Fortunately, Zhuge Guanqi and Zhan Peng were both perceptive men. At a time like this, they naturally chose to overlook it and simply pretend they had seen nothing.
Hu Xiaotian smiled and nodded. "Visa, so you're here too."
Zhuge Guanqi smiled. "Miss Visa came to visit my wife and brought some gifts. That's the aroma of meat you smelled, Lord Hu."
Visa's pretty face reddened. "I won't interrupt your conversation. I'll go cook."
Hu Xiaotian introduced Zhan Peng to Zhuge Guanqi. Zhan Peng had originally come along to protect Hu Xiaotian, but he knew that, with Hu Xiaotian's martial arts as they stood today, his protection was no longer needed. He took the opportunity to excuse himself.
Zhuge Guanqi invited Hu Xiaotian into his study. They sat down beside the brazier, and Zhuge Guanqi said, "Congratulations, Lord Hu!"
Hu Xiaotian smiled faintly. "It was all thanks to you, sir!"
"Please don't say that, my lord," Zhuge Guanqi replied with a smile. "Man devises the plan, but Heaven determines its success. I truly didn't help much this time. I merely revealed a few of Heaven's secrets to you beforehand. Even if I had said nothing, you would still have won."
"I came this time to drink that jar of fine wine of yours, Brother Guanqi," Hu Xiaotian said.
"I've already asked my wife to prepare it," Zhuge Guanqi replied.
As they spoke, Hong Lingxue and Visa came in one after the other. One carried several freshly prepared dishes, while the other held a copper basin filled with hot water. Hong Lingxue placed the basin on the red-clay stove, then set an iron pot containing the wine inside it.
Hu Xiaotian called to them, "Sister-in-law, Visa, come eat with us."
Hong Lingxue smiled and slipped an arm around Visa's waist. "We have