Chapter 64
Chapter 64: Hidden Blades at the Wine Table
Zhuang Yu Heng slapped Mo Ting Feng’s shoulder. “Why are you spacing out? I’m starving. Come on—let’s eat at Moonwatch Tower.”
Mo Ting Feng swallowed his doubts for the moment and followed Zhuang Yu Heng and Song Wei Chen toward the tower.
Shu Xue Long spotted her the instant they entered.
The little figure in pale pink and white bounced along behind the two lords to a private room on the second floor—cheeks rosy, eyes bright, far too well for someone who’d been half-dead not long ago.
He was still watching from a distance when the steward hurried over, flustered and sweating. “Boss Shu! Minister of Works and the Dust Warden Official are here!”
“I know.” Shu Xue Long didn’t even look away. “Send the four bottles from my room to their table.”
He smoothed his sleeves, the hint of a smile already in place, and went to greet them.
“Long time no see.”
Song Wei Chen sat in the private room, happily sorting through her night-market spoils—lanterns, a velvet hair flower, a bracelet—so absorbed she nearly jumped when a voice came from above.
She looked up. The man who seemed carved from moonlight smiled down at her.
“Boss Shu! Long time no see!”
She beamed, then hurried to introduce him. “Boss Shu, this is Minister of Works Yu Heng.”
“Brother Yu Heng,” she added with a grin, “this is Boss Shu—Shu Xue Long of Moonwatch Tower.”
She did not introduce Mo Ting Feng. She only shot him a stiff, awkward glance.
Shu Xue Long didn’t miss it. His eyes flicked over with a faint, amused curve before he bowed to both men.
“It’s an honor to have you here, my lords. Tonight, I’ll make sure you leave satisfied.”
The steward delivered the wine and retreated as if he’d walked into a tiger’s den. The bottles were plain, unmarked, giving away nothing.
Shu Xue Long opened one and poured for the two men. “A friend brewed this at his manor. I’m no expert, but it tastes good to me. See if it suits you.”
He tilted the pot toward Song Wei Chen in silent invitation. She shook her head so hard her hair ornament quivered.
Shu Xue Long laughed. “I had the kitchen prepare sweet osmanthus and red-bean glutinous rice balls for you. Lots of young ladies love them.”
Mo Ting Feng swallowed the sour edge in his chest, lifted his cup, and drank.
The moment the wine touched his tongue, his expression changed.
“This…” He looked from Shu Xue Long to Zhuang Yu Heng. Zhuang Yu Heng’s eyes narrowed too, as if he’d tasted something familiar—and dangerous.
Mo Ting Feng set his cup down. “No-Thought Water?”
Shu Xue Long nodded, unruffled. “Dust Warden Official truly has a refined palate. One sip and you know where it came from. I’m impressed.”
Zhuang Yu Heng’s gaze sharpened. “No-Thought Water is the Nether Warden Lord’s pride—supervised personally. To brew it, you must gather four rare ingredients from the four perilous corners of the Deep Dreamlands: rootless water, rootless goosefoot, rootless flower, and rootless fruit. The process is painstaking, and each bottle is nearly impossible to obtain.”
His eyes lingered on Shu Xue Long. “Yet you have four. That says a great deal about your relationship with Hua Shan.”
Shu Xue Long’s smile held. “I lived in the Deep Dreamlands for years. I’ve exchanged courtesies with the Nether Warden Lord—nothing more. If Minister of Works enjoys the wine, that’s all that matters. If not, then I’ve been negligent.”
He refilled both cups with steady hands.
Zhuang Yu Heng leaned back, amused. “Rare wine, good company. Boss Shu, your bearing is extraordinary, and you know Hua Shan. That makes you half a friend. Why not sit and drink with us?”
Mo Ting Feng didn’t refuse. The wine alone told him what his eyes had already suspected: Shu Xue Long was no ordinary shop owner. Few in the Dream Realm could receive a gift like this from Bei Hua Shan, much less in such quantity.
And anyone who could had no reason to drift close to Song Wei Chen without purpose.
Mo Ting Feng’s mouth curved—pleasant, almost lazy—as he extended a hand in what could pass for sincere invitation.
“Boss Shu. That day we fought, and that’s how we met. Today, I borrow your fine place and fine wine to offer an apology.”
“Dust Warden Official is too gracious.” Shu Xue Long lowered himself into the seat with practiced humility. “Your return is already a blessing for my little establishment. Please come often and guide me.”
The words were soft. The smiles, polite.
But the air between them tightened anyway, like two blades meeting inside a silk sleeve.
Only Song Wei Chen failed to notice.
She watched Mo Ting Feng and Shu Xue Long exchange courtesies and felt her mood lift, silly with relief. Zhuang Yu Heng caught the expression and asked, “Why are you so happy?”
Song Wei Chen brightened. “Nothing. Just… seeing my two bosses—my main job and my side job—making up. My career is secure. I’m about to soar to the top of life.”
Zhuang Yu Heng snorted. “You and your nonsense.”
Mo Ting Feng didn’t even look at her. He spoke to Shu Xue Long instead, tone smooth. “Last time, my people embarrassed themselves here. I hope you won’t take offense.”
Song Wei Chen’s smile froze.
My people? She wanted to scoff. It wasn’t your people who made a spectacle. It was you.
You forced me to apologize to Old Long Jing, and you nearly hurt Boss Shu yourself.
Disgust rose in her throat. Without meaning to, she shifted closer to Zhuang Yu Heng, putting a sliver of distance between herself and Mo Ting Feng.
Zhuang Yu Heng, curious, asked, “What happened last time?”
Song Wei Chen opened her mouth.
Shu Xue Long answered for her, gaze drifting to her with quiet warmth. “Sang Pu’s qin skills are exceptional. She rescued the performance that night at the last moment. For three days after, Moonwatch Tower still echoed with her notes. These past weeks, people come daily just to ask when she’ll play again.”
Song Wei Chen turned to Zhuang Yu Heng, mischief sparking. “Brother Yu Heng, do you want me to play for you?”
She asked it on purpose. She knew it would needle Mo Ting Feng, and she wanted it to.
“Of course.” Zhuang Yu Heng grinned. “I didn’t know you had the same gift as Mian Mian.”
Song Wei Chen rose to prepare.
Mo Ting Feng’s hand closed around her wrist.
She yanked free, anger flashing. “Dust Warden Official, I didn’t sign a slave contract with your manor. This kind of interference is… inappropriate.”
And she left.
The moment she was gone, the private room seemed to drop a degree.
Zhuang Yu Heng watched Mo Ting Feng drink cup after cup, silent and rigid. Shu Xue Long’s attention drifted as well, gaze fixed on the main hall below as if he were waiting for something.
Zhuang Yu Heng leaned in, voice low and amused. “She’s really angry now. Let’s see how you coax her.”
Mo Ting Feng offered no reply.
Zhuang Yu Heng clicked his tongue and turned to Shu Xue Long instead. “So, Boss Shu—how did you meet Wei… ahem, Sang Pu?”
“A few days ago she nearly fainted on the street,” Shu Xue Long said lightly. “I happened to pass by, so I carried her back to Moonwatch Tower.”
Mo Ting Feng’s jaw tightened.
The word carried struck like a hook.
And what lay beneath it struck worse: she was fragile enough to topple if no one watched her.
Anyone tied to her past-life imprint had to be found—quickly. No matter what, he had to help her with seal removal.
Zhuang Yu Heng lifted his cup with an easy smile. “Sang Pu was fortunate to meet you. Boss Shu, I drink to you.”
Shu Xue Long returned the toast. “Minister of Works flatters me. I saw her today and she looks much better. I’m relieved.”
Mo Ting Feng’s mouth twitched as if he’d smiled, but his eyes stayed cold. “Her matters don’t require your concern.”
He poured Shu Xue Long another cup, casual as smoke. “Still, I’m curious. Anyone who can receive No-Thought Water from Bei Hua Shan must have remarkable reach.”
His gaze pinned Shu Xue Long. “Why take over a place like Moonwatch Tower and play at being an ordinary shop boss?”
A sharper man might have flinched.
Shu Xue Long didn’t.
“If I were in your position, Dust Warden Official, I might think the same.” He tipped his head slightly. “But as Minister of Works just said, this wine requires four rare ingredients. I happen to supply three. That’s why obtaining it isn’t especially difficult for me.”
His eyes met Mo Ting Feng’s directly, steady as a coin’s edge. “I’m a simple merchant. No all-reaching power. I only do business in a wider range.”
He smiled faintly. “To speak plainly, in the Deep Dreamlands there’s no one who can compete with me for profit. So I came to Dust Slumber to expand. Water Street is lively, close to the Dust Warden Manor, and safe enough. Choosing Moonwatch Tower as my first step—why wouldn’t I?”
The logic was clean. The motive sounded reasonable.
Too reasonable.
Mo Ting Feng lifted his cup. “Ability and ambition. Impressive.”
He glanced around, as if only now noticing the food. “I used to be a regular here. I didn’t even realize when the proprietor changed. Today’s dishes taste better than before. Boss Shu, you’ve got skill.”
Shu Xue Long smiled. “I took over Moonwatch Tower the day after the new moon. It hasn’t even been a month. It’s not strange that Dust Warden Official didn’t hear.”
Mo Ting Feng drank, expression calm.
But in his mind, threads tightened into a knot.
Shu Xue Long claimed simplicity, yet he could supply three of the ingredients for No-Thought Water. Mo Ting Feng had found Song Wei Chen on Blackwater inside the Dream Realm on the night of the new moon. Shu Xue Long, supposedly long settled in the Deep Dreamlands, came to Dust Slumber the very next day—chose the street closest to Dust Warden Manor—and just happened to save her.
Too perfect.
Anything that lined up too neatly was never coincidence.
Mo Ting Feng let the thought sink like sediment and did nothing.
Timing mattered. If he wanted a fox to show its tail, he couldn’t rush the snare.