Chapter Eight: "You Can Call Me Yuanxi"

"Enough!"

A person in the corner of the inn shouted. As he spoke, the man brandishing the Water Separation Spike in front of me froze. The spike had just scratched my cheek but hesitated to go deeper. Then, the person shouted sent the man and the spike tumbling back down the stairs.

I couldn't remember who said that curiosity would kill the cat, but while Wen Li was not a cat, my curiosity had always been dangerously strong. I couldn't help but follow him down the stairs to turn him over for a look. Oh my God, he was dead?! His eyes were wide open, filled with disbelief and terror.

Only then did I glance towards the corner where the voice had come from. There weren't many people in the inn, but those who remained had all fled when they saw the commotion. To my surprise, there were still two people ready to lend a helping hand.

One was dressed in my favorite blue robe, while the other was wearing a dark robe and had a wide bamboo hat pulled low over his brow, obscuring his face. The dark robe bore some resemblance to the blue robe fluttering in the air.

The man in the blue robe was looking in my direction, his voice authoritative. "Miss, you've been startled. I had no intention of intervening, but these people were truly out of line. Would you care to join me for a drink to calm your nerves?"

As he finished speaking, the man in the dark robe raised his hand slightly. I saw the remaining ruffians who had been running for dear life drop one by one. My eyesight had always been sharp, and I could clearly see the tiny, deadly darts—poisoned needles glistening in the dim light. Given the instant demise of that man, the toxin must be quite potent.

I swallowed hard.

In my past life as Wen Li, I had always enjoyed toxic creatures, not just because they were fun but also because they were delicious. I had probably eaten thousands of poisonous snakes. The more toxic, the better. The most delectable part was the venom sac… I wondered if I could sample one later.

Lost in thought, I walked over, composed myself, and bowed respectfully. "Thank you for saving me, sir."

The blue-robed man handed me a cup of wine. "Dreamer? Good name. Your illusionary skills are remarkable, fitting of the name. Earlier, you seemed to have conjured something above this inn? I assume your companions will arrive shortly, though we might not need to intervene. Here, please have a seat and try this wine. It's called Drunken Red Reflecting Snow, a plum wine."

As I took the cup, my curiosity surged again.

The cup was not an ordinary porcelain one. Though it wasn't as exquisite as the jade cups used by my master, it was certainly a fine piece of porcelain, thin as paper. The more impressive part was that the blue-robed man called it Drunken Red Reflecting Snow—a plum wine. The cup felt cool to the touch, but I wondered whether it was the wine that was cold or the cup itself…?

I looked up at him. The man in the blue robe had a refined appearance, his brows resembling peaks, exuding an unapproachable authority. Strangely, there was a flicker of divine light in his eyes that made me instinctively want to look away, as if I cold not bear to meet his gaze.

Fei Yang was the most profound ordinary person I had ever met, but his heart was pure, like a tranquil, deep blue pool, transparent yet capable of transforming the colorless into deep blue. It contained no impurities. However, this man was different; there was something elusive in his eyes that I did not understand, causing me to feel an inexplicable hint of fear.

Oh, given his high levels of mastery, he must have effortlessly cooled the wine to an icy temperature with his palm power. It seemed that not only were his subordinates powerful and ruthless in their actions, but he himself must be of a masterful caliber?

I swirled the cup in my hands, watching the clear liquid rotate within, releasing a faint scent of plum.

Wu Jiu particularly enjoyed plum blossoms and often took me to seek out plums on snowy mountains. In the beginning, I would chase after the falling snowflakes, but eventually got drenched, which was quite annoying. So, I would burrow into Wu Jiu's arms to sleep, exposing only my little nose while savoring the fragrance.

The aroma of raw plums on snowy mountain slopes was the most elegant—a delicate scent mingling with the cold air as the snowflakes fell during my countless winter naps. Of course, the happiest moments were when Wu Jiu would wake me up, usually after he had started a small fire in the snow and brewed the wine. Wu Jiu's wine was not as mediocre as this; it was of top quality. Although he only let me have a small cup each time, it was enough for me to reminisce about for a long while, until I fell back asleep, still remembering the fragrance of the wine and the plums.

Naturally, the warmth of my dear Wu Jiu's smile on those long winter days was the most enchanting.

Thinking about Wu Jiu, I felt a bit listless and sighed softly, reciting, "Searching for spring all day but seeing no spring, my straw sandals crush the clouds at the mountain's edge. Coming back, I hold plums to smell; spring is already abundant on the branches." This was a poem Wu Jiu recited while we drank, and I hadn't understood how I had memorized it so well.

After reciting, I lowered my head and took a shallow sip from the cup. The cold fragrance circulated in my mouth, and moments later, it coalesced into warm currents sliding down to my lower abdomen, enveloping me in warmth. The sting from my injured arm dulled considerably.

The wine was indeed exquisite, likely considered a top-tier wine in the mundane world, nearly comparable to the mid-grade celestial wines I had stealthily consumed in my master's cave.

I placed the cup back on the table and thanked him softly, "Thank you for the wine, sir."

The blue-robed man seemed to change expressions when I recited the poem. Now, he chuckled, transforming his previously imposing figure into one filled with warmth, like a spring breeze blowing through ice and snow. "My name is Yuanxi, you can just call me Yuanxi then."

I could sense the subtleties; as he spoke, the expression of the dark-robed figure at his side shifted, as if he was both surprised and slightly flustered, like someone with lingering concerns finally witnessing a long-anticipated event.

Oh, this man's unwarranted friendliness surely harbored ill intent, right?

I smiled back at him, "Thank you, Yuanxi…"

"It's just Yuanxi, not 'Sir Yuanxi,'" he interrupted.

I smiled again, no longer pursuing it. Just then, the door to the inn burst open with a loud crash, and someone called, "Dreamer!"

It was Fei Yang's voice.

Surprised and delighted, I stood up and responded softly.

As soon as Fei Yang spotted me, it was as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He quickly flew to my side and cupped his hands towards Yuanxi, saying, "Thank you for your righteous assistance, sir."

"Oh?"

Yuanxi, who had been smiling at him, suddenly revealed a rather peculiar expression upon hearing this, which made me feel uneasy.

"This place isn't safe any longer. If you don't have other business here, we're going to take our leave. Perhaps our paths will cross again in the future."

Yuanxi appeared shocked, quickly transforming his expression into a forced smile, "Excuse me? May I ask your esteemed name?"

"I am Chen Fei Yang from the Central Plains."

With that, he took my hand and began walking toward the door.

"Fei Yang, wait. May I inquire about the relationship between this young lady and you?"

Fei Yang stopped and, turning back, replied coldly, "This is my fiancée."

Yuanxi's expression shifted to one of shock again, which was so uncharacteristic of his elegant demeanor. He then burst into hearty laughter, calling toward the roof, "Fei Yang, is that you? Show yourself! Otherwise, your wife is going to be taken away by another Fei Yang."

I looked up blankly, only to see yet another Chen Fei Yang, frowning as he jumped down from the beam above the inn.

Three Chen Fei Yangs had already appeared in this inn today. The first was turned to dust by the leader of the Jiang Hai Seven Heroes, the second was currently holding my hand by my side, while the third stood there, frowning at me, then glancing at the Fei Yang beside me.

Oh my God, what on earth was happening?

Could it be… could it be that Fei Yang and this Yuanxi were old acquaintances?

My face immediately flushed bright red, as I hurriedly dispelled the second Fei Yang I had conjured. Oh God! Earlier, I had let that illusionary Fei Yang claim I was his wife?! And Fei Yang had been watching from above! I had been so focused on the illusion that I hadn't heard anyone else; how could I have missed that Fei Yang had already arrived?

What a nightmare! Wu Jiu said that women in the mortal realm were the most shy and modest. No one was quite like me, so directly diving into his bed to make a fuss… Goodness, I had so straightforwardly claimed to be Fei Yang's wife; would he be furious about it?

However, when Fei Yang came over, he did not blame me but instead approached and performed a grand greeting, "Fei Yang pays respect to…"

Yuanxi waved his hand, signaling for him to stop. Fei Yang then continued, "Fei Yang pays respect to my elder brother."

Yuanxi pointed at me and asked, "She claims to be your wife? Fei Yang, when did you marry such a beautiful wife, yet you don't even keep her hidden away? She seems to lack any skill, and you're so easy-going, allowing her to traverse the Jianghu alone?"

Fei Yang smiled apologetically, "Brother, Dreamer is indeed my wife. Earlier in the day, Dreamer was displeased with me and sneaked away alone, which led to my frantic search for her. I genuinely owe my gratitude to you for stepping in to help."

"Wife?" What on earth was that? I didn't quite understand. However, when he mentioned the phrase "Dreamer said right", this meant he acknowledged me as his wife. I lowered my head and stifled a giggle.

Yuanxi waved his hand, "No need to thank me. Even if we hadn't intervened, you wouldn't have encountered much risk when you arrived," his eyes held a strange glint as he looked at Fei Yang. "Unwed wife, would you like me to bless this marriage for you?"

Fei Yang shook his head, "In the Jianghu, what does being wed or not matter? Living together will suffice."

Yuanxi nodded, "Well said. Please, have a seat. Would you care for a cup of Drunken Red?"

Fei Yang expressed his thanks, and the dark-robed figure retrieved another white jade-like porcelain cup from the bundle. Yuanxi personally lifted a similar pot of wine from the table to pour for Fei Yang, handing it to him. I then noticed that the hand of the dark-robed figure was slender and pale; it seemed he was indeed a woman? The way she had eliminated those so-called Jiang Hai Seven Heroes earlier was decisive and ruthless, with one shot bringing them down.

If this person really is a woman… I was genuinely curious about what kind of woman she could be.

Fei Yang raised the cup, and I watched as he lifted it to his lips, noticing the cup took on a final trace of coldness in his grasp. He saluted Yuanxi with the cup, then drank it all at once.

"Fei Yang drinks to honor you."

Yuanxi chuckled and also lifted his cup, downing it in one go, "Fei Yang, still as straightforward as ever."

"Brother, were you searching for me in the capital?"

Yuanxi smiled and nodded but said nothing.

"Though Fei Yang has caught up with Fei Lianzi of the Kunlun Sect, he unfortunately lost the Mingyue Jade Bi and cannot bring it to Shaohao Mountain to pay respects to that verse. It seems I have to personally go to Shaohao Mountain to apologize."

Fei Yang knelt before Yuanxi, "I beg for your pardon."

Yuanxi helped him up, shaking his head, "Forget it. You've been away for almost two years; it's good you returned safely. If not, Meng Po's gate would have been turned upside down by Chu Yu, allowing such riff-raff to sneak into Meng Po's gate and pledge loyalty? Hmph!"

The dark-robed figure at Yuanxi's side quickly knelt, her voice delicate and soft; she was definitely a woman.

"Chu Yu lacked discernment and deserves punishment from His Majesty!"

I stared wide-eyed at these three people, feeling a mix of emotions—what on earth were these things?

"You've returned safely? …Meng Po's gate? …Your Majesty?"

Could it be that Chu Yu referred to Yuanxi as His Majesty? Fei Yang addressed him as elder brother? That man who had died, whether fish or serpent, mentioned that the head of Meng Po's gate was a sworn brother to the current emperor?

Could it be… could it be…?

I couldn't help but chuckle bitterly. Given the circumstances, it seemed the Celestial Lord and this reigning king of the Southern Zhanbu continent were indeed related!

After night fell, Fei Yang and I apologized to Yuanxi and returned to our room at the inn.

Yuanxi could really drink. In a little over an hour, he and Fei Yang not only finished the several jars of fine wine he had brought but had also emptied all of the innkeeper's stock.

I sat at the edge of the couch, stealing glances at Fei Yang. His eyes seemed to burn with an inner flame; I couldn't tell if he was angry with me or if he was simply drunk.

Fei Yang stared at me for a long time, then gently grasped my arm. I closed my eyes, expecting him to kiss me. Instead, I heard the sound of tearing, and he ripped open my garment.