The Sea Reaches the Boundless Horizon, the Sky Becomes Its Shore; The Mountain Reaches Its Summit, I Become Its Peak

"Song Que and Fairy Bai were both martial powerhouses who had undergone blood exchange twice—one with an inch of white radiance, the other with three inches. But this fellow before me has a full nine inches of white radiance over his head?"

Staring at the uninvited young master in blue-green robes who had kicked the door in and barged inside, his face brimming with murderous fury, Yang Xiao quickly rose to his feet. By instinct, he was about to leap out the window and flee.

Wait!

Though this man's aura was powerful, he was filled with awe-inspiring righteousness, and had not directed any killing intent at him?

Something stirred in Yang Xiao's heart. He looked once more at the top of the blue-green-robed young master's head.

He saw that within the white radiance above the man's head, a faint peaceful, solemn aura was emanating, calming Yang Xiao's mind and making him feel extremely comfortable.

"Could it be because I absorbed Mr. Zou's Haoran Qi, so when I observe qi, I can sense whether others hold goodwill or malice toward me?"

A trace of understanding dawned in Yang Xiao's heart.

Though he did not understand why it was so, this was a good thing!

"So this fellow is pretending to be furious, trying to set a trap for me?"

Yang Xiao's mind spun rapidly, and he immediately let out a breath of relief.

Wasn't it just a contest of acting skills?

In this world, if I, Yang Xiao, say my acting is second, then no one can claim to be first!

"Emperor Ming placed eunuchs in important positions and slaughtered the loyal and virtuous, causing chaos under heaven and righteous armies to rise everywhere!"

"Unflinching in the face of danger," Yang Xiao said with a face full of "fury," "Now even a mere yamen runner in this inner city has begun borrowing the tiger's might like a fox, brandishing a chicken feather as a command arrow, bullying innocent good folk like us—what they've done, am I not even allowed to say it?"

"Impudent!"

The blue-green-robed young master suddenly drew his sword, his gaze growing even sharper. "You wretch, not only do you show no remorse, you even dare bewitch the masses with heretical words. Die!"

Clang!

The sword turned into a streak of flowing light and instantly came to rest against Yang Xiao's neck.

Yang Xiao did not so much as blink. Calm as drifting clouds and gentle wind, he drank his wine, showing not the slightest fear.

"What, you—are not afraid of death?"

The blue-green-robed young master froze.

"I am. Of course I fear death!"

"I only hate that before I, 'Wang Yulang,' die, I failed to slaughter that dog emperor and secure a brighter future for the people under heaven!"

Yang Xiao sighed toward the sky, his eyes beginning to redden.

"Forget it. You court hound, even if I say these things, you would not understand!"

"Come on! If you want to kill me, then kill me. It's nothing more than a scar across the neck!"

"Eighteen years from now, I, 'Wang Yulang,' with iron bones clanging proud, will be another fine man again!"

With that said, Yang Xiao stretched out his neck and leaned toward the blade of his own accord.

"Clang!"

A flash of white radiance vanished in an instant. Before Yang Xiao could figure out what had happened, the sword had already returned to its sheath and was being hung smartly at the blue-green-robed young master's waist.

"I am Li Weifeng of Qingzhou. By chance, I heard Brother Wang's words outside the door, and agreed with them greatly in my heart."

"But I had doubts in my heart, fearing Brother Wang might be a court hound, so I tested you with words. Please forgive me!"

The blue-green-robed young master cupped his fists as he spoke, his eyes filled with apology and admiration.

"Brother Li, you are too serious. I am Wang Yulang. If you do not disdain me, why not drink a cup of wine together?"

Yang Xiao waved a hand boldly, looking as if he took no offense at all, and pointed to the seat beside him.

"Since that is so, then I shall impose!"

Li Weifeng had precisely this intention. He sat down with a hearty laugh.

"Waiter, bring the best wine, slice up five hundred jin of beef, and serve all your signature dishes!"

Yang Xiao gave a loud shout.

"Grandpa Wang, please wait a moment."

The waiter happened to be passing by outside the private room. Hearing this, his brows immediately opened and his eyes smiled, and he hurried off to make preparations.

Plates of braised beef were served up like flowing water.

Under Yang Xiao's excellent speaking skills—speaking human words to humans and ghost words to ghosts, honed through direct-sales training in his previous life—

Li Weifeng ate meat and drank wine, chatting with Yang Xiao about heaven and earth, letting out hearty, delighted laughter from time to time.

Before long, the two were already calling each other "elder brother" and "worthy younger brother," as if they were blood brothers long separated for many years.

It was worth mentioning that when the old shopkeeper of Drunken Immortal Restaurant heard that a wealthy guest had come to a private room on the second floor, he worried he might run into a wicked customer who ate a tyrant's meal, and specially used the chance of serving dishes to sneak upstairs and take a look.

Seeing that Yang Xiao, apart from being a little handsome, had nothing too extraordinary about him, the old shopkeeper frowned slightly.

But with Li Weifeng's extraordinary bearing and that faintly spreading terrifying aura, the old shopkeeper breathed a sigh of relief and completely set his mind at ease.

"The treasure of our humble shop is honey-glazed roast Tiger Chicken passed down from our ancestors. Would you two grandpas care to try one?"

The old shopkeeper immediately put on a fawning smile and asked tentatively.

"Brother Wang, all this wine and meat is already enough, why not..."

Even with Li Weifeng's generosity, he could not help frowning a little, feeling that this was rather inappropriate.

Though Li Weifeng's martial arts were formidable, he was no good at business. Having fled here from Qingzhou, he had long since been penniless and had not eaten his fill in ages.

As luck would have it, Li Weifeng had been passing by the door of the private room and overheard Yang Xiao grumbling in dissatisfaction about the imperial court.

A bright idea had struck Li Weifeng, and he had tried to set Yang Xiao up, conveniently freeloading a meal of wine and meat in the process.

But unexpectedly, the two had "hit it off at first sight," giving Li Weifeng quite the feeling of "heroes recognizing kindred spirits." Naturally, he felt too embarrassed to go overboard.

"Brother, why stand on ceremony with your little brother?"

"When I, Wang Yulang, make friends, I never look at the other party's family circumstances!"

"Look across the entire Great Yan Dynasty—when it comes to wealth, who could be richer than my father, 'Wang Fenglie'?"

Already somewhat drunk, Yang Xiao abruptly slapped the table. "Waiter, go, roast ten more Tiger Chickens for this lord!"

Hearing this, Li Weifeng still wanted to persuade him otherwise.

However, what kind of shrewd old fox was the shopkeeper? He darted out to make preparations, not giving Li Weifeng any chance to speak at all.

"Shopkeeper, one roasted Tiger Chicken is worth three thousand taels. Young Master Wang wants ten—can he afford it?"

The waiter lowered his voice.

"What the hammer do you know! That's the son of the Marquis of Champions!"

The old shopkeeper waved his hand impatiently.

Very soon, a fragrant roasted Tiger Chicken was carried over by the waiter.

Under Yang Xiao's enthusiastic pouring and urging, Li Weifeng also opened up his belly and feasted heartily, eating to his great delight.

"This worthy brother of mine is loyal enough to pierce the clouds, generous with his wealth, truly a great philanthropist."

"It's fortunate he met me. Otherwise, if this worthy brother had run into someone with ill intentions, they would surely have cheated him until his family fortune was gone, his household ruined, and his people dead."

Li Weifeng was sighing with emotion.

Yang Xiao suddenly clutched his stomach. "Brother, you keep eating. Your little brother's going to squat over the latrine. I'll be back soon."

With that, Yang Xiao hurried away.

Li Weifeng's eyes were already hazy with drunkenness, and he did not think much of it.

However, after he had eaten every last bit of the huge table of wine and meat, and the sky outside the window had darkened, the setting sun sinking west, Yang Xiao still showed no sign of returning.

Li Weifeng's heart instantly sank.

"Master Li, that'll be thirty-five thousand three hundred taels. I'll wipe off the odd change for you. Just give thirty-five thousand taels."

The old shopkeeper walked in with a fawning smile.

"Where is that worthy brother Wang of mine?"

Li Weifeng's expression changed drastically, the ominous premonition in his heart growing stronger and stronger.

"Young Master Wang has long since returned home. He once said he would gift you ten thousand in gold, and told us to wait until you had eaten and drunk your fill, after you had enjoyed yourself to the fullest, before coming to settle the bill with you. He also said you were born generous and would certainly give us a hefty reward."

The old shopkeeper answered warmly.

"Wang! Yu! Lang!"

The smile on Li Weifeng's face froze, and fury instantly shot into the heavens in his tiger eyes.

At the same time.

Yang Xiao was carrying nine heavy Tiger Chickens, humming a little tune as he slowly walked toward his own small courtyard...