Lu Yin looked over at Zhao Ran and curiously asked her, “Aside from tea, does this place have any other special drinks?” He recalled the beverage that he had enjoyed when visiting Brightstar Corp. and Amethyst Exchange. It had tasted pretty good.
Zhao Ran thought about it, and then her eyes lit up. “There is! I’ll go look for it.”
Lu Yin shook his head. “There’s no need. You can do that next time.” He had suddenly thought of that small tavern.
When he had first arrived on Zenyu Star, the Second Prince, Duke Yushan, had invited Lu Yin out for a drink, Ever since then, he had occasionally enjoyed the small tavern they had visited back then. It was located in a secluded corner of a noisy neighborhood, allowing one to watch the clamor of the nearby bars and observe the bustle of the capital. However, it was also not disturbed by it all. It was as if it was located in a separate area, and Lu Yin could always find a temporary solace in that place.
Although he had not gone to that pub very many times, Lu Yin always remembered it.
That pub represented Lu Yin’s ignorance when he first came to Zenyu Star, which was a time in his life that he reminisced about.
It had been more than eight years since he had first arrived on Zenyu Star.
“Boss, a pot of wine and a few appetizers.” Lu Yin stepped into the tavern and inhaled the fragrance of the cheap alcohol. Although it was inexpensive, it was also quite comfortable.
Under the dusky lighting, the boss could not clearly see Lu Yin’s face even though Lu Yin had not bothered to change his appearance. He sat down in the tavern with his normal appearance and drank some wine while feeling quite refreshed by the appetizers.
Before long, a group of people came out of a nearby bar and moved into the tavern, seeming like they had not yet drunk to their hearts’ content.
It was completely different to drink in the small pub compared to a bar.
Some felt that the tavern was beneath them, but others quite liked it.
With a mouthful of alcohol in their belly, they all felt warm.
Not too far away, there was a flag illuminated by the lights, and the flag’s shadow even stretched far enough to fall across Lu Yin’s table. He turned around, and his eyes lit up. It was Xuan Jiu; Lu Yin had not expected this old man to still be on Zenyu Star.
This old man shot his off mouth, but he was actually from Starsibyl Sect, and he was a senior as well. Lu Yin really wanted to see this old man meet Starsibyl face to face; he was curious if Starsibyl would actually call the old man Grandpa or beat him up instead!
Xuan Jiu placed his wooden pole on a table next to Lu Yin’s and sat down. “Boss, the same old, same old.”
The boss immediately served the old man a pot of wine and two small dishes. “Enjoy, master.”
Xuan Jiu laughed and stroked his beard before responding with satisfaction, “Boss’s wine is really good. Come, Master will help by giving you a free divination once again.”
The boss smiled warmly. “There’s no need. I opened this tavern so that I could provide an education for my kids and live a peaceful life. There’s nothing that I need to know in advance.”
Xuan Jiu exclaimed, “How many can reach the same realm of comprehension as you in their entire lives?”
“Haha, these are just an ordinary person’s thoughts. Master, enjoy a good meal.” The boss smiled and then left.
Who believed in divination in the current age? The few youths who had just arrived from the nearby bar sniggered at the nearby table, clearly laughing in disdain. One even started mocking the old man. “Boss, be careful! Someone wants to get a free meal.”
The boss smiled, but he did not bother with the youths.
Xuan Jiu started fuming. “You little baby! When this Master was fortune-telling, your ancestors were still sucking from teats!”
“What did you say?” The few young people were immediately enraged, and they wanted to beat up Xuan Jiu.
Xuan Jiu frowned. “What? You dare to act up here? Just try me!”
The few youths wanted to beat the old man up, but they apprehensively looked up, as King Zishan’s palace was right above them, and they did not dare act up in such a place. “Old man, you’d better be careful! Don’t let us catch you somewhere else, or else we’ll tear up your big flag.”
Xuan Jiu just rolled his eyes at them. “Bunch of trash.’
The few of them spat in contempt. They did not drink anymore wine and simply left after settling their bill.
The boss reminded the old man out of kindness, “Master, it’s best to try to not offend them. Those kids each have a bit of background.”
Xuan Jiu was arrogant. “What’s there to be afraid of? Even that kid, Lu Yin, has to call me Grandpa Jiu when he sees this Master!”
The boss was stumped, but then his expression changed to a deathly shade of white, and he hurriedly said in a low voice, “Master had best not spout such nonsense! The Royal Regent’s name cannot be tossed around haphazardly like that, so you must be careful to not be taken away by the Thirteen Imperial Squadrons!”
Xuan Jiu shook his head and took a swig of wine, though he looked a little lonely.
Amused by the old man, Lu Yin looked at Xuan Jiu and said, “Master is really having a relaxed time.”
Xuan Jiu turned around. Although the tavern was rather dusky, he was also a cultivator, and so, he could naturally see quite clearly.
When he saw Lu Yin’s face, even if Xuan Jiu was extremely thick-skinned, he still coughed in embarrassment. “So it’s you, hahaha! The weather’s good today, hahaha.”
Lu Yin’s lips curled upwards, and he poured a cup of wine and set it in front of the chair next to himself before gesturing for the old man to join his table.
Xuan Jiu picked up his flag and walked over beside Lu Yin. He then sat down and casually drank the offered cup before letting out a relaxed sigh. He looked at Lu Yin and said, “Young fellow, why do you have the time to drink? And why in this little pub?”
Lu Yin smiled. “I have nothing to do right now, and the wine here’s pretty good.”
Xuan Jiu’s eyes lit up. “You know your stuff! The wine here is indeed quite good.”
The boss looked at the two men, completely lost. His wine was only average, so why were these two complimenting it so highly? Could they really be trying to get a free meal? As he thought about it, he became more vigilant towards them.
“Is Master from the Starsibyl Sect?” Lu Yin asked as he poured another cup for Xuan Jiu.
Xuan Jiu picked up a mouthful of vegetables, and munched on them with gusto as he mumbled, “That’s right. The name ‘Starsibyl’s Grandpa Jiu’ isn’t just for show.”
“I heard that you’re an abandoned disciple,” Lu Yin commented.
Xuan Jiu was instantly infuriated. “What abandoned disciple? Young man, don’t be as clueless as the others. It wasn’t the Starsibyl Sect that chased this Master away, but rather that they could not handle my ability! This Master learned Heaven’s Enigma, and you can go and check into that! Don’t even mention Starsibyl—even the Starsibyl Sect Leader might not be able to learn this skill. Throughout history, nobody from the Starsibyl Sect has ever learned Heaven’s Enigma.”
“Heaven’s Enigma?” Lu Yin was puzzled.
“Since ancient times, I’ve been able to see the future by looking at the karmic seeds that you’ve sown in the present.” Xuan Jiu gazed at Lu Yin. “A masterful pair of eyes like mine can see through all falsehoods, and nobody can conceal themselves before my eyes.”
Lu Yin exchanged glances with Xuan Jiu. “Then what does Master see when you look at me?”
Xuan Jiu hurriedly shifted his gaze. “I’m not looking, as you have looked into the eyes of the dead, and you will be found by them sooner or later. You can’t hide from them.”
Lu Yin was curious about this. “Who’s looking for me?”