Chapter 56

As Jing Tian accelerated his flight, he arrived at Wuxi City after more than ten minutes and landed in an uninhabited area outside the city, then strolled into the city.

Wuxi City, known since ancient times as the land of fish and rice, was bustling with activity. The buildings on both sides of the main street were densely packed, staggered, and beautifully tiered. Jing Tian slowly strolled through the bustling crowd, appreciating the scenery. Nowadays, it was a period of harmony among nations, and although there were occasional frictions, they did not affect this place. Therefore, the people lived in peace, as evidenced by the city's prosperity.

The various vendors' cries and the cheers of the audience at street performances echoed throughout the city. On the stage, the young women in bright, semi-transparent silk dresses occasionally sent sweet, alluring laughter to the passersby below.

Jing Tian was grateful that Song Dynasty women were admired for their elegance and inner beauty. Otherwise, if they were like the women of the Tang Dynasty, with their faces painted white, inverted eyebrows, and bright red cherry lips, he would shudder at the thought.

The traditional geishas of modern Japan imitated the makeup of Tang Dynasty women, almost identical except for the use of round dots instead of inverted eyebrows.

Shaking his head to dispel the terrifying image in his mind, Jing Tian slowly made his way to the Songhe Tower, which he had detected with his spiritual senses.

Along the way, he drove away two groups of thieves and a beggar before finally entering the Songhe Tower.

Seeing the waiter approaching with a fawning smile, Jing Tian casually tossed a thumb-sized silver coin and said, "Find me a good seat by the window and bring the house specialties quickly." The waiter's smile widened even more upon seeing the silver coin, and he bowed to lead Jing Tian to a seat by the window on the second floor.

Leaning on the wooden railing with one hand and playing with a teacup with the other, Jing Tian enjoyed the view for about ten minutes before the dishes were served. He couldn't help but marvel at the speed of the service, thinking that in modern times, it would take at least half an hour to get food...

Squirrel Fish, Drunken Crab, Cold Duck Platter, Crispy Spring Rolls, and various pastries...

Jing Tian nodded in satisfaction and threw another small piece of silver, saying, "Bring the best wine, and the rest is a tip for you."

Hearing Jing Tian's words, the waiter happily ran down the stairs and soon returned with a jar of wine for Jing Tian.

Jing Tian lifted the seal on the jar, and a rich aroma of wine quickly filled the air.

Jing Tian took a deep breath, and even though he wasn't a big drinker, he was drawn to the fragrance. He eagerly poured a bowl and, looking at the red-tinged wine, took a sip.

The wine was smooth on the palate, sweet on the finish, and had a rich, mellow flavor.

Jing Tian closed his eyes and savored the taste for a moment, then nodded in satisfaction and began to enjoy the food with the wine...

Just as Jing Tian was savoring his meal, a series of footsteps echoed from the stairs. Wondering who could be walking so loudly, Jing Tian turned around and saw a tall, sturdy man in a gray, slightly tattered robe. He had thick eyebrows, large eyes, a high nose, a broad mouth, and a square face, with a weathered appearance that exuded a commanding presence.

Jing Tian's mind raced, thinking this must be Qiao Feng, a man of extraordinary valor.

Qiao Feng ascended to the second floor, scanned the area for a seat, and suddenly noticed Jing Tian sitting by the railing, looking at him with an appreciative gaze.

Seeing that Jing Tian was dressed as a scholar, Qiao Feng didn't think much of it and nodded at him. He then walked to a table two seats away from Jing Tian, sat down, and ordered a couple of dishes, dismissing the waiter.

Jing Tian watched Qiao Feng, who seemed to be in a hurry, shook his head, and continued to enjoy his meal. Unbeknownst to him, his head-shaking gesture was noticed by Qiao Feng.

Seeing Jing Tian shake his head, Qiao Feng felt a bit displeased, thinking Jing Tian was being pretentious. However, he didn't want to quarrel with a useless scholar and didn't give it much thought. After a while, when the food and wine arrived, he began to eat.

Soon, Jing Tian noticed someone sitting at a nearby table. Swallowing the wine in his mouth, he turned his head and saw that it was Duan Yu, the simpleton. Thinking there was no reason to interact with them, he ignored Duan Yu and ordered another jar of wine to enjoy.

Duan Yu, upon ascending to the second floor, was greeted by a waiter. He ordered a pot of wine and four dishes. Suddenly, a wave of loneliness and melancholy washed over him, and he couldn't help but sigh.

A tall man sitting diagonally across from him lifted his head, and his eyes, like cold lightning, scanned Duan Yu's face.

Seeing the imposing figure, Duan Yu couldn't help but admire, "What a mighty man."

The man glanced at Duan Yu twice and then turned away, continuing to eat and drink. Feeling lonely and bored, Duan Yu looked around and noticed Jing Tian sitting in the best position nearby.

Duan Yu saw Jing Tian slowly pick up a piece of food, then take a sip of wine, his face showing satisfaction. A carefree and refined aura naturally emanated from him.

The bookish Duan Yu was immediately drawn to Jing Tian's aura and instructed the waiter, "Charge this gentleman's wine and food to me!" He then thought of Qiao Feng and added, "And the gentleman opposite as well."

The waiter nodded and left. Hearing Duan Yu's words, both Jing Tian and Qiao Feng turned to look at him.

Jing Tian smiled inwardly, turned to Duan Yu, and nodded lightly. He didn't say much, just raised his wine glass in a gesture, drank it in one go, and then, with a friendly smile from Duan Yu, turned back to his meal.

At that moment, Duan Yu turned around and saw Qiao Feng also looking at him.

Hearing Duan Yu's words to the waiter, Qiao Feng smiled and nodded when Duan Yu looked at him but didn't speak. Duan Yu wanted to strike up a conversation to alleviate his loneliness, but after the two men acknowledged him in their own ways, they didn't speak, leaving him at a loss.

After the food and wine arrived, Duan Yu had just had three cups of wine when he heard footsteps on the stairs. Two people walked up. The first man limped and used a cane but moved quickly, while the second was an old man with a worried expression. They approached the tall man's table and bowed respectfully. The tall man only nodded and didn't get up to return the bow.

The limping man whispered, "Brother, the other side has agreed to meet us at the Huishan Pavilion tomorrow morning."

The tall man nodded and said, "That seems a bit rushed."

The old man said, "We originally agreed to meet three days from now, but they seem to know we are short-handed. They mocked us, saying if we dare not show up, we can skip it."

The tall man said, "Very well, spread the word that everyone should gather at Huishan at midnight tonight. We will arrive first and wait for them."

The two men bowed and turned to leave.

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