Ziqing withdrew her gaze, looking at Baili Weisheng’s earnest, harmless smile, and gave a faint smile of her own. “Tell you—what good would that do?”

“I know everything under heaven above and geography below. There’s nothing in this world I can’t solve,” Baili Weisheng boasted grandly.

Ziqing only sighed helplessly, on the verge of saying something, then thought better of it, sitting back down and resting her chin on her hands once more.

“Little Qingqing, has something really been troubling you?” Baili Weisheng asked, suspicious.

Ziqing smiled helplessly—not because she meant to tease him, but because she genuinely felt helpless. Jun Beiyue was right there; he’d surely come about the matter of the poison she’d cultivated.

She was a thousand times, ten thousand times unwilling to give it up. Yet she also knew this man’s temperament—domineering, forceful. Once he decided to do something, who could stop him?

Would she really have to argue with him?

If it came to a real argument, she wasn’t even confident her sharp tongue could match his.

And if it came to force, she’d certainly lose that too.

How could she not be troubled?

Seeing Ziqing’s brow knitted with worry, Baili Weisheng suddenly grew serious. “Ziqing, has something actually happened to you?”

Ziqing froze slightly—had these words really come from Baili Weisheng’s mouth? So… so gentle!

Ziqing instinctively looked up, only to find herself caught in a pair of eyes as gentle and soft as water. She found herself staring, momentarily entranced, thinking these were perhaps the gentlest eyes in the entire world.

But at that very moment, a figure suddenly dropped down, and without warning, pulled Ziqing away—none other than Jun Beiyue!

He wrapped one arm around Ziqing’s neck, pulling her into his embrace, while the other hand remained clasped behind his back, his cold gaze fixed on Baili Weisheng.

The gentleness in Baili Weisheng’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by his usual casual demeanor. He raised an eyebrow, sizing up Jun Beiyue, shaking his head repeatedly. “The ancients say men and women should keep their distance in matters of touch! Who are you?”

“Her husband,” Jun Beiyue said coldly, the introduction alone serving as a declaration of ownership over Ziqing.

“Jun Beiyue!” Baili Weisheng feigned shock, stepping back several paces.

Ziqing’s lips couldn’t help but twitch, saying nothing, while Jun Beiyue watched with a furrowed brow, equally silent.

“You… aren’t you supposed to be unwell? Why are you here too?” Baili Weisheng asked curiously.

“Why did you save me?” Jun Beiyue asked, bluntly and without any warmth, the question immediately leaving Baili Weisheng stunned.

He knew? This fellow knew?

No, wait—that Han Ziqing girl had actually told Jun Beiyue!

Seeing the flash of astonishment in Baili Weisheng’s eyes, Ziqing suddenly felt a mischievous urge, unable to suppress a laugh. Hadn’t this fellow always boasted of knowing everything under heaven and on earth?

This must be the second time he’d been caught off guard by Jun Beiyue!

Yet inwardly, Baili Weisheng sighed helplessly—little Qingqing, oh little Qingqing, you’re probably the only person in this whole world who’d ever get the chance to betray me like this!

“Just showing your wife some face,” Baili Weisheng replied immediately, quick on his feet, smiling cheerfully, yet equally unwilling to show Jun Beiyue any face in return.

Jun Beiyue, however, didn’t seem to mind, releasing Ziqing but still remembering to shield her behind him, then cupping his hands together in a formal, generous bow. “My thanks. Should you ever need assistance in the future, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“No need to be so formal—Ziqing and I are friends…” Baili Weisheng paused, smiling harmlessly, then continued, “If I ever need anything, I’ll ask Ziqing directly.”

“The ancients say men and women should keep their distance, especially with another man’s wife!”

Jun Beiyue kept these words only to himself, choosing not to respond directly, his handsome face maintaining a polite yet distant expression as he said flatly, “I believe I’ve heard my eighth uncle mention you.”

“This one and Prince Baxian are friends across generations. He often mentions you, his nephew—every mention accompanied by praise. Meeting you today, I can see the praise was well deserved,” Baili Weisheng said with a smile.

To anyone less perceptive, this might have passed unnoticed, but Ziqing immediately understood Baili Weisheng’s implication.

He was essentially saying: worthy nephew Jun Beiyue, your eighth uncle and I are close friends—by rights, you ought to show me the same respect you show your eighth uncle!

Jun Beiyue again offered no response, instead asking, “I wonder which school or sect on the Longyuan continent young master Baili hails from?”

“The Dragon Gate Sect,” Baili Weisheng answered without a moment’s hesitation.

Dragon Gate?

Ziqing was puzzled—did such a sect even exist within the martial world of the Longyuan continent? She wasn’t familiar with it at all!

Yet Jun Beiyue said flatly, “No such sect exists, does it?”

“My sect met with misfortune—a plague ten years ago wiped out the entire school, leaving only myself. Alas…” Baili Weisheng sighed.

Ziqing couldn’t help but want to laugh again, forced to press her lips tightly together.

“My condolences,” Jun Beiyue said, expressionless, the words practically forced out from between clenched teeth.

“Mm,” Baili Weisheng nodded very earnestly.

“Care for a drink? Come, since this is our first meeting, allow me to treat you to some wine,” Jun Beiyue offered.

“Sure! I know a tavern just outside the valley—their braised meat dish is particularly fragrant!” Baili Weisheng said with a smile.

“Then lead the way,” Jun Beiyue said with a smile, yet not forgetting to take Ziqing’s hand. Ziqing eyed him suspiciously, wondering what this man was up to. She didn’t ask further, only saying flatly, “What about things over at Patriarch Gu’s…”

“Yingzi’s there.” Having a body double there was no trouble at all, and besides, Situ Haonan was there too!

Ziqing had nothing to say, following along silently. The three of them soon arrived at an inn just outside the valley.

“Let’s rent out the whole place tonight—I don’t like outsiders around when I drink,” Baili Weisheng said with a smile, privately thinking he must take this opportunity to properly fleece this fellow, or else he’d never shake off the sting in his heart!

But to his surprise, Jun Beiyue ignored him entirely, saying flatly, “Ziqing, I’m buying out this inn. Go pay for it, and while you’re at it, have the innkeeper bring every bottle of wine they have out to the main hall.”

At these words, Baili Weisheng immediately fell silent—no wonder, being a prince of Da Zhou, he was indeed extravagantly wealthy. Only, he wondered whether his tolerance for alcohol matched his wealth as well!

Getting him drunk? Not a chance!

After a good while, all the wine had finally been brought out, filling the entire hall, leaving only a square table in the center clear. Jun Beiyue and Baili Weisheng sat facing each other, while Ziqing perched high atop a stack of wine jars, watching with a furrowed brow.

Though Jun Beiyue’s tactic was rather transparent, it was, without question, the most effective one available. Once Baili Weisheng got drunk, let’s see how much longer he could keep quoting the ancients, how much longer his glib, pedantic tongue could hold up!

“Qing’er, bring the wine!”

At Jun Beiyue’s command, Ziqing immediately kicked down two large jars of wine, and the two men each took one, setting them on the table.

“When this prince drinks, he never stops until he’s had his fill! Come, this jar, I drink first, in respect—my thanks to young master Baili for his life-saving assistance.” Jun Beiyue rose generously as he spoke, hoisted the wine jar, and tipped his head back, downing it in one go—in mere moments, the entire jar was empty!

“Prince Yao, what impressive capacity! This one is truly in awe!” Baili Weisheng immediately praised, hoisting his own jar as well. “Your Highness, I offer you a toast! We won’t stop until we’re both drunk!”

With that, both men tipped their heads back and drank heartily!

And so it continued, until the sky began to grow faintly light at dawn, every last drop of wine in the entire hall consumed. The two men still sat facing each other, eyes locked, staring intently at one another!

Their eyes, both bloodshot and weary, showed not the slightest hint of drunkenness. Ziqing, meanwhile, had at some point curled up asleep beside Jun Beiyue, unnoticed.