The taste of the food displayed on the table is nothing short of extraordinary, Nanming noted how every dish has a dominating taste. Like the savory beef, the spiciness of the stir-fried pig, and the pleasantly sweat roasted duck.
Creating a sort of situation where Nanming must eat with more than one of these assortments of foods to feel the explosion of flavor on each of them hitting him at the same time, in fact he only realized this is the intended way after seeing the Golden Boar shoved four kinds of foods all at once.
Speaking of him, the Golden Boar looked less like eating for enjoyment and more like consuming to chase something, the frantic bite and aggressive swallowing is not subtle at all, and Yu Shua Bi is clearly disturbed by him.
On the other hand, Xu Hui Cheh is surprisingly elegant in her way of eating. Not taking too many bites at a time and chewing her food silently, though the same cannot be said with how she is drinking.
Every five seconds, she will ask for a refill, before downing all the wine down her throat and making a contented face every time. Well, it's good for Nanming, he had no intention of consuming wine so its fine if Xu Hui Cheh drinks all of them.
"You're not drinking?"
Xu Hui Cheh asked, offering her own glass that has no liquid inside, clean, utterly. Her face looked slightly flushed, though tipsy she still has that dangerous edge surrounding her.
"I'm weak to alcohol"
Nanming admits, he realized this through one of Yi Ling pranks, switching his drinks back in the Nameless Village with Monkey Booze that she finds and laughing her hearts out when Nanming could barely walk straight.
"Really? Well, you're still a kid after all…"
Xu Hui Cheh said before asking for another wine that comes swiftly, after drinking it all in one go, she let out a contented "Puwah~" before resuming her barrage of words.
"I admit, you're skilled. Not as much as I am, if I had more time bonding over this blade, my Weapon Soul would've come quicker and smoother and by the time you finished doing that Violet thing, your head would've already joined the mass grave"
She said, praising and insulting Nanming at the same time, he is honestly impressed by how subtle she can do that.
"And that Yu clan boy, damned my luck for seeing him here, that fucking geezer light spear is still giving me nightmare"
Xu Hui Cheh voice turned to amusement from just a second ago to an oddly wary contempt, as if the so called 'geezer' would just show up and impaled her with that light spear of his.
Nanming is also surprised to know that Jing-U is Yu Shua Bi of the the Yu clan, being one of the Great Clan of Hazhui and simultaneously one of its strongest, implied to have been an equal to the Wu clan which Nanming knows were filled with monsters.
They are also the masters of the Orthodox Jianghu, commanding a significant influence in the West and even East, if Yu Shua Bi comes from such a prolific clan, all the difficulties they encounter during their travel would've been easily solved should he use the name of his clan.
But seeing how he acts, it's clear that it's the last thing Yu Shua Bi will ever do.
"So, about the Demonic Sect which you are so obviously a part of"
Xu Hui Cheh suddenly spoke in a low voice, so that only Nanming can hear her.
The air around her is suddenly charged with tension, as if winter has come once more.
"I failed to see any of their red eyes on you, and the Demonic Energy they exudes everywhere is nowhere to be seen…"
She then shift her glare from the swirling wine on her cup to Nanming directly, the Golden shines of her eyes being caught by the light is a manifestation of her contempt towards him.
"…Because I am only taught by them"
Nanming answered her edged voice with a calm, deadpan response.
"Hah! Really now? I know how they work kid; they'll massacre anyone who isn't a Fiend…"
She said before she drops her cup down to her table.
"And you are clearly not a Fiend, so who the hell are you really?"
She said, leaning over him with dangerous intent, it's clear that she holds some degree of ill intent towards the Fiend, if Nanming answers wrong, another fight would've occurred and Nanming allegiance will be revealed.
"I was taught by one of the Demonic Sect Lord, I don't know why but they suddenly told me to go awa—"
"I. Hate. Liars, and I can sense one very easily. Tell you what, I know that there has been a large commotion in the Demonic Sect…"
Xu Hui Cheh said, after so calmly cutting off Nanming words, she filled the gap with a smoke of her own, with each huff of her exhale, the space within them is filled and made more suffocating with the drug filled smog.
"Fwah… One of which results in one of their Prince got killed, or so they say, and conveniently you are here, taught with not one but three of their fist technique and maybe more"
Xu Hui Cheh voice, though calm and exceedingly teasing is filled with something close to Yi Ling way of speaking, as if each words is a prelude to a beating.
Should he be honest? Maybe that's for the best.
"…I was kidnapped by the Cruel Demon"
And as soon as that word leaves his mouth, Xu Hui Cheh got choked on her own smoke, and as she coughs, the Golden Boar draws some smiles and laugh her for her predicament.
"That's what you get for being too greedy with the wine"
"cough, cough You fuck cough you don't have any room to say that fucking glutton cough"
The Golden Boar laugh some more before he retreats to his own conversation with Yu Shua Bi, Nanming never noticed this due to Xu Hui Cheh taking so much of his attention away.
Xu Hui Cheh then tried to level her breathing, puffing up her chest to try and solve her choking while muttering, 'well, thats certainly their doing alright'.
After a short while, she draws in a heavy breath, as if she had fucked up big time.
"Hahh… Okay, fuck, you have some connection to one of the Profaned One, shit what a day"
Xu Hui Cheh said as she rubs her temples, trying to ease off some of the pressure she felt inside her head.
"Who is the Profaned One, and who is the Cruel Demon exactly?"
Nanming finally had a chance to ask about Yi Ling true fame, the fact that Father seems wary of her is enough of evidence to tell that she is strong, but how strong?
"You don't know? Fuckass you're in the Jianghu, everyone knows about this…"
Xu Hui Cheh retort was met with a head shake by Nanming, and as she sighed, she chooses to enlighten him with the lore of the Jianghu.
"You know about the Killing Star, right? I'm one of them anyway"
Nanming nods at her question.
"It's a title given to anyone with high enough fame in the Unorthodox Jianghu, specifically to 'criminals' and I held the third spot just behind Va Lingyun Tua who died, so I might as well be the second"
Xu Hui Cheh said as she leaned her back to the chair, angling her head upward to observe the ceiling for some reason.
"Profaned One is a title of a monsters, and the Orthodox use it sparingly… In fact, there is only four Profaned One and the Cruel Demon is one of them"
Xu Hui Cheh then tried to recount whatever it is she knows about Yi Ling, who the broader World knows as the Cruel Demon.
"The Cruel Demon is a monster throughout, hell I dare say they're a god of some ancient civilization or something, cuz' they're old as hell, a thousand years olds if I recalled"
"Thousand?"
Nanming asked, she certainly didn't act her age. Perhaps immortality stunted her mental development.
"Crazy right? They're older than most of the Great Clan for fuck's sake, and they sure lived up to their age, the massacre of the Bailang Plain remained clear in my mind, how they cracked open the earth like it was no big deal, fuck, remembering just how many screams filled the day back then is nauseous as fuck"
Xu Hui Cheh said, closing her eyes while remaining in the same position.
"And they killed the Taoist Sect leader way back then as well, throwing the entire Orthodox faction into disarray, if they didn't attack the Demonic Sect right away, those Fiends might've already been in Sichuan by now"
Why is she calling Yi Ling them? Perhaps her gender isn't widely known.
Xu Hui Cheh then let out a satisfied burp, and as she downed another wine, she wipes her mouth elegantly with her palm before she stood up and stretched her body.
"Fuhh… Didn't know you had good taste in wine fat pig"
Xu Hui Cheh said, and she didn't wait for a response from the Golden Boar who looked mighty annoyed at her insults.
"The contra—"
"Yea, yea I know. Those Camelot fuckers and what not am-I-rite? Be done 'afore sunset hic"
Xu Hui Cheh walked out of the main chamber, her footstep sound faded away by the second. The sudden absence of her presence near Nanming has filled him with some sort of dissonance feeling, at least that suffocating smoke wasn't near him anymore so he can focus on spying on the Golden Boar and Yu Shua Bi conversing.
As his mind retreats into Deep Focus, the sound of rustling leaves swayed by the wind and the groan of the structure can be heard, but he can filter most of that disturbance away and pick up the conversation.
"I've told you already young master Yu, I will not speak a word about today's incident, and I'll make sure those guards of mine won't let loose their lousy tongue as well, but I need your cooperation"
"…Few have yet to hear about your machination Master Golden Boar, I am keenly aware of how much power you hold, so why me?"
"Cuz' I need that boy you are bringing in, and something tells me he won't listen to anyone, but perhaps you can assist me on that, so I might as well just ask you for assistance at the same time"
As the voice of their conversation got filtered in, Nanming couldn't help but to feel puzzled and worried, considering how easy it is for Xu Hui Cheh to find out his true allegiance, the Golden Boar might've already caught up.
'I should be more careful with showing my power'
Nanming thought before he continued to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"I don't think I could exercise my will towards him…"
"Figure it out then, otherwise the incident of today won't be contained at just my mind"
"…"
The Golden Boar is oddly persistent, why would he want the Marble Salt so badly anyway? Was this related to the Seven Cauldron Sage issue as well?
Nanming begins to list all kinds of peculiarities in the Golden Boar behavior, he didn't drink wine, Nanming knows this because he took a glance at when he asked to be poured some of it to his cup, and the color of the liquid is clear whereas the wine Xu Hui Cheh indulges herself in is murky white.
He also shoved a whole lot of foods and didn't seem to try and taste them even when the food tasted exuberantly delicious.
Somethings wrong with his taste bud? Then why eat such an amount in the first place?
'Drawing from all of this evidence, something related to cooking?'
Nanming drew a loose conclusion, it's a weak one with only several hanging threads that couldn't be traced back to his behavior without some compromise; to know the truth he had to know more about the Golden Boar.
"Right, I apologize for taking your time Master Golden Boar"
Yu Shua Bi said, no longer in a whisper as he fully intent to just leave.
"I see… Then I bid you farewell young master Yu, may prosperity shower the Yu Clan"
The Golden Boar said before stands up and bowed towards Yu Shua Bi, he nods in acknowledgement before he leaves, followed by Nanming.
Once they reach the inner courtyard, a servant catches up to them. In his hand was a scroll of some sort, as well as a brown leather bag that seemed filled with something heavy.
"A moment honored guest, this humble self was deeply ashamed to intercept the honored guest, but this is important, forgive my transgression"
The servant said as he bowed so very deeply, as deep as his body lets him. Yu Shua Bi smiles before he responds in a kind voice.
"I do not mind, what is this 'important' thing then?"
As soon as Yu Shua Bi words leave his mouth, the servant ceased to bow and offer the item on his hand towards Yu Shua Bi.
Yu Shua Bi grabs the scroll first before he opens its content, a single word was etched upon it.
'My associate in Hang-Bei wears a peculiar crimson flower and appears exotically foreign, be sure to say 'Long has the well dried' as you met them'
It's clear that it was from the Golden Boar, even when Yu Shua Bi did not give any confirmation on whether he was willing to help him. But judging from his expression, he doesn't have a lot of choice.
"…I see, then I shall depart"
Yu Shua Bi gives a curt and short answer, a telling of his inherent unwillingness to do the Golden Boar bidding, but the servant still had something to say.
"…If this lowly self were allowed to assist you, young master Yu. Words of your kindness were ever presence, therefore I humbly beg"
He then slammed his head towards the ground, causing Yu Shua Bi to flinch.
"Please, help the Golden Boar, just this once!"
He said, voice almost cracking as he tried to be as quiet yet as serious as possible, Yu Shua Bi eyes darted around the kowtowing servant and towards the main building, afraid if the Golden Boar were to see all of this.
"Alright, alright! Cease this!"
He said in panic, even lowering himself to catch the kowtowing servant so that he could stop doing this embarrassing thing.
"In this bag was the money I collect all my life! Please, if it could aid you in your quest, take it!"
He said before he offers Yu Shua Bi the leather bag, Yu Shua Bi on the other hand, looked lost, confused. Sweat dripping from his forehead as he stammered his own words trying to do something to make the servant stop.
It takes Nanming cold and level words to reel them both back.
"Being assertive won't help convince young master Yu"
He said, and it seems Yu Shua Bi felt ashamed when he heard Nanming said 'young master Yu', evident by how his cheek redden as he looked at Nanming, silently pleading not to call him that.
But the Servant raised his head, hearing what Nanming had to say.
"If you know young master Yu was kind, then why offers your wealth to him? Give him reason as to why he should help"
Nanming said, and it seems that words struck the servant mind as he recollects himself before bowing deeply, not kowtowing this time, to Yu Shua Bi who is still reeling from shame from being called 'young master Yu' from Nanming.
"How foolish of me! Forgive this lowly action of mine"
The servant said, before Yu Shua Bi respond and pat him in the back.
"That is fine, but let me inquire"
Yu Shua Bi said, waiting for the servant to stand up before continuing his words
"Why did the Golden Boar need this, Marble Salt? As far as I know, it was called the Devil Snare of the West, a potent drug that could let a toad felt like they were dragons"
The servant paused for a bit, as he glances towards the main building as if trying to check something, after a few seconds had passed, he finally talks.
"My master is sickly, tons of food he eats yet his illness continues to ravage him"
The servant said, eyes filled with concern.
"And, ever since the day he got that illness, he no longer was the master I grew to respect"
He paused for a bit, trying to find his words.
"He used to be kind, strolling towards the slum to give off food personally, donating his own coins to an orphanage and even…"
The servant bites his tongue, to stifle his crying sound.
"…he even helps me, someone who had once wronged him, he gives me shelter and job, a second chance in my dark, wretched life…. My debt for him is lifelong, and this is the time I repay those debt"
He said, before his eyes, once pleading turned to a resolved warrior, as if he will brave the world itself if it means repaying this 'debt' of his.
Nanming wanted to ask more, but it seems that its not the appropriate time for him to do so, so he stayed silent.
"…What do you think Nanming?"
Yu Shua Bi looked over to Nanming, he knows that he is not bound to fulfilling the Golden Boar request, he just got roped in due to Yu Shua Bi status, like most of them, he just prays that Nanming won't leave him alone now that he knows Yu Shua Bi is of the Yu Clan.
"…"
And his silence serves to make his suspicion worse, Yu Shua Bi cast his gaze downward, to think that once again, a friend of his would abandon him once more.
"Let's not forget why we are here in the first place, to help the Chu family"
Nanming said, in response, Yu Shua Bi shift his gaze to looked at Nanming, disbelief painting his face. For a word he expected to come,
'…I don't think I can be seen as a friend of yours, young master'
'Surely you jest, me? I-I cannot be with someone of your bearing'
'I am but a mere peasant, what would others think of you when the great Yu clan were to be seen with one of such a low status'
Never arrived, instead, Nanming brushed Yu Shua Bi status aside, willing to see past it.
"Can you pass the Golden Boar this message?"
Nanming said as he walks closer to the servant, he nods, willing to listen.
"Please cease your effort to bring the Chu family down and give them back their recipe book"
The servant bowed at Nanming words.
"Understood, I shall impart the words will all the details"
Both Yu Shua Bi and Nanming nodded before they turned and walked away, but the servant tried to try and catch up to them.
"W-Wait young master! The coins!"
"You can keep it, I had enough in my coffer to sustain me"
Yu Shua Bi said as he smiles, before resuming his walk away with Nanming. The servant can only watch in astonishment, clutching the leather bag filled with his prayer.
"…"
To think that he was once a scum who would fuck up other life just for his own sake, how selfish he once was.
And to see that at such era, righteous young were still around, filled him with hope.
(Author note: Sorry for the incredibly inconsistent upload schedule, I was having issue with my college admission, this disturbance might persist for months. Also I didn't have enough time to proofread this chapter so inconsistencies might persist)