Chapter 86

Qingting, Bai Nüzǐ, Madam, Uncle Wu, Xiao Liuzi, Anan, Xiao Jiu, Dazhu, Xiaozhu.

Farewell.

In an instant, countless scenes flashed through Li Qi's mind. He had no particular attachment to the land of Northern Song, but the only thing that could make him feel attached was the people here, and the Drunken Immortal Inn. He was very reluctant; he had done so much, and success was within sight, but in the end, it all came to nothing.

But after a while, Li Qi suddenly felt something was amiss. Why was there no pain at all? Could it be that someone had come to his aid?

He quietly opened one eye and saw a short sword gleaming with cold light, the tip of which was less than a centimeter from his chest. If it moved forward just a bit, his life would be over.

How close!

Li Qi swallowed hard, opened both eyes, and slowly raised his head. He saw a stunningly beautiful face glaring at him, but there was a hint of hesitation in her eyes.

After a while, the two of them stared at each other in a very awkward posture.

Li Qi finally couldn't bear the atmosphere and shouted, "Hey, Miss Zhao, if you want to kill me, just do it. Don't keep pulling out your sword to scare me. What are you doing?"

He had just experienced a near-death experience, and now he had seen through everything. It was just a life, after all. Better to die early and be reborn than to linger here half-dead.

Zhao Jing was slightly taken aback and said, "You already knew my identity?"

Li Qi rolled his eyes and said, "I advised you to pretend to be a man, so don't put on makeup." He had already thrown caution to the wind and didn't care what he said.

"Who put on makeup?" Zhao Jing's face turned red, and she said angrily.

"Then where did the fragrance on your body come from?" Li Qi asked curiously.

Zhao Jing's face turned even redder, and she raised her sword again, saying angrily, "I'll kill you, you shameless scoundrel."

"Fine, fine, fine, here we go again. Kill me, kill me, I'm begging you. If you're going to kill me, do it quickly. You're delaying my chance to be reborn," Li Qi said, pushing his chest out, feeling extremely depressed.

Damn, he would be scared to death by this woman sooner or later.

Zhao Jing's hand stopped moving at his outburst.

"What? Not going to kill me?" Li Qi said irritably.

Zhao Jing sneered, "It seems you really want to die?"

"You're the one who wants to die."

Li Qi ignored the short sword, got up from the ground, dusted off his clothes, and said, "The sword is in your hand. I'm a weak man, what can I do? If you want to kill me, you'll just have to do it."

"You're a weak man? I saw you throw a kitchen knife with quite a bit of strength."

Zhao Jing sneered again and said, "If you hadn't deceived me so many times, I wouldn't have any reason to kill you."

Li Qi retorted, "If you hadn't drawn your sword at me so many times, I wouldn't have any reason to deceive you."

Zhao Jing huffed, "You spoke disrespectfully of the current emperor, which is already a capital offense. You're lucky to be alive now."

In the end, it was all because of the word "昏君" (corrupt ruler).

Li Qi was now deeply regretful. When he first arrived in Northern Song, he hadn't considered so much. He sighed and said, "You're right, I was wrong. I won't blame you for wanting to kill me. I brought this upon myself."

Although he had a thousand reasons to curse Emperor Huizong as a corrupt ruler, in this feudal society, no matter what the reason, cursing the emperor was always your fault. He didn't want to say more, in case he said something even more treasonous and implicated Qin Madam and Wu Fugong.

Zhao Jing sneered, "Now you admit your mistake, but it's too late."

"I know."

Li Qi nodded and said, "But I hope you can do me a small favor before I die."

"What favor?"

"I hope you can deliver the secret recipes for the peerless wine and hot pot to the owner of the Drunken Immortal Inn, Qin Madam."

Zhao Jing's eyebrows furrowed, and she asked, "Is the peerless wine really brewed by you?"

"That's not important. Just tell me if you're willing to do this favor for me," Li Qi said, showing impatience.

Zhao Jing said coolly, "Give me a reason to help you."

Li Qi sighed, "The fate of the forty-odd people at the Drunken Immortal Inn now depends on these two recipes. It doesn't matter if I die. I don't belong here anyway, but those people were brought here by me, so I have to take responsibility for them."

A complex light flashed in Zhao Jing's eyes, and she asked, "I heard that those waiters were once refugees, and you helped them by letting them work at the Drunken Immortal Inn. Is that true?"

Li Qi shook his head and said, "I'm not as great as you say. I wasn't helping them. I was just giving them a chance, or you could say it was a mutually beneficial business. We both needed something."

This guy was truly strange. Sometimes he spoke eloquently, and sometimes he seemed like an honest, simple child. It was hard to tell which was the real him.

Zhao Jing was silent for a moment, then suddenly put away her sword.

Li Qi, seeing this, felt no joy but was extremely depressed. He said, "Miss Zhao, what are you doing now? Don't play with me. Do you know how many years of my life I lose every time you draw and sheath your sword?"

Zhao Jing smiled and said, "So it seems you really want me to kill you."

"Of course not."

Li Qi shook his head and said, "But I don't want to be threatened with a sword all the time. If you want to kill me, do it now. If not, please give me a clear answer. I'm a timid person and can't take such shocks."

Zhao Jing ignored him, picked up the scabbard, and sheathed the sword. She said, "Considering that you helped those refugees, I'll give you another chance. If I hear any more treasonous words from you, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Li Qi was stunned for a moment and said incredulously, "Miss Zhao, I'm a bit slow. Can you be clearer? Are you going to kill me or not?"

Zhao Jing huffed and said, "I'll spare your life today."

"Yes!"

Li Qi waved his fists excitedly, the heavy stone in his heart finally lifted. The feeling of escaping death was truly exhilarating. He patted his chest and promised, "Don't worry. As a bronze-level strong man, I won't make the same mistake twice. From now on, I'll only praise the emperor."

Zhao Jing, hearing his strange words and seeing his excited expression, couldn't help but laugh. "So you're still afraid of death!"

"I never said I wasn't afraid of death," Li Qi argued.

At that moment, Chen Anan's voice came from outside the courtyard, "Brother Li, Brother Li."

In no time, Chen Anan ran in and saw Li Qi, immediately calling out, "Oh, Brother Li, you're here. Mr. Wu is looking for you everywhere."

"Looking for me? What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing much. Mr. Wu just hasn't seen you for a while, so he sent me to find you." Chen Anan said, his eyes falling on Zhao Jing.

Li Qi cleared his throat and said, "Anan, this Miss Zhao—Mr. Zhao is my good friend."

Chen Anan was slightly taken aback and quickly bowed, "Chen Anan greets Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Jing nodded slightly and hummed.

"By the way, Mr. Zhao, have you had lunch?"

Zhao Jing was slightly taken aback and subconsciously shook her head. She had only arrived a little earlier than the fisherman and had only tasted the peerless wine.

"Perfect. I haven't eaten either. Since we met by chance, let me treat you to a simple meal. I hope you will honor me with your presence," Li Qi said with a smile, clasping his hands.

Zhao Jing hesitated for a moment and nodded, "Alright."

"Anan, go to the kitchen immediately and prepare a yin-yang hot pot, and bring a bottle of peerless wine," Li Qi instructed immediately.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thank you very much to the following for their generous support: Yan Yu Hong Chen, Chen Yu, Ai He Shui De Xiong Lao Zhou, Lao Zhou, and Shen Xian Ye Nan Shuo.

Please recommend and collect.

{Piao Tian Wen Xue}