Chapter 31: Making a Grand Entrance

Tang Diexian and Liang Yan had fought fiercely all night, and both felt exhausted upon returning to the inn. Liang Yan first went to the woodshed to roll out his bedding, then moved into Tang Diexian's room to set up a makeshift bed on the floor, grandiosely calling it "loyal protection of his master." However, Tang Diexian was not angry; they each returned to their own beds and fell asleep immediately.

They slept until the sun was high in the sky. In his dream, Liang Yan suddenly felt an itch on his cheek. He slowly opened his eyes, only to find a large, pure white-furred cat staring wide-eyed at him. He froze, momentarily unable to grasp the situation.

Thus, the man and the cat remained frozen face-to-face, nose-to-nose, staring intensely at one another.

Suddenly, a burst of giggling came from behind the large-faced cat. Liang Yan looked back to see Tang Diexian holding the white cat's belly, bringing its large face close to her own eyes. She smiled faintly and asked, "Where did you find this big-faced cat?"

The corners of Tang Diexian's mouth curled up as she said, "I didn't find it; it jumped in front of our window on its own."

"Oh? Such good luck?" Liang Yan licked his lips. "I used to hunt wild game often; my roasting skills are top-notch. This cat is fat and fleshy; it must be incredibly fragrant when roasted!"

Tang Diexian quickly pulled her hands back, clutching the white cat to her chest, and scolded, "Eat my foot! This is an inn; if you're hungry, why don't you go down to the main hall and order something?"

Liang Yan had only been joking, but hearing her say that, he actually felt a bit hungry. He said, "The world is vast, but the stomach is the greatest. Let's go downstairs to sample a few dishes first, then consider our next move."

Naturally, Tang Diexian had no objection. After washing up, the two went downstairs to the main hall. Inside, several tables were already occupied: a one-eyed youth, a man with an aquiline nose, and a group of traveling merchants.

The one-eyed youth sat alone at a table with only a plate of peanuts and a jar of wine, drinking by himself. His gaze was cold, projecting an aura that warned others to keep their distance.

As for the man with the aquiline nose, he also sat alone, but his table was laden with a sumptuous feast. He looked relaxed, closing his eyes slightly after every sip of wine to savor the flavor, appearing to be in deep enjoyment.

Liang Yan scanned the hall but found no sign of any cultivators, so he led Tang Diexian to an empty table in the northwest corner. Just as they sat down, he heard Min Rou call out from behind the counter, "Tang Er! Go serve Miss Tang quickly and attend to her well."

Someone in the back responded, and then a man with a sallow complexion walked out. He appeared to be in his late twenties, looking as though he had been plagued by long-term illness; he coughed as he walked. He approached the pair and said respectfully, "What would you two like to order? Our specialty dishes are—"

"That's enough," Liang Yan interrupted with a wave of his hand. "Just bring whatever your specialty dishes are, two of them will do."

"Right away! Please wait a moment." Having received his orders, Tang Er walked slowly back toward the kitchen.

Before long, several exquisite small dishes were brought to the table along with a jar of wine. Tang Er mentioned that the wine was a gift from the proprietress—home-brewed, mellow, and not likely to cause a heavy intoxication.

Liang Yan nodded slightly. Although he didn't usually drink, he felt it was a kind gesture from the establishment, so he poured himself a cup and took a sip, ignoring Tang Diexian.

Before the wine could even settle in his throat, a woman's voice suddenly called out from outside the shop, "Chu Ba! Chu Ba!"

The large-faced cat, which had been lounging lazily on Tang Diexian's shoulder, suddenly pricked up its ears and leaped to the floor. With a powerful kick of its hind legs, it dashed toward the door in a few quick strides. Its speed was entirely inconsistent with that of a fat, fleshy cat.

A cry of "Ouch!" was heard from outside, followed by a burst of feminine giggling. "You little rascal, so this is where you are!"

Liang Yan looked up to see a woman in pink walking through the door. She appeared to be about twenty years old, with a graceful and charming figure. She was currently cradling a fat white cat against her chest; the cat had its eyes squinted, looking quite lethargic.

As the woman in palace attire entered, her beautiful eyes swept across the hall before settling on Liang Yan, sizing him up.

"Oh my, I didn't expect such a handsome young man to be in such a remote place, surrounded by mountains on three sides," she said, stepping gracefully toward their table and sitting down beside him.

Liang Yan frowned, feeling quite uncomfortable, and shifted slightly away.

Instead of being offended, the woman in palace attire chuckled. "I didn't expect you to be so shy. Big sister quite likes a 'dish' like you."

She paused and continued, "My Chu Ba is usually quite mischievous. It seems a gentleman was kind enough to take him in before; in that sense, there is a bit of fate between us."

Before Liang Yan could speak, Tang Diexian said crossly, "Who do you think you are, trying to seduce someone else's servant?"

Despite the harsh words, the woman showed no sign of anger, merely giggling. "He is your servant, not your husband. Is it not alright for me to have a little chat?"

"You—" Tang Diexian was so flustered she couldn't find the words.

"Haha, little sister, I'm just teasing you. My name is Hua Shiniang. May I ask for your name?"

Tang Diexian shot her a glance and said irritably, "Tang Diexian."

Hua Shiniang smiled. "What a lovely name, it suits your beautiful face perfectly." She then pointed at Liang Yan. "I just tested this fellow for you. Hmm, he remains composed even when a woman sits close; he is indeed a gentleman. You can entrust yourself to him with peace of mind."

Tang Diexian's face flushed red. She snapped, "Bah! What nonsense are you talking? Who wants to entrust anything to him?"

Hua Shiniang covered her mouth and laughed, saying no more. She picked up the wine jar in front of Liang Yan, took a sip from the spout, and then drifted gracefully to another empty table.

"You're not allowed to drink that!" Tang Diexian barked at Liang Yan, frowning. She grabbed the wine jar from the table and hurled it toward the door.

Liang Yan gave a bitter smile. Before he could speak, another "Ouch!" echoed from outside, followed by the entrance of a stout man in purple robes.

His fingers were adorned with emeralds and agates, a thick gold chain hung around his neck, and his clothes were covered in gold coins. Even his collar and cuffs were trimmed with gold thread, giving him the appearance of immense wealth.

However, at this moment, his face and chest were soaked with liquid. Holding a wine jar, he shouted loudly, "Which blind fool dared to hit me?"

Liang Yan glanced at Tang Diexian, only to see her sticking out her tongue with a guilty expression. He could only shake his head helplessly, stood up, and cupped his hands toward the fat man. "This junior made a mistake and knocked over the wine jar. I apologize for the offense, sir."

The fat man rolled his eyes. "Kid, are you kidding me? Is that how you knock over a wine jar? It flew dozens of meters and landed outside the shop?"

Liang Yan shrugged. "If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do."

The fat man snorted. "Believe you? My foot! I see through you; you came here specifically to mock your Great Uncle Wang, didn't you?" He rolled up his sleeves, looking ready to fight at a moment's notice.

Just then, a man's voice drifted in from outside: "A rat has skin, but a man without a face! A man without a face—why should he live?"

Everyone looked toward the door to see a disheveled scholar entering. He wore a scholar's cap and held a folding fan, continuing to recite rhythmically, "A rat has teeth, but a man without shame! A man without shame—when shall his death come?"

The fat man frowned and turned. "Luo Bishēng, who are you calling shameless?"

The disheveled scholar laughed. "I am calling out the man reeking of copper coins. What? As a senior who has already achieved success, do you not find it shameful rather than glorious to bully a youth who hasn't even reached his majority? Hahaha, ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!"

The fat man roared in anger, "Luo Bishēng, how much better are you? Haven't you spent your whole life chasing fame and fortune, only to fail repeatedly, trying again and again only to fail again?"

The scholar named Luo Bishēng laughed. "Whether one attains it or not is ultimately a matter for scholars. How could a nouveau riche like you understand?"

The fat man seemed to realize he was no match in a war of words. He didn't respond further, merely glared fiercely at the scholar before ignoring him and finding an empty table to sit at.

Liang Yan thought to himself, *Though this scholar speaks in riddles, he saved me some trouble. I should thank him.* He gave the scholar a friendly smile and a nod.

To his surprise, Luo Bishēng ignored him, walking instead to Hua Shiniang's table. He cupped his hands and smiled. "They say a graceful lady is a gentleman's ideal. Drinking alone must be tedious; why not share a cup and enjoy the scenery together?"

Hua Shiniang giggled behind her hand. "You are quite the character, sir. However, I am no lady; I fear you might find me difficult to handle."

Luo Bishēng seemed delighted. He poured himself a cup and laughed loudly, "To drink and sing! How much time do we have in this life!"

Liang Yan shook his head and walked back to his seat. Just as he was about to sit, the ground suddenly trembled. Another person walked through the door. This man was eight feet tall, with a chain as thick as a stool tied around his waist. A massive iron hammer hung from the chain, dragging on the ground with a thunderous rumbling sound.

The man scanned the room and walked straight to the table of the man with the aquiline nose, sitting down heavily opposite him. The two seemed to know each other; they said nothing, simply pouring wine and beginning to drink heavily.

By now, Liang Yan had grown accustomed to the eccentricities of the patrons. He shook his head, ignored them, and turned his attention back to his meal.

Just as the two were finishing their feast and preparing to leave, Liang Yan's expression shifted. He cast an unnatural glance toward the door.

An old man in hemp clothing was walking in, wearing a felt hat and straw sandals. An abacus hung from his waist, and he held a bamboo pole with a piece of tattered cloth hanging from it, bearing the four large characters: "Divine Calculation."

"Peak of the fourth level of Qi Refinement!" Liang Yan's eyes narrowed.

(End of Chapter)