Wucang Pavilion

In the end, Aunt Song got her way, and Luo Yi was forcibly kept behind.

"Haha, Xiao Yi, you brat, you always run so fast. This time, Aunt Song finally caught you, didn't she?"

"I've never had a drink alone with you, boy. Today's a good opportunity." With that, Wang Meng entered the room. After a while, he came back out carrying two large jars of Bai liquor.

"Xiao Yi, you and Uncle Wang and Xiao Yong eat first. I'll go buy a couple of dishes to go with the drinks."

Looking at the tableful of food, Luo Yi hurriedly said, "Aunt Song, there are already so many dishes on the table. Don't trouble yourself."

"Old Song, just listen to Xiao Yi. Let's all eat together—it'll be livelier. Besides, don't you still have something to tell Xiao Yi?"

When Aunt Song heard Wang Meng speak, she did not want to embarrass her husband and sat down at the table.

Taking the wine Wang Yong handed him, Luo Yi thought of Wang Meng's help and rose to toast the couple.

He drained the wine in one gulp, but the spicy, mellow sensation of the Bai liquor from his previous life did not appear. Instead, it felt like the rice wine of his previous life, with a slightly sweet taste amid its murky texture. It was surprisingly good.

"Good. Xiao Yong, pour your Yi-ge another drink," Wang Meng shouted when he saw Luo Yi finish his in one gulp.

"Father, I'm older than Luo Yi. He should be calling me Yong-ge." Sitting opposite them, Wang Yong wore an exasperated expression.

"What Yong-ge? I say he's your Yi-ge, so he's your Yi-ge. You dare talk back to your old man now?"

Seeing that his father was truly angry, Wang Yong hurriedly stood up. "Yi-ge," he said, filling Luo Yi's cup to the brim.

As the three of them continued raising their cups and trading toasts, the two jars of Bai liquor on the table were quickly emptied.

Aunt Song, sitting to the side and worried that Luo Yi would get drunk, glared at Wang Meng and his son before hurriedly saying, "Xiao Yi, do you still remember Ling Yun?"

Luo Yi looked bewildered. He could not remember who that was at all.

Seeing his expression, Aunt Song hurriedly explained, "The daughter of Second Uncle Zhang's family. When you were little, she lived in the alley beside your house. You two often played together!"

After Aunt Song's reminder, Luo Yi carefully searched through his predecessor's memories. A rather blurry image of a little girl appeared in his mind. They had played together for a while several years ago, and afterward, it seemed that her entire family had moved away from Dongsheng Town.

"I vaguely remember her. What's the matter, Aunt Song?"

"A few days ago, Xiao Yong and I were buying vegetables at the county-town market when we happened to run into Ling Yun, so I went over and chatted with her for a while."

"In the end, I learned that her family hadn't been doing well these past two years. Last year, when Second Uncle Zhang was traveling for trade, bandits waylaid him. After robbing him of all his money, they hacked him to death on the road."

"Later, when news of Second Uncle Zhang's death reached his family, Ling Yun's mother wept herself sick all day, unable to eat or drink. Before long, she died in bed from illness. Now only Ling Yun and her younger brother remain, relying on each other for survival."

"I was thinking that she's reached marriageable age, and you still haven't started a family."

"You two are both children I've watched grow up, so I know neither of your characters is bad. That's why I thought I'd play matchmaker and propose a marriage between you. Xiao Yi, what do you think?"

After hearing Aunt Song's story, Luo Yi recalled the girl he vaguely remembered. She had been quite delicate and pretty as a child.

But when he thought of the dangers lurking throughout Yunlu County, and how he might die outside one day if his strength was insufficient, he truly had no mind to waste on romance. He was just about to refuse Aunt Song.

At the table, Wang Yong, already somewhat drunk, spoke unhappily. "Mom! When we came back from the market that day, didn't I say I liked her? I told you and Dad to go to Zhang Ling Yun's house these past few days and ask for her hand. I want to marry Ling Yun! Why are you introducing her to Luo Yi today?"

Hearing her son's complaint, Aunt Song's face twitched uncontrollably.

"What nonsense are you spouting? When did your father and I ever agree to go ask for her hand? Ever since you came to the county, you've done nothing but fool around. Every day, all you think about is taking money out to drink and carouse. Have you even looked in a mirror to see what you look like now? Why would Zhang Ling Yun ever take a liking to you?"

Feeling the atmosphere turn awkward, Luo Yi hurriedly rose. He did not want to meddle in another family's affairs.

"Uncle Wang, Aunt Song, and Yong-ge, I'm full. Take your time eating." With that, he shot out of the courtyard like a streak of smoke.

"All right, Xiao Yong. I've seen your behavior these past few days. You drink and carouse every day—you're not worthy of Ling Yun. Don't bring up your relationship with Zhang Ling Yun again!"

"Old Wang, this is Xiao Yi's address. When you have time, take Ling Yun to Xiao Yi's home for a look. If it doesn't work out, then forget it."

After Luo Yi left, Wang Meng set the direction of the matter.

It was noon when he stepped outside, and the weather was sweltering. After leaving Wang Meng's home, Luo Yi hurriedly quickened his pace.

Before long, he returned to South District and headed straight for the shop Wang Meng had mentioned.

"Wucang Pavilion." Looking at the three gilded characters on the signboard, he walked straight inside.

"Good sir, welcome to Wucang Pavilion." Just as Luo Yi stepped through the main entrance, a beauty came forward from inside. She wore a red, sexy outfit resembling a bikini from his previous life, with blazing red lips. Her chest trembled incessantly as she walked.

She kept shooting seductive glances in Luo Yi's direction and said in a coquettish voice, "Welcome, honored guest. My name is Hongyu, and I'm the proprietor of this shop."

"May I ask whether you've come to purchase a cultivation manual, or are you planning to exchange an item for another?"

They actually accepted item-for-item exchanges. He wondered what the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique could be exchanged for.

Once the thought occurred to him, he acted on it. What grand scenes had he not witnessed in his previous life? Hongyu's little seductive tricks did not stir the slightest reaction in his body.

He stepped forward to Hongyu's side, took out the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique manual from his robe, and placed it in her hand.

"What cultivation technique could this manual be exchanged for? And how much do the Body Refining Realm cultivation techniques in your shop cost?"

Hongyu opened the manual in her hand and examined it carefully for a while.

"Hmm, it's a Skin Refining Realm cultivation technique. The technique is fierce and overbearing, broad and powerful. Its contents are complete, with no signs of alteration. It's a new cultivation technique not yet recorded in Wucang Pavilion."

"Jadeite, a distinguished guest has arrived. Bring some tea."

"Coming, Big Sis." A woman in a dark-green silk robe, with a pure and beautiful appearance, slowly emerged from the inner hall. She carried a pot of tea and walked with graceful, swaying steps.

"Honored guest, this way, please."

Hongyu led Luo Yi to the shop's VIP room and clapped her hands. Several maids in revealing outfits entered from outside, carrying trays in their hands.

"Honored guest, this Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique is a decent Skin Refining Realm cultivation technique. You can exchange it directly for any one manual in the hands of the maid on the left."

"The manuals held by the maid on the right are all Body Refining Realm cultivation techniques. You may examine them first. Once you've chosen one to your liking, Little Sister Hongyu will give you a satisfactory price."