Drinking and Making Merry

"Heaven and earth are heartless, treating all things as straw dogs; sages are heartless, treating the common people as straw dogs."

Lin Che's clear voice echoed through the Bamboo Forest. The wine gourd in his hand swayed gently, fully displaying his unrestrained spirit.

Yao Chen sat in his chair, lifted the cup from the table, took a light sip, and said, "Could it be that you know of this old man's past?"

"Hehehe, if you do not wish to speak of it, I naturally will not pry. Everyone has their own secrets, do they not?" Lin Che chuckled softly. He had long known Yao Chen's past inside and out, so there was no need to ask further about what had happened back then.

Yao Chen gave a bitter smile. A trace of sorrow from the depths of his heart was reflected on that aged face.

Yet he did not reveal his past, wishing only to bury that pain forever.

Lin Che calmly set down the wine gourd in his hand and turned to gaze at the shimmering lake. Bamboo leaves swayed in the wind, tracing perfect arcs through the air before landing steadily upon the water, sending ripples spreading outward.

"Yao Chen, in such a prosperous age as this, you and I should be great rocs."

"Hehehe, if I were as carefree as you, I would not have ended up like this."

Yao Chen shook his head slightly and replied.

"Hahaha." Lin Che casually picked up the wine gourd and tilted his head back, taking several deep gulps. Still unsatisfied, he wiped the moisture from the corner of his mouth and laughed loudly. "Since ancient times, sages and worthies have all been lonely; only drinkers remain."

"Unrestrained and free—would that not make one a star between heaven and earth?"

Yao Chen stared at the carefree Drunken Sword Immortal, Lin Che, and stood there in a daze for a long while. An unusual feeling rose within him. Perhaps this was the life he had wanted most in those days.

A person was born between heaven and earth, and would ultimately return to heaven and earth.

Why not enjoy this so-called age of peace in the time that remained?

Just as Yao Chen was about to speak, he sensed a peculiar aura approaching from afar. His entire body immediately transformed into a wisp of white smoke and returned to the Storage Ring.

For now, Yao Chen did not want others to know his whereabouts. Otherwise, all his years of hiding would eventually turn to dust.

Lin Che nodded and smiled. "You truly keep your word, Miss. Have you finished handling your sect's affairs?"

The woman wore a tight-fitting brocade robe of gold trimmed with purple. Her long black hair was tied into the shape of a singing phoenix, faintly revealing an irrepressible nobility. Her face was tranquil and beautiful, like a clear spring deep in the mountains. Though her lofty status inspired reverence, it also stirred an irresistible hint of yearning.

The newcomer was none other than Yun Yun, Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect.

Yun Yun had changed into a clean set of casual clothes, making her appear especially beautiful and alluring.

She lifted a small hand to arrange the hair by her ear, her gem-like eyes glimmering with a peculiar light.

"Since I made an appointment with you, Sir, how could I be so ill-mannered as to fail to come?"

"Hehehe, you keep your word and see things through. Miss Yun Yun is indeed a woman of true temperament. Come, drink and make merry with me."

Lin Che grabbed Yun Yun's wrist and flew toward the lake.

Moonlight spilled down.

A small boat drifted slowly across the lake.

Ripples spread over the water, shattering the moonlight as starlight filled the lake.

Lin Che sat at the bow and casually handed the wine jar to Yun Yun before him. Smiling, he said, "With such a beautiful view and a beauty at my side, I can die without regrets."

Pfft~

Yun Yun covered her cherry lips and laughed. "You are already thinking about women at such a young age. I wonder how your teacher taught you."

"You jest. I have always cultivated alone and have never had a teacher. You should have noticed that years ago."

Yun Yun slowly rose, carrying with her a faint fragrant breeze. She walked to Lin Che's side, and a section of her jade-like, snow-white calf appeared and disappeared beneath her robes, utterly captivating.

"I have a friend who is an alchemist. If you need anything in the future, you may tell me, and I can introduce you to him." Yun Yun pursed her rosy lips and smiled.

"The Purple Spirit Crystal last time was for your disciple, Nalan Yanran, wasn't it?"

Yun Yun nodded and answered without concealment, "Yes. My disciple Nalan Yanran actually hid it from me and went to the Xiao Family to break off the engagement... But I heard that the Xiao Family boy is no longer a good-for-nothing, and his strength has recovered to the level of a Three-Star Dou Zhe. I fear Yan Ran may develop a heart demon, so I intend to help her."

As she spoke, Yun Yun revealed a helpless expression. For all these years, she had raised Yan Ran as the Young Sect Master.

Now that her disciple was in trouble, how could she, as her teacher, refuse to help?

It was only that the useless Xiao Yan of those days had already become a genius.

No one could guarantee what level the Xiao Family boy's strength would reach in three years.

Lin Che did not continue asking. He merely drank calmly, converting the wine he consumed into Dou Qi to raise his strength.

Not until dawn did Yun Yun, her face flushed red, leave the place.

The sect had been particularly busy lately. As the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, she had to return and consider the overall situation.

Otherwise, she would have stayed here and spoken heart to heart with Lin Che.

Noon.

The sun shone brightly, and birds sang amid fragrant flowers.

Dressed in white, Lin Che arrived at the nearby Qingshan Town, intending to purchase herbs for brewing fine wine.

Qingshan Town was one of the small towns of the Jia Ma Empire. It lay in the northeastern province, near the edge of the Monster Mountain Range.

Because it was close to the Monster Mountain Range, it was also called Monster Town. Naturally, the largest group in town consisted of mercenaries who lived by the blade every day.

They gathered in groups, arms linked together, spitting as they talked freely in the streets about which women in town had the most charm, where the strongest liquor could be found, and which magical beasts were the fiercest.

The bustling town was filled with mercenaries heading for the Monster Mountain Range. Their pairs of fierce eyes continually roamed over Lin Che, as though they had already set their sights on him.

There were only three mercenary groups in Qingshan Town, each with around a hundred members. Most of their members were Dou Zhe or above.

It was also said that the leaders of all three mercenary groups were Dou Shi-level experts, making them some of the strongest forces in Qingshan Town.

"Hahaha, Brother, you carry yourself remarkably well. You must be here to purchase herbs, aren't you?"

As a hearty voice rang out, a rather handsome young man stepped out from a nearby group of guards with a broad smile on his face.

Lin Che swept the young man with a glance, then picked up the herbs on the table and examined them carefully. "Who are you?"

"Hehehe, I am Mu Li, the young leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Brother, you carry yourself remarkably well, so you must be looking for some kind of herb. Our Wolf Head Mercenary Group is about to enter the Monster Mountain Range to search for herbs. As long as you pay us a commission, you may come along with us. What do you say?"