Chương 246: Returning to Yangnan Once Again

On the official road leading to Yangnan Prefecture. A convoy of over a dozen carriages bearing the flags of the Sea of Clouds Pavilion was slowly making its way forward. In the middle of the convoy was an extremely spacious and imposing carriage, requiring four fine steeds to pull it in order to move normally. At this moment, the carriage curtain was rolled up high. Inside, Song Que and Yun Xi were sitting opposite each other, enjoying tea, with Qingzhu serving on the side.

The Wu Yun horse had long been abandoned by him, left to casually roam alongside the convoy. This guy was used to an indulgent lifestyle; earlier, when Yun Xi merely dropped a polite invitation, how could he possibly refuse? He had happily agreed and hopped onto her carriage, causing the beauty to grit her teeth secretly. She had no choice but to order Qingzhu to roll the curtains up high to avoid any misunderstandings from outsiders. Fortunately, as time passed, the little thief's attitude remained quite proper.

Moreover, his witty and humorous way of speaking greatly improved the beauty's mood.

"In a certain kingdom, the King was about to go on a long military expedition. The Queen was young, beautiful, but had a slightly overly easygoing nature, so the King was very worried and couldn't sleep. Fortunately, a Deity appeared and granted him a miracle: if any man touched the Queen, that man's 'instrument' would be cut off. With his mind at ease, the King set off for war.

When he returned the following year, he summoned all the officials in the court and ordered them to strip off their clothes for an inspection. Alas, everyone had been castrated, except for the Prime Minister. Deeply moved by his close official's loyalty, the King said:'You are the only one who has been honorable to We. Whatever you desire, We shall grant it.'

The Prime Minister was overjoyed and immediately took out a pen and paper to write:'Your Majesty, if there are miracles, please make Your Subject's tongue grow back to its original length.'" Pfft!!! Inside the carriage, the two beauties had their faces flushed crimson once again by his dirty joke, covering their mouths and laughing until they swayed back and forth. This leg of the journey wasn't boring at all. With the "Veteran Driver" Song here, everyone's ears were treated to a feast.

Relying on his stockpile of bawdy jokes from his past life, he continuously teased the two women until they were gasping for air, their silver-bell-like laughter ringing out endlessly. Outside the carriage, Old Kong, Old Shen, and the others constantly pricked up their ears to eavesdrop, subsequently suppressing their laughter with red faces, not daring to laugh out loud. Their expressions were incredibly comical. With this entertainment, the journey of over three hours didn't feel the least bit tiring.

By the time afternoon arrived and the towering city walls of Yangnan Prefecture appeared before them, everyone was still savoring the aftertaste, feeling as though they hadn't had enough.......

"Young Master Song, I will head home first. Do you need anything else, or do you require someone to guide you around?" After booking the best inn for Song Que and Shen Ziming, Yun Xi smiled and bid them farewell.

"Many thanks, Miss Yun. Please go ahead with your own business; bringing us here is already more than enough. With Brother Shen, a Yangnan local, right here, there's no need to worry about me getting lost."

"Then I can rest easy. This little lady will take her leave first. I will come back to call on you tomorrow morning." Watching the Yun family's convoy slowly depart, Song Que and Shen Ziming finally brought their luggage into the private courtyard. The horses were being tended to by the inn staff, and since their belongings merely consisted of a couple of cloth bundles, they simply unpacked and washed up, finishing everything swiftly.

Grandee Song then leisurely followed Shen Ziming out to stroll through the city streets. Even though this was his second time here, he was still dazzled by the bustling metropolis. There were no towering skyscrapers or brilliant electric streetlights, but it possessed an equally dazzling, dreamlike quality. Coupled with the exotic atmosphere, it inadvertently intoxicated the mind.

After strolling around for a while, as night fell and tens of thousands of households began to light their lanterns, Shen Ziming led him to a famous local eatery. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Yu Lu Gun (Fish and Goat Stew). The name made absolutely no sense to him, but Master Song didn't care much.

Picking a table out on the balcony, he sat down and looked down at the streets, letting Old Shen, the local guide, handle the ordering. After ordering a few dishes and a jug of wine, and waiting for the waiter to bring up some chilled tea, Shen Ziming finally spoke:"Young Master Song, here in Yangnan, there are two specialty ingredients: goat and fish. The signature dish of this place, Yu Lu Gun, involves stuffing a fish into the belly of a goat and then roasting it.

The sweetness of the goat combined with the fragrance of the fish, alongside their secret spices and unique deodorizing method, guarantees that you'll never forget it after one bite."

"Haha, it seems coming with Brother Shen today was the right choice!" With good food on the way, Master Song was delighted. While waiting, the two engaged in idle chatter, their eyes completely drawn to the scenery on the streets below. Since the Yaochi Tea Party was currently being held, the streets were filled with heroic martial artists carrying sabers and swords, as well as no shortage of beautiful silhouettes, greatly increasing the interest of the two "single dogs" on the second floor.

When the waiter brought up the food, the mouth-watering aroma finally pulled their gazes back to the table. At this moment, seven or eight dishes were laid out on the large table. The most eye-catching was a massive platter in the center, clearly divided into two halves: one side held a whole fish, while the other side contained goat meat chopped into small pieces. The rich, slightly pungent aroma made Grandee Song's stomach instantly rumble in protest.

Ignoring Old Shen, who was pouring the wine, he picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a piece to taste. It truly is delicious! The fresh tenderness of the fish combined with the smooth sweetness of the goat, and exactly as Shen Ziming had said, there was absolutely no fishy or gamey smell. It was a masterpiece. Unable to hold back, Song Que grabbed another piece, closing his eyes to savor it meticulously.

Even with his extraordinary sense of taste, he could only decipher about eighty or ninety percent of the ingredients. The rest were undoubtedly secret spices. Having never tasted them before, he had no way of knowing what they were. Tossing these questions to the back of his mind, Master Song and Old Shen buried their heads in the food. Having not returned here for a long time, Shen Ziming was also craving it intensely and didn't hold back, opening his belly to eat.

Finally, when the food on the table had been cleared by seventy or eighty percent, the two slowed their pace and began to clink their glasses and talk.

"Old Shen, where is your home? Aren't you going to drop by and visit while it's convenient?" He only knew that this brother's mother had died early and his father had passed away a few years ago, after which he wandered alone in Yangnan. He wasn't entirely clear on the specific details. Hearing Song Que's question, Shen Ziming didn't immediately answer. He raised his cup and took a large gulp, reminiscing for a moment before sighing:"Many thanks for Young Master Song's concern, but my home here has long been gone."

"Oh? What happened? If Brother Shen doesn't mind, why not confide in me?" Since they had the free time, Pavilion Master Song didn't mind showing some care for his capable subordinate's personal life. Raising his cup to clink it with his, Shen Ziming drained it and spoke without hiding anything:"My mother suffered a difficult labor; when I was born, she passed away. From then on, it was my father who raised me single-handedly. My father used to be a 5th Grade Organ Refining realm martial artist.

Relying on the foundation left by our ancestors, he opened a martial arts dojo and took in disciples. The days passed by without much hardship."

"Unfortunately, due to business competition, seven years ago, my father engaged in a duel with the Master of another dojo. In the end, he lost by half a move, losing our entire family enterprise. From then on, us father and son had to rent a place to live. Sometime later, my father fell ill from sorrow and passed away. I began to wander everywhere, working for others to make a living."

Speaking up to this point, he smiled and looked over:"Fortunately, during that time, I met my sworn brother and had the chance to get to know an absolute genius like Young Master Song. Heaven hasn't treated me too badly." Bromance sparks flying everywhere! Thinking about how this guy still didn't have a girlfriend to this day, and had never been caught in any rumors with any girl, Master Song suddenly felt his sphincter tighten. Shuddering, he quickly changed the subject:"Who was the enemy that harmed your family?

If Brother Shen needs help, just say the word." Surprisingly, Old Shen was very open-minded. He shook his head elegantly:"I wouldn't call them an enemy. It was a fair and square duel; my father lost because his skills were inferior. There is no deep hatred to speak of. But as a son, once my strength is sufficient in the future, I will definitely return to seek them out and win a match back. If I can conveniently buy back the old house, that would be for the best.

I can consider it an answer to my parents and ancestors. I believe my father would smile peacefully in the underworld." Master Song was thoroughly won over by this man's broad-mindedness. No wonder he could make Old Nie admire him to the point of absolute prostration. His charismatic personality was simply off the charts!

"Brother Shen draws a clear line between gratitude and grudges, I am in awe!"

"Young Master Song praises me too highly, and thank you for your concern. Being able to work for you is the greatest fortune of our lives." The earnest gaze he shot over made Grandee Song inwardly scream that he couldn't take it.

"Haha, Old Shen, you're being too polite. If you need any help, remember to tell me immediately." Villain Song spoke while unconsciously shifting his butt away slightly. Fortunately, Shen Ziming didn't catch onto the guy's thoughts, otherwise, he would have undoubtedly flipped the table in rebellion right then and there. They chatted casually about everything under the sun for a while.

Since both had things on their minds, they weren't in the mood to stroll around anymore and quickly returned to their rooms to rest and recharge. Before going to sleep, Master Song didn't forget to lock his door tightly. Brother Shen, you're putting mountain-sized pressure on this little brother, the Scumbag silently thought in his head.