Xia Xiao and Azhu did not go to Yu Valley in the south, but accidentally came to Haikou, a city they had lived in before.

The last time they came here was two years ago. Xia Xiao and Ah Zhu searched for Hei Huang's whereabouts, wanting to kill him to avenge Shu Shuang. Two years later, everything has changed. They and Hei Huang, and even the forces behind her, are no longer completely opposite, but are slowly communicating, like two rivers merging into a turbulent river.

After floating in the air for a long time, the solidity and heaviness of the earth became the best comfort, making Xia Xiao and Ah Zhu feel very happy even though they did not move for a long time. The clouds in Yunguo were no different from the land, and they could still grow crops, but they were not real land and did not have this sense of security.

Blowing in the wind with the smell of the sea, Xia Xiao held Azhu's soft little hand and walked on the beach towards the brightly lit place not far away.

At dusk, the sea is reflected in the sunset, the beach is golden, and gradually turns dark, quiet and beautiful. On the high platform not far away, you can hear the sound of waves and wind. It is noisier there, and the first wave of people is about to arrive. The bosses and helpers in front of each stall are also busy.

The heat of the charcoal fire and the sparks of the fire can easily drive away the chill of the slightly cold evening. The bubbles of oil and the fragrance of cumin and chili on the various ingredients are extremely permeable, making this place very attractive. Coupled with the large amount of oil smoke, this place is still a paradise for Haikou people, and its status has not been reduced for a long time.

No matter it is the fair and honest mayor of the city or the ordinary people, after finishing a day's hard work early, they will come here to have a few sips of wine and a delicious meal to reward themselves.

In terms of refinement and high-end, this place is not as good as the restaurants in the city. There is a lot of dust and noise all around. From time to time, you will run into a few drunk and shabby men, which is a hassle. In terms of affordability and cheapness, it is not as practical as the old shops in the streets and alleys. But there are people coming and going, eating and drinking for the atmosphere of fireworks and drinking for the friendship of time.

The neatly arranged tables stretched from one end to the other, and it was impossible to count them at once. As more and more people came, Xia Xiao and Ah Zhu chose a secluded place and ordered a table of barbecue and fish feast. The former was a must for every guest, but the latter was rarely ordered. After all, a fish feast with two dishes could not be finished by a few big men, so they all ordered a la carte. But there were only two guests at this table, and since they were so generous, the boss couldn't help but come over and bend over to ask:

"Sir, when will the other guests arrive? We can serve the dishes so that the fish soup won't get cold and taste bad."

"Just do it well."

Xia Xiao was actually penniless, but he was full of vigor. He pointed at the wooden table with his fingers swinging. His face looked a little thin and angular under the light of the lantern above his head. For some reason, the light in his eyes was a little cold, and his demeanor was extraordinary, which made the boss nod repeatedly. His fat body passed through the crowded tables and chairs unimpeded, looking flexible and funny.

"It's time for a good meal!"

Ever since Ah Zhu dragged Xia Xiao here, he had been staring at the open-air barbecue stall, where seafood would be served before fish. Sure enough, within a moment, when Xia Xiao was pouring tea for Ah Zhu and was about to get two jars of wine, a plate of barbecue was brought in, full of steam and fragrant.

"eat!"

Xia Xiao sat down again and waved his big hand at Ah Zhu, making him extremely excited. He held a piece of steaming barbecue in his left hand and a large oyster in his right hand, and he was determined to eat it all. Xia Xiao had only been like this when he first went to a buffet, but when he was with Ah Zhu, he always ignored his image and his appetite increased greatly.

There are all kinds of people here, all chatting happily, focusing on the wine bowls in their hands and what they are saying to each other, and not looking around, which is a matter of politeness.

The rules of the Southern Country, which is like water, are no less than those of any other country, and some are even more numerous, for fear of getting into trouble. However, there are actually few people who eat as hard as Xia Xiao and Ah Zhu, which makes the boss laugh when he sees them serving the dishes. Has he not eaten for many days, or is it that the young man or young lady of some family is too strict with his family and is not allowed to eat so much, so he sneaks out now?

The situation was unclear and the boss didn't ask. He just reminded us when serving the dish to be careful with the fried fish bones, as they always cause choking. The other fish had no bones, so we could eat them without worry.

Ah Zhu grinned and said thank you repeatedly. The boss nodded and left, which made Ah Zhu feel scared. She looked at the boss, who seemed to be the same as usual, but Ah Zhu felt uneasy.

"We won't be discovered?"

Ah Zhu wanted to explain that she had noticed it before, but it was just a reflex, but Xia Xiao said it was okay, he had been paying attention, and he saw every look from these guys. Eyes can betray people the most. Xia Xiao, who has the strength of a fruit three-wheeler, has a strong sense of the aura of living beings, allowing him to detect any subtle movement. But soon, Xia Xiao raised the corner of his mouth and put away his vitality.

"Want a drink tonight?"

"Cheers! Celebrate our escape from death."

I ate happily today, and I didn't have to be as particular about health preservation as those senior officials and old people, who said they couldn't eat this or touch that. I also didn't have to count the money in my mind when ordering food like the poor people, fearing that I would spend too much.

Xia Xiao and Ah Zhu stuffed their mouths with food, and ordered another portion of whatever tasted good. Nothing was bad, and these things were rare in their eyes. In the underground cave in Yun Country, they had only eaten meat twice, because Ah Zhu said that every family has difficulties, and they should just take some vegetables and rice, not meat.

Xia Xiao thought it made sense, but she didn't expect Ah Zhu to really hold back. Every time she ate cabbage and potatoes, the porridge was no longer tasty, but she still pretended to like it. Her current expression was not fake. Every dish was very delicious, which made her feel comfortable and praised the boss's cooking skills.

The guests at the next table couldn't help but glance at them when they heard this. These two waiters were really working hard. They were eating so much to attract customers. Aren't they afraid of bursting their stomachs? Finally, they sighed that life was not easy, and then they withdrew their gazes. However, the few traces of pity in them made people feel worried, but Xia Xiao and the others were immersed in their own world, with only the delicious food in their eyes.

At first, the lanterns looked bright when viewed from the seaside, but as people gradually adjusted to them, they became dim. The light became dim, flickering, and all the scenes became strange, as if they were constantly twisting and moving, sometimes long, sometimes short, and in various shapes.

Time stopped for four weeks, but Xia Xiao didn't notice. After a few drinks, he was not drunk yet, but there was a light in his eyes that time had stopped. He didn't care and continued to party with Ah Zhu because he knew the reason.

This was not the first time that this happened, but Ah Zhu looked radiant and energetic after getting drunk, which attracted Xia Xiao more than anything else. Ah Zhu was more beautiful than before, with white teeth, red lips, short chestnut hair, and fair skin, like a goddess living in the sky in mythology.

Once he was tipsy, he didn't want to stop, and drinking was a natural thing. He felt like he was being persuaded by a hundred people that the food was just a complement and he had to drink, otherwise it would be a lack of respect, which was the most clichéd and practical thing to say at the wine table.

Xia Xiao was just persuaded by his own heart and pushed into the abyss by his drunkenness. He had to get a little drunker. Simply getting drunk was not decent enough. Xia Xiao didn't know how long he had been drinking. Anyway, he waved his hand and there was a jar of wine. A jar of wine, but three big bowls of wine, had to be drunk six times.

Xia Xiao stopped drinking until he was so drunk that the wine pot in front of him was blurry. He held his cheek and looked at Ah Zhu, and suddenly he was lost in thought. How could she be so beautiful? Flawless, like a piece of exquisite jade, extremely warm and smooth, without any flaws. At this moment, this wonderful existence turned his head and looked at Xia Xiao, meeting his eyes.

Ah Zhu raised the corner of her mouth, smiling sweetly, blinking her eyes, and looking a little silly. She thought Xia Xiao was a little strange, how could he become two? When she turned her head and looked at Xia Xiao from different angles, he came forward with a piece of paper, becoming a sunny and handsome boy, and wiped the oil stains from the corner of Ah Zhu's mouth.

Ah Zhu chuckled, pouted her rosy lips and kissed Xia Xiao, putting all her weight on him. Xia Xiao hugged her tightly, like hugging a chubby pig.

Ah Zhu lay in Xia Xiao's arms and asked shyly:

"Do you love me?"

"Azhu, I know you still think I like Shu Shuang, but I know who is more important now. I used to be inseparable from Shu Shuang. I thought every move she made was perfect. I was obsessed with her. She was the ideal in the world. She was stunningly beautiful, had a good figure, a gentle personality, was rational and smart, and could help me solve all problems. But she left because of my lack of ability, so I must protect you."

"Do you love me, then?"

Xia Xiao stuttered for a long time, but Ah Zhu didn't hear much and just asked again.

"like."

Xia Xiao hugged her tightly. The real feeling warmed his heart. His cheeks, which were already flushed due to drunkenness, became even more rosy, like a glass of precious red wine. Xia Xiao was intoxicated by the scent and could not extricate himself.

The space was changing and began to twist. People were coming and going outside. Many people left after eating without drinking a few glasses of wine. In the eyes of many people, wine was not a good thing. It made people lose their temperament and manners. It was embarrassing to have a mouth full of alcohol and speak incoherently. Some people even fell under the table, sat on the street, or lay on the road. But there were still people who got drunk without any reason.

Some drunks got into fights and were kicked out of the night market by the boss, who then reported them to the police and detained them. When they sobered up, they had to pay for all the losses, not a penny less. Who doesn't like money when doing business?

In fact, Xia Xiao felt that alcohol did not take away people's rationality, but only paralyzed people's nerves and aroused some animality. But speaking the truth after drinking is definitely a lie, because there are more polite words. Even if Xia Xiao is drunk, he knows what he is saying, and he will probably remember it tomorrow.

However, many people use alcohol to express their emotions, which can be said to be exaggerated. Just like the elegant man in Xia Xiao's eyes, holding the hand of the man next to him tightly, even if the latter's eyes are indifferent, his words are always "heartfelt", but how dare he do it? There is only sarcasm in it, and what he said at this time is just some polite words.

Normally when I don't drink, I can say some normal things, but I can't say many things and I dare not say them. But once I drink, I can express my feelings to the point of nine points, which makes people cry. In fact, I just take this opportunity. Just like a poet, he clearly has only two points of meaning, but once he picks up the pen and ink, he can make people sigh or be shocked, and feel complicated.

In the midst of his chaotic thoughts, the guests around Xia Xiao changed many times. However, there were only two of them at his table, and the remaining fish soup had already solidified.

The weather was already cold, and Ah Zhu fell asleep in his arms. Her soft little face made Xia Xiao unable to help but pinch it. He pulled with his palm and a quilt made of warm wind covered her.

Ah Zhu didn't move at all. Xia Xiao looked at him and smiled, aimlessly staring ahead. He seemed to have just woken up, waiting for his master to arrive. He had already guessed that only his master could play with space like this.

The master may have shielded himself from others in order to make himself happy. In the eyes of outsiders, they should be chatting and laughing, but they were already drunk and snoring loudly. It's funny to think that Ah Zhu's snoring after being drunk is like a yellow cow. Although it's only two snores, it scared Xia Xiao just now.

Xia Xiao also had that habit. After getting drunk, he would exhale heavily every once in a while, and his mucus and snot would spray out. Now Ah Zhu was in his arms. If he did that, Ah Zhu would hit him when she woke up. Thinking of Ah Zhu's angry look, Xia Xiao smiled slightly and continued to rub her soft little face with his big hands.

The long wait did not consume Xia Xiao's energy, he just sat there. When the lantern above his head dimmed, he heard the sound of adding dishes outside, either a cucumber or a plate of vinegar peanuts, and the shouting of the bill. This is the most impressive moment for a man, but when bargaining, he lost that arrogance.

The boss said good things everywhere, and he ran around everywhere, his legs couldn't stop. When he ran past Xia Xiao's table twice, an old man with white hair and beard appeared on the opposite side of the table.

The old man was considered an immortal, with very few wrinkles on his face and an extraordinary demeanor. This kind of temperament could not be imitated by a hypocrite like Wang Jinlong from Yun Country. He smiled at Xia Xiao, and the look in his eyes seemed to be praising him. Such a frivolous boy who could jump so fast was also lucky, as he ran to Yun Country and came back.

"Master."

Xia Xiao was unable to stand up because he had Ah Zhu in his arms, but he clasped his hands together and bowed.

Qing Xunzi didn't care about all this. He waved his hand, keeping his eyes on Xia Xiao and not staying on the food scraps for even a second.

His arrival made Xia Xiao feel a little conflicted. He shouldn't ask any probing questions, not even a single one. But it wasn't a good idea to do nothing, so Xia Xiao decided to tell everything directly. When he told his story and hoped that the master would express his attitude, he first said:

"You have really made a big hole in Yun Country. Wang Jinlong came down from Yun Country a few days ago, and we held a huge meeting specifically targeting you."

"You want to arrest me?"

"Smart, but I can't catch you for now. You've killed so many people, so you have to be careful about the infiltration of the demonic power and don't let it enter your heart or stomach, lest you lose control and increase your desire to kill."

"Master, I will be careful and will not let my guard down just because of the relics of my predecessors. But there is a reason for this. They captured Ah Zhu and tried to turn her into a reproductive tool."

"I know. He said that even though he used the God-building plan to disguise his shamelessness, we can all see it and will not pin the crime on you for nothing."

Qing Xunzi, as always, stood on Xia Xiao's side when speaking, which made him feel very warm. But he raised his eyebrows, as if he had something good to say.