lord to advance will force you onto his ship. You have no choice in the matter. Those who don’t want him to advance will take this opportunity to cut you off."
Wang Ping politely drank the wine in his cup, then set it down and clasped his fist. "And that is why I’ve come to ask you for help, Fellow Daoist."
Yue Ziyu drank his wine as well and said, "You don’t have to be so cautious. For one, Xiao Shan Lord won’t let you die in Shangjing City. Neither will those who hope to profit from his promotion. Your appearance in Shangjing City is merely a warm-up before the real clash between both sides’ Cultivators. Or perhaps Xiao Shan Lord specifically wanted you to come and see just how many people oppose him."
Wang Ping put on a helpless expression and said, "There are no certainties in this world. Great ships have been known to sink in shallow waters. If I hadn’t been cautious, I might have lost my life in the previous assassination attempt."
Yue Ziyu nodded silently. As he refilled the cups, he said, "I cannot expose myself, or I won’t be able to remain in Shangjing City. However, I have something useful that can easily tie down a Fire Cultivator of the same realm. If his state of mind is unstable, it might even be able to finish him off directly."
"Oh?"
Just the right amount of interest appeared on Wang Ping’s face.
Yue Ziyu didn’t waste any time. First, he used Water Spirit Qi to set up a barrier in the room. Then, he took a red crystal from his storage pouch and handed it to Wang Ping, saying:
"Sealed inside this is a Third Realm True Spirit that cultivated the Three Yang True Inheritance. I shouldn’t need to explain what it’s used for, right? I originally kept it for self-defense, but I’ve been holding onto it for centuries with no occasion to use it. So I might as well give it to you."
It was common knowledge that a Third Realm True Spirit was extremely sensitive to a Primordial Spirit of the same realm and attribute. Upon getting close, it would instinctively try to devour and assimilate it, though there was also a high chance it would simply flee. However, Wang Ping believed that since Yue Ziyu had said as much, he must have tampered with this True Spirit.
Most importantly, this item represented a slot for a Fire Cultivator practicing the Three Yang True Inheritance to advance to the Third Realm!
"I am unworthy of such a precious gift. Perhaps you could state the specific terms of a trade, Fellow Daoist." Wang Ping shook his head, refusing to accept it as a simple gift.
