Chapter 164 Brother Nine, You Are In Trouble (2/2)

But one had to admit that a person who lent their hand to help others is a good person.

Shen Lian stood afar alone. It did not snow today, but it was still cold, yet Shen Lian could feel no pain in this chill, not even Xiao Xun, and Qian Mo.

Those poor people in shabby clothes could feel it though, as they all seek warmth around the fire in the shed.

Though Shen Lian and co did not feel cold, they still had three separate huts for their own stay. This Qi Xiu could not understand, and Shen Lian explained that even a kind person should not be cruel to their own.

He thought that being kind to own self would enable one to be kinder to others, and not be kind to others and harsh on themselves. This may not be as noble as how Hui Ke broke his arm, but Shen Lian was just being realistic.

He merely advised Qi Xiu, and Qi Xiu was very obedient to him.

Shen Lian thought that he was still one step away from achieving the level of Huan Dan, yet still felt so far. That feeling was like seeing the moon’s reflection in the water, yet he could not touch it.

The image of the moon in the water was all illusion and without a trace of truth.

Shen Lian did not know when he could take this step, maybe many years later, at one point, he would suddenly understand like Chen Jianmei, or maybe he would not understand till the end like San Wen Daoren.

Fire burning from far, the skies covered in stars, the moonlit like an eyebrow. He could hear the breathing sound of Song Qingyi’s medication, and the scripture reading by Qi Xiu, and the noise coming out from the peasant’s huts.

His senses were getting more and more sensitive, as he could identify, pinpoint and analyze every happening around him.

These are all non-related to him. Shen Lian had this sudden urge to do something pointless, to put him away from this thought of being stuck in his cultivation.

In the freezing cold night, he strolled aimlessly. The streets had very few people; all houses’ doors were shut. As he passed by Zhui Xian Ju, it was bustling inside. Shen Lian suddenly felt like drinking wine.

He rarely drank, the last time he had a heartfelt drink, was the night before he left Shen family to study the path of Daoism. He had a very delightful drinking session with Bai Yufei.

Shen Lian still remembered Bai Yufei saying, ”You are not a very exciting person”.

After all these years, Shen Lian felt that he had gone through some changes, but also unchanged in many ways.

He was strong-willed, but not as much as Chen Jianmei; he had tenacity, but Hui Ke had even more. But he was still Shen Lian.

Same old Shen Lian being Shen Lian, he did not stand long in front of Zui Xian Ju, he did not enter either. He wanted to drink wine, but not in a place like this, because the inn was too large, with too many people and too much noise inside.

Ruo Xi enjoyed the hustle and bustle, whereas Shen Lian loved the quietness.

Thinking of Ruo Xi, Shen Lian’s urge to drink grew stronger.

After walking past seven shops later, there was a little inn, which was not closed yet.

As Shen Lian entered, he became its only customer, without much special treatment of course.

The wine inn was managed by an old man, looked like he was past sixties, with many wrinkles on his face. He would be considered long-lived amongst the worldly peasants.

He looked like he still had light feet, just lacked passion, maybe because of his poor business. As to why the business was bad, in the eyes of Shen Lian, the tables and chairs were already old, but old man wiped them clean and kept the inn neat and tidy.

He ordered a jug of wine and sipped slowly.

Before the jug was halved, another person entered the shop.

In this chilly night, the lady’s white folded dress was flowing gracefully. She was pretty like the angel, as her arms were slightly showing, and her skin was very fair. Her body figure’s proportion was obviously the perfect number, and the curves on her chest would cause a man to have compromising thoughts.

Shen Lian had not seen many ladies more good looking than her and even recognized her.

He should actually act upon it, but he got lazy.

She came in slowly, effortlessly twisted her waist. An attractive aroma came attacking, and she sat opposite Shen Lian. Shen Lian saw that this lady was very smiley, with crystal clear eyes, very mesmerizing.

The lady proceeded to clap her delicate hands, and told the old man, ”Old man, please give a small fire stove for me to warm up my wine. Also please give one beef, one white meat, one plate of peanuts, plus two jugs of wine and a cup”. The lady’s voice was clear like the mountain streams which hit on the rocks, also similar to that of falling beads and breaking jade, so sweet to the ears.

The wine and dishes were served fast. It seemed that any badly performing inn would still have wine and dishes on standby.