Chapter 97: Could it be that I

The streets near the Imperial Capital's Central Plaza.

Chu Ruoyan and Wu Nanzhi quickly caught up.

The way they looked at Li Chen now, there were little stars in their eyes.

They were practically like two star-struck fangirls.

Wu Nanzhi only knew Li Chen was strong, but she never expected him to be strong to this extent.

She was now increasingly curious about what kind of sacred being Li Chen actually was.

As for Li Chen's sword strike, it had Chu Ruoyan practically swooning.

She wanted to drag Li Chen back quickly to have another three hundred rounds of battle.

To let Li Chen use that endless sword intent to fiercely fill the emptiness in her heart!

At the same time, Xiao Ming, who was handling official business nearby, sensed powerful energy fluctuations from the competition venue and hurried over.

When he arrived, amidst the chaotic crowd, he seemed to see the woman he had been longing for—and there were two of them.

Just as he prepared to squeeze through, he was scattered by the frantic crowd scrambling for weapons.

Even though he claimed to be an official, it was useless; at a time like this, no one cared about him.

When he looked toward that direction again, he found nothing there.

"Strange, could it be that I'm missing her so much I've gone mad and am seeing hallucinations?"

After searching a circle, he truly didn't find a shadow of Chu Ruoyan.

The reason Xiao Ming thought this was because he had just seen that unknown goddess also with Chu Ruoyan.

As a "licker" of Chu Ruoyan for so many years, he knew her social circle, and this person really wasn't in it.

Then it could only be attributed to him overthinking things.

"Better go and finish investigating the person Lord Pang asked me to look into. As long as I can latch onto him as a backer, I can walk sideways in the Imperial Capital!"

Thinking of this, Xiao Ming continued his duties.

The task he received was to track a mid-level official of the Ministry of Justice in plain clothes.

On the other side, Xu Zifeng had been kicked out by his aunt early in the morning.

The reason his aunt gave him was: You're young, if you don't go out and stir up trouble, what are you doing staying at home? Do you have any ambition left?

Xu Zifeng didn't understand why this was, but seeing his aunt's complexion becoming increasingly rosy, and that graceful and alluring feeling in her every gesture, he didn't dare continue staying at the mansion.

Following custom, he took a long detour to the wine shop to collect intelligence.

Just as he entered, he saw a middle-aged man with a physique as tall as an iron tower standing quietly in a corner of the shop.

His skin was dark, but beneath that darkness lay an indescribable sense of power, likely due to practicing a special cultivation art.

When their gazes met, even Xu Zifeng couldn't help but feel a palpitation.

The man wore a black robe made of unknown material, embroidered with complex witchcraft totems.

Standing there, he exuded an indescribable dominance.

The subordinates around him, sensing the powerful aura on him, unconsciously kept a certain distance.

"As expected of a successor to the Witchcraft Holy Land, the momentum is indeed extraordinary."

Sensing the terrifying strength of the person opposite, Xu Zifeng was also very polite.

Xu Zifeng was only at the mid-stage of the Six Realms Realm, already a standout among geniuses.

But this person was at least at the Heavenly Abyss Realm, two realms stronger than him, and was a strategic partner of his father, which was why Xu Zifeng adopted this attitude.

"Young Master is too kind. The Witch King sent me to help you; just give whatever orders you have, Young Master."

Experts are often this simple and unadorned. All along, that slap from Li Chen had been a shadow in his heart.

With help finally arriving, Xu Zifeng's confidence began to swell, and the shadow began to slowly dissipate.

After chatting for a while, Xu Zifeng learned his name was Ma Hei—the name fit, he was indeed a bit dark.

Xu Zifeng also knew well that to get people to do things for you, you first have to treat them well.

This was Ma Hei's first time in the Imperial Capital; he couldn't just make him work right away.

So Xu Zifeng decided to take him to change clothes first, as this attire was too conspicuous and easily targeted by security personnel, then go to the most luxurious restaurant in the Imperial Capital for a meal to welcome him.

The Drunken Immortal Tower was undoubtedly an old brand in the Imperial Capital and one of its iconic buildings.

They were also very good at advertising, saying that coming to the Imperial Capital without visiting the Drunken Immortal Tower was like coming in vain.

So many people from out of town wanted to see just how magical the Drunken Immortal Tower was.

Such a place certainly had its specialties; the specialty of the Drunken Immortal Tower was its brewing craft.

The Drunken Immortal Tower had many types of wine, but the most famous was the "Immortal Drunken Nectar," a top-tier item of the era that was unrivaled in the Imperial Capital.

!

This "Immortal Drunken Nectar" was brewed using the Drunken Immortal Tower's unique secret method.

Its ingredients were taken from century-old spirit fruits and thousand-year spirit springs deep in the mountains, supplemented by various rare herbs, and carefully blended through eighty-one processes to achieve this fine brew.

Xu Zifeng judged that Ma Hei loved to drink because when he got close, he smelled the turbid scent of alcohol on him; even if he hadn't drunk recently, years of heavy drinking meant the scent couldn't fade.

Regardless, Xu Zifeng was a Prince after all and had plenty of money; being fined by Lin Yue'e so many times was of no consequence.

He immediately ordered several pots of "Immortal Drunken Nectar" for Ma Hei.

At the time, Ma Hei was puzzled: how could this Prince be so stingy? Would a few pots be enough?

Back at the Witchcraft Holy Land, I drank wine by the vat!

When Xu Zifeng poured the crystal-clear liquid into the exquisite jade cup, a rich, mellow fragrance hit his nose, as if it could instantly awaken the desires deep within one's heart.

That fragrance made even an old drunkard like Ma Hei swallow his saliva repeatedly.

Ma Hei couldn't wait to take a light sip, feeling the liquid slide over his tongue like silk, instantly turning into a warm current that surged into his heart.

The taste was both sweet and mellow, yet spicy and stimulating—simply top-tier.

Xu Zifeng took the opportunity to say: "This Immortal Drunken Nectar is not just a fine wine, but an art, a form of enjoyment. Don't look at it as just a few pots; this place limits it to one pot per person per day. If I didn't have this status, they wouldn't give me more."

Xu Zifeng had often caused trouble here before, so he was very familiar with the behind-the-scenes proprietor and the front-desk shopkeeper.

After all, he had to pay for breaking things—he was a big client!

Ma Hei laughed heartily and said: "Then I wish the Prince and the Prince of Zhennan further success; I'll come here to drink every day from now on!"

As a disciple of the Witch King of the Witchcraft Holy Land, he naturally knew the intentions of the Prince of Zhennan.

If the Prince of Zhennan went a step further, wouldn't that be the Emperor?

Xu Zifeng toasted him: "Easily said, easily said. Once our business is done, you can drink as much as you want!"

The two chatted more and more congenially, starting to call each other brothers.

Xu Zifeng wouldn't just call anyone brother.

Someone of Ma Hei's level might just be the next Witch King.

His status could be said to be equal, making him qualified to be called brother.

After three rounds of drinks, the two planned to head back.

Just as they were going downstairs, several people blocked their way.

These people weren't deliberately trying to block Xu Zifeng; they seemed to be going upstairs to eat.

Since coming to the Imperial Capital, Xu Zifeng hadn't developed the habit of yielding the way to others.

Coincidentally, the person downstairs didn't have the habit of yielding either!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 98 =====