Chapter 124: Xie Xiaofeng: In That Moment, I Truly Wanted to Die!
Chapter 124: Xie Xiaofeng—In That Moment, I Really Wanted to Die!
As dusk deepened, Zheng Jian smiled quietly after watching Xie Xiaofeng disappear into the distance, then set off down the mountain from another path.
In just a few days, news of the duel between the Third Young Master of the Divine Sword Manor and the returning sword hero Zheng Jian had spread throughout the martial world, and the outcome left countless people dumbfounded.
The peerless Third Young Master, defeated!
Many found it hard to believe and dared not accept it, but the news came from Qixing Pond in Jiangnan, and the Divine Sword Manor, as the party involved, did not deny it.
At the same time, the Divine Sword Manor announced another piece of news.
The Third Young Master, Xie Xiaofeng, was to marry Murong Qiudi, the legitimate daughter of Qixing Pond, with the wedding set for the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month.
...
In a tavern, Zheng Jian returned to his leisurely lifestyle, drinking a little daily, teasing Xue Keren, and racking up resentment points.
One evening at dusk, Xue Keren was bustling around the shop when she suddenly heard a familiar voice.
“Sister Keren…”
Startled, she turned around to see Murong Qiudi standing there. That wasn't the most surprising thing, though. More astonishing was the figure beside her—Aji, the drunkard from before!
But today, Aji was dressed in splendid brocade robes, his hair neatly styled, looking handsome and elegant, like a gentleman from a bygone era.
“Is that you?” Xue Keren gazed at Aji—actually Xie Xiaofeng—in amazement. Had she not seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed the once drunken mess could look so dashing after a makeover.
Murong Qiudi’s face shifted slightly. “You two know each other?”
Xie Xiaofeng smiled, “Back then, I went by the name Aji. The first time I came here to drink, I had no money, but the kind-hearted landlady let me off. Later, when I was working odd jobs at the Han family’s inn, I brought drinks here again and met her once more.”
“Oh…” Murong Qiudi relaxed. Xie Xiaofeng wasn’t lying after all.
She smiled again and introduced, “Sister Keren, this is my fiancé, Xie Xiaofeng. Xiaofeng, this is Xue Keren, a close friend of Boss Zheng.”
Xue Keren had been a bit uncomfortable but felt inexplicably happy upon hearing Murong Qiudi say this.
“Oh, so the two of you have reconciled?” Zheng Jian appeared and teased upon seeing Xie Xiaofeng and Murong Qiudi together.
Resentment points from Xie Xiaofeng: +200.
Resentment points from Murong Qiudi: +500.
“How can your mouth be so poisonous!” both said in unison.
Zheng Jian pondered, “Looks like... the old flame is truly rekindled! Congratulations.”
Xie Xiaofeng: “…”
Murong Qiudi: “…”
Resentment points from Xie Xiaofeng: +200.
Resentment points from Murong Qiudi: +500.
Can we even keep talking today?
Xie Xiaofeng was left speechless by Zheng Jian’s sharp tongue, finally managing to change the subject: “The wedding is on the sixth day of the twelfth month. Brother Zheng, please come to Divine Sword Manor to celebrate. Here’s the invitation.”
Before he could finish, Murong Qiudi interrupted, holding out a bright red invitation embossed with gold: “No way! Boss Zheng is a friend of Qixing Pond, so he’s a guest of the bride. Boss Zheng, don’t accept his invitation—come to Qixing Pond instead!”
Xie Xiaofeng replied, “No, Brother Zheng is my friend. Of course, he should accept my invitation. I want him to accompany me to pick up the bride!”
“No! Not happening!” Murong Qiudi was adamant.
Xie Xiaofeng felt a headache coming on.
Zheng Jian watched and thought: Women really are troublesome!
Xue Keren quickly tried to smooth things over, “Everyone can go, right? I’ll visit Miss Murong’s home, and Boss Zheng goes to the Xie family. How about that?”
Only then did Xie Xiaofeng and Murong Qiudi look satisfied. Murong Qiudi lifted her chin proudly. “Now that’s more like it!”
It was clear Murong Qiudi was in a very confident mood.
Though Zheng Jian’s words were sharp, they were mostly teasing. It was better that Xie Xiaofeng acknowledged defeat and won back Murong Qiudi’s heart than to regret it after she was gone, sitting by her grave forever.
“By the way, Boss Zheng, bring out that precious imperial jade liquor you have. I’m treating today!” Murong Qiudi suddenly said. They’d tasted it once before—it was really strong!
Although expensive, did the Murong family lack money?
Zheng Jian considered and said, “Alright, Keren, get the wine. Today, I’ll drink with Brother Xie.”
Soon, Xue Keren returned carrying the jar.
Murong Qiudi’s eyes sparkled with a smile. “Hey, don’t be in such a rush. Don’t you still have that little show you promised? No tricks?”
“Alright, alright. Today you’re the big spender. Keren, let’s go!”
Like that, this and that.
Xie Xiaofeng had never seen such a scene and was dumbfounded, while Murong Qiudi’s smile grew even more radiant.
“Here! Drink!” Murong Qiudi poured two glasses—one for Xie Xiaofeng and one for Zheng Jian.
“This wine, according to Boss Zheng, there’s only one jar in the world. I won’t drink it—I’ll leave it to you two,” Murong Qiudi said with a smile.
Looks like this woman was genuinely happy today!
Xie Xiaofeng was curious. “Only one jar in the entire world?”
“Come on, bottoms up!” Zheng Jian grinned.
Actually, there were nine more jars... but would he tell them that?
Both downed their drinks in one gulp. Zheng Jian was fine, but it was Xie Xiaofeng’s first time drinking such high-proof liquor. A fiery heat shot down his throat, and his handsome face quickly flushed red.
After a while, Xie Xiaofeng finally managed to say, “Good wine!”
...
As night deepened, Xie Xiaofeng and Zheng Jian staggered through a narrow alley.
Neither used inner power to sober up—they were thoroughly drunk.
Spotting a brick wall by the roadside, Zheng Jian suddenly stopped and shouted, “Hey, take this!”
He kicked the wall. Though drunk and not using full strength, cracks still appeared on the wall.
Laughing, Zheng Jian prepared to move on, but Xie Xiaofeng stopped, his bladder about to burst after so much drinking.
“Wait, wait a moment... I... can’t find the latrine... I need to pee,” Xie Xiaofeng squinted drunkenly and began unbuttoning his pants.
Zheng Jian narrowed his eyes, then was stunned the next second.
A stream of urine shot straight at the wall, and then...
The wall collapsed.
Collapsed.
Gone.
Xie Xiaofeng remained in his peeing stance. Behind the fallen wall, an elderly woman stared at him in disbelief.
Awkwardness spread to the extreme. The worst part was that their eyes met, and he was still... peeing.
The trickling sound was painfully clear in the quiet night.
Behind them, Murong Qiudi rushed over, equally stunned.
The most terrifying thing is when the air suddenly goes silent...
“You’re doomed, you filthy young man!” the elderly woman finally snapped out of shock and screamed.
Her voice echoed through half the town.
Murong Qiudi, embarrassed beyond words, glared at Zheng Jian and Xie Xiaofeng, wishing she could disappear into the ground.
Resentment points from Murong Qiudi: +1999.
Xie Xiaofeng looked at the elderly woman in confusion, then glanced down at himself. A cold breeze made him shiver—sobered up instantly.
He then turned to look at Zheng Jian.
Resentment points from Xie Xiaofeng: +999.
...
Thanks to the reader “Noodle Lover” for the 500-point coin reward and “Halfway on Wushan Road 1” for the 100-point coin reward. Thank you, brothers—heavenly brothers, earthly brothers, brothers who can stand tall! (Voice cracking!)
(End of chapter)