The next day, evening.
The small town grew even more bustling. To construct White City, the Mountain Summit Villa had recruited over ten thousand able-bodied men from the town, offering them a not-so-low wage. Thus, after nightfall, many craftsmen were unwilling to go home, opting instead to eat and drink at the inns nearby, saving themselves the trouble of facing their wives' scowls.
Fenglai Inn, not a large establishment but one with excellent business, owed its success to two reasons. Firstly, it was not far from the stone bridge, just a few steps away after the craftsmen finished their work. Moreover, the baijiu at Fenglai Inn was mixed with less water, making its flavor relatively pure. The second reason was even more crucial: the proprietress of Fenglai Inn was a charming widow in her middle age named Feng Niang. She had been in the town for quite some time, was familiar with the local customs, and thus her business was exceptionally thriving.
At this moment, the aroma of food and the rich scent of wine continuously wafted from the inn.
It was bone-chillingly cold. Not far from the inn, a disheveled man sat with his sleeves tucked in, gazing at Fenglai Inn from afar, his eyes filled with envy. He envied the patrons inside who could drink heartily and eat heartily, feeling that even the most ordinary scrambled eggs with chives and tofu skin tasted extraordinary. Besides that, he envied those who could banter with Feng Niang. If Feng Niang were to scold him with a flirtatious "you old scoundrel," his life would truly be complete.
But Tang Guangjun still hesitated. He was a man of principle and integrity. He absolutely would not spend money to eat and drink in the town, or his Dao heart would waver. Furthermore, the salary given by the Mountain Master was too low for him to afford wine at the inn. As for the golden and silver coins earned from killing demons, Tang Guangjun's personal savings were meant for marriage expenses, not to mention the considerable cost of a sword cultivator honing his flying sword.
His principle was: save where possible, spend where necessary.
"Rustle..."
Footsteps sounded on the snow-covered ground. A young sword cultivator in a deep purple robe, carrying the Xun Lu sword on his back, approached. He also tucked his sleeves in and said with a smile, "The New Year has passed, yet why is it getting colder?"
"Nonsense."
Tang Guangjun did not give him a good look. He chuckled, "This place is called Xue Yu Tian Chi (Snow Domain Heavenly Pool), it's cold all year round."
"Alright, alright."
Gu Yanshu grinned, looked at Tang Guangjun, then at Fenglai Inn, and said, "Shall I treat you to a drink?"
"Let's go."
Tang Guangjun did not hesitate.
The two entered the inn. The waiter greeted them and they ordered a pot of wine and a few small dishes. Tang Guangjun kept his sleeves tucked in, while the patrons in the inn looked at them with surprise. "Isn't that the gatekeeper from the town? He looks so impoverished, yet he has money to drink here? That young man opposite him looks like he might have some money."
Soon after, the small dishes were served.
Outside, it was bitterly cold, making the small dishes inside seem even more flavorful. The steaming cured meat stir-fried with bamboo shoots was exceptionally fragrant. Tang Guangjun did not stand on ceremony; he picked up his chopsticks and began to feast, paying no attention to Gu Yanshu. Why should he? Tang Guangjun knew about the events in Shuzhou; it was Gu Yanshu who had injured Zhuo Zhi, almost causing him to fall in his cultivation realm. In fact, Tang Guangjun really wanted to know if he could defeat Gu Yanshu in his peak state and longed for a duel, but unfortunately, Gu Yanshu was currently a cripple.
Not long after, both men were quite tipsy.
"Feng Niang!"
Gu Yanshu suddenly looked up at the charming proprietress not far away and said with a smile, "We are new guests who have come on recommendation. Won't you come and say hello?"
Feng Niang's eyes lit up. This handsome young man was truly good-looking, just like the Mountain Master. It was just that the disheveled man acting as a gatekeeper was a bit of an eyesore. But it didn't matter; all guests were welcome. She got up, picked up a wine pot, and walked over, a smile on her pretty face, as beautiful as a flower. Tang Guangjun's heart fluttered. Such feminine charm was truly intoxicating. Such a woman was far superior to the likes of Zhuo Zhi, Yu Wanling, Chu Yu, Liu Liying, and Dong Zang!
"Two honored guests, first time here!"
Feng Niang sat down on a bench and poured a bowl of her best wine for Gu Yanshu and Tang Guangjun. She smiled and said, "This bowl of wine, I toast to both honored guests!"
Saying that, she tilted her long, fair neck and drank it down in one go. A drop of wine slid down the corner of her mouth, flowing deep into her neckline, making Tang Guangjun's eyes widen.
"Feng Niang indeed has a good capacity for wine!"
Gu Yanshu laughed heartily, "Just for Feng Niang's forthrightness, this Fenglai Inn will be half our home from now on."
"Then thank you for your patronage, honored guest."
Feng Niang stood up and bent over to pour wine for Gu Yanshu, smiling, "Come, have another bowl."
"Alas..."
Gu Yanshu grinned and said, "Feng Niang is not only beautiful but also virtuous. If only I had such a good elder sister."
As he spoke, he reached out and gently pinched Feng Niang's buttocks.
"You, oh~~~"
Feng Niang chuckled, "You look so handsome and refined, yet I didn't expect you to be so indecent."
Gu Yanshu burst into laughter, "What can I do? Sister is so beautiful, how can younger brother resist?"
At that moment, the disheveled man could no longer restrain himself. He also reached out and touched Feng Niang's buttocks. Instantly, Feng Niang spun around like a whirlwind and slapped the disheveled man across the face with a "snap." The face of the twelfth-realm great sword immortal was left with a bright red finger mark.
"Oh dear..."
Feng Niang was startled and quickly apologized, "I thought it was some impudent fellow being rude. I didn't expect it to be you, honored guest. It doesn't hurt, does it? Feng Niang will punish herself with a drink."
"..."
The disheveled man looked dejected. With a surge of internal energy, the finger mark on his face instantly disappeared. However, the blemish and wound to his state of mind could not be healed. Why could Gu Yanshu touch her buttocks, but he, Tang Guangjun, could not? He drooped his head and walked out of Fenglai Inn with his wine pot. The wine was undrinkable now, lacking flavor.
"Hey, hey~~~"
Gu Yanshu chased after him, "Brother Tang, why are you leaving so abruptly? Feng Niang didn't do it on purpose. Don't be angry with a woman!"
Tang Guangjun almost wept in the cold night, hugging his wine pot and heading straight for the dilapidated wooden house south of the town.
In front of the wooden house, on a large stone, Tang Guangjun sat alone, drinking from his wine pot.
Gu Yanshu sat beside him, leisurely tidying his clothes, and said with a smile, "Brother Tang, don't be angry. Actually, Feng Niang is just an ordinary woman from an inn. There's no need to argue with her. You, the dignified twelfth-realm Sword Immortal of the Military School, arguing with her is meaningless. It's just that Feng Niang is snobbish and doesn't know who you are."
Tang Guangjun felt a sense of bitterness, "There are thousands of women in the world, but I only love Feng Niang."
"Haha~~~"
Gu Yanshu laughed heartily, "You've gone too far. Honestly, you, Tang Guangjun, the Sword Immortal, are undoubtedly a top-tier existence in Xue Yu Tian Chi. How many people in Xue Yu Tian Chi can be your match? Huang Tingyu, Zhuo Zhi, Gu Lingyu, at most they can only be on par with Sword Immortal Tang, right? But have you considered why someone like Sword Immortal Tang is bullied by everyone in the town? Even a weak woman like Feng Niang doesn't take you seriously. Why?"
Tang Guangjun was astonished, "Why?"
"Hmph!"
Gu Yanshu sneered, "It's because your Mountain Master never intended to establish your prestige, Sword Immortal Tang! Look at other twelfth-realm experts. Huang Tingyu was directly appointed as the Deputy Commander, Zhuo Zhi is the Sword Keeper of the Xue Yu Tian Chi Mountain Protection Formation, and Gu Lingyu is the Dean of Hefeng Academy. When these people walk around the town, who dares to say anything? To put it bluntly, if Huang Tingyu were to tell Feng Niang in his heart, 'Tonight, you obediently crawl into my bed, or I'll tear down your inn tomorrow,' do you believe it would come true?"
"Oh?"
Tang Guangjun narrowed his eyes, "And then?"
Gu Yanshu smiled, "To put it plainly, the water is not poured evenly. Perhaps Lin Zhao didn't intend to pour it evenly either. Otherwise, you, Sword Immortal Tang, would never be treated like this. Lin Zhao is unkind to you, Tang Guangjun, so why should you be so righteous towards Lin Zhao?"
"Nonsense!"
Tang Guangjun stood up and threw the wine pot directly onto the stone, splashing wine everywhere. He said with a faint smile, "Mountain Master is virtuous and honorable, possesses the bearing of an immortal, flows with noble character, is upright and honest, has a magnanimous mind, upholds high integrity, is humble and approachable. You, Gu Yanshu, know nothing of his profound intentions towards me, Tang Guangjun. Get lost immediately, or you'll taste my sword."
As he spoke, Tang Guangjun raised his fingertip. Instantly, the wine on the ground turned into water droplets, rising one by one. In a flash, they condensed into a sword qi filled with the killing intent of the Military School. If Tang Guangjun willed it, this sword qi could likely send Gu Yanshu to his death.
"Alright, alright."
Gu Yanshu frowned, "You're so dense. I'm leaving."
...
After Gu Yanshu left, Lin Zhao appeared on a cliff not far away, riding a streak of sword light. His gaze fell upon Tang Guangjun. Tang Guangjun, of course, knew that Lin Zhao had been there all along, but Gu Yanshu's cultivation was too weak to discover it. He clasped his hands to Lin Zhao and said, "Mountain Master, please understand Tang Guangjun's sincere heart, his unwavering loyalty to Mountain Master, and his willingness to go through fire and water!"
"I understand."
Lin Zhao nodded and smiled, "Tang Guangjun, my 'one bowl of water' has always been poured quite evenly. If your state of mind were truly as advanced as Lingyu, Zhuo Zhi, or Old Huang's, I would naturally look upon you with admiration. However, your worldly desires are still too strong. So, continue to be the gatekeeper. After White City is built, there should be a city wall here. At that time, I'll give you a city gate official position."
Tang Guangjun was overjoyed, "Thank you, Mountain Master!"
...
Xue Yu Tian Chi, Barracks.
Huang Tingyu, clad in armor, lay on the watchtower, frowning as he gazed at the starlight for a while. Then, he turned on his side and looked in the direction of Fenglai Inn. Gu Yanshu's piercing words continued to echo in his mind.
"To put it bluntly, if Huang Tingyu were to tell Feng Niang in his heart, 'Tonight, you obediently crawl into my bed, or I'll tear down your inn tomorrow,' do you believe it would come true?"
Old Huang's heart was now somewhat shaken. Should he tell Feng Niang in his heart or not?
"Control yourself, Old Huang."
A voice echoed in his mind.
"Oh dear..."
Huang Tingyu turned over in shame and returned to the barracks to sleep.