Chapter 59

Chu Li smiled and said, "It seems I'm still of some use."

Xue Ling pursed her lips and smiled, thinking of Chu Li's former might, her heart couldn't help but flutter.

Chu Li said, "From now on, you can go to the Martial Hall whenever you want."

Xue Ling shot him a glance and said, "I want to go by myself, not with you!"

Chu Li smiled and said, "I went to the library, lost track of time reading, ... really didn't gain much?"

"Not bad," Xue Ling shook her head and sighed. She found that the cultivation notes of the Taiyin Scripture were quite ordinary, somewhat useful to her, but not very effective, far inferior to the Eight Taiyin Techniques.

Chu Li said, "No matter what, practice the Eight Taiyin Techniques well. You haven't grasped the essence yet. The more refined your practice, the better the effect, and the faster your progress in the Taiyin Scripture will be!"

"Understood," Xue Ling nodded.

After reading the cultivation notes of the Taiyin Scripture, she appreciated the Eight Taiyin Techniques even more, knowing their subtlety and finding Chu Li even more remarkable. All the cultivation notes of the Taiyin Scripture in the Martial Hall were limited to mental techniques, and no one had created martial arts like the Eight Taiyin Techniques to complement them. Chu Li had truly blazed a new trail.

Chu Li sat down in the small pavilion again and casually popped a Tendon-Connecting Pill into his mouth.

He treated the Tendon-Connecting Pill like candy, taking one whenever he had nothing to do. The effect was getting worse, but it was still effective. Over time, the changes in his meridians were very noticeable, and at critical moments, the Infinite Ocean Technique could be stacked one more time.

Xue Ling finished her stance and entered the small tea room.

The red clay stove in the small pavilion soon emitted white steam, making a gurgling sound.

Chu Li looked at the sky thoughtfully, lost in a daze, cultivating the Small Meridian Cleansing Technique with the aura of the Heavenly Spirit Tree. The combination of the Small Meridian Cleansing Technique and the Tendon-Connecting Pill was extremely effective.

Xue Ling gently brewed tea, her movements graceful and fluid, a delight to watch. Unfortunately, Chu Li didn't pay attention, which disappointed her a bit.

"Sir, your tea," Xue Ling offered the white jade teacup with both hands.

Chu Li took it, sipped lightly, and smiled in approval.

Xue Ling immediately felt light and carefree, her delicate lips curling up involuntarily.

---

As the lanterns lit up, Chongming City was bustling with activity, but the street where the Idle Cloud Tavern was located was quiet.

Inside the Idle Cloud Tavern, it was as noisy as the central street of the city. Graceful young women moved between the tables, adding a touch of charm and a subtle fragrance to the tavern.

A young man in brocade robes swaggered to the front of the Idle Cloud Tavern, accompanied by a plain-looking servant, about sixteen or seventeen years old, who bowed and scraped, "Sir, this is the Idle Cloud Tavern, no mistake, right here!"

"Hmm..." The young man drew out a white fan and waved it, examining the sign "Idle Cloud Tavern" and nodding in satisfaction, "The calligraphy is good, but will business be good in this location? There's no one around!"

He was short and stout, with a particularly thick neck, his fat face covered in bumps, some red, some white, a sight that was hard to bear.

"Sir, I heard the business here is very good, and if you come late, there won't be any seats!" the servant hurriedly said, "Let's go in quickly, or we might really miss out on a seat!"

"No rush!" The young man in brocade robes waved his fan confidently, "I'm here, and there will be a seat even if there isn't one!"

"Sir, you're so powerful!" the servant quickly gave a thumbs-up, his face full of admiration, "Sir, one word from you, and they have to give up their seats!"

"Ha ha, good to know!" The young man in brocade robes raised his head proudly.

The two were standing in front of the tavern, making comments, when two young men hurriedly approached. Seeing them standing outside, they gave them a strange look, thinking it was odd that they didn't go in immediately.

They pushed ahead and lifted the curtain to enter. The thick curtain moved, and a cool breeze mixed with a subtle fragrance came from inside.

The young man in brocade robes, with his flat and broad nose, sniffed and smiled, "So fragrant, I like it!"

The servant hurriedly said, "Sir, let's go in."

"Let's go!" The young man in brocade robes waved his fan.

The servant quickly lifted the curtain, and the cool air and fragrance rushed in. Two beautiful women came forward to greet them.

Chen Yin bowed slightly and smiled, "Sir, I'm truly sorry, but there are no seats available tonight. Sir can make a reservation for tomorrow, and we will definitely save a seat for you!"

"No seats?" The young man in brocade robes looked around, noticing how cool it was inside, surely due to the ice blocks. The charming woman before him, with her subtle fragrance, made him very excited.

The servant shouted, "The arrival of my lord is an honor for your tavern. Quickly find a seat for us! ... Here, this is a hundred taels, a reward for you!"

He took out a silver note from his chest and handed it to Chen Yin.

Chen Yin stepped back, smiling and shaking her head, exchanging a glance with her companion, Chen Xue, and helplessly shook her head. This situation had happened a few times.

Chen Xue had an oval face, fair skin, red lips, and arched eyebrows that slanted into her hairline. Her eyes were bright, and though not as stunningly beautiful as Xiao Qi, she was still a great beauty.

Chen Yin smiled, "Sir, that's not appropriate."

"What's inappropriate? I'll do it!" The servant waved his hand boldly, stepping forward into the hall, waving the hundred-tael silver note, "Gentlemen, who's almost done eating? Give up your seat, and I'll give you a hundred taels, a small token of appreciation, thank you very much!"

He smiled and bowed.

The hall fell silent. His words were loud and confident, but no one paid attention, continuing their conversations.

The servant waited for a while, but there was no response. He frowned, money could move mountains, but today it seemed ineffective. A hundred taels was not a small amount, and just giving up a seat would be a great deal!

Chen Yin smiled, "Sir, I'm really sorry, please don't disturb the guests. The two of you should come back tomorrow, and we will definitely offer the best seat."

"Sir...?" The servant looked at the young man in brocade robes, unsure.

The young man in brocade robes grunted, "Reveal your identity!"

The servant hesitated, "But, sir..."

"Less talk!" The young man in brocade robes glared with his toad-like eyes.

The servant helplessly nodded, cleared his throat, and said solemnly, "My lord is Feng Wen, and my master is Feng Shicai!"

"Feng Shicai..." people whispered.

Soon, two people stood up and shouted, "So it's the son of Great Hero Feng! Come, come, let's sit together!"

The young man in brocade robes, Feng Wen, waved his fan proudly, and the servant smiled, bowing and waving, "Thank you, thank you, gentlemen, thank you very much!"

The two came to the table where the two people were sitting. The table was only occupied by two people, and Feng Wen and his servant sat down comfortably.

Feng Wen waved his hand broadly, "Thank you, I haven't had the pleasure of knowing your names."

The two young men who had entered earlier introduced themselves, but Feng Wen didn't pay attention, too lazy to remember. The servant stood to one side.

"How is Great Hero Feng's health recently?"

"Um, he's fine, his voice is loud when he scolds, and his punches are strong!"

"Ha ha, that's good, that's good. Great Hero Feng is still vigorous, impressive, impressive!"

"He uses all his strength on me, scolding and hitting me all day!"

"That's Great Hero Feng's loving heart."

"Bullshit!"

"What has Great Hero Feng been up to recently?"

"What can he do, scold and hit people, the old man!"

"Ah..." The two young men shook their heads helplessly. Even a great man like Great Hero Feng couldn't avoid having an unvirtuous wife and an ungrateful son, truly a cause for reflection.

"Hehe, I haven't had the pleasure of knowing the lady's name!" Feng Wen ignored the two young men, staring at Chen Yin with a smile, "I am Feng Wen."

"Feng Wen, please order your dishes," Chen Yin smiled and nodded.

She wasn't impressed by Feng Wen's lecherous expression. Men were all the same, unable to resist beautiful women, some hiding it, some showing it openly, but there was no real difference.

"Sure, sure, bring us your best dishes!" Feng Wen smiled and waved his hand, "What's the lady's name...?"

"My name is Chen Yin."

"Sure, sure, beautiful name, beautiful person, a perfect match!" Feng Wen clapped his hands in admiration.

Chen Yin shook her head inwardly, another pretentious man!

"Here, this is my lord's reward!" The servant, seeing Feng Wen's look, took out a silver note from his chest and handed it to Chen Yin, "Don't thank my lord?"

Chen Yin waved her hand and didn't take the silver note, "Thank you, Feng Wen, but we have a rule here, we don't accept tips."

"Wow, what a strange rule!" Feng Wen laughed, "Not accepting money, this is the first time, sure, I like it!"

Chen Yin smiled apologetically, bowed, and turned to leave.

"Wait, wait," Feng Wen hurriedly said, "I want to ask, Chen Yin, how much do you earn here in a year?"

"Why do you ask, Feng Wen?" Chen Yin smiled.

Feng Wen smiled and waved his fan, "I also have a tavern, and I want to invite Chen Yin to help. No matter what, I'll offer three times the salary!"

He held up three short, thick fingers.

"I like it here and don't want to go anywhere else. Thank you for your kind offer," Chen Yin smiled and shook her head, turning to leave.

Feng Wen opened his mouth, but Chen Yin was already far away.

The servant whispered, "Sir, should I ask?"

"No need!" Feng Wen waved his hand, staring at Chen Yin's beautiful back, a cold smile on his face.

He hated women's rejections the most. He found his own ugly face revolting, but he wouldn't allow other women to find him revolting or reject him. If they did, they would face his wrath!

For the next two days, Feng Wen came every day. After sitting down, he would drink and eat while staring at Chen Yin, clearly infatuated with her, his heart deeply moved.

---

On a sunny morning, after finishing his work in the eastern garden and treating the sick, Chu Li came to rest under a willow tree by the lake, looking at the clear and bright lake surface.

Zhao Ying, dressed in a light green robe, sailed a small boat toward him.

Chu Li smiled and waved from a distance.

Zhao Ying leaped ashore, came close to him, bringing a subtle fragrance, and said with a sideways glance, "Senior Brother, having beautiful maidservants around, you must be enjoying it!"

Chu Li smiled and waved, "Is everything okay at the tavern?"

Zhao Ying's smile faded, and she frowned, "Nothing major, just some infatuated men who have fallen for Chen Yin and the others."

"Hmm—?" Chu Li looked at her.

"Chen Yin and the others are very beautiful, so it's natural for men to like them, right?"

Chu Li frowned and asked, "How many such men are there?"

"Four or five, I guess." Zhao Ying, seeing his expression, lowered her voice, "They come every day, very infatuated!"