After drinking strong wine, the big men were full of praise.
Ma Guan, who had a scar on his face, shook his head vigorously and laughed and cursed: "His grandma's bear, I have traveled all over the world for so many years, and I have never felt drunk after drinking a bowl of wine. This wine is indeed the best in the world!"
Xu Yuan on the side nodded in agreement. His drinking capacity was better than that of Ma Guan, but he couldn't resist it.
This wine is like a knife in the mouth and has a mellow and overpowering aftertaste. People with an average ability to drink are afraid that they will die of drunkenness after just one sip.
Among the four, the one who surprised Pei Liang the most was the man in the felt hat named Qin Ying. He drank half a bowl in one go and could still talk and laugh freely.
"Brother Pei came to Yujing, presumably to participate in this gathering of heroes?"
Ding Baiqing, who had a peach-like face at this moment, raised his wine glass again.
Pei Liang did it first out of respect and shook his head: "I don't know what kind of meeting of heroes."
Ding Baiqing's eyes immediately flashed with surprise.
Qin Ying cleared her throat and continued: "This gathering of heroes is a rare grand gathering in the world in recent years. It is organized by the newly established Yuwu Division of the imperial court. It calls on the heroes from all over the world to gather in Jade Capital City to discuss strategies to fight against foreign races. There are still a few days until the congress is held. In five days, all the famous sects in the world have arrived."
Pei Liang put down his wine glass and said with a smile, "I'm just a nobody in the world. I don't know that there is such a grand event. It's normal."
Qin Ying said with some embarrassment: "Your Majesty's demeanor is incomparable to ordinary people, he must be a hermit and an expert!"
Pei Liang waved his hand gently.
Ding Baiqing smiled and said: "Actually, we don't want to have anything to do with the imperial court. It's just that the fight against foreigners is related to the justice of the world, so we have to come."
Children of the world value love and righteousness the most. When the country is in crisis, how many of them would throw away this good man's head. Pei Liang felt respectful and poured wine into his cup again:
"Come, let me toast you all. The world is far away, so everyone should take care of it!"
Everyone left their seats and stood up.
….
As the sun passed by Gaogang, in the backyard of the tavern, Lao Liu and Pei Liang each lay on a wicker chair, basking in the sun comfortably.
"In the blink of an eye, Master has been gone for so many years."
Old Liu stared at the sky blankly and sighed.
"Master looked like he was drunk when he left. He kept mumbling and didn't know what to say."
Old Liu chuckled: "You are the roundworm in Master's belly. How can you not know what he is talking about?"
"They are all emotional memories, not interesting." Pei Liang put his hands under his head.
"Well, when people reach that time, everything they think about and everything they look at are memories. Everyone wants to live over again. In this way, there should be a lot less regrets in life."
"It's a pity that you only live once"
"Just be content and happy"
"Senior brother, do you hate Master?" Pei Liang suddenly turned his head.
"I'm already this old, why do I have any hatred? When my master saw that I wasn't good at practicing martial arts, he made it very clear when he kicked me out. He must find the most suitable successor to inherit his mantle. , if you continue to keep me by your side, you are harming me. I didn’t quite understand it at the time. Later, as I grew older and more experienced, I gradually understood Master’s painstaking efforts. Everyone has a different path in life to take. Do what you like. Only when you are good at something will you be happy!”
"Yes." Pei Liang narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Now I just sit in this little tavern, drink some wine, and live a peaceful life for a few years, and then I'm content."
"What's going on with the newly established Imperial Military Department?" Pei Liang changed the topic.
"That is a new department run by Lu Qi, the Eunuch Bingbi, the Superintendent of Ceremonies. It is responsible for managing Jianghu forces. On the surface, it is to integrate forces to fight against foreigners, but in fact it is cultivating its own minions for the imperial court."
"This dilapidated imperial court still wants to get involved in the world."
"Now that troubled times are approaching, who doesn't want to win over his own forces? This Chu Fengyan is very ambitious!"
Chu Fengyan, whom Old Liu mentioned, was the most popular eunuch in front of the Holy Emperor today. The chief eunuch of the Bureau of Ceremonies was also Liu Jinyan's adoptive father. Pei Liang knew this very well.
"How is this Chu Fengyan's martial arts?"
"I'm not sure. I predict that I will at least start with a golden body. The Director of Ceremonies has recruited too many masters, and they are all in trouble."
"Is there any conspiracy behind this gathering of heroes? Who are the people here?"
"Conspiracy is not to be mentioned. It is nothing more than selecting the forces that can be loyal to the imperial court, providing more support, eradicating and suppressing the disobedient forces. Since the imperial court used the name of fighting against aliens this time, the major forces in the world have to come. In the future There’s a lot of excitement in Yujing City these days.”
"Are there any particularly powerful masters among the visitors?"
"It is rumored that the Crazy Sword Immortal will come!"
“That was really lively.”
———
Pei Liang walked out of the tavern and walked westward along the street. The avenues in Jade City were not only straight and wide, but also intertwined in an orderly manner without any chaos. Everywhere showed the dignity and majesty of the Tian family.
Most of the pedestrians on the street are also dressed in luxurious clothes. There are few small traders and hawkers on the roadside. From time to time, motorcades of aristocratic families pass by, with servants in the clouds, walking in a hurry.
Pei Liang walked around in a circle and felt that it was not interesting. He was about to go home when he suddenly frowned and felt a vague gaze staring at him.
The person who was following him was undoubtedly an extremely skilled person, and this glare was deliberately released just to make Pei Liang notice.
In this case, Pei Liang could only pretend not to know and continued to wander aimlessly. Finally, he came to a temple and walked into the bamboo forest in the back mountain.
When Pei Liang saw that the surroundings were quiet, he stopped first and waited for the person who was following him to show up.
The man seemed to have great self-discipline. Pei Liang waited for a stick of incense, but he didn't show up.
An ordinary person would probably have thought that he had made a mistake in judgment and continued on his way, but Pei Liang happened to be not an ordinary person. His patience was also very good, and he would never doubt himself about the things he was looking for.
With a loud laugh, an old man in gray clothes walked out of the forest. The moment he appeared, Pei Liang's muscles tensed up instantly.
"Young people have good concentration and high vigilance, but it is not easy."
"Your Excellency?"
Pei Liang's tone was casual, but his eyes were fixed on the visitor.
The old man in gray stretched out his hand and wiped his face, and his face changed. It was the Uncle Fang that Lu Qingyan said.
"Don't be nervous. I am Lu Fang, the chief steward of the Lu Mansion. I am here to meet you on your orders."
Uncle Fang said cheerfully.
Pei Liang did not relax his vigilance when he heard this, he just said lightly
"How can I see it?"
Uncle Fang's deep eyes flashed with admiration.
"I grew up watching Lu Qingyan. When you broke into the master's study yesterday, I was actually watching next to you. If you had made any move, we were already at each other's hands. How could you have been injured all over? retreat."
"Is it exaggerated?"
"Haha, young people are arrogant, you can give it a try"
"excuse me"
Pei Liang's eyes flashed, and he appeared in an instant. He raised his finger and pointed at Uncle Fang's eyebrows.
Uncle Fang raised his hand casually and put his palm to his fingertips. Suddenly there was a huge wave between the two of them, and they were clearly separated.
Pei Liang's overflowing sword energy was blocked by the massive amount of true energy in front of Fang Bo. Maolin Xiuzhu behind him was affected by the sword energy and was all broken at the waist.
Pei Liang was about to pull away, but his fingertips seemed to be stuck in the mud with strong suction, unable to move at all, and he couldn't help but be shocked.
"The young man's sword energy is not weak." Uncle Fang chuckled and took the initiative to let go of the sucking.
Pei Liang jumped away and clasped his fists: "Senior's cultivation is so advanced that it is beyond the reach of this junior!"
"You kid"
Uncle Fang shook his head helplessly and said with a smile: "You are all in the Golden Body state. You haven't even used one-tenth of your strength, so you just want to admit defeat to fool me."
Pei Liang smiled slightly. The old man's eyes were also very vicious. It seemed that his acting skills were still a little immature.
Uncle Fang seemed to understand Pei Liang's thoughts and waved his hand.
"I'm not here to find out more about you. I'm just going to ask you three questions and then leave."
"Senior, please speak." Pei Liang nodded.
"First question, do you like Little Swallow?" Uncle Fang got straight to the point.
"Miss Lu is kind to me. I only respect her, not like her."
Pei Liang just pondered for a moment and answered simply.
"Once the Lu family is in trouble, will you be willing to help her?"
When Uncle Fang asked the second question, his expression was extremely serious.
"If you are willing, go through fire and water, no matter what."
"Well, the last question is, even if you have no love for her, can you take care of her and protect her for the rest of your life?"
Faced with Uncle Fang's last question, Pei Liang rarely answered directly.
Uncle Fang didn't show any signs of urging or displeasure, his eyes were gentle and calm.
A true man promises a lot of money, and Pei Liang's performance just shows that he is a trustworthy person who keeps his promises.
"Are you afraid that someone in your family won't agree?" Uncle Fang smiled and Pei Liang shook his head when he heard this: "I'm just worried about Miss Lu."
"What does this mean?"
"To be honest, Pei's ambition is not here. Sooner or later, I will leave Wujing and go to Guyuguan. The good and bad luck along the way are unpredictable."
"You don't have to worry about this. If the Lu family falls, our little swallow can endure as much hardship as she can bear. She is a woman with a strong heart. As long as you do your best to protect her and take care of her, Don’t worry about anything else, can you do it?”
Pei Liang nodded, and Lu Qingyan's eyes, as gentle as the misty rain in the south of the Yangtze River, appeared in his mind again.
"I want you to say it yourself!" Uncle Fang said in a deep voice.
"This junior can do this, take care of her and protect her all his life, and prevent her from being wronged!"
"Okay, I am a true man and I will never go back on my word. From now on, you will have the full support of the Lu family!"
After Uncle Fang said this, he laughed several times and disappeared.
Lu family mansion
The maid Xiaowan pushed open the door and walked in. Lu Qingyan was writing inscriptions at the table and hurriedly folded the calligraphy and painting in half.
"What are you writing? You're afraid I'll bump into you."
Seeing Xiao Wan coming over curiously, Lu Qingyan pretended to be angry and said, "It's becoming more and more unruly. Be careful, I'll let my father punish you."
"Oh, the master is here!"
Xiao Wan pointed out the window with a panic look on his face, and when the lady turned around and was distracted, he snatched the scroll on the case.
Lu Qingyan reacted and was about to grab it when Xiao Wan had already run away around the screen.
When she opened the scroll while running, a lifelike picture of a boat on the river appeared on the paper, with a few lines of beautiful characters on the upper right.
"The sea water is a long dream, you are worried and I am also worried. The south wind knows my intention and blows my dreams..."
It was obvious that the last three words had not been written out before. Xiao Wan read it aloud and burst out laughing, ignoring Lu Qingyan's shameful expression:
"Would you like me to add it for you, dreaming of going to Pei Liang's house, haha"
