North Street.
Tingxue Pavilion.
Inside the elegantly decorated pavilion, in a spacious room, the floor was wooden and covered with clean bamboo mats, giving off faint threads of coolness in the golden autumn season. On one side of the room stood a low table, upon which several exquisite dishes had been arranged.
Wu Ming and Chen Gui sat facing each other on either side of the table.
"I know Brother Wu does not care for those licentious places. I specifically chose Tingxue Pavilion for today's invitation. The courtesans here sell their talents, not their bodies. Compared to the dust-stained women of the willow-and-smoke alleys outside, they possess a different kind of charm."
Chen Gui smiled as he poured Wu Ming a cup of wine.
For the past several months, he had been following his family around, busy with affairs at their estate outside the city. After returning to the city, he had heard that Wu Ming had broken through to Second Blood Forging and been promoted to patrol officer. He had been immensely astonished, and immediately sought out Wu Ming, inviting him to Tingxue Pavilion for a drink to celebrate both his Martial Path breakthrough and official promotion.
By reckoning the time, he and Wu Ming should have completed First Blood Forging around the same period. Yet Wu Ming had now reached Second Blood Forging, while he remained far from it. On one hand, Wu Ming's aptitude had always been somewhat higher than his. On the other, his mind had never been wholly devoted to the Martial Path; much of his time was spent handling other matters, so Second Blood Forging was naturally still far beyond reach.
"Brother Chen has gone to great expense."
Seated behind the table, Wu Ming lifted his wine cup and took a small sip.
Because