138: You... Shen Tianxing, you're bullying me again!

Luoxia City is located outside Crouching Dragon Ridge.

About half an hour!

This is also the closest city to Crouching Dragon Ridge.

After Shen Tianxing collected the dragon saliva flower, the group arrived at this small city.

It's not a large city, the people are simple, but the atmosphere of life is very strong, with street vendors, restaurants, and inns all readily available.

Drunken Dream Pavilion!

This is the largest restaurant in this small city, and Mo Qi was the one who found it.

There were many customers in the restaurant, including passing merchants and local businessmen.

Before even entering the restaurant, one could smell the aroma of wine!

"The hundred flower wine here, brewed with hundred flower honey, has a unique taste and its fragrance drifts for ten miles.

If paired with this demon bear paw, the taste is even more exquisite, truly wonderful!"

The encounter with Shen Tianxing seemed to have brightened Mo Qi's mood considerably.

What was most rare was that Shen Tianxing was to his liking.

Though they met by chance, it relieved some of his worries!

One must know, in this Northern Wilderness, there are not many people qualified to drink with him!

Over the long years, Shen Tianxing was one of them, but perhaps not the last.

"Mr. Mo is a connoisseur of wine; if even you approve of this wine, then I must try it today!"

Shen Tianxing was also very happy.

His friendship with Mo Qi was purely coincidental, unrelated to status, background, or cultivation!

Perhaps they met today, but whether they would meet again in the future was a question.

Today's wine, today's drunk; who cares if they'll still know each other later?

None of that matters!

"Sir, it's been a while since you've been here. Are you still having two catties of hundred flower wine today?"

As soon as the proprietress saw Mo Qi, she familiarly came up to greet him.

The boss stood by, smiling affably and politely.

In the hall, the wine-lovers filled the doors, making it very lively!

The waiters were busy running up and down, business was very prosperous!

Mo Qi nodded and said, "Ten catties of hundred flower wine. Today we're going to drink to our heart's content!"

"Alright, alright, please wait a moment, I'll go prepare it right away."

The proprietress smiled and agreed, then went with the boss to prepare the wine.

Shen Tianxing and the other two went up to the second floor and sat down by the window.

"Shi Linglong, hurry up and roast your bear paws, why are you so unobservant?"

After ordering the wine, Shen Tianxing saw the two large bear paws hanging around Shi Linglong's neck and quickly urged her.

This fellow was a foodie and could even cook herself. Shen Tianxing had tasted her cooking these past few days and felt it was no worse than a restaurant chef's.

If not her, then who should he order around?

"You... Shen Tianxing, you're bullying me again!"

"Then do you still want the dragon saliva flower?"

Shi Linglong clenched her fists, annoyed, but she had no way to deal with Shen Tianxing.

This top Prodigy from Dianxing Academy, ever since she met Shen Tianxing, her life had been getting worse day by day.

If not acting as a thug, then as a cook...

Mo Qi held his wine gourd, shaking his head with a smile, feeling quite moved.

He couldn't remember how long it had been since he was so happy.

Watching Shen Tianxing and Shi Linglong bicker, he found it quite amusing.

Shi Linglong huffily got up and went to the restaurant's back kitchen.

"This girl, Shi Linglong, holds quite a high position in Dianxing Academy. Aren't you afraid her family will come looking for trouble if you order her around like this?"

Drinking his wine, Mo Qi said.

"All her bad habits were indulged!"

Shen Tianxing laughed, "Traveling the Jianghu, no one will indulge her. Taking a little loss here with me is a lesson learned. If she takes a loss elsewhere, with her personality, others won't be so polite to her."

"Besides, I didn't really bully her."

"If she wasn't willing, I couldn't hold a knife to her, could I?"

Soon, the proprietress brought the wine and dishes.

Three whole jars of fine wine, with a fragrant aroma, a full ten catties!

With the food and wine ready, Shi Linglong also returned.

Golden bear paws, with fat oozing out, Shen Tianxing could almost imagine the sizzling sound as they were roasted over an open flame.

Even without considering the presentation, it smelled quite good.

Bang!

Shi Linglong brought up a perfectly roasted piece of bear paw. Its golden meat and rich aroma made Shen Tianxing exclaim in admiration.

"Shi Linglong, it's a pity you practice swordsmanship. I think you should be a chef; your skill is truly remarkable!"

The aroma made his mouth water, and Shen Tianxing began to eat without ceremony.

It melted in his mouth, tender and juicy, with various fresh flavors. Then he took a big gulp of hundred flower wine, which was refreshing and delicious!

Even Mo Qi couldn't help but praise it after tasting it.

"I have traveled the Northern Wilderness for many years, and Miss Shi's cooking truly is exceptional!"

"As long as Mr. Mo likes it!"

At this moment, Shi Linglong was very satisfied, and she slightly raised her beautiful chin, looking at Shen Tianxing.

The three drank and chatted until the sky gradually darkened, and the diners in the restaurant had changed several times.

Clatter, clatter, clatter!

As night fell, a sudden sound of horses' hooves echoed from the street. The sound was dense, and even the street trembled.

Shen Tianxing looked out curiously, only to see a 隊 of soldiers, clad in armor and riding fast horses, appearing on the street.

It seemed there were thousands of them; they were planning to leave the city at night!

Upon seeing the troop banner, a glint flashed in Shen Tianxing's eyes.

"The Pei banner. It seems related to Prince Pei's Mansion."

The Five Domains of the West Continent were almost entirely encompassed by Prince Pei, and he had armies stationed everywhere.

This place was near the Donglin Region, and to the northwest was the Nanyuan Domain. Clearly, this cavalry unit was heading towards Pei Wang City in the Nanyuan Domain.

"Strange, why have armies been going to the Nanyuan Domain so often these days? Could Prince Pei be preparing to send troops to Southern Buddha?"

In the restaurant and inn, customers at nearby tables leaned towards the window, glanced a few times, and wondered aloud.

Shen Tianxing's heart stirred. "Are these all the garrison troops of Luoxia City?"

Luoxia City was just a small city; logically speaking, it certainly wouldn't have thousands of garrison troops.

Perhaps, some came from other places.

The merchant shook his head and said, "Luoxia City only has a thousand garrison troops, where would there be so many people? I heard that most of these garrison troops are stationed at the Donglin border. The Donglin Region is close to the Sea of Buried Demons, so perhaps sea demons have appeared, and Prince Pei specifically established an army."

"A few days ago, I heard that an order came from Pei Wang City, stating that all local garrisons must go to Pei Wang City to await deployment."

"I don't know what big move Prince Pei is planning."

Someone nearby said, "Didn't they say there are many demons and Ghost Path Cultivators hiding in the West Continent? Maybe Prince Pei wants to send troops to eliminate them?"

This reason was plausible enough.

However, Shen Tianxing knew that this was absolutely not Prince Pei's purpose for deploying troops!

The remaining demons and ghost cultivators within the Great Qi Imperial Dynasty's territories were all in the West Continent. Aside from those he had secretly dealt with, they no longer posed any threat.

There was no need to mobilize an army to suppress them!

The real threat came from the Great Demon Sect, the Great Sect of the Ghost Path, and the experts of the Holy Heaven Demon Sect!

Counting the time, they should be arriving soon!

And Prince Pei, secretly colluding with them, certainly wasn't going to deal with them!

That left only one target: him!

"Old fellow, it seems he really couldn't hold back any longer!"

"Mobilizing the army and secretly colluding with demons and ghost cultivators, he intends to make his move ahead of schedule."