A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Chapter 481 Back to the Mountain
The cool room was already a mess of cups and plates, and Lu Geng was already somewhat intoxicated by his drinking.

Lu Geng looked at Duan Rong with a flushed face and sighed, "Junior brother, I am really impressed by your alcohol tolerance."

Duan Rong kicked the empty wine jar at his feet and said with a smile: "To be honest with you, Senior Brother, I have never been drunk since I was born!?"

"Really?" Lu Geng exhaled the alcohol and said with a smile, "Great."

Lu Geng shook the wine jar in his hand and found that there was only a little bit of wine left. He turned his head and glanced behind him, and saw that there were still a few empty jars there, which were basically drunk by Duan Rong and him. Zhu Cheng drank some at the beginning of the banquet, but later he didn't drink much. Zhu Peng went to see Qin Xueyin off and hadn't come back yet.

Lu Geng stood up shakily, poured the bottom of the wine in the jar into Duan Rong and his own wine glasses, and said with a smile: "Junior brother, I think we should stop here today. This last glass of wine is for you, and it will be yours for your departure tomorrow!"

Duan Rong also smiled and raised his glass, saying, "It's really nice to drink with my senior brother today!"

As they talked, they each drank the wine in their glasses.

Lu Geng was about to leave, but Duan Rong saw that he was staggering and immediately supported him.

Seeing that the two were about to leave, Zhu Cheng also stood up. Duan Rong glanced at him and said, "Master Zhu, please wait for me in the flower hall. I have something to tell you later."

Zhu Cheng was startled, and said with a fist: "Yes, sir!"

When Lu Geng heard this, his expression remained unchanged, but his mind was full of thoughts.

Duan Rong supported Lu Geng. Both of them were drunk and pushed each other as they walked out of the cool room.

Yang Zhen was sitting in a dimly lit pavilion not far away. When he saw Duan Rong coming out, his eyes moved. However, he found that Duan Rong did not walk towards him, but went to the other side with another person.

Yang Zhen's heart ached, and the scene of drinking with Duan Rong in the past flashed through his mind. At that time, he and Duan Rong sat and drank together. At the beginning, they were still polite to each other, but they often drank until the end and then they would fight for the wine and food, just like wild dogs fighting for food.

When Yang Zhen thought of this, he couldn't help but smile slightly, but his smile soon faded because he felt that Duan Rong might never drink with him again.

Yang Zhen poured himself another cup of rice wine and drank it down his throat. He had been sitting in this pavilion for a long time, and the wine in the pot had slowly cooled down like his heart.

He couldn't help but smile bitterly, looking at the withered lotus leaves in the pond, and said with a wry smile: "Late autumn, withered lotus leaves, cold wine, it really fits the scene!"

Duan Rong supported Lu Geng at the door and boarded a carriage. The carriage was moving with a rumble. Lu Geng stuck his head out of the window and smiled at Duan Rong, "Junior brother, please say hello to my senior sister and the others when you go back..."

Duan Rong couldn't help but shudder when he thought of the fierce senior sister Fan Hongjiao looking at him with lustful eyes.

He saw Lu Geng's carriage going away and was about to turn around and walk into the mansion, but he heard another rumbling sound. He saw another carriage coming from the darkness and stopped in front of the mansion.

A figure jumped out of the carriage. It was Zhu Peng who was sending Qin Xueying back.

Zhu Peng stood in front of the door and gave Duan Rong a strange look.

Duan Rong asked, "How is she?"

Zhu Peng said: "It's nothing. I just cried like a baby."

Duan Rong sighed slightly and said, "To get over this kind of thing, you have to shed some skin."

In fact, Duan Rong had already felt something when Qin Xueyin came with her zither.

If she wasn't deeply in love, why would she be so self-deprecating and come to perform at someone's house?

The sad and murderous music she played on the piano sounded like tears to Duan Rong! ?

Unexpectedly, half a year ago, he was just playing a joke with Zhu Peng and went up the tower by chance, but it became a deep-seated worry for Qin Xueyin.

Heart disease needs to be treated with heart medicine, but I don’t know if she can swallow this good medicine?

Good medicine tastes bitter!
Zhu Peng said: "Brother, Miss Qin is deeply in love with you, why are you so determined?"

Duan Rong said: "You think I am very cruel for being so resolute. Is that right?"

Zhu Peng hesitated and said, "A little bit."

Duan Rong looked at Zhu Peng and said, "What do you young men know? Just because she is so infatuated with me, I have no choice but to break up with her. Ambiguity is truly cruel."

When Zhu Peng heard Duan Rong say that he was a young master, he felt a little dissatisfied and thought to himself, "You're talking as if you're not young?"

Indeed, if we really talk about age in this world, Zhu Peng is two years older than Duan Rong.

However, Zhu Peng immediately saw Duan Rong's deep eyes, and his heart seemed to be touched. He took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Duan Rong.

Duan Rong looked at the paper and asked sideways, "What is this?"

Zhu Peng said: "Miss Qin asked me to give it to you."

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong took the piece of paper and unfolded it. He saw four words written in elegant cursive script with smooth brushstrokes: "The Supreme One Forgets All Emotions."

Duan Rong looked at it and shook his head slightly.

If a person really forgets, she will not want the other person to know that she has forgotten. And those who want the other person to know that they have forgotten usually do so because they have not yet forgotten!
Duan Rong handed the paper to Zhu Peng and said, "Please keep this for me. Also, if you see her again, don't mention me in front of her."

Zhu Peng was stunned for a moment and asked, "Why?"

"Why so many whys?"

Duan Rong had already turned around and walked into the mansion.

Zhu Peng stood there, holding the card of Supreme Forgetfulness, watching Duan Rong's hurriedly leaving back, sighed slightly, and said to himself: "Supreme Forgetfulness?! You, Miss Qin, are not the only one who should forget about love!"

I don't know when it started, but Qin Xueyin's beautiful figure always appeared in Zhu Peng's mind... If not, why would he always mention Qin Xueyin in front of him when he knew Duan Rong didn't like her? Because he knew very well that Qin Xueyin wanted to see Duan Rong.

That heart is this heart!
In the darkness of the night, Duan Rong hurried back to the backyard and walked straight into the pavilion beside the pond.

When Duan Rong stepped into the pavilion, he saw Yang Zhen sitting there with a cold face.

When Yang Zhen saw Duan Rong approaching, his eyes moved, and he stood up and said, "Sir."

Duan Rong walked over, put his arm around Yang Zhen's shoulders, looked at the food and wine on the stone table, and said, "I've made you drink cold wine here for so long. How does this cold wine taste on this cold night?"

Yang Zhen's lips trembled and he said, "No...it's okay."

Duan Rong sat down on the stone chair beside Yang Zhen and motioned Yang Zhen to sit down as well.

Duan Rong picked up the wine pot, poured a glass of wine for each of them, and said, "It seems like it's been a while since we last had a drink together, right?"

Yang Zhen said: "It has been a while."

Duan Rong suddenly picked up the wine glass and said with a faint smile: "Will you have a drink with me?"

Yang Zhen's eyes moved and he also picked up the wine glass.

Duan Rong said: "Although the wine is cold, our love is still strong. Yang Zhen, we are still childhood friends."

When Yang Zhen heard this, a strange light flashed in his eyes.

The two of them clinked their glasses gently and drank it all in one gulp.

Duan Rong said, "I invited my senior brother Lu Geng to the banquet just now. Zhu Cheng and Zhu Peng who accompanied us are also my master's bloodline in the secular world. If I let you join the banquet, it would seem that I am too arrogant. There is a difference in status, and this is a fact. I hope you can understand."

Yang Zhen said: "I understand."

Duan Rong patted Yang Zhen on the shoulder and said, "That's good! Come with me!"

Yang Zhen followed Duan Rong out of the pavilion. At this time, Yang Zhen no longer felt lonely, but the faint feelings of the past were floating in his chest...

When Duan Rong and Yang Zhen walked into the flower hall, Zhu Cheng had been sitting there waiting for a while.

When Zhu Cheng saw Duan Rong coming in, he immediately clasped his fists and bowed, "Sir!"

Duan Rong smiled and said, "Zhu Cheng, no need to be so polite. I'm keeping you here because I have something to ask of you."

Zhu Cheng's eyes moved, and he said, "My Lord, just give your orders. How can I be worthy of a single word of begging?"

Duan Rong said: "You said that! Once words are spoken, they cannot be taken back. As the saying goes, it is difficult to cure abdominal edema."

Zhu Cheng looked at Duan Rong's face with eyes flickering, wondering what he intended to do.

Duan Rong suddenly pointed at Yang Zhen behind him and said, "His name is Yang Zhen, and he is my childhood friend. When he was in Xiangu County, he also worked as a constable, and his martial arts skills are not bad. I want to find a career for him and let him work with you in the Dali Temple. I wonder if you are willing to accept him?"

After Duan Rong said this, Yang Zhen, who was standing there, stared at Duan Rong in a daze. He felt warm in his heart, but a chill on his spine.

Dali Temple! ?

The Dali Temple is in charge of the criminal law of Qingzhou Prefecture!

Duan Rong wants him to enter the Dali Temple! ?

Zhu Cheng smiled when he heard this and said, "What do I think it is? The people you sent to me are naturally capable, so why shouldn't I use them?"

Duan Rong smiled slightly, turned his head and looked at Yang Zhen, and said, "Yang Zhen, this is the Dali Temple's chief, Master Zhu Cheng. He will be your superior from now on! Why don't you pay your respects to Master Zhu!"

Yang Zhen was stunned for a moment when he heard this, then he suddenly came to his senses. He immediately clasped his fists and bowed to Zhu Cheng, saying loudly: "Subordinate Yang Zhen greets Master Zhu!"

Zhu Cheng patted Yang Zhen's fist and looked at him with a smile. Zhu Cheng had seen many people, and he saw that Yang Zhen was a calm and smart person, so he asked, "Brother Yang, what is your cultivation level?"

Yang Zhen said: "Your Excellency, I am at the first level of the True Qi Realm."

"Qi realm!" Zhu Cheng's eyes lit up and he smiled even more happily. "Good, not bad!"

During the three years that Duan Rong was an outer disciple, Yang Zhen had been the chief escort of Yuanshun Escort Agency. Whenever Duan Rong finished his official duties and returned to Xiangu County, he would always take the time to guide Yang Zhen's practice.

In addition, after Yang Zhen became the chief leader, he had no shortage of resources for cultivation, so his cultivation level had indeed improved significantly in the past few years.

Zhu Cheng then took out a token from behind his back, handed it to Yang Zhen, and said, "Take this token! Report to me at the Dali Temple tomorrow morning."

Yang Zhen looked at the token in front of him. In the center of the wedge-shaped token was a raised word "寺". He was excited and raised his hands to respectfully take the token of the Dali Temple.

"I obey your orders!" Yang Zhen shouted in a deep voice, holding the token in his hand.

Yang Zhen followed Duan Rong out of the flower hall, walking slowly in the dark night, he fumbled for the token in his hand from time to time. In the night, Yang Zhen looked up at the back of Duan Rong in front of him. The back of this childhood playmate was like a mountain in his eyes, which made him feel stable and looked up to!
Yang Zhen wondered, I wonder if one day he could give people this feeling? A feeling that made people feel at ease and willing to follow him.

Duan Rong was not clear at this time, or he had not yet clearly realized that he actually possessed a leadership temperament that was very different from Zhu He's.

It was already late at night when the two returned to the villa.

When Duan Rong walked into the room, Zhu Xiaoqi had already fallen asleep.

The noise he made when he entered the room woke Zhu Xiaoqi up. Zhu Xiaoqi sniffed in the quilt and indeed smelled the smell of alcohol coming from Duan Rong.

She was sure that Duan Rong had really gone out to drink and have fun, so she pulled the quilt together, turned over and slept with her back to Duan Rong, without saying a word to him.

Duan Rong slept for only two hours before he slowly woke up. Hearing the night watchman's gong counting outside, he slowly got up and put on his clothes and shoes quietly, for fear that the noise would wake up Zhu Xiaoqi.

Duan Rong put on his clothes and came to the front hall. He took out a tinder, lit a dim lantern, and under the lamplight, wrote a brief letter to Zhu Xiaoqi.

This time when he returned to the sect, he did not plan to bring Zhu Xiaoqi back with him, but wanted to keep her in this villa.

In the past two days, Zhu Xiaoqi has asked about Xiao Yu many times, and he interrupted her every time. But if he took Zhu Xiaoqi to Yunfu Peak and she asked about Xiao Yu again, how should he answer her?

After much deliberation, Duan Rong decided to keep her in this villa for the time being.

Duan Rong finished writing the letter, folded it, put it in the envelope, then extinguished the lantern and walked out with the envelope.

He walked out of the room, came to the door of the side room, and knocked on it.

After a rustling sound, the door opened and Yang Zhen was standing there.

Under the moonlight, Duan Rong looked at Yang Zhen, handed him the letter, and said, "Give this letter to Xiao Qi. I won't take her with me when I return to the mountain."

Yang Zhen's lips moved, but he didn't say anything, he just took the envelope. He originally thought that Duan Rong would take Zhu Xiaoqi back to the sect. Zhu Xiaoqi had been talking about wanting to see her daughter these past two days. If she saw this letter and knew that Duan Rong had left alone, she would be so sad.

Duan Rong said: "Calm her down for me."

Yang Zhen said: "I will."

Duan Rong said, "You should get some more sleep. It's your first day at the Dali Temple, so you need to stay alert."

"Ah."

"I am leaving."

Duan Rong turned and left. Yang Zhen walked out of the room and stood in the corridor looking at Duan Rong.

Duan Rong walked to the gate of the other courtyard. Qiu Luan stood up from the big bluestone and said, "Sir, are you leaving?"

"Yes." Duan Rong looked at Qiu Luan and said, "Qiu Luan, I leave the girl in this room to you. Protect her well."

Qiu Luan said: "Don't worry, sir. If she has to die, I will die before her."

Duan Rong nodded. At this time, Qiu Luan said, "Sir, wait for me."

Under the moonlight, Qiu Luan was seen entering the storage room in the corner not far away. After a few breaths, he came out holding a jar.

Qiu Luan said, "Sir, I have nothing but wine. This jar of twenty-year-old Green Ant Wine is my best wine! I give it to you as a gift to send you off!"

Duan Rong suddenly laughed heartily. Qiu Luan valued wine as his life, and giving him the best wine was like giving him his life.

Duan Rong took the jar and pecked open the seal. He took a sniff and said, "This is really good wine!"

Duan Rong tilted his head back and drank the wine down his throat in one gulp. The rich flavor flowed down his throat and the warmth entered his stomach.

Duan Rong wiped his mouth and handed the wine jar to Qiu Luan, saying, "How can I enjoy such good wine alone?"

Qiu Luan looked at the wine jar, was slightly stunned, then took it and poured it down his throat. Qiu Luan was addicted to alcohol, and his eyes were shining after drinking such good wine.

Duan Rong glanced at Yang Zhen in the corridor and said, "Yang Zhen, why don't you come over?"

Yang Zhen smiled when he heard this, jumped down the corridor, took the jar of wine from Qiu Luan, and also drank it down his throat in one gulp.

The three of them drank like this, one at a time, and had already drunk most of the jar of wine.

Duan Rong took the wine jar from Yang Zhen and said, "Yang Zhen, Qiu Luan, it would be a good story for us to drink together under the moon. Duan is leaving now!"

After Duan Rong finished speaking, he picked up the jar of wine and walked out of the villa, pouring wine into his throat as he walked.

Yang Zhen and Qiu Luan stood there, watching Duan Rong go, until Duan Rong's back was completely submerged in the darkness of the night...

(End of this chapter)