Chapter 12: A Pot of Good Tea

He has been in this world for twenty-one years, yet he still truly doesn't know what "Wu" actually is.

Wang Erhu picked up a piece of meat, put it in his mouth, lifted the wine jug, poured wine for himself and Fang Xu, and said: "Wu is also a title for cultivators; among martial artists it's not really a secret."

"The martial arts of Great Yu flourish; the state was founded a thousand years ago, rising from a corner of Zhongzhou; over the past thousand years, having annexed seventy-two states, we now have these seven provinces."

"A hundred years ago, when the current Yu Emperor first ascended the throne, he immediately launched a military campaign against the northern Muruyun State; it took three years, he destroyed their ancestral temples and slaughtered their royal family; the Muruyun State could at that time resist our dynasty's iron cavalry precisely because of those mysterious and unfathomable sorcerers."

"After the fall of Muruyun, those sorcerers changed their appearance, infiltrated the Great Yu territory, lying in wait to sabotage, intending to restore the state."

Wu comes from Muruyun State?

Fang Xu suddenly understood; he knew of Muruyun State, said to be in the north of Great Yu, bordering Qingzhou Prefecture, with the heavenly chasm Wangyue Mountain between them; Muruyun State is a nomadic regime, producing fine horses and Muruyun iron, its strength not weak.

The war in which Great Yu annihilated Muruyun State counts as the largest battle in the past hundred years; storytellers often use that battle to recount some legendary heroes of the Yu dynasty.

"In that case, Wu are just cultivators of Muruyun State?" Fang Xu said.

Wang Erhu slightly nodded, raised his cup, and said: "Most cultivators of Muruyun State also practice martial arts; Wu is a rather special existence."

"Two years ago, I once followed the commander in carrying out an operation to exterminate the Wu......"

When mentioning this, Wang Erhu's expression became unusually solemn, and the scene that made one's scalp tingle involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

"Never mind, let's drink."

Unwilling to recall that scene again, Wang Erhu raised his cup and spoke; Fang Xu also did not press further, and the two began to exchange cups.

After three rounds of wine, Fang Xu spoke again: "Brother Erhu, the Yun family of Huangzhou... how strong are they?"

"The Yun family?" Wang Erhu gulped his drink, couldn't help laughing as he said: "Great Yu rules the world together with aristocratic martial artists; among the seven provinces, Huangzhou Prefecture's overall strength is the weakest, but the Yun family is after all the uncrowned king of Huangzhou Prefecture—do you say they're strong or not?"

Fang Xu said nothing.

Huangzhou Prefecture's territory spans ten thousand li; the Yun family, with the strength of a single household, stands supreme in Huangzhou Prefecture, comparable to feudal lords; its strength is beyond what someone like me can imagine.

"Young Fang, I see you have entered the Visceral Refinement realm; cultivate well, and soon step into the Martial Apprentice Realm—the outside world is more wonderful than you imagine."

Wang Erhu smiled faintly and spoke.

The outside world…… Fang Xu's eyes burned; having traversed to this world, he has never even left Qinghe County, so he naturally yearns for the outside world.

But he also understands that while the outside world is colorful and varied, it is also fraught with danger; without strength, rashly venturing out could easily turn him into a skeleton by the roadside.

The two continued to exchange cups; most of what they discussed were Wang Erhu's experiences over the years, which stirred Fang Xu's heart.

At the end of the xu hour, the two were already full of wine and food; Wang Shi came out from the room, looked at the two, and said: "Do you still need another jug of wine?"

Wang Erhu was slightly tipsy, waved his hand, and said: "Thank you, sister-in-law."

Saying that, he staggered toward the courtyard exterior; Wang Shi saw this and hurriedly called out: "Uncle, where are you going? You're not staying home tonight?"

"My elder brother is not here, that wouldn't be proper." Wang Erhu did not look back, heading straight for the Fenglin Town government office.

Wang Shi saw this and turned her gaze toward Fang Xu.

Fang Xu also hurriedly cupped his hands: "Sister-in-law, it's already late; I too take my leave."

Seeing both had left, Wang Shi let out a slight sigh, then went to clear the dishes on the stone table herself.

Returning home from Wang Ergou's house, Fang Xu simply washed his face, then sat cross-legged on the bed to continue visceral refinement.

Now there are important figures from Huangzhou Prefecture in Fenglin Town; he dare not continue cultivating with the Divine Extension Canon, so he can only make do like this for now.

It's slower, but ultimately it's safe.

On an early spring morning with a cool breeze, a girl in a purple long dress with a light veil walks slowly down the street of Fenglin Town; her noble, aloof aura makes passersby glance sideways.

At the Zhang family's blood food stall, Zhang Mingliang was boredly picking out the finest, most delicious blood food, preparing to accumulate a few days before attempting to break into the Martial Apprentice Realm, when his gaze caught a purple figure appearing at the stall's entrance.

"Miss, do you want to buy blood food?" The shopkeeper, seeing the girl standing at the door, hurriedly welcomed her enthusiastically.

Yun Wan glanced at the shopkeeper, her voice calm: "Is the blood food in your shop all hunted by yourselves?"

The old shopkeeper blinked slightly, then proudly said: "Of course, the blood food in our shop is hunted personally by our family's martial artists who go into the mountains; it's fresh!"

Yun Wan slightly nodded, about to speak, when Zhang Mingliang beside her, smiling, stroked a lock of his moustache and approached, saying: "Miss, I am Zhang Mingliang; this blood food stall belongs to my Zhang family."

"Miss, whatever blood food you need, just say the word."

Yun Wan glanced at him, her beautiful eyes slightly lifting; she seemed to have formed a plan.

"I came here not to buy blood food, but simply to inquire about something from you."

Not buying blood food?

Zhang Mingliang's brows furrowed slightly, but seeing Yun Wan, though veiled by a light gauze, still could not hide her beautiful visage, he still smiled and asked: "May I ask, Miss, what do you wish to inquire about?"

"My Zhang family has stood in Fenglin Town for a hundred years; perhaps we can help you."

Upon hearing this, Yun Wan slowly took out a portrait from her bosom and handed it to Zhang Mingliang: "This is one of my elders; he should have recently come to Tilan Mountain; please, sir, help me see if anyone has seen him, know his whereabouts."

Zhang Mingliang glanced at the portrait on the paper, his thoughts stirred, and said: "In that case, the blood food in front of the shop is smelly; please, miss, follow me to the rear hall; I will have those who went into the mountains during this period gathered for identification—how about that?"

Yun Wan pondered briefly, then slightly nodded: "Thank you for the trouble."

Seeing this, Zhang Mingliang quickly reached out to guide Yun Wan to the rear hall's elegant room of the blood food shop.

"Xiao Qi, quickly brew a pot of good tea!"

"Liang San, go and bring to me all the martial artists who have entered the mountains in the past month!"

Upon hearing his orders, the two attendants hurriedly bowed and withdrew.

That Xie Xiaoqi had just taken two steps when he turned back, giving a sly grin, and whispered: "Young master, what tea should I brew?"

Zhang Mingliang kicked him hard and snarled: "Naturally it's the young master's best tea—hurry up!"

Xie Xiaoqi took the kick, his face showing an 'I understand' expression, and hurriedly ran out.

After Yun Wan entered the elegant room, she sat down calmly, waiting for the Zhang family's martial artists who had entered the mountains recently to come forward to identify the person in the portrait.

Zhang Mingliang stood aside, occasionally glancing at her graceful figure.

Soon after, a knocking sound came from outside the elegant room; Xie Xiaoqi's voice came from outside the door: "Young master, the tea is ready."

Zhang Mingliang opened the door, took the tea, then hurriedly went to Yun Wan's side and poured it for her.

"Miss, gathering the people will still take some time; first have a cup of tea and wait."

Yun Wan gave a slight nod; with her nobility, in all of Huangzhou, she had long grown accustomed to such flattery and fawning, so naturally she felt nothing wrong.

"Thank you." After speaking slowly, Yun Wan lifted the tea cup before her, raised her veil, and took a light sip.

But as soon as this sip of tea went down, she sensed something off, and her lovely face instantly flooded with chill.

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(End of chapter)