Feng Tingliu and his companions walked onto the streets of Beiji City and entered an inn with an imposing decoration.
They chose a second-floor seat with an excellent view and ordered some light dishes suitable for breakfast.
Xia Yi was dissatisfied, complaining that the dishes were too plain, and ordered several sweet and spicy dishes.
Yu Chi Feng frowned upon hearing this and was about to stop him, but was stopped by Feng Tingliu.
"It doesn't matter. Just eat as you like," Feng Tingliu said calmly.
"Brother Feng, why are you eating so lightly? Are you not feeling well?!"
Hearing this, Feng Tingliu glared at Xia Yi fiercely.
Xia Yi was confused and covered his mouth, not daring to speak.
On the contrary, Yu Chi Feng's neck turned red, and he dared not speak.
Xia Yi didn't understand their world and repeatedly insisted on adding sugar to his porridge before he was satisfied.
After the waiter left, Xia Yi looked around out of the window, finding everything new and curious.
"Brother Feng, we came here so early. It can't just be for breakfast, right?" Xia Yi asked with some confusion.
"Of course not." Feng Tingliu propped his chin and looked outside. Suddenly, his eyes became sharp.
The person he was waiting for had arrived.
Opposite the tavern, a carriage stopped at the entrance. The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and a man got out.
The man was dressed solemnly and had a serious and upright posture, commanding respect without needing to be angry.
This person was the Supervisory Censor, Wang Yan, who came to Beiji City to investigate the black salt.
At the same time, a portly man immediately walked out of the tavern. His face was full of flesh, showing a wealthy demeanor, and he walked forward with a false smile to greet Wang Yan.
"Lord Wang, this journey must have been tiring. Come in quickly."
Wang Yan was unhurried and bowed to him, "Thank you for the Prefect's hospitality."
"Oh, don't mention it! Come in and sit down. I've prepared a banquet to welcome you!"
Wang Yan paused for a moment, as if he wanted to say something, but swallowed it back and followed the Prefect of Beiji City into the tavern.
From where Feng Tingliu was sitting, he could just see the two of them enter the private room on the second floor. Although he couldn't hear the conversation inside, he could observe their every move.
"The Supervisory Censor and the Prefect of Beiji City?" Yu Chi Feng looked at their figures and suddenly asked, "Would the Prefect of Beiji City welcome the Supervisory Censor so warmly?"
"He's not afraid of being investigated. He has been domineering in Beiji City for so long. Besides having the Second Prince as his backer, he must have hidden his fox tail very well."
"The situation in Beiji City is so chaotic. Why doesn't the Emperor take care of it?"
"The Second Prince has hidden it well. Although I don't know why he has gone to such lengths to take control of Beiji City."
The intrigue in the tavern continued. Even though both of them knew the other's hypocrisy, they still talked with smiles.
The waiter brought the meals, interrupting the thoughts of several people.
Yu Chi Feng first scooped a bowl of porridge for Feng Tingliu, stirred the boiling temperature with a soup spoon, and then handed it to Feng Tingliu.
Feng Tingliu withdrew his gaze, maintaining the elegance of not speaking while eating or sleeping, and slowly drank the porridge in the bowl.
Not to mention Xia Yi, the sweet porridge attracted all his attention, and he had no time to care about the Supervisory Censor or the Prefect of Beiji City.
On the contrary, the guests at the neighboring table seemed to have also seen the scene of the meeting between the Supervisory Censor and the Prefect, and couldn't help but complain angrily.
"Since this Prefect took office, our lives have become more and more difficult."
"That's right. The taxes have gone into his own pocket. And as a result, well, when something happens, no one takes care of it."
"The girl surnamed Yang in the east was killed. I heard it was done by the Prefect's people, and it hasn't been clarified yet!"
"Oh, in the past, there weren't these troubles. I don't know what happened. This Prefect suddenly became powerful."
"That's right. Look at now, those people in the martial arts world and the so-called Evil Cult. It's a mess, and no one comes to manage it."
"Hey, speaking of this, I heard from those in the martial arts world that our Beiji City used to be so peaceful because there was a great hero protecting us!"
"Where is that great hero now?"
"Alas! It is said that he is dead!"
Yu Chi Feng listened to the discussion over there, and his frown deepened.
The government officials are taking human lives lightly and are unworthy of their positions, yet they are relying on the Second Prince.
If the Second Prince really takes that position, what kind of purgatory will this world become?
When Yu Chi Feng heard the later conversation, he was somewhat puzzled and curious. It turns out that Beiji City was not like this before. Who is the "great hero" who protected Beiji City?
He looked at Feng Tingliu, who was sending porridge into his mouth, and saw that he had a calm expression. It was obvious that he had heard the conversation over there but had no reaction.
Yu Chi Feng then held back his questions and continued to help Feng Tingliu pick up dishes.
After Feng Tingliu put down his chopsticks, Yu Chi Feng asked the question he had been thinking about earlier.
Feng Tingliu looked over with a pair of crimson eyes, containing an inexplicable smile.
"It is one of the hall masters of the Zhu Xie Association, the Hall Master of the North Dragon, who stayed in Beiji City for a long time."
"So there are really good people in the Zhu Xie Association..." Yu Chi Feng thought of the person who cast the Gu on Feng Tingliu and Jiang Teng's speech that framed Liu Ducheng, and suddenly sighed.
"Only a few. This person is chivalrous and righteous, and is unwilling to leave his name or show his face. Therefore, no one knows his real name and appearance."
"So mysterious?" Yu Chi Feng exclaimed.
"Precisely because of this, he is the most real 'great hero' I have ever seen."
When Feng Tingliu said this, he couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth, as if remembering something.
Yu Chi Feng looked at the smile on his face and was stunned for a moment, suddenly feeling jealous and a sourness in his chest.
The young master would have such an evaluation of someone...
Feng Tingliu noticed Yu Chi Feng's expression and smiled even more deeply, raising his eyebrows and saying softly:
"But he has now been killed by my sword."
Yu Chi Feng was just surprised before, but when he heard this, he looked at Feng Tingliu in shock.
"Why...?"
"Different paths lead to different destinations. Does this need an explanation?"
Yu Chi Feng's pupils trembled, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Although he knew that Liu Ducheng was not a righteous force, he had never done anything to harm the common people. But now Feng Tingliu said that he had killed a chivalrous person...
No, that's not right.
Yu Chi Feng came to his senses, his eyes firm, and suddenly said:
"No, he must not have been killed by the young master."
Feng Tingliu was surprised to hear this. He supported his head and looked at him, his eyes filled with even deeper amusement.
"Oh? Why do you think so?"
"The young master has such a high evaluation of him and would not kill him. Moreover, I don't think he and the young master are 'different paths leading to different destinations'."
The more Yu Chi Feng said, the more certain he became. Although Feng Tingliu's temperament was unpredictable on a daily basis and he would not hesitate to kill if necessary, he never did anything without a reason.
"I believe in the young master. Even if the young master really killed him, there must be another reason." Yu Chi Feng said firmly.
Feng Tingliu blinked and saw the sincerity in his eyes, suddenly laughing loudly.
"Ha ha! Good, good, you have never disappointed me!"
He stood up, put on his veil to cover the eyes of others, and looked at Yu Chi Feng through a thin layer of gauze.
"Remember what you said today."
Yu Chi Feng looked upLooking up, his gaze still firm. Seeing his unrestrained posture, his heartstrings trembled.
"Yes."
He answered in a deep voice.
Feng Tingliu smiled, obviously in a great mood, and said to the two of them:
"Let's go. It's time to go back. The stage has been watched, but the good show has not yet begun."
Xia Yi, who had been a background character for a long time, raised his head from the bowl, glanced at the two of them, and muttered in a low voice: "It's really dazzling."
After having a full meal, the three of them walked back to the residence with veils on.
Xia Yi was attracted by the various delicacies sold by the early morning stalls. Despite his almost full stomach, he insisted on buying the steamed rabbit-shaped buns.
"I want to buy this!"
Feng Tingliu naturally disagreed. He grabbed Xia Yi's collar with one hand and, together with the heavy sword, lifted the person up.
Xia Yi was startled, his legs kicking in the air, looking like a little rabbit.
"I want to eat this! Please buy it for me!" Xia Yi pleaded while kicking.
The stall owner next to them laughed and persuaded, "Hero, your younger brother is so cute. Just buy one for him!"
Feng Tingliu gave Xia Yi an ungraciousEye roll secretly, but with the hand that was holding Xia Yi's collar still not letting go, he reached for the money bag with the other hand, intending to pay.
Just at this moment, a woman with a graceful figure walked towards them. She was wearing the most ordinary coarse cloth dress, with her hair tied up and without any makeup.
She was no different from the pedestrians on the road. She hurried forward, occasionally looking at the stalls around, as if she was troubled about what to buy.
Just when she passed by Feng Tingliu, something suddenly changed.
Xia Yi was suddenly released by Feng Tingliu. Before he could react, he fell to the ground with a thud, grimacing in pain.
"Young Master!"
Yu Chi Feng let out a cry of surprise and hurriedly stepped forward to hold Feng Tingliu.
Xia Yi looked up confusedly. Under the veil, Feng Tingliu's eyebrows were tightly furrowed, his face was terrifying, and his pair of crimson eyes were trembling.
Feng Tingliu gritted his teeth, suppressing the moan caused by the pain. Cold sweat flowed down his forehead, and his lips turned pale.
"How could it suddenly..." Yu Chi Feng held his shoulder, allowing him to lean on himself.
Why did Feng Tingliu suddenly fall ill?
Yu Chi Feng suddenly remembered what Yu Ji said. If the person who cast the Gu made a move or was too close, it would stimulate the Gu worm in Feng Tingliu's head.
He suddenly became alert and looked in the direction where the woman had left.
But there was no suspicious figure in sight.
Yu Chi Feng gritted his teeth, feeling the trembling of the person in his arms, and held the person even tighter.
Suddenly, he felt a pain in his neck. Looking down, he saw that Feng Tingliu was in so much pain that he had bitten his exposed neck.
Fortunately, the veil covered them. Even though their behavior was strange, passers-by couldn't see anything unusual.
"Xia Yi, go ahead and look. The person who cast the Gu must not have gone far." Yu Chi Feng said in a low voice.
"Okay!" Xia Yi got up from the ground, patted the dust off his butt, and ran away nimbly.
Feng Tingliu was still trembling from the pain. Yu Chi Feng dared not delay, but if he moved too much, he might be noticed by someone with ulterior motives. Yu Chi Feng gritted his teeth and thought for a while. Finally, he chose to support Feng Tingliu and stumbled into a secluded alley.
The deep alley was secluded and there was no one around, only emitting a damp and musty smell.
But at this moment, there was no time to care about that. Feng Tingliu's headache was so severe that he almost felt like vomiting. His fingers pulled at Yu Chi Feng's clothes, wrinkling the fabric.
"Young Master... I'm sorry, the environment here is a bit poor." Yu Chi Feng held his tense hand and comfortingly kneaded it for a moment.
Surprisingly, Feng Tingliu was really comforted by this action. He opened his eyes with difficulty, glanced around, and let out a grunt.
"It doesn't matter. After all, it's you who will help me clean... uh..."
With permission, Yu Chi Feng lifted the veil and kissed the pale lips.
Both of them were too eager. Whether it was the bone-piercing pain or the current environment, it made both of their hearts extremely anxious.
Their lips and teeth collided, and the taste of blood immediately filled their mouths.
Yu Chi Feng forcefully took away the bloody smell in Feng Tingliu's mouth and swallowed it.
The alley was quiet, magnifying the sounds of their breathing and the sounds of water beside their ears. Under the black clothes, there were comforting actions that others couldn't see.
Feng Tingliu's attention was diverted by Yu Chi Feng's actions, but he gradually fell into a deeper quagmire, unable to extricate himself.
Yu Chi Feng moved closer and kissed Feng Tingliu's reddened earlobes carefully, using low and deep words that were more bewitching to Feng Tingliu's heart than the Gu worm.
"Young Master, hold on to me."
Between his hazy eyes, Feng Tingliu saw the black hair swaying in front of him, and felt the itchy and numb feeling on his ears caused by the breaths. His legs felt weak, and he could only raise his hand to hold Yu Chi Feng's neck, tightly grasping the only floating wood in the sea of sinking.
"It should be you who don't let go..."