On a bright moonlit night, a young Di Mie followed the path down the mountain.<\/p>\n
He was dressed in the full black of the Hermit Moon Peak. Extricate braids decorated both sides of his dark hair, swept up into a high ponytail that bounced behind him. He skipped down the stairs past Elegance Peak with a basket in hand.<\/p>\n
He followed the spirit echoes left behind on the ground, hearing the soft chiming of crystal bells as he ran all the way to the Border Mountains\u2019 front gate.<\/p>\n
A disciple of Elegance Peak sweeping the main gate\u2019s courtyard clicked his tongue at him and lectured, \u201cYou again! Stop running about like that. Also, aren\u2019t you supposed to be wearing a face veil?\u201d<\/p>\n
Di Mie stuck his tongue out in defiance. \u201cI\u2019ll show my face if I want to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo do what you want is the Mad Tiger Peak spirit!\u201d cheered a random Mad Tiger disciple passerby.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are the official disciple of the Hermit Moon Peak Lord, so you ought to follow his rules. Stop seeking attention from the other Peak Lords when you already have a Shizun,\u201d nagged the Elegance Peak disciple.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t stop them from showering their attention on me when I\u2019m this cute and smart, you know,\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cEven your respected Peak Lord Du gives me candy when he sees me~\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou shameless\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I\u2019m shameless!\u201d laughed Di Mie. \u201cSenior of Elegance Peak, I know you mean well, so just sweep your floor and ignore this unruly junior.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAww, the lonely disciple of Hermit Moon Peak is looking for his Dream-Wandering Immortal again,\u201d said the female disciples who have gathered for a late night show.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you lot here again,\u201d groaned the Elegance Peak disciple. \u201cIs it that fun to be busybodies?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShh! Don\u2019t underestimate the power of a new song in the making,\u201d said a Resting Clouds disciple, shushing him.<\/p>\n
\u201cArgh! Why won\u2019t you all learn some decorum? This is why other clans look down on our Border Mountains Sect\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
The gathered group stayed a respectable distance away, knowing that the Dream-Wandering* Immortal tended to shy away when approached. One of them took out a packet of nuts and passed it around to the others.<\/p>\n
*Dream-Wandering also means \u2018sleepwalking\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cShi~zun~! Why are you so high up?\u201d grinned Di Mie as he cheerfully jogged over to the main gates where a figure sat atop.<\/p>\n \u201cThe moon is bright tonight,\u201d said the Dream-Wandering Immortal as he gazed at the night sky.<\/p>\n He was dressed in a flowing pale green robe embroidered with silver threads. A string of silver bells hung around his ankle that tinkled softly like crystal chimes on a breeze when he moved.<\/p>\n \u201cYou forgot to wear your shoes again,\u201d said Di Mie as he hopped onto his sword and flew up the gate in a swift motion.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is pretty high up here,\u201d said the Dream-Wandering Immortal, looking down and regretting it.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re scared of heights, so what are you doing sitting here?\u201d chuckled Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cI can see the Dark Forest from here,\u201d he said, pointing east.<\/p>\n \u201cWow, you got your directions right this time. Though, I don\u2019t think you can see that far in the dark.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe moon shines there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe moon shines everywhere, even in Night Vigil City where the sun shies away,\u201d says Di Mi, allowing himself a wry smile.<\/p>\n \u201cHmm, for a moment, I thought you were going to say \u2018the moon even shines on your butt\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, I haven\u2019t made that sort of joke for like, ten years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTechnically, that was three years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOhh, I love it when you discuss technicalities with me,\u201d said Di Mie, cheekily.<\/p>\n The Immortal huffed, amused.<\/p>\n Di Mie placed his warm palms over cold hands, smiling to himself as he saw the translucent jade bangle hang off the pale wrist.<\/p>\n The Dream-Wandering Immortal stared at the wine bottle and two cups sitting at the bottom of the basket Di Mie had brought along.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re still young to drink wine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m eighteen!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour constitution makes you age slower. Your enrollment lists you as not yet sixteen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPssshh. As if you\u2019re someone who follows stuffy paperwork,\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cFine. I\u2019ve already watered the wine down with tea. Let me watch the moon with you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll right,\u201d said the Dream-Wandering Immortal, his hand coming up to stroke Di Mie\u2019s head.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Di Mie woke, touching his head and wondering what he\u2019d just dreamt about. From the light streaming through the window screen, he knew the sun was high.<\/p>\n Xie Li was curled up with his back pressed against the wall. He shivered when Di Mie moved and cool air filled the space. He opened his eyes and seeing that Di Mie was awake, he quickly sat up.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re up. I\u2019ll go get you some food,\u201d said Xie Li, instinctively.<\/p>\n Di Mie snorted a laugh. \u201cDo you even know where we are right now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHm\u2026\u201d he started looking around.<\/p>\n \u201cYou stay here, I\u2019ll go get us some breakfast,\u201d said Di Mie, pulling on his clothes and his veiled hat.<\/p>\n Auntie Ma had been modest when she said her \u2018nephew\u2019 was in poor health. Trying to gauge Xie Li\u2019s spirit aura was like trying to read a pulse from a dead man. The past days had overexerted him to the verge of collapse.<\/p>\n Di Mie needed an assistant to help him.<\/p>\n So he went next door and stole one of Qing Lingfeng\u2019s disciples, coming back with a suitable servant in tow.<\/p>\n Xie Li sneezed. He had just finished putting on a fresh set of underclothes when the door opened and let a draft in.<\/p>\n Gouzi quickly closed the door behind them and Di Mie sealed the gaps with a barrier.<\/p>\n \u201cA bit of cold won\u2019t kill me,\u201d said Xie Li. He sneezed again.<\/p>\n \u201cSure, but why suffer if you don\u2019t have to?\u201d said Di Mie, helping him tie the sash of his outer robes. He took out a heat talisman and placed it in an embroidered pouch, tucking it into the sash.<\/p>\n Feeling the warmth spread over his stomach, Xie Li looked at Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo more.\u201d<\/p>\n Di Mie smirked and made two more for him.<\/p>\n Xie Li took them and tucked them into the pockets under his robes.<\/p>\n \u201cMore?\u201d said Di Mie, pulling out three more.<\/p>\n Xie Li hesitated for a moment, then nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cIf someone else offered you their\u2026six-packs, would you take it?\u201d said Di Mie, teasingly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would anyone offer me that?\u201d said Xie Li, taking the pouches and finding good spots to tuck those pouches in.<\/p>\n \u201cSay, if Qing Lingfeng or Ye Mingzhu offered you to let you touch their six-pack\u2026.worth of heat pouches?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUnlikely. They can just use a barrier to keep the cold out. They don\u2019t need to carry something as trivial as heat talismans.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but what if\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMie\u2019er,\u201d said Xie Li, turning to look at him, concerned. \u201cDo you not have enough talismans to use? Shall I give them back to you?\u201d<\/p>\n Di Mie sighed. \u201cKeep them, I can easily make more.\u201d<\/p>\n Gouzi just smiled, completely confused.<\/p>\n \u201cGouzi, is it? I\u2019ll give you overtime pay if you assist me until the clan alliance meeting,\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cJust say yes and I\u2019ll arrange it with Sect Leader Qing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cActually, Shizun\u2019s already told me to attend to you, but, um, regarding the overtime pay,\u201d said Gouzi, his eyes sparkling.<\/p>\n \u201cHahah,\u201d chuckled Di Mie. \u201cI\u2019ll make sure you\u2019re paid.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay!\u201d said Gouzi.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are just two things you need to do above all else: get him food, and stick to him if he leaves this room,\u201d said Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cLeave it to me!\u201d said Gouzi, happy to do something he was comfortable with. He\u2019d worked for years as a domestic servant before he joined the Border Mountains Sect. Being an attendant should be a breeze.<\/p>\n Except it was not, for a simple reason\u2014<\/p>\n Di Mie would never give anyone an easy job.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n The first few days had been all right. He’d even gotten quite used to seeing the Valley Lord without his veil and thought it’d be something to boast about to his fellow disciples.<\/p>\n All Gouzi needed to do was prepare food and run a few errands. He had run to the medicinal hall to purchase herbs according to a prescription Di Mie wrote, which included the rarest snow lotus and wild ginseng, just to name a few. He almost fainted seeing the invoices.<\/p>\n From what he\u2019d gathered, this Senior Xie was someone Sect Leader Qing and Valley Lord Di knew. He kept hearing Di Mie call Senior Xie \u2018Shizun\u2019, but from the playful way he was behaving, it looked like Di Mie was just fooling around.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n This morning, as he came into the room to serve them breakfast, he was surprised when he saw them already dressed. At this time, the two seniors would usually be sleeping with the bed curtains still drawn. He quietly set the food on the table and began cleaning the room, hoping he wasn\u2019t interrupting anything.<\/p>\n \u201cIs this really necessary?\u201d asked Xie Li, tilting his head as Di Mie fastened a silver chain of crystal bells around his ankle.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. Now that you’re more or less recovered, you’ll probably wander off. Given your terrible sense of direction, I can at least somehow track you down if you get hopelessly lost.\u201d<\/p>\n Xie Li huffed and reached out, hesitated, and then withdrew it. For a moment, Gouzi thought Senior Xie was going to pat Di Mie\u2019s head.<\/p>\n Di Mie raised a brow at the halted gesture.<\/p>\n \u201cShizun, I\u2019ll be going to the White Crane publishing house today for some business,\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cWould you like me to bring back some books later?\u201d<\/p>\n Xie Li nodded, then shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have money,\u201d he said, dead serious.<\/p>\n Di Mie grinned. \u201cI\u2019ll just put it on your tab, just like everything I got you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t stop you from buying things for me, can I?\u201d said Xie Li. He looked at what he was wearing and huffed.<\/p>\n \u201cNope.\u201d said Di Mie, handing him eight activated heat pouches this time. He went to the table and poured some tea for himself as he briefly looked through some documents for the day.<\/p>\n \u201cYour eight-pack is good to use,\u201d said Xie Li, using Di Mie\u2019s weird phrasing from the other day.<\/p>\n Di Mie\u2019s hand shook and the tea spilled. He was glad he hadn\u2019t drunk it yet.<\/p>\n Xie Li hummed as he stuffed the handy little heat packs into his clothes. He looked like he was struggling with his sash, so Di Mie put down his things and came over.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me help you put those on your back,\u201d said Di Mie, reaching his hands under Xie Li\u2019s outer robe to tuck one behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t\u2014\u201d said Xie Li, groaning as the heat pack pressed against his wounds.<\/p>\n \u201cDid I hurt you?\u201d said Di Mie, moving his hand away quickly. \u201cI\u2019ll get you some medicine for the pain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo need, I\u2019m fine,\u201d said Xie Li, sounding a little breathy.<\/p>\n “All right, then. I\u2019ll be going off now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMn.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you want to go out, make sure Gouzi is with you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMn.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you go missing on me again, I\u2019m going to tie you up and dump you in a demon-infested shithole,\u201d said Di Mie, his voice low and threatening.<\/p>\n Gouzi shuddered at the threat. Valley Lord Di didn\u2019t sound like he was joking\u2026<\/p>\n Xie Li levelled his gaze at Di Mie, looking quite stern.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t say that.\u201d<\/p>\n Gouzi shuddered again. Why was Senior Xie, who seemed sickly and had no aura, scolding the tall and intimidating Valley Lord?<\/p>\n \u201cFine,\u201d said Di Mie, rolling his eyes and correcting himself. \u201cI\u2019ll dump you in a demon-inhabited…<\/em>‘territory’.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s better.\u201d<\/p>\n That was when Gouzi knew that the both of them were trouble and regretted taking this job.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n It was autumn in the prosperous Bainiao Lake City. There was a nip in the air, but the fiery red of the ginkgo and maple trees made the place feel warm. Golden ribbons streamed from the lanterns hung in the streets amidst the brightly-coloured buildings.<\/p>\n The harbour was becoming lively as people started to stream into the restricted areas that were reopened.<\/p>\n \u201cShizun and Shijie* must\u2019ve been working hard,\u201d said Gouzi, seeing the area around Juxian Inn getting busier with each day.<\/p>\n *Shijie = senior sister (Yatou)<\/em><\/p>\n As they walked towards the recently reopened harbour, they saw a bustling scene. The streets and restaurants were filled with both local and foreign visitors eager to have a good time before winter set in.<\/p>\n Gouzi stayed no more than two steps behind Xie Li.<\/p>\n Up close, he could see the exquisite workmanship of Xie Li\u2019s outfit. The simplicity of his robes hid in plain view the effort that went into the seams and subtle embroidery.<\/p>\n If he hadn\u2019t read the invoice when he had gone with Yatou to collect the package, he wouldn\u2019t have been able to tell that the fabric was made of linen and wool instead of silk.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t make sense to spend so much effort and money to specially treat the fabric until it became as good as silk, but it all clicked after he prepared Xie Li\u2019s vegetarian meal.<\/p>\n Gouzi noticed that Xie Li wore shoes instead of boots. He wondered if that was purely for aesthetics until he noticed the crystal beds woven in the shoes and sensed that they were infused with aura. Probably to keep this senior\u2019s legs warm. He sighed at the extravagant details that went into every part of the outfit.<\/p>\n He still had much to learn when it came to the intricacies of spirit aura tools and its many applications.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you looking for something in particular, Senior Xie?\u201d asked Gouzi as they looked around the shops at the harbour.<\/p>\n \u201cCushion covers,\u201d said Xie Li.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I saw a hawker over there selling fabric goods,\u201d said Gouzi. \u201cI\u2019ll go ask if they sell cushion covers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like to wait here while I\u2014no, I can\u2019t be more than three steps away from you,\u201d said Gouzi, relieved to have caught himself before he made a mistake. He took a deep breath and gave Xie Li a slight bow. \u201cI\u2019ll lead you there, Senior Xie.\u201d<\/p>\n Xie Li nodded.<\/p>\n He hardly looked at the road as he walked, distracted by the noise of the busy market activity. Gouzi kept looking his way to make sure he didn\u2019t wander off. Once they reached the pushcart stall, Xie Li saw that he could see part of the lake from this spot.<\/p>\n He watched how the sun hit the lake and gazed upon it, lost in thought.<\/p>\n \u201cGosh, I really can\u2019t tell what he\u2019s thinking,\u201d thought Gouzi to himself as he purchased the cushion covers Xie Li asked for.<\/p>\n Suddenly, Xie Li began to walk towards the row of restaurants and tea houses overlooking the lake.<\/p>\n \u201cHeavens! Wait up\u2014\u201d said Gouzi, hastily stuffing the covers into his sling bag and running after Xie Li.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Di Mie yawned, glad for his veil covering any slip-up in his expressions. The front of the White Crane publishing house was jam-packed with people from all over the region.<\/p>\n He took a secret way to the back of the publishing house to avoid the crowd and discreetly showed a letter to the staff. He was quickly ushered to a waiting room.<\/p>\n The bookshop\u2019s staff stood at attention, alert and serious. A supervisor greeted him and served him a cup of tea, explaining that they would be done setting it up in a bit.<\/p>\n He saw that Zhu Yinghe was already at the table, sipping at a cup of tea. He was dressed in white with red and gold accents, hinting the colours of Bainiao Lake City.<\/p>\n \u201cMister Zhu,\u201d said Di Mie, holding up his cup of tea in greeting. \u201cI didn\u2019t think you\u2019d accept the invitation to come here given how busy you seemed lately.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI needed a break, and this looked like it would be interesting,\u201d said Zhu Yinghe, keeping a painting-worthy smile on his face. \u201cIt\u2019s my first time at such an event.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, this would make me your senior,\u201d said Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cThen I hope you will look out for me at the event later, \u2018senior\u2019,\u201d smiled Zhu Yinghe, raising his cup.<\/p>\n A shop staff popped into the back room and called the both of them out to the front.<\/p>\n \u201cTime to work,\u201d said Di Mie, cracking his knuckles.<\/p>\n The moment they walked out, they were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of screaming fans waving homemade banners and signs.<\/p>\n \u201cGood afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for your patience and cooperation. Please stay in the queue and we\u2019ll make sure your limited edition copies will be signed by our special guests today,\u201d said the shop staff.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a long queue,\u201d said Zhu Yinghe, a crack appearing at the corner of his smile.<\/p>\n Heh, let\u2019s see how long you can maintain that perfect smile of yours,<\/em> thought Di Mie to himself with a smirk.<\/p>\n Being a veteran to events like these, Di Mie knew to let his veil flutter at the right times, letting his adoring fans capture a glimpse of his face from different angles. He took a sip of the tea every now and then to tease the fans with a little skin. Some of Zhu Yinghe\u2019s fans were converted on the spot.<\/p>\n \u201cMister Zhu,\u201d said Di Mie, cocking his head towards a group of fangirls who bought the premium edition merchandise standing at the waiting area, dubbed the \u2018viewing area\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to give our fans a little service<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, I\u2019m not sure what you mean,\u201d said Zhu Yinghe, but took the cue to look at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou just have to lean in and talk to me,\u201d said Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d said Zhu Yinghe, leaning in. \u201cIs this enough?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll wait and see,\u201d said Di Mie, leaning in as well until they were inches apart.<\/p>\n A resounding squee came from the girls.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s about right,\u201d said Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you have a bit of dust here,\u201d said Zhu Yinghe, casually brushing Di Mie\u2019s shoulder, rousing another wave of screaming.<\/p>\n \u201cYou learn fast, Mister Zhu.\u201d<\/p>\n Zhu Yinghe smiled, living up to his reputation as the runner-up in last season\u2019s popularity charts with a special award for \u2018best smile\u2019.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n \u201cSenior Xie,\u201d said Gouzi, seeing how quiet this place was amidst all the other bustling establishments around it. \u201cI don\u2019t think this teahouse is open for business. Shall we go next door instead?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t want to. Noisy,\u201d said Xie Li, walking right into the large, empty teahouse and going up the stairs. He climbed to the second floor and saw that the tables had a good view of the lake.<\/p>\n \u201cSir, I\u2019m sorry, but we\u2019re fully booked today,\u201d said a waiter, frantically coming to them.<\/p>\n \u201cThese tables are empty,\u201d said Xie Li, seeing only one table occupied.<\/p>\n \u201cThat customer booked the entire teahouse for today,\u201d said the waiter. \u201cPlease go somewhere else\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all right,\u201d came the voice of the customer who booked the whole place. \u201cLet them have a table.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, if this master says it\u2019s okay. Would you like to sit downstairs or\u2026\u201d said the waiter.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’ll sit there,\u201d said Xie Li, pointing to the one right next to the occupied one.<\/p>\n The waiter sweated profusely.<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u201d said the customer. \u201cI see you want a table with a view of the lake as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Xie Li nodded. And then he remembered his manners and introduced himself.<\/p>\n \u201cXie Li. Pleased to meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n Gouzi\u2019s mouth fell open when he saw a pure-looking smile on Senior Xie’s face that would make anyone drop their complaint.<\/p>\n \u201cHu Xun,” said the man, returning the greeting. “Going by your companion\u2019s dress, are you both from the Border Mountains Sect?\u201d<\/p>\n Xie Li shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Crystal Peak\u2019s disciple. Just call me Gouzi,\u201d said Gouzi, giving him a proper greeting.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s an interesting name,\u201d said Hu Xun, tapping his table with a folded fan. \u201cCome sit at my table. This place has the best view of the lake.\u201d<\/p>\n He beckoned the waiter over.<\/p>\n \u201cGet us another pot of your finest tea and some cakes. Oh, and a jar of Dream-Wandering Immortal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir,\u201d said the waiter, hurrying off.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t know this teahouse sold wine,\u201d said Xie Li.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the best teahouse in town, so it must have the Dream-Wandering Immortal,\u201d said Hu Xun. \u201cDo you know how this wine was intended to be drunk?\u201d<\/p>\n Xie Li turned to look at the lake and gave him the textbook answer.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo parts tea, one part wine, and if so desired, add goji berries to the pot in winter or a sprig of mint in summer. If the wine is fresh and undiluted, a ladle of it shall do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou do know, as I thought,\u201d said Hu Xun, smiling.<\/p>\n Unlike Xie Li\u2019s innocent-looking smile, his smile was relaxed and laid back; it was the demeanour of someone who made friends easily.<\/p>\n Gouzi just sat ramrod straight and played the part of an obedient statue.<\/p>\n The tea arrived with many dishes. Gouzi was about to serve it when he noticed Xie Li ignoring the food on the table. Realising what might be wrong, he spoke up.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, Mister Hu, my senior is vegetarian.\u201d<\/p>\n Without missing a beat, Hu Xun turned to the waiter and said, \u201cMake sure all these dishes are suitable for vegetarians.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll have the cook make these again,\u201d said the waiter, taking away half the dishes.<\/p>\n Gouzi looked longingly at the goodies being taken away. He sighed inwardly and decided he should pour them some tea, but Hu Xun stopped him.<\/p>\n \u201cAllow me,\u201d said Hu Xun, mixing a fragrant spring-harvested Oolong tea with a ladle from a freshly opened jar of wine.<\/p>\n He moved with a calm and easy grace that got Xie Li\u2019s attention back on the table.<\/p>\n Taking the chance, Hu Xun filled their cups and raised his for a toast. \u201cTo our fortuitous meeting.\u201d<\/p>\n Gouzi raised his cup and then looked at Xie Li, who copied him and raised his cup as well.<\/p>\n \u201cTo you, Mister Hu,\u201d said Gouzi.<\/p>\n Xie Li simply drank.<\/p>\n The tea was at the perfect temperature after the mixing. The delicate flavours even made him want to eat a little something.<\/p>\n Hu Xun put down his cup and began the conversation now that his greeting was done.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, Mister Xie, Gouzi of Crystal Peak, what brings you to Bainiao Lake City? It\u2019s quite a bit of distance from the Border Mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n Gouzi continued being a good statue.<\/p>\n \u201cI just followed other people here,\u201d said Xie Li, truthfully.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be honest with you,\u201d said Hu Xun. \u201cFrom the spirit sword at your waist, I would have thought you a fellow cultivator, yet I don\u2019t feel any aura from you.\u201d<\/p>\n Xie Li shrugged. \u201cIt got lost.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGot lost\u2026?*\u201d<\/p>\n *the term Xie Li uses means \u2018I dropped\/misplaced it\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n “Please, help yourselves to the food,” said Hu Xun.<\/p>\n Xie Li crossed his chopsticks as he tried to pick up an osmanthus cake. He glared at it for a while and decided to simply stab it, eating it like meat off a stick.<\/p>\n \u201cInteresting,\u201d said Hu Xun, following his lead and poking a piece of mungbean cake. \u201cEtiquette shouldn\u2019t get in the way of enjoying one\u2019s food.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMn,\u201d said Xie Li.<\/p>\n \u201cTry some lotus seed soup too,\u201d said Hu Xun. \u201cThis dish is a speciality of this area.\u201d<\/p>\n Xie Li shook his head after trying a spoonful. \u201cToo sweet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, not a fan of sweet foods?\u201d said Hu Xun, quickly recommending another dish. \u201cThen these chive dumplings might be more to your taste.\u201d<\/p>\n Gouzi marvelled at how this Hu Xun was able to get Senior Xie to eat so much. That said, he found himself refraining from scarfing down the food himself, as it was very tasty. Mister Hu had been generous in ordering many dishes, but teahouses that prized aesthetics had smaller servings for savouring rather than for filling one\u2019s stomach.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve eaten enough. I want to look at the lake,\u201d said Xie Li.<\/p>\n He turned to the window and leaned his elbow against the sill, chin resting on his hand. He gazed at the lake, lost in his own world.<\/p>\n \u201cThe world is a big place and I still have many interesting people I have yet to meet,\u201d said Hu Xun, amused.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n