He lowered his head and stole a glance, discovering that Yun Huizhou’s left hand was turned palm-down toward the ground, with waves of heat rising from beneath his palm.
He looked back up at Yun Huizhou and found that the man’s face showed nothing at all; he was still drinking with that senior who loved his wine.
However, his eyes, which had been somewhat hazy, were now a bit clearer.
As Lian Li shoveled rice into his mouth, he thought to himself: Is this using internal energy to force out the alcohol vapors so he doesn’t get drunk?
Hmph! Yun Huizhou certainly knows how to play foul.
After a short while, he felt another wave of heat coming from the opposite side under the table.
It was several degrees hotter than the heat Yun Huizhou was venting beside him.
He pulled his feet back and, using the motion of picking up food for Yun Huizhou as a cover, took a quick look at the opposite side.
That wine-loving senior had actually extended his left hand under the table as well.
Now he knew exactly where that wave of heat was coming from.
He lowered his head, thinking that the two people drinking most vigorously at the table were actually both secretly venting their alcohol.
Moreover, if even someone like him, who had never practiced martial arts, could sense it, then surely everyone else at this table knew as well.
He hadn’t expected everyone to maintain such a perfect facade on the surface.
As the banquet neared its end, many people came forward to take their leave of Zhao Rong.
Meanwhile, Yun Huizhou and that wine-loving senior continued to drink, their faces showing no sign of intoxication.
Lian Li shifted his legs; he felt as though the fabric of his trousers on his right thigh was about to be dampened by the hot alcohol vapors Yun Huizhou was expelling.
He vented his frustration by stepping on Yun Huizhou’s foot. Not to be outdone, Yun Huizhou immediately stopped venting the alcohol with his left hand and gave Lian Li’s thigh a sharp pinch.
Yun Huizhou didn’t pinch very hard—it was within the range a normal person could endure—and besides, Lian Li was quite good at bearing pain.
Therefore, his expression only twisted slightly for a moment before immediately returning to normal.
Still angry, he lifted his foot to step on Yun Huizhou again, but fearing another pinch, he could only place his foot back on the ground.
The guests gradually dispersed, yet Yun Huizhou and that wine-loving senior were still drinking.
Lian Li saw that Zhao Rong’s smile now carried a hint of speechlessness. The other seniors at the table were also smiling, though they remained silent.
Knowing he couldn’t rely on the others, Zhao Rong had to speak up himself. “Brother Zhang and Nephew, it seems you two intend to drink all my wine dry. I wonder if Brother Wang and Little Brother Lian beside you need to go to the inner room to change their clothes?”
Lian Li lowered his head, covering his mouth to stifle a laugh.
As expected, the masters at this table all knew what those two were doing; otherwise, Zhao Rong wouldn’t have suggested that he and that Master Wang go change their clothes.
The wine-loving martial arts senior called Brother Zhang paused slightly, then set down his wine cup and said with a bitter smile, “Heroes emerge from the youth. I suppose I’ve finally met my match.”
Another master heard this and immediately chimed in, “You mean you’ve met a match who is just as stubborn as you and knows how to secretly vent alcohol, right?”
After exchanging a few jokes, the group rose one after another to bid their farewells.
Once everyone had left, Zhao Rong asked Yun Huizhou, “Nephew, you drank quite a lot today. Why not stay here for the night?”
Yun Huizhou waved his hand in refusal. “No, no. The money has already been paid to the inn. If I don’t stay there, wouldn’t it be a loss?”
Although it was a joke, Zhao Rong knew that Yun Huizhou did not intend to stay at their home.
He said it was for one night, but could Zhao Rong really let his nephew stay for only one night? He would surely try to make him stay again and again.
If Yun Huizhou had wanted to stay, he could have come directly when they first arrived in Xianglai City; even bringing Lian Li along wouldn’t have been an issue.
However, Yun Huizhou was ultimately embarrassed to impose on someone else’s home for free food and lodging.
Zhao Rong and his Martial Uncle had a good relationship and were both elders.
Now that he was out on his own, he didn’t particularly want to hang around places where elders were present.
However, Yun Huizhou found it quite natural to occasionally fleece Zhao Honglan for a meal.
The two of them reached the main street and walked aimlessly.
Although Yun Huizhou had been using internal energy to expel the alcohol vapors to keep himself from getting drunk, it also made the smell of alcohol on him even more intense.
The inn wasn’t far from the banquet venue, so Yun Huizhou didn’t use his lightness skill to fly back with Lian Li. Instead, he intended to walk back slowly, treating it like a post-meal stroll.
He also wanted to let the cold wind blow on him to clear his head.
“I reckon there won’t be a shortage of such invitations over the next few days,” Yun Huizhou remarked, then asked Lian Li, “There will probably be some that are hard to refuse. Do you still want to go?”
To be honest, Lian Li didn’t really want to go anymore. Today’s banquet was hosted by Zhao Rong, so those unruly wanderers of the martial world had behaved themselves.
If someone else hosted, it might not be the same.
If a fight broke out, Yun Huizhou would have to be distracted looking after him.
He calculated that he had earned over a hundred wen from copying books, so he could support himself for the next couple of days.
Thus, he said, “Forget it, I won’t go. I’ll just stay at the inn and buy some food for myself when the time comes.”
Yun Huizhou crossed his arms, appearing somewhat frustrated. After a long while, he said, “The Martial Arts Alliance works too slowly.”
Lian Li asked, “What’s wrong?”
Yun Huizhou draped an arm over Lian Li’s shoulder and explained in detail, “The person who wins the title of Champion gets a large reward. Why do you think I haven’t left yet to dodge all this trouble? I’m waiting for that money.”
He pulled Lian Li closer and continued, “Once that money is in hand, we won’t have to be so stingy when we return to Drunken Dream Island. We can eat whatever we want and buy whatever we want.”
Hearing this, Lian Li found it somewhat amusing.
It turned out that the title of the young Champion of the Martial Arts Assembly—a name that brought unrivaled glory and fame in the eyes of so many—was worth less to Yun Huizhou than the prize money that came with it.
He had heard many people say that previous young Champions would attend any banquet hosted by even slightly famous people to enjoy their admiration.
Some from large sects would even host such banquets themselves just to bask in the glory.
Those who weren’t as wealthy would host small banquets after the prize money was distributed, inviting close friends or people they wished to befriend.
There were also a very few who were truly indifferent to fame and fortune; they would leave immediately after the competition, not even wanting the prize money.
It was as if they truly came only for the martial arts, to test themselves against other heroes.
But the way Yun Huizhou spoke made it sound like he had competed specifically for the prize money—though part of it was also because his master required him to come.
However, Lian Li felt that if there were no prize money, Yun Huizhou might not have come at all.
The two walked back to the inn. Yun Huizhou was now completely sober, though his face still carried a hint of red. He sniffed the smell of alcohol on himself and asked the waiter to send hot water to the room.
Then, he led Lian Li upstairs.
Not long after they returned to the room, the waiter brought up several buckets of hot water.
Lian Li ran to open the door. Thinking that Yun Huizhou was currently undressing, he didn’t let the waiter enter, intending to carry the water inside himself.
