Chapter 48: A breath of fresh air against the tide!

In the town tavern, Fang Xu knocked open the door; after saying a distinguished guest wanted the most authentic maple‑leaf brew, the terrified tavern keeper brought out his prized best maple‑leaf brew and had someone prepare some refined side dishes.

Fang Xu eagerly broke the mud seal on the wine jar, poured a bowl for Li Xun, then filled bowls for Yun Wan and himself.

"I don't drink alcohol," Yun Wan said flatly, refusing the bowl pushed toward her.

Li Xun held the bowl, inhaled the aroma with evident enjoyment, then glanced at Yun Wan and sneered, "Such fine brew, since you don't like it, sister, Fang Xu, accompany this prince in a drink."

Upon hearing that, Fang Xu quickly lifted the bowl before him and bowed, saying, "A toast to Your Highness."

Li Xun stared at him for a moment and said, "Ordinary commoners seeing this prince would likely not even be able to stand; you're quite interesting."

Fang Xu's expression shifted slightly, then he smiled and said, "Your Highness, please excuse me; I believe that meeting is fate, and fate makes friends, so……"

"Friends?" Li Xun chuckled mockingly, "You, a mere commoner, also want to be friends with this prince?"

"This…… Your Highness, please forgive me, I misspoke!" Fang Xu hastily set down his bowl, apologizing in panic.

"Enough; there are many who grovel before this prince, but you are somewhat an exception—I won't blame you, come, drink!"

Hearing that, Fang Xu finally rose, lifted the bowl before him, and drained it in one gulp.

Seeing Li Xun also finish his bowl, he quickly immersed his consciousness into the depths of his Sea of Consciousness, and indeed saw that another friend had been added to his friend list.

Friend Seven: Zhongzhou·Li Xun (75%).

After the deaths of Wang Erhu, Chu Li, and Wuning Xue, Fang Xu's friend list dropped from nine to six.

These six were the landowners and powerful figures of Fenglin Town invited by Lu Zhiyuan when the Blood Food Shop opened that day.

After such a long time, the Life Points shown after their names have all fallen to around twenty percent.

After many days, the friend list finally gained a new entry.

So this person is Li Xun.

"This prince is speaking to you!"

While Fang Xu was immersed in his Sea of Consciousness observing his friend list, he heard a cold voice sound in his ear; he immediately shuddered, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, please forgive me—I have never drunk such fine brew before, and I am a bit intoxicated."

Hearing that, Li Xun sneered, "This maple‑leaf brew isn't really good wine; it's just… distinctive."

"If the chance arises, this prince will take you to Zhongzhou to sample true divine brew."

"Stop spacing out—pour the wine!"

Fang Xu hurriedly picked up the wine jar and refilled it for him.

To the side, Yun Wan watched Fang Xu's obsequious bowing and scraping, turned away with some disgust, and quietly chewed the side dishes on the table.

After drinking for a full half‑hour, Li Xun finally satisfied rose and looked at Yun Wan, saying, "Sister, where do you live? Shall I give you a ride?"

Yun Wan bowed slightly, "I dare not trouble Your Highness; I'm staying at the inn nearby."

Hearing that, Li Xun curled his lip, turned, glanced at the already "passed‑out" Fang Xu, and said, "Be at the government office early tomorrow to wait for this prince; be late, and it'll cost you your life."

Fang Xu, slumped over the wine table, dazedly lifted his head and replied, "Yes!"

Li Xun left.

Yun Wan looked at Fang Xu slumped on the table, then saw that more than ten jars of wine had been drained; she pulled a gold nugget the size of a fingertip from her waistband and tossed it to the tavern keeper, asking, "Is this enough?"

The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly, "Enough, enough! Thank you, miss!"

After paying for the wine, she was wondering how to get Fang Xu back, but saw him slowly lift his head—his face showed not a trace of drunkenness.

"You're faking it?" Yun Wan exclaimed in astonishment.

Fang Xu gave a slight bow and smiled, "Naturally I couldn't steal the prince's spotlight."

Li Xun's slight intoxication was genuine; if they kept drinking, he would surely be the first to collapse.

And if I really got him drunk enough to pass out, I would undoubtedly have seen his disgraceful state; once he sobered up, he might very well kill me outright.

So he simply pretended to be drunk, letting Li Xun gain the upper hand.

"You……" Yun Wan seemed to grasp Fang Xu's thought, gave a helpless smile, and said, "Since you're not drunk, let's go."

The two exited the tavern one after another; the night's cool breeze brushed past, and Fang Xu, walking behind, could faintly catch a light fragrance drifting from Yun Wan.

This scent was nothing like the cheap rouge perfume that clung to the Wang clan.

"I've always felt you aren't the sort who knows how to grovel and flatter."

Yun Wan suddenly stamped her foot, turned, and spoke.

Fang Xu followed behind, paused slightly, bowed, and said, "Miss Yun, you've misunderstood; nobody likes to grovel."

"But when faced with life, everything becomes cheap."

Having personally witnessed the daytime scene of commoners meeting brutal death in the town, Fang Xu knew that, in the eyes of a great figure like Li Xun, an ordinary person's life is not a life at all.

For him to want to kill me would be no harder than killing a chicken.

"But……"

Yun Wan seemed to want to say more, but when the words reached her lips she felt she couldn't say anything.

"Miss Yun, someone of your exalted status may never know how hard it is for us ordinary folk to get by."

"Wang Ergou, an ordinary commoner of Fenglin Town, had a brother who served as a government soldier; he ought to have enjoyed a peaceful, comfortable later life, but he lost his life when he encountered a shaman while farming at the mountain base."

"Wang Erhu, who exhausted his family's wealth to become a martial disciple and then a government soldier, ultimately met a miserable death in the mountains……"

"That night, when Fenglin Town was attacked, the townsfolk likely didn't even know what was happening before they were indiscriminately slaughtered!"

"Moreover, today, the townsfolk of the town were simply a bit slow to make way, and the whole street was hacked down, killing dozens!"

"This…… is the fate of us lowly commoners……"

Fang Xu gave a bitter smile, then shook his head and bowed, saying, "Young master's drunken ramblings—Miss, please don't take them to heart."

"Farewell."

Having said that, he turned and left.

Watching Fang Xu's gradually receding back, Yun Wan's expression was complex, and she never moved her feet.

After a long while——

This is a world that devours people; who can remain uninvolved?

I hope you can remain steadfast, becoming a clear current against the tide.

Returning home from the street, it was nearly the hour of Hai; Fang Xu took a deep breath, patted his clothes, and straightened his back.

"Still not fond of bowing to be a person," he muttered self-mockingly, then came to Chu Mu's room and lightly knocked on the door.

Mu, are you asleep?

"Brother Fang Xu, come in." Chu Mu's voice sounded from inside the room.

Fang Xu pushed the door open and entered, seeing the girl still sitting in the wheelchair, somewhat surprised he said: "Why are you still sitting here? It's chilly; hurry to the bed."

Saying that, he bent over and lifted Chu Mu.

"Brother Fang Xu, I haven't had a massage yet." Chu Mu said softly.

Fang Xu blinked slightly, then immediately placed her beside the bed, gently rubbing her forehead and said: "Wait, I'll go boil water for you."

Chu Mu obediently nodded.

Inside the room, Fang Xu gently massaged her delicate jade feet, while thinking about how to deal with the upcoming matters.

"Brother Fang Xu, have you been drinking?" Chu Mu tilted her head, sniffing the strong alcohol scent, and asked.

Mm.

Mu, these days, you… try not to even leave the room.

Just keep the door closed if there's nothing.

The words Yun Wan instructed, Fang Xu remembered clearly; that Li Xun is a lecherous person, if he sees Chu Mu, something might happen.

"Brother Fang Xu, don't worry, Mu knows." Chu Mu replied warmly.

Gazing at the girl's beautiful face, Fang Xu felt somewhat apologetic and said: "I've wronged you."

Making her stay in the room all day without going out is tantamount to imprisonment.

But this is also a measure of no choice; I currently lack the ability to challenge Li Xun, to challenge the imperial family.

"Brother Fang Xu, what are you saying? Mu knows you're protecting me."

Don't worry, Mu understands everything.

Fang Xu nodded, gently patted her fair little foot, and said: "Alright, go to sleep quickly."

After covering her with the blanket, Fang Xu directly returned to his own room, seizing every opportunity to cultivate.

Seeking monthly tickets, seeking reads; if you have a free monthly ticket, could you support? Thanks, begging for monthly tickets!

(End of chapter)