"You're actually interested in the Empress. No, that's not how you should prepare! Betrothal gifts are supposed to be valuable, but you don't have to risk your life for them, do you?"
The Wine Immortal frowned, stroking his white beard, his slightly oval body blocking the doorway.
"I have nothing else of value. Only by obtaining the Unburning Pearl from the abyss do I have a chance," Zhaoxue shifted his gaze to the Wine Immortal, his eyes slightly narrowed.
The Unburning Pearl was a treasure of the Blazing Abyss, said to grow more potent in flame as it burned, and was a supreme treasure of the Fire God.
Legend had it that a long time ago, an immortal fell into the Blazing Abyss and by chance obtained this treasure. From then on, he forged a golden body and wielded an incredibly overbearing spiritual power that could burn everything.
"That's what you say, but aren't there many paths to the Lingxiao Hall? You need to take a detour."
The Wine Immortal, who was usually addicted to drinking, hadn't had a single drop today, blocking the doorway and guarding it strictly.
"For example, you could first secretly court that little girl, the Empress. Then, as long as the sole daughter is willing, what betrothal gifts would you need?"
Zhaoxue nodded, "You are right."
The Wine Immortal had initially thought it would take some time to convince Zhaoxue, but he hadn't expected Zhaoxue to understand so quickly.
The Wine Immortal's furrowed brow relaxed. He picked up the wine gourd at his waist, flicked open the stopper, and tilted his head back to drink heartily.
"Hey, are you taking your baggage to see the Empress?" After downing half the gourd, the Wine Immortal looked down and saw Zhaoxue walking away with his baggage. For some reason, the Wine Immortal asked busily.
Zhaoxue paused for a moment, then turned back, a rare smile gracing his features. "You're right. After I obtain the Unburning Pearl, perhaps the Empress will look at me in a new light."
With that, Zhaoxue left directly towards the far north without waiting for the Wine Immortal to react.
Only when Zhaoxue had walked a considerable distance did the Wine Immortal, who was pacing back and forth, shout in exasperation, "That's just a legend!"
The Wine Immortal's voice was not quiet, but Zhaoxue was already far away and did not hear him.
Or rather, Zhaoxue's mind was made up. Even if he had heard, he would not have stopped his journey to the far north.
That night, Yun Shunnian crouched under a large tree near Zhaoxue's small residence, looking at the house that remained dark, her hands wrapped around her knees, filled with worry and unease.
Finally, Yun Shunnian could bear it no longer and went to the mortal tavern that the Wine Immortal frequented.
Tonight was the full moon, and the tavern in the center of the night market was bustling with activity.
There were mask sellers, mooncake vendors, and artisans who specially carved watermelons into the shape of lotus flowers, each with their own unique charm.
The Empress was a playful one. From birth to twenty thousand years old, Yun Shunnian had traveled everywhere and was very familiar with the lively mortal world.
It wasn't until ten thousand years ago that the playful Empress accidentally wandered into the most secluded Peach Forest in the Nine Heavens, and from then on, her playful heart settled.
From then on, the Empress would quietly linger in the Peach Forest every day when Zhaoxue didn't know, secretly watching him for a long time.
At this moment, Yun Shunnian arrived at the largest tavern in the night market, just as if she were visiting for the first time.
Yun Shunnian had come in a hurry and hadn't changed into mortal attire, making her too conspicuous in the eyes of the world.
As soon as Yun Shunnian entered, a waiter from the tavern rushed to greet her.
"Hello, miss, what would you like to eat?" The waiter draped a towel over his shoulder, his tone light and his expression eager.
Seeing that Zhaoxue was not present today, Yun Shunnian's mind was entirely focused on finding him. Therefore, her gaze was fixed on the upper floor, and her voice was urgent, "I'm looking for someone."
Yun Shunnian hastily uttered a few words and was about to head upstairs.
However, the waiter seemed displeased with Yun Shunnian's attitude and blocked her path.
"Miss, on this full moon night, our tavern is already crowded. If you're not here to drink, then please leave. If there's a stampede, you'll be chased by everyone, won't you?"
"I have an urgent matter," Yun Shunnian's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, her gaze shifting from the upper floor to the waiter.
"So many people come here. If everyone dismissed me with 'I have an urgent matter' like you, how could our tavern stay in business?"
The waiter stood with his hands on his hips, his thin, wiry body puffed out with arrogance.
If it were ten thousand years ago, Yun Shunnian would have been a regular here. Even if she hadn't changed into mortal clothes, she would never have been deliberately obstructed like this.
Coercion and temptation.
This was a very practical word Yun Shunnian had learned in the mortal world.
Seeing that the waiter was not to be reasoned with, Yun Shunnian flipped her hand and produced several gold ingots, placing them before him.
"Can I go up now?"
"Of course... not. Hahahaha, do you think I'm an idiot? Where can you find such large gold ingots nowadays? I don't even need to verify them to know they're fake."
The waiter stood with his hands on his hips, laughing so hard that he trembled like dice being shaken.
"No, miss, your scamming skills are too clumsy. Do you need me to teach you a few tricks?"
"Look at how she's dressed, and she dares to come to a tavern at this hour. She's probably a madwoman."
The surrounding people also burst into laughter, laughing so hard that their drinks spilled.
In this era, restrictions and prejudices against women were already quite small, but women were often still at a disadvantage, especially in a tavern like this, which few women dared to visit late at night.
Now, Yun Shunnian was thoroughly angered. Her delicate eyebrows were knitted into the shape of a Sichuan character. Sudancn.com
If temptation wouldn't work, then coercion was the only option.
Yun Shunnian slightly raised her eyes and saw the waiter's "little tongue" trembling incessantly from laughter.
Yun Shunnian narrowed her crescent-shaped eyes, and the palm of her hand, hanging by her side, began to condense spiritual energy.
Descending to the mortal realm without permission was a serious crime, and using spiritual energy in the mortal realm was an even more serious crime. However, the growing anxiety in Yun Shunnian's heart about Mu Qi at this moment made her lose her reason.
"Empress, don't!" Just as Yun Shunnian was about to overturn the tavern, the Wine Immortal, with his red nose and red face, and a wine gourd hanging around his neck, staggered down from upstairs.
The Wine Immortal felt the spiritual energy emanating from Yun Shunnian, his footing faltered, and he was about to tumble down the high stairs.
In a flash, Yun Shunnian used her spiritual energy to fling the waiter against the far wall of the tavern, then teleported to the Wine Immortal's side and helped him up.
Ouch~