Strange Dream
At that time, not only the mansion, but all traces of the Gui Family's history will be erased by time, including the apricot tree in the courtyard, which will also be turned into ordinary firewood.
The moonlight was like water, and the shadows of the leaves were dappled. Gui Yue raised her hand, lifted the thin blanket, put on her coat, and went to the other courtyard.
It was called a separate courtyard, but it was actually just a side hall, containing nothing but old wine.
Gui Yue pushed open the palace door, went inside according to her memory, and casually picked out a jar of aged wine.
Normally, aged wine is more fragrant and mellow than newly brewed wine. However, this jar of aged wine is a relic from a sacrificial ceremony a thousand years ago, and whether it is drinkable is unknown. Therefore, it has been neglected for many years.
The expenses of the city lord's mansion are not low, and most of them are used to help the poor. Gui Yue therefore rarely drinks alcohol. Every year during the sacrificial ceremony, a batch of old wine is discarded and sold to various wineries.
However, after a long day of dealing with those playboys and putting on an act, Gui Yue was already suffering from insomnia and desperately needed to drink to help her sleep. So she went to a side hall and found a jar of old wine to try to numb her mind.
Gui Yue never tasted a drop of the newly brewed wine that sold. It must be said that, as the city lord, her life was exceptionally simple, monotonous, and dull.
Over the years, Gui Yue's prestige has surpassed that of previous city lords.
Back in the courtyard, the seal was broken, and the aroma of apricot blossoms wafted out. Not only had the wine not spoiled, but it was also more mellow than the newly brewed wines of recent years.
Gui Yue scooped out a cup of wine and savored it carefully.
The moonlight outside the hall gradually lengthened, the stars in the night sky were dazzling, the gray stone floor tiles were like flowing water, like a smooth silver mirror, and the apricot trees in the courtyard left their reflections, still maintaining their normal shapes.
In an instant, the deep darkness, boundless and endless, enveloped everything. The Gui Yue retreated and nestled against the apricot tree, lost in a dream.
The next morning, Bai Cai descended the spiral staircase to find the restaurant's long table laden with breakfast items: baguettes from the Heavenly Soul Empire, fluffy rice cakes from the Douluo Empire, and smoked meat and cheese from the Star Luo Empire —a wide variety of specialty breakfasts were available.
By the standards of a normal family, this breakfast would be considered a luxury; by the standards of a genius Soul Master, however, it would be considered inexpensive.
The special meals at the Shrek Academy cost more than fifty Gold Soul Coin for breakfast and even one hundred Gold Soul Coin for a full meal. If you had to spend money to buy them, you could easily spend seventy or eighty thousand Gold Soul Coin a year, which is equivalent to the life savings of a low-ranking noble.
Please sit down.
At the other end of the long restaurant table, Dianya gripped her knife and fork, quickly cutting out a piece of bacon and pushing the plate towards the Bai Cai, displaying remarkable friendliness.
"Thanks."
After a brief moment of thought, Bai Cai accepted the plate of smoked meat, gladly taking the kindness.
Dianya is Ross's niece, and tracing her bloodline, the statistical probability of her possessing Soul Power is even less than one in half.
Those who can command servants with their words should have a higher status, but those who personally greet guests seem to be less of a direct descendant and more likely to be illegitimate or collateral relatives.
Such a face can be both a blessing and a curse, as Jiang Nannan serves as a cautionary tale.
Of course, Bai Cai remain somewhat cautious; these judgments are based on known information, and some errors are inevitable.
In the world of Soul Master, using Soul Power to probe another person can be seen as a direct Taunt. Unless the other person is a trustworthy blood relative or a close friend with whom one would entrust one's life, acting rashly may even mean a fight to the death.
Moreover, Dianya is a lady; a sweep of Soul Power would be tantamount to stripping off her clothes. If Dianya were Soul Master, it would inevitably create another enemy; if Dianya were an ordinary person, she would be burdened with guilt for no reason.
Soul Power probing is already this dangerous; mental probing is even more so.
As we all know, the ability to project one's spirit outward signifies a high-level Soul Master. Normally, it is almost impossible for anyone below the Soul King level to counter it. However, conversely, those who can Frisk Psywave are almost always high-level Soul Master.
If one of the elders of the Belun Manor suddenly Frisk the Psywave and then Lock-On a nearby Soul Master, Bai Cai will inevitably be the first to be affected, either being captured, detained, and tortured, or drugged and used for breeding.
This wealth has been passed down for thousands of years, and there must be some reasons for it. Running a wine business is a means of accumulating wealth, and high-level Soul Master are the Barrier to protect that wealth. With the Belun Family's abundant wealth, wouldn't it be easy to recruit a few high-level Soul Master?
However, due to a moment of impulsiveness, he risked provoking a high-level Soul Master, and the price he paid was indeed heavy.
Of course, concealing Soul Power is also not advisable. You can hide it for a while, but not forever. Calm Mind and combat are both easy ways to expose one's Soul Power.
In reality, whether or not one discloses their Soul Power is already a clear signal.
Actively exposing one's Soul Power either demonstrates goodwill or serves as a threat. Conversely, diligently concealing one's Soul Power either indicates ulterior motives or the concealment of a secret.
The "pretending to be weak to catch a tiger" trope is rare. Ambushes and raids are usually planned in advance, with at least several reconnaissance trips.
Dianya may be Soul Master or an ordinary person, but digging deeper is pointless. Their interaction will only last for a few months at most. Regardless of whether the mission is completed or not, after the investigation period ends, Bai Cai will have to return to the academy to report.
Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, dappling the tabletop. Breakfast time flew by. Dianya occasionally uttered some polite greetings, and Bai Cai repeated a few standard answers. A pleasant atmosphere filled the restaurant, and the sun-reflected tables seemed much brighter, with leftover food covered in a warm glow.
Perhaps due to the alcohol, Dianya's cheeks were flushed, making her look radiant and captivating.
"Since it's a trip, why not experience Belun's unique charm? It's Harvest season now, and the estate is preparing to brew a new batch of wine."
Dianya then changed the subject, "Wine is a pleasure, both in drinking and in the process of making it; perhaps it's even a wonderful experience."
With her eyes half-closed, she pushed aside the plate, leaned back slightly, and stretched languidly. Her lace dress couldn't hide her exquisite curves; her youthful innocence was tinged with Captivate, and her taste was sweet and delicious.
The sacrificial ceremony was over, Bai Cai used an excuse to leave the manor and go to the city to investigate the situation. Even if the task was just perfunctory, she still had to write a proper report to avoid leaving any hidden dangers.
The autumn heat made the streets of Belun exceptionally bustling, with vendors hawking their wares and shops calling out their wares, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
Shrek City was far more prosperous Belun, but unfortunately, beneath its decadent and extravagant facade, a faint stench of decay lingered.
Compared to Shrek, Bai Cai preferred the atmosphere of Belun. After the war ended, Bai Cai was even willing to move there to live.
During the tour, Bai Cai suddenly noticed a strange scene. In the bustling tavern ahead, a girl in yellow, her face veiled, was brazenly stealing offerings from the sacrificial altar near the counter. The shopkeeper and customers were completely unaware, continuing to serve wine as usual.
During the autumn festival in Belun, every household prepares offerings. In addition to fine wine, most shops also display some pastries for decoration.
Most of these snacks are not for sale; they are only used to garnish fine wines, and their taste is not as good as regular food.
The girl in yellow was exquisitely dressed and clearly came from a wealthy family; it was truly pitiful that she stole the sacrificial offerings.