Xu Huaigu left Yi Mansion and went with Li Zi to inform Yu Qin and Ping Cui about their gathering at Longfeng Tower tonight.
Things went well with Yu Qin, and Yin Zushi also wanted to join in the fun. Xu Huaigu thought that Huang Shan was not that timid, so he also called him by the way.
However, Xu Huaigu encountered some troubles at Pingcui. Xu Huaigu asked the breakfast stall owner where her family lived in Pingcui, and then led a group of people to visit.
Yu Qin was attentive and felt that Pingcui was a secular family and had to have the etiquette of a secular family. It would not be good to visit empty-handed, so she bought some fruit cakes on the street and took them with her.
But despite this, the group still hit a wall with Pingcui's mother. When Pingcui was young, it was okay to run around, but now that she is older and almost getting married, she gets to know and hang out with outsiders without any control, fearing that the neighbors around her will gossip.
Xu Huaigu said good things to her for a while, and Pingcui wanted to go very much. In addition to the gifts Yu Qin bought, her mother finally let her go, but also warned her carefully to come back early. .
In fact, her mother also has good intentions. Girls from ordinary people's homes are not as happy, free and carefree as Xu Huaigu and his group of monks. In this world, getting married is still the top priority in girls' lives, so they must be cautious.
After the group was fully prepared, they prepared to go to Longfeng Tower at night. Xu Huaigu had no intention of telling Pingcui about Zuoqiu's death wish. The main reason was that he was so heartbroken when he saw Huang Shan. He couldn't bear to see the carefree little girl cry again because of this matter.
The night came quietly. Xingqing today is no longer as noisy as it was back then. The surrounding streets are deserted and there are only a few guests in the restaurant.
This city seems to be a place where people who have spent their youth are gradually entering their twilight years. Longfeng Tower is still the same as it was many years ago, a three-story wooden building with red lanterns hanging on the corners, but it no longer has the same festive feeling as before. The lanterns are so red.
There was only a faint sound of music in the building, and there were very few guests watching the theater on the first floor. No one would compete for the seats in the front row anymore, because even the first row was not occupied, and no one would stand for it. The actors on the stage spent a lot of money and lost their temper.
A group of people walked into the building, and the waiter lost his usual enthusiasm. He just walked forward slowly and asked feebly: "Dear guests, do you want to sit in the lobby or the private room? The private room charges one or two more silver. ." Xu Huaigu replied: "I want a private room on the second floor, and two pots of good tea." The waiter led the group to sit down, and Xu Huaigu sat on the seat by the window.
When everyone wanted to order dishes, they asked Xu Huaigu what to eat. Xu Huaigu just said it was casual, and everyone ordered a few of the restaurant's signature dishes.
Before the dishes arrived, another maid came in with tea, and Xu Huaigu took a sip. The taste of tea is not as good as in previous years.
But this is also reasonable. Even the tea in Lin Cangyang's mansion is much less, let alone the tea in the market, so we can only make do with it.
When the waiter came in to serve the food, Huang Shan stopped him and said: "The best wine you have here, please serve two jars first. Remember to ask for the best, as there is no shortage of money." The waiter nodded in agreement, and soon the wine came. , Xu Huaigu poured a bowl by himself.
He just took a sip and frowned. Huang Shan also took a sip, and his expression suddenly changed. He spat the wine on the ground, smashed the bowl on the table, and cursed: "What a piece of shit! It must have been mixed with water!" After that, he He was so angry that he wanted to call the waiter in to ask for an explanation.
Xu Huaigu sighed and hurriedly grabbed him and said: "Forget it, it looks like it will be closed soon. Don't ruin your own fun by doing what they do." Huang Shan said anxiously: "But this wine is really good. I can’t drink it! What’s this meal without wine?” Xu Huaigu said soothingly: “Don’t worry, I still have some good wine, but only half a jar is left. Although it’s not much, you can guarantee the quality. Definitely the best wine I have ever tasted." Xu Huaigu took out the wine Luzhu gave him and opened the lid of the altar. The clear and mellow aroma of the wine spread throughout the small room.
Huang Shan was obsessed with it as soon as he smelled it, while Yin Zishi was overjoyed and kept praising: "What a clean fragrance! I have never smelled this kind of wine. I'm afraid there was no such good wine at the banquet where the Fuyao Sect received distinguished guests. . Xu Huaigu, the origin of this wine is probably not simple, right? Tell me." Xu Huaigu smiled, got up first and poured a bowl for everyone, and the wine jar was empty.
He smiled and said: "Drink first, and I will talk after you finish drinking, lest if I say anything, everyone will not be able to drink." Xu Huaigu stood up first and raised the wine bowl. The others also stood up and raised the wine bowl high.
They touched together with a "clang" sound, then raised their heads and drank it all in one gulp. Huang Shan finished the wine and praised it profusely: "Good wine, really good wine! I have never drunk such a good wine in my life. Even the second best wine is far worse than this! Xu Huaigu, you are such a good wine!" How did it come? I'll get some some other day!" Pingcui usually didn't drink, but this time she was happy to see Xu Huaigu, and everyone drank, so she couldn't resist the hospitality.
At this time, her cheeks were slightly red, and she felt an indescribable sweetness in her heart. She also asked curiously: "Brother Xu, what on earth is this? I don't have any bad taste at all when I drink wine. It tastes very good!" "Li Zi also agreed: "It's really an excellent wine. You can't buy it on the market. There must be a story about the origin of this wine." Everyone urged, and Xu Huaigu slowly smiled and said: "I'm not afraid to say it. Everyone laughs, the process of making this wine is not much simpler than practicing cultivation."
"The grain for winemaking was cultivated and planted in the garden by a mountain god himself. The water for winemaking comes from the four flavors, namely rainwater, white dewdrops, frost, and the day when it snows. The fragrant snow on the plum blossoms melted together. This wine was originally kept by the mountain god for himself, but by some strange combination of circumstances, he was asked to give me a jar. I drank one sip and lost one sip. It is absolutely unique in the world. Wine." Huang Shan was shocked by what Xu Huaigu said and was stunned for a while.
Yin Zi actually regretted why he had just drank it all in one gulp. He should have tasted more. He was still smacking his mouth, trying to keep the aroma in his mouth.
Li Zi smiled and secretly thought that Xu Huaigu had been doing well in these years. Yu Qin was happy for him from the bottom of her heart, but she was also a little sad.
The Xu Huaigu who lived with him in the market and had to plan carefully even for meals could never come back.
Although it was painful at that time, they were together all the time, unlike now where they gather less and are apart more.
Only Pingcui had a bitter look on her face and said worriedly: "Oh, this wine is so powerful. I didn't even know that, Brother Xu, you didn't tell me in advance. So how much is this sip worth?" Xu Huaigu drank it. Drinking tea, he sobered up and said with a smile: "It's just a sip of wine. It just goes into the stomach. What is it worth? If you take it out and sell it, no one will want it. If you drink it in the stomach, everyone will be happy for a while. Not even a thousand pieces of gold!" Everyone laughed.
The dishes were slowly served, and everyone picked up their chopsticks to pick up the dishes without restraint. During the chat, the two newcomers, Li Zi and Yin Zishi, also became familiar with everyone.
Huang Shan couldn't help but talk about his experience in Middle-earth and sighed: "Speaking of which, this medicine that nourishes the soul is really hard to find. Even if there is a little bit of news in the market, there will be a lot of monks fighting for it. Often, Even if you take a step slowly, you will lose everything. Although the things in Luoyun City are comprehensive and have a guaranteed reputation, they are expensive in one word. However, some things cannot be found in the market outside and can only be bought in Luoyun City. Come, it is said that there are even immortal weapons for sale."
"How much does a fairy weapon cost?" Yin Zushi asked casually,
"When I have money someday, I also want to add another immortal weapon." Huang Shan frowned and thought for a while, then said: "Let's start with at least fifty colored beads. It is said that they are all auctioned. There is a price but no market. Some are good. The immortal weapons, such as ancient swords or robes, have to be sold for more than a hundred colored beads." Yin Zishi laughed and said: "Forget it, I have never seen anything like this in my life. That's a lot of money. I guess the entire wealth of a ninth-level monk is nothing more than that, right?"
"So how do you say that the Immortal monks are good? There are naturally immortal soldiers passed down from generation to generation in the sect that can be rewarded. There is no need to risk your life or save most of your life's money to buy them. Things in Luoyun City are so expensive, I don't know How rich is that city lord? She wants so much money, can she spend it all? "
"Her, she doesn't want money for use, she wants to use it to prove the truth." Li Zi finished eating a chopstick dish, and the topic happened to fall on a place she was familiar with, so she smiled and said,
"For monks in the eleventh realm to break through to the twelve realms, it's not just about reaching the level of cultivation, but also about attaining enlightenment."
"Enlightenment? What is enlightenment?"
"Proving the Tao means proving to heaven that one's attainments in this Tao have reached an unprecedented peak. Only in this way can one have the opportunity to break through to the Twelve Realms. As for the Tao of Wei Caiyi, the Lord of Luoyun City Well, it's the way of doing business. Now the reputation of Luoyun City has spread throughout the Central Territory, and business is booming. Wei Caiyi is known as one of the monks who have the best chance of breaking through the twelve realms." Huang Shan asked curiously: "Li Girl, how do you know so much?" Reading scholar Li Zi smiled and replied: "I am originally from the Zhongtu Sect, and I was lucky enough to meet Wei Caiyi once, so I naturally knew it." Huang Shan came from Xu Huaigu's side I also knew a little bit about Li Zi's good background. At this time, I just admired him secretly in my heart and didn't dare to ask any more questions.
The group of people started chatting about other things, and for some reason they ended up talking about Pingcui's marriage.
Pingcui's face, which was already a bit tipsy, turned even redder, and everyone started making noises again. She was so embarrassed that her ears turned red, and she wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl in.
Xu Huaigu also laughed with everyone, but after all, this time the gathering was not the same as before, Xu Huaigu's laughter was not so natural.
He looked around at the faces of everyone at the table. There were new faces, but there were also missing old faces. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, but he still felt a little empty in his heart, something was missing, and there was a lack of charm.
The sound of pipa playing came to my ears, the rhythm was slow and the atmosphere was desolate. Xu Huaigu didn't understand music theory, and he didn't know very well whether his pipa or Zuoqiuxun was better or worse.
It seems that Zuo Qiuxun was more accomplished, but the melancholy sound of the pipa was equally charming and intoxicating, like an elegy for Dayu.
Xu Huaigu opened the curtain and looked towards the stage. There were a group of dancers dancing around the pipa girl in the center. The pipa girl was wearing a bright red dress and a veil to cover her face.
What a familiar scene. Many years ago, Xu Huaigu sat in the same seat and listened to the exact same pipa song.
You buried your bones in the mud under the spring, but I sent them to the world with a head full of snow. The babbling sound of the silk and bamboo orchestra has been singing non-stop for many years, and it has never stopped. It's just that the people on the stage have changed one after another, group after group.
In fact, Xu Huaigu and the others are not like the musicians on this stage. It's just singing the same old dramas from the past to the present, with nothing new.
Xu Huaigu stared at the pipa girl on the stage in a daze. The others were still laughing happily in the private room, and no one noticed his abnormal appearance.
Only Yu Qin followed his gaze and looked out the window, quietly holding his hand under the table without saying a word.
