On New Year's Eve, every household had smoke rising from their chimneys, enjoying the reunion.
However, Yu Chi Feng and Feng Ting Liu were sitting on the roof with wine jars, sipping wine while looking at the moon.
"So that's how it is." After hearing Yu Chi Feng's account, Feng Ting Liu picked up the wine cup and drank it up in one gulp. "It seems that the so-called famous and upright sects in the martial arts world are just empty names."
Yu Chi Feng didn't think these things were secrets, so he confided in Feng Ting Liu. Hearing Feng Ting Liu's description, he originally wanted to refute, but when the words reached his mouth, he realized that Feng Ting Liu wasn't wrong.
The current Zhu Xie Hui only spouts empty talk. They want reputation, fame, to support the entire martial arts world and gain more power.
"Only the Bei Long Tang remains the same." Yu Chi Feng poured himself a cup of wine and drank it in one gulp. "I also follow my master's approach and barely maintain the status quo. I don't know if what I'm doing is right..."
Feng Ting Liu curved his lips, rarely showing a hint of a smile.
"Naturally, it's right. If we talk about heroes, apart from you, there is no second person in my heart."
Yu Chi Feng stared in astonishment.
Under the moonlight, Feng Ting Liu's face was slightly flushed due to the alcohol, his lips were moist, and his pair of crimson eyes had lost their sharpness and gained more charm.
Yu Chi Feng's Adam's apple bobbed as he lowered his head and drank the wine, trying to suppress the urge in his heart. But the pungent strong liquor made him even more impulsive, wishing he could taste the wine on Feng Ting Liu's lips and see if it tasted different from the wine in his own cup.
Perhaps it was sweet.
"Lord Feng overpraises me."
"Come." Feng Ting Liu filled his own wine cup and raised it, indicating, "I just came to drink with you, not for information."
"Ha ha, I talked too much. Come, let's drink!" Yu Chi Feng raised his cup and clinked it with his.
The moonlight was reflected in the cups, and along with the ambiguous sweetness, it was drunk up by the two.
The two talked about some unimportant matters in the martial arts world, all about their travels and experiences. They talked from the water scenes in the south to the wild sands in Longmen, from Tai Chi Swordsmanship to Dog Beating Stick Technique. They didn't talk in depth, but they had a continuous conversation.
Today, Feng Ting Liu seemed to be in a particularly good mood, with a smile on his lips and even raising his cup to Yu Chi Feng from time to time.
Yu Chi Feng was almost intoxicated by his smile and couldn't help drinking cup after cup of fine wine. Therefore, he didn't notice the hint of complexity that flashed in Feng Ting Liu's eyes.
"Bei Ji City, Bei Long Tang... Although I travel the martial arts world, I am always bound by this place. If one day, I can put down the heavy burden, I will definitely travel all over the great rivers and mountains... See if I can see different scenes... Including Liu Du City..." Yu Chi Feng was drunk and his eyes were confused, but what he said was not false.
"Hmm?" Feng Ting Liu narrowed his eyes and looked at him. "You want to see Liu Du City?"
"Lord Feng, please don't misunderstand." Yu Chi Feng quickly explained, "I don't have any ill intentions towards Liu Du City. I just want to see what kind of place Liu Du City, which is rumored to be terrifying in the martial arts world, really is."
"Well - it's a place that can make you understand the martial arts world better." Feng Ting Liu said meaningfully and looked at the moon in the sky.
"Understand the martial arts world? Maybe. At least I already know now that Lord Feng and Liu Du City are not as rumored... If there is a chance, I can also understand you better, right..." Perhaps due to the alcohol, Yu Chi Feng boldly said, looking at him with a burning gaze, as if asking Feng Ting Liu to give an answer that he couldn't give in the tavern.
"Ha." Feng Ting Liu only chuckled and replied, "There will be a chance."
The cups clinked, and Yu Chi Feng's attention was drawn back to the wine, drinking up the complex emotions along with the liquor.
Yu Chi Feng couldn't remember how he and Feng Ting Liu parted and returned to their respective places. When he woke up, he only felt regretful that he didn't keep Feng Ting Liu for a little longer...
But after that, Yu Chi Feng's mood improved a lot.
He had always silently shouldered the responsibility of Bei Long Tang and never complained to anyone. Now, he had confided his true feelings to the "enemy" and cast away the unhappiness in his heart.
In the new year, Bei Long Tang also began a new round of busyness.
The people sent by Zhu Xie Hui haven't left yet, seemingly determined to stay here to "help" enhance the reputation of Bei Long Tang. Unfortunately, Yu Chi Feng wouldn't be swayed by either soft or hard tactics. He just kept working diligently every day and never bothered to create a buzz.
Even the reputation of Han Long Tang in the northeastern region has spread to Bei Ji City, and there is even a trend of it surpassing Bei Long Tang. Yu Chi Feng wouldn't be moved by this.
Compared to these matters, Yu Chi Feng cared more about another thing.
He hasn't seen Feng Ting Liu for nearly a month.
Whether it was when eradicating the Evil Cult or wandering in the city, he hasn't seen his figure again. For a moment, it seemed that both Feng Ting Liu and Liu Du City had disappeared like being buried under the spring water.
Just when he couldn't help but want to run to Liu Du City to relieve his lovesickness, he received a shocking message.
The disciple of Wan Gu Zong seriously injured Feng Ting Liu and then took the position of the Hall Master of Han Long Tang.
"Seriously injured..." Yu Chi Feng looked at the letter in his hand and muttered in disbelief.
"Yes, I heard that someone was given a gu. Originally, they wanted to kill him, but for some unknown reason, it didn't succeed." Qi Cheng nodded and whispered the gossip he heard. "That gu is really powerful. Recently, there has been no news from Liu Du City. I heard that the defense has been strengthened to allow Feng Ting Liu to recover inside."
"Is it a very serious injury?"
"That must be serious! You think, so many people wanted to kill Feng Ting Liu, but they couldn't even touch a hair on him. This woman managed to give him a gu as soon as she came up. She must be a ruthless character!"
"That woman is still alive. I heard that the bodies of those who wanted to kill Feng Ting Liu could already circle the capital. " Yu Chi Feng tried to remain calm and not to worry and fear too much, but he still couldn't stop his body's instinct. His hand holding the letter couldn't stop shaking.
"Well, she's from Wan Gu Zong. There are too many tricks up their sleeves." Qi Cheng waved his hand. "That woman is definitely not someone to be trifled with. Hopefully, we won't encounter her."
Yu Chi Feng took a deep breath and looked down at the letter, but his mind had already flown to Liu Du City in the north...
In an instant, the reputation of Han Long Tang rose greatly after the news spread, and their name became known to everyone in the martial arts world.
Even the residents of Bei Ji City were looking forward to the people of Han Long Tang coming to help them get rid of the harassment of the Evil Cult.
Qi Cheng was disdainful of the practices of Han Long Tang and was also indignant and dissatisfied with the ingratitude of the people in Bei Ji City.
He Qi also took action because of this. He came to persuade Yu Chi Feng many times, suggesting that he learn from the practices of Han Long Tang to build up the reputation of Bei Long Tang. He even thought that they should take the opportunity to get rid of Feng Ting Liu so that people would turn to worship Bei Long Tang.
Naturally, Yu Chi Feng wouldn't agree. Compared to these messy things, he was more worried about Feng Ting Liu's situation.
Fortunately, it wasn't long before he received information about Feng Ting Liu.
Feng Ting Liu reappeared around Bei Ji City. Except for his face being pale as if he had just recovered from a serious illness, everything else seemed normal.
But these couldn't change the world's worship of Han Long Tang anymore. After all, Bei Long Tang has been guarding Bei Ji City for so many years, being the closest to Liu Du City, but they have never been able to cause any harm!
"They know nothing! The people in Liu Du City haven't done anything. Am I supposed to pick a fight with them for no reason!" Yu Chi Feng couldn't help cursing a bit crudely.
"Hall Master, calm down." Qi Cheng quickly poured him a glass of water. "But for so many years, we really don't know what's going on in Liu Du City."
"The defense is strict, and the carriages that come and go are all for normal business. No one can find fault with that." Yu Chi Feng frowned and sighed deeply. "Who knows what that place really is."
"But I heard... Further north of Liu Du City is the stronghold of the Evil Cult..."
"Don't listen to their nonsense! If the Evil Cult's stronghold was in the north, Bei Ji City would have been overrun by the Evil Cult long ago! Unless the Evil Cult there is different from the ones that invaded!" Yu Chi Feng slapped the table hard but suddenly paused.
He remembered what Feng Ting Liu told him about the relationship between the new and old factions of the Evil Cult...
Yu Chi Feng thought for a long time, but before he could figure it out, another problem arose.
The Hall Master of Han Long Tang, who didn't know which wind blew her to Bei Ji City, came to the stronghold of Bei Long Tang in the name of friendly diplomacy.
The first time Yu Chi Feng saw the woman, he felt a deep aversion from the bottom of his heart.
The woman from the northeastern region was wearing a fur robe, but the inner clothing was made of very little fabric, showing off her good figure. The silver ornaments jingled. Just looking at her figure, she was attractive, but she wore a half mask, only revealing the lower half of her face and her mysterious and bewitching smiling lips.
The half mask covered too much, making it impossible to see her face and her thoughts.
Perhaps those who are good at using gu poison are all so mysterious. Yu Chi Feng thought to himself.
"The new Hall Master of Han Long Tang has come. I wonder what the purpose is?" Yu Chi Feng put on the air of a hall master, crossed his arms, and sized up the woman in front of him.
The Hall Master of Han Long Tang chuckled twice, and with the tip of her finger touching her red lips, she spoke in a seductive and charming voice: "Why does the Hall Master of Bei Long Tang hold hostility towards me? We are both in the martial arts world. I have come this time just to get to know you."
False, pretentious.
The tone of the Hall Master of Han Long Tang made Yu Chi Feng feel uncomfortable. He frowned tightly and couldn't help thinking of Feng Ting Liu who was seriously injured in Bei Ji City. His tone was even more unpleasant.
"How am I worthy to get to know the famous Hall Master of Han Long Tang? We have different paths, so it's better to stay apart and have less contact." Yu Chi Feng said coldly.
"Hehe, I've heard that the Hall Master of Bei Long Tang does things openly and aboveboard. Naturally, you look down on me, a person from Wan Gu Zong with sinister methods." Although the woman said so, her tone was arrogant, and the look she gave Yu Chi Feng was also full of disdain.
"The Hall Master of Han Long Tang is joking. It's just a matter of using different methods. I have no such intention." Yu Chi Feng frowned even more deeply.
"Hehe." The woman laughed again. She pulled her fur coat to partially cover her graceful figure. But Yu Chi Feng had no interest in her body and didn't take a second look. She smiled even more deeply, subconsciously touching the pale bone flute at her waist, and then said: "You're right. We have different paths, so we shouldn't work together. But the same applies to you and Liu Du City."
Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Feng's heart tightened, but he didn't show it on his face: "What do you mean by that?"
"You naturally understand. Oh, it's already this time." The Hall Master of Han Long Tang got up and walked towards the door, but suddenly stopped at the entrance, turned around, and smiled: "By the way, I'm different from those lazy and good-for-nothing people in Zhu Xie Hui. I really want to eradicate the Evil Cult and Liu Du City. I think, although we have different paths, in this aspect, we are ultimately on the same path. I'll be looking forward to your guidance in the future."
"Ha, see you off."
The two parted on bad terms, but the words filled with hidden tests remained in their hearts.
Yu Chi Feng sat alone in the room and calmed down for a long time, thinking only about one question.
Who is his fellow traveler?
The mysterious Lord of Liu Du City seems to have contact with both the Evil Cult and the righteous sects. No one knows his purpose, but it seems that his goal is the same as his.
The famous and upright Zhu Xie Hui has always been using the banner of chivalry in the martial arts world, but they don't do anything practical, only thinking about reputation and prestige.
As for the Hall Master of Han Long Tang...
"Heh, who is on the same path as her..." Yu Chi Feng cursed under his breath. He cared more about Feng Ting Liu's injury than he thought.