The city is filled with willows, lush and green, dancing freely in the spring breeze.
...
"On the day of the Summer Solstice, drinking a cup of Autumn Dew White may not be in season, but when a noble guest arrives in Heaven Revelation City, who can resist a cup of Autumn Dew White?" A burly man dressed in red sat alone at the square table in the center of the Carved Tower Pavilion, shaking the wine flask in his hand as his eyes flicked toward the man in the corner. "Wouldn't you agree, young master?"
The man in the corner had only ordered a flask of wine and a small dish of appetizers. Beside his table lay an oil-paper umbrella. In response to the red-clad man's question, he shook his head lightly. "Today is not the day Carved Tower Pavilion serves Autumn Dew White. A pity."
"I’ll treat you. It’s just a flask of Autumn Dew White, after all!" The red-clad man raised his hand and flung the wine flask toward the man in the corner. The flask shot straight at him, seemingly about to hit him. But the man merely tilted his head slightly, his pupils narrowing, and the flask’s momentum slowed instantly. With a casual lift of his hand, he caught it.
"Closing early today, honored guests, please leave!" The waiter, seeing the commotion, rushed out and announced loudly.
The patrons, as if accustomed to such scenes, didn’t ask questions. They simply placed their silver on the tables and left swiftly.
"A chance encounter. This wine is precious, and I appreciate your kindness, brother. I’ll have just one cup." The man poured himself a cup, then flicked his wrist, sending the flask back.
"You call me brother?" The red-clad man caught the flask and set it gently on the table. "Do you know who stands before you—this dashing, mysterious man who can drink Autumn Dew White here anytime he pleases?"
"General Lei Mengsha of Beili," the man replied solemnly.
"You hail from the martial world. You shouldn’t call me General. Call me Lei Mengsha, the exiled disciple of the Lei Clan, or the Ink-Scorching Young Lord of the Eight Young Lords of Beili!" Lei Mengsha smirked. "Though, alas, I’m too old now to be called a 'young lord.' Don’t you think so, Lord Puppet of Dark River—Su Muyu?"
Su Muyu lowered his head slightly. "As expected of the Ink-Scorching... sir?"
"Hahahaha! 'Sir' is too formal. Though I was born in an academy, I’ve little learning. I heard you once fought side by side with my daughter. You two always addressed each other as peers, didn’t you? Wouldn’t it be fair to call me uncle?" Lei Mengsha laughed.
Su Muyu sighed helplessly. "I’d rather call you the Ink-Scorching Young Lord. Though your daughter is already a Sword Immortal, General Lei still has the heart of a youth. The title still suits you."
"Well said. Now, what brings you here today?" Lei Mengsha took a sip of wine. "Though your Dark River isn’t known for virtue, I’ve heard you’re an exception. Some friends who fought alongside you against the demonic sects speak highly of you. As long as you’re not asking me to kill someone, I might be able to help. But my time is short—I’ll soon lead the army to war again."
"You’re mistaken, Ink-Scorching Young Lord. I came to Carved Tower Pavilion simply to drink its wine. I didn’t know you’d be here," Su Muyu said calmly.
Lei Mengsha’s lips twitched slightly. He took another sip of wine. "Oh? Then it seems I presumed too much. So why have you come to Heaven Revelation City...?""Dark River already has a new Head. I am no longer a Puppet. Coming to Heaven Revelation City is merely revisiting old haunts," replied Su Muyu.
Lei Mengsha narrowed his eyes slightly: "Revisiting old haunts? Has Young Master Su been to Heaven Revelation City before?"
"When I was very, very young, I came once with my father," Su Muyu placed a piece of broken silver on the table. "Thank you for your hospitality, Young Master Zhuomo. I've had the privilege of tasting the renowned Autumn Dew White. Excellent wine, truly worthy of its reputation." After speaking, Su Muyu picked up the paper umbrella from the table and walked out of the carved pavilion.
Lei Mengsha rubbed the wine cup in his hand, the smile on his face gradually fading: "Umbrella Ghost Su Muyu, quite an impressive fellow."
Su Muyu wandered through Heaven Revelation City with that oil-paper umbrella on his back. He entered the world's largest gambling den, Thousand Gold Platform, and silently placed a thousand-tael silver note on the "small" bet at the central gambling table.
"Young master, you seem unfamiliar. First time here?" asked a thin, sunken-eyed young man beside him.
Su Muyu nodded: "I've long heard of Thousand Gold Platform's fame. Came to see it today."
"Just to see? Betting a thousand taels of silver on your first try?" the man exclaimed. "Planning to slay the dragon right away?"
"What do you mean by 'slay the dragon'?" Su Muyu asked, puzzled.
"See these numbers recorded on the wooden board? They show the results of previous rounds. It's been 'big' eight times in a row now. If 'small' appears now, that's called 'slaying the dragon.' Since the fifth round, people have been trying to slay the dragon, and now they've all lost everything. In my opinion, you should..." the man whispered his advice.
The house master coughed lightly: "Final bets?"
The man urged anxiously: "Listen to me, change to 'big'! All dragon slayers have been wiped out!"
"Final bet," Su Muyu said firmly.
"Ah... might as well give that money to me..." the man sighed, shaking his head.
"Open!" The house master lifted the dice cup to reveal three dice showing three, three, and two. "Eight points, small!"
The watching man gasped: "Brother, you've got some serious gambling luck!"
"My thanks," Su Muyu collected two thousand-tael notes from the table and turned to leave.
The man from earlier stared dumbfounded, giving a thumbs up: "Knowing when to quit—now that's a true master!"
In an elegant chamber above, an obese man waving a folding fan watched Su Muyu's departure and murmured: "That man's unusual. Who is he?"
"Since he entered, I've had people investigating his background. No answers yet," replied an attendant nearby.
"Tu Er!" the man barked.
A dozing man nearby startled awake: "What? I was listening to music in my dream! Disturb my rest again and I'll beat you up!"
"Your girl is gone, never coming back. Her current husband is the City Lord of Snow Moon City. You'd better focus on learning some skills to take over Thousand Gold Platform from me someday," the man said with a mirthless smile. "Find out about that man below."
"Carrying an umbrella when it's not even raining? Weird fellow." Tu Er glanced at the man below, yawned, and pushed open the door to descend.Su Muyu stepped out of the Thousand Gold Platform, casting a light glance backward before smiling and continuing toward his next destination. Half an hour later, Su Muyu came to a halt before a grand courtyard. Tu Er, who had been following him all the way, was startled and cursed under his breath, "What rotten luck. How did this guy end up at—"
"The Academy."
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