Chapter 86 Whispering Under the Starry Sky

Chapter 86: Whispers Under the Starry Moonlit Night

Two days later, Ji Shi Clinic.

As late autumn arrived, the howling autumn winds swept from north to south, and the weather gradually turned cold.

Almost all the leaves had fallen from the old locust tree, leaving its bare branches looking somewhat desolate and bleak.

An Jing sat in front of the medicine cabinet, and the light from the Earth Book grew increasingly intense. The Seal was very likely to be broken tonight, and when that happened, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi would surge forth.

According to ancient texts, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was refined by Grandmaster experts. If not guided by a Grandmaster expert's True Qi, it would quickly dissipate into the world.

So, if today was the time the Seal broke, he had to seize this opportunity. As long as he obtained this wisp of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, he could accelerate his progress in condensing the Earth Flower Realm.

“That old fellow Li Fuzhou has been following me these past few days. I need to figure out a way tonight.”

An Jing pondered, then glanced at Xiao Heizi, who was lying at his feet. “Xiao Heizi, come, help me think of a way—”

“Ow~~ Woof!”

Xiao Heizi's fur immediately bristled, and he quickly trotted towards the back hall, as if afraid of hearing something he shouldn't.

Just then, Li Fuzhou walked out, carrying a large jar. Xiao Heizi bumped right into Li Fuzhou's leg, then tumbled over.

“Why such a hurry?”

Li Fuzhou raised an eyebrow and scolded Xiao Heizi, “You often listen to this old man read, so you have some learning. This old man has warned you repeatedly not to be too rash or flustered in matters. What kind of behavior is this!?”

“Ow~ Woo!”

Xiao Heizi barked, then squatted on the ground, tilting his head to look at Li Fuzhou.

An Jing found it amusing to see Li Fuzhou's serious expression; this old man was actually so particular with a dog.

“What's in this jar?”

Li Fuzhou smiled faintly and said, “It's medicinal wine Miss Dai brewed for Young Master. She said it would be ready to drink by the New Year.”

“That's great. Did you put everything that needed to be in there?”

An Jing peeked into the jar and asked.

“I don't know.”

Li Fuzhou placed the jar on the ground and said with a grin, “Young Master, I heard you don't like medicinal wine?”

“Who told you such nonsense? Was it Tan Yun again?”

An Jing looked at the loving medicinal wine Zhao Qingmei had brewed for him and said, “This is good stuff. How could I not love it? Besides, it's brewed by my wife; I have to drink it all.”

This isn't medicinal wine; it's my wife's love for me.

“Cough cough cough cough…”

Li Fuzhou cleared his throat twice. “This medicinal wine is too potent. Young Master, you won't be able to finish it all yourself. This old man can help Young Master share some.”

Damn it!

An Jing finally understood; this old fellow wanted his medicinal wine.

Indeed, no man would refuse something that nourishes the kidneys and strengthens yang.

Seeing An Jing's seemingly unwilling expression, Li Fuzhou sighed and said, “Old Madam Zhao keeps asking me…”

“You're right, I definitely can't finish this wine alone.”

Hearing this, An Jing quickly interrupted Li Fuzhou.

“That's right, Young Master.”

Li Fuzhou nodded in satisfaction. “I have something to do tonight, so I won't be helping Young Master with the accounts. Also, Zhou Xianming will be back soon, Young Master, remember to give me some ‘wages’ then.”

With that, Li Fuzhou chuckled and walked outside.

An Jing watched Li Fuzhou's retreating figure. What that old fellow called “something to do” was just going to the Brothel to listen to music.

With Li Fuzhou not following him, it would be easier for him to sneak out.

Thinking this, An Jing quickly began to close up the shop.

“Husband, isn't it too early to close up?”

Zhao Qingmei walked out and saw An Jing putting up the wooden boards, she couldn't help but ask curiously.

“Han Wenxin said a prisoner in the jail caught a cold, and he asked me to go take a look.” An Jing had already prepared an excuse.

“That fellow Han Wenxin?”

Zhao Qingmei raised an eyebrow, then looked at An Jing suspiciously. “Is that true?”

“True, of course it's true. I need to go quickly.”

An Jing said without batting an eyelid.

“Alright, it's cold tonight, wear more clothes.” Zhao Qingmei looked at An Jing's serious expression and finally nodded.

Anyway, with a Demonic Cult expert following him, there shouldn't be any major problems.

“Don't worry, wife, just wait for my return.”

An Jing smiled, and after putting up the wooden boards, he picked up his small medicine box and walked out of Ji Shi Clinic.

At Wuyang Tavern, in a private room on the second floor.

Han Wenxin looked at An Jing with emotion. “Brother An, it's been a long time since we've had a drink together like this.”

Ever since An Jing got married, he rarely went out drinking with him. He wondered what was going on today that An Jing invited him out for a drink.

“Indeed.”

An Jing sighed and said, “There's no extra food at home.”

“Brother An, let's not talk about that. Let's have a drink.”

Han Wenxin raised his glass. “I hope this drink can dispel the recent worries and troubles.”

“Worries and troubles?” An Jing looked at Han Wenxin and said, “Because of Miss Dai?”

“Let bygones be bygones, don't mention it again.” Han Wenxin said with a profound expression.

“What happened? Were you rejected?”

“How is that possible!?”

Han Wenxin said with a serious expression, “That day, after I escorted her to Faxi Temple on Sanmiao Mountain, I planned to return home, but Miss Dai insisted on keeping me, inviting me to watch the stars. In the end, I resolutely refused.”

An Jing was full of questions: “Watch the stars? She invited you? And you refused?”

An Jing felt like he was listening to a fairy tale; everything was fake except the names.

“Every word I said is true. If I'm lying, then may that old fellow Zhou Xianming win the top spot in this year's Imperial Examination.”

Han Wenxin saw An Jing's expression and quickly said, “I'm telling you, yesterday she even asked me to accompany her on a tour of Yuzhou River. Unable to refuse her earnest invitation, I reluctantly went. The process was truly dull and tasteless. After returning, I asked the old master in Mazi Alley to calculate my and Miss Dai's Eight Characters.”

“I found that our Eight Characters are somewhat incompatible.”

An Jing raised an eyebrow, “Eight Characters incompatible??”

“Just incompatible Eight Characters.”

Han Wenxin sighed and said, “My old man said we would clash. And today she came to find me again. I directly refused her affections. I told her I am a man of the wind, and it's impossible for me to stay for her. You don't know, seeing her heartbroken expression almost made me soften, but then I remembered Brother An's words, and I completely made up my mind.”

After speaking, Han Wenxin had a look of emotion and relief.

An Jing couldn't help but ask curiously, “Brother Han, what did I say?”

“You forgot? You were the one who told me.”

Han Wenxin put an arm around An Jing's shoulder and said with grand gestures, “You should spend the time it takes to chase a horse planting a grassland, and not abandon a whole forest for one tree.”

An Jing asked doubtfully, “Did I say that?”

It seemed he used to like chatting about this and that with Han Wenxin, but he had mostly forgotten.

But that was all in the past; he was a proper person now.

“You did.”

Han Wenxin pointed excitedly at a tall building in the distance and said, “Brother An, you are a beacon in the path of my life, guiding me forward, all the way to the Brothel.”

Damn it!

I don't want to be that kind of beacon.

An Jing's face darkened upon hearing this.

“Come, Brother An, let's drink this cup to the fullest!”

“Let's drink!”

Three rounds of wine, five courses of dishes.

“Come, come, drink.”

Han Wenxin was already dead drunk, mumbling as he slumped on the table, still holding a wine pot in his hand.

An Jing stretched his limbs and nonchalantly took out a dark blue cloak from his small medicine box.

“Brother Han, you can just keep drinking here for a while.”

He had important matters to attend to; drinking with Han Wenxin was just a cover.

At this moment, Han Wenxin had lost his senses. His hand subconsciously brought the wine pot to his mouth, but after taking a sip, his brows furrowed, and he couldn't help but curse, “This taste isn't right…”

An Jing, having changed his clothes, asked, “What's wrong with it?”

This tavern was the most famous in Yu Prefecture City; besides its affordable prices, the wine's taste was also exceptional.

“It's not… not salty enough.”

Han Wenxin whispered, then licked his lips as he lay on the table.

An Jing was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then said faintly, “So, Brother Han likes the taste of aged sauerkraut.”

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