Before long, all four dishes to accompany their drink arrived: salted crispy peanuts, braised pig's head meat, eggs scrambled with scallions, and roasted lamb liver, accompanied by a small jar of fashionable lychee wine and two bowls of mixed-flavor noodles.
Ding Songyan clinked wine bowls with Ren Youyang, took a hearty gulp, and amidst the sweet fragrance of lychees and the rich scent of wine, picked up a slice of savory braised pig's head meat, chewing it thoroughly.
His current body was no stranger to alcohol.
As they made casual conversation, Ding Songyan did not ask about the Zhenling Sect, nor did he pry into why Ren Youyang had come to Dingjiang Prefecture in Ningzhou. Instead, he drew upon martial world lore and jianghu anecdotes he had heard, flattering his companion every now and then.
With a shallow acquaintance, one did not speak too deeply.
Drinking and eating, Ren Youyang's drunkenness gradually deepened, and he clicked his tongue as he shared his thoughts on the Jade Tree Ranking:
"Of those on the ranking, if not all of them, seven or eight out of ten rely on the aid of their cultivation arts or have consumed corresponding divine items. Su Yunzhang of the Tiannü Sect, Yu Chongyuan of the Five Saints Sect, Gu Yi of the Luanfeng Sect, Qi Yangbing of the Tianmi Sect, Li Linquan of the Leiyin Sect, and Chu Hanyuan and Zhao Zichang of the Six Dragons Sect—every single one of them. Relying purely on their original looks, they might not have garnered such fanatic praise."
Nodding deliberately to show agreement, Ding Songyan swiftly analyzed the useful information buried in those words.
*The Five Saints Sect carries the phoenix inheritance, gathering all colors of the world, so that fits... The Luanfeng Sect clearly derives from the luan bird, and The Esoteric Classic of Mountains and Seas also describes it as 'gathering colors'... The Six Dragons Sect traces back to the Yinglong; dragon ancestor, phoenix progenitor, so that makes sense as well... But which heavenly deities or strange beasts do the Tianmi Sect and Tiannü Sect correspond to?*
*The nine-tailed fox is described as 'beguiling the realm.' Under such an inheritance, it would be utterly impossible for a man not to enter the Jade Tree Ranking, or for a woman not to make the Jianghu Beauty Ranking. Does the Tianmi Sect or the Tiannü Sect correspond to the nine-tailed fox?*
*And what is going on with that fellow from the Leiyin Sect? Though I haven't finished browsing The Esoteric Classic of Mountains and Seas, and remember even less of it in detail, none of the thunder-related entities are described as enhancing one's appearance or charm...*
"Which one of them consumed a divine item?" Ding Songyan ventured, guessing part of the truth.
Ren Youyang chuckled mischievously. "Li Linquan of the Leiyin Sect. In his youth, he had a chance encounter and obtained a stalk of Yao grass."
"Yao grass?" Ding Songyan did not bother trying to recall the contents of The Esoteric Classic of Mountains and Seas, knowing full well that Ren Youyang was eager to explain.
"Indeed." Ren Youyang looked wistful, an impish grin on his face. "Yao grass is what transformed from the body of Yaoji, daughter of the Heavenly Emperor—the Goddess of Mount Wu—after her death. Consuming it makes one beloved and adored. Even I feel tenderness toward him, so what of heroic maidens and demonesses?"
A fierce, thunderous disciple of the Leiyin Sect consuming Yao grass that made him "beloved and adored"—what kind of bizarre spectacle did that create? Ding Songyan felt a surge of curiosity.
"To make others adore him and willingly offer him their best things—it really stirs up envy," Ren Youyang joked. "If I had eaten Yao grass, I wouldn't have been tossed out of Cuiliu Brothel today, nor would I have missed seeing Courtesan Leader Li."
"Ah, but then that wouldn't showcase Brother Youyang's natural grace and eloquence." Compared to Ren Youyang, who was merely twenty-four and had only traveled the jianghu for a couple of years, Ding Songyan was far more seasoned in the art of idle banter, repeatedly bringing a smile to the young man's face like a spring breeze.
Ding Songyan was even more curious about another matter. "Does consuming Yao grass clash with one's own cultivation arts?"
"Divine items in the form of fruits, trees, and medicinal herbs, as well as strange creatures possessing only the ability to cure illnesses, will not interfere with any art you cultivate." Ren Youyang made no attempt to conceal the fact.
In the martial world, this was common knowledge.
Picking up a peanut with his chopsticks, he chewed on it a couple of times before cautioning Ding Songyan, "What I said today about the Jade Tree Ranking—especially about Li Linquan having consumed Yao grass—you must never repeat to outsiders. Not that I fear them, but we'll inevitably cross paths in the future, and it would be rather awkward. That Li Linquan has a fiery temper, truly living up to the name of a thunderbolt.
"Er, though I really do fear Yu Chongyuan. He became a grandmaster at twenty-six, broke through into the Heaven-Man Realm at thirty-three, and is only thirty-four this year. He has hopes of reaching the Lingtai in the future. I genuinely can't beat him."
"Rest assured, Brother Youyang. My lips are sealed." Ding Songyan lifted his bowl and clinked it against Ren Youyang's once more.
Just as Ren Youyang was about to speak again, a figure suddenly stepped out from beside a lacquered wooden pillar.
Ding Songyan froze in surprise. The newcomer seemed to have been standing nearby the entire time, yet he had failed to notice him at all.
It was one of Ren Youyang's guards whom Ding Songyan had seen earlier at Zhen Manor—the one whose movements were as elusive and drifting as a ghost.
The guard did not actually possess the power of invisibility, nor had he used any illusion or hidden in Ding Songyan's blind spots. Rather, he seemed to have melded into his surroundings, becoming part of the environment itself. Standing by the lacquered wooden pillar, he had naturally taken on the very presence of the pillar.
The guard leaned down beside Ren Youyang's ear and whispered a few words almost soundlessly.
Listening, Ren Youyang's canine ears twitched slightly. He cast a look of mixed confusion and curiosity toward Ding Songyan, leaving Ding Songyan bewildered and waiting patiently.
While waiting, Ding Songyan examined the guard closely and noticed that he, too, possessed bodily anomalies, though they were largely concealed beneath his clothes; without looking closely from nearby, one would hardly spot them.
His hands were tucked inside his sleeves, revealing only faint glimpses of sharp claws with clear signs of beast transformation.
Once the guard retreated to his original spot, Ren Youyang gave a slight smile and beckoned to Ding Songyan, gesturing for him to come around to the side of the square table and sit closer.
Filled with questions, Ding Songyan shifted over.
"Worthy brother, aren't you a storyteller outside Duokang Temple? How is it that two separate groups are tailing you?" Ren Youyang murmured right into Ding Songyan's ear, keeping his voice down.
His words fell like a bolt from the blue, startling Ding Songyan.
*Someone is following me? Two separate groups? And I didn't notice at all!* Ding Songyan felt both shocked and suspicious.
Maintaining his posture, Ren Youyang continued in an undertone, "One of them is Zhen Manor's retained expert, Yu Wanxiong."
*Yu Wanxiong... Mr. Yu? That name hardly matches his bearing and demeanor, though when his parents named him, they couldn't have anticipated his future temperament or the path he would take... Why is Mr. Yu tailing me? Hasn't the person who truly supplied The Esoteric Classic of Mountains and Seas already died? Tracing back even further, neither the original owner of this body nor those connected to him had any dealings with that... Wait, could it be because I told a story to that 'honored guest' this afternoon? Does Mr. Yu want to see whether I was secretly influenced? Are they guarding against that 'honored guest' that strictly?* Ding Songyan instinctively frowned.
If that was truly the case, his lurking in Beili Ward to wait for an encounter would appear quite suspicious in Mr. Yu's eyes!
*Will Zhen Manor seize me later for torture and interrogation? Should I just take refuge at the county yamen?*
"The other is that man over there," Ren Youyang pointed discreetly.
By a window a few tables away, a man was drinking alone.
He had an ordinary appearance and wore a common cloth head wrap. Before him sat two dishes and a flask of wine.
Ding Songyan glanced out of the corner of his eye and found that while he did not know the man, he seemed to recall crossing paths with him occasionally on the street over the past few days.
In the vast sea of people, nobody paid attention to an ordinary face passed in passing, but now that Ren Youyang had warned him, Ding Songyan found it more and more suspicious the more he thought about it.
*What is this man's background?*
*Who sent him to follow me?*
Eager to act, Ren Youyang whispered again, "Worthy brother, head home normally later. I'll secretly keep an eye on this fellow and find a way to drag out the mastermind behind him.
"As for the other side, I don't know why Yu Wanxiong is following you, and it's not convenient for me to interfere in Zhen Manor's internal disputes, lest it ruin subsequent plans.
"If you are truly worried about that, go to the county yamen and look for the Xiaoming Sect, especially that Zheng Zhuxi. Though she is quite young and her strength is not great, her father is a high-ranking court official, and her mother is the sect master of the Xiaoming Sect—a figure who holds a name even among grandmasters. Moreover, she is eager to help and righteous, willing to stand up for folks without status like you."
Ding Songyan gave a small nod and agreed.
Zhen Manor's matter could be dealt with later; the immediate problem had to be solved first.
Having eaten and drunk his fill, he bade farewell to Ren Youyang, left the tavern, and headed in the direction of Chengyu Lane.
As the night breeze carrying the river's coolness blew over him, Ding Songyan's mind cleared considerably. Regaining his composure, he mulled over several details he had overlooked just now.
*What subsequent business do Ren Youyang and Zhen Manor—or rather, the Zhenling Sect and Zhen Manor—have?*
*Why was it Ren Youyang's guard who spotted the stalkers rather than Ren Youyang himself?*
*He only noticed after his guard gave him the heads-up...*
*When wandering incognito among commoners, does he truly treat himself as an ordinary mortal, not even bothering to keep his eyes and ears open? Isn't he getting a bit too lost in the role?*
*Or does his guard practice a specialized art that makes him exceptionally adept at such matters?*
Ding Songyan walked and paused, pretending to admire the bustling nighttime scenery of the prefectural seat.
Lanterns of various colors hung high, casting a warm glow over a world prosperous with harvest.
Taking advantage of crouching down to admire a hanging scroll painting, Ding Songyan naturally cast a glance behind him.
This was his fifth time checking for tails, with no success prior.
Sweeping his gaze quickly, he spotted the man who had been drinking alone in the tavern.
*It really is him...* Ding Songyan withdrew his gaze and studied the calligraphy and paintings on the roadside stall.
In this manner, he made his way sluggishly back toward Chengyu Lane, leaving Ren Youyang plenty of "operating time."
Just as he reached the well at the lane's entrance, a dark silhouette abruptly darted out from the side.
Ding Songyan was scared half out of his wits, nearly swinging the folding fan in his hand.
"Second Brother Ding!" Xu Chang'an's voice rang out.
Ding Songyan checked his motion. Looking closely under the moonlight and starlight, he found that it was indeed the shifty, beady-eyed Xu Chang'an.
"Are you trying to play a ghost?" Ding Songyan scolded crossly.
Xu Chang'an gave an embarrassed grin. "Why are you back so late today? I've been waiting for you the whole time."
*Wait, what are you waiting for me for?* Ding Songyan glanced down Chengyu Lane, where few households wasted money hanging lanterns.
Xu Chang'an produced a silver ingot. "Second Brother Ding, yesterday's matter was all thanks to you. Early this morning, I went to Master's house in advance and stole twenty-five taels of silver first. Only then did I split the rest equally with my martial brothers. In any case, none of them knew just how much private savings Master had.
"Th-this twenty-five taels is my gratitude. Don't refuse it! It includes five taels for Big Brother Ding as well."
*You're actually quite decent... But why use such an ugly word like 'stole'? First come, first served...* Ding Songyan coughed dryly.
"Since you've put it that way, wouldn't I seem tactless if I didn't accept?"
With a sigh, he accepted the heavy silver ingot.
Xu Chang'an's face relaxed into a heartfelt smile as he turned and headed home.
Ding Songyan took two steps forward, only to see Ren Youyang emerge from the shadows slightly behind him to the side.
The Zhenling Sect disciple shook his head solemnly, his voice low.
"Didn't catch him."
Chapter 23