Chapter 1135: Chapter 612: Endless Sea Eye
Third day of the twelfth lunar month, snow falling heavily.
Seven hundred and seventy miles south of Bashe Forest, Wuzuo Town.
The snowfall has lasted for three days. Apart from the main road, which is specifically cleared, just a few steps outside the town will bury you knee-deep in snow. Stand still in the snow for thirty minutes and a person would turn into a popsicle. In this wretched weather, only the blind would venture out. However, the old almanac states that today is suitable for opening markets and moving homes, so the town’s only tavern remains open.
As expected, the tavern only welcomed a few straggling cats throughout the day, aside from some old drunks who braved the snowstorm, no other guests entered. Manager Liu yawned lazily for the tenth time today, glimpsing through the thick cotton curtains that the light outside was dim. He considered closing early tonight; in such cold weather, he should hurry home to the warm bed and embrace his plump wife.
Just as he called the dozing clerk to clean up, the curtains were lifted from outside, and a blast of cold air followed two outside guests in, awakening the sleepy ones one by one.
"Guests at this time?" Manager Liu lamented inwardly, unsure how long he’d have to serve before closing. Business cannot be ignored, of course, so he put on a smiling face and stepped forward, saying: "Two guests, would you like a drink or lodging?" In this small tavern, the upstairs rooms can also accommodate guests.
Once he took a closer look at the guests, his smile became genuine and humble. For these two came through the snowstorm, yet there was not a hint of snow on their shoulders, faces, or hair. They wore only two thin gray robes, the younger one draped in a vest, with light boots on their feet. In such icy weather, ordinary people wished they could wrap themselves in quilts before venturing out; only cultivators would dare to dress so boldly!
However, the two looked unwell, with a somewhat greenish tint. Manager Liu recalled hearing about face reading, and as he slyly peered at the two cultivators, he felt their complexion had a bluish hue, red at the corners of their eyes, and their Yintang was as dark as unmixed ink. He recalled the words of that fortune-teller back then, "Ah yes, this is the appearance of family downfall and life extinction!"
Thinking of this, he spat twice at himself in secret: You little failure, struggling to pay this year’s rent, yet daring to read the faces of cultivators? Full of yourself!
Thankfully, the two guests did not know his thoughts, allowing him to lead them to their seats. The elder spoke: "Bring a jar of wine, your best. Any food, bring it forth too." Using the word "forth" in his heavy-hearted state, clearly, he had no good voice for mortals.
Once the two were seated, they remained silent like clay sculptures. Next to them, several old drunks perked their ears, curious why these esteemed cultivators came to this godforsaken town in a deep snowstorm. But after waiting, they heard nothing from these guests, thinking it rather dull, realizing no fresh stories would serve as talking points in the coming days.
Manager Liu dared not neglect, quickly bringing forth a jar of his aged wine, treasured for years. Before the two esteemed guests, he broke the clay seal, alongside the clerk, bringing two pounds of cooked beef, a bowl of stewed pork face, all finely sliced.
The younger cultivator raised his wine bowl, took a sip, and almost spat it out. He slammed the bowl onto the table in anger, saying: "Is this wine or horse urine?!"
Manager Liu was startled, pulling a long face: "This is our best wine, buried several years under an old tree outside, I haven’t had a drop of it."
The younger, still full of anger, seemed ready to say more, when the elder next to him pulled him back: "Jin, calm down. At this point, why bother with them?" His words carried a sense of death; he raised the wine and swallowed it deeply.
Jin hesitated, calling out "Qiu," his mood suddenly deflated. He couldn’t be bothered to argue with Manager Liu, picked a piece of stew with his chopsticks, and stuck it in his mouth, his expression suddenly paused, yet he chewed a few times and swallowed, his face as if chewing leather.
At this moment, the cotton curtains moved again, and a boy of twelve or thirteen slipped in, patted off snow from his shoulders, and laughed: "Uncle Liu, I came to buy three cents worth of wine for my father."
Manager Liu took the wine pouch from his hand, went in, came out with the pouch fully filled, also holding a steaming hot bowl, placing it in front of the boy: "Here, while it’s hot!"
