The Blade-Wielding Legend-Chapter 1262 - 659: Golden Swallow Sect’s Overture

"Miss Zhao seems to be doing quite well..."

Li Yan also showed a smile on his face and nodded slightly.

Reuniting with an old friend naturally put him in a good mood.

Although there were many romantic rumors about the two of them around Pingkang Square in Chang'an, they both knew that this joy had nothing to do with romance.

Talking about romance is a joke.

One, having lived two lifetimes, had seen enough of people's fickle hearts and was accustomed to seeing relationships dissolve for profit, so he would naturally not, and could not, focus on romance.

The other, having wandered the world since childhood, believed even less in such things.

If true love were easy, why would so many praise it?

Between them, there was more of a tacit understanding.

In Zhao Wanfang, Li Yan saw his former self—lonely since childhood, driven by the call for revenge, merely using it as a motivation to live and move forward.

And Zhao Wanfang envied Li Yan's ability to control his own destiny.

That tone of treating each other as equals was a rare light in her dark life.

Therefore, they could only be considered friends.

It was impossible for Li Yan to trust her with his life like he did with Sha Lifei and Wang Daoxuan.

However, to outsiders, their tone did not appear that way.

Sha Lifei and Long Yan'er exchanged glances, indicating that this was Li Yan's old flame.

The scholar threatening Kong Shangzhao also turned gloomy but didn't want to create a scene over jealousy in front of everyone, so he twirled his oiled paper umbrella, smiled, and said, "Miss Zhao, you seem quite familiar with this gentleman, why not introduce us?"

Even those two who were fighting earlier looked at Li Yan with anger.

"Hahaha..."

Zhao Wanfang covered her mouth with her fan, laughing, "Mr. Ming, these are none other than the renowned Twelve Primordial Spirits, and this is Young Hero Li, Li Yan himself."

"Didn't you just tell me that you are acquainted with him?"

Her words were without a hint of mockery, and her gaze was purely innocent.

But it was precisely this demeanor that made the scholar surnamed Ming feel deeply embarrassed, his face flush with shame, and without saying a word, he clasped his hands and left in a hurry.

It's normal for men to boast a little when faced with wine and beauty.

But when the person in question arrives, there's no covering it up.

Upon hearing the name "Twelve Primordial Spirits," Yuan Heng and Tian Fan, who were dueling, also exchanged glances, clasped their hands, and quickly made their exit.

At the second-floor window, Zhao Wanfang smiled, "Mr. Li, I have prepared some wine for a welcoming reception for you."

Sha Lifei squinted his eyes, "Be careful."

"Hmm, you all go ahead."

Li Yan nodded, casually slung his bag over his shoulder, and entered the adjacent tavern.

As he stepped inside, Li Yan understood why Zhao Wanfang chose this place.

The tavern called "Drunken River Pavilion," although old and not luxurious, was very clean.

The building, with its green tile roof and elm posts, displayed a faded "Drunken World" cloth banner, and three tung oil paper lanterns at the eaves cast a glossy light over the flagstone steps, with the reed mat door curtain lending a refreshing air.

The waiter, wearing a gray cloth towel on his shoulder, was carefully using a bamboo broom to sweep the sunflower seed shells from the cracks between the bricks.

Along the east wall were rows of clay pots with pickled Canal carp, and on the west wall, on a cedar wine rack, were black clay wine jars labeled with rough-edged red paper reading "Sorghum Liquor" and "Millet Wine"...

The owner was evidently diligent, maintaining cleanliness and a welcoming atmosphere.

A round-faced servant girl in a blue dress came thumping down the wooden stairs from the second floor. Upon seeing Li Yan, she panicked slightly, composed herself, and performed a proper greeting, "Mr... Mr. Li, please follow me."

She spoke in an authentic Capital dialect.

Li Yan was not surprised to hear it.

When Zhao Wanfang left back then, she was recognized by the Golden Swallow Sect and went to the Capital for intensive training, so it was not unusual to have a Capital servant girl with her.

Not only that, he could also sense another person in the room adjacent to Zhao Wanfang's upstairs room, carrying an aura of Yin Sha Qi, with calm yet faint breathing, clearly a skilled protector.

Upstairs, Zhao Wanfang awaited at the door.

After they sat down, Li Yan shook his head slightly, "This is making trouble for yourself."

His words seemed to come out of nowhere, but both understood the meaning.

Those three just now were clearly troublemakers by nature.

Today, having lost face, they might not dare to trouble Li Yan, but after leaving, they would definitely find a way to vent their anger on Zhao Wanfang, so it seemed Zhao Wanfang used him as a shield, but in reality, she was planting a hidden risk for herself.

"Mr. Li worries too much."

Zhao Wanfang smiled sweetly, raising her hand to prepare tea for him, saying, "You risked life and limb, roaming the pugilistic world, and now your name alone can suppress others. In contrast, I dance on the knife's edge and have no need to worry about these small roles now."

"Besides, if they didn't leave, the dishes would get cold..."

Before the words were finished, the round-faced servant girl clapped her hands. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Seven or eight staff members came in single-file, quickly filling the table with steaming food and wine.

The staff, dressed uniformly, appeared energetic, and moved swiftly, carrying exquisite trays with a steady hand, clearly not the regular staff of this establishment.

Moreover, as they uncovered the dishes, they announced them:

"Braised Weishan Lake Carp!"

"Fish mouth holding money, wealth flowing in, fresh Weishan Lake carp freshly slaughtered and cooked, tender and free of fishy smell, swimming the Dragon Gate to the great path!"

"Yellow stewed Canal Beach Lamb!"

"Sir, here is diced lamb with skin, stewed with Canal reed cores and Acheng mountain yams. The lamb fat melds into the sauce, topped with green garlic sprouts for freshness, served with Linqing pancakes, baked in a tribute brick kiln, jujube wood stoked fire..."