"Yes!"
The myna bird's voice rang out in Fang Chen's mind again. "I'll come find you at Dog Head Ridge!"
"Okay!"
Fang Chen answered silently, then went back to drinking with Wu Qingfeng and Chef Wang.
After the time it took a stick of incense to burn, Chef Wang said to Fang Chen, "Fang Chen, I'm feeling sleepy. I'd better go back to bed, or I might fall asleep right here!"
"All right!"
Fang Chen gave Chef Wang a slight nod.
Chef Wang rose, bowed slightly to Fang Chen, then turned and left.
After Chef Wang left, Wu Qingfeng nodded off too. Fighting to keep his eyes open, he said to Fang Chen, "Fang Chen, I'm sleepy too. I'd better go back to bed!"
Fang Chen nodded quickly. "All right, Steward Wu. Go get some sleep!"
"Mm!"
Wind Origin Qingfeng nodded, then thumped face-first onto the dining table and began snoring.
"Ah!"
Fang Chen shook his head helplessly at the sight.
Just then, the myna bird appeared before Fang Chen. He looked at the leftovers on the table, then at Wu Qingfeng snoring with his face down, and asked, "What, did you drink the man under the table?"
Fang Chen studied the myna bird. The feathers on his body seemed to have gained an even richer sheen. Fang Chen shook his head slightly. "Steward Wu fell asleep."
"Asleep? Right at the dining table?"
The myna bird sounded astonished. He would sooner believe Fang Chen had gotten Wu Qingfeng drunk than that the man had simply fallen asleep.
"How is that possible?"
The myna bird looked at Fang Chen, his eyes full of suspicion.
Fang Chen smiled faintly. "Ten years ago, a thunderbolt struck Dog Head Ridge out of a clear blue sky and hit a lot of people. Ever since,