The very top floor of Treasure Pavilion was Tang Ru's private domain. Without his permission, no one was allowed up here.
Tang Ru led Li Guanqi straight into his study and dismissed all the maids.
The moment he stepped inside, Li Guanqi caught the scent of calming incense.
He paused in mild surprise. That stuff was by no means cheap. He turned to glance at Tang Ru.
It seemed this fellow had plenty on his mind; otherwise, he wouldn't need to keep calming incense burning in his study on ordinary days.
Two massive windows opened in the ceiling of the antique study; looking up, one could take in the magnificent night sky.
The room was spacious, yet packed on all sides with dense rows of bookshelves, mostly filled with ledgers and records.
Upon the huge desk sat three long abacuses, with all kinds of account books piled across the surface in slight disarray.
Once Tang Ru shut the door, he burst out in sheer excitement, "How are you here?"
Li Guanqi shrugged, plopped down across from the desk, and laughed softly. "Out traveling for training. Just kept walking and wound up here."
Tang Ru nodded. His raised hand paused, and he looked at Li Guanqi to ask, "Tea or wine?"
Looking at the tea set on the desk, Li Guanqi couldn't help but smile. "Tea. Seeing the state you're in, having wine might hold you up."
Tang Ru waved a dismissive hand with a laugh, casually tidying away the account books on the desk as he chuckled heartily. "Any other time, I'd definitely drink tea. But having run into you again, we have to drink some wine!"
With that, he brought out two jars of fine wine from his storage ring.
Even before they were opened, the aroma threatened to fill the entire room.
Li Guanqi's nose twitched, the craving inside him thoroughly stirred.
Tang Ru laughed loudly. "See? Claimed you wanted tea, but aren't you itching for wine after all?"
Saying so, Tang Ru sat down directly across from Li Guanqi and brought out two crystal-clear cups.
A misty chill hung over them, cloaked in a layer of condensation.
Tang Ru smiled. "A type of ice cup. Fine wine deserves fine vessels."
With a flick of his wrist, a slightly thick, amber wine poured forth in a graceful arc.
Li Guanqi couldn't wait to lift his cup and sniff it, remarking in admiration, "What fine wine!"
He took small sips to savor it, before tossing the rest down in a single gulp.
The gentle, aromatic liquid trickled down his throat, pleasantly warm. Yet the moment it hit his stomach, a burst of flame seemed to erupt in his dantian, and a potent rush of wine vigor exploded in his mouth.
A faint flush rose to Li Guanqi's cheeks. As his blood and qi surged, he opened his eyes and praised, "Whoa! That packs a punch!"
Hearing Li Guanqi's praise, Tang Ru laughed heartily as well.
*Clink.*
Their cups collided, and Tang Ru said softly, "To tell the truth, back then I never thought you'd have that much guts! Real damn gutsy! To make that kind of choice—were you already prepared to fight to the death back then?"
Li Guanqi smacked his lips and murmured, "Back then, I really was prepared to die trying."
And so the two sat in the study, listening to the cicadas humming outside the window, reminiscing about days gone by.
After several rounds of wine, Li Guanqi noticed Tang Ru hesitating, looking as if he had something to say but held back, and said with an easy smile, "If there's something on your mind, just speak plainly. No need to hold back like this."
Tang Ru looked up and gave him a long, deep look. At this moment, Tang Ru's eyes were slightly red, shot through with faint veins of blood. It looked as though he hadn't slept well in a very long time.
Tang Ru hesitated for a moment before finally asking softly, "What realm are you at now?"
Hearing this, even Li Guanqi paused for a moment. He had wondered what Tang Ru would say, not expecting his very first question to be about his current realm.
Still, Li Guanqi replied softly, "Middle Nascent Soul."
After saying that, Li Guanqi glanced toward a corner of the room and added quietly, "Hasn't that gentleman over there already sensed it?"
Tang Ru's pupils contracted to needlepoints in an instant!
He had not expected Li Guanqi to sense the person so clearly!
One had to realize that Elder Qian was a late Nascent Soul powerhouse!
At that moment, the shadows in the corner distorted slightly as an elderly figure slowly emerged.
The old man wore a black robe, its surface shimmering with occasional gleams of flowing light—clearly no ordinary garment. His posture was slightly hunched, with two short sabers hanging at his waist, and his silver hair was impeccably groomed. Sunken eye sockets gave his gaze an intensely intimidating air!
Yet through it all, Li Guanqi remained utterly calm, even taking another sip of his wine.
The silver-haired elder studied Li Guanqi for a moment, then surprisingly bowed slightly to him, saying softly, "This old man is Qian Feng, Tang Ru's Dao protector."
Li Guanqi rose slightly to return the courtesy, acknowledging the greeting.
Tang Ru's eyes flickered. Staring intently at Li Guanqi, he asked in a low voice, "Brother Li, if you and Elder Qian were to fight, who would win?"
To anyone else, this question might have sounded like complete nonsense. How could Li Guanqi, who had only just stepped into the middle Nascent Soul realm, possibly defeat a late Nascent Soul powerhouse who had lived for centuries?
Yet Tang Ru knew full well that this youth before him could never be judged by common sense.
Hearing those words, Qian Feng immediately frowned.
Although he acknowledged that the youth before him was strong, Tang Ru phrasing it this way still rubbed him the wrong way.
He said in a deep voice, "Young Master, does this mean you don't want this old man to settle this matter? Although this friend of yours could be called the strongest among all the younger generation I have ever seen, I do not believe I would lose!"
Li Guanqi looked into Tang Ru's eyes, seeing that this question clearly meant a great deal to him.
After pondering for a moment, he said softly, "To decide victory, seven to three in my favor. To decide life and death, I live."
Tang Ru's eyes flashed with brilliant light at once, whereas the elder beside him let out a cold snort of displeasure.
"Hmph! Such a young pup, yet talking so big! This old man has eaten more salt than you've eaten grains of rice!"
Li Guanqi curled his lip and replied, "Then you'd better take it easy, venerable elder. That much salt must be awfully salty."
"You!"
Seeing this, Tang Ru rushed between them and said, "Elder Qian, please don't be angry. My friend didn't mean anything by it."
The elder didn't listen to Tang Ru's explanation at all, keeping his eyes locked onto Li Guanqi as he said darkly, "Young Master, you should know how important this matter is! If it fails... it means utter doom! I am unwilling to see you entrust this to an outsider! Since you say I would die if our fight were to the death, then let's test it out!"
Li Guanqi shrugged. From beginning to end, he still had no idea what this matter actually was, nor had he decided whether to lend a hand.
How did it feel like he had already agreed to it?
Still...
With a faint, playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, Li Guanqi slowly rose to his feet. Turning toward the old man, he walked toward him step by step.
Chapter 315