Chong Xuan Zun left in a dashing manner, entrusting the vast foundation of the Chong Xuan family's struggle to Wang Yi Wu for temporary management.
Watching his receding figure, Jiang Wang realized that when Chong Xuan Zun emerged again a year later, it would surely shake the heavens.
Within this year, if they couldn't bring down Chong Xuan Zun's forces, all their efforts would be in vain.
When the time came, Chong Xuan Zun would never leave even a sliver of opportunity for Chong Xuan Sheng.
But this was easier said than done—how impossibly difficult it would be to achieve!
The city gate guards still stood straight ahead, and the street vendors remained busy with their own affairs.
In Linzi, people indulged in their own worlds, countless stories and incidents playing out.
Wang Yi Wu walked toward Chong Xuan Sheng with that nearly constant pace, looking down at him from his height.
"Do you want to die?" he asked.
Facing this strongest Tongtian realm cultivator of all time, who was also likely the strongest Tenglong realm cultivator—
Facing his death threat—
Chong Xuan Sheng merely smiled.
"Having morning tea?" he also asked.
Of course, he wasn't asking Wang Yi Wu.
Jiang Wang beside him replied: "Of course!"
"Haitang Chun?"
"Someone promised to treat us—let's switch to another place!"
"Then let's go back to Red Sleeve Pavilion, just in time to settle old debts!" Chong Xuan Sheng said with triple meaning.
"We've already drunk the Mist Maiden Pipa tea—need to switch to another type!"
The two walked and talked, soon leaving the scene. From beginning to end, they completely ignored Wang Yi Wu!
Of course Wang Yi Wu was strong—one who broke the limits of the Tongtian realm, a figure whose name would be recorded in cultivation history, how could he not be strong?
But whether it was Chong Xuan Sheng or Jiang Wang, which one was easy to deal with?
Could Wang Yi Wu, however strong, make these two surrender without a fight?
He wanted to show his authority, but he'd picked the wrong people.
How they had responded in the Celestial Realm before—there was no need to repeat it today.
Chong Xuan Sheng's attitude was very clear.
Want me dead?
Bring it on!
If one thought Chong Xuan Sheng had come specifically to guard at Ji Gate to gloat before Chong Xuan Zun, that would be greatly underestimating him.
What he wanted to see was Chong Xuan Zun's response.
And thanks to the sudden, urgent nature of his actions, Chong Xuan Zun's response was indeed hasty. Or rather, even someone of Chong Xuan Zun's caliber, when the imperial decree suddenly descended, had no time to prepare a proper response—he simply played the absentee master, handing everything over to Wang Yi Wu.
This made Chong Xuan Sheng very satisfied!
...
Early morning at Red Sleeve Pavilion was precisely when the patrons were dispersing.
Yet Chong Xuan Sheng and Jiang Wang coming at this hour to drink flower wine truly surprised quite a few people.
When they explained their purpose, stating they'd only come for morning tea, people were even more astonished.
Though Red Sleeve Pavilion uniquely possessed three types of the supreme treasure Eight-Tone Tea, no one had ever heard of anyone specifically coming here for morning tea.
This was a proper pleasure district, Linzi's top money-burning den!
Were today's young masters so health-conscious?
Regardless, Red Sleeve Pavilion would never neglect guests, let alone someone of Chong Xuan Sheng's status.
Once seated, Chong Xuan Sheng said: "When rising in the morning, one should listen to bells. How about a cup of Music Marquis's Drunkenness?"
Of the three unique Eight-Tone Teas at Red Sleeve Pavilion, one was Music Marquis's Drunkenness, which rang with the sound of bells.
Jiang Wang felt a headache just hearing it, as he inexplicably thought of Bitter Awakening: "We're not monks—why listen to bells upon rising?"
Chong Xuan Sheng was silent for a moment before saying: "Not the monks' bell—the Bianzhong chime bells!"
Only then did Jiang Wang realize his misunderstanding, but given his relationship with Chong Xuan Sheng, there was no need for embarrassment.
So he said: "I'll have a cup!"
Bianzhong chime bells were instruments of elegant music, only to be appreciated by nobles, symbolizing rank and power to some extent.
Jiang Wang had never actually had the chance to hear them before.
Don't mistake Red Sleeve Pavilion for just one of the four great pleasure houses—they couldn't possibly display a full set of Bianzhong chime bells to accompany wine, as that would be overstepping their bounds.
But having a famous tea that could produce the sound of Bianzhong chime bells invisibly elevated the atmosphere.
Legend had it that there was once a marquisate named Le, and the Music Marquis deeply loved the music of Bianzhong chime bells, often listening to them while drinking wine, until he ultimately died drunk before the bells.
This cup of Music Marquis's Drunkenness was derived from that tale.
The teacup was shaped like a Bianzhong chime bell, and when the tea boiled, it struck its own music.
The sound was crisp and bright, distant and melodious, making the listener's spirit also become bright and clear.
Hearing Chong Xuan Sheng explain the allusion, Jiang Wang initially didn't understand why such music would make the Music Marquis drunk to death within it.
But when the tea finished boiling and the melody ended, the sudden sense of loss and bewilderment that arose in his heart gave him instant understanding.
Having wandered in such a bright and magnanimous world, one would feel even more despair toward the present reality, wouldn't one?
When the tea entered his mouth, it still tapped between his teeth, just like striking a Bianzhong chime bell.
That wonderful sensation and brightness rippled from his teeth throughout his entire body.
Jiang Wang opened his eyes, his gaze full of satisfaction and sighs.
The reason he couldn't forget the Eight-Tone Tea was actually, apart from the enjoyment of drinking tea itself, most importantly because when he was helping Li Longchuan test strings, he had attempted to incorporate the Mist Maiden Pipa sound into his Dao techniques, which gave him new ideas for the Explosive Flame Sparrow.
This cup of Music Marquis's Drunkenness also made the trip worthwhile, intoxicating his spirit.
Strength itself was a greater enjoyment.
Having new ideas for his Dao techniques satisfied him, but to complete these ideas, he feared he would need to drink all eight types of tea. This price made him sigh...
If the Eight-Tone Tea didn't only allow one cup at a time to avoid conflicts and lose their respective charm, he would have seized the opportunity of Chong Xuan Sheng treating them to taste everything at once.
Chong Xuan Sheng's first day back in Linzi was full of hitting walls, but the second day he launched a fierce counterattack.
In fact, after the first step of returning to the capital—choosing the Jubaoshanghui—failed, Chong Xuan Sheng realized that his every move was probably being anticipated, and conventional methods would no longer work, so he made up his mind.
Choosing to enter the palace at the hour of Yin was precisely to give Chong Xuan Zun no time to react.
The reason he dragged Jiang Wang to Red Sleeve Pavilion so early in the morning was, of course, not just to anger Wang Yi Wu.
But to deliberately enjoy himself with great fanfare, declaring his "victory" over Chong Xuan Zun.
This was a very important move, and also a very clear signal.
When Chong Xuan Sheng sat down to challenge Chong Xuan Zun, he had originally been conquering territory with unstoppable momentum, but that was only because Chong Xuan Zun hadn't been taking him seriously.
Once Chong Xuan Zun regained his composure, with his very first move, he crushed Chong Xuan Sheng's forces, and victory or defeat seemed imminent.
Yet Chong Xuan Sheng made an otherworldly move—carrying away the chessboard, and now he would play by himself.
And Chong Xuan Zun, without hesitation, switched players, handing everything over to Wang Yi Wu while he went off to cultivate.
Now, the game restarted. Both sides sat down again, only the opponent had changed from Chong Xuan Zun to Wang Yi Wu.
It seemed like nothing had changed.
And Wang Yi Wu was definitely not an opponent to be underestimated.
However...
The competition between Chong Xuan Sheng and Chong Xuan Zun was fundamentally a struggle for the position of head of the Chong Xuan family.
No matter how strong Wang Yi Wu was, he had no qualifications to inherit the Chong Xuan family!
This was the absolute advantage Chong Xuan Sheng possessed within this year.
One cup of Music Marquis's Drunkenness, drained.
Chong Xuan Sheng then asked: "I heard that Xu Xiangqian wants to be friends with me?"
Jiang Wang replied impatiently: "Only if you still have a famous artifact to give as a gift!"
"Then invite him to a banquet in your name! And Li Longchuan!"
Chong Xuan Sheng continued: "I'll also invite people—the Yan family, Tian family, Gao family, Mo family! Invite everyone who can be invited!"
"Today we should drink wine. Do nothing else—drink wine all day, revel all day!"
It was very necessary to let the cold observers witness the change in attitudes of the various families.
Jiang Wang understood the significance of this, so he only asked: "What about after we sober up?"
"I also need to find someone," Chong Xuan Sheng said coldly. "Xu Fang!"
...
...
ps: Chixin Xuntian has been written for half a year, and has been practically running naked for half a year. The limited-time free promotion that just ended increased collections by nearly three thousand, but average subscriptions only increased by twenty-something. My mentality is completely unbalanced.
My efforts and returns are severely disproportionate.
From yesterday to today, I haven't written a single word. I still have four chapters in reserve.
I know this state isn't right. But I can't help it.
Le Wen