Chapter 320 - 124: Shangluo (Part 3)

Chapter 320: Chapter 124: Shangluo (Part 3)

The backlash Zhen Taiyuan suffered from his Divination further solidified the idea of a ’clash between Half-Immortal Families.’ With such a dizzying series of events, who would still pay any attention to a minor figure like Fang Rui?

「A short while later.」

Zhou Changfa arrived as invited. "Hahaha, Fang Rui, it really is you?! I never thought we’d meet again here!"

"Lord Zhou, we meet again!"

Fang Rui smiled and went out to greet him.

Just then, Yu Song, whom Fang Rui had asked to buy some fine food, returned and witnessed the scene.

"Brother Fang, I’m back! Look at all the fine wine and food I got for you... Er, Lord Zhou?! So *you’re* the one Brother Fang is treating?"

"Brother Fang, I’ll let you two talk!"

Yu Song tactfully withdrew.

As one of the city’s most prominent figures, Yu Song naturally recognized Zhou Changfa—though this recognition was one-sided. He knew Zhou Changfa, but Zhou Changfa did not know him.

Indeed, a man of the Upper Three Grades like Zhou Changfa was considered a top-tier figure, even here in Shangluo, the auxiliary capital of Great Yu.

’That Lord Zhou... I heard he was once the Director of the Divine Capture Bureau for a certain State Mansion. Now he’s retired to live out his days in Shangluo...’

’Dragons don’t consort with snakes. For him to have ties to a man like that, Brother Fang must be no ordinary person. I’ve really hit the jackpot this time. I have to deepen my friendship with Brother Fang from now on.’

Yu Song secretly made up his mind.

...

"Lord Zhou, please." Fang Rui raised his cup.

"I’m no longer the Director of the Divine Capture Bureau of Huaiyin Prefecture. If you’d like, just call me Brother Zhou!"

CLINK!

They clinked their cups, and as the wine warmed their bellies, the conversation began to flow.

Zhou Changfa spoke of his experiences living in retirement in Shangluo City over the past few years.

Fang Rui, in turn, recounted what had happened in Huaiyin Prefecture City after Zhou Changfa’s departure: how Ge Changgeng was ambushed and assassinated by Zhang Henshui and Sun Shouchai, how he had taken in Qing Yan, and how the two culprits later got their just deserts.

"Daoist Ge... he saved my life... Alas, another old friend is gone. Gone!"

Zhou Changfa sighed deeply and downed several cups of wine in succession.

After a good while.

He finally looked up, his gaze toward Fang Rui filled with clear admiration. "Fang Rui, Daoist Ge once told me that you have the character of a true gentleman, that your word is your bond, and that you are worthy of trust."

"Seeing this now, his words were true. You did well in the matter of Qing Yan. I raise this cup to you."

"You flatter me, Brother Zhou." Fang Rui shook his head and drained his cup.

"Wuzhou is indeed an unstable place. Some time ago, a talented Martial Artist with the Kou Surname—a Second Grade, no less—went to Wuzhou and mysteriously vanished..."

"Also, I heard that after two direct heirs of the Zhen Family in Wuzhou—a Half-Immortal Family—were killed, their old ancestor performed a Divination. He suffered a backlash, coughed up blood, and it greatly shortened his life. He passed away last year."

This was all old news, but because it concerned Wuzhou, Zhou Changfa had paid some attention to it.

In truth, the speed at which information traveled among the top echelons of this world was incredibly fast, not a bit slower than in Fang Rui’s past life. Otherwise, the Great Yu empire would never be able to govern such a vast territory.

"Hm?!"

Upon hearing these more detailed accounts from Zhou Changfa, Fang Rui did some quick mental calculations. He realized that the time of the Kou-surnamed Martial Artist’s disappearance roughly coincided with when Zhen Daoji had acquired the Upper Three Grades Yin Corpse.

’So that Upper Three Grades Yin Corpse Zhen Daoji had... it was most likely that Martial Artist with the Kou Surname.’

’If the Zhen Family hunted the Kou-surnamed Martial Artist for materials, then what about that other Second Grade Martial Artist, the one with the Xu Surname who vanished at Two Realms Mountain? No, wait, why am I even thinking about this?!’

He shook his head slightly, pulling his thoughts back to the present.

...

Fang Rui and Zhou Changfa continued to drink and talk.

Perhaps it was because, unlike in Huaiyin Prefecture, there was no longer a hierarchy between them. Perhaps it was the joy of meeting an old friend in a new city, here in Shangluo, the auxiliary capital of Great Yu. Or perhaps it was their shared bond over their mutual friend, Ge Changgeng...

The two gradually let their guards down. The atmosphere grew warmer, the conversation more casual, and soon they were talking about everything under the sun.

It was afternoon, and brilliant sunlight bathed the earth. A warm breeze drifted through the hall. The dappled light dancing in their wine cups was swallowed down, only to emerge again as effortless, poetic conversation.

A happy reunion over a flask of humble wine; the great affairs of past and present, all swept away in lighthearted talk.