The tavern’s soothing background music drifted around them, and Feng Mingran finally felt as though she had returned to civilized society.
“When did you come down the mountain?” Jing Yiheng asked softly.
“I just got to Kyoto today.”
At that, Jing Yiheng was glad he had come to the Little Tavern tonight. She had only just come down the mountain, and already they had met again. Some fates really were wondrous beyond words.
“Call my number from your phone. If anything comes up, you can reach me anytime.”
Jing Yiheng gave her his number, then paused before adding with a light laugh, “Even if nothing comes up. My phone’s on twenty-four hours a day.”
Feng Mingran raised an eyebrow. Little Sapling was pretty considerate—and loyal, too.
When her call came through, Jing Yiheng quickly saved Feng Mingran’s number.
They chatted casually for a few minutes. Privacy on the first floor was limited, and in that short time, several gazes had already drifted their way as if by chance. Some were wary, others surprised, but all were hard-pressed to conceal their curiosity and scrutiny.
Jing Yiheng glanced around. The Little Tavern’s customers included no shortage of prominent figures from Beijing’s elite circle, all wealthy or influential.
A few especially clueless people had even tried to approach with drinks for a toast, but one cold look from him had sent them retreating.
Since Feng Mingran had chosen a seat on the first floor to have a drink, Jing Yiheng didn’t want to take it upon himself to invite her upstairs or open a private room.
But perhaps this was for the best. She had only just returned to Kyoto after coming down the mountain. So many years had passed that the city must feel almost unfamiliar to her.
Anyone with an agenda who saw them tonight would inevitably assume they were close, and that she was under Jing Yiheng’s protection. If anything happened in the future, they would know to think twice.
…
As for the people Jing Yiheng had glared down, and those who had watched anxiously from the sidelines, their hearts were indeed in an uproar.
That really was Master Jing! They’d thought they were seeing things!
He was practically never seen in bars, yet tonight he had shown up at the Nameless Tavern!
And he had a woman beside him whose beauty was devastating!
What was more, he was treating her so gently, smiling as if a great angel had descended!
Each of these things was like thunderclaps in spring, making people’s hearts pound with shock.
…
Who didn’t know Jing Yiheng?
They called him “Master Jing”—like a demon, like an immortal; like a devil, like a god!
When calm, he was like an immortal descended from the heavens, radiating light and bearing a nobility beyond that of any ordinary man.
When cold, he was like a deity, carved from ice and jade, his imposing presence as fearsome as a dragon lord’s.
When scheming, he was a fiend—deadly and dangerous, able to consume a person’s soul with nothing more than a smile.
When enraged, he became a devil king, shrouded in the gloom of night; his murderous aura surpassed even Yama’s!
There was only one person in Beijing’s elite circle worthy of being called “Lord.” He was an existence no one could surpass!
If you valued your life, you’d better not provoke him. Otherwise, you might never even know how you died!
…
But tonight, this Lord seemed—well, a little… different?
Who could believe that the Master Jing rumored to drink human blood when thirsty was smiling at a woman so “innocently”?!
Damn it, that was exactly the word: “innocently”!
No exaggeration!
It seemed another rule needed to be added to the “survival guide.”
From now on, they’d better keep their eyes sharp. Offend that stunning woman, and they’d be offending Master Jing!
“It’s getting late. I’ll head off first,” Feng Mingran said.
She had taken in everyone’s subtle expressions without missing a thing. Unruffled, she accepted the juice Jing Yiheng handed her, took a small sip, and spoke.
For a moment, Jing Yiheng didn’t know how to ask her to stay a little longer without overstepping.
They had finally managed to see each other again, and he… didn’t want her to go.
It was a strangely unfamiliar feeling.
Jing Yiheng cast an almost imperceptible glance toward a certain spot in private room A on the second floor.
Mo Ke had an exceptionally keen nose. His master had sent him a signal!
At this very moment, he was needed!
When it was time to appear, he had to appear!
Mo Ke shot to his feet in a flash, moving so fast it made people’s jaws drop.
When Ming Wanci and Yun Zhiyin saw Mo Ke go downstairs, they were even more excited.
“Come on, Wanci, let’s go down too! Yiheng’s finally remembered we’re here! I’d bet anything that’s going to be our sister-in-law. As his buddies, we’ve got to make an appearance!”
Yun Zhiyin rubbed his hands together. He could hardly resist spitting on his fingers to tame his slightly mussed hair. He had to make a good first impression on his first meeting with his sister-in-law!
“Zhiyin, don’t you think you’re taking yourself a little too seriously? What if—”
Before Ming Wanci could finish, Yun Zhiyin impatiently cut him off.
“Of course not! Look how sharp Mo Ke is! Come on, let’s catch up!”
With that, Yun Zhiyin grabbed Ming Wanci without giving him a chance to object, and they went downstairs together.
It took Mo Ke no more than three seconds to reach the first floor.
That was all the time Jing Yiheng spent in silence.
When Mo Ke appeared, a faint, barely perceptible look of satisfaction passed through Jing Yiheng’s eyes. He turned to Feng Mingran and said, “You’ve been drinking. I’ll have my assistant take you home.”
He would go along with them anyway.
As soon as he finished speaking, Ming Wanci and Yun Zhiyin came hurrying over too!
Jing Yiheng: “…”
Ming Wanci and Yun Zhiyin were just about to “plug in and shine” when an unwelcome sound rang out—
“Smack—”
A palm slammed hard against the table. Just hearing it made people wince on behalf of the hand.
“Li Yunlan! I’ve given you far too much face, haven’t I?! You really think you’re the Third Young Master of the Li Family? You’re nothing but an illegitimate son who can’t show his face in public!”
A harsh, grating voice scraped across the ears of everyone in the tavern.
Xue Ren and the others darkened their expressions. The speaker was Leng Lingwei, a new customer at the tavern!
The Leng Family was a typical nouveau-riche clan. But even more famous than their combination of stupidity and money was their daughter, Leng Lingwei, known as a “female playboy.”
Leng Lingwei: female, interested in men.
She’d been coming to the tavern for barely over a week, and every time, she brought a different male companion.
It was unusual for her to come alone tonight. As soon as she arrived, she downed a bottle of liquor, then got so drunk she passed out like a dead pig, sprawled on the sofa like a sack of potatoes. She’d been asleep ever since.
Now that she’d just woken up, the liquor was still in her system. Blinking blearily, she’d opened her mouth and shouted at Zilan to sing “Little Sister, Sit by the Head of the Bed” for her!
When he ignored her, she completely lost it!
Over the past week, Leng Lingwei had already set her sights on the handsome tavern singer. The moment he opened his mouth, his voice was so beautiful and seductive that she’d been captivated.
After putting in some effort, Leng Lingwei had learned that the tavern singer was the Li Family’s illegitimate son!
The Li Family made her somewhat wary, but the words “illegitimate son” only made her more eager to try.
He was just an illegitimate son, after all!
The liquor had emboldened the fool, but she’d been utterly snubbed, ruining her three-month winning streak as the undefeated “female playboy”!
She’d lost every bit of face she had! That shout had let out all the resentment pent up inside her!
…
Zilan narrowed his eyes and clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking. He wanted nothing more than to smash the pig’s head in front of him with one punch!
Just as the fire in his chest flared up, Leng Lingwei suddenly went “Pia!” and toppled straight to the floor. The flesh on her body jiggled, and the enormous gold ring on her hand went “boing!” and rolled far away…