Life and Death

Heavenly Flavor Tower.

Young Master Yu personally got to work, ladling fine wine from a bronze wine vessel and filtering it through lemongrass.

Then, a clear stream of wine fell into the lacquer bowl on the table.

The bowl was pitch-black throughout, with crimson bird patterns upon it. It was quite extraordinary, like a work of art.

"Come, Fellow Daoist Fang. We hit it off at first sight—let us share this lemongrass wine."

Young Master Yu raised his bowl.

Fang Qing took a small sip. Though the wine was still somewhat cloudy, it carried the fragrance of thatch grass and could barely be considered distinctive in flavor.

The lamb on the table, meanwhile, was congealed like jade fat and cut into clearly defined slices, making for quite a delicacy.

Paired with meat rolls and a copper hotpot for swishing some lamb, it would likewise be one of life's great pleasures.

The two chatted of heaven and earth, truly seeming to have hit it off at first sight.

Yue quietly sat beside them, pouring wine for Fang Qing and slicing the lamb—

Less than half an hour later, Qing Zhinu, who had been standing guard outside, hurriedly pushed open the door. His expression was deeply troubled, with a trace of hesitation.

"What happened?"

Young Master Yu frowned, then glanced at Fang Qing. Instinctively, he became somewhat guarded.

Or rather, he did not wish to speak of his family's private affairs before a friend he had known for only a day. That was only human nature.

Yet for some reason, when his eyes met Fang Qing's, his expression became exceedingly casual. "Fellow Daoist Fang is a dear friend with whom I hit it off at first sight. There is nothing that cannot be spoken before others. Speak freely!"

"It's Miss Xiong—"

Something