Chapter 390: Only Drinking Wine, Not Discussing Business

After two sounds, there was a pause, then two more. Naturally, there was no echo in the inn. Then, the commotion outside ceased.

"These fellows are quite cautious, aren't they?" He Lingchuan exhaled softly, knowing that the other party was ninety percent likely to retreat. The crow hadn't flown out, indicating a change inside the inn, which meant the opponents might not make a move after all. They were smart; otherwise, they would have faced the Floating Life Blade.

He Lingchuan did not pursue them because the Baoshu King's birthday celebration was approaching, and Fufeng City had temporarily implemented a curfew for the past two days. It wasn't worth getting into trouble at this time.

Sure enough, about ten breaths later, a flurry of urgent whistles came from the street, likely patrol officers shouting, "Who's there? Stop!" This was accompanied by the roars of beasts. It seemed the patrol officers weren't just humans, which would be quite a challenge for those guys. The sounds gradually faded, clearly indicating that both the pursuers and the pursued had moved far away. Peace returned to the street.

***

After dawn, at another inn several hundred yards away, someone stealthily slipped into a guest room where the light was still on. Fushan was sitting by the window.

"Any news?"

"Yes. The target has moved into Willow Lodge, which is the official residence specially arranged by Fufeng City for foreign envoys." His subordinate stammered, "The others are settled."

"Call everyone back. Fufeng City's defenses are too strict; we won't act here." Fushan changed his plan. "However, we still need to confirm the whereabouts of the item first."

***

In just a few days, the various disturbances caused by the Imperial Nectar in Fufeng City had been brought under control, and order was gradually restored. Closed shops reopened one by one, and more pedestrians appeared on the streets. All trades and industries regained their vitality, and the bustling scene of traffic returned. The demons and humans who had become casualties would never speak again and were gradually forgotten. Regardless of what had happened, life had to go on. Furthermore, the people of Beijia were well aware that their lives were considerably happier compared to the common folk in other small nations plagued by war and displacement.

***

At this time, Sha Xinghai had already led his team back to Fufeng City. Without even changing his clothes, he came to report to his father: "The missing deputy envoy from Wei Ling Nation has been found. His body was under a large tree on the west bank of Three Hearts Lake. Nearby demons claimed they hadn't seen the killer."

Grand Tutor Sha's brows almost tied into a knot. "Wei Ling Nation has been peaceful for over a decade, and relations have been friendly. I haven't heard of any recent rifts."

"Could it be a personal vendetta rather than a national feud?" Sha Xinghai asked, a worried expression on his face. "I heard this deputy envoy is the son of General Yinshan, with good cultivation and many attendants. General Yinshan is known for his brutal temperament; once this news reaches him, how could he possibly let it go?"

"Whenever the Imperial Nectar appears, there's always an abundance of strange occurrences. Over a dozen demons from various diplomatic missions have been injured or gone missing; it's not just General Yinshan's son," Grand Tutor Sha said, feeling a headache coming on. "Just now, I reported to His Majesty that on the very night the Imperial Nectar erupted, he used his divine powers to monitor all events, large and small, happening within the city and its immediate surroundings. In several cases, the diplomatic missions were even actively involved. What kind of situation is this?"

Even with Baoshu King's remarkable divine powers, there was a range limit; he could only monitor nearby, unable to extend to a distant place like Three Hearts Lake. That was a method possessed only by ancient demon immortals; people today could only long for it in vain.

"His Majesty's birthday celebration is tomorrow, and a curfew will remain in effect tonight. City-wide patrols will be reinforced with additional personnel."

***

After Sha Xinghai withdrew, Grand Tutor Sha thought for a moment and asked Wu Jinsong, who was standing by: "Yesterday you reported that He Xiao was receiving the Imperial Nectar scores of miles northeast of the city?"

"Yes." Wu Jinsong always admired how the Grand Tutor could manage countless affairs daily and still remember such small details so clearly.

"That's not far from Three Hearts Plain. He came back late, so he might have seen something. Go and inquire."

Wu Jinsong bought some snacks for drinks on his way before going to find He Lingchuan. He entered the inn and knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Instead, a cat stretched down from the roof.

"Who are you looking for?"

"He Xiao."

The black cat asked him again, "What's your surname?"

"Wu. I'm from the Grand Tutor's manor."

The black cat jumped onto his shoulder and whispered into his ear, "The boss said to find him at the Pine Crane Tavern."

Wu Jinsong understood, left the inn, and went back the way he came, heading for the Pine Crane Tavern on East Street. This tavern was about four hundred paces from the Grand Tutor's manor, neither too far nor too close, so the prices there were moderate, just right. Wu Jinsong and other guards often came here for drinks.

He walked in familiar with the place and said he was looking for a guest named He. The waiter didn't take him to a private room but led him to a guest room in the back, knocking on one of the doors: "Young master, you have a visitor."

He Lingchuan was sitting inside, with wine on the table. Wu Jinsong entered and sat down directly, asking him, "Why did you move here?"

"I'm staying here to make it easier to drink all night with Brother Wu."

The Pine Crane Tavern had guest rooms in the back. Even with the curfew, residents could still come to the front hall to drink. As long as they didn't wander the streets aimlessly, the officers wouldn't bother them. However, the rooms here were a little more expensive than He Lingchuan's previous inn, perhaps double the price.

Wu Jinsong put down the dishes in his hand. "I'll add some dishes to your room." He never cared about the curfew; he could run around freely any night. Wu Jinsong took it for granted, and He Lingchuan was used to it, so neither of them brought it up.

He Lingchuan asked the waiter for a few plates and personally poured the food and drinks Wu Jinsong had brought onto them. The two toasted each other. He Lingchuan's eyes lit up when he saw one particular dish; he reached out, took one, and began to peel it.

Wu Jinsong gave a thumbs-up. "Brother He knows good food! I've brought this for many people to eat, and they wouldn't even touch it."

Among the dishes he brought, the braised beef was rich in aroma and deep red, expertly sliced with thin, glistening tendons on each piece, and the stir-fried snails were glossy with oil, emitting a spicy fragrance. But the first thing He Lingchuan picked up was a braised fertilized duck egg. This item truly divided people: those who feared it truly feared it, and those who loved it truly loved it.

He Lingchuan asked while eating, "Why did Brother Wu come?"

"Didn't I say yesterday I'd come find you for a drink?" Wu Jinsong thought to himself, *Doesn't this kid know I'd come? He even hired a cat security guard to relay the message.*

He Lingchuan filled his cup. "Anything else?" They had agreed to drink tonight, but Wu Jinsong had arrived before noon.

"What else could there be?"

"Then tonight we only drink and don't discuss official business."

Wu Jinsong was slightly taken aback and coughed. "Cultivation doesn't count as official business, does it?"

He Lingchuan said calmly, "Alright, if you want to ask, just ask. But first, tell me, what else has happened?"

*This kid.* Wu Jinsong had no choice. He had come to sound out He Lingchuan, not expecting to be sounded out first. "It's still about what happened on Three Hearts Plain the night the Imperial Nectar erupted."

"Oh?" He Lingchuan asked him, "Who died this time?" With the curfew tonight and the Baoshu King's birthday celebration approaching, would Wu Jinsong come to find him at this time if it weren't for serious business? Although He Lingchuan had saved Wu Jinsong, he was perfectly clear about the true depth of their friendship.

"The deputy envoy from Wei Ling Nation," Wu Jinsong said. "The Wei Ling Nation's envoy team reported two days ago that they encountered the Imperial Nectar while passing through Three Hearts Plain, and their deputy envoy got separated and went missing. Young Master Sha led a search party around Three Hearts Plain and finally found the deputy envoy's body by Three Hearts Lake. Although partially eaten by birds and beasts, it was still identifiable."

He Lingchuan had a feeling. "What kind of demon was this deputy envoy?" Fufeng City also found the body of the deputy envoy from Wei Ling Nation; that simplifies things.

"An Yinshan Python," Wu Jinsong shook his head. "It was also the son of General Yinshan of Wei Ling Nation, forty years old this year, just about to come of age. It's said that General Yinshan sent it with the delegation for experience, but it unexpectedly met with such a tragedy. The delegation has asked the Grand Tutor to investigate and see if any of General Yinshan's enemies have also come to Fufeng City."

"Oh? The Grand Tutor also believes this was a revenge killing?"

"It's hard to say, but we know its entire body's flesh and blood were drained. If not a revenge killing, who would commit such a cruel act?" Wu Jinsong said gravely. "Fufeng City has been overwhelmed with external and internal affairs these past two days. Brother He, if you discover anything, please inform us."

He Lingchuan pondered for a moment before asking him, "The Yinshan Python you mentioned, was it a large grayish-white snake with fine black markings on its skin?"

Wu Jinsong jolted. "Yes, yes, precisely! You've seen it?"

"That night, a crow reported that a large amount of Imperial Nectar had appeared by the lake. I rushed over and saw many demons and warriors fighting fiercely by the lake. The two 'Lao Zhi' who emerged victorious were about to collect their spoils but were scared off by about ten people. The Wei Ling Nation deputy envoy you mentioned, that Yinshan Python, stealthily approached the leader of that group, intending to launch a surprise attack. But the leader instantly revealed its true form and surrounded and slaughtered it."

Wu Jinsong was stunned. "What? The Wei Ling Nation deputy envoy was killed because he tried to seize the Imperial Nectar?" "So the cause of death was that simple, dying for the Imperial Nectar just like other demons?"

"Didn't you say that several diplomatic missions had suffered casualties due to their involvement in the Imperial Nectar conflict? Demons are demons; they don't show restraint just because they're envoys."

He Lingchuan shrugged. "I also heard those people say they killed the wrong one."

"Killed..." Wu Jinsong was dumbfounded. "Killed the wrong one? Who were they trying to kill originally?" So the Yinshan Python died in vain?

"I don't know."

A chill ran down Wu Jinsong's spine. Those people actually killed the wrong target? That means they'll strike again!

He Lingchuan added, "The Yinshan Python probably looked very similar to their intended target, which is why it was mistaken, right?" In other words, that group's target was also a long, snake-like creature?

"You also saw the culprits who killed the envoy yesterday."

"Huh?" Wu Jinsong was startled, his mind racing. "You mean those people at the inn yesterday? Oh, why didn't you say so sooner!"

He Lingchuan picked up a slice of braised beef and slowly chewed it. "Hmm, chewy and flavorful. Truly excellent snacks for drinks, as expected from an old reputable shop, bought by Wu Jinsong."

"On the night the Imperial Nectar erupted, demons and warriors died in droves by Three Hearts Lake; it was nothing unusual. If you hadn't mentioned this Yinshan Python, how would I have known its identity? That night, human lives were like weeds, and demons died like dust. How many people cared afterward?"

"The leader, who called himself Fushan, sneaked near the inn last night, likely intending to silence me."