Chapter 95: Ti Lan Shan Relics

But are you a little friend of the Ascension Immortal Society?

Before the man in fine robes even reached them, he warmly greeted them.

Huang Qingzhou halted, turned, and curiously eyed the man, asking, "Do you know me?"

The man in fine robes smiled and clasped his hands, saying, "A few years ago I accompanied my elder brother to visit Steward Xu; you were standing behind him then, and I had the fortune to see you once."

I am Lü Liren; pleased to meet you.

Huang Qingzhou returned the gesture with an indifferent bow, apparently not wanting to talk much.

The Lü family of Qingzhou had a poor reputation throughout Yu State, but since Qingzhou adjoins Muyun State and lies on Yu's border, when Muyun State was not destroyed, the two sides often generated friction.

Hardened by war, the Lü family's overall strength was great; among the seven provinces of Yu State they could easily rank in the top three, and many factions preferred to avoid them, keeping out of their way if possible.

May I ask how you wish to be addressed, little friend?

Huang Qingzhou had no intention of engaging him, but Lü Liren saw this as an opportunity to curry favor with the Ascension Immortal Society, clinging on shamelessly.

"Huang Qingzhou." He gave his name lightly, then prepared to take his leave.

Lü Liren then looked at Fang Xu beside him, clasped his hands, and said, "Are you also a member of the Ascension Immortal Society, little friend? I don't know how to address you."

Fang Xu smiled and clasped his hands: "I am Fang Xu; I have just received the Immortal Gate pathway token from the Ascension Immortal Society, but I have not yet passed the test."

Upon hearing this, Lü Liren blinked slightly, then smiled and said, "Fang Xu, you are young and capable; passing the Ascension Immortal Society's examination will surely be no problem."

He knew Huang Qingzhou's identity—that he was a personal disciple of Steward Xu.

For Fang Xu to be with him, he must certainly have notable potential and talent; otherwise, any ordinary martial artist who merely obtained an Immortal Gate pathway token would not be worthy of accompanying Huang Qingzhou to the Ti Lan Shan relics.

Hearing his flattery, Fang Xu smiled and remained silent.

He also disliked Lü Liren's behavior; seeing him, Fang Xu was reminded of the ordeal of Old Man Xu's family.

"Senior Brother Huang, let's go." Fang Xu picked up the wine jar beside him and spoke.

"Gentlemen, meeting is fate." Seeing them about to leave, Lü Liren, still somewhat reluctant, clasped his hands and said, "I see you have wine, little friend Fang Xu; how about we drink together here?"

Saying that, he hastily clapped his hands and called two warrior attendants: "Go hunt a fierce beast, start a fire, and roast the meat."

The warrior clasped his hands, his body flashed, and he darted into the forest.

Lü Liren approached, chuckling, clasped his hands before Fang Xu and Huang Qingzhou, and said, "Gentlemen, may I have the honor of your company?"

Huang Qingzhou sighed helplessly: "All right."

Seeing his agreement, Lü Liren quickly ordered his other warriors to bring an elegant mat and spread it on the ground, then set out some fine fruits and pastries before them.

Soon after, the warrior who had gone hunting returned carrying the carcass of a fierce beast, and the warriors busily skinned it, lit a fire, and roasted the meat.

"Is this wine, little friend Fang Xu, the maple-leaf brew from Maple Forest Town?" Seeing that Fang Xu and Huang Qingzhou remained silent, Lü Liren chuckled and spoke.

"It's just ordinary liquor, not maple-leaf brew; senior, you might not be accustomed to it." Fang Xu said.

"You jest, little friend; meeting two talented individuals from the Ascension Immortal Society by chance, even if we substitute water for wine, it would still have its own charm."

"Let me pour for you two," Lü Liren said, picking up the jar that Huang Qingzhou had opened, having someone bring three jade cups, and filling them.

He himself raised a cup, lifting it toward Fang Xu and Huang Qingzhou, and said, "Gentlemen, come."

Fang Xu, seeing this, picked up the cup before him, looked at Huang Qingzhou, and wondered how to persuade him.

"I won't drink!" Huang Qingzhou declared.

He had just tasted this wine; compared to maple-leaf brew, it was worlds apart, and he refused to drink it again.

Lü Liren felt a bit embarrassed.

Fang Xu, seeing this, quickly smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "Senior Brother has come down from the mountain, drinking along the way; at this point he probably can't hold his liquor."

Having been given an out, Lü Liren's face improved slightly, and he raised his cup toward Fang Xu, saying, "Since that's the case, I offer you a cup, little friend."

Having said that, he tipped his head back and drank the wine in the cup.

As the wine entered his mouth, Lü Liren's face changed!

Spicy, bitter, with a faint foul taste—such inferior liquor, he had never drunk before!

But having said those words, he couldn't spit out this mouthful.

Watching his uncomfortable state, Huang Qingzhou struggled to suppress a smile as he looked at him.

He thought to himself: "Let you pretend!"

Meeting Huang Qingzhou's gaze, Lü Liren knew he could not spit out this mouthful no matter what, and could only force it down.

With a glug, after he swallowed the wine in his mouth, Lü Liren coughed violently twice and said, "Perhaps the earlier battle injured my organs; drinking now is truly unpleasant."

"Little friend Fang Xu, this wine… perhaps we should not drink it for now?"

Fang Xu leisurely drank the wine in his cup, noticed that Lü Liren's name had already appeared on his friend list, and smiled faintly, saying, "Since you are injured, senior, this wine is naturally not to be drunk."

Seeing Fang Xu so kind, Lü Liren secretly delighted, quickly gestured and said, "Gentlemen, please eat some pastries and fruit."

The three sat around, eating some pastries and fruit, and also some roasted meat.

During this time, Huang Qingzhou basically maintained an aloof demeanor, while Lü Liren could only find excuses to chat with Fang Xu.

This awkward picnic lasted less than half an hour before Huang Qingzhou grew weary; he rose, clasped his hands toward Lü Liren, and said, "My junior brother and I are going to have a look at the relics; we won't disturb you further."

Having said that, without waiting for Lü Liren to detain them, he directly pulled Fang Xu and left.

Lü Liren rose to detain them with two sentences, but seeing they did not turn back, a faint cold smile appeared on his face.

Ti Lan Shan relics.

The relics have been open for a while, and martial artists from all corners of Yu State have gathered here in terrifying numbers.

In the valley before the relics, vast tracts of trees have been cleared by the martial artists, some temporary dwellings have been erected, and many factions appear to intend long-term stationing here.

Along both sides of the road, some resourceful martial artists set up stalls, selling curious trinkets taken from the relics to passing martial artists.

Besides that, stalls selling medicinal pills, treasures, maps, and other items are ubiquitous.

Moreover, some martial artists gather in groups of three or five; upon seeing a lone martial artist, they approach to ask whether they wish to form a team for exploration.

All this before one's eyes resembles the entrance to a dungeon in some open-world game, extraordinarily lively.

Fang Xu was nibbling on a plum-like fruit, gazing at the huge archway before him and the misty mountain valley behind it, and said: "Senior Brother Huang, is this the ruins of Tilan Mountain?"

Huang Qingzhou was also obviously seeing this for the first time, and with some curiosity he surveyed everything before him.

These mists are very strange; drifting about, they seem to conceal a deadly killing intent!

Fang Xu did not speak.

On the light curtain deep in his sea of consciousness, many arrows were already flashing.

The directions indicated by those arrows undoubtedly point to locations not far inside the ruins.

But now he is wounded; even though he knows those people might die right at the ruins' gate, he dare not rashly go inside.

"I'll go find someone to gather news." Holding a wine jar, Fang Xu looked around, then immediately walked over to several martial artists who appeared to be only at the Martial Apprentice Realm.

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(End of chapter)