Zhao Rong and his party left Xingzi Town, mounted on Dragon Colts, galloping southward toward Hanjing.
They switched to a water route mid-journey and then continued their journey on Dragon Colts.
Thanks to their identities as Confucian Scholars from Linlu Academy, in Li Territory—where Confucianism was revered and literary tradition flourished—they encountered no obstructions on their way.
During the trip, Zhao Rong, Gu Yiwu, and others were warmly invited to banquets by high officials from several counties, all of whom were naturally inclined toward scholars and civil officers.
However, Zhao Rong mostly declined the invitations due to the urgency of their journey, only accepting the invitation from an official in Sacrificial Moon County. Subsequently, Zhao Rong took a slight detour from their planned route and passed by a famous mountain in Li Territory—Sacrificial Moon Mountain.
The height of this mountain surpassed all others in Great Li.
In markets and countryside that Zhao Rong passed, many legends and customs held it as the pillar that upheld the heavens.
It was common to see people from Li who had traveled thousands of miles to kneel and worship the mountain.
This Sacrificial Moon Mountain had also been honored as the Central Mountain by successive dynasties of Li Territory.
One day, from a hundred miles away, Zhao Rong squinted at the mountaintop, shrouded in thunderclouds all year round, and turned away amidst the curious gazes of the county official and his companions.
The party resumed their journey, departing from Sacrificial Moon County, and finally, on a breezy and sunny morning, they entered the region of Hanjing.
They were about a hundred miles from Hanjing, the most bustling and majestic city of Great Li, but the official road was already bustling with travelers.
The midday sun blazed hot.
Zhao Rong and his companions passed by a roadside tavern with flags hung up.
This tavern was located amidst green mountains and clear waters, surrounded by a shade of green trees.
Leading the way, Zhao Rong turned to glance at the tavern, reined in his horse, and suggested to the group that they rest their feet. Gu Yiwu and the other students readily agreed.
Everyone dismounted, took their seats, and went to get drinks.
After dismounting, Zhao Rong also picked up little Qian’er from her horse.
Ever since she received his affirmation and promise that night at Xingzi Lake to become the second wife of the Zhao Family, she had become more clingy. On the road, she even wanted to sit on the Dragon Colt behind Zhao Rong, wrapping her arms around his waist, while her own Dragon Colt was given to Su Qingdai.
Now, she even needed Zhao Rong’s help to dismount from her horse.
Zhao Rong couldn’t help wanting to smack his forehead.
However, back when he was young and had decided on a lifelong love, that silly girl was just as clingy. He was used to it and knew that during passionate love, one must indulge her whims and a little coaxing would suffice. But it required continuous effort, since young girls are sensitive, and Qian’er even more so—he could not let her feel neglected... Ah, for example, a certain black-dressed, stunningly beautiful Fairy sitting there at the moment.
Zhao Rong gathered his wandering thoughts, and after putting down Qian’er, smiled and gently patted her slender waist, signaling her to take a seat at the outdoor table.
Then, without paying much attention to Su Qingdai’s increasingly sorrowful eyes, he turned and entered the tavern.
Zhao Rong took out two long-unused wine flasks and filled them at the counter. He turned to look at the mountains covered with autumn woods outside and muttered something to himself.
He then carried the two flasks of wine and brought out two bowls of Qian’er’s favorite snow fungus porridge, returning to the outdoor tables.
Zhao Rong had just sat down when a chubby old man riding a sway-backed old horse turned off the main road to the front of the tavern. Dressed like a wealthy family patriarch, he slowly dismounted and leisurely tied his elderly horse to the grass beside him.
He turned, his gaze fixed as he walked past Gu Yiwu and the other students from Justice Hall who had settled down to drink, and approached the tavern’s counter. He gave a gentle knock on the tabletop with a "dong dong."
The affluent-looking old man turned to the tavern’s server and amicably said, "Server, I’ll cover the wine for these young masters outside."
Before the server had the chance to nod in stunned agreement, the wealthy-looking old man turned and walked straight to Zhao Rong’s table, slowly took a seat, and without concerning himself with the strange looks from everyone, especially the murderous gaze from the beautiful black-dressed woman sitting nearby, he casually sat down and said with a smile to Zhao Rong, who was examining the wine flask:
"My name is Zhou Dufu. Young master Zhao, pleased to meet you."
While Zhao Rong was following the method taught to him by brother Sanbian, examining the clarity of the wine without speaking, he muttered, "This Green Bamboo Wine is passable."
The next second, without replying, he turned his head to the south, and from left to right, poured the still passable wine onto the ground.
It was for the person who would forever remain by the green mountains and clear waters.
"You needn’t cover this drink," Zhao Rong spoke softly, then paused,
He set down the empty flask and slowly exhaled a breath, "As for the others, as you please."
Zhou Dufu glanced at the wine poured on the ground, not knowing for whom it was meant, nodded casually, and reached for the other flask in front of Zhao Rong, pouring a cup for himself and one for Zhao Rong.
Then, Zhou Dufu raised his cup, clinked it against Zhao Rong’s unmoved cup himself, tilted his head back and downed the drink. He exhaled deeply, seemingly unembarrassed as he said:
"Alright. Young master, now that you’ve drunk the wine I’ve offered, we’re friends."
In the face of this self-assured Li Territory military god who was usually distant and informal, Zhao Rong neither objected nor got angry, and instead, he nodded in agreement and took a sip from his cup.
Zhou Dufu watched the interesting young man in front of him, smiled broadly, and reached for the wine again, ready for a good chat.
However, Su Qingdai, who had been listening with a cold face this whole time, couldn’t hold back any longer and abruptly stood up.
The portly old man remained unperturbed, his movements as leisurely as before.