Sword drawn from the constellations, poison as its edge.

Chapter 134 The Joy of the Martial World
They moored their small boat to a weeping willow tree, and the group went ashore and entered the city. Not far away, there was a large restaurant on the side. The plaque above the door was old, but the three golden characters "Songhelou" were still very eye-catching.

The rich aroma of wine and meat wafted from across the street. Duan Yu sniffed, his stomach rumbling loudly. A'Zhu immediately burst into laughter.

Duan Yu blushed, patted his stomach, and said, "What are you yelling about? Do you even have the right to make a sound in front of a great musician like Miss Abi?"

Abi blushed and whispered, "I am just a little girl, please don't be so oblivious, sir. It would be so embarrassing if someone else heard this!"

Jiang Mingzhe had a good talent for languages. He listened to Abi talk a lot along the way and could understand most of it. He thought to himself that she was talking about a little girl and that he shouldn't make fun of her, otherwise it would be embarrassing if others heard it.

He put his arm around Duan Yu and laughed, "If you feed it well, it won't bark. Come on, we're brothers, let's have a good drink today."

The two walked ahead, with Azhu and Abi following behind, holding hands.

The waiter saw that the two men had long swords hanging from their waists and exuded an extraordinary aura. Although Duan Yu's footprints were a bit of an eyesore, he still did not dare to underestimate them and quickly put on a smile to greet them: "Oh, esteemed guests, please come upstairs, please come upstairs."

The four chatted and laughed as they went upstairs. The waiter led them to their seats and asked, "What would you like to order, sir? Our roast pork is famous throughout the city, and our fish and shrimp are also excellent."

Jiang Mingzhe said, "I heard your sorghum liquor is quite good. Bring me two catties, and we brothers will drink until we drop today! We'll also have roast pork, fish, and shrimp—basically, all your famous signature dishes, just bring out the best!"

After saying that, he reached into his robes and realized that Mu Wanqing had taken all the gold that Murong Bo had given him!
He looked at Duan Yu and said, "Brother, you're treating us!"

Duan Yu readily agreed, "Sure!"

She then took an embroidered purse from her bosom and tossed it onto the table.

This purse is made of fine Shu brocade, with patterns embroidered in gold and silver threads, roughly equivalent to a Hermès bag in later times. It only made a soft thud when it landed on the table, clearly indicating that it was light and weightless.

Jiang Mingzhe frowned, lifted the purse by the bottom and shook it down, revealing two or three loose silver coins, about five or six qian in size.

He picked up the silver and weighed it in his hand, then smiled at the waiter: "Waiter, I was just joking with you! We're not the kind of people who waste food. What's the price of your wine, meat, fish, and shrimp?"

Seeing that they were penniless, the waiter remained unfazed and greeted them with a smile: "Sir, our sorghum liquor is available in denominations of thirty or fifty coins per pound, roast pork is one hundred coins per pound, and as for fish and shrimp..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Mingzhe interrupted, "Here's what you'll do: two catties of wine, five catties of meat, four servings of noodles, and whatever fresh vegetables and fruits you can bring. That's all the money you'll get; any extra is a bonus."

Five or six qian of silver, which is roughly equivalent to a string of cash, is not enough to support "only the best," but it is sufficient for drinking and eating meat.

The waiter chuckled and handed over the loose silver, saying, "Alright, please wait a moment, sir, it'll be right there!"

"and many more!"

A-Zhu suddenly called out to the waiter, took a gold hairpin from her hair, and placed it in his hand: "Bring me the best of your family's famous dishes!"

Duan Yu quickly said, "No, no, how can we let the young lady ruin the money?"

A'Zhu laughed and said, "What's wrong with that? A dappled horse and a thousand pieces of gold, call the boy to exchange them for fine wine, and we'll drink away our eternal sorrows together! If you two gentlemen don't eat and drink your fill when you arrive at the Murong family's territory, the young master will surely scold us for not entertaining our friends well when he returns."

After he finished speaking, the three of them cheered in unison!
Jiang Mingzhe and Duan Yu exchanged a glance, then turned their heads in unison, only to see a burly man standing up several tables away, shouting loudly, "Excellent! What a wonderful line, 'Let us dispel our eternal sorrows together'! I never expected that a woman from the Murong family would possess such talent, and even more so, such a magnanimous spirit!"

This burly man was about thirty years old. He had long arms and legs and a very imposing figure. He had a square face, a high nose and a wide mouth, thick eyebrows that flew straight up to his temples, and a pair of bright eyes that held a cold, piercing light. His gray cloth robe was somewhat tattered, but just by standing there, he exuded an aura of dominance over the world!

Jiang Mingzhe was shocked: Apart from Qiao Feng, there is no other person like him in this world! Could the restaurant where he met Duan Yu in the original novel be this Songhelou?

But then A'Zhu quickly said, "Oh dear, sir, please don't misunderstand. Such a famous line is not something a lowly maid like us could write. It is 'Bring in the Wine' by Li Bai, the Tang Dynasty poet."

Qiao Feng nodded and said, "I see. I have also heard people say that there was a poet named Li Bai in the Tang Dynasty. However, I am not learned and have not read his poems much. I hope you will forgive me. But young lady, you bought wine with your hairpin and entertained your friends. You are very generous. It can be seen that the Murong family of Gusu is indeed very wealthy. Otherwise, how could they have raised a person like you?"

He admitted his ignorance frankly, and no one found it inappropriate. They all felt he was magnanimous and developed a great liking for him.

Duan Yu was deeply impressed by Qiao Feng's demeanor and whispered to Jiang Mingzhe, "Brother, look at this big man. He exudes the heroic and tragic spirit of the northern lands of Yan and Zhao. Such a hero cannot be found in Dali, Jiangnan. Shall we invite him to have a drink together?"

Jiang Mingzhe laughed and said, "That would be wonderful, but we only have a few coins between us. When it comes to treating someone to drinks, you should ask the host!"

Before Duan Yu could ask, A'Zhu laughed and said, "You men should make the decisions about treating us. Why are you asking this little maid?" Qiao Feng laughed and said, "Since we're drinking together, let's be friends like equals. Don't talk about a little maid or a young lady. I think these two gentlemen aren't the kind of vulgar people who judge others by their appearance! Waiter, come here!"

The waiter scurried over, but before he could say anything, the burly man picked up the gold hairpin from his hand with two fingers, took out a silver ingot, and placed it in his hand: "The cost of the wine for that table is on me. And buy another twenty catties of sorghum wine!"

The four people, including Jiang Mingzhe, were sitting at an octagonal table, one on each side, which was just right. The table in front of Qiao Feng was also the same. He gave the waiter some silver, held the edge of the table with one hand, and gently lifted the octagonal table, just like an ordinary person would carry an empty plate, and strode over.

Jiang Mingzhe and the others quickly stood up. Qiao Feng smiled at them, hooked the stool with one foot, and gently put the table down, effectively combining the two tables into one.

On his table, there was a large plate of cooked beef, a large bowl full of meat soup, and two large jugs of wine, all of which had just been served and had not yet been eaten. The table was spotless, and he walked more than ten steps along the edge of the table without spilling a single drop.

Jiang Mingzhe exclaimed in a low voice, "What strength!"

Qiao Feng laughed and said, "It's just crude skill, nothing to mention. Please don't stand on ceremony, everyone. If you don't mind, you can have some beef to fill your stomachs first."

After saying this, he placed the hairpin on the table and gently pushed it in front of A'Zhu: "Miss, it's not that I'm showing off my wealth, but a girl's things shouldn't be left out in the open."

A'Zhu laughed and said, "I have neither a fine horse nor a thousand pieces of gold, so I can only use this hairpin to treat you. I am very grateful to you for redeeming it for me."

After saying that, he picked it up and put it back in his hair.

Qiao Feng smiled and looked at Jiang Mingzhe and Duan Yu, saying, "Are you two friends invited by the Murong family to help us fight?"

A'Zhu asked in surprise, "What kind of help?"

Qiao Feng said, "Don't you know, young lady? Ma Dayuan, the deputy leader of the Beggars' Sect, died from his most skilled chokehold technique. The Beggars' Sect suspects that the murderer is Murong from Gusu, who used the same technique against him. Therefore, they sent many experts to Jiangnan to investigate."

Azhu and Abi were taken aback. Azhu shook her head and said, "We are just the young master's maids. We didn't know that the Beggars' Sect had come from the south. But our young master has been wronged. He has already gone to Luoyang to explain to the leaders of the Beggars' Sect in person. How come the Beggars' Sect has come to Jiangnan? Isn't this a mistake?"

Qiao Feng laughed and said, "I see. I thought the Murong family already knew about it and specially invited a master to help them."

Jiang Mingzhe said, "My sworn brother Duan Yu is the heir of the Zhennan Prince's Mansion of the Dali Duan Clan. He has nothing to do with this matter. As for me, Jiang Mingzhe, a disciple of the Xingxiu Sect, I do have some connection with the Murong family. Now that the current head of their family is not at home, if someone takes advantage of their power to bully others, I might have to lend a hand."

Although he was used to pretending to be a ghost, he refused to reveal his true identity when facing a real hero and openly told him his origins.

Qiao Feng frowned and said, "Disciples of the Starry Constellation Sect? Hmm, the Murong family is actually involved with the Starry Constellation Sect?"

Jiang Mingzhe laughed and said, "I myself have received a favor from an old steward of the Murong family. However, judging from your expression, you seem to think less highly of our sect. Little do you know that old yin gives rise to young yang, and old yang gives rise to young yin. Even reputable sects may not be without wicked villains, and evil sects may not be without upright heroes."

Qiao Feng's brows relaxed upon hearing this, and he smiled, "That makes sense; I was being narrow-minded."

After saying that, he picked up the wine jar, poured two full bowls, picked up one bowl and said, "Brother, this bowl of wine is my apology."

Jiang Mingzhe raised his glass and said, "The Xingxiu Sect is inherently wicked, so it's perfectly normal for Brother Qiao to disapprove. There's no need for apologies. We who have entered the martial world only seek to be carefree. Let's drink to our hearts' content, fight to our hearts' content, live to our hearts' content, and die to our hearts' content! Come, Brother Qiao, let's have a hearty drink!"

Qiao Feng's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "That's exhilarating!"

Duan Yu felt a fire burning in his heart and shouted, "My elder brother is right! The martial world should be lived to the fullest; enjoy what you love and forget what you forget!"

He poured himself a bowl of wine and picked it up. Just as the three bowls were about to clink, A'Zhu suddenly stood up and laughed, "You men are so straightforward, but what about us two little girls? Didn't Brother Qiao just say that we should drink together as equals and be friends? We should drink this bowl of wine with gusto!"

She picked up the wine jar, poured two more bowls, and forcefully pulled up the pale-faced Abi, shoving a bowl into her hand: "You drink too!"

Abi exclaimed in surprise, "I can't eat it!"

Before she finished speaking, Azhu, holding her own bowl in one hand and the bowl in Abi's hand in the other, slammed them together against the three bowls with a clang.

Qiao Feng, Jiang Mingzhe, Duan Yu, and A'Zhu all picked up their bowls and drank heartily. A'Bi was so anxious that she was about to cry. She stamped her foot, closed her eyes, and poured the liquid into her mouth.

(End of this chapter)