Lu Yin looked at Zhao Ran and asked curiously, "Are there any special drinks in the palace aside from tea?"
He remembered having special drinks at the Daystar Line and the Amethyst Company, and they tasted pretty good.
Zhao Ran thought about it, and her eyes lit up. "Yes, I'll go look for them."
Lu Yin shook his head. "No need, maybe next time." He suddenly thought of that little tavern.
When he had first arrived on Zenyu Star, the Second Prince, Duke Yushan, had treated him to a drink. From then on, Lu Yin had fallen in love with that little tavern. It was like a secluded corner where he could see the clamor of the bars and the bustle of the capital without being disturbed. It was as if he was separated from the rest of the world, and he could enjoy a brief moment of peace.
Although he had not gone there many times, Lu Yin would always remember it.
That place represented his ignorance when he had first arrived on Zenyu Star, and he missed it.
It had been more than eight years since he had first arrived on Zenyu Star.
"Boss, give me a jug of wine and two side dishes." Lu Yin stepped into the tavern and took a whiff of the cheap wine. Although it was cheap, it was very comfortable.
The lights were dim, and the boss's face could not be seen clearly. Lu Yin was too lazy to disguise himself, so he just sat in the tavern and drank sip after sip. The side dishes were still as refreshing as ever.
Not long after, a group of people left the bar. They seemed to have not had enough fun, so they came to the tavern.
Drinking here was completely different from drinking in a bar.
Some people disdained it, while others liked it.
A mouthful of wine warmed his stomach.
Not far away, a large banner cast a long shadow on Lu Yin's table. He turned to look at it, and his eyes lit up. It was Xuan Jiu. He had not expected him to still be on Zenyu Star.
This old man had a loose tongue, but he really was from the Starsibyl Sect and had a high seniority. Lu Yin really wanted to see this person face Starsibyl and see if Starsibyl would call him Grandpa Jiu or if he would be beaten up.
Xuan Jiu placed the wooden pole on a nearby table and sat down. "Boss, same old rules."
The boss immediately served a jug of wine and two side dishes. "Master, please enjoy."
Xuan Jiu laughed and stroked his beard in satisfaction. "Boss, your wine is pretty good. Come, let me read your fortune for free."
The boss laughed heartily. "There's no need. I'm just opening a tavern to provide for my children's education. I can live my life peacefully, and there's nothing I need to know beforehand."
Xuan Jiu sighed in admiration. "How many people are unable to reach your level in their entire lives?"
"Haha, it's just the thoughts of an ordinary person. Master, please enjoy." The boss laughed and left.
Nowadays, how many people believed in divination?
A few young men who had come out of a bar at a nearby table sneered, obviously disdainful. One of them sneered, "Boss, be careful. Someone wants to eat and drink for free."
The boss simply smiled and didn't mind.
Xuan Jiu was so angry that he glared at him. "Kid, when this great master told your fortune, your ancestor was still drinking milk."
"What did you say?" They were immediately enraged and wanted to beat Xuan Jiu up.
Xuan Jiu raised his eyebrows. "What? You still dare to fight here? Try me."
A few of the youths wanted to attack, but when they looked up and saw King Zishan's palace, they didn't dare. "Old man, be careful. Don't let us see you anywhere else, or we'll tear down your flag."
Xuan Jiu rolled his eyes. "Useless."
The few of them spat and left after paying the bill, not even bothering to drink.
The boss kindly reminded them, "Master, it's best not to offend them. These young masters all have backgrounds."
Xuan Jiu raised his head. "What's there to be afraid of? Even Lu Yin has to call me Grandpa Jiu when he sees me."
The boss was stunned at first, but then his expression changed and he turned deathly pale. He quickly whispered, "Master, don't speak nonsense. You can't just call the Royal Regent by his name. Be careful not to get caught by the Thirteen Imperial Squadrons."
Xuan Jiu shook his head and took a sip of wine, looking a little lonely.
Lu Yin looked at Xuan Jiu in amusement and slowly said, "Master, you're really carefree."
Xuan Jiu turned to look. Although the tavern was dark, he was a cultivator and could naturally see clearly.
Even someone as thick-skinned as Xuan Jiu couldn't help but cough awkwardly when he saw Lu Yin's face. "So it's you. Haha, the weather's pretty good today, hahaha."
Lu Yin's lips curled up, and he poured a glass of wine to the side and gestured for them to drink.
Xuan Jiu picked up the flag and walked to Lu Yin's side, sitting down and drinking naturally. He exhaled happily and looked at Lu Yin. "Kid, how do you have time to drink?
And you're even in this little tavern? "
Lu Yin smiled. "I had nothing to do, so the wine here is pretty good."
Xuan Jiu's eyes lit up. "Soulmate, the wine here is indeed pretty good."
The boss looked at the two in confusion. His wine was only average, so why were these two praising it so much?
Were they really here to eat for free?
The boss grew wary at the thought of this.
"Master, you're from the Starsibyl Sect?" Lu Yin asked as he poured another glass for Xuan Jiu.
Xuan Jiu picked up some food and ate with relish, muttering as he ate, "That's right, Starsibyl's Grandpa Jiu isn't called 'Grandpa Jiu' for nothing."
"I heard that he's an abandoned disciple," Lu Yin said.
Xuan Jiu grew angry. "What abandoned disciple? Kid, don't be as ignorant as those people. It's not that the Starsibyl Sect expelled me, it's just that they can't handle my abilities. I've learned the Mysterious Sky Mirror. Go ask around, and forget Starsibyl, even the sect master can't learn it. No one in the history of the Starsibyl Sect has ever learned the Mysterious Sky Mirror."
"The Mysterious Sky Mirror?" Lu Yin was puzzled.
Xuan Jiu took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Throughout history, today's events, yesterday's karmic cause, tomorrow's karmic effect." He pointed at his eyes and continued, "My eyes can see through all fabrications. No one can hide anything from me."
Lu Yin met Xuan Jiu's gaze. "Master, what do you think of me?"
Xuan Jiu quickly averted his gaze. "No, no, you've met the gaze of the dead, so you'll be found sooner or later. You can't hide."
Lu Yin was curious. "Who's looking for me?"
Xuan Jiu continued to eat, ignoring Lu Yin.
Lu Yin casually placed a cosmic ring on the table. "Ten star essence. I hope you'll kindly accept it."
Xuan Jiu sneered. "Kid, the Mysterious Sky Mirror can't be measured with money."
"What do you want?" Lu Yin asked.
Xuan Jiu moved closer to Lu Yin and narrowed his eyes. "I want to be the Imperial Tutor of the Great Yu Empire."
Lu Yin blinked. "Forget it."
Xuan Jiu grew anxious. "Why?
I've learned the Mysterious Sky Mirror, and I'm Starsibyl's Grandpa Jiu. Anyone in the Starsibyl Sect who sees me has to call me Grandpa Jiu. You can stand beside me, and Starsibyl will have to respectfully call me Grandpa Lu. Wouldn't that be great? "
Lu Yin took a sip of wine. "I don't want to die yet."
Xuan Jiu rolled his eyes. "Kid, you have both the opportunity and the ability, and your innate talent is extraordinary. Why are you so timid?
What are you afraid of? With your current status, the Starsibyl Sect can't do anything to you. Besides, I'm on your side, and the Starsibyl Sect is a generation below you. "
Lu Yin ate a mouthful of food and continued to ignore Xuan Jiu.
Xuan Jiu narrowed his eyes, dipped his finger in the wine, and wrote a word on the table.
Lu Yin looked over. Burial?
"The people who are looking for you are from here. That's all I can say. It's fine if you don't believe me now, but once you meet them, you'll naturally believe me. At that time, whether or not I'm still willing to be the Imperial Tutor will depend on my mood."
Lu Yin took another sip of wine. "Master, please read my fortune. It has nothing to do with this."
Xuan Jiu was curious. "What do you want me to read?"
"Family." Lu Yin's tone was gloomy. In fact, he had come here to drink today without a trace of loneliness. The more he drank, the warmer he felt, but his heart was growing colder.
Xuan Jiu smoothed out the words on the table, "I really don't want to read your fortune. You've looked into the eyes of the deceased, so you might see something you shouldn't. But since you've asked so sincerely, I'll reluctantly take a look at it for you." He coughed twice and took a few deep breaths before looking at Lu Yin, "Come, look into my eyes."
Lu Yin slowly turned his head and looked into Xuan Jiu's eyes.
A similar scene had appeared on Savage Ape Planet, but Lu Yin had seen a different starry sky and deep darkness in Xuan Jiu's eyes. Xuan Jiu, on the other hand, had seen a scene that had shocked him. However, in the next second, he saw a pair of clear eyes with the majesty of a ruler. Everything had to submit to those clear eyes. Xuan Jiu's pupils shrank, and he spat out a mouthful of blood onto Lu Yin's clothes. He looked like he had been seriously injured, and his face went pale as he trembled all over.
Lu Yin was shocked and quickly tried to help Xuan Jiu up.
Xuan Jiu hastily retreated and looked at Lu Yin in horror. His eyes were filled with shock and indescribable sorrow. "You- you."
Lu Yin frowned. "Master, what did you read?"
Xuan Jiu stared at Lu Yin in disbelief and slowly stood up, seemingly still in shock.
"Master, what did you read?" Lu Yin grew anxious.
Xuan Jiu exhaled deeply and swallowed some medicine. He drank some wine and looked at Lu Yin, shaking his head. "You're really pitiful."
Lu Yin didn't understand.
Xuan Jiu sighed. "I didn't see much, but I do feel that you're very pitiful."
Lu Yin's gaze turned strange. Was this old man trying to scam him? He'd heard that this old man's fortune-telling had always been the opposite, and he'd never been accurate. No matter how he looked at it, this old man seemed to be faking it.
"I've been a fortune-teller for most of my life, but I've never met someone like you. You're on your own now, and I will never read your fortune again. Never." Xuan Jiu then left, not mentioning anything about the State Tutor. Before he left, he glanced at Lu Yin with eyes full of sympathy and sorrow.
Lu Yin stared blankly at Xuan Jiu's departing figure. Had this old man read his fortune correctly or not?
Not far away, the tavern owner stared at the pool of blood on the ground and didn't dare to come out. It was only after Xuan Jiu left that he remembered that the old man hadn't paid.
The next day, Ban Jiu requested an audience at King Zishan's palace.
When Lu Yin saw Ban Jiu, the captain of the Twelfth Imperial Squadron looked rather tired. The two dark circles under his eyes were especially obvious.
"Your Highness, I've tried the materials you gave me, but I can't melt them," Ban Jiu reported in shame.
Lu Yin was puzzled. "They can't be melted?"
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Thank you, brothers, for your support!
It's the end of the year, and I'm too busy and tired. Your support will give me motivation!