Chapter 96: Human Hearts

"Let’s not speak of such matters! Come, come, drink, drink!" Lin Shao, cradling a massive wine jar, began to boisterously urge the company to join him.

The sentiment following the conclusion of The Legend of Sword and Fairy was, for Song Qingfeng, not entirely wretched, yet it could hardly be deemed pleasant; thus, he immediately began clinking cups with the others.

"Hey, fatso, why aren't you drinking?" Xu Luo tapped the shoulder of the dazed Wang Tai.

Ever since they had played Diablo together, their relations had grown quite amicable, and since they were embarking on a drinking bout, he had been invited along for the occasion.

"Drink!" Wang Tai started from his reverie; though he had not yet played The Legend of Sword and Fairy, he had mostly spent his time watching others play, and so his current state of mind was perfectly aligned with theirs.

"Alas, compared to Sprite, the flavor of this wine is truly far too wretched," Song Qingfeng said, smacking his lips as he drank.

"Sprite does not intoxicate!" With that, Lin Shao poured another draft down his throat, his face flushing crimson, seemingly from drinking far too much and far too hastily.

They were not the only ones; at this hour, large jars of wine sat upon the tables of many patrons within the Breeze and Bright Moon Pavilion, and even Shen Qingqing, who scarcely ever touched spirits on ordinary days, had ordered a portion of Jasper Wine and sat by the window.

Xu Zixin sat directly across from her; having finished a pot of wine, her face remained pale and her breath steady.

"I still prefer to drink Sprite!" Shen Qingqing mumbled after partaking of a mere small cup, which sufficed to dye her fair, lovely face with a delicate blush.

Xu Zixin supported her fragrant cheek, her eyes glistening with a faint intoxication: "How marvelous it would be if every pastry of the Breeze and Bright Moon Pavilion were as delectable as Häagen-Dazs, and every libation as delightful as Sprite."

Beside them, the countenance of the serving attendant turned grim.

In recent days, the names Sprite and Häagen-Dazs had been drummed into his ears until they were calloused, and he knew not what manner of things they truly were; it was one thing to compare them to the pastries and wines of the Breeze and Bright Moon Pavilion, but to actually criticize the pavilion's fare while devouring it was quite another!

One had to understand that the head chef of the Breeze and Bright Moon Pavilion was a master summoned from the capital, a culinary genius who rivaled the imperial chefs of the palace.

And at this very moment, on the fourth floor of the Breeze and Bright Moon Pavilion, within an elegantly appointed alcove.

Behind a spectral curtain, the silhouette of a woman was faintly discernible; though obscured by the gauze veil, one could vaguely perceive that her features were sharply defined and radiantly beautiful, her fine eyes deeply set beneath dark brows, and her two fragrant lips, redolent of aristocratic grace, parted to speak in a voice that was utterly proud yet lost none of its refined elegance: "Qinghe, Wanyu."

Standing before her were a man and a woman clad in immaculate attire; the man appeared to be some thirty years of age with a steady gaze, and the pair seemed to defer to him as their leader as they bowed slightly.

The lady held a pot of clear tea in her hand, speaking with considerable casualness: "I have only just returned from the capital, and without even allowing a person to rest, is there some matter that has transpired? Pray, give your report."

The two immediately reported the circumstances of the Breeze and Bright Moon Pavilion during these past days.

"Patrons frequently claim... that our libations cannot compare to a Sprite from some small shop?" The lady seemed to find it somewhat farcical. "And that our pastries fall vastly short of something called Häagen-Dazs?"

The lady offered a disdainful sneer: "A mere small establishment, nothing more; if these patrons favor such fare, let them go and partake of it, for how much could it truly affect us?"

...

Su Tianji stood outside the Hall of Heavenly Mysteries, her heart shrouded in a layer of twilight; night had already fallen, and beneath the dark canopy, the river of stars shone brilliantly as she gazed upon the layered silhouettes of the mountains and the celestial stars, feeling a sense of desolation upon the tip of her heart that she had never experienced before.

With a flick of her fingertip, a sword light flew like a rushing spring stream, and amidst the sea of flowers outside the hall, flying petals and sword shadows reflected one another in splendid harmony.

Nalan Hongwu stood before the grand hall of the Nalan clan, struck by a sudden realization, and said with narrowed eyes: "In the days of my youth and vigor, I once heard that person mention the phrase 'martial arts without distraction'; I have spent the greater part of my life, yet to truly achieve it, is it truly so exceedingly difficult?"

Behind him, Old Fu remained silent for a long while, and only after an indeterminate period had passed did he reply: "Master, we... have all grown old."

Nalan Hongwu burst into laughter, a sound that carried either the dusk of life or a profound helplessness: "True enough, at this advanced age, why should I still ponder 'martial arts without distraction'."

Flowers may bloom anew, but a man is never a youth twice.

It was far more proper to spend more thought on matters of enjoying one's remaining years.

Nalan Hongwu let out a long breath; as he was now, he desired only to tend to his flowers and plants, and perhaps play a little during his leisure to ease his mind, which would be quite sufficient.

"Compared to 'martial arts without distraction', this old man rather yearns for that phrase, 'the highest good is like water'." Nalan Hongwu had campaigned throughout his life, yet his current disposition yearned far more for tranquility.

Nalan Mingxue stood within her courtyard, which was planted entirely with pear trees, seemingly lost in thought.

"Miss Nalan, are you sorrowful as well?" Lanyan was still holding a handkerchief at this moment, dabbing at her face from time to time.

"No." She turned her head, the moonlight illuminating her face, which was as bright and clear as snow, and she inquired, "Lanyan, what do you think of the games in Owner Fang's shop?"

"They are excellent." Although Lanyan knew not why Nalan Mingxue suddenly broached the subject, she nonetheless replied, "Though the worlds of the first two games were somewhat peculiar, they were both quite novel, and one wonders whose whimsical imagination conceived them; as for The Legend of Sword and Fairy... the world depicted within corresponds more closely to our own, and unexpectedly, far from growing weary of it, it feels all the more real..."

"And do you like it?"

"Of course!" At the mention of this, Lanyan grew animated. "Speaking of it now... I am particularly fond of this Legend of Sword and Fairy!"

"Indeed..." Nalan Mingxue lowered her head slightly. "The characters and the martial arts within are all quite endearing, and everyone favors them greatly; and so... this is very bad indeed."

"If everyone favors them, why should it be bad?" Lanyan was instantly left entirely bewildered.

"It is quite simple," Nalan Mingxue explained methodically. "Owner Fang's shop enjoys such flourishing business that it will naturally arouse the envy of others; though he currently faces no peers in his trade, as merchants go, there are still those with similar functions, and they will be displeased that Owner Fang has stolen their custom; Owner Fang is but a commoner, yet he now shows a subtle trend of eclipsing the nobility... in short, many aspects are hardly favorable for him, and even with that cultivator standing guard, not every matter can be resolved."

Nalan Mingxue tapped Lanyan's chest and said, "The human heart... is ever complex, to say nothing of this artifact called a computer, which I fear many covetous eyes are watching, desiring to claim a share of the profits..."

If nothing else, she herself had once been among their number.

"Separated, these individuals truly cannot achieve any grand endeavor, but one fears lest someone should gather them together."

...

The Southern Alliance Merchant Coalition.

No matter the place or the world, there would never be a scarcity of the mercantile profession; even in this realm where cultivators and warriors stood in great numbers, the case remained precisely the same.

Whether it was the artifacts and elixirs indispensable to cultivators, or the martial technique scrolls and body-tempering herbs required by warriors, all stimulated the prosperity and development of commerce to a great degree.

And for a merchant coalition to make this industry grand and powerful, and to satisfy the trading demands of high-stage cultivators and warriors of formidable strength, such an organization was naturally extraordinary.

Huo Chong was a lean, middle-aged man dressed in an exceedingly decent manner, and he was likewise a cultivator—a cultivator of immense power.

He sat before his desk, clutching a letter in his hand, the divine light within his eyes narrowing slightly: "Pang Rulie?"