Just as he was racking his brains, thinking about what excuse to use to get away.
His sleeve was suddenly yanked hard by someone.
"Senior Brother——!"
Ji Shuyu, who had been standing obediently behind him, now had bright, shining eyes.
"We've been traveling in such a rush, my legs are almost rubbed raw..."
You Wujiang hesitated, saying, "This... Junior Sister, official business is important..."
Just as he was in a difficult spot.
Jiang Yuechu also spoke up, "General Wei makes a valid point."
Although she had a cold personality and disliked worldly affairs, she still understood the principles of how to conduct herself and handle matters.
Not to mention that the last time she returned to the capital, she had tricked this honest man once.
Just considering this time alone.
He had traveled thousands of miles to this godforsaken place and brought her Imperial Brother's oral decree.
If she didn't even provide a meal and just let them leave, it would truly be unreasonable.
"This..." You Wujiang frowned.
If he forced them to leave, not only would his Junior Sister make a scene, but he would also offend the Grand Princess of Great Tang.
It would also make him, You, appear petty and ignorant of social etiquette.
"Fine." You Wujiang let out a long sigh.
He patted his Junior Sister's hand with the back of his own, signaling her to let go.
Then, he cupped his hands in a salute, his tone helpless.
"Since your hospitality is hard to refuse, then..."
"We will impose on you."
Night fell.
Inside the flower hall in the backyard of the Dusi, it was already brightly lit.
Although it was described as a modest meal, how could an old hand in the Jianghu like Wei He really offer rough tea and simple rice to fool distinguished guests from the capital?
He had long since ordered the kitchen to slaughter two fat sheep and went to Fuyun Tower in the city to order a high-quality feast.
The roasted lamb sizzled with oil, sprinkled with cumin and pepper, its aroma enticing.
Several jars of aged fine wine had their clay seals broken, and the fragrance of the wine overflowed.
Jiang Yuechu had changed out of her dark black official uniform into a moon-white casual outfit, making her look even more cold and ethereal.
She sat at the head of the table.
You Wujiang and Ji Shuyu sat on the left.
Wei He, being very tactful, sat at the end of the table.
Looking at the empty seat on the right, Jiang Yuechu raised an eyebrow slightly.
"General Wei, is there someone else?"
Wei He slapped his forehead and quickly stood up to apologize.
"Look at my memory! Xu Changfeng is still handling official business; I will send someone to invite him right away!"
"Xu Changfeng?" You Wujiang's hand holding the wine cup paused slightly, and a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes.
"Could it be... the Young Master from the family of Xu Jingye, the Great General of the Left Xiao Guard?"
Wei He was a bit surprised: "Lord You knows him too?"
You Wujiang put down his wine cup, his expression somewhat complex.
"The capital is only so big, and the Xu Family is a family of generals; I have also heard of Xu Changfeng's name."
"I heard that he was a brilliant and talented figure back then, but later, for some reason, he requested to be transferred away from the capital and came to this bitter and cold place."
As they were speaking, the door curtain was lifted.
A gust of cold wind rolled into the hall.
The person who entered was dressed in a dark black casual outfit, with a tall and straight posture; although his face was handsome, it was always tense.
Xu Changfeng strode inside, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, finally landing on Jiang Yuechu.
He cupped his hands in a salute.
"This subordinate is late, please forgive me, Lord Jiang."
Jiang Yuechu waved her hand.
"It's fine, take your seat."
Xu Changfeng was not coy; after thanking her, he sat down in the empty seat on the right.
His gaze collided with You Wujiang's on the opposite side.
Both were from the capital, and Xu Changfeng naturally had heard of You Wujiang's reputation.
Meeting here in the Region, thousands of miles away, Xu Changfeng nodded slightly, acknowledging the greeting.
You Wujiang's handsome face tightened; he seemed to want to say something but hesitated to speak.
One was a cold-faced Jinx who was usually a man of few words.
The other was a socially anxious blockhead who couldn't squeeze out a word even after a long time.
If these two were left to stare at each other, this meal would likely be more heavy and depressing than visiting a grave.
Fortunately, there was still Wei He.
Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit stagnant, he quickly stood up to pour wine.
"Come, come! It's rare for everyone to gather here today; it's fate! I'll finish this cup first as a toast!"
After saying this, he threw his head back and finished the strong wine in his cup.
The atmosphere at the table finally livened up a bit.
Ji Shuyu had long been so hungry that her stomach was sticking to her back; at this moment, she didn't care about her lady-like image and was grabbing a lamb leg, gnawing on it until her mouth was full of grease.
While eating, she praised it incoherently.
"Mmm... so good! Senior Brother, try it, this lamb is much more fragrant than the ones in the capital!"
You Wujiang looked at his Junior Sister, who looked like a reincarnated starving ghost, and the corner of his eye twitched slightly.
He looked around somewhat awkwardly.
However, he saw that Jiang Yuechu was picking up food in a leisurely manner, seemingly unconcerned about this.
And that Xu Changfeng was drinking on his own, not looking askance.
Only then did You Wujiang breathe a sigh of relief, picked up his wine cup, and took a light sip.
After three rounds of wine and tasting various dishes, the originally restrained atmosphere gradually dissipated along with the rising spirits.
Jiang Yuechu put down her chopsticks and her gaze swept over the four people present.
Suddenly feeling amused, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
Wei He was drinking with gusto and couldn't help but be stunned when he saw this.
"Why is Lord Jiang laughing?"
Jiang Yuechu shook her head.
"It's nothing, I just find it interesting... everyone at this table, after all the twists and turns, seems to have come from the capital, yet now we are all gathered in the Region..."
Everyone looked at each other, and after thinking about it carefully, it really was the case.
One was the Grand Princess of the current dynasty, one was the heir of a general's family.
You Wujiang was a golden robe Inspector Envoy and the second most prominent figure among the younger generation of Great Tang.
As for Ji Shuyu... being You Wujiang's Junior Sister, her background was naturally not low... plus Duke Wei's son, Wei He.
If they were in the capital, these people gathering together would be a top-tier circle of powerful nobles.
But now, they were all gathered in this border land.
You Wujiang was stunned for a long while.
Suddenly he raised his wine cup, and it was extremely rare for him to show a hint of a smile.
"Lord Jiang is absolutely right."
"Life is full of unexpected reunions."
Xu Changfeng also raised his cup.
Ji Shuyu swallowed the meat in her mouth and hurriedly raised the wine in her hand.
"Cheers."
Cups collided.
Several hearts from the capital, at this time and in this place, unexpectedly had a sense of inexplicable resonance.
Outside the window, the wind and sand continued.
Inside the room, however, the wine was warm, and the people were at peace.
At the border between the Demon Court and Longyou.
The gale rolled the sand, and the cold moon was like a hook.
Two streams of light, one gold and one white, like meteors chasing the moon, tore through the sky full of clouds and headed straight for the east.
The golden light was in front, unstoppable, and as its wings flapped, there was the sound of rolling wind and thunder, shaking the mountains and valleys below until they trembled.
The white light was behind, and although it seemed strained, it was barely able to keep up with the golden light's speed.
From within the golden light ahead came a sneer.
"You old bones, why not wait properly in the Western Regions instead of insisting on following along?"
Behind.
The Flood Dragon Demon transformed into human form, his aged face twitching slightly.
"Little Saint King is joking."
"The Little Saint King has world-shaking Divine Might and is a Prodigy that our Western Regions Demon Court has not seen in ten thousand years. Although that Human Race has some means, in front of you, they are nothing but motley crew, just waiting to be slaughtered."
"It's just that..." The Flood Dragon Demon changed the subject, his expression becoming a bit more serious.
"On the surface of this Longyou territory, there is still an old Daoist at the Half-Step Lamp-Lighting stage, cultivating in a desolate mountain temple..."