"Oh… Well, if this is what you want, this humble Chang Dong will be happy to oblige you, Master Ru Yujin! After all, I'm not a noble myself, Master Ru—I'm but a simple textile merchant, not suited for all these stuffy formalities. But I see you also prefer to avoid them."
He smiled at me. Now that he was less respectfully afraid, Chang Dong seemed like a person with a lively personality.
I smiled back.
In childhood, I made very few friends, because most of my peers were thicker than an oak and thought only about marrying into a good family or becoming a student of a rich artisan. I didn't feel lonely because of that—I always was self-sufficient.
However, a joy shared is a joy doubled, while a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved. Drinking was always better in a good company!
In the Lin clan I could drink with the soldiers I trained with, but there was always so much fear and status between us… And all other cultivators either were ready to spit on me, or looked enviously from below.
Why not make a new friend? Business first, though.
"I do prefer talking openly and without formalities, Uncle Dong. So, do you live in the Thousand Swallows city?"
"No, I came here on business when the siege began. But that's just a temporary trifle—even a business opportunity! Don't worry, though, Master Ru—this isn't my first visit here. I know all the best shops, taverns and whorehouses you might ever need."
I raised my eyebrows. Brothels, too? Hm. Maybe I should make a visit myself. Thanks to the knowledgeable and kind women living near the Lin Manor, I knew what a pleasing pastime that was…
The desire flickered in my gut. Then a dead body with Tao Song's flashed in front of my eyes, followed by a smile of a real and alive Tao Song. These two images had the effect of a bucket of cold water poured over my head.
It was stupid to be loyal to a woman who might even not actually be your long-lost love from your past life. But if Tao Song was, and if she found out about that, then…
She would kill me. Even harder than she was already planning to do. I didn't even know her that well, but deep in my heart, where I knew that three dantians were better than one, I knew she WOULD kill me.
"Maybe not brothels… Show me a smith first, please."
"A smith? That's on Artisan Street, just an arm's length away. There's a decent watering hole near it, too, in case you get thirsty—do cultivators even get thirsty? Master Ru Yujin, is it true that you drink sunlight and sweat morning dew?"
"Rumors always exaggerate. Only much stronger cultivators can survive on sunlight alone! But they are immortals, after all."
We chatted pleasantly about this and that as Chang Dong escorted me to places and shops which I wanted to visit. He also haggled for me whenever I was buying something, acting like it was a matter of honor, which spared me the effort.
After browsing several shops, I bought a beautifully engraved calligraphy set for Lin Chu. Then at a smith's, I bought a shiny expensive sword for Fen Kuang—these two certainly deserved my gratitude after everything.
I also bought a set of throwing knives for myself. I wanted a weapon enemies won't expect, and won't be able to see coming. Any technique a cultivator makes will be telegraphed by his Qi, so that meant a purely physical weapon.
A throwing knife will only be able to harm a cultivator if his other defenses were already down, but even a distraction could save me. Besides, these could be coated in poison—if I found a poison strong enough to affect a cultivator.
Thanks to Chang Dong's help, I finished my planned tasks before the sun set.
This meant… Going drinking!
***
"Oh, my heart was bleeding at the thought of the fighters of the Lin clan showing our backs to the enemy. But I knew that this was the best choice, and for the prosperity of the Purple Dragon Sect, I was ready to lay down more than my life—my honor! But as I ordered the retreat, and our forces moved back toward the city…"
I made a suspenseful pause, sipping on my wine.
Wine and food. And women, one of which was playing guqin to please our ears. Even if I couldn't bring myself to enjoy their work, I could appreciate the looks of the beauties that flitted around, removing empty plates from the table and pouring us wine.
Besides me and Chang Dong, there were a couple dozen other patrons in the tavern: rich merchants and local nobles, all of which were listening to my tale with bated breath.
"And then?" Chang Dong asked, leaning forward.
"The fiery fairy appeared! Valiant Sir, tell us, tell us how you fought her!"
"Tell us how fierce she was!"
"Yes!" I exclaimed, raising my cup for emphasis. "A fiery fairy, beautiful like a goddess, fell upon us like a shooting star! She left a trail of flame in her wake, burning men and horses alive. But with the noble sacrifice of my martial brother Fen Kuang, and my mastery of Qi, we protected ourselves from her flames and led the charge of our courageous cavalry!"
I told this story with great relish, even though it was already the third time today. The people liked it only more with each retelling! Maybe because of the freely flowing wine, or maybe because of all the details I kept "remembering".
I finished telling my audience how I (with Lin Chu's help, of course) brought Tao Song down, and would've killed her if we weren't shocked by her vixen beauty at the last moment. By the time the story was over, I was getting woozy on my feet, too, although my speech was still clear.
My audience showered me with praise and attention.
"Valiant Sir, you are stronger than a dozen tigers!"
"Please, tell us again how beautiful the Golden Phoenix was!"
"Do you think she was more beautiful than the governor's daughter?"
Idyll. Idyll, that lasted until a timid voice of the tavern's owner intruded on us.
"Please, excuse me, Honored One… However, the curfew will be soon, and this tavern is closing."