Chapter 11: A Mutual Invitation to Drink

He went up to the second floor, Yan Buji saw Ling Yan, and in his mind he weighed the reason she had suddenly invited him over, his face naturally full of surprise as he clasped his hands and said:

"I am Yan Buji, I have met Miss Ling."

"Boss Yan, please sit."

"Very well."

Yan Buji sat to the side, Ling Yan smiled and looked at Zhong Shifu: "Uncle Zhong, you sit as well."

"Yes, Miss."

Ling Yan looked at Yan Buji and always felt his whole body's Qi and blood were abnormal; earlier it had caused her eyes to change, but now she saw he seemed just an ordinary person with robust Qi and blood?

Perhaps he has also practiced some forms, but not like the master senior we met last night....

Yet this man's stature and height are so similar to that senior, even Uncle Zhong noticed nothing unusual—could it be that I was mistaken?

Yan Buji realized Ling Yan had been scrutinizing him and immediately sensed something was off.

He constantly felt something in her eyes watching him, a strange sensation that arises in Yan Buji's body after he has cultivated the Blood Essence Skill to an advanced level.

At that moment, Yan Buji immediately further constricted the flow of his Qi and blood, appearing almost like an ordinary person, and smiled:

"I wonder, Miss Ling, why you invited me over—do you have any important matter?"

Ling Yan snapped back to attention and hurriedly said, "My apologies, young lady; I heard Uncle Zhong speak very highly of Boss Yan. You should know Uncle Zhong never declares anyone absolutely good or bad, but from his words I learned that Boss Yan is a true gentleman and good person, which makes me curious."

"I didn't expect Master Zhong to rate me so highly? But the word 'gentleman'—I, a mere merchant, cannot possibly embody it," Yan Buji exclaimed in surprise, looking at him.

Zhong Shifu smiled, "Brother Yan, although we have only met once, I have heard of and seen your deeds; you are worthy of the word 'gentleman'!"

"Hahaha, truly thank you, Master Zhong, for your kind praise," Yan Buji laughed heartily.

Ling Yan laughed, "May I ask how old Boss Yan is now? Does he have a family?"

Zhong Shifu's face darkened, "Miss, how can you be so direct...."

"Haha, no worries. Miss Ling is just curious. As for me, I'm thirty‑five, half my life already buried in the earth. Regarding my lineage, my virtuous wife passed away long ago, and now the household has only me and my two young daughters," Yan Buji laughed.

Ling Yan, surprised, "Ah? I truly apologize, Boss Yan. I didn't intend to pry into your family matters, but I'm curious—given your great fortune, why not take more wives and expand your lineage?"

Yan Buji fell silent, shook his head, and said, "In this life I lack nothing, but the fact that the wife who endured hardships with me died the moment I attained wealth is something I cannot accept; I still think of her often. Had I not been so driven back then, had I cared for her more, I would not be filled with regret now."

Upon hearing this, Ling Yan felt the sincere emotion in Yan Buji's words, and her heart trembled slightly.

Indeed, just like his father!

Zhong Shifu patted Yan Buji's shoulder, "Brother Yan, let the past stay in the past. Cherishing the present is what matters most. I heard you are now selling your assets—did you encounter any difficulty?"

"A difficulty... not really. It's just that I urgently need money now to pave a good path for my daughter," Yan Buji gave a wry smile.

"Ah? Why?" Ling Yan asked curiously.

Yan Buji sighed, "I have only this one daughter; she lacks a talent for commerce but loves studying. I have done everything to send her to Lingshan Academy, even appointing a juren as her mentor. I'm sure you both know the upcoming Spring Literary Assembly—scholars only spend and never earn, and they spend more than us merchants."

Ling Yan and Zhong Shifu fell silent.

They do understand Yan Buji's approach, and what more can be said now that he has already done it?

They only hope that Boss Yan can fulfill his wish.

"Enough, today it's rare that we gather here with Master Zhong and Miss Ling; shall we share a drink together?"

"Hahaha, one cup is not enough?! Miss, perhaps you shouldn't drink," Zhong Shifu laughed heartily, but recalling Ling Yan, added immediately.

Ling Yan raised an eyebrow, "Uncle Zhong, do you underestimate my drinking capacity?!"

Zhong Shifu's face twitched, "Miss, you can't drink much; if you get drunk, then...."

Ling Yan's face flushed, she clenched her fist, "I will drink! Go, bring the wine!"

"Fine! As befits a member of the Ling family, a woman who does not yield to men!" Yan Buji laughed heartily, ordering a servant to bring up several vats of wine.

The three of them raised cups and swapped drinks, drinking from noon until afternoon.

In the end, Yan Buji became completely drunk, still murmuring his deceased wife's name, and was carried away by others.

Zhong Shifu was also flushed red from drinking, but when he saw Ling Yan collapse at the table, she suddenly stood up and vomited all over the floor.

"Miss, are you alright?"

Ling Yan's face was flushed red, but her eyes were unusually clear, and she said, "I'm fine, Uncle Zhong; I took sobering medicine before you all arrived."

"Ah? Why, Miss, you insisted on drinking with Boss Yan...." Zhong Shifu also sensed something amiss and asked.

Ling Yan laughed, "It seems I was mistaken; I thought Boss Yan was a hidden master, but after all this wine his Qi and blood were not activated, indicating he lacks internal skill. Though his Qi and blood are robust, he is no different from an ordinary person."

Zhong Shifu looked puzzled, "Could it be that Miss suspects Boss Yan is that senior from last night?"

"Yes. Although that senior covered his face, I could feel his internal Qi and blood like a dragon, as if a furnace blazing! A grandmaster's Qi and blood would be involuntarily stirred by wine to aid internal energy in digesting the alcohol... So a drunken Boss Yan like that is unlikely," Ling Yan smiled.

Zhong Shifu fell silent, then said, "Miss, I know you are innately perceptive; we teach you things that you can apply broadly. But Boss Yan is not a bad person, and I hope you will not do this again. Not only toward him, many people are wary of outsiders; when you test others, you must be more cautious."

"I understand; I could never brazenly test others," Ling Yan nodded solemnly.

Nevertheless, this Boss Yan is a family‑loving, home‑caring person, generous and righteous toward relatives and friends; I've never heard him oppress the good over a few coins, truly a model merchant.

A few days later.

Ling Yan was investigating the Blood Flow Sect Remnant Faction when she suddenly received a mysterious letter.

"Outside the city, the Three Mountains Bandits intend to raid the Wu Family caravan; proceed to lie in ambush immediately, do not act rashly!"

Seeing the pattern on the letter, Ling Yan instantly understood.

"It's a letter from Lord Feng Wei; it seems we must first go see how strong these Three Mountains Bandits are!"