There was an immediate commotion on the other side.
Yun Wei was about to listen carefully when Qin Lushu's eyes lit up and he exclaimed, "Hey, it's Sister Nangong! I thought she wouldn't be able to make it back this year either."
Upon hearing the name "Nangong," Yun Wei knew that the visitor must be from the Nangong family, one of the four great families.
Before he could finish his curiosity, a woman in a simple blue dress came into view. Despite the chilly weather, she was dressed only in light shorts.
Even with a touch of makeup, the other person could not hide the heroic spirit between their brows.
The other person walked straight to Qin Lushu's side and sat down, picked up the tea on the table and gulped it down. After downing four or five cups in a row, she said resentfully, "I really don't want to go back to this Bili City."
Qin Lushu laughed and took the teapot to refill her cup in a flattering manner, "Oh, Sister Nangong, calm down. Everyone knows that you are the most wise and powerful person. Every time you come back, there is always good news."
"Tsk, you're so sweet-talking." The woman pushed aside her teacup, glanced at the young man with amusement, but noticed Yun and Wei sitting across the table. She asked in surprise, "These two look unfamiliar. Are they your guests, brother?"
Regardless, Isaac's distinctive appearance alone is enough to attract attention.
Qin Lushu nodded, then shook his head. "To be precise, he was my grandmaster's guest. However, he was busy preparing the Four Swords Battle Agreement and instructed me to take care of him—but now we are friends, and according to the rules of Bili City, we should each follow our own rules."
"Oh..." The woman listened with her eyebrows lowered, but suddenly her beautiful eyes widened. "No, Old Xie, that iceberg of ten thousand years, actually made friends after going out for a while, and even invited them to be guests in our Bili?"
Yun Wei quickly replied, "We met Brother Xie in Moonflower City. My name is Yun Wei, and this gentleman beside me is Isaac."
Upon hearing this, Isaac maintained his signature smile, but his hand under the table gave him a sharp pinch.
"I see." Upon hearing Yun Wei's self-introduction, the woman immediately turned around and smiled brightly, "I am Nangong Ning, and I greet you both gentlemen."
It's not "Yanran" (嫣然), but "Langran" (朗然).
The girl in front of him exuded a bold and unrestrained spirit in her every move, unlike the other women Yun Wei had seen in Bili City.
Seemingly guessing Yun Wei's thoughts, Nangong Ning raised her teacup and said to him, "My father only gave birth to one daughter, and I've been traveling all over the country since I was little. People of the martial world don't care about formalities, please don't take offense, young master!"
The other person then drank the tea in one gulp instead of wine, and then showed him the bottom of the teacup.
Yun Wei waved his hand and quickly said, "Miss Nangong, you're too kind. Just call me Yun Wei."
"Don't be fooled by how casually Sister Nangong speaks. She's running the most difficult trade route in Bili, all the way from Bili to Ying Shui Ze in the Kingdom of Heiso," Qin Lushu interrupted. "You know, the area outside the Upper Lafra Monastery is full of desperados. If you don't have some skills, you can't possibly make it this far."
Upon hearing this, Yun Wei couldn't help but think of the assassin organization "Bloodstained Leaves," which seemed to have been active near the Reflecting Water Marsh.
As for the "Upper Lafra Monastery" mentioned by Qin Lushu, Yun Wei had also read about it.
Unlike Red Moon and Golden Cloud, the land of Blacksor Kingdom originally had its own faith. It took the Radiant Lord's original apostles a tremendous amount of effort to spread the faith across that vast frozen land.
To commemorate this achievement, the Holy Church of Radiant Light built a magnificent cathedral on the Upper Lafra Cliff outside the capital of the Reflecting Waters Kingdom. However, being isolated from the world, the increasingly dilapidated monastery is now mostly inhabited by ascetics of the Holy Church of Radiant Light.
The Reflecting Water Marsh is located in a remote area, and the water mist obscures the view, making it fraught with danger. Yet, it is the gateway to the entire Blacksock Kingdom. One can imagine how difficult it would be to open up such a trade route.
Putting everything else aside, just thinking about traveling all over the country and dealing with people everywhere would definitely make him feel intimidated.
He couldn't help but look at Nangong Ning, his face filled with admiration.
He then realized that although the other party was not old, he was already at the level of a fifth-level beginner swordsman.
"Hey, you talk too much!" Nangong Ning scolded, and couldn't help but raise her hand to tap Qin Lushu on the head.
The young man immediately collapsed onto the table, heartbroken, and said, "Just now you were praising her for her sweet talk, but now you're complaining that she's in your way, sob!"
In the end, he couldn't help but laugh at himself.
Nangong Ning sighed, rubbing her forehead. "I told you you should have gone out with me. Look at you, staying cooped up in this Bili all day, your brain's going to go crazy. By the way, didn't you say you were going to edit that book? I think you should secretly come with me after the New Year—"
Commander Nangong was just about to expand his caravan when a cold, mocking voice rang out: "He can't go with you."
Upon hearing the sound, everyone quickly looked towards the side of the table, where Xie Mulang and Huo Mingchan were standing side by side, seemingly having been there for quite some time.
That sound just now was made by Huo Mingchan.
Both of them were exceptionally handsome and taciturn, yet they evoked completely opposite feelings in others.
One was dressed in fiery red, proud and arrogant; the other was dressed entirely in ink, calm and reliable.
"Oh my goodness, you two! You came without a sound, you scared me to death!" Nangong Ning patted her chest and pointed at the two faces as she scolded them.
Huo Mingchan remained unmoved, instead glaring at Qin Lushu, making the latter shudder and shrink back.
Xie Mulang frowned and simply asked, "Why are you sitting here?"
Although the place is secluded and elegant, it seems particularly inappropriate for four people to sit here.
It was as if they were being deliberately ignored.
Yun Wei lowered her eyes quietly.
The relationships within Azure City were complex, and it was best for him to remain on the sidelines. Yet, he clearly felt the intense gaze beside him; without a doubt, Isaac was staring at him intently once more.
He's getting more and more clingy, his Issa! He cursed inwardly, but tried his best to control himself from making eye contact with him.
Since it's a public place, we should be mindful of the impact.
However, the situation involving the four people from Bili City was quite delicate.
Nangong, who had previously argued with Huo San, was now silently drinking tea and calmly admiring his fingernails.
The young man, who had been swallowing his anger, perked up when he saw that his grandmaster uncle was backing him up. He asked coolly, "What else could it be? Don't you even know which family is on duty at the Court of State Ceremonial today?"
Although no names were mentioned, everyone present knew the truth.
Huo Mingchan's face was already unpleasant, and upon hearing this, he couldn't hold back any longer. Just as he was about to lash out, Yun Wei suddenly interrupted him.
He asked Xie Mulang, "Brother Xie, how did you find your way here?"
Yun Wei asked that question on purpose.
Firstly, he was very curious, since the other party was clearly the main character of the midday banquet, yet he had come here specifically for this occasion.
Secondly, if Qin and Huo were to really start arguing in front of him and Isaac, it wouldn't just be Huo Mingchan who would be embarrassed.
“Oh, because I heard from the people at the Court of State Ceremonial that they specially prepared a fine wine called ‘Blood of Bethlehem’ from the Kingdom of Golden Cloud,” Xie Mulang said, waving the gourd in his hand. “There wasn’t much of it, so I just asked for a pot to share with Brother Yun. I happened to run into Brother Huo on the way, so we came together.”
Xie Mulang didn't keep them in suspense and explained to Yun Wei very frankly why the two of them had come looking for them.
Upon hearing this, Yun Wei was immediately delighted.
Speaking of Bethlehem blood, he still had several barrels stored in his space. When Silver wanted to become Isaac's apprentice, he had been very attentive in giving him gifts.
His followers were indifferent to everything except spices and wine, and they even kept all the red wine they received with him.
Before he could speak, Nangong Ning suddenly perked up and urged, "Then what are we waiting for? Quickly fill them up!"
"Help yourself." Xie Mulang handed her the gourd. "If it's not enough, I'll go get some more. If I had known there were so many of you, I should have brought more."
"Go quickly!" Nangong Ning waved to him, but happily took out a jade cup from her hairpin.
As the wine was poured out, a strong, sweet aroma spread.
The bright red wine is rich and sweet, and when set against the lustrous color of the jade cup, it looks like celestial nectar.
Seeing this, Xie Mulang shook his head and was about to go back and get some more.
But at that moment, Yun Wei frowned, feeling uneasy.
Contrary to his earlier cheerful demeanor, he declared sternly, "No! This is absolutely not 'Bethlehem Blood'!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com