Eternal Life Starts as a Hunter-Chapter 393 - 146: Map of the World, Western Pole Ice Race, Harvest Before Retreat (Major - )
"Xiaozhao and Niannian are both on the Cloud Mountain Path. If you go there, you can take care of them, and I can be at ease."
"Okay."
Lady Yan in Red Clothes replied coldly.
In the twisted silhouette of a black-and-white Ghost Market, the bloody hem of the ghost’s dress slightly fluttered, revealing a supernatural charm unseen by mortals. Her pale fingers grasped the Ice Coffin, gazing for a long time, as if observing an evil ghost on the other side through it.
"Huh?" Her tone carried a hint of confusion.
"What’s wrong, is this ghost acting strange?" Li Yuan noticed the change in her expression, so he said, "If it’s not right, let’s not try this. Safety first."
Lady Yan in Red Clothes shook her head, calmly saying, "I can devour it."
After speaking, she turned around and said, "Husband, you go first."
Li Yuan did not speak further.
He hesitated for a few seconds; she is still so considerate, never putting words like ’Once the fusion starts, you can’t leave’ out in the open, always looking after his feelings.
He looked up, a thousand words condensed into one sentence: "See you on the Cloud Mountain Path."
Lady Yan in Red Clothes blinked her cold, emotionless eyes, which might have been a playful flashback from the past, or a way of expressing emotion.
"See you on the Cloud Mountain Path."
In the cold voice, Li Yuan nevertheless heard a trace of warmth.
He pulled the Thousand-Mile in a Line, passed through the cold, gloomy tunnel, and returned to Wang Hiran’s side.
...
The scene changed, the air filled with the distinctive smell of the tavern’s wine, mixed with the chill of the secret room’s stagnant air.
"Master."
Wang Hiran said.
Li Yuan took out three [Copper Pendants] from his pocket and handed them to him, saying, "In a few days, take people to the Cloud Mountain Path and rendezvous with Tang Nian."
"Yes, Master!" Wang Hiran responded respectfully, "It’s just that now it’s the snowy season, and the roads to the Cloud Mountain Path are extremely difficult to traverse. Even with good luck, it will take about two months to see the young miss, and with bad luck, we’ll have to wait until the snow melts next spring."
"It’s alright, take your time, don’t rush, don’t let anything happen... Once you’re there, stay with Tang Nian temporarily and await further orders, which I’ll give later," Li Yuan said.
"Yes."
Wang Hiran replied.
Li Yuan gave some more detailed instructions.
When Wang Hiran reaches the Cloud Mountain Path, he too will be able to arrive.
Thinking that Yan Yu might have already started the fusion with the Ice Coffin Ghost at the Cloud Mountain Path, he silently climbed the stairs, left the secret passage, changed to the "fake Li Yuan" outside, then clutched a jar of wine, looking at it for several seconds thoughtfully, and then snapped open the seal and downed several jars in succession.
Until the wine trickled from the corners of his mouth, wetting his collar and clothes, only then did he throw the wine jar aside, saying, "Still familiar taste of homebrew... haha..."
Saying so, he staggered out of the tavern, hailed a carriage, and shouted, "To the Triple Gate."
The carriage driver recognized him and replied, "Alright, Master Li, but... this little one can’t get into the Triple Gate."
Li Yuan laughed heartily saying, "With my face, just show them when needed."
The carriage driver laughed along with him.
He stretched his long legs comfortably, reclining on the carriage’s bench.
And the protectors, or perhaps monitors, receded slowly without noticing anything unusual about him.
...
...
"Why is husband drinking so much, is it because Shuixiang didn’t do well, causing husband’s distress... I’m sorry, I’m sorry..."
The petite woman supported Li Yuan, apologizing while serving him to bed, then started helping him out of his clothes.
After a while, Li Yuan seemed to recover; he sat up straight on the bed, looked at Jing Shuixiang, and said, "Just a little homesick."
"I remember husband’s hometown is Shanbao County."
"Yes. Unfortunately, it was taken by the Lotus Thieves."
"Then if husband wishes to drown his sorrows with wine, you could drink the Hundred Flowers Brew in town, which can intoxicate even a Fifth Grade!"
Li Yuan leaned back, spread his hands across the bedding, and with a tone that was both laughing and complex, he lamented, "As good as the Hundred Flowers Brew is, I still remember the Snow Brew from home."
"So, husband drank Snow Brew today?"
"Yes."
"I’m sorry..."
"What’s wrong again?"
"It’s because Shuixiang couldn’t give husband the happiness he wants, that’s why husband is troubled..."
The air suddenly became quiet, after a long time, Li Yuan said, "Let’s sleep."
Jing Shuixiang blew out the candle; in the darkness came the rustling sound of undressing.
...
The next day.
Jing Shuixiang got up early to prepare a hearty breakfast for Li Yuan.
By noon, an ox cart loaded with Snow Brew braved the wind and snow, jingling its bells, slowly approaching, and after entering the Triple Gate, stopped in front of the Jing Family residence.
Then servants started unloading the wine jars one by one from the ox cart.
A steward from the Jing Family found Li Yuan and said, "Master Li, the patriarch asked me to deliver fifty jars of Snow Brew to you."
Then he seemed to remember something, "Oh," and took out a jade box from his pocket, handing it over with both hands, "Inside are two hundred Heart-Burning Flowers."
The Heart-Burning Flower, also known as the Strong Alcohol Flower, is poison to ordinary people, but for Martial Artists above the Sixth Grade, it is intoxicating. Brewing wine with it, or infusing it into ordinary wine, can make the liquor several times stronger.
Master Li might try putting a flower in a jar of wine for better effect..."
"The Patriarch Jing is considerate." Li Yuan said.
The steward smiled, "The patriarch always speaks highly of you, often saying you should have been a son-in-law of the Jing Family."
After saying that, he bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Li Yuan was left speechless.
However, compared to the belligerent Gu System, he indeed leaned more towards the Jing System.
After others left, he snapped open a jar’s seal, took a Strong Alcohol Flower, and tossed it inside.
The shriveled white flower, soaked in the wine, seemed to come to life, and the aroma with the scent of wine became all the more intense.
