There was one condition that made Happy incredibly happy.
Since there was no way to determine time, the quests in the game never wasted it. Even though they could not be considered too straightforward, they often gave the player the chance to go straight to the point during chats with the NPCs.
After the trio drank some wine, Li Shimin opened the conversation and told Happy that Shi Qingxuan and Xu Zhiling shared a rather special relationship, and in a short while, Artisan Shi would definitely come over to meet them for a brief moment.
Xu Zhiling’s handsome face was completely red.
“Brother Shimin, you’re teasing me. Qingxuan and I are just normal friends. Brother Happy, you mustn’t misunderstand.”
“A misunderstanding? Could it be that Kuo Zhong’s relationship with my younger sister is also a misunderstanding?” Li Shimin calmly pointed at Kuo Zhong while he drank wine with his head lowered and a smile on his face.
Happy did not disappoint Li Shimin. He raised his head to survey the area around him.
“By the way, Brother Zhiling, I’ve heard of the great name of Yangzhou’s Twin Dragons since a long time ago. They say that you are very close to each other, so I wonder if Brother Kuo Zhong is also on the boat.”
He did not reveal his thoughts at all through his words, but a hint of wariness appeared on Xu Zhiling’s face.
“He has certain matters to attend to, and he can’t leave for the time being.” People who were not used to lying had a lot of tells when they lied.
“Is that so? That’s a real pity,” Happy said. “Next time, when there is a chance, you will definitely have to introduce us, Brother Zhiling.”
“Of course!” Li Shimin could not hold back anymore. He did not wish for Happy to meet with Kuo Zhong, so he immediately laughed and interrupted the conversation. “You’ll have plenty of chances to meet Kuo Zhong. Happy, do you recognize the warriors sitting here?”
“Not really.”
“Let me introduce you to them. To the west is Empress Yin and her beloved disciple, Wan Wan. Brother Happy, you mustn’t be charmed by her adorable appearance. That one’s a witch, and she’s even harder to deal with than Empress Yin.”
Even though Li Shimin had lowered her voice, he clearly underestimated Wan Wan and Empress Yin’s strength.
Empress Yin’s expression darkened. She looked down, dipped her finger into the wine cup, swirled the liquid, and flicked her finger.
Whoosh!
The old butler who had been standing behind Li Shimin coughed in a seemingly unbothered manner, and the liquid that shot through the air instantly lost its might.
But even though he managed to fend off Empress Yin, he did not notice that Wan Wan had also attacked. A thin hair shot toward Li Shimin.
No one knew whether the old butler intentionally missed it or truly did not notice it, but he did not do anything to block the attack.
Happy sighed helplessly in his heart.
Even though he did not want to get mixed up in the mess, since Xu Zhiling did not seem to have noticed Wan Wan’s actions, he had no choice. He curled a finger of the hand hidden under the table and sent an invisible gust of finger-generated wind.
The thin hair was instantly crushed in the air.
“Empress Yin!”
The proceedings had caught quite a number of people’s attention. The generals not too far away took hold of their swords and stood up. They glared at Empress Yin’s table and looked ready to attack her with one word from Li Shimin.
“Young Master Li, next time, don’t gossip about others behind their backs.”
Empress Yin was completely unbothered by her failed attack. She cast a faint glance at the old butler, whose expression was rather unpleasant, and spoke in a nonchalant and dismissive voice. Her words were calm and did not contain any anger. “Consider this a warning.”
“Uncle Li, are you alright?”
Li Shimin’s face was full of worry. There was no way he could not tell that the old butler had suffered a little from the duel just now, and he was slightly apprehensive in his heart.
“I’m fine.” A faint blotch of red rose on the old butler’s face. He shook his head slowly, but the wrinkles on his face became even deeper.
They were both Myth Realm martial artists, but Empress Yin was clearly stronger!
“Thank you for helping me just now, my young friend.”
“It’s what I should do.”
Happy’s answer displeased the Witch Wan Wan.
“Are the people from the Murong Clan also interested in Eunuch Yang’s Warehouse, or have you already become the Li Family’s lapdogs? You helped Shi Feixuan earlier, and now you’re helping Li Shimin. Do you really intend to go up against me and be enemies with the holy order?”
“Since ancient times, those of the righteous path and evil path have never mixed well. I do not have any intention to help either side, but when I see injustice, I will definitely help the oppressed. This is simply a duty that the people of my generation have and that I cannot cast aside.”
Happy spoke in a neither arrogant nor humble tone.
“Haha! Help those being oppressed when you see them? Well said! Brother Happy, you are indeed a straightforward person.”
Li Shimin’s affection toward Happy increased by leaps and bounds.
There was also a smile on Xu Zhiling’s face.
Happy’s words did not show any flattery nor bias toward Li Shimin, and he did not reveal any ambitious desires either. It was in accordance to how he usually conducted himself.
“I, Zhiling, toast to you.”
“So, the one who helped Miss Shi during the day was you? Brother Happy, I will also toast to you.” Li Shimin’s eyes lit up.
‘I didn’t come here to drink.’
Naturally, Happy would not say such words. Besides, he was currently facing Xu Zhiling and Li Shimin. He did not dare to be inattentive toward them, so he picked up his wine cup and drank everything in one go.
But Happy soon sensed a cold gaze on his face.
“Young Master Happy.” An elegant fragrance drifted into his nostrils, and Shi Feixuan came over to the trio in a snow-white robe.
At that moment, it seemed like Happy’s table had become the center of attention of the entire pleasure boat. Everyone’s eyes were trained on their side.
Each faction of power paid attention to them.
“Miss Shi, it’s you.”
“I have been incredibly thankful for you saving us from the encirclement during the day in Yangzhou City. Allow me to use this cup of tea as wine and toast to you.”
“Miss Shi, you praise me too much. My generation is full of chivalrous people, and when we see evil cultists harming those who share the same path as us, we help them. I was just there at the right time.”
When Happy said those words, he noticed that Xu Zhiling’s gaze on him had become a little abnormal.
“Brother Happy, I will toast to you again.” There was gratitude and determination under his bashful expression.
“I really don’t deserve this.” Happy threw his head back and finished his wine in one gulp.
He drank a few cups of strong wine in succession, and his insides began burning up, but Nine Yang Divine Skill soon got rid of quite a lot of the drunkenness in him and expelled it from his body, which was why Happy could remain energetic.
“How is Master Qing Yuan, and how is Brother Xibai?”
“Master Qing Yuan was wounded heavily and has already passed away. Xibai’s injuries were lighter, and Young Master Li’s subordinate is taking care of him. He is already fine.”
Shi Feixuan’s expression was slightly bleak.
Happy heaved a long sigh. “If I had acted sooner, perhaps I could have saved Master Qing Yuan…”
“Young Master Happy, you do not need to blame yourself. Master Qing Yuan mentioned before he died that he wanted me to thank you. He is already resting in peace. It’s just a pity…” She stopped talking for a moment and quickly cast a glance at Xu Zhiling. There was regret in her voice. “It’s a pity that I didn’t manage to protect the key in the end.”
“Immortal Shi, I am to blame for being careless.” Li Shimin’s face was full of anguish. “I believed in others too readily, which was why I was set up and lost the key.”
When Happy heard that, he frowned slightly in shock. ‘I didn’t expect that she would lose the key in the end and it will not go to Li Shimin. Judging by Shi Feixuan’s expression, could it be that the key is really in Kuo Zhong’s hands?’
While thinking about it, Happy suddenly remembered the face of the unfamiliar player who had never said anything standing behind Xu Zhiling.
‘Something’s wrong!’ he thought and scowled.
