Although Pan Long had slept for only about four hours, his energy had fully recovered.
An expert like him could normally go five or six days without sleep and be none the worse for it. He had slept so soundly earlier mainly because the hard fight had exhausted him.
He told the children a string of stories, then demonstrated how to make Silver Pieces with his bare hands. From an ingot of silver, he shaped one for each child as New Year's money and gave them a bag of candy besides. Watching them leave with delighted cheers, he could not help smiling.
"It would be even livelier in the Central Plains," his father, Pan Lei, said as he came over. "When New Year comes around there, the Pans alone number two or three hundred, young and old. Add the people living in Pan Lineage Fort... If you told a story every time a group of children came by, you'd spend the whole morning at it."
"If you're interested, we can go to the Central Plains for New Year tomorrow... No, the year after next," Pan Lei said with a straight face. "Then you can wait for everyone you meet to ask, 'Young Master, when are you going to settle down?'"
Pan Long pictured the scene and felt his scalp prickle. "I'd better wait until I'm married and have children before I go there for New Year."
Pan Lei laughed. "Glad you understand. I learned that lesson the hard way. Don't make the same mistake."
Pan Long glanced around awkwardly and hurried to change the subject. "By the way, Dad, did anything happen later last night after I fell asleep?"
"Nothing at all. It was perfectly peaceful. Old Han made another round before dawn and confirmed there was no danger," Pan