Zhu Zhuqing thought of the relationship between Li Zhexian and his friends and the Shrek team.
She let out a slight sigh in her heart. It was probably not very appropriate for Xiao Wu to come along.
She shook her head helplessly and said to Xiao Wu, "Xiao Wu, I'm going to Shànxiāng Pavilion, you—"
Before she could finish. Xiao Wu's delicate face curved into a teasing smile.
"Ohhh~~"
"I get it!"
"Zhuqing is going to see Sword Wine, right? Then I won't go~~"
"You—!" Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks turned red, and she spat in lightly, but she didn't refute Xiao Wu's words.
Zhu Zhuqing's figure vanished at the end of the corridor.
In the shadows behind a pillar, Dai Mubai walked out with a gloomy face. He stared at her far-off, graceful figure, and a sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.
He then pushed open Tang San's door.
"I found out where Sword Wine is."
"He's secretly meeting that slut Zhu Zhuqing—it must be him."
Tang San slowly stroked the rim of his teacup. "Call everyone together."
He paused, then added: "We are not going there to provoke him."
"Otherwise the gossip will be that Shrek bullies one with many."
Tang San's tea-wetted fingertip brushed over his bloodshot eyes.
"We only want to meet Sword Wine, that's all."
...
"What's so special about him anyway!"
"Li Zhexian, do you think I, Ning Rongrong, can't live without you?!"
"If I ever say another word to you, Li Zhexian, then I'll—"
Ning Rongrong's eyes brimmed red as she stormed back into the lodging.
In her extremely chaotic state of mind, she treated Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Oscar standing at the door as if they weren't there.
When Oscar saw Ning Rongrong like this, his heart tightened. He hurriedly ran forward with small steps.
"Rongrong, what… what's wrong?!"
"Who bullied you?!"
Whenever Ning Rongrong saw Oscar, she would be reminded of when she first entered Shrek, and he was a dirty, bearded man lewdly selling sausages.
That awful Spirit Ability had made her impression of Oscar fall to the bottom. If she hadn't seen a true jewel, it would have been fine.
But unfortunately... even two years ago, that disheartened young man in white robes at the back of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had a stubbornness and wildness etched into his bones.
Even when he was down and out, he had a clear glow like a waning moon. How could Oscar possibly compare?
"Why… why am I thinking of him again?!"
This thought made Ning Rongrong even more annoyed. Her shell-like teeth were almost biting her lower lip until it bled. She had a belly full of anger with nowhere to vent.
"Rongrong, tell me who upset you, I'll—"
"Get lost!" Ning Rongrong clenched her fists and yelled at Oscar, then slammed the door shut with a loud "bang."
Oscar was stuck on the spot. After a while, he shook his head and gave a bitter smile.
"That young miss temper of hers…" Dai Mubai frowned and began to speak.
Oscar cut him off. "Don't speak of Rongrong that way. Everyone has bad days."
Tang San's gaze swept toward Bai Chenxiang and Xiao Wu, who had just stepped out of their rooms. "Everyone's here. Then let's go."
Xiao Wu's pink eyes blinked, teeth pressing into her lip.
"Third Brother, how do you know Sword Wine is at Shànxiāng Pavilion?"
She hesitated, then her words tumbled faster, her worry spilling out.
"The Spirit Master Tournament just ended. Sword Wine's name is all over Heaven Dou City. Are we really going to gang up on him alone?"
Tang San's brows knitted tight.
"Xiao Wu, why are you speaking up for Sword Wine?"
"When did I ever say we'd gang up on him?"
Xiao Wu lowered her gaze, her voice dropping.
"Third Brother… do you really think I'm speaking up for Sword Wine?"
"Enough! All of you, stop arguing!"
At this moment.
Dai Mubai stepped forward, his tone icy.
"Sword Wine's at Shànxiāng Pavilion. We can't go there?"
"What, is that tavern his?"
The words had barely left his mouth.
Ning Rongrong's door swung open.
Her eyes were still red as she walked out.
"I'm going too!"
The instant Xiao Wu saw her, she hurried forward and clung to Ning Rongrong's arm, face full of grievance.
Oscar, however, broke into a smile.
"Rongrong, thank goodness you're alright."
...
Shànxiāng Pavilion.
"Ah—!"
"My Lord Sword Wine!"
"It's been far too long since you've graced us with your presence!"
The moment a waiter caught sight of that familiar white robe, his eyes lit up. He dashed over at once.
He bowed deeply.
The way he looked at Li Zhexian brimmed with uncontrollable excitement and reverence.
Only a month ago had he finally learned that this young master—who often laughed loudly with his friends, who tipped with reckless generosity—was none other than the famed Lord Sword Wine of Heaven Dou City!
The words shouldn't have left his mouth.
But gratitude pressed too heavy on his chest.
"All thanks to your frequent rewards, Lord Sword Wine!"
"Your humble servant… has finally managed to take a wife!"
Walking with him toward the tavern, Li Zhexian glanced over and chuckled:
"Then you'd better treat me to your wedding wine."
"Of course, of course!"
The waiter bobbed his head so hard his smile nearly bloomed off his face.
The instant Li Zhexian stepped into the tavern.
A rich swirl of food aromas and the roar of voices crashed into him.
The main hall on the first floor of Shànxiāng Pavilion was vast. At its center rose a rockery with flowing water, surrounded by round lacquered wine tables.
The servers were masters of their craft—left hands steady with three bowls, right arms stacked with seven or eight plates—slipping like darting fish through the narrow paths between tables.
Clamor surged.
Cups clinked.
A living scene of prosperity and human warmth.
Then someone sharp-eyed shouted first.
"Lord Sword Wine!"
In an instant—
The entire hall rang with voices.
"Lord Sword Wine has arrived!"
"Waiter! Bring out the fine Tusu wine I'd stored, and serve it to Lord Sword Wine!"
"Lord Sword Wine! We're counting on you to bring Heaven Dou City the championship!"
"Lord Sword Wine! When will you become the number one swordsman of Heaven Dou?!"
Faced with such passion and reverence.
Li Zhexian smiled faintly, hands clasped, bowing in return to each side.
Yet the diners knew their measure.
None dared to truly sit with him—laughing, they all made way instead, shouting in unison:
"Lord Sword Wine, please head upstairs!"
Led by the waiter , Li Zhexian lifted his robe hem and ascended the stairs with a bright smile.
With his current renown.
He could easily have gone straight to a private room on the fourth floor.
But he loved the second floor.
Because it kept him close to the boiling, burning pulse of life.
He pushed open the door of a private room upstairs.
A row of familiar faces greeted him.
Huo Wu's hand shot out.
"My plums!"
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling weren't far behind.
"We want some too!"
Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wushuang, Hu Yanli, Feng Buyu, Yu Tianheng, Yu Feng and the others all grinned wickedly, each raising a cup.
Seven or eight cups crowded against Li Zhexian's lips.
"Zhexian! You're late! Drink, drink!"
Looking at this circle of friends, Li Zhexian's eyes curved with deeper laughter. He wagged a mock-angry finger at them.
"Hey! You bastards—"
In about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, with Li Zhexian's introduction, everyone shouted one after another, "Welcome, welcome!"
Then, using this as an excuse to cause a ruckus, they poured another round of wine down Li Zhexian's throat.
And at that moment, Tang San, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Bai Chenxiang, Ning Rongrong, and Xiao Wu—six people in total—arrived at the Shànxiāng Pavilion.