To be honest, Liu Yao really felt she quite loved drinking. She remembered that in earlier years, when she had snuck out of her sect to roam the world, the first thing she wanted to do was drink.
The Liu Yao at that time was only fourteen years old. Although that was considered an adult age back then, the elders of the sect had always treated him like a child.
He was only allowed to drink milk, could only sit at the children’s table during banquets, and had to sleep under two blankets.
Having rarely snuck out, Liu Yao naturally wanted to experience the taste of being an adult.
Thus, Liu Yao finally experienced the feeling of being drunk at the age of fourteen. From then on, he fell in love with that tipsy sensation, because it always made him feel like a mature adult.
However, since turning into a girl, Liu Yao felt as though she had not had a drink in a very long time.
Now, as she chatted and laughed with Zhao Yi’an along the way, they finally arrived in front of a tavern.
Liu Yao strode forward, walked to an empty table, sat down with a thud, and shouted loudly, “Waiter! Come clean this table, bring out a few dishes, and make sure the wine is clean!”
After saying that, she smiled at Zhao Yi’an and waved him over, signaling for him to sit down quickly.
“Sit, sit! Let’s talk while we eat.”
Seeing the young girl act with such practiced ease, Zhao Yi’an felt it was quite novel, though he was not particularly surprised.
After all, from her speaking style and behavior throughout their journey, he could see that Liu Yao was actually more like a bold, straightforward man than a girl.
‘Perhaps all those Jianghu heroines are like this?’
They were bold in character, living freely within the Jianghu.
To be able to do as one pleased by relying on martial arts was truly enviable.
‘Unlike me, who has only grown older without ever experiencing anything grand or magnificent. Perhaps this is just the life of an ordinary person?’
Zhao Yi’an pulled over a stool by the table, set aside the rope he had bought at the market, and sat down.
“Zhao Yi’an, what exactly is this ‘horse gang’ you mentioned earlier?” Liu Yao asked impatiently as soon as he sat down. “That name of yours sounds way too much like the name of a bandit gang.”
The youth shook his head helplessly.
“To be precise, our horse gang is actually a security agency in town. But because of the name, we receive very few jobs. Only a few acquaintances will specifically designate us to handle their escorts.”
A security agency!
Upon hearing Zhao Yi’an’s words, Liu Yao’s eyes lit up instantly.
Security agencies took on escort jobs that brought them all over the country, which meant they were well-informed.
‘This is exactly what I need!’
‘But he said they don’t get much work. I wonder if they’ll have the information I need?’
With a slightly doubtful look in her eyes, Liu Yao looked at Zhao Yi’an and asked, “Then why do you still use the name ‘horse gang’? It’s so easy for people to misunderstand.”
“Because that was the name given by the late old sect leader. Without the current sect leader’s word, there is nothing we can do.”
“Then if no one designates you for an escort, don’t you go hungry?”
Just then, the tavern waiter arrived carrying several plates of food and a pot of wine.
“Here you go, your wine and food have arrived!”
After setting down the dishes and wine, the waiter went off to tend to other business.
Zhao Yi’an picked up his chopsticks, took a few bites of food, and pointed at the rope beside him while chewing.
“Actually, I think it’s quite reasonable for us to be called the ‘horse gang.’ Although we don’t get much proper work because of the name, our primary business is actually raising and selling or renting out horses and other livestock. We’re actually doing quite well for ourselves because of that.”
“Is that so?”
Liu Yao picked up the wine pot and poured herself a cup. She did not gulp it down at once but held it to her lips, taking small sips while putting on a thoughtful expression.
‘This horse gang claims to be a security agency, but it’s actually more like a horse stable that happens to take on escort missions.’
‘If that’s the case, who knows how long it will take to find that Peach forest where the Immortal lives.’
‘Although the brocade pouch the Immortal gave me saved my life at a critical moment, how am I supposed to return to my sect now that I’ve become a woman?’
‘Sigh, I really fell for His lies.’
Seeing the young girl suddenly look distressed and unwilling to speak, Zhao Yi’an felt the atmosphere become awkward.
He thought for a moment and decided it would be better to change the subject.
“By the way, Miss Yao, why did you suddenly knock me out in the tea house earlier? Did I do something to upset you?”
Hearing this, Liu Yao’s slightly distressed face shifted immediately. She put on a dissatisfied expression and said to Zhao Yi’an, “It’s because you were downstairs shouting those things that ruin a person’s reputation.”
“Hmm? You mean the battle of Mouye at Anshan—”
“Stop! Don’t you dare say it again!”
Zhao Yi’an could only scratch his head, looking at Liu Yao with a bit of confusion.
“Those are all fake! They were made up by those storytellers!” Liu Yao slammed the table and retorted excitedly.
Zhao Yi’an looked at the girl’s expression, which seemed as though she wanted to eat him alive, and couldn’t help but swallow hard.
“I… I’ve always listened to those as if they were true?” he stammered. “After all, I don’t know any martial arts. If I want to learn more about the affairs of the martial world, I can only listen to the storytellers.”
At this point, Zhao Yi’an’s tone became somewhat dejected.
“Actually, the people in the gang once tried to teach me some martial arts, but I could never grasp the essentials. Sigh, I really envy people like you who can rely on your martial arts to act as a hero and gain fame.”
“It’s not like us ordinary people who can only spend our lives in a mundane way, without any excitement.”
Liu Yao, who had been a bit embarrassed and annoyed, looked at the envious Zhao Yi’an. She poured another cup of wine and took a small sip.
“Actually, roaming the Jianghu is very dangerous. After all, it’s all about fighting and killing. Blades and swords have no eyes, and you never know when you might be wiped out by an enemy.”
“Furthermore, while walking on the road, some stranger will always jump out and claim to be your enemy, and you can’t just not fight back. The martial world is just that nonsensical.”
After saying that, Liu Yao went silent. Not only did the atmosphere fail to improve, but it became even more awkward.
At that moment, the tavern waiter leaned in with a grin.
“You two, are you having a fight?”
Liu Yao, still immersed in the slightly melancholy atmosphere, turned her head. She looked at the waiter who was rubbing his hands together and asked in confusion, “We aren’t fighting. Besides, what does it have to do with you?”
“Eh, don’t say that. You’re both distinguished guests of our little shop. It’s no good to let harmony be broken.”
“There’s a saying that goes, ‘There is nothing new under the sun, and there are no enemies at a wine table.’ Why not have some wine, get a little drunk, and forget all these troubles?”
The waiter ignored Liu Yao’s somewhat dismissive tone and made the suggestion.
Liu Yao thought about it.
‘It’s true, the atmosphere hasn’t been very pleasant since we got to the tavern. I was supposed to be apologizing to Zhao Yi’an in the first place.’
‘Truly, I’ve started throwing a tantrum again.’
“Um… sorry… the waiter is right. I originally wanted to apologize to you, so the fact that things turned unpleasant is my fault.”
“Let’s not talk about those depressing things anymore. Drink, drink! They say people don’t truly know each other until they’ve fought. Meeting here means there is some fate between us. Today, let’s not go home until we’re drunk!”
Zhao Yi’an also pulled himself together, picked up his wine cup, and nodded. “Yes! Meeting is destiny.”
At that moment, the waiter’s voice rang out again.
“In that case, why not try our shop’s specialty wine? I guarantee you’ll be able to drink to your heart’s content.”
“Oh? A specialty wine? That sounds good. Bring a pot, I’ll try it.”
Hearing about a special wine, Liu Yao’s eyes brightened, and she ordered a pot immediately.
“Coming right up!”
Not long after, the waiter returned with a pot of wine. He opened the lid, and a thick scent of wine wafted out, making Zhao Yi’an frown.
“Shopkeeper, is your wine this strong? Won’t it kill someone?”
“Eh! You must be joking, guest! This wine of ours is brewed from various fruits. It has a sweet aftertaste, and the ingredients are reliable. How could it kill anyone?”
The waiter laughed and waved his hand. He looked around shiftily, then leaned his head in and whispered to the two puzzled people, “Besides, this wine is home-brewed. It doesn’t have any alcohol content! Rest assured!”
After the waiter finished, Liu Yao, who had been craving it for a while, quickly poured herself a cup and began to taste it.
Seeing the young girl drinking happily, Zhao Yi’an didn’t say anything more. He waved his hand and dismissed the waiter.
Seeing that even the martial artist Liu Yao was drinking without worry, he also poured himself a full cup.
He took a sip to taste it.
This wine… certainly had quite a kick.